Total synthesis of 1-deoxy-7,8a-di-epi-castanospermine and formal synthesis of pumiliotoxin-251D

A concise and efficient synthesis of (6R,7S,8R,8aS)-6,7,8-trihydroxyindolizidine (1-deoxy-7,8a-di-epi-castanospermine) 2 is described. The synthesis employs cross metathesis in building the key intermediate 9 and is used effectively in constructing indolizidine skeleton for the total synthesis of 1-deoxy-7,8a-di-epi-castanospermine and also for the bicyclic framework of pumiliotoxin 251D 12, 13. The indolizidine skeleton is achieved in one pot sequence of transformations such as deprotection of Cbz group, reduction of double bond, and cyclization. The configurational and conformational structures of compound 10 are unambiguously confirmed by X-ray analysis.     

Formal synthesis of Abyssomicin C

An alternative strategy towards Abyssomicin C (1) is described. The key ene-diene intermediate is synthesized via a Kishi type coupling of an E/Z mixture of triene-iodide 7 and a suitably functionalized derivative of 2,4-dimethylglutaric acid. A final in situ isomerization/intramolecular Diels-Alder cyclization resulted in the formation of the known intermediate 3 as a single isomer in high yield. Further heating of 3 using excess of iodine, afforded iodo-derivative 23, having the entire carbon skeleton of Abyssomicin D.     

Stereoselective synthesis of tetrahydropyran–tetrahydrofuran (THP–THF) core of (+)-muconin via Prins cyclization

A stereoselective synthesis of tetrahydropyran–tetrahydrofuran (THP–THF) core 2 of (+)-muconin (1) has been achieved using Prins cyclization as a key step to construct tetrahydropyran moiety. Other important transformations such as Wittig olefination, Sharpless epoxidation, regio-, and stereoselective exo-cyclization of the epoxy alcohol, titanocene induced regioselective deoxygenation of 2,3-epoxy alcohol, Grignard reaction, and Barton–McCombie reaction are successfully employed to accomplish the synthesis of THP–THF core 2.     

Synthesis of 6-substituted tetrahydropyridinones and cyclization to indolizidine and quinolizidine structures

3-Sulfolenes 1 with various substituents at C-2 underwent [4+2] cycloaddition reactions with p-toluenesulfonyl isocyanate to give the teterahydropyridinones 4. Through N-detosylation and Hg(II)-mediated electrophilic addition/intramolecular cyclization of 4e and 4f, the indolizidine and quinolizidine compounds 7a/7b and 8 were synthesized, respectively.     

Novel synthetic strategy toward abietane and podocarpane-type diterpenes from (−)-sclareol: synthesis of the antitumor (+)-7-deoxynimbidiol

A new route to abietane and podocarpane-type terpenoids from labdane diterpenes is reported. The key step is the transformation of β-ketoester 9 into the corresponding O-acetylsalicylate ester 18, via a manganese(III)-based oxidative free-radical cyclization carried out in Ac₂O. Utilizing this, the synthesis of the antitumor (+)-7-deoxynimbidiol (5) from (−)-sclareol (11) has been achieved. (+)-Nimbidiol (6) and the natural terpenoid 20 have also been synthesized.     

Synthesis and transformations of sulfur-substituted indolizidines and quinolizidines

3-Sulfolenes 1a-b underwent [4+2] cycloaddition reactions with p-toluenesulfonyl isocyanate to give tetrahydropyridinones 3a-b. Through N-detosylation of 3a-b and subsequent intramolecular cyclization, indolizidine 5a and quinolizidine 5b were synthesized. Useful functional group transformations of compounds 5a-b were also investigated.     

Stereospecific route to enantiopure all cis-2,3,6-trisubstituted piperidines. Facile synthesis of (−)-deoxocassine and (+)-azimic acid

Reduction of the enantiopure β-amino esters 10 provides the γ-amnio alcohol 11, which is condensed with 2,4-pentadione to afford 12. Stepwise cyclization of 12 produced the cyclic enamine 13, which is hydrogenated to deliver all cis-2,3,6-trisubstituted piperidine 14. Using this reaction sequence and subsequent Baeyer-Villiger oxidation as the key step (−)-deoxocassine and (+)-azimic acid are synthesized.     

