Total synthesis of valeriananoids A, B, and C via autocatalytic diastereoselective domino Michael reaction

Natural enantiomers of unique tricyclic sesquiterpenoids, valeriananoids A-C 1-3, have been synthesized starting from bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-2,5-dione derivative 11, which was obtained by diastereoselective catalytic domino Michael reaction of oxophorone 5 with 8-phenylmenthyl acrylate 10 by LDA or silica-gel-base (NMAP-Li). The tricyclic ring was closed selectively by intramolecular 6-endo-trig mode cyclization of the ketyl radical, which was generated from keto-allylether 25 by either lithium or sodium naphthalenide.     

First enantioselective total synthesis of penicimarin B,aspergillumarins A and B

A convergent enantioselective synthesis of penicimarin B, aspergillumarin A and B has been reported using Brown’s allylation, DeBrabander–Bhattacharjee lactonization and Grubbs cross coupling metathesis. During this synthesis we have standardized the conditions for DeBrabande–Bhattacharjee lactonization to obtain excellent yield (>90%).     

First total syntheses of (+/-)-penicillones A and B

The first total syntheses of (+/-)-penicillones A (1) and B (2) have been accomplished from 2-methoxy-4,6-dimethylphenol (7) in 9 and 8 synthetic steps, respectively. Intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of masked o-benzoquinone 8 and aqueous acid-catalyzed intramolecular aldol reaction are the key steps.     

First total synthesis and reassignment of absolute configuration of diosniponol A and B

Enantioselective first total synthesis of diosniponol A and B has been achieved starting from commercially available vanillin. Wittig reaction, Keck allylation, and Prins cyclization reactions are the key steps involved in the target synthesis.     

First stereoselective total synthesis of seimatopolide A

The first stereoselective total synthesis of seimatopolide A (1) has been achieved. The key steps are Keck allylation, Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, cross-, and ring-closing metathesis reactions.     

A concise synthetic approach to dihydrochalcone:First total syntheses of bipinnatone A and B

The first total syntheses of bipinnatone A and B have been achieved starting from commercially available phloroglucinol,p-hydroxybenzaldehyde in ten steps.Key features of the syntheses include Aldol reaction,aryl-alkylation and InCl₃-NaBH₄ selective reduction.     

First total synthesis of (−)-diospongin B

The first total synthesis of (−)-diospongin B has been achieved starting from benzaldehyde using chiral allylation, a base catalyzed conjugate addition of an α,β-unsaturated ester and an intramolecular oxy-Michael reaction as the key steps in 16% overall yield.     

Biomimetic total syntheses of cassiarins A and B

Total syntheses of cassiarins A and B have been efficiently accomplished using a common strategy with biomimetic considerations. Key reactions involved in this synthesis include a Negishi-type coupling, a Ag(I)-promoted formation of the tricyclic 8H-pyrano[2,3,4-de]chromen-8-one core, and a sequential amine-condensation and cyclization. Three new analogues of cassiarin A bearing different substituents at the C-11 position were synthesized in parallel from the same intermediate. In addition, two other transformations to the key tricyclic cores and cassiarins A and B were achieved from corresponding chemically equivalent precursors.     

Enantioselective total syntheses of trichodermamides A and B

Starting from commercially available (-)-quinic acid, the enantioselective total syntheses of trichodermamides A and B were achieved. The key reactions involve the stereoselective construction of the oxazine ring via an intramolecular epoxide ring opening reaction and an EDCI-assisted peptide coupling reaction.     

First total synthesis of two new heterocyclic compounds:Bretschneiderazines A and B

Facile synthesis of the two new natural heterocyclic compounds bretschneiderazines A（2） and B（3）,isolated from an extract of the stems of Bretschneidera sinensis,is reported.We employed the cyclization reaction of benzamide by directed lithiation and sequential treatment with sulfur and phosgene as key steps.All new compounds have been fully characterized by means of IR,¹H NMR,¹³C NMR,and HRMS.     

First total synthesis of a new pyrrolizidine alkaloid, amphorogynine A

An efficient and stereodefined strategy is described for the first asymmetric synthesis of a new type of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, amphorogynine A and its 1-epi-isomer. The key 2,4-disubstituted pyrrolidine ring was constructed by elaboration of the chiral lactam derivative incorporating the d-malic acid-derived skeleton through asymmetric cis-allylation of the functionalized allysilane.     

First total synthesis of the marine steroid alkaloid plakinamine B

The first total synthesis of the marine steroid alkaloid plakinamine B (1) was accomplished in seven steps starting from known aldehyde 3. Key steps in this synthesis are the attachment of a vinylpyridine side chain by an aldol reaction, a chemoselective reduction of a pyridinium salt to a vinyl tetrahydropyridine, and the introduction of the 3α-methylamino group under Mitsunobu conditions. Plakinamine B and some of its precursors with amino or pyridinium side chains show significant antimicrobial activities.     

