Determination of the absolute structure of albaconol

The concise synthesis of (8aR)-(−)-albaconol (1) from (8aR)-albicanol (2) obtained from the lipase-assisted asymmetric acetylation of rac-2, was achieved in 45% overall yield (eight steps). By comparison of the sign of specific rotation of between synthetic (8aR)-(−)-albaconol (1) and natural (+)-albaconol (1), the absolute structure of natural (+)-1 was determined to be 1R,2R,4aS,8aS configuration.     

The enantioselective synthesis of poison-frog alkaloids (−)-203A, (−)-209B, (−)-231C, (−)-233D, and (−)-235B″

The enantioselective synthesis of indolizidines (−)-203A, (−)-209B, (−)-231C, (−)-233D, and (−)-235B″ has been achieved and the absolute stereochemistry of both indolizidines 203A and 233D was established as 5S,8R,9S. The relative stereochemistry of natural 231C was established by the present asymmetric synthesis.     

Gold catalysis in stereoselective natural product synthesis: (+)-linalool oxide, (−)-isocyclocapitelline, and (−)-isochrysotricine

A stereoselective synthesis of the tetrahydrofuran-containing natural products (2S,5R)-(+)-linalool oxide (1), (−)-isocyclocapitelline (2), and (−)-isochrysotricine (3) is reported. Key steps are the copper-mediated S_N2′-substitution of propargyl oxiranes 7 and the gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of dihydroxyallenes 8/17, resulting in a highly efficient center-to-axis-to-center chirality transfer. The enantioselective total synthesis of (−)-isocyclocapitelline (2) and (−)-isochrysotricine (3) allowed the elucidation of the absolute configuration of these β-carboline natural products.     

δ-Lactone formation from δ-hydroxy-trans-α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids accompanied by trans-cis isomerization: synthesis of (−)-tetra-O-acetylosmundalin

(±)-(4,5-anti)-4-Benzyloxy-5-hydroxy-(2E)-hexenoic acid 6 was subjected to δ-lactonization in the presence of 2,4,6-trichlorobenzoyl chloride and pyridine to give the α,β-unsaturated-δ-lactone congener (±)-7 (87% yield) accompanied by trans-cis isomerization. This δ-lactonization procedure was applied to the chiral synthesis of (+)-(4S,5R)-7 or (−)-(4R,5S)-7 from the chiral starting material (+)-(4S,5R)-6 or (−)-(4R,5S)-6. Deprotection of the benzyl group in (+)-(4S,5R)-7 or (−)-(4R,5S)-7 by the AlCl₃/m-xylene system gave the natural osmundalactone (+)-(4S,5R)-5 or (−)-(4R,5S)-5 in good yield, respectively. Condensation of (−)-(4R,5S)-5 and tetraacetyl-β-d-glucosyltrichloroimidate 22 in the presence of BF₃·Et₂O afforded the condensation product (−)-8 (97% yield), which was identical to tetra-O-acetylosmundalin (−)-8 derived from natural osmundalin 9.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (R)- and (S)-2-trifluoromethylepinephrine

An asymmetric synthesis of (R)- and (S)-2-trifluoromethylepinephrine (1R and 1S) is presented. Trifluoromethylation involves nucleophilic aromatic substitution of halobenzene 4 most likely via a copper mediated CF₃ anion equivalent generated in situ. The asymmetric step involves conversion of 3,4-dimethoxy-2-trifluoromethylbenzaldehyde (5) to silyl cyanohydrin (6R and 6S) using a chiral salen catalyst in the presence of titanium. 1R and 1S are potential alternatives to currently used vasoconstrictors in local anesthetic formulations.     

An enantioselective total synthesis of (S)-(−)-licochalcone E: determination of the absolute configuration

The absolute configuration of (−)-licochalcone E (1) was determined to be (S) via the first enantioselective total synthesis of the compound. The chirality in (S)-(−)-licochalcone E (1) was installed by asymmetric methylation of the Evans' oxazolidinone derivatives.     

Enantioselective synthesis of axially chiral 1-(1-naphthyl)isoquinolines and 2-(1-naphthyl)pyridines through sulfoxide ligand coupling reactions