Neat total synthesis of six monoterpenic alkaloids of the actinidine series

A concise enantiopure synthesis of six monoterpenic alkaloids of the actinidine series possessing a cyclopenta[c]pyridine skeleton, (+)-deoxyrhexifoline (4), (+)-boschniakinic acid (5), (+)-boschniakine (6), (−)-plantagonine (7), (−)-indicaine (8) and (−)-tecostidine (9) is reported starting with the chiral precursor 3-bromo-5-((4R)-phenyloxazolin-2-yl)pyridine (10). It involves a C-4 regioselective connection of a butene appendice and an intramolecular 5-exo-trig Heck annulation sequence followed by hydrogenation of the exocyclic alkene. Mixture of (3R)- and (3S)-7-((4R)-phenyloxazolin-2-yl)cyclopenta[c]pyridines was separated by HPLC before being transformed into enantiopure natural products (4-9) by modification of the oxazoline group.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of new polyhydroxylated indolizidines from (l)-glutamic acid

A diastereoselective synthesis of two new swainsonine's analogues 1a and 1b with the piperidine ring fused to a phenyl nucleus at C6-C7, namely (1R, 2S, 10R, 10aR)-(+)-1,2,10-trihydroxy-1,2,3,5,10,10a-hexahydrobenzo[f] indolizine (1a) and (1S, 2R, 10R, 10aR)-(+)-1,2,10-trihydroxy-1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 10a-hexahydrobenzo[f] indolizine (1b), is described. Throughout this work, the effectiveness of the tricyclic indolizidine dione 5, readily available in three steps from the cheap l-glutamic acid, as an attractive platform for chemo- and stereodivergent transformations is illustrated. The key steps involved totally diastereoselective ketone reduction of compound 5 and catalytic cis-dihydroxylation of the unsaturated amide 10. The synthetic strategy also allowed for the diastereoselective synthesis of benzoanalogues of the 1,8a-di-epi-lentiginosine 3a ((1R, 2S, 10aR)-(+)-1,2-dihydroxy-1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 10a-hexahydrobenzo[f]indolizine) and 2,8a-di-epi-lentiginosine 3b ((1S, 2R, 10aR)-(+)-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2,3,5,10,10a-hexahydrobenzo[f]indolizine).     

N-Arylmethyl-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane derivatives: synthesis and reaction mechanisms

N-Arylmethyl-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane (I) derivatives have been synthesized by deprotection of N-protected, N-(arylmethyl)cyclohex-3-enamines, bromination of the resulting secondary cyclohex-3-enamines, followed by base-promoted cyclization (route a), or by bromination of N-protected, N-(arylmethyl)cyclohex-3-enamines followed by deprotection and base-mediated cyclization (route b). In these protocols we have observed that the bromination of the key intermediates (12, 13, and 19) is stereoselective leading to major trans-3-cis-4-dibromides (14, 17, and 20), whose mild base-mediated heterocyclization (on compound 14), or the two-step acid hydrolysis plus base-promoted cyclization (on compounds 17 and 20), gave products 6 and 7 in good yield. A mechanistic investigation using DFT has been carried out to explain the results observed in this work.     

An efficient method for the preparation of 3-hydroxyl-5-substituted 2-pyrrolidones and application in the divergent synthesis of (−)-preussin and its analogues

An asymmetric method to (S,R)-α-hydroxyl-γ-amino alcohols 12 through a diastereoselective addition of Grignard reagents to β-chiral aldimines 11 is described. Subsequent oxidation/cyclization with Sarett reagent provided a novel approach to lactams 14, a flexible building block whose utility was demonstrated in the divergent synthesis of antifungal agent (−)-preussin 5 and its three analogues 23, 24, 25.     

Stereoselective synthesis of tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids: (−)-trolline, (+)-crispin A, (+)-oleracein E

Tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids, (S)-(−)-trolline, (R)-(+)-crispin A, and (R)-(+)-oleracein E, have been synthesized stereoselectively from the both enantiomers of common intermediate (S)-4 and (R)-4. The key step in the synthesis include a stereoselective Bi(OTf)₃-catalyzed intramolecular 1,3-chirality transfer reaction of chiral non-racemic amino allylic alcohols (S)-6 and (R)-6 to construct both enantiomers of (E)-1-propenyl tetrahydroisoquinoline 4.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (+)-1-deoxynojirimycin and (+)-castanospermine

Asymmetric total syntheses of (+)-1-deoxynojirimycin (1) and (+)-castanospermine (2) are described. Starting from diene 3, the required absolute stereochemistry is introduced by an asymmetric hydroxylation followed by epoxidation. An intramolecular cyclization of amine 17 gives access to the corresponding tetrasubstituted piperidine 18, which is a precursor to compounds 1 and 2. (+)-Deoxynojirimicyn (1) was obtained in 36% yield over 11 steps from diene 3, while (+)-castanospermine (2) was achieved in 13% after 19 steps from the same starting material.     

