A concise synthesis of the functionalized [5-7-6] tricyclic skeleton of guanacastepene A

The six membered ring of guanacastepene A was constructed by a Diels-Alder reaction of 1,1,4-trisubstituted diene to set up the correct relative stereochemistry at the C8 quaternary center and the remote C5 stereocenter. In 10 efficient steps from the Diels-Alder adduct 9, the desired highly functionalized [5-7-6] tricyclic skeleton 2 was synthesized. Key steps involve trimethylsilyl chloride (TMSCl) assisted Michael addition to form enol ether and the usage of the enol ether in the following intramolecular Mukaiyama aldol reaction to form the middle seven membered ring of guanacastepene A.     

An efficient synthesis of the CD rings model for merrilactone A

A synthetic route to the CD rings of merrilactone A was explored by using the model system 9a, which was easily converted from 7,7-dibromohepta-2,6-dienoic acid ethyl ester (8) by the successive Stille-Mizoroki-Heck reaction. The D ring 14 was constructed by applying the intramolecular Tsuji-Trost reaction to the formation of a γ-lactone, whereas the formation of the C ring 18 was effectively accomplished in one step by methylation and conjugate addition toward 1,1-dibromo-1-alkene 17 using Miyashita’s protocol.     

Dayaolingzhiols A−E,AchE inhibitory meroterpenoids from Ganoderma lucidum

Ganoderma mushrooms are widely used as effective medicines for treating and preventing chronic diseases. In this study, five new meroterpenoids, dayaolingzhiols A (1) and B (2) featuring a 6/6/6 ring system, dayaolingzhiols C?E (3–5) harboring a γ-lactone motif, along with eight known ones (6–13), were purified from G. lucidum. To clarify their chemical structures, spectroscopic and ECD and OR computational methods were used. In addition, the inhibition of all the new meroterpenoids against AChE was evaluated, disclosing that (+)-4 and (±)-5 possess potent AChE inhibitory activities with respective IC₅₀ values of 8.52?±?1.90?μM and 7.37?±?0.52?μM.     

A concise enantioselective synthesis of a fully oxygen substituted ring A taxol precursor

A concise synthesis of the oxygen substituted ring A compound 2 found in Taxol^®1a and Taxotere^®1b starting from 2,2-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione and proceeding via the key intermediates 8 and 11, is described. The absolute configuration of 2 was established from an X-ray crystal structure determination of a 4-bromophenylbenzoate derivative, viz. 15.     

Pestalustaines A and B,unprecedented sesquiterpene and coumarin derivatives from endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis adusta

Pestalustaines A (1) and B (2), one unique sesquiterpene possessing an unusual 5/6/7-fused tricyclic ring system and one unprecedented coumarin derivative bearing 6/6/5/5-fused tetracyclic ring system, were isolated from the plant-derived Pestalotiopsis adusta. Their structures with absolute configurations were established by extensive NMR analysis, X-ray crystallography, and CD spectra associated with TD-DFT calculation. Hypothetical biosynthetic pathways for compounds 1 and 2 are proposed. Compounds 1 and 2 showed weak to moderate cytotoxic activities against three human tumor cell lines HeLa, HCT116, and A549, whose IC₅₀ values were ranged from 21.01 to 55.43?μM.     

Synthetic approach to potential precursors of sclerophytin A

A direct approach to simple bicyclic analogues of the antitumor natural diterpene, sclerophytin A, is described. The readily available bicyclic ketone 8 (prepared from furan and trichloroacetone) was enantioselectively methylated to give the optically active ketone 11. Regioselective allylation using Negishi's method afforded the α,α-dialkyl ketone 12, which was converted to the chloroacetate 15 by hydroboration-oxidation and protection. Regioselective Baeyer-Villiger oxidation afforded the lactone 7a which could be transformed into the silyl ether 7b. Tebbe olefination furnished a mixture of two enol ethers in which the desired product 17 was the minor isomer. Several attempts to use the major endocyclic enol ether 18 to give the tricyclic analogues of sclerophytin proved unsuccessful. Opening of the lactone of 18 and selective protection of the diol afforded the primary alcohol 24 which was oxidized to the keto aldehyde 25. Unfortunately pinacol coupling of 25 did not give any cyclic product. The diene 27 was also prepared from 25 but all attempts at ring-closing metathesis of 27 met with the same fate. The failure of these various cyclization methods underscores the difficulty in forming medium-sized ring systems, especially those cis-fused at the 2- and 5-positions of a tetrahydrofuran ring.     

Pleosporalesones A–B,two unique polyketides isolated from Pleosporales sp.