Racemic 1-(1′-isoquinolinyl)-2-naphthalenemethanol rac-12 was prepared through a ligand coupling reaction of racemic 1-(tert-butylsulfinyl)isoquinoline rac-7 with the 1-naphthyl Grignard reagent 10. Resolution of rac-12 was achieved through chromatographic separation of the Noe-lactol derivatives 14 and 15, providing (R)-(−)-12 of >99% ee and (S)-(+)-12 of 90% ee. The ligand coupling reaction of optically enriched sulfoxide (S)-(−)-7 (62% ee) with Grignard reagent 10 furnished rac-12, with the absence of stereoinduction resulting from competing rapid racemisation of the sulfoxide 7. Reaction of optically enriched (S)-(−)-7 with 2-methoxy-1-naphthylmagnesium bromide was also accompanied by racemisation of the sulfoxide 7, and furnished optically active (+)-1-(2′-methoxy-1′-naphthyl)isoquinoline (+)-3b in low enantiomeric purity (14% ee). The absolute configuration of (+)-3b was assigned as R using circular dichroism spectroscopy, correcting an earlier assignment based on the Bijvoet method, but in the absence of heavy atoms. Optically active 2-pyridyl sulfoxides were found not to undergo racemisation analogous to the 1-isoquinolinyl sulfoxide 7, with the ligand coupling reactions of (R)-(+)- and (S)-(−)-2-[(4′-methylphenyl)sulfinyl]-3-methylpyridines, (R)-(+)-17 and (S)-(−)-17, with 2-methoxy-1-naphthylmagnesium bromide providing (−)- and (+)-2-(2′-methoxy-1′-naphthyl)-3-methylpyridines, (−)-18 and (+)-18, in 53 and 60% ee, respectively. The free energy barriers to internal rotation in 3b and 18 have been determined, and the isoquinoline (R)-(−)-12 examined as a ligand in the enantioselectively catalysed addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde; (R)-(−)-12 was also converted to (R)-(−)-N,N-dimethyl-1-(1′-isoquinolinyl)-2-naphthalenemethanamine (R)-(−)-19, and this examined as a ligand in the enantioselective Pd-catalysed allylic substitution of 1,3-diphenylprop-2-enyl acetate with dimethyl malonate.     

Total synthesis of (+)-epiepoformin, (+)-epiepoxydon and (+)-bromoxone employing a useful chiral building block, ethyl (1R,2S)-5,5-ethylenedioxy-2-hydroxycyclohexanecarboxylate

Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-epiepoformin 1, (+)-epiepoxydon 2 and (+)-bromoxone 3 using a chiral building block, ethyl (1R,2S)-5,5-ethylenedioxy-2-hydroxycyclo- hexanecarboxylate 6, is described. Since the synthesis afforded intermediates 18, 2 and 25, it accomplished a formal synthesis of (−)-theobroxide 19, (−)-phyllostine 22, (+)-herveynone 27 and (−)-asperpentyn 28. The usefulness of 6 for the synthesis of natural epoxycyclohexene derivatives was demonstrated.     

Temporary thio-derivatization in the synthesis of (+)-4-acetylbromoxone

A stereocontrolled synthesis of the marine natural products (+)-bromoxone (1) and (+)-4-acetylbromoxone (2) is reported. The sequence features the enzymatic kinetic resolution of 4-hydroxycyclohexenone (6) via its S-benzyl adduct. Thereafter, a base-mediated elimination-silylation generated an optically active (−)-4S-4-tert-butyldimethylsilyoxycyclohexenone (5), which then underwent diastereoselective epoxidation. Saegusa-Ito oxidation enabled formation of the corresponding α,β-unsaturated ketone 13. Bromination-elimination and subsequent removal of the silicon protecting group afforded (+)-bromoxone (1) which was converted into (+)-(4S,5R,6R)-4-acetoxy-2-bromo-5,6-epoxycyclohex-2-enone (2) [(+)-4-acetylbromoxone]. Using a luciferase gene reporter assay ED₅₀ for NFκB inhibition of 9 μM was determined.     

Synthesis of (4R,15R,16R,21S)- and (4R,15S,16S,21S)-rollicosin

A convergent synthesis of (4R,15R,16R,21S)-rollicosin (1) and (4R,15S,16S,21S)-rollicosin (2) was accomplished. Hydroxy lactone 6a and/or 6b were synthesized from 4-pentyn-1-ol, and α,β-unsaturated lactone 7 was synthesized from γ-lactone 8 and 5-hexen-1-ol. Inhibitory activity of these compounds was examined with bovine heart mitochondrial complex I.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-β-hydroxyornithine

An efficient and short synthesis of (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-β-hydroxyornithine 1a-b is described using Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and regioselective nucleophilic opening of a cyclic sulfite as the key steps.     

New synthesis of (−)- and (+)-actinobolin from d-glucose

The total synthesis of (−)-actinobolin 2, an antipode of the natural product starting from d-glucose is described. A three-component coupling reaction of a functionalized cyclohexenone (+)-6, derived from d-glucose by way of Ferrier's carbocyclization, with vinyl cuprate and an aldehyde (R)-5 effectively constructed the carbon framework of 2 in a highly stereoselective manner. The formal synthesis of the natural enantiomer 1 from d-glucose was also achieved.     

Stereoselective synthesis of tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids: (−)-trolline, (+)-crispin A, (+)-oleracein E

Tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids, (S)-(−)-trolline, (R)-(+)-crispin A, and (R)-(+)-oleracein E, have been synthesized stereoselectively from the both enantiomers of common intermediate (S)-4 and (R)-4. The key step in the synthesis include a stereoselective Bi(OTf)₃-catalyzed intramolecular 1,3-chirality transfer reaction of chiral non-racemic amino allylic alcohols (S)-6 and (R)-6 to construct both enantiomers of (E)-1-propenyl tetrahydroisoquinoline 4.     

