The first total synthesis of (+/-)-scopadulin, an antiviral aphidicolane diterpene

[reaction: see text] The first total synthesis of (+/-)-scopadulin was accomplished by a stereoselective construction of a quaternary carbon at C-4, conversion of the hindered cyano group to a methyl group via our novel reaction for conversion of primary aliphatic amines into alcohols, and a highly chemo- and stereoselective methylation at C-16.     

Stereoselective synthesis of the bacterial DNA primase inhibitor Sch 642305 and its C-4 epimer

A convergent stereoselective synthesis of the bacterial DNA primase inhibitor Sch 642305 and its non-natural epimer at C-4 is described. A key aspect was the construction of a trans-2,3-disubstituted cyclohexanone system by means of a stereoselective Michael addition/α-alkylation sequence. The macrolactone ring of either stereoisomer was created using the Mitsunobu and Yamaguchi procedures, respectively.     

Utility of the ammonia-free Birch reduction of electron-deficient pyrroles: total synthesis of the 20s proteasome inhibitor, clasto-lactacystin beta-lactone

A new synthesis of the 20S proteasome inhibitor clasto-lactacystin beta-lactone is described. Our route to this important natural product involves the partial reduction of an electron deficient pyrrole as a key step. By judicious choice of enolate counterion, we were able to exert complete control over the stereoselectivity of the reduction/aldol reaction. Early attempts to complete the synthesis by using a C-4 methyl substituted pyrrole are described in full, together with our attempts to promote regioselective elimination of a tertiary alcohol. The lessons learnt from this first approach led us to develop another, and ultimately successful, route that introduced the C-4 methyl group at a late stage in the synthesis. Our successful route is then described and this contains several highly stereoselective steps including a cis-dihydroxylation and an enolate methylation. The final synthesis proceeds in just 13 steps and in 15 % overall yield making it an extremely efficient route to this valuable compound.     

Asymmetric synthesis of a highly functionalized β-amino acid: the key amino acid of sperabillins B and D

The asymmetric synthesis of the highly functionalized (3R,5R,6R)-3,6-diamino-5-hydroxyheptanoic acid, the key amino acid fragment of sperabillins B and D, was achieved by an asymmetric Michael addition of lithium (R)-(-methylbenzyl)allylamide 10 to (E,E)-2,5-heptadienoate establishing the C-3 stereogenic centre, the information from which was propagated to the C-5 and C-6 centres by a highly stereoselective iodocyclocarbamation reaction.     

Construction of an advanced tetracyclic intermediate for total synthesis of the marine alkaloid sarain A

In work directed toward a total synthesis of the marine alkaloid sarain A (1), the advanced intermediate 54, containing all the key elements and the seven stereogenic centers of sarain A, has been successfully synthesized from bicyclic lactam 4, previously prepared via an intramolecular stereospecific [3 + 2]-azomethine ylide dipolar cycloaddition. Intermediate lactam 4 could be efficiently converted to N-Boc derivative 12. Introduction of a two-carbon fragment into lactam 12 which eventually becomes the C-7',8' syn diol of the "eastern" ring was then achieved by C-acylation of the corresponding enolate with methoxyacetyl chloride followed by a highly stereoselective ketone reduction with Zn(BH4)2 to afford alcohol 16. Intermediate 16 has the incorrect C-7' relative stereochemistry for sarain A, but this problem was conveniently remedied by inverting the C-7' center via an intramolecular Ohfune-type cyclization of the silyl carbamate derived from Boc mesylate 27 to produce the key cyclic carbamate 28. It was then possible to convert acetal 28 to allylsilane 32 followed by cyclization to the alkaloid tricyclic core 33 via an allylsilane/N-sulfonyliminium ion cyclization. Formation of the "western" macrocyclic ring has been successfully addressed using functional group handles at C-3' and N-1' on the tricyclic core via a ring-closing olefin metathesis (RCM) strategy with the second-generation Grubbs ruthenium catalyst to produce intermediate macrolactam 47. A chelation-controlled addition of ethynylmagnesium bromide to advanced aldehyde 51 afforded a single diastereomeric adduct 53 which is tentatively assigned to have the correct C-7',8' syn-diol stereochemistry. This adduct could be rearranged to the conveniently protected amino carbonate 54 which is set up for construction of the remainder of the eastern ring of sarain A.     

