Synthesis of Aristotelia-type alkaloids. Part VII. Syntheses of (±)-sorelline, (±)-serratenone,and (±)-aristotelin-19-one

The imine obtained by condensing indole-protected 2-(indol-3-yl)acetaldehyde ( 5 ) with the terpinylamine derivative (±)- 4 was cyclized in 51% yield to the 19-substituted hobartine derivative (±)- 20 upon exposure to anhydrous HCOOH. This pivotal intermediate was further elaborated into the indole alkaloids (±)-serratenone ((±)- 22 ) and (±)-sorelline ((±)- 29 ). In the course of these investigations, a novel rearrangement was uncovered; a Lewis acid-catalyzed 1,3-migration of an arylsulfonyl group from the indole N-atom into the benzene ring. The discovery that synthetic (±)-aristotelin-19-one ((±)- 34 ) has decidedly different spectroscopic properties than aristolasicone, a metabolite for which the structure has been recently proposed, led to a revision of the structure of the latter.     

Total Synthesis of (±)-3-Deoxy-7,8-dihydromorphine, (±)-4-Methoxy-N-methylmorphinan-6-one and 2,4-Dioxygenated (±)-Congeners

A total synthesis of racemic 3-deoxy-7,8-dihydromorphine ((±)- 2 ) and 4-me-thoxy-ALmethylmorphinan-6-one ((±)- 3 ) is described. The key intermediate was 2,4-dihydroxy-N-formylmorphinan-6-one (11) , obtained from 3,5-dibenzyloxy-phenylacetic acid (4) in 41.8% overall yield. Bromination of 11 , and treatment with aqueous N_aOH-solution afforded, after N-deblocking and reductive N-methylation with concomitant removal of the aromatic bounded Br-atom, the morphinanone 14. Elimination of the HO–C(2) group in 14 was accomplished by hydrogenolysis of its N-phenyltetrazolyl ether 15 , to give 3-deoxy-6,0-didehydro-7,8-dihydromorphine (16). Reduction of 16 with L-Selectride at low temperature provided (±)- 2 in high yield. The ether 15 directly afforded, under more vigorous reduction conditions, 4-hydroxy-N-methylmorphinan-6-one (17). and after O-methylation of 17 , the methyl ether (±)- 3 was obtained. A (1:l)-mixture of 4-hydroxy-2-methoxy-N-methylmor-phinan-6-one (28) and its 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy isomer 30 svere obtained by Grewe-cyclization of a mono-methoxylated aromatic precursor similar to that which afforded 11. The 2,4-dioxygenated N-methylmorphinan-6-ones 29 , 31 and 38 were also prepared and characterized.     

Synthesis of Aristotelia-Type Alkaloids.. Part IV. Synthesis of (±)-aristoserratine

A convergent diastereoselective synthesis of racemic aristoserratine ((±)- 24 ) via an intramolecular iminium-ion cyclization is described. The pivotal imine (±)- 19 was prepared by condensation of the two building blocks (± )-trans-8-amino-3-(2,6-difluorobenzyloxy)-1-p-menthene ((±)- 11 ) and N-(p-methoxybenzenesulfonyl)-3-indo-leacetaldehyde ( 18 ) which were synthesized from (±)-trans-1-p-menthene-3,8-diol ((±)- 7 ) and 3-indoleacetic acid, respectively. On the route to the target (±)- 24 , two previously unknown indole alkaloids have been characterized, namely (±)-‘anti’-hobartin-15-ol ((±)- 22 ) and (±)-‘anti’-aristotelin-15-ol ((±)- 23 ).     

Synthesis of Aristotelia-type alkaloids. Part VIII. Synthesis of (±)-aristolasicone

The revised structure of the indole alkaloid aristolasicone ( 2 ) was confirmed through a convergent total synthesis of the racemic form of this metabolite. The key step involves a one-pot condensation/cyclization reaction between 1-(4-methoxyphenylsulfonyl)-1H-indole-2-acetaldehyde ( 9 ) and (±)-trans-5-(2,6-difluorobenzyloxy)-p-menth-l-en-8-amine ((±)-7). The resulting allohobartine derivative (±)- 13 , obtained in 84% yield, was deprotected and oxidized to (±)-alloscrratenone ((±)- 15 ) which cyclized smoothly to the target molecule (±)-2 upon exposure to BF₃ · Et₂O.     

