Synthesis of (+)- and (−)-Phaselic Acid

The syntheses of both enantiomers of phaselic acid (2-O-caffeoylmalate) are described. The previously unreported acetate-protected caffeic acid anhydride was used with appropriately protected malic acid derivatives as coupling partners to provide fully protected phaselic acid. Sequential unmasking of the protecting groups afforded phaselic acid in an acceptable overall yield.

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Total Synthesis of (+)- and (−)-Ononitol

Abstract

A practical, five-step synthetic sequence for conversion of myo-inositol into enantiomerically pure (+)- and (?)-ononitols in 17% and 18% overall yield, respectively, has been developed.     

Semisynthesis of (+)- and (−)-goniomitine from (−)- and (+)-vincadifformine

The first biomimetic semisynthesis of goniomitine has been accomplished in nine steps with 11% overall yield starting from vincadifformine. Natural (?)- and unnatural (+)-goniomitine were prepared from (+)- and (?)-vincadifformine, respectively. The evaluation of the antiproliferative effect of both enantiomers proved unnatural (+)-goniomitine to be more potent, but this enantiomer as well as some close derivatives displayed a moderate activity only.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (−)- and (+)-neodichroine/hydrachine A from (+)- and (−)-febrifugine

A new asymmetric approach to both enantiomers of the quinazolinone-containing natural product febrifugine is reported. Utilising a proline-mediated aminooxylation-Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons sequence provides the key optically active 2,3-disubstituted piperidine intermediate 7 in high enantioselectivity but poor overall yield (7 steps, 3%, 98% ee). This intermediate has been used to prepare both naturally occurring (+)-febrifugine (1) and its (?)-enantiomer. In turn, each were then used to synthesise, for the first time, both enantiomers of the claimed natural product neodichroine/hydrachine A. Spectroscopic data for the synthetic compound matched the claimed structure. However, the specific rotation differed in both magnitude and sign from the isolation work.     

Synthesis of (+)- and (−)-Tetrabenazine from the Resolution of α-Dihydrotetrabenazine

Abstract

Tetrabenazine (1) was reduced with NaBH₄ to α-dihydrotetrabenazine (2) and then resolved with di-p-toluoyl-L-tartrate and di-p-toluoyl-D-tartrate to subsequently give (+)- and (?)-α-dihydrotetrabenazine. The enantiomers were oxidized under Swern conditions to prepare samples of (+)-tetrabenazine and (?)-tetrabenazine. The samples were optically pure by chiral HPLC analysis.     

TiCl3-Mediated Synthesis of 2,3,3-Trisubstituted Indolenines: Total Synthesis of (+)-1,2-Dehydroaspidospermidine, (+)-Condyfoline,and (−)-Tubifoline

2,3,3-Trisubstituted indolenine constitutes an integral part of many biologically important monoterpene indole alkaloids. We report herein an unprecedented access to this skeleton by a TiCl₃-mediated reductive cyclization of tetrasubstituted alkenes bearing a 2-nitrophenyl substituent. The proof of concept is demonstrated firstly by accomplishing a concise total synthesis of (+)-1,2-dehydroaspidospermidine featuring a late-stage application of this key transformation. A sequence of reduction of nitroarene to nitrosoarene followed by 6π-electron-5-atom electrocyclization and a 1,2-alkyl shift of the resulting nitrone intermediate was proposed to account for the reaction outcome. A subsequent total synthesis of (+)-condyfoline not only illustrates the generality of the reaction, but also provides a mechanistic insight into the nature of the 1,2-alkyl shift. The exclusive formation of (+)-condyfoline indicates that the 1,2-alkyl migration follows a concerted Wagner–Meerwein pathway, rather than a stepwise retro-Mannich/Mannich reaction sequence. Conditions for almost quantitative conversion of (+)-condyfoline to (−)-tubifoline by way of a retro-Mannich/1,3-prototropy/transannular cyclization cascade are also documented.     

Enantiodivergent synthesis of (+)- and (−)-isolaurepan

The enantiodivergent synthesis of (+)-and (?)-isolaurepan was achieved from a common chiral template easily available from tri-O-acetyl-d-glucal, using as key step a diastereoselective thermal Claisen rearrangement, combined with a ring expansion reaction using trimethylsilyldiazomethane.     

