Synthetic studies directed toward the proposed structure for heteroscyphic acid A

A route to the carbon skeleton of the proposed structure for heteroscyphic acid A was developed utilizing a Mn(III)/Cu(II) mediated oxidative free-radical cyclization and nucleophilic addition to (3-methylpentadienyl)iron(1+) cation.     

Synthetic studies on jadomycins: synthesis of dimethyljadomycin A

Dimethyljadomycin A was synthesized as the first example for the construction of 8H-benzo[b]oxazolo[3,2-f]phenanthridine skeleton.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed alkene-alkyne coupling: synthesis of the proposed structure of amphidinolide A

The ruthenium-catalyzed alkene-alkyne coupling provides a powerful method for the synthesis of 1,4 dienes and a way to simplify synthetic strategy. The latter potential is explored in the context of a synthesis of the assigned structure of amphidinolide A, which also raises the question of the applicability of this reaction for macrocyclizations. Employing this reaction allows simplification of the target to three subunits corresponding to C-1 to C-6, C-7 to C-15, and C-16 to C-25. The C-7 to C-15 subunit involves introduction of chirality by an asymmetric dihydroxylation. The route to the C-16 to C-25 subunit introduces chirality by a Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation and an asymmetric epoxidation. Assembly of the three subunits employs the Ru-catalyzed addition inter- and intramolecularly. The synthesis culminated in the formation of the assigned structure and is identical to the synthetic samples prepared independently by two completely different routes. As noted by the other two groups, this structure appears to be a diastereomer of the natural product. Because this synthesis introduces all of the stereochemistry of the subunits by catalytic asymmetric processes, either enantiomer as well as diastereomers can be readily accessed to define the correct structure. Notably, the Ru-catalyzed macrocyclization to this macrolide proceeded in better yields than either a Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling or a Ru-catalyzed metathesis, macrocylization methods for the other two total synthesis.     

Synthetic studies on (+)-manzamine A: stereoselective synthesis of the tetracyclic core framework

The stereoselective synthesis of the tetracyclic intermediate 3 for (+)-manzamine A (1) has been achieved. The key features of this stereoselective synthesis of 3 are the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation and a diastereoselective intermolecular Diels-Alder reaction. The 8-membered ring is efficiently constructed utilizing our Ns-strategy.     

Synthetic studies on (+)-ophiobolin A: asymmetric synthesis of the spirocyclic CD-ring moiety

[reaction; see text] Asymmetric synthesis of the spirocyclic CD-ring moiety of (+)-ophiobolin A is described. Fragment A, which was prepared via pig liver esterase (PLE)-mediated kinetic resolution, and fragment B, which was prepared via diastereoselective allylation and subsequent kinetic iodolactonization, were coupled to afford the allylsilane 2, which was successfully cyclized to the desired spirocyclic CD-ring moiety 1a in the presence of a Lewis acid.     

Total synthesis of the proposed structure of cyclic hexadepsipeptide veraguamide A

We have developed a practical method to assemble the proposed structure of natural product veraguamide A (1) by first preparing the three key fragments followed by optimization of the macrocyclization site. Although the synthetic product gave similar optical rotation to that reported for natural product, significant differences in the (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra were observed, especially the proton and carbon signals in the two N-MeVal moieties.     

Synthetic studies on dragmacidin D: synthesis of the left-hand fragment

We report a synthesis of a left-hand fragment of bis(indole)-class marine alkaloid, dragmacidin D. The synthesis features Suzuki-Miyaura reaction for the coupling of imidazolyl boronic acid and (4-indolyl)vinyl bromide.     

Total synthesis of the proposed structure of xylarolide

A total synthesis of a proposed structure of xylarolide is described. The key features of the synthesis include Sharpless asymmetric reaction, Wittig olefination, Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, Still-Gennari olefination and Yamaguchi lactonization. The differences in the spectroscopic data of the synthetic and natural product indicate a revision of the assigned structure.     

Total synthesis of the proposed structure of macrocaffrine

A full account of the total synthesis of 18-demethyl-19-hydroxy-N_a-demethyl-N_b-methylsuaveoline (1), the structure assigned to macrocaffrine isolated from Rauwolfia caffra, is presented. The key steps involved are an intramolecular cycloaddition reaction of the oxazole-olefin 10 and a subsequent dehydration that generated the pentacyclic pyridine derivative 14. The spectral data and specific rotation of synthetic 1 were dissimilar to those reported for a natural sample, leaving the structure of this R. caffra alkaloid undefined.     