A Flexible Approach to Grandisine Alkaloids: Total Synthesis of Grandisines B,D, and F

This article describes in detail the first total synthesis of grandisine alkaloids, grandisines B, D, and F, which show affinity for the human δ‐opioid receptor. The key steps in this synthesis are construction of the isoquinuclidinone moiety of 2 by intramolecular imine formation and the tetracyclic ring system of 4 by stereoselective ring closure of the enolate of amine 8 generated by 1,4‐addition of ammonia to 9 . Synthesis of key intermediate 9 featured a highly stereoselective Brønsted acid mediated Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) reaction via the N‐acyl iminium ion.     

Establishing the absolute configuration of the asbestinins: enantioselective total synthesis of 11-acetoxy-4-deoxyasbestinin D

A highly stereoselective synthesis of 11-acetoxy-4-deoxyasbestinin D (1) has been completed in 26 linear steps. The synthesis hinges on a selective glycolate aldol addition to establish the C-2 stereocenter, a ring-closing metathesis reaction to complete the oxonene, and an intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition to establish the relative configuration at C-1, C-10, and C-14. This initial total synthesis of an asbestinin also serves to confirm the absolute configuration of this subclass of the C-2-C-11-cyclized cembranoid natural products.     

Epoxide-initiated electrophilic cyclization of azides: a novel route for the stereoselective construction of azabicyclic ring systems and total synthesis of (+/-)-indolizidine 167B and 209D

[reaction: see text] A novel and general method for the stereoselective construction of 5-hydroxymethyl azabicyclic ring skeletons based on epoxide initiated electrophilic cyclization of azides has been developed and applied in the synthesis of (+/-)-indolizidine 167B and 209D with an overall yield of 16.5% and 17.8%, respectively. The efficiency of this methodology is further exemplified in the synthesis of azepine skeleton via tandem cation-olefin-azide cyclization.     

A novel and highly stereoselective approach to aza-spirocycles. A short total synthesis of 2-epi-(+/-)-perhydrohistrionicotoxin and an unprecedented decarboxylation of 2-pyrones

[reaction: see text] A novel and highly stereoselective synthesis of aza-spirocycles is described. An application of this methodology is illustrated as a short and concise total synthesis of 2-epi-(+/-)-perhydrohistrionicotoxin with high diastereomeric control at the aza-spirocenter. An unprecedented decarboxylation of the 2-pyrone ring is observed in this total synthesis effort.     

Application of furanyl carbamate cycloadditions toward the synthesis of hexahydroindolinone alkaloids

A convenient synthesis of various substituted hexahydroindolinones has been achieved by an intramolecular Diels--Alder cycloaddition reaction (IMDAF) of furanyl carbamates bearing tethered alkenyl groups. The initially formed [4 + 2]-cycloadduct undergoes nitrogen-assisted ring opening followed by deprotonation of the resulting zwitterion to give the rearranged ketone. The stereochemical outcome of the IMDAF cycloaddition has the sidearm of the tethered alkenyl group oriented syn with respect to the oxygen bridge. A synthetic route to (+/-)-mesembrane and (+/-)-crinane was accomplished using this methodology. It was possible to carry out a stereoselective reduction of the initially formed hexahydroindolinone ring to produce the cis-3a-aryl-hydroindole skeleton. A related [4 + 2]-cycloaddition/rearrangement sequence was also used for a formal synthesis of the Chinese ornamental orchid (+/-)-dendrobine. The tricyclic alkaloid core was formed stereoselectivity from the thermolysis of N-[(2-methyl-2-cyclopentenyl)methyl]-N-(4-isopropyl-furan-2-yl)carbamic acid tert-butyl ester. Kende's advanced intermediate 33 was prepared in seven additional steps by standard transformations, thereby completing a formal synthesis of (+/-)-dendrobine.     

