The synthesis of prostaglandin E1 and related substances

The authors describe in detail the conversion of 4 isometric exo-substituted bicyclo (3.1.0) hexanones 1a, 1b, 2a and 2b (R=CH3) to 4 prostaglandins of the E series, including crystalline dl-prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). Oxidative solvolysis of the keto esters 1a and 2a and of the desired keto acids 1a and 2a (R=H) according to the method of Just and Simonovitch resulted in a good yield of the mixture of vic-glycols of unrearranged carbon skeleton. The presence of dl-PGE1, or dl-8-iso PGE1 or their methyl esters was not detected in either case. Analysis of the unalkylated ketones 5a and 5b under the same and other conditions yielded unrearranged vic-glycols 6 as essentially the only product. A reaction sequence produced dl-8-isoprostaglandin E1, the 15-epimers of these prostaglandins, and dl-PGA1 and dl-PGB1 methyl esters.     

An efficient synthesis of 3-hetero-13,14-dihydro prostaglandin F1alpha analogues

[structure: see text]. A new class of 3-hetero-13,14-dihydro prostaglandin F(1)(alpha) analogues was synthesized from a common intermediate. The latter was constructed via a two-step, three-component process. The lower chain, containing the 15-(phenoxymethyl) group, was synthesized in enantiopure form using Jacobsen's (salen)Co-catalyzed kinetic resolution of a terminal epoxide with phenol.     

Parallel synthesis of novel heteroaromatic acromelic acid analogues from kainic acid

A range of new C-4 heteroaromatic acromelic acid analogues has been synthesized in a parallel fashion from (-)-alpha-kainic acid 1. Protection of the amine and carboxylate groups of 1 followed by ozonolysis gave methyl ketone 8. A silyl enol ether 9, generated regiospecifically from the methyl ketone 8 using "kinetic" conditions, was brominated in situ with phenyltrimethylammonium perbromide to give the key alpha-bromo ketone 10. Parallel cyclization reactions of bromo ketone 10 with thioamides and thioureas were then performed. The aromatic heterocyclic derivatives 11a-d and 19 produced were deprotected to give the new kainoid amino acids 6a-d and 25 in excellent yield. Compounds 6a and 6c show strong binding to the kainate receptor. Reaction of 10 with alternative condensing agents was also briefly investigated.     

Quantitative HPTLC determination of prostaglandin E1

Direct in situ determination of PGE₁ in dioxane/water (1:1) at concentrations between 50 μg/ml and 1 mg/ml is described. HPTLC of PGE₁ was carried out on HPTLC Kieselgel 60 o.F. plates; application (200 nl) was with a Nano-Appllcator and ethyl acetate/formic acid (400:5, v/v) served as mobile phase. The spots were located by dipping the plates into a 3% cupric acetate solution in 15% aqueous phosphoric acid, followed by heating at 120°C for 15 min. The plates were then evaluated directly at λ = 345 nm by chromatogram spectrometry. The coefficient of variation is 3.6%.     

Cross metathesis as a general strategy for the synthesis of prostacyclin and prostaglandin analogues

[reaction: see text] A cross metathesis (CM) approach has been successfully applied to introduce fully functionalized omega-side chain appendages of various prostacyclin and prostaglandin analogues, resulting in high (E)-selectivities for the C13-C14 double bond and leading to the total syntheses of isocarbacyclin, 15R-TIC, carbacyclin, and PGF(2)(alpha) and the formal syntheses of 15-deoxy-TIC and PGJ(2).     

Preparation of chiral, highly functionalized cyclopentanes and its application to the synthesis of prostaglandin E1

This paper describes the preparation of the polyfunctionalized cyclopentane ((+/-)-5) by silica gel-catalyzed air-oxidation, and its kinetic resolution by means of microbial reduction with Rhodotorula rubra to afford optically pure (-)-5 (greater than 99% ee). Starting with (-)-5, a new route to prostaglandin E1 was established.     

Total synthesis of 3,3-difluorinated 1-deoxynojirimycin analogues

Difluorination of 1-deoxynojirimycin at position C(3) creates a competitive inhibitor 15 of 10 times higher activity against an α-glucosidase than the parent compound. Its screening against a panel of human cell lines showed a low cytotoxicity therefore making this compound an interesting candidate for further clinical investigations.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of enantiopure anticancer cyclopentenone prostaglandin analogues: (−)- and (+)-TEI-9826

The synthesis of both enantiomers of TEI-9826 has been accomplished in seven steps with an overall yield of 44% starting from diastereomeric camphor protected 3-[(dimethoxyphosphoryl)methyl]-4,5-dihydroxycyclopent-2-enones. The key steps include a fully diastereoselective hydrogenation of the endocyclic carbon–carbon double bond in the cyclopentenone ring controlled with a chiral diol moiety and the conversion of the latter into a new transposed olefinic bond.     