Enantioselective syntheses of (+)- and (−)-brazilin

Two enantiomers of brazilin were prepared in 9 steps from 7-hydroxychroman-4-one using the AD-mix-α and AD-mix-β-directed enantioselective dihydroxylation of 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2H-chromen-7-ol as a key step.     

Stereospecific Synthesis of (−)-β-Turmerone and (−)-Bisacurol

The structure of (+)-β-turmerone ((+)- 1a ), a constituent of the rhizomes of Curcuma longa Linn. , and Curcuma xanthorriza, is established as (1′R,6S)-2-methyl-6-(4′-methylenecyclohex-2′-en-1′-yl)hept-2-en-4-one by synthesis of its enantiomer (−)- 1a , and of the corresponding (1′S,6S)-diastereoisomer (+)- 1b as well. In a stereospecific seventeen-step procedure, the monoterpene diols 2a and 2b of well-established configuration are converted into the target compounds (−)- 1a and (+)- 1b , respectively. Moreover, (−)-bisacurol (−)- 3a (II), the enantiomer of another bisabolane sesquiterpene derived from Curcuma xanthorriza, is obtained as a single stereoisomer and shown to be (1′S,6R)-2-methyl-6-(4′-methylenecyclohex-2′-en-1′-yl)hept-2-en-4-ol, the relative configuration at the remaining OH-substituted chiral center C(4) still being unknown.     

Total syntheses of macrosphelides (+)-A, (−)-A and (+)-E

Total syntheses of (+)-macrosphelide A 1 (18.5% overall yield in 11 steps) and (+)-macrosphelide E 2 (23.9% overall yield in 11 steps) have been achieved via the chemoenzymatic reaction product (4R,5S)-4-benzyloxy-5-hydroxy-2(E)-hexenoate 4. The enantiomer (−)-A (1) (14.2% overall yield in 11 steps) of (+)-1 was also synthesized from the chemoenzymatic reaction product (4S,5R)-4-benzyloxy-5-hydroxy-2(E)-hexenoate 4.     

Synthesis of (−)-okundoperoxide and determination of the absolute configuration of natural (+)-okundoperoxide

The first enantioselective synthesis of (3S,4aR,8aR)-1 (the enantiomer of natural okundoperoxide) has been accomplished. The synthesis features: 1) stereoselective installation of the peroxy functionality (16 → 17); 2) ring opening of peroxyacetal and subsequent intramolecular reaction between the hydroperoxide and the vinyl epoxide to form the peroxy six-membered ring (5 → 1). The absolute configuration of okundoperoxide was determined to be 3R,4aS,8aS by comparing specific rotations of the synthetic sample and the natural product.     

Enantioselective formal synthesis of (−)-aurantioclavine using Pd-catalyzed cascade cyclization and organocatalytic asymmetric aziridination

The enantioselective formal synthesis of (?)-aurantioclavine is described. The core tricyclic skeleton was synthesized using a Pd-catalyzed Heck insertion–allylic amination cascade. The stereocenter was constructed by a highly enantioselective organocatalytic asymmetric aziridination reaction.     

Concise enantiodivergent synthesis of (+)- and (−)-trans-quercus lactones

A concise enantiodivergent total synthesis of (+)- and (−)-quercus lactones from the known tricyclic lactone (+)-1 as a single chiral template was achieved using the diastereoselective nucleophilic addition of organometallic reagents as the key step.     

Total synthesis of natural (−)- and unnatural (+)-Melearoride A

This communication details the first total synthesis of the 13-membered macrolide, (?)-Melearoride A, as well as unnatural (+)-Melearoride A. The synthesis features a concise 13 step synthesis (11 steps longest linear sequence) that offers flexible stereo-control and multiple opportunities for unnatural analog synthesis to delve into antifungal SAR. The route features a cuprate addition, an Evans asymmetric alkylation, and a ring-closing metathesis (RCM) to close the 13-membered macrocyclic core.     