Synthesis of vitamin D(3) and calcitriol dimers as potential chemical inducers of vitamin D receptor dimerization

The design and synthesis of vitamin D(3) dimers 2 and 3 and 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (calcitriol) dimers 4 and 5 are described. The dimers were designed with a view to doubly binding the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and inducing the receptor homodimerization. In the dimers the units are linked through the C-11 position in ring C by an alkyl side chain of six or 10 carbon atoms, far from the hydroxy groups responsible for the VDR binding. The linker is formed by olefin metathesis of an olefinic side chain at the C-11 position introduced by stereoselective cuprate addition. The synthesis, which is both short and convergent, uses the Wittig-Horner approach to construct the vitamin D triene system and allows the preparation of dimers with a linker of modulated length with the purpose of optimizing the vitamin D(3)-VDR interaction.     

Enantioselective synthesis of trans-4-methylpipecolic acid

An asymmetric synthesis for the preparation of both enantiomers of trans-methylpipecolic acids is described. It is based on Sharpless epoxidation as a chirality source, regioselective ring opening with allylamine, and ring-closing metathesis to construct the piperidine ring. The stereogenic center at C-4 is set by stereoselective hydrogenation that is directed by the alcohol functionality of an intermediate and proceeds with good diastereomeric control (trans/cis 16/1). Crystallization of the Boc-protected amino acid afforded the target products with excellent chemical (98% de) and enantiomeric purity (99% ee).     

A concise and stereoselective synthesis of squalamine

[reaction: see text] A short and highly stereoselective synthesis of the novel steroid squalamine (1) was accomplished in nine steps from easily available methyl chenodeoxylcholanate 2. Our synthesis featured improved dehydrogenation of 4 followed by conjugate reduction to construct the trans AB-ring system and efficient asymmetric isopropylation of aldehyde 6 to introduce the C-24R-hydroxyl group.     

Concise stereoselective synthesis of marine sesterterpene, 16-deacetoxy-12-epi-scalarafuran acetate and its 14-epimer via intramolecular Diels-Alder addition

The stereoselective synthesis of C12 oxygenated marine scalaranic sesterterpene 16-deacetoxy-12-epi-scalarafuran acetate and its 14-epimer were described. A highly stereoselective intramolecular Diels-Alder addition was designed as the key step to construct the ring D, and the absolute configurations of natural 16-deacetoxy-12-epi-scalarafuran acetate was supported by the X-ray diffraction analysis of single crystal of corresponding 16-deacetoxy-12-epi-scalarafuran.     

The total synthesis of spectinabilin and its biomimetic conversion to SNF4435C and SNF4435D

[reaction: see text] A short synthesis of (+/-)-spectinabilin via a trans-selective Suzuki coupling and subsequent Negishi-type methylation, and its biomimetic conversion to (+/-)-SNF4435C and (+/-)-SNF4435D is described.     

Deoxygenation at C-4 and Stereospecific Branched-Chain Construction at C-3 of a Methyl Hexopyranuloside. Synthetic Approach to the Amipurimycin Sugar Moiety

A five-step synthesis from 3 leading to a partially protected amipurimycin sugar moiety 14 in an overall yield of 47% is described and includes deoxygenation at C-4 and regio- and stereoselective construction of the branched chain. Deoxygenation at C-4 of 3 was possible by three different methods. Radical reduction with tri-n-butyltin hydride of the appropriate phenoxythiocarbonyl derivative afforded the desired deoxysugar 5 in 47% overall yield together with the secondary products 6 and 7 due to depivaloylation at C-2 and elimination of methanol. The most adequate deoxygenation procedure used the system Ph(3)P/I(2)/imidazole which led to the preparation of 5 in one step in 61% yield. When the system Ph(3)PBr(2)/Ph(3)P was tried, only 8 was formed due to elimination of methanol. The synthesis of 5 was then accomplished by reaction of 8 with methanol in the presence of triphenylphosphine hydrobromide in 37% overall yield. Branched-chain construction was accomplished by Wittig reaction of 5 with [(ethoxycarbonyl)methylene]triphenylphosphorane, followed by osmilation and reduction with lithium aluminum hydride. Isopropylidenation of 14 afforded 16 with a free hydroxy group at C-6 for chain elongation and further synthesis of amipurimycin.     