A concise synthesis of anti-viral agent F-ddA, starting from (S)-dihydro-5-(hydroxymethyl)-2(3H)-furanone

Anti-HIV agent β-F-ddA (1) has been synthesized starting from readily available non-sugar, (S)-(+)-Dihydro-5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-(3H)-furanone (4). A highly syn-stereoselective fluorination of the hydroxy lactone 2 generates the key intermediate fluorolactone 5 in a short and concise synthetic sequence. Reduction of 5 followed by bromination generates the aglycon which is glycosylated to generate F-ddA by amination and deprotection. Steric bulk of the 5-protecting group has minimal effect on the steric course of glycosylation.     

A convenient synthesis of 1′-H-spiro-(indoline-3,4′-piperidine) and its derivatives

A simple synthetic route has been developed to prepare 1′-H-spiro(indoline-3,4′-piperidine) (1d). Dialkylation of 2-fluorophenylacetonitrile with N-(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-bis(2-chloroethyl)amine (5) gave 6. Deprotection of Boc followed by cyclization resulted 1d in 67% overall yield. Selective Boc or Cbz protection of 1′-N gave 1a or 1b with 90 and 85% yield, respectively. Thus, in a five-step procedure, 1a and 1b were synthesized from commercially available reagents in over 50% overall yield. All 3 compounds (1a, 1b and 1d) can be utilized as templates to synthesize compounds for GPCR targets.     

A new synthesis of (−)-thioambrox and its 8-epimer

This new and straightforward synthesis of (−)-thioambrox 2, a sulphur compound whose odour resembles ambergris, starts from sclareolide 4. The stereoselectivity of the final cyclization is independent of the catalyst selected, and compound 2 is always favoured over (+)-iso-thioambrox 3. With hydrochloric acid as catalyst, the cyclization is unexpectedly stereospecific to give 2 in high yield at room temperature.     

Polyhydroxylated pyrrolizidines. Part 6: A new and concise stereoselective synthesis of (+)-casuarine and its 6,7-diepi isomer, from DMDP

A new synthesis for (+)-casuarine (1) and its 6,7-diepi isomer (15) in a stereocontrolled manner, is reported herein. An appropriately protected polyhydroxylated pyrrolidine, such as (2R,3R,4R,5R)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-2′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine (3, protected DMDP), easily available from d-fructose, was chosen as the chiral starting material. Compounds 1 and 15 were obtained from 3, in seven steps, in a 23.2 and 20.5% overall yields, respectively.     

Domino intramolecular enyne metathesis/cross metathesis approach to the xanthanolides. Enantioselective synthesis of (+)-8-epi-xanthatin

The first total synthesis of (+)-8-epi-xanthatin (1) has been achieved in 14 steps starting from the commercially available ester 24, which was converted into aldehyde 23 in six steps. An enantioselective aldol reaction of 23 gave 30, which was transformed into triflate 22 in four steps, setting the stage for a palladium-catalyzed carbonylation reaction to form acrylate 34. Compound 34 was then subjected to a deprotection/lactonization sequence to furnish enyne 21, which underwent a domino enyne ring-closing metathesis/cross metathesis process to form a seven-membered carbocycle and (E)-conjugated dienone, thereby completing the synthesis of 1. This domino ruthenium-catalyzed metathesis reaction thus serves as an efficient method to construct the core of xanthanolide and other sesquiterpene lactones.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (−)-diospongins A and B and their stereoisomers at C-5

Antiosteoporotic diarylheptanoids (−)-diospongins A (1) and B (2) were synthesized stereoselectively. The key steps in the synthesis include a stereospecific Pd^II-catalyzed cyclization of chiral 1,5,7-trihydroxy-2-heptenes, 6a and 6b, to form cis and trans tetrahydropyran rings and a regioselective Wacker oxidation of β-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)styrenes, 5a and 5b. Their C-5 epimers 3 and 4 were also synthesized.     

An efficient approach to 2-substituted N-tosylpiperdines: asymmetric synthesis of 2-(2-hydroxy substituted)piperidine alkaloids

We have developed an efficient and a general approach to chiral 2-substituted N-tosylpiperidines starting from chiral α-substituted-N-tosylaziridines. Using this approach, we have synthesized (+)-coniine. The synthesis of chiral N-tosyl-2-piperidinylethanol 15 and ent-15, was achieved from l- and d-aspartic acids, respectively in few steps. Piperidine 15 was converted into 2-(2-hydroxysubstituted)piperidines of type 2 in optically active form. By applying this strategy, asymmetric syntheses of halosaline (R,R)-2a, (+)- and (−)-sedamine 2b, (+)- and (−)-allosedamine 2c, (+)- and (−)-sedridine 2d, (+)- and (−)-allosedridine 2e, (+)-tetraponerine T-3 3a, T-4 3c, T-7 3b, and T-8 3d have been achieved in high yields. These stereoisomers can be interconverted via Mitsunobu inversion in excellent yields.