Expedient construction of the [7-5-5] all-carbon tricyclic core of the Daphniphyllum alkaloids daphnilongeranin B and daphniyunnine D

A synthetic strategy for the construction of the [7-5-5] all-carbon tricyclic core of numerous calyciphylline A-type Daphniphyllum alkaloids has been developed using a key intramolecular Pauson-Khand reaction. A subsequent base-mediated double-bond migration and a regio- and stereoselective radical late stage allylic oxygenation provide access to the substitution patterns of daphnilongeranin B and daphniyunnine D.     

Synthetic studies on cyathins: enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-allocyathin B2

[reaction: see text] The enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-allocyathin B(2) has been achieved. Our approach features a convergent enantioselective construction of the 5-6-7 tricyclic core system using the originally developed chiral building blocks via asymmetric catalysis, the intramolecular aldol reaction in high yield, successful samarium diiodide-mediated ring expansion, and a newly developed double-bond installation method.     

Synthesis of the [5-7-6] tricyclic core of guanacastepene A via an intramolecular Mukaiyama aldol reaction

[reaction: see text] A synthesis of the tricyclic [5-7-6] skeleton of guanacastepene A is described. The six-membered ring of guanacastepene A was constructed by a Diels-Alder reaction. After several functional group transformations, it was coupled to beta-iodocyclopentenone. Lithium dimethylcuprate conjugate addition followed by an intramolecular Mukaiyama aldol reaction furnished the desired [5-7-6] tricyclic ring system.     

Expedient Route to the functionalized calyciphylline A-type skeleton via a Michael addition-RCM strategy

An efficient, robust, and scalable strategy to access the functionalized core of calyciphylline A-type alkaloids has been developed starting from commercially available 3-methylanisole. Key features of this approach are an intramolecular Michael addition/allylation sequence and a ring-closing metathesis step.     

Synthetic study of 1,3-butadiene-based IMDA approach to construct a [5-7-6] tricyclic core and its application to the total synthesis of C8-epi-guanacastepene O

An efficient intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) strategy for the construction of the [5-7-6] tricyclic core (18) of guanacastepenes has been developed from cis- and trans-1,3-butadiene-tethered 4-oxopent-2-ynoic acid ethyl esters 10 and 11. This method facilitates the synthesis of C8-epi-guanacastepene O (36) in a very efficient manner.     

Concise Construction of the ACDE Ring System of Calyciphylline A Type Alkaloids by a [5+2] Cycloaddition

A concise route for construction of the ACDE ring skeleton in calyciphylline A type alkaloids was developed using an intramolecular [5+2] cycloaddition reaction of an oxidopyrylium species bearing a tetrasubstituted olefin. Key to the success of this reaction was the combination of acid and base, which accelerated the construction of this skeleton containing a spiro ring and vicinal quaternary carbon centers. The resultant tricyclic ADE ring compound was converted to an ACDE ring model through C−H oxidation and an aza-Wittig reaction.     

Synthesis of the 4-azatricyclo[5.2.2.0(4,8)]undecan-10-one core of daphniphyllum alkaloid calyciphylline A using a Pd-catalyzed enolate alkenylation

[reaction: see text] The ABC ring system of the natural product calyciphylline A has been synthesized. The key steps were a palladium-catalyzed intramolecular coupling of an amino-tethered vinyl bromide with a ketone using potassium phenoxide as the base to generate the C-ring and a hydroxyl-directed hydrogenation of an exocyclic double bond to give the azatricyclic ketone 1.     

Tandem oxidative dearomatization/intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction for construction of the tricyclic core of palhinine A

A concise construction of the 6/6/5 tricyclic core of Lycopodium alkaloid palhinine A (1) has been accomplished. The developed synthetic strategy featured a tandem oxidative dearomatization/intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction to construct C/D rings and an intramolecular 5-exo-trig radical cyclization to install the B ring of palhinine A (1). The developed approach paves the way for the total synthesis of palhinine A (1).     