ZUM MECHANISMUS MASSENSPEKTROMETRISCHER FRAGMENTIERUNGSREAKTIONEN BEI A/B-CIS- VERKNüPFTEN 3α-HYDROXYSTEROIDEN MIT UND OHNE 11-KETOGRUPPE

Mass spectra of steroids containing a carbonyl group in position 11 and a 3α-hydroxy group in a cis connected A/B ring system are characterised by very strong [M – 72]⁺· key ions and may therefore be clearly differentiated from the spectra of their isomers. The mechanism of this fragmentation reaction was investigated by deuterium labelling and the DADI technique. The 3α-hydroxy group is eliminated together with the 9α-H atom. Next a hydrogen atom is transferred from the A ring to the B/C/D ring system. This causes the cleavage of the C-3? C-4 bond and expulsion of C atoms 1 to 4 as butadiene. In 3α-hydroxy-5α-androstanes possessing no 11-keto group an analogous [M – 18]⁺. fragment is fromed, followed by the elimination of ethylene originating mostly from C-1 and C-2.     

Studies on the Enantioselective Synthesis of E-Ethylidene-bearing Spiro[indolizidine-1,3′-oxindole] Alkaloids

A synthetic route for the enantioselective construction of the tetracyclic spiro[indolizidine-1,3′-oxindole] framework present in a large number of oxindole alkaloids, with a cis H-3/H-15 stereochemistry, a functionalized two-carbon substituent at C-15, and an E-ethylidene substituent at C-20, is reported. The key steps of the synthesis are the generation of the tetracyclic spirooxindole ring system by stereoselective spirocyclization from a tryptophanol-derived oxazolopiperidone lactam, the removal of the hydroxymethyl group, and the stereoselective introduction of the E-ethylidene substituent by acetylation at the α-position of the lactam carbonyl, followed by hydride reduction and elimination. Following this route, the 21-oxo derivative of the enantiomer of the alkaloid 7(S)-geissoschizol oxindole has been prepared.     

Synthesis and conformational analysis of 1-[2,4-dideoxy-4-C-hydroxymethyl-alpha-l-lyxopyranosyl]thymine

Previously different types of nucleosides with a six-membered carbohydrate moiety have been evaluated for their potential antiviral and antibiotic properties and as building blocks in nucleic acid synthesis. However, a pyranose nucleoside with a 1,4-substitution pattern like 1-[2,4-dideoxy-4-C-hydroxymethyl-alpha-l-lyxopyranosyl]thymine (4) has not been studied yet. Modeling suggested that this nucleoside would show the (4)C(1) conformation in contrast to anhydrohexitol nucleosides (1) whose most stable conformation is (1)C(4). The key to the synthesis of 4 involves the stereoselective introduction of the hydroxymethyl group onto the C-4 carbon of the pyranose sugar. Attempts to achieve this via hydroboration/oxidation of a C-4'-exocyclic vinylic intermediate selectively yielded the undesired alpha-directed hydroxymethyl group. Therefore, we envisaged another approach in which the C-4 substituent was introduced upon treatment of 2,3-O-isopropylidene-1-O-methyl-4-O-phenoxythiocarbonyl-alpha-l-lyxopyranose with beta-tributylstannyl styrene. This allowed stereoselective beta-directed introduction of a 2-phenylethenyl group at C-4, which was converted via oxidation/reduction (OsO(4), NaIO(4)/NaBH(4)) into the desired 4-hydroxymethyl group (20). The resulting 1-O-methyl-2,3,6-tri-O-acetyl-protected sugar was coupled with silylated thymine, using SnCl(2) as Lewis acid (22). After suitable protection, Barton deoxygenation of the 2'-hydroxyl function of the obtained ribo-nucleoside yielded the desired 2'-deoxynucleoside 4, indeed showing the expected equatorial orientation of the thymine ring ((4)C(1)).     

Stereocontrolled total synthesis of (-)-kainic acid. Regio- and stereoselective lithiation of pyrrolidine ring with the (+)-sparteine surrogate

[reaction: see text] A stereocontrolled total synthesis of (-)-kainic acid is described. cis-3,4-Disubstituted pyrrolidine ring was constructed by [3 + 2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylide with chiral butenolide. The crucial introduction of carboxyl group at the C-2 position was executed by regio- and stereoselective lithiation of the pyrrolidine ring in the presence of a (+)-sparteine surrogate followed by trapping with carbon dioxide.