Total synthesis of Resolvin E1

The enantioselective total synthesis of Resolvin E1 (RvE1), a naturally occurring small molecule mediator of inflammation resolution, is reported. Two routes are presented, both modular and convergent in nature, with an excellent control of all stereocenters. The C12- and C18-hydroxy groups are derived from (S)-glycidol while the C5-hydroxy group is installed via enantioselective reduction of a ketone precursor. Both the cis-alkenes are introduced with excellent control by the reduction of a late-stage bis-alkyne intermediate. The synthetic disconnections are very amenable to analog preparation, and further modifications to the chemistry have allowed for scale-up and First in Man testing of this novel pro-resolution molecule.     

Total synthesis of resolvin E1

Resolvin E1 (RvE1), which is an endogenous mediator to resolve inflammation, was synthesized by Wittig reaction between the C15-C20 aldehyde and the C10-C14 phosphonium salt possessing the vinyl iodo moiety followed by Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of the resulting vinyl iodide with the vinyl borane of the C1-C9 part, which was derived from the corresponding acetylene by hydroboration. The C5 and C18 chiral centers in these parts were created by the kinetic resolution of the racemic γ-TMS allylic alcohols using the asymmetric epoxidation, while that of the C10-C14 part was constructed by the asymmetric hydrogen transfer reaction of the corresponding γ-TMS acetylene ketone.     

Intramolecular homolytic substitution at selenium: synthesis of novel selenium-containing vitamin E analogues

Treatment of 1-(benzylselenenyl)-5-butyl-5-nonanol (10) with oxalyl chloride followed by the sodium salt of N-hydroxypyridine-2-thione afforded the corresponding pyridine-2-thione-N-oxycarbonyl (PTOC) oxalate ester which was not isolated but immediately heated to provide 2,2-dibutylselenane (7). This transformation presumably involves a tertiary alkyl radical that undergoes intramolecular homolytic substitution at selenium with loss of the benzyl radical to provide the selenium-containing ring system (7). A similar protocol, when applied to 1-(2-benzylselenenyl-5-methoxyphenyl)-3-methyl-3-heptanol (18) and 1-(2-benzylselenenyl-5-methoxyphenyl)-3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-3-hexadecanol (19), followed by deprotection, afforded the selenium-containing alpha-tocopherol analogues 4 and 1f, respectively, in moderate yields. To the best of our knowledge, these transformations represent the first examples of tertiary radicals involved in homolytic substitution chemistry at selenium.     

Total synthesis of piericidin A1 and B1 and key analogues

Full details of the total synthesis of piericidin A1 and B1 and its extension to the preparation of a series of key analogues are described including ent-piericidin A1 (ent-1), 4'-deshydroxypiericidin A1 (58), 5'-desmethylpiericidin A1 (73), 4'-deshydroxy-5'-desmethylpiericidin A1 (75), and the corresponding analogues 51, 59, 76, and 77 bearing a simplified farnesyl side chain. The evaluation of these key analogues, along with those derived from their further functionalizations, permitted a scan of the key structural features providing new insights into the role of the substituents found in both the pyridyl core as well as the side chain. A strategic late stage heterobenzylic Stille cross-coupling reaction of the pyridyl core with the fully elaborated side chain permitted ready access to the analogues in which each half of the molecule could be systematically and divergently modified. The pyridyl cores were assembled enlisting inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reactions of N-sulfonyl-1-azabutadienes, while key elements of side chain syntheses include an anti selective asymmetric aldol to install the C9 and C10 relative and absolute stereochemistry (for natural and ent-1) and a modified Julia olefination for formation of the C5-C6 trans double bond with convergent assemblage of the side chains.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 1-methoxyspiroindoline phytoalexins and their amino analogues

The stereoselective synthesis of the spiroindoline phytoalexin (R)-(+)-1-methoxyspirobrassinin and its unnatural (S)-(−)-enantiomer were achieved by the bromine-induced spirocyclization of 1-methoxybrassinin using chiral auxiliaries (+)- and (−)-menthol, followed by oxidation of the obtained menthyl ethers. The TFA-catalyzed methanolysis of chiral 1-methoxyspirobrassinol menthyl ethers provided (2R,3R)-(−)-1-methoxyspirobrassinol methyl ether and its other three unnatural stereoisomers. The enantiomers of the 2-amino analogues of the indole phytoalexin (2R,3R)-(−)-1-methoxyspirobrassinol methyl ether were prepared by the TFA-catalyzed replacement of the chiral alkoxy group with an amine. The synthesized compounds were tested in vitro on cancer cell lines and examined with enantiopure 2-amino analogues of the indole phytoalexin (2R,3R)-(−)-1-methoxyspirobrassinol methyl ether, which showed in most cases, lower activity than the corresponding racemates.