Synthesis of the tricyclic core of vinigrol via an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction

[reaction: see text] Herein, we present a successful synthesis of the tricyclic core of vinigrol (1). Our approach takes advantage of a highly regioselective intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of the diene 11 to construct two rings of the tricyclic vinigrol skeleton 12.     

Total synthesis of (-)-pseudolaric acid B

We report the enantioselective synthesis of pseudolaric acid B (1a), a diterpene acid isolated from the bark of Pseudolarix kaempferi Gordon, which displays interesting antifungal, antifertility, and cytotoxic activity against multidrug resistant cell lines. Our synthesis utilizes a highly efficient metal-catalyzed [5 + 2] vinylcyclopropane-alkyne intramolecular cycloaddition to construct the polyhydroazulene core of the natural product. Elaboration to the tricyclic scaffold of the pseudolaric acids was completed with an intramolecular alkoxycarbonyl radical cyclization to form the quaternary center and a highly diastereoselective cerium acetylide addition to a methyl ketone for introduction of the acid side chain.     

Rapid biomimetic total synthesis of (±)-rossinone B

A biomimetic total synthesis of (±)-rossinone B has been achieved through a highly efficient strategy featuring a series of rationally designed reactions, including a one-pot allylic rearrangement/oxidation reaction to generate the vinyl quinone 27, an intramolecular vinyl quinone Diels-Alder reaction to construct the linear 6-6-5 tricyclic core of 28, and a double conjugate addition/β-elimination cascade to complete the total synthesis of 1.     

Synthesis of tricyclic 4-chloro-pyrimido[4,5-b][1,4]benzodiazepines

[reaction: see text] A novel methodology was developed for the efficient synthesis of 4-chloro-pyrimido[4,5-b][1,4]benzodiazepines. The key is the intramolecular Friedel-Crafts cyclization of 5-amino-4-(N-substituted)anilino-6-chloropyrimidine with either a carboxylic acid or its derivatives to construct the 4-chloro-pyrimido[4,5-b][1,4]benzodiazepine core. Subsequent nucleophilic substitution allows the introduction of one more diversity point in the target molecules. This strategy provides an efficient method to access a library of compounds based on privileged substructures that are of great interest in drug discovery.     

Total Synthesis of (−)‐Daphenylline

Total synthesis of (?)‐daphenylline, a hexacyclic Daphniphyllum alkaloid, was achieved. Construction of the tricyclic DEF ring system was initiated by asymmetric Negishi coupling followed by an intramolecular Friedel–Crafts reaction. Installation of a side chain onto the tricyclic core was carried out through Sonogashira coupling, stereocontrolled Claisen rearrangement by taking advantage of the characteristic conformation of the tricyclic DEF core, and the stereoselective alkylation of a lactone. After the introduction of a glycine unit, the ABC ring system was stereoselectively constructed through intramolecular cycloaddition of the cyclic azomethine ylide.     

Function-oriented synthesis: studies aimed at the synthesis and mode of action of 1alpha-alkyldaphnane analogues

[reaction: see text] An efficient synthetic route to the ABC tricyclic core of 1alpha-alkyldaphnanes has been developed. The conformational bias imparted by the C6-C9 oxo-bridge of BC-ring system 12 was used to elaborate the ABC-ring system precursor including the introduction of the beta-C5 hydroxyl group. A completely diastereoselective palladium-catalyzed enyne cyclization was then employed to establish the A-ring with a C1 appendage.     