A Short Synthesis of (±)-Muscone

(±)-Muscone ((±)-1) has been synthesised in three steps from 2-(2′-methylprop-2′-enyl)cyclododecan-1-one ( 2 ). The synthesis involves two key transformations: a Lewis-acid-mediated intramolecular ene reaction ( 2→3 ) and the β-cleavage of the bicyclic potassium alkoxide 3a′ to the macrocyclic enone (Z)- 11 .     

Syntheses of (±)- and Enantiomerically Pure (+)-Longifolene and of (±)- and Enantiomerically Pure (+)-Sativene by an Intramolecular de Mayo Reaction

Starting from 2-cyclopentenoyl chloride ((RS)- or (S)- 8 ), the racemic as well as the enantiomerically pure (+)-sesquiterpenes longifolene ((±)- and (+)- 1 , resp.) and sativene ((±)- and (+)- 2 , resp.) were synthesized efficiently by a sequence of nine and ten steps, respectively. The key sequence 10 → 16 → 3 is the first strategic application of an intramolecular photoaddition/retro-aldolization sequence (intramolecular de Mayo reaction) in organic synthesis.     

Synthesis of Aristotelia-type alkaloids. Part IX. Synthesis of (±)-alloaristoteline

The probably most straightforward plan to synthesize the indole alkaloid alloaristoteline ( 5 ) failed, because– in marked contrast to the regular Aristotelia series-electrophilic reagents attack with preference C(3) of the indole moiety in the key intermediate allohobartine ((?)- 12 ), instead of C(18). The only product that could be isolated when (?)- 12 was treated with mineral acid was isomer (+)- 15 of 5 (Scheme 2). As a consequence, the crucial electrophilic site at C(17) was created by taking recourse to the preparation of the stabilized allylic cation VI . Gratifyingly, this alleged intermediate, obtained from precursor (±)- 18 , cyclized smoothly to protected (±)-18,19-didehydroalloaristoteline (±)- 17 , which was transformed in two high-yield steps into the racemic form of the target molecule 5 (Scheme 4). This successful alternative provides unambiguous evidence that the recently revised structure of 5 is indeed correct.     

β-Cleavage of Potassium Bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-en-2-olates. Stereoselective synthesis of (±)-trichodiene

The transformations of 12 bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-en-2-ols ( V or VI ) to 3-(cyclohex-3-enyl)-2-alkanones ( III or IV ), via β-cleavage of their potassium alkoxides in HMPA, has been investigated (cf. Table 1). As an illustration of this synthetic methodology, a stereoselective synthesis of (±)-trichodiene ((±)- 1 ) is described which involves the β-cleavage of the tricyclic potassium alkoxides 46a and 47a to cyclopentanone 4 (cf. Scheme 7).     

Structure and Synthesis of (±)-Caudoxirene,a New Spermatozoid-Releasing and -Attracting Pheromone from the Marine Brown Alga Perithalia caudata (Phaeophyceae,Sporochnales). Part V

Cis-3-(trans-1,2-Epoxybut-3-enyl)-4-vinylcyclopentene ((±)- 4 , caudoxirene) is a new gamete-releasing and gamete-attracting pheromone from the marine brown alga Perithalia caudata (Sporochnales). The key step of its synthesis is the diastereoselective alkylation of the aldehyde 8 with the [(phenylthio)allyl]titanium reagent 9 to yield the erythro-β-hydroxy sulfide 10 which affords 4 on sequential treatment with Me₃O·BF₄ and aq. NaOH. The lowest effective concentration of (±)- 4 for gamete-release is found at 1.4 × 10^?11 mol/l seawater.     

