Asymmetric synthesis of (−)-codonopsinine

The asymmetric synthesis of (−)-codonopsinine was achieved in 7 steps (from commercially available tert-butyl crotonate) in 5% overall yield and >99:1 dr. The key step in this synthesis involved ring-closing iodoamination of a functionalised homoallylic amine, which occurred with concomitant N-debenzylation, to give a 3-iodopyrrolidine that was elaborated to (−)-codonopsinine.     

A short and efficient asymmetric synthesis of (−)-frontalin, (−)-exo-isobrevicomin and a volatile contributor of beer-aroma

The natural products, (−)-frontalin and (+)-exo-isobrevicomin were synthesized employing Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation and ZrCl₄-catalyzed intramolecular acetalization as the key steps. (−)-Frontalin was synthesized in three steps with a 61.4% overall yield and 89.9% ee and (−)-exo-isobrevicomin also obtained in an overall satisfactory yield of 10.1% and 97% ee. We have also synthesized the volatile contributor of beer aroma in a 96% ee.     

Synthesis of diethyl 2-methyl-bicyclo[3.1.1]hept-2-ene-6,6-dicarboxylate by Pd-catalyzed intramolecular allylic alkylation. Stereoselective preparation of its optically homogeneous form from R-(−)-carvone

A new route to racemic diethyl 2-methyl-bicyclo[3.1.1]hept-2-ene-6,6-dicarboxylate (±)-1a by means of a palladium-catalyzed intramolecular allylic alkylation exercised on malonate-ester derivatives has been developed from R-(−)-carvone. The stereocontrolled synthesis of the enantiomerically pure (−)-1b by application of a six-step reactions sequence with a 28% overall yield from acetal 8, has been accomplished.     

Chiral vicinal diols as platforms for separable diastereomers in Johnson-Claisen rearrangement: a new short route to (−)-nor-canadensolide, (−)-canadensolide and (−)-sporothriolide

The chiral vicinal diols prepared by asymmetric dihydroxylation in high enantioselectivities provide an excellent platform for separable diastereomers in the Johnson-Claisen rearrangement. The separated syn-diastereomers were converted into the advanced γ-(lactone-lactol) intermediates (in six steps, 26-27% overall yields) for the synthesis of (−)-nor-canadensolide, (−)-canadensolide and (−)-sporothriolide.     

Total synthesis of (−)-petrosiol E

(−)-Petrosiol E, a metabolite of sponge Petrosia strongylata, has been synthesized in 32% overall yield from cheap natural d-xylose in 10 steps. Our strategy provides an efficient way for the total synthesis of other petrosiol members, featuring the three contiguous stereogenic centers are easily constructed from d-xylose chiral template.     

A practical enantioselective total synthesis of (−)-(S)-stepholidine

A convergent enantioselective total synthesis of (−)-(S)-stepholidine, a drug candidate for the treatment of schizophrenia and/or drug abuse, was described, which represented the first example of successful auxiliary-assisted Bischler–Napieralski cyclization of amide bearing bromine atom at 2-position of the C ring, followed by an introduction of the aryl methyl ester via Br–Li exchange. (−)-(S)-Stepholidine was synthesized in 6 steps, with 52% overall yield and >99% ee. The reported synthesis is practically free from chromatographic separation.     

Synthesis of a novel sphingosine kinase inhibitor (−)-F-12509A and determination of its absolute configuration

The synthesis of a novel sphingosine kinase inhibitor, (−)-F-12509A ((−)-1), was achieved in a highly efficient manner that included nine longest linear steps and 45% overall yield from (−)-bicyclic β-ketoester (−)-2, and its absolute configuration was determined to be (5S,9S,10S).     

Total synthesis of the alkaloid (−)-codonopsinine from l-xylose

The enantiopure total synthesis of (−)-codonopsinine is described from commercially available l-xylose in 20% overall yield. The key steps included Julia trans olefination and cascade epoxidation-cyclisation strategies.     

A stereoselective total synthesis of (−)-seychellene

A stereoselective total synthesis of the tricyclic sesquiterpene (−)-seychellene, starting from (R)-carvone via (R)-3-methylcarvone has been accomplished, employing a combination of intermolecular Michael addition-intramolecular Michael addition sequence, a stereoselective hydrogenation, and an intramolecular alkylation reaction.     

Synthesis of ent-ambrox® from (−)-nidorellol

Using ozonolysis of the acid-catalyzed cyclized products of (−)-nidorellol and air-autoxidation as the key steps, (+)-ambrox was obtained in 53% overall yield. In the course of our synthesis, we discovered that (−)-nidorellol provided (+)-ambrox instead of the expected product, (−)-ambrox. Thus the absolute configuration of (−)-nidorellol was proved to be trans-(5R^∗,7R^∗,8R^∗,9S^∗,10R^∗)-labda-12,14-diene-7α,8β-diol, which is opposite to that illustrated in a previous report.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (−)-cytoxazone and (+)-epi-cytoxazone

Optically pure (−)-cytoxazone was synthesized, starting from methyl p-methoxycinnamate, in six steps and in 31% overall yield. The required anti-aminoalcohol configuration was established by combining Sharpless asymmetric aminohydroxylation with the configurational inversion of the intermediate amidoalcohol via an oxazoline. The synthesis of (+)-epi-cytoxazone is also described.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (−)-(S,S)-homaline