Total synthesis of the proposed structure of brevenal

Total synthesis of the proposed structure of brevenal, a natural marine polycyclic ether product, has been accomplished. The synthesis features (i) convergent synthesis of the pentacyclic polyether skeleton using our developed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling strategy and (ii) construction of the multi-substituted dienal side chain by CuTC-mediated Stille reaction. Comparison of the NMR data of the synthetic compound with those reported for the natural product revealed that the proposed structure of brevenal needs to be revised.     

Synthetic studies towards ptilomycalin A: total synthesis of crambescidin 359

A potentially biomimetic synthesis of the guanidine-containing marine natural product crambescidin 359 via a double Michael addition of guanidine to a suitably functionalised bis-enone is reported.     

Synthetic studies on polymaxenolides: synthesis and structure elucidation of nominal epoxyafricanane and other africane-type sesquiterpenoids

A racemic total synthesis of the sesquiterpenoid unit of the hybrid marine natural product polymaxenolide has been achieved based on a three-component assembly followed by ring-closing metathesis as the key steps. However, the spectral data of our product synthesized from Δ(9(15))-africanene by epoxidation were not identical with those of the natural product named epoxyafricanane. The structure confirmation of the synthetic nominal epoxyafricanane is described.     

Total synthesis of the proposed structure for pyragonicin

[structure: see text] The total synthesis of acetogenin 1 reported for pyragonicin and its 10-epimer 32 is described. The common THP ring system was stereoselectively constructed through a SmI(2)-induced reductive cyclization of beta-alkoxy acrylate 5 followed by Mitsunobu inversion, and each chiral center at C-10 was created by Brown's asymmetric allylation. Compound 1 had spectroscopic data consistent with that of natural pyragonicin, but a different optical rotation.     

Synthetic studies on indolocarbazoles: total synthesis of staurosporine aglycon

A synthesis of staurosporine aglycon and its analogs was achieved in a 28-36% overall yield starting from 2-methylindole. The prominent key steps for the synthesis of the indolocarbazole alkaloids involved electrocyclization and nitrene insertion reactions.     

Synthetic studies on concanamycin A: Total synthesis of concanolide A (concanamycin F)

Enantioselective first total synthesis of concanolide A (concananycin F), which is one of a new class of macrolide antibiotics, concanamycins, has been achived by a highly effective and convergent route.     

Total synthesis and cytotoxicity studies of a cyclic depsipeptide with proposed structure of palau'amide

[structure: see text] Total synthesis of a cyclic depsipeptide with proposed structure of palau'amide is achieved, which features a stereoselective elaboration of its 5,7-dihydroxy-2,6-dimethyldodec-2-en-11-ynoic acid unit. The synthetic compound has potent cytotoxicity against three tumor cell lines but different rotation and NMR data compared to those reported for palau'amide, which implies that its conformation is close to that of palau'amide but that some stereochemistry in palau'amide was misassigned.     

Total synthesis of the proposed structure of aldingenin B

The first enantioselective total synthesis of the proposed structure of aldingenin B is reported in 16 steps from known compounds. The stereochemistry at C5 and C6 were established by an asymmetric acetal aldol. Following a ring-closing metathesis, a selective, substrate-controlled hydrogen bond-mediated dihydroxylation provided control of the C2 and C3 stereocenters. Discrepancies in the spectroscopic data of the synthetic and natural material led to the conclusion that the structure of the natural sample was misassigned.     

Total synthesis of the proposed structure of briarellin J

The total synthesis of the originally proposed structure of briarellin J is reported in 15 steps from a known compound and in 23 steps from readily available materials. Key reactions include an exo-selective intramolecular Diels-Alder and a substrate-controlled hydroboration. Discrepancies in the spectroscopic data of the synthetic and natural material led to a revision of the assigned structure.     

Synthetic studies on biscembranoids: asymmetric total synthesis of methyl sarcoate

The asymmetric total synthesis of a marine natural product, methyl sarcoate, has been achieved featuring the asymmetric Michael addition, the dithiane coupling, the Kosugi-Migita-Stille coupling, and the ring-closing metathesis.