A New Preparation of 1,3,3‐Trimethylbicyclo[2.2.2]octan‐2,6‐dione,a Never Isolated Intermediate in a Total Synthesis of (+)‐Norpatchoulenol. Formal Total Synthesis of (±)‐Iso‐Norpatchoulenol

A new preparation and the isolation and spectroscopic characterization of 1,3,3‐trimethylbicyclo[2.2.2]octan‐2,6‐dione ( 3 ), a so far elusive key intermediate in the Liu–Ralitsch total synthesis of (+)‐norpatchoulenol ((+)‐ 1a ), is described. The preparation of 3 constitutes also a formal total synthesis of (±)‐iso‐norpatchoulenol ((±)‐ 1b ), since 3 is correlated to an intermediate in the Monti and co‐workers synthesis of (±)‐ 1b .     

Addition von Dimethylketen an 6-heterosubstituierte Fulvene. Synthese von (±)-Filifolon

Addition of Dimethylketene to 6-Heterosubstituted Fulvenes. Synthesis of (±)-Filifolone [2 + 2]Cycloaddition of dimethylketene to 6-ethoxy- ( 8 ) and 6,6-(tetramethylenedithio)fulvene ( 9 ) gave the 4-alkylidenebicyclo[3.2.0]heptenones 11 and 12 , respectively. Under the same conditions, 6-(dimethylamino)fulvene ( 7 ) was acylated to yield the push-pull fulvene 10 . Raney-Ni reduction converted the adduct 12 into the monoterpene (±)-filifolone ((±)- 1 , 52%) and minor amounts of the four related ketones 14 - 17 . Cycloaddition of a second dimethylketene to the primary cycloadduct 11a yielded the cis, transoid, cis-tricyclic diketone 13 .     

A Short and Efficient Synthesis of (±)-Modhephene by a Stereoelectronically-Controlled Ene-Reaction

(±)-Modhephene ( 6 ) has been synthesized from the easily available trimethylpentalenone 1 in 6 steps in 26% overall yield (Scheme 2). The remarkably smooth 1,4-addition/enolate trapping 1 → 2 and subsequent selenoxide elimination after oxidation furnished the key intermediate 3 which underwent an expedient and highly stereoselctive intramolecular ene-reaction to give the propellane 4 , readily convertible to (±)- 6 .     

Synthese des Pyrrolizidin-Alkaloides (±)-Trachelanthamidin

Synthesis of the Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid (±)-Trachelanthamidine The important intermediate in the synthesis of the title compound 8 is the diastereoisomer mixture of ethyl 2-[2-(1,3 dioxolan-2-yl)ethyl]-5-oxopyrrolidine-3-carboxylate ( 3a/3b ) which was prepared from nitromethane, acrylaldehyde, and diethyl fumarate (Scheme). Its reduction (NaBH₄, t-BuOH, MeOH) gave exclusively the trans-alcohol 4a , which was converted to the protected pyrrolidine derivative 6 . The deprotection and reduction of 6 gave the pyrrolizidine alkaloid 8 , characterized as its hydrochloride.     

Eine neue Synthese von (±)-Dihydrorecifeiolid

A New Synthesis of (±)-Dihydrorecifeiolide Ethyl 1-(2′-formylethyl)-2-oxocyclooctane-1-carboxylate ( 2 ) prepared by Michael reaction of ethyl 2-oxocyclooctane-1-carboxylate ( 1 ) was regioselectively methylated at the aldehyde group with (CH₃)₂Ti[OCH(CH₃)₂]₂ to give 3 (Scheme 1). The alcohol 3 was treated with Bu₄NF to give the deethoxycarbonylated product 4 which by distillation gave the bicyclic enol ether 5 . Oxidation (m-chloroperbenzoic acid) of 5 and reduction of the resulting oxolacton 6 yielded the title compound (±)-dihydrorecifeiolide ( 7 ) in an overall yield of nearly 50 %. Methylation of the aldehyde 2 with MeLi gave the ring-enlarged lacton 9 in poor yield (13 %). The deethoxycarbonylation reaction 3 → 4 was studied in more detail (Scheme 3).     