Oxidative Coupling Approach to Sarpagine Alkaloids: Total Synthesis of (−)-Trinervine,Vellosimine, (+)-Normacusine B,and (−)-Alstomutinine C

Sarpagine alkaloids are bioactive indole natural products that contain a highly rigid indole-fused 1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, more than 100 members of which have been identified. Herein, a detailed examination of the intramolecular oxidative coupling between a ketone and a Weinreb amide for assembling the complex 1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane core structure of sarpagine family alkaloids is described. Precise late-stage manipulations of the ketone and Weinreb amide enable the divergent syntheses of (−)-trinervine, (+)-vellosimine, (+)-normacusine B, and (−)-alstomutinine C. Other notable transformations of the synthesis featured an aza-Achmatowicz/indole cyclization cascade to generate the azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane structure, a regioselective elimination reaction to form the ethylidene motif embedded in the (+)-vellosimine and (+)-normacusine B structures, and a diastereoselective indole oxidative rearrangement to form the spirooxindole structure in (−)-alstomutinine C.     

Synthesis of (±)- and (−)-botryodiplodin using stereoselective radical cyclizations of acyclic esters and acetals

Three different routes for the stereoselective synthesis of botryodiplodin have been investigated. The intramolecular allylation of acetals proved to be unsatisfactory due to unstable intermediates and poor stereocontrol. Zard intramolecular radical allylation of a 2-iodopropionate derivative allows the development of an expeditious synthesis of racemic botryodiplodin. The relative configuration within the final product was corrected by a deprotonation–reprotonation step. The cyclization of allenyl bromoacetals was investigated next and proved to be satisfactory for the synthesis of racemic and enantiomerically pure botryodiplodin. Good stereocontrol was achieved by cyclizing a gem-dibromide followed by the stereoselective reduction of the thus formed cyclic monobromide.     

A convenient synthesis of (+)-albicanol based on enzymatic function: total syntheses of (+)-albicanyl acetate, (−)-albicanyl 3,4-dihydroxycinnamate, (−)-drimenol, (−)-drimenin and (−)-ambrox

By using lipase ‘PL-266’ from Alcaligenes sp. enantioselective acetylation of (±)-albicanol 4 with isopropenyl acetate gave the enantiomerically pure (+)-albicanyl acetate 3 and (+)-albicanol 4. Deprotection of (+)-3 afforded the natural (+)-albicanol 4 which was converted to the natural products (−)-albicanyl 3,4-dihydroxycinnamate 7, (−)-drimenol 8, (−)-drimenin 9 and (−)-ambrox 10.     

Synthesis of (+)-β-Bisabolene

β-Bisabolene (1) is one of the simplest monocyclic sesqui-terpenes found in nature.¹ Many syntheses² involving chain extension on cyclohexenyl derivatives have been published. We now wish to describe a new route which features a Diels-Alder reaction to assemble all but one carbon atom of the sesquiterpene.     

Total Syntheses of (−)-Secologanin, (−)-5-Carboxystrictosidine,and (−)-Rubenine

The first enantioselective total syntheses of (−)-secologanin ( 1 ), (−)-5-carboxystrictosidine ( 2 ), and (−)-rubenine ( 3 ) were accomplished in 10, 9, and 14 steps, respectively. The key transformation in the synthesis of 1 was a sequential anti-selective organocatalytic Michael reaction/Fukuyama reduction/spontaneous cyclization to form an optically active dihydropyran ring. In addition, the secologanin tetraacetate ( 16 ), which is a potential key intermediate for the bioinspired divergent syntheses of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, was prepared in gram-scale in seven steps. The total syntheses of 2 and 3 , which are classified as glycosylated monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, were achieved through bioinspired transformations such as a diastereoselective Pictet–Spengler reaction, a site- and stereoselective epoxidation, and a site-selective epoxide ring-opening followed by a lactonization reaction.     

A simple asymmetric synthesis of (+)- and (−)-2,6-diaminopimelic acids

The asymmetric synthesis of both the enantiomers of 2,6-diaminopimelic acid (2,6-DAP) has been accomplished starting from the chiral synthon 1.