Divergent Total Syntheses of Enmein‐Type Natural Products: (−)‐Enmein, (−)‐Isodocarpin,and (−)‐Sculponin R

Divergent total syntheses of the enmein‐type natural products (?)‐enmein, (?)‐isodocarpin, and (?)‐sculponin R have been achieved in a concise fashion. Key features of the strategy include 1) an efficient early‐stage cage formation to control succeeding diastereoselectivity, 2) a one‐pot acylation/akylation/lactonization to construct the C‐ring and C8 quarternary center, 3) a reductive alkenylation approach to construct the enmain D/E rings and 4) a flexible route to allow divergent syntheses of three natural products.     

Synthesis of (±)‐Nephromopsinic, (−)‐Phaseolinic,and (−)‐Dihydropertusaric Acids

The formal syntheses of (±)‐nephromopsinic acid, (−)‐phaseolinic acid, and the first total synthesis of (−)‐dihydropertusaric acid from (±)‐ and (−)‐7‐oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐5‐en‐2‐one are described. These syntheses take advantage of a previously reported radical rearrangement (1,2‐acyl migration). A remarkable iodide‐mediated cleavage of a bicyclic system, followed by the introduction of the γ‐chains via a mixed Kolbe electrolysis, are the key steps of these syntheses. This approach is general and could be applied for the preparation of all kinds of paraconic acids with excellent control of the stereochemistry.     

Asymmetric Total Syntheses of (−)‐α‐Lycorane, (−)‐Zephyranthine,and Formal Synthesis of (+)‐Clivonine

An asymmetric route to (−)‐α‐lycorane and (−)‐zephyranthine, and a formal total synthesis of (+)‐clivonine were achieved. A pivotal intermediate, which serves as a potent precursor for the divergent syntheses of these natural products, was accessed by a diastereoselective Pd‐catalyzed cinnamylation of an N ‐tert ‐butanesulfinyl imine.     

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Mannich Cyclization of Hydroxylactams with Acetals: Total Syntheses of (−)‐Epilupinine, (−)‐Tashiromine,and (−)‐Trachelanthamidine

An asymmetric, organocatalytic, one‐pot Mannich cyclization between a hydroxylactam and acetal is described to provide fused, bicyclic alkaloids bearing a bridgehead N atom. Both aliphatic and aromatic substrates were used in this transformation to furnish chiral pyrrolizidinone, indolizidinone, and quinolizidinone derivatives in up to 89 % yield and 97 % ee. The total syntheses of (−)‐epilupinine, (−)‐tashiromine, and (−)‐trachelanthamidine also achieved to demonstrate the generality of the process.     

Unified Asymmetric Total Syntheses of (−)‐Alotaketals A–D and (−)‐Phorbaketal A

The novel tricyclic spiroketal alotane‐type sesterterpenoids showed strikingly different biological activities and potency with subtle structural alterations. Asymmetric total syntheses of the tricyclic sesterterpenoids (−)‐alotaketals A–D and (−)‐phorbaketal A were accomplished [29–31 steps from (−)‐malic acid] in a collective way for the first time. The key features of the strategy included 1) a new cascade cyclization of vinyl epoxy δ‐keto‐alcohols to forge the common tricyclic spiroketal intermediate, 2) a late‐stage allylic C−H oxidation, and 3) olefin cross‐metathesis to install the different side chains.     

Asymmetric [3+2] Annulation Approach to 3‐Pyrrolines: Concise Total Syntheses of (−)‐Supinidine, (−)‐Isoretronecanol,and (+)‐Elacomine

An asymmetric [3+2] annulation reaction to form 3‐pyrroline products is reported. Upon treatment with lithium diisopropylamide, readily available ethyl 4‐bromocrotonate is deprotonated and trapped with Ellman imines selectively at the α‐position to yield enantiopure 3‐pyrroline products. This new method is compatible with aryl, alkyl, and vinyl imines. The efficacy of the method is showcased by short asymmetric total syntheses of (−)‐supinidine, (−)‐isoretronecanol, and (+)‐elacomine. This novel annulation approach also works for an aldehyde, thus providing access to a 2,5‐dihydrofuran product in a single step from simple precursors. By modifying the structure of the carbanion nucleophile, an asymmetric vinylogous aza‐Darzens reaction can be realized.     

Stereocontrolled Total Syntheses of (−)‐Rotenone and (−)‐Dalpanol by 1,2‐Rearrangement and SNAr Oxycyclizations

The total syntheses of (−)‐rotenone and (−)‐dalpanol have been achieved by a group‐selective, stereospecific 1,2‐shift of an epoxy alcohol and S_NAr cyclizations. Three oxacycles are constructed, thus illustrating a versatile synthetic route to various rotenoids.     