First total syntheses of (+/-)-annuionone B and (+/-)-tanarifuranonol

The intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of o-quinol allyl ether was accomplished and subsequently applied to the first total syntheses of natural products annuionone B (1) and both the proposed and revised structure of tanarifuranonol, 4 and 17.     

First total synthesis of valeriananoid A

A tricyclic sesquiterpenoid, valeriananoid A 1, has been synthesized via domino Michael reaction of oxophorone 4 and subsequent 6-endo-trig cyclization of a ketyl radical as key steps.     

Total syntheses of the marine pyrrole alkaloids polycitone A and B

Polycitone B (2) was obtained in four steps from pyrrole dicarboxylic acid 3, including Friedel-Crafts reaction of the corresponding acid chloride with anisole. The conversion of 2 into polycitone A (1) was achieved in two steps via Mitsunobu alkylation of the pyrrolic NH group. The synthesis of polycitone A proceeds in 18% overall yield and offers the possibility of varying the substituents on the pyrrole ring.     

Catalysis-based and protecting-group-free total syntheses of the marine oxylipins hybridalactone and the ecklonialactones A, B, and C

Concise and protecting-group-free total syntheses of the marine oxylipins hybridalactone (1) and three members of the ecklonialactone family (2-4) were developed. They deliver these targets in optically pure form in 14 or 13 steps, respectively, in the longest linear sequence; five of these steps are metal-catalyzed and four others are metal-mediated. The route to either 1 or 2-4 diverges from the common building block 22, which is accessible in 7 steps from 2[5H]furanone by recourse to a rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,4-addition reaction controlled by the carvone-derived diene ligand 35 and a ring-closing alkene metathesis (RCM) catalyzed by the ruthenium indenylidene complex 17 as the key operations. Alternatively, 22 can be made in 10 steps from furfural via a diastereoselective three-component coupling process. The further elaboration of 22 into hybridalactone as the structurally most complex target with seven contiguous chiral centers was based upon a sequence of cyclopropanation followed by a vanadium-catalyzed epoxidation, both of which were directed by the same free hydroxy group at C15. The macrocyclic scaffold was annulated to the headgroup by means of a ring-closing alkyne metathesis reaction (RCAM). In response to the unusually high propensity of the oxirane of the targeted oxylipins for ring opening, this transformation had to be performed with complexes of the type [(Ar(3)SiO)(4)Mo≡CPh][K·OEt(2)] (43), which represent a new generation of exceedingly tolerant yet remarkably efficient catalysts. Their ancillary triarylsilanolate ligands temper the Lewis acidity of the molybdenum center but are not sufficiently nucleophilic to engage in the opening of the fragile epoxide ring. A final semireduction of the cycloalkyne formed in the RCAM step to the required (Z)-alkene completed the total synthesis of (-)-1. The fact that the route from the common fragment 22 to the ecklonialactones could follow a similar logic showcased the flexibility inherent to the chosen approach.     

Stereospecific synthesis of 2,2,3-trisubstituted tetrahydroquinolines: application to the total syntheses of benzastatin E and natural virantmycin

An efficient methodology for the synthesis of 2,2,3-trisubstituted tetrahydroquinolines has been developed, which involves the triphenylphosphine-CCl₄-mediated stereospecific rearrangement of α,α-disubstituted indoline-2-methanols 15 to 2,2,3-trisubstituted tetrahydroquinolines 26. The rearrangement precursors 15 are readily prepared by the diastereoselective Grignard addition to 2-acylindolines 13. The total syntheses of (+)-benzastatin E (1) and natural virantmycin (2a) were accomplished utilizing this methodology. This rearrangement reaction might afford some chemical precedent for the biogenetic pathway of the benzastatin family.     

4,5-Didehydro-7-silyloxymethyl-2-oxepanone and formal total syntheses of Hagen’s gland lactones and trans-kumausynes

A concise and enantiospecific route to the 2,6-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octan-3-one ring system from commercially available (R)-(+)- and (S)-(−)-glycidols is described. The key features involve ring closing metathesis to construct the 7-substituted-4,5-dehydro-2-oxepanone and its base-catalyzed single-step rearrangement into the 2,6-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octan-3-one skeleton. Using this strategy, formal total syntheses of (7R)-cis-Hagen’s gland lactones and (+)- and (−)-trans-kumausynes have been achieved.     

Enantiocontrolled total syntheses of breviones A, B, and C

Enantiocontrolled total syntheses of the breviones A, B, and C have been accomplished using a highly diastereoselective oxidative coupling of an α-pyrone with a tricyclic diene prepared from an optically pure Wieland-Miescher ketone derivative through the 7-endo-trig mode of acyl radical cyclization.