Kurze Totalsynthesen von (±)-Sativen und (±)-cis-Sativendiol

Short Total Syntheses of (±)-Sativene and (±)-cis-Sativenediol Our approach to (±)-sativene (7) and (±)-cis-sdtivenediol (9) involves: (a) reaction of 3-methylbutanoyl chloride with Et₃N/cyclopentadiene to give the endo-isopropyl-ketone 1 (here improved to 71%), (b) NBS bromination of 1 to a 5:1 mixture (87%) of the bromo-ketones 2 and 3 , (c) NFD-reaction sequence initiated by the attack of 1,2-butadienyl titanate (complex of 15 , obtained from 2-butine) on 2/3 to afford 52% of the brexenone derivative 4 (along with 8% of its epimer 16 ), (d) addition of dibromomethane to 4 forming 63% of the diene-alcohol 5 (along with 13% of the diene-carbaldehyde 38 ), and (e) carbenoid ring-expansion with MeLi applied to 5 resulting in 41% the diene-ketone 6 (along with 15% of a 1:3 mixture of the diene-ketones 32 and 33 ). Wolff-Kishner reduction of 6 led to 81% of (±)-sativene (7), when enough O₂ was present, but to 97% of the diene 8 in the strict absence of O₂. (±)-cis-Sativenediol (9) was obrained (86%) by OsO₄ hydroxylation of 8 . The brexenone derivatives 4 and 16 (6:1, 50%) were also produced when the NFD-reaction sequence was applied to the isomeric bromo-ketone mixture 13/13 (1:3). The latter was obtained by NBS bromination of 10 , which in turn was available by base epimerization of 1 , followed by destructive removal of unreacted 1 by repeated gas-flow thermolysis. An analogous (less convenient) route to (±)-sativene (7) passed through a series of dihydro compounds (the ene series) it started with the methylidene-ketone 36 , which was the product (97%) of a partial hydrogenation of 4 . Addition of dibromomethane to 36 led t 62% of the methylidene-alcohol 39 (along with a little tetracyclic ether 40 ). Carbenoid ring expansion of 39 with MeLi afforded ca. 42% of the methylidene-ketone 41 (along with 7% of the methylidene-ketone 43 or, under slightly different condition, along with 9% of the methylidene-ketone 42 and 10% of the methylidene-carabaldehyde 44 ). The methylidene-alcohol 39 and the methylidene-ketone 43 were also obtained by partial hydrogenation of 5 and 33 , respectively. Wolff-Kisher reduction converted 41 into (±)-sativene ( 7 99%); the same conditons applied to 42 afforded only ca. 8% 7 (along with three other hydrocarbons, one of them (ca. 21%) probably being (±)-copacamphene (45)). In the diene series, the two succeeding reactions ( 4→5 and 5→6 ) competed with the same side reaction, a rearrangement leading to the brendene-aldehyde 38. In the ene series, the corresponding dihydro-by-product 44 was found in the reacton 39→41 , but not during 36→39. These side reactons could largely be suppressed by keeping the reaction temperature low. An explanation is proposed.     

Synthese der Spermidin-Alkaloide (±)-Inandenin-10-ol,Inandenin-10-on und (±)-Oncinotin

Syntheses of the Spermidine Alkaloids (±)-Inandenin-10-ol, Inandenin-10-one, and (±)-Oncinotine New syntheses of the title compounds using two-ring-enlargement reactions are described. Starting from the aldehyde 1 , the corresponding 4′-aza derivative 15 could be obtained by reductive amination with the appropriate and protected spermidine derivative 14 (Scheme 4). Enlargement of the carbocyclic ring in 15 by five members gave, after further transformations, the hydroxylactam 18 . Transamidation of 18 , the second ring-enlargement step, led to (±)-inandenin-10-ol (7;22.9% overall yield) and, after oxidation, to inandenin-10-one ( 8 ; 22.5%, overall yield). (±)-Oncinotine 6 was synthesized by two pathways (Scheme 6): protection of the terminal NH₂ group by treatment with the Nefkens reagent and replacement of the OH group by Cl gave 24 , which by thermal transamidation followed by direct ring closure led to the oncinotine derivative 26 . The same intermediate could be obtained in higher yield via 28 by oxidation and protection of 18 followed by transamidation and reductive ring closure. Treatment of 26 with hydrazine finally gave (±)-oncinotine 6 in 15.9% overall yield.     