Total Synthesis of (−)‐Vindorosine

Outlined herein is a novel and scalable synthesis of (−)‐vindorosine based on two key transformations. A highly diastereoselective vinylogous Mannich addition of dioxinone‐derived lithium dienolates with indolyl N ‐tert‐butanesulfinyl imines has been developed. In addition, an intramolecular Heathcock/aza‐Prins cyclization was introduced to construct both the C, and the highly substituted E rings for the synthesis of (−)‐vindorosine and related alkaloids.     

Enantioselective Pd‐Catalyzed Allylic Alkylation Reactions of Dihydropyrido[1,2‐a]indolone Substrates: Efficient Syntheses of (−)‐Goniomitine, (+)‐Aspidospermidine,and (−)‐Quebrachamine

The successful application of dihydropyrido[1,2‐a]indolone (DHPI) substrates in Pd‐catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation chemistry facilitates rapid access to multiple alkaloid frameworks in an enantioselective fashion. Strategic bromination at the indole C3 position greatly improved the allylic alkylation chemistry and enabled a highly efficient Negishi cross‐coupling downstream. The first catalytic enantioselective total synthesis of (−)‐goniomitine, along with divergent formal syntheses of (+)‐aspidospermidine and (−)‐quebrachamine, are reported herein.     

Total Syntheses of (−)‐Conidiogenone B, (−)‐Conidiogenone,and (−)‐Conidiogenol

Cyclopianes are novel diterpenes featuring a highly strained 6/5/5/5 tetracyclic core embedded with 6–8 consecutive stereocenters. The concise total syntheses of (?)‐conidiogenone B, (?)‐conidiogenone, and (?)‐conidiogenol have been accomplished in 14–17 steps. The present work features a HAT‐mediated alkene–nitrile cyclization to access the cis‐biquinane, a Nicholas/Pauson–Khand reaction to construct the linear triquinane, and a Danheiser annulation to afford the congested angular triquinane skeleton.     

Enantioselective Total Syntheses of (−)‐Rhazinilam, (−)‐Leucomidine B,and (+)‐Leuconodine F

A divergent total synthesis of three structurally distinct natural products from imine 9 was accomplished through an approach featuring: 1) a Pd‐catalyzed decarboxylative cross‐coupling, and 2) heteroannulation of 9 with bromoacetaldehyde and oxalyl chloride to give tetrahydroindolizine 6 and dioxopyrrole 7 , respectively. The former was converted into (−)‐rhazinilam, while the latter was converted into (−)‐leucomidine B and (+)‐leuconodine F. A substrate‐directed highly diastereoselective reduction of a sterically unbiased double bond by using a homogeneous palladium catalyst was developed. A self‐induced diastereomeric anisochronism (SIDA) phenomenon was observed for leucomidine B.     

Concise Syntheses of bis‐Strychnos Alkaloids (−)‐Sungucine, (−)‐Isosungucine,and (−)‐Strychnogucine B from (−)‐Strychnine

The first chemical syntheses of complex, bis‐Strychnos alkaloids (?)‐sungucine ( 1 ), (?)‐isosungucine ( 2 ), and (?)‐strychnogucine B ( 3 ) from (?)‐strychnine ( 4 ) is reported. Key steps included (1) the Polonovski–Potier activation of strychnine N‐oxide; (2) a biomimetic Mannich coupling to forge the signature C23?C5′ bond that joins two monoterpene indole monomers; and (3) a sequential HBr/NaBH₃CN‐mediated reduction to fashion the ethylidene moieties in 1 – 3 . DFT calculations were employed to rationalize the regiochemical course of reactions involving strychnine congeners.     

Total Synthesis of (−)‐Histrionicotoxin through a Stereoselective Radical Translocation–Cyclization Reaction

Stereoselective total syntheses of (−)‐histrionicotoxin and (−)‐histrionicotoxin 235A are described. The 1‐azaspiro[5.5]undecane skeleton was constructed diastereoselectively by a radical translocation–cyclization reaction involving a chiral cyclic acetal; the use of tris(trimethylsilyl)silane was crucial for the high diastereoselectivity. The cyclization product was converted into (−)‐histrionicotoxin 235A through a one‐pot partial‐reduction–allylation reaction of a derivative containing an unprotected lactam. Finally, two terminal alkenes were transformed into enynes with the 1,3‐amino alcohol protected as an oxathiazolidine oxide to complete the total synthesis of (−)‐histrionicotoxin.     

A Concise Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (−)‐Virosaine A

The total synthesis of (−)‐virosaine A ( 1 ) was achieved in ten steps starting from furan and 2‐bromoacrolein. A one‐pot Diels–Alder cycloaddition/organolithium addition initiated an efficient sequence to access a key oxime/epoxide intermediate. Heating this intermediate in acetic acid resulted in an intramolecular epoxide opening/nitrone [3+2] cycloaddition cascade to construct the caged core of 1 in a single step. Several methods of C−H functionalization were assessed on the cascade product, and ultimately, a directed lithiation/bromination effected selective C14 functionalization, enabling the synthesis of 1 .     