Two unique polyketides, pleosporalesones A–B (1–2), bearing an unusual 6/6/7/6 tetracyclic ring system consisting of a chromone ring and a benzoannulated cycloheptanone ring, were isolated from the solid cultures of Pleosporales sp.. The chemical structures were elucidated by analyses of their extensive spectroscopic data, including 1D/2D NMR, ORD, CD and HR-ESI-MS, and the absolute configurations were established by comparison of their experimental circular dichroism data with those calculated. A plausible biosynthetic pathway for pleosporalesones A–B was proposed.     

Zamamidine C, 3,4-dihydro-6-hydroxy-10,11-epoxymanzamine A, and 3,4-dihydromanzamine J N-oxide, new manzamine alkaloids from sponge Amphimedon sp.

New manzamine alkaloids, zamamidine C (1), 3,4-dihydro-6-hydroxy-10,11-epoxymanzamine A (2), and 3,4-dihydromanzamine J N-oxide (3), have been isolated from an Okinawan marine sponge Amphimedon species. The structures and stereochemistries of 1-3 were elucidated from the spectroscopic data and chemical derivatization. Zamamidine C (1) is a new manzamine alkaloid possessing a second β-carboline ring via an ethylene unit at N-2 of manzamine D, while 3,4-dihydro-6-hydroxy-10,11-epoxymanzamine A (2) is the first manzamine alkaloid possessing an epoxide ring at C-10 and C-11. Zamamidine C (1) showed significant antitrypanosomal activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei, the parasite associated with sleeping sickness, and antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of malaria in vitro.     

seco-Polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols with unusual carbon skeletons from Hypericum ascyron

Three new seco-polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs), ascyronones A–C (1–3), and a new biosynthetic precursor, ascyronone D (4), were isolated from Hypericum ascyron together with three known analogues (5–7). Compounds 1 and 2, sharing an unusual seven-membered carbon core fused with a γ-lactone ring, could be derived from 1,9-seco-PPAPs via further rearrangement. A biomimetic transformation from 5 to 1 was performed by using base-driven retro-Claisen and rearrangement cascade reaction, which further confirmed the structure of 1 and shed light to its possible biosynthetic pathway. Interestingly, all these compounds are decorated with a methyl group at C-5 instead of a prenyl or geranyl group in many other PPAPs. The isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against five human tumor cell lines.     

Salvifarinin A,a neo-clerodane diterpenoid with a 6/5/7 tricyclic skeleton from Salvia farinacea

Salvifarinin A (1), a rearrangement product of Languidulane-type clerodane diterpenoids with a 6/5/7 tricyclic ring skeleton fused with γ-lactone ring and furan ring, and two new biogenetically related diterpernoids, salvifarinins B (2) and C (3), were isolated from the aerial parts of Salvia farinacea. The absolute configuration of 1 was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods, and confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction and bio-inspired semisynthesis. The plausible biogenetic pathway was also proposed. Compound 2 displayed a potent effect on reducing hepatic steatosis.     

Lobarioid A,unusual antibacterial depsidone possessing an eight-membered diether ring from the edible lichen Lobaria sp.

Lobarioid A (1), an unusual depsidone possessing an eight-membered diether ring, was isolated from the edible lichen Lobaria sp. Its structure was elucidated by extensive NMR, MS, IR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Compound 1 exhibited antibacterial activity against three strains of gram-positive bacteria.     

(+)-Sorangicin A: evolution of a viable synthetic strategy

An effective, asymmetric total synthesis of the antibiotic (+)-sorangicin A (1) has been achieved. Central to this venture was the development of first- and second-generation syntheses of the signature dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane core, the first featuring chemo- and stereoselective epoxide ring openings facilitated by a Co₂(CO)₆-alkyne complex, the second involving a KHMDS-promoted epoxide ring formation/opening cascade. Additional highlights include effective construction of the dihydro- and tetrahydropyran ring systems, respectively, via a stereoselective conjugate addition/α-oxygenation protocol and a thioketalization/hydrostannane reduction sequence. Late-stage achievements entailed two Julia-Kociénski olefinations to unite three advanced fragments with high E-stereoselectivity, followed by a modified Stille protocol to introduce the Z,Z,E trienoate moiety, thereby completing the carbon skeleton. Mukaiyama macrolactonization, followed by carefully orchestrated Lewis and protic acid-promoted deprotections that suppressed isomerization and/or destruction of the sensitive (Z,Z,E)-trienoate linkage completed the first, and to date only, total synthesis of (+)-sorangicin A (1).     

Briaexcavatins A and B, novel briaranes from the octocoral Briareum excavatum

Two novel briaranoidal derivatives, designated as briaexcavatins A (1) and B (2), along with two known metabolites, excavatolides B and C (3 and 4), were isolated from the octocoral Briareum excavatum. Both compounds 1 and 2 possess unprecedented 5,6-epoxy moiety in the 10-membