Halichondrin B: synthesis of the C1-C22 subunit

[Reaction: see text]. Two efficient routes to the C1-C22 subunit of halichondrin B are described. The cage ketal 7, which contains 11 asymmetric centers embedded within the ABCDEF-ring framework, was assembled from (+)-conduritol E (27) in 18 steps and 4% overall yield. In a separate route, 7 was also synthesized in 18 steps and 2% overall yield from a derivative of alpha-d-glucoheptonic acid gamma-lactone (62). While the former route installs the fully elaborated C-ring endowed with the correct C12 stereochemistry early in the synthesis, the latter features a late-stage introduction of the C12 stereocenter during the ultimate one-pot Michael addition/ketalization cascade to form the CDE-ring system of the cage. The importance of the C12 stereocenter to the crucial ketalization event is discussed through comparison of these two strategies.     

Toward the synthesis of spirastrellolide B: a synthesis of the C1-C23 subunit

A synthesis of the C1-C23 subunit of spirastrellolide B is described. The synthesis features two applications of a Kulinkovich-cyclopropanol ring-opening strategy for the coupling of esters with olefins to produce ketones.     

Synthesis of C1-C20 and C21-C40 fragments of tetrafibricin

Efficient syntheses of suitably functionalized top and bottom fragments of tetrafibricin are described. The bottom fragment is prepared by two consecutive Kocienski-Julia couplings, while the top fragment synthesis features a dithiane alkylation and a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction.     

Studies directed towards the total synthesis of lycoperdinosides: stereoselective construction of the C1-C9 and C10-C21 segments of the molecules

The three chiral centres of the C1-C9 moiety of the six-membered lactone glycosides, lycoperdinosides A and B, have been derived from a common starting material containing a single chiral centre. In contrast, the C10-C21 segment of these molecules has been synthesized using, as key steps, a highly stereoselective aldol reaction, a Ti(III)-mediated opening of a trisubstituted epoxy alcohol and an efficient directed hydrostannylation of a suitably substituted internal alkyne.     

Efficient total synthesis of pulchellalactam,a CD45 protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor

A new approach to a CD45 protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, pulchellalactam, is described. The key step of the sequence involves addition and elimination of an enolic lactam in a single step and 70% yield, employing an organocuprate reagent. The resulting alpha,beta-unsaturated lactam could be condensed with isobutyraldehyde to produce Z-pulchellalactam or converted into siloxypyrrole, which was subjected to the BF(3) x Et(2)O-promoted coupling reaction with isobutyraldehyde to afford E-pulchellalactam after E1-cB elimination and TFA deprotection. This first total synthesis afforded Z-pulchellalactam in six steps and 32% overall yield from Boc-glycine. The same sequence of reactions could also be applied to the liquid- or solid-phase synthesis of trifunctionalized pulchellalactam derivatives.     

A formal total synthesis of crocacin C

An efficient total synthesis of a potent antifungal and moderate cytotoxic agent crocacin C is described. The synthesis involves the generation of four contiguous stereogenic centres via desymmetrization of a meso bicyclic dihydrofuran using asymmetric hydroboration.     

Halichondrin B: synthesis of the C(1)-C(15) subunit

A short and efficient synthesis of the C(1)-C(15) subunit of halichondrin B in its natural configuration is described. The polycyclic caged ketal 3, containing nine asymmetric centers, is prepared in 14 steps from alpha-D-glucoheptonic acid gamma-lactone (7). Key steps in the two similar routes described include EtMgBr-promoted pinacol ring expansions of hydroxy mesylates 23 and 34, intramolecular Michael additions of 29 and 37, and a one-pot, HF-induced conversion of 4 to 3involving in situ silyl ether cleavage, acetal hydrolysis, Michael addition, and caged ketal formation. Alternative protocols for carbinol inversion at C(11), one early and one late in the synthetic sequence, are also described.     

Toward the synthesis of didemnaketal B: a convergent synthesis of the C9-C28 subunit

Synthesis of the C9-C28 subunit of didemnaketal B has been developed. This subunit was convergently prepared from four chiral synthons and at the longest linear sequence required 16 steps.     

Studies towards the total synthesis of cruentaren A and B: Stereoselective synthesis of fragments C1-C11, C12-C22 and C23-C28

A convergent and stereoselective approach for the synthesis of C1-C11, C12-C22, and C23-C28 fragments of cytotoxic natural products cruentaren A and B are accomplished. Highlights of the strategy include a Sharpless epoxidation followed by a regioselective opening of epoxide to generate anti and syn-stereochemistry at C9-C10 and C15-C16, an Alder-Rickert reaction between a 1,5-dimethoxy-1,4-cyclohexadiene and dienophile to construct the aromatic ring, and a lithium-mediated aldol reaction to install the C17-C18 anti-stereochemistry. The synthesis of C1-C11 and C12-C22 fragments proceed with a longest linear sequence of 10 and 17 steps from commercially available 2-butyne-1,4-diol and cis-2-butene-1,4-diol respectively.     

Iterative deoxypropionate synthesis based on a copper-mediated directed allylic substitution: formal total synthesis of borrelidin (C3-C11 fragment)

A new iterative strategy for the flexible preparation of any oligodeoxypropionate stereoisomer is presented which relies on an o-DPPB-directed copper mediated allylic substitution employing enantiomerically pure Grignard reagents; the reaction is working with perfect control over all aspects of the reaction selectivity. This key C--C bond-forming step features reversed polarity compared with established enolate alkylation methodology. It thus avoids existing problems of enolate alkylation strategies such as enolate reactivity as well as costs and problems associated with the chiral auxiliary. Practicability of this new method is demonstrated through application in natural product syntheses. Thus, an efficient synthesis of the northern part of the angiogenesis inhibitor borrelidin (28), the deoxypropionate building block 27, could be devised, representing a formal total synthesis.     