Enantioselective total syntheses of manzamine a and related alkaloids

As a prelude to undertaking the total syntheses of the complex manzamine alkaloids, a series of model studies were conducted to establish the scope and limitations of intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloadditions of N-acylated vinylogous ureas with the trienic substrates 17a,b, 28a,b, and 34. These experiments clearly demonstrated that the geometry of the internal double bond and the presence of an electron-withdrawing group on the diene moiety were essential for the facile and stereoselective formation of the desired cycloadducts. The enantioselective syntheses of the manzamine alkaloids ircinol A (75), ircinal A (5), and manzamine A (1) were then completed by employing a convergent strategy that featured a novel domino Stille/Diels-Alder reaction to construct the tricyclic ABC ring core embodied in these alkaloids. Thus, the readily accessible chiral dihydropyrrole 58 was first converted in a single chemical operation into the key tricyclic intermediate 60. Two ring-closing metathesis reactions were then used to form the 13- and 8-membered rings leading to Z-72 and 74, the latter of which was quickly elaborated into ircinal A (5) via ircinol A (75). The synthetic 5 thus obtained was converted into manzamine A (1) following literature precedent. This concise synthesis of ircinal A required a total of 24 operations from commercially available starting materials with the longest linear sequence being 21 steps.     

Total Syntheses of Daphenylline,Daphnipaxianine A,and Himalenine D

We report the total syntheses of daphenylline ( 1 ), daphnipaxianine A ( 5 ), and himalenine D ( 6 ), three Daphniphyllum alkaloids from the calyciphylline A subfamily. A pentacyclic triketone was prepared by using atom‐transfer radical cyclization and the Lu [3+2] cycloaddition as key steps. Inspired by the proposed biosynthetic relationship between 1 and another calyciphylline A type alkaloid, we developed a ring‐expansion/aromatization/aldol cascade to construct the tetrasubstituted benzene moiety of 1 . The versatile triketone intermediate was also elaborated into 5 and 6 through a C=C bond migration/aldol cyclization approach.     

Exploring an expedient IMDA reaction approach to construct the guanacastepene core

Construction of the [5-7-6] tricyclic core of guanacastepenes was attempted by using the intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reaction and Me(3)Al-mediated ring opening of the oxabridge as key synthetic steps. The illustrated chemistry demonstrated a synthetic feasibility to build up the framework of guanacastepenes by the IMDA reaction. [reaction: see text]     

Asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-panacene and correction of its relative configuration

[reaction: see text] The first synthesis of (-)-panacene has been accomplished in concise, highly stereoselective fashion from commercially available 2-methoxy-6-methylbenzoic acid (15 steps, 8.3% overall yield). The synthesis unambiguously establishes the correct relative and absolute configuration of panacene, and demonstrates the serviceability of Pd(II)-mediated tandem intramolecular alkoxycarbonylation-lactonization for the expedient assembly of its tricyclic core, and the dual role of asymmetric alkynylation as an initial source of chirality and as a powerful tool for manipulating diastereoselectivity.     

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Hasubanan Alkaloids: Periglaucines A–C,N,O-Dimethyloxostephine and Oxostephabenine

We report herein the asymmetric total synthesis of periglaucines A–C, N,O-dimethyloxostephine and oxostephabenine. The key strategies used include: 1) a Rh^I-catalyzed regio- and diastereoselective Hayashi-Miyaura reaction to connect two necessary fragments; 2) an intramolecular photoenolization/Diels–Alder (PEDA) reaction to construct the highly functionalized tricyclic core skeleton bearing a quaternary center; 3) a bio-inspired intramolecular Michael addition and transannular acetalization to generate the aza[4.4.3]propellane and the tetrahydrofuran ring.     

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Hasubanan Alkaloids: Periglaucines A–C,N,O-Dimethyloxostephine and Oxostephabenine

We report herein the asymmetric total synthesis of periglaucines A–C, N,O-dimethyloxostephine and oxostephabenine. The key strategies used include: 1) a Rh^I-catalyzed regio- and diastereoselective Hayashi-Miyaura reaction to connect two necessary fragments; 2) an intramolecular photoenolization/Diels–Alder (PEDA) reaction to construct the highly functionalized tricyclic core skeleton bearing a quaternary center; 3) a bio-inspired intramolecular Michael addition and transannular acetalization to generate the aza[4.4.3]propellane and the tetrahydrofuran ring.