A General Entry to Antifeedant Sesterterpenoids: Total Synthesis of (+)‐Norleucosceptroid A, (−)‐Norleucosceptroid B,and (−)‐Leucosceptroid K

The first asymmetric total synthesis of the antifeedant terpenoids (+)‐norleucosceptroid A, (−)‐norleucosceptroid B, and (−)‐leucosceptroid K has been accomplished. This highly concise synthetic route was guided by our efforts to develop a platform for the collective synthesis of a whole family of antifeedant natural products. The synthesis features a Hauser–Kraus‐type annulation followed by an unprecedented, highly efficient intramolecular dilactol aldol‐type condensation reaction to produce the 5,6,5 skeleton. The developed synthetic route proceeds for norleucosceptroid A and B in 16 steps (longest linear sequence) from known compounds.     

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (−)‐Deoxoapodine

The first enantioselective total synthesis of (−)‐deoxoapodine is described. Our synthesis of this hexacyclic aspidosperma alkaloid includes an efficient molybdenum‐catalyzed enantioselective ring‐closing metathesis reaction for the desymmetrization of an advanced intermediate that introduces the C5‐quaternary stereocenter. After C21‐oxygenation, the pentacyclic core was accessed by electrophilic C19‐amide activation and transannular spirocyclization. A biogenetically inspired dehydrative C6‐etherification reaction proved highly effective to secure the F‐ring and the fourth contiguous stereocenter of (−)‐deoxoapodine with complete stereochemical control.     

Total Syntheses of (+)‐Sarcophytin, (+)‐Chatancin, (−)‐3‐Oxochatancin,and (−)‐Pavidolide B: A Divergent Approach

A concise and divergent approach for the total syntheses of four cembrane diterpenoids, namely (+)‐sarcophytin, (+)‐chatancin, (?)‐3‐oxochatancin, and (?)‐pavidolide B, has been developed, and it also led to the structural revision of (?)‐isosarcophytin. The key steps of the strategy feature a double Mukaiyama Michael addition/elimination, a Helquist annulation, two substrate‐controlled facial‐selective hydrations, and a pinacol rearrangement. The described syntheses not only achieved these natural products in an efficient manner, but also provided insight into the biosynthetic relationship between the two different skeletons.     

Total Syntheses of (+)‐Sarcophytin, (+)‐Chatancin, (−)‐3‐Oxochatancin,and (−)‐Pavidolide B: A Divergent Approach

A concise and divergent approach for the total syntheses of four cembrane diterpenoids, namely (+)‐sarcophytin, (+)‐chatancin, (?)‐3‐oxochatancin, and (?)‐pavidolide B, has been developed, and it also led to the structural revision of (?)‐isosarcophytin. The key steps of the strategy feature a double Mukaiyama Michael addition/elimination, a Helquist annulation, two substrate‐controlled facial‐selective hydrations, and a pinacol rearrangement. The described syntheses not only achieved these natural products in an efficient manner, but also provided insight into the biosynthetic relationship between the two different skeletons.     

Total Syntheses of (−)‐Isoschizogamine and (−)‐2‐Hydroxyisoschizogamine

Total syntheses of (?)‐isoschizogamine and (?)‐2‐hydroxyisoschizogamine are described. The synthesis employs two asymmetric Michael additions to establish chiral centers at C7 and the quaternary carbon C20. Regioselective reduction of the methylthioiminium cation rather than the enamine generates an isoschizogamine‐type pentacyclic skeleton. Acidic hydrolysis of the isoschizogamine‐type intermediate in the absence of oxygen provides natural (?)‐isoschizogamine. Conducting the reaction in the presence of oxygen leads to a multistep oxidative hydrolysis cascade that affords unnatural (?)‐2‐hydroxyisoschizogamine.     

Total Synthesis of (−)‐Bauhinin

The total synthesis of the naturally occurring cyanoglucoside (−)‐bauhinin ( 1 ) was achieved starting from the optically pure oxatrinorbornenone 2 in 12 steps and 8% overall yield. The aglycone of (−)‐bauhinin was easily obtained from the optically pure oxatrinorbornenone derivative 6 by a Wittig‐Horner reaction followed by the opening of the oxa bridge. Glycosidation with tetra‐O‐isobutyryl‐D ‐glucosyl bromide 9 as the reagent in the Koenigs‐Knorr reaction afforded glucoside 10 in 58% yield, which, after photoisomerization and deprotection, gave (−)‐bauhinin ( 1 ).