A Stereoselective Total Synthesis of (±)-Maritimol, (±)-2-Deoxystemodinone, (±)-Stemodinone,and (±)-Stemodin

A simple and stereoselective total synthesis of (±)-maritimol ( 2d ) and its conversion into the other title compounds (±)-( 2a ), ((±)- 2b ), and ((±)- 2c ) is described. The unique bicyclo[3.2.1]octane moiety, constituting their C/D-ring system, is stereospecifically obtained by solvolytic rearrangement of the methanesulfonate 23 .     

Synthesis and spectral analysis of (±)-cis-N-[1-(2-hydroxy-2-phenyl-ethyl)-3-methyl-4-piperidyl]-N-phenylpropanamide and (±)-cis-N-[1-(2-hydroxy-1-phenylethyl)-3-methyl-4-piperidyl]-N-phenylpropanamide

Treatment of (±)-cis-N-(3-methyl-4-piperidyl)-N-phenylpropanamide (2) with styrene oxide (1) yielded a mixture of (±)-cis-N-[1-(2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl)-3-methyl-4-piperidyl]-N-phenylpropanamide (3) and (±)-cis-N-[1-(2-hydroxy-1-phenylethyl)-3-methyl-4-piperidyl]-N-phenylpropanamide (4) . The structure of compound 3 was confirmed by an unambiguous synthesis via (±)-cis-N-[1-(2-oxo-2-phenylethyl)-3-methyl-4-piperidyl]-N-phenylpropanamide (6) . The proton and carbon-13 resonances of compounds 3 and 4 were assigned with the aid of two-dimensional heteronuclear correlation experiments.     

The Synthesis of (±)-11-Deoxydaunomycinone via Regioselective Tandem Diels-Alder Reactions

The 2,5-dimethylidene-3,6-bis[(Z)-(2-nitrophenyl)sulfenylmethylidene]-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane ( 13 ) can be used to generate polyfunctional and multicyclic molecules with high regio- and stereoselectivity via two successive Diels-Alder additions using two different dienophiles. This principle has been applied to the synthesis of (±)-11-deoxydaunomycinone ( 7 ), the aglycone of an important antitumor drug. The 2,3-didehydroanisole adds to 13 and gives the monoadduct 14 with high regioselectivity. No trace of bis-adduct is observed. The 1,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-methoxy-3-methylidene-2-[(Z)-(2-nitrophenyl)sulfenylmethylidene]anthracene ( 15 ) obtained on treating 14 with K₂CO₃ adds to methyl vinyl ketone to give [(1RS, 2SR, 5RS,12RS)-5,12-epoxy-1,2,3,4,5,12-hexahydro-7-methoxy-1-(2-nitrophenyl)sulfenyl-2-naphthacenyl]methyl ketone ( 16 ) with high regio- and stereoselectivity. The acid-catalyzed 7-oxanorbornadiene→phenol rearrangement of 16 is regioselective and gives (5-acetoxy-3,4-dihydro-7-methoxy-2-naphthacenyl) methyl ketone ( 20 ) which was transformed into (±)-7,11-dideoxydaunomycinone ((±)- 24 ), a known precursor of 7 .     

An Alternative Access to (±)-α-Irones and (±)-β-Irone via Acid-Mediated Cyclisation

Acid-mediated cyclisation of trienone 8 , readily available from 2,3-dimethylbutanal ( 1 ; five steps: 47% yield), using fluorosulfonic acid (6.8 mol-equiv.) in 2-nitropropane at ?70°, afforded a 14:9:1 mixture (70% yield) of (±)-cis-α-irone ( 9 ), (±)-trans-α-irone ( 10 ), and (±)-β-irone ( 11 ). Other acidic conditions examined, using 95% aq. H₂SO₄ solution, 85% aq. H₃PO₄ solution, or SnCl₄, gave inferior results.