The asymmetric synthesis of (−)-(S,S)-homaline was achieved in 8 steps from commercially available starting materials using the diastereoselective conjugate addition of the novel lithium amide reagent lithium (R)-N-(3-chloropropyl)-N-(α-methyl-p-methoxybenzyl)amide to methyl cinnamate to install the correct stereochemistry. Subsequent functional group manipulation of the resultant β-amino ester and Sb(OEt)₃-mediated macrolactamisation was followed by homodimerisation to give (−)-(S,S)-homaline in 18% overall yield, representing the first asymmetric, and by far the most efficient synthesis of this natural product reported to date.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (S)-(−)-quinolactacin B

The enantioselective total synthesis of (−)-quinolactacin B (−)-1 was performed in seven steps and 33% overall yield from tryptamine. The synthesis features the use of ruthenium catalytic asymmetric hydrogen reaction to introduce the chirality in dihydro-β-carboline 2. Based on Noyori’s work, the hydrogenation using the (R,R)-TsDPEN-Ru complex produces dihydro-β-carbolines possessing the (S) absolute configuration, the corrected asymmetric center of the natural product. The synthetic quinolactacin B displayed optical rotations that was in accordance with that of the natural product, thereby supporting the (S) configuration for natural quinolactacin B. The final product’s stereochemical assignment is in agreement with that proposed by Nakagawa and co-workers.     

Asymmetric syntheses of (−)-isoretronecanol and (−)-trachelantamidine

Short and concise total asymmetric syntheses of (−)-isoretronecanol and (−)-trachelantamidine are reported. Oxidative cleavage of tert-butyl (S,S,S,Z)-7-[N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amino]cyclohept-3-ene-1-carboxylate, followed by hydrogenolysis promoted in situ cyclisation/reduction, which provided rapid access to the bicyclic core within (−)-isoretronecanol. Analogous treatment of the C(1)-epimer gave (−)-trachelantamidine. Overall, the syntheses of (−)-isoretronecanol and (−)-trachelantamidine were completed in eight and seven steps and 20 and 9.5% yield, respectively, from commercially available starting materials.     

Asymmetric synthesis of the marine alkaloid (−)-(S)-nakinadine C

The first asymmetric synthesis of the marine alkaloid (−)-(S)-nakinadine C is described. This synthesis employs the conjugate addition of lithium dibenzylamide to an N-α-phenylacryloyl SuperQuat derivative followed by diastereoselective protonation of the intermediate enolate using 2-pyridone as the key step to introduce the stereochemistry. (−)-(S)-Nakinadine C was isolated in 13% yield over 9 steps from commercially available atropic acid, 98:2 dr [(Z):(E) ratio] and >99% ee.     

Facile synthesis of (−)-6-acetoxy-5-hexadecanolide by size-selective ring-closing/cross metathesis

A total synthesis of (−)-6-acetoxy-5-hexadecanolide, in six steps and 37% overall yield from (2R,3S)-1,2-epoxy-4-penten-3-ol is reported. The key synthetic step is a size-selective ring-closing/cross metathesis reaction in which lactone formation and alkyl chain extension are accomplished in an efficient one-pot process.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of piperidine alkaloids, (−)-241D and (−)-isosolenopsin

Highly diastereocontrolled synthesis of alkaloids, (−)-241D and (−)-isosolenopsin was achieved in 7.7% and 5.3% yields, respectively, using a Barbier-type allylation of a chiral imine and d-proline catalyzed aldol addition reaction of a β-amino aldehyde with acetone as the key steps. The synthesis involves a nine-step sequence using (S)-valinate imine in a Barbier-type allylation for the first time.     

A highly stereocontrolled formal total synthesis of (±)- and of (−)-grandisol by 1,4-conjugated addition of organocopper reagents to cyclobutylidene derivatives

Starting from suitable cyclopropanes, a formal total synthesis of racemic grandisol and of the enantiopure (−)-grandisol is presented. The racemic synthesis of the grandisol precursor was accomplished in five steps. The synthesis of the chiral non-racemic precursor (1S,2S,2′R)-cis of this pheromone was realized in 10 steps, with an overall yield of 45%, using the enantiopure cyclobutanone (R,S), previously obtained by ring expansion of an optically pure oxaspiropentane. The key stereodefining step was the addition of lithium dimethylcuprate to a chiral α,β-unsaturated cyclobutylidene carbonyl derivative.     

Towards the synthesis of prevezol C: total enantioselective synthesis of (−)-2-epi-prevezol C

(−)-2-epi-Prevezol C was readily accessed from the chirons (−)- and (+)-limonene oxide in a total of nine steps and in 24% yield. This efficient enantioselective synthesis of this complex product utilises a highly stereoconvergent, substrate-controlled allylic alkylation strategy to assemble rapidly the unprecedented diterpene core.     

Asymmetric synthesis of the pyran antibiotic (−)-centrolobine

An expedient total synthesis of (−)-centrolobine is achieved involving asymmetric Keck allylation and stereoselective intramolecular oxy-Michael reactions as key steps in 8% overall yield.