The first stereoselective total synthesis of (3S,4R)-dihydroxy-(6S)-undecyl-α-pyranone and total synthesis of (2S,3R,5S)-(−)-2,3-dihydroxytetradecan-5-olide

The first total synthesis of (3S,4R)-dihydroxy-(6S)-undecyl-α-pyranone 1 and total synthesis of (2S,3R,5S)-(−)-2,3-dihydroxytetradecan-5-olide 2 have been achieved in five steps in a highly stereoselective manner using Maruoka allylation, olefin cross-metathesis, and Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation as key steps.     

Absolute configuration of gomadalactones A, B and C, the components of the contact sex pheromone of Anoplophora malasiaca

Absolute configuration of gomadalactones A (1), B (2) and C (3), the pheromone components of the white-spotted longicorn beetle (Anoplophora malasiaca) was assigned as (1S,4R,5S)-1, (1R,4R,5R)-2 and (1S,4R,5S,8S)-3 by comparing their published CD spectra with those of (1R,5R)-(+)-4,4,8-trimethyl-3-oxabicyclo[3.3.0]oct-7-ene-2,6-dione (4) and (1S,5R,8S)-(+)-4,4,8-trimethyl-3-oxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane-2,6-dione (5) prepared from (R)-(−)-carvone (6).     

Tulearins A, B, and C; structures and absolute configurations

The relative configuration of tulearin A (1) is determined by X-ray diffraction analysis of a cyclic carbonate derivative 2 and the absolute configuration (2R,3R,5S,8S,9S,15R,17S) from the 9-MTPA-esters 1R and 1S is determined using the modified Mosher’s method. A mechanism for the unexpected formation of carbonate 2 is suggested. Two N-phenyltriazolinedione derivatives 3 and 4 are also prepared. Two additional tulearins, B and C (5 and 6) are isolated in very small amounts and their structures are elucidated by spectroscopic means.     

An efficient method for the preparation of 3-hydroxyl-5-substituted 2-pyrrolidones and application in the divergent synthesis of (−)-preussin and its analogues

An asymmetric method to (S,R)-α-hydroxyl-γ-amino alcohols 12 through a diastereoselective addition of Grignard reagents to β-chiral aldimines 11 is described. Subsequent oxidation/cyclization with Sarett reagent provided a novel approach to lactams 14, a flexible building block whose utility was demonstrated in the divergent synthesis of antifungal agent (−)-preussin 5 and its three analogues 23, 24, 25.     

Synthesis of the fungal natural product (−)-xylariamide A

The first synthesis of the fungal natural product (−)-xylariamide A 1 is reported. N,O-Bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide induced coupling of d-tyrosine with (E)-but-2-enedioic acid 2,5-dioxo-pyrrolidin-1-yl ester methyl ester 5 produced the dechloro natural product 6, which was subsequently monochlorinated using oxone and KCl to yield synthetic 1. (−)-Xylariamide A 1, (+)-xylariamide A 2 and (−)-dechloroxylariamide A 6 displayed no cytotoxic or antimicrobial activity.     

Biomimetically inspired total synthesis of (12S)-12-hydroxymonocerin and (12R)-12-hydroxymonocerin

A concise asymmetric total synthesis of (12S)-12-hydroxymonocerin (1) and (12R)-12-hydroxymonocerin (2) were efficiently achieved from the known 4-bromo-2,6-dimethoxyphenol. The synthetic approach was inspired by our biomimetic synthesis of (+)-monocerin (3) and 7-O-demethylmonocerin (4). The cis-fused furobenzopyranones of 1 and 2 was efficiently constructed via an intramolecular nucleophilic trapping of a quinonemethide intermediate, which was obtained by benzylic oxidation of compound 10 using 2,3-Dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ).     

Synthesis of (S)-, (R)-, and (rac)-2-amino-3,3-bis(4-fluorophenyl)propanoic acids and an evaluation of the DPP IV inhibitory activity of Denagliptin diastereomers

The non-proteinogenic amino acid (2S)-2-amino-3,3-bis(4-fluorophenyl)propanoic acid [(S)-1] is a key intermediate required for the synthesis of Denagliptin (2a). Denagliptin is a dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) inhibitor that is being developed for the treatment of type-2 diabetes mellitus. A diastereoselective, cost-efficient synthetic procedure for (S)-1 was developed by alkylating a Ni(II) glycine equivalent derived from (S)-2-[(N-benzylprolyl) amino] benzophenone [(S)-BPB]. The alkylated product was then decomposed to isolate the target amino acid (S)-1 (ee >99%) and ligand (S)-BPB, which can be reused in subsequent reactions. The enantiomer (R)-1 and racemate (rac)-1 were synthesized from their corresponding Ni(II) glycine equivalents. Denagliptin diastereomers (2), derived from the key intermediates (S)-1, (R)-1, and (rac)-1 were synthesized, and their dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitory activities were investigated. These findings are important in the design and synthesis of DPP IV inhibitors.