A formal total synthesis of the telomerase inhibitor dictyodendrin B

A formal synthesis of the telomerase inhibitory marine pyrrolocarbazole alkaloid dictyodendrin B is described. The key features are consecutive palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions and intramolecular reductive coupling reaction to construct the pyrrolo[2,3-c]carbazole framework.     

Multigram synthesis of the C29-C51 subunit and completion of the total synthesis of altohyrtin C (spongistatin 2)

A multigram synthesis of the C29-C51 subunit of altohyrtin C (spongistatin 2) has been accomplished. Union of this intermediate with the C1-C28 fragment and further elaboration furnished the natural product. Completion of the C29-C51 subunit began with the aldol coupling of the boron enolate derived from methyl ketone 8 and aldehyde 9. Acid-catalyzed deprotection/cyclization of the resulting diastereomeric mixture of addition products was conducted in a single operation to afford the E-ring of altohyrtin C. The diastereomer obtained through cyclization of the unwanted aldol product was subjected to an oxidation/reduction sequence to rectify the C35 stereocenter. The C45-C48 segment of the eventual triene side chain was introduced by addition of a functionalized Grignard reagent derived from (R)-glycidol to a C44 aldehyde. Palladium-mediated deoxygenation of the resulting allylic alcohol was followed by adjustment of protecting groups to provide reactivity suitable for the later stages of the synthesis. The diene functionality comprising the remainder of the C44-C51 side chain was constructed by addition of an allylzinc reagent to the unmasked C48 aldehyde and subsequent dehydration of the resulting alcohol. Completion of the synthesis of the C29-C51 subunit was achieved through conversion of the protected C29 alcohol into a primary iodide. The synthesis of the C29-C51 iodide required 44 steps with a longest linear sequence of 33 steps. From commercially available tri-O-acetyl-d-glucal, the overall yield was 6.8%, and 2 g of the iodide was prepared. The C29-C51 primary iodide was amenable to phosphonium salt formation, and the ensuing Wittig coupling with a C1-C28 intermediate provided a fully functionalized, protected seco-acid. Selective deprotection of the required silicon groups afforded an intermediate appropriate for macrolactonization, and, finally, global deprotection furnished altohyrtin C (spongistatin 2). This synthetic approach required 113 steps with a longest linear sequence of 37 steps starting from either tri-O-acetyl-d-glucal or (S)-malic acid.     

Formal total synthesis of borrelidin: synthesis of C1-C11 fragment via desymmetrization strategy

A stereoselective formal total synthesis of borrelidin is described. The synthetic strategy for synthesis of C1-C11 fragment features desymmetrization of Diels-Alder adduct, Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation, regioselective opening of chiral epoxide, and alkylation using Evans chiral auxiliary.     

Studies directed toward the total synthesis of discodermolide: asymmetric synthesis of the C1-C14 fragment

[structure: see text] A convergent and stereoselective assembly of the C1-C14 subunit of marine natural product (+)-discodermolide has been completed. The approach employs chiral allylsilane bond construction methodology to establish four of the eight stereogenic centers. Key fragment coupling is achieved via an efficient stereoselective acetate aldol reaction between C1-C6 and C7-C14 subunits.     

Toward a total synthesis of amphidinolide X and Y. The tetrahydrofuran-containing fragment C12-C21

The key THF derivative (9a) for an enantioselective synthesis of amphidinolide X/Y was obtained from 1a via a selenoetherification reaction. In fact, among the cyclization methods investigated, the highest yield and stereocontrol were achieved at -78 degrees C with PhSeCl/EtiPr2N from diols 1a (anti-Z) and 1b (anti-E) and with PhSeCl/ZnBr2 from diols 1c (syn-Z) and 1d (syn-E). Also, surprisingly, use of protecting groups (on the allylic OH) was detrimental in the cases studied. The diverse THF-tetrasubstituted stereoisomers will provide a series of amphidinolide X/Y analogues. [structure: see text]     

Toward the total synthesis of phorboxazole A: synthesis of an advanced C4-C32 subunit using the Jacobsen hetero Diels-Alder reaction

The tetrahydropyranone 3, representing a pentacyclic C₄-C₃₂ segment of the phorboxazoles, was obtained by a complex hetero Diels-Alder (HDA) coupling performed between the 2-siloxydiene 23 and the oxazole aldehyde 4, mediated by the chiral tridentate Cr(III) catalyst 14. In preliminary studies, the tetrahydropyrans 17, 33 and 35 were accessed using this same asymmetric HDA methodology with varying stereoselectivity.     

Synthesis of the C8-C20 and C21-C30 segments of pectenotoxin 2

In this study, we synthesized the C8-C20 and C21-C30 segments of the diarrhetic shellfish toxin pectenotoxin 2. The C8-C20 segment was assembled from a phosphonate corresponding to the C8-C15 segment (prepared from l-malic acid in 19 steps) and an aldehyde corresponding to the C16-C20 segment (synthesized from 3-methyl-3-butenol in nine steps) by a twelve-step process including the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction, regio- and stereoselective reduction of the resulting enone, diastereoselective epoxidation, and 5-exo epoxide cleavage forming the C-ring. The C21-C30 segment was constructed in 13 steps from (S)-glycidol via a route involving E-ring formation by 5-exo epoxide cleavage and stereoselective methylation at C27 by the Evans method.