Total Synthesis of (±)-Iridolactone

A total synthesis of (±)-iridolactone ( 1 ) from bicyclo[2.2.1]ketone 6 is described. Trisubstituted cyclopentenoid aldehyde 7 is a key intermediate.     

Total Synthesis of (±)-Barbatusol

The naturally occurring hypotensive agent barbatusol (1a) has been synthesized in racemic form from 3-isopropylveratrole and 4,4-dimethyl-2-cyclohexene-1-one. An improved procedure for deprotection of barbatusol dimethyl ether (1b) is described.     

Total Synthesis of (±)-Gelsemine

A complex molecular reorganization ( 1 → 2 ), a sequential anionic aza-Cope rearrangement and Mannich cyclization, and an unprecedented intramolecular Heck reaction of the tetrasubstituted double bond of a vinylogous carbamate are key steps in a new total synthesis of (±)-gelsemine ( 3 ). MOM=methoxymethyl, DBU=1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene.     

Total Synthesis of (±)-Patriscabrol and (±)-Boschnialactone

A total synthesis of (±)-patriscabrol (1) and (±)-boschnialactone (2) is described. The cyclopentapyranone skeleton is assembled by means of Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of ketol 5.     

Total Synthesis of (±)-2-Pupukeanone

(±)-2-Pupukenone ( 4 ) has been synthesized, the key step being the intramolcular Diels-Alder reaction of the intermediate 13 to 14 (42%) and 15 (14%). The bromodiene 12 has been obtained from the reaction of α-isopropylidene-γ-lactone (Scheme 2) 12 with sodium phenylselenide and subsequent esterification to 9 , oxidation and thermal elimination of which furnished 10 . Reduction of 10 with diisobutylaluminimum hydride and treatment of the resulting alcohol 11 with PBr₃ led to the required bromodiene 12 . Finally, hydrogenation of the 14 on Pt(C) in CH₃OH gave a 4:1 mixture of 2-pupukeanone ( 4 ) and epi-2-pupukeanone 16 .     

First Total Synthesis of (±)-13-Hydroxyneocembrene

First total synthesis of (±)-13-hydroxyneocembrene ( 1 ), starting from 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one ( 6 ) and geraniol ( 7 ), is described. The key steps are (i) the addition of sulfur-stabilized carbanion 12 to aldehyde 9 , (ii) the synthesis of 18 by using phase-transfer catalyzed coupling reaction, and (iii) low-valent titanium-induced intramolecular coupling of oxo aldehyde 3 to afford the target molecule after the final deprotection.     

The Total Synthesis of (±)-Isocomene by an Intramolecular Ene Reaction. Preliminary communication

The racemic sesquiterpene isocomene ( 1 ) has been synthesized starting from 1,7-octadien-3-one ( 2 ) in a stereoselective manner (Scheme 2). In the key step 4 → 5 the C(7), C(8)-bond was formed by an intramolecular thermal ene reaction. Further elaboration of 5 involved the ring contraction 6 → 7 , the elimination 8 → 9 and the final olefin isomerization 9 → 1 .     

The Total Synthesis of (±)-Camphor and (±)-Epicamphorenone from Methylcyclopentadiene

The total synthesis of (±)-carnphor and (±)-epicamphorenone from methylcyclopentadiene are described.     

Total Synthesis of (±)-Lysergic Acid by an Intramolecular Imino-Diels-Alder Reaction. Preliminary communication

(±)-Lysergic acid ( 1 ) has been synthesized from 4-hydroxymethyl-1-tosylindole ( 2 ) by a sequence of 9 steps. The crucial thermolysis 9 → 10 involves the in situ-generation of the transient diene III which undergoes an intramolecular cycloaddition to a C, N-double bond at 200° and at low stationary concentration of III.     

Multiple Wagner-Meerwein Shift. Biogenesis-like conversion of (±)-Δ7,8-Protoilludene to (±)-Hirsutene and related reactions

Experimental details are given for the previous preliminary reports concerning conversion of protoilludane ( 28 ) to hirsutene ( 3 ) and related reactions. Treatment of each of the bicyclic analogs 9 , 10 , 12 and 13 of the former compound afforded a hirsutene analog 8 , through multiple 1,2-shift, together with other products. Treatment of a mixture of α- and β-protoilludene -epoxides ( 29α and 29β ) with BF₃ · Et₂O in hexane yielded hirsutane derivatives 30 and 32 . Compound 30 in turn was converted to endo-hirsutene 36 , which had already been isomerized to hirsutene ( 3 ).     

Total synthesis of (±)-fangchinoline

(±)-Fangchinoline was synthesized by condensation of (±)-1-(3-bromo-4-methoxy-benzyl)-2-methyl-6-methoxy-7-hydroxy-8-bromo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline ( 2 ) and (±)-1-(4-hydroxy-benzyl)-2-methyl-6-methoxy-7-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline ( 3 ) in the presence of copper, pyridine and potassium carbonate.     

Total Synthesis of (±)‐Integrifolin

The total synthesis of (±)‐integrifolin has been achieved for the first time through the stereoselective preparation of the bicyclo[5.3.0]decane skeleton based on the tungsten‐catalyzed cyclization of acyclic trienynes under photoirradiation conditions. Further key transformations of the cyclized product are the Tamao oxidation through cyclic silyl ether, the introduction of two oxygen functionalities by the oxidation of the diene and the construction of three exo‐methylene moieties.     

Total Synthesis of (±)‐Strictamine

The total synthesis of strictamine has been achieved in nine steps from a known enol triflate. Characteristic features of our approach included: a) creation of a C7 all‐carbon quaternary stereocenter at an early synthetic stage; b) use of an N,N‐dimethyl tertiary amine as a surrogate of the primary amine for the rapid build‐up of a functionalized 2‐azabicyclo[3,3,1]nonan‐9‐one skeleton (achieved by using a reaction sequence of α‐bromination of the ketone, followed by a stereoconvergent intramolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction); and c) a late‐stage construction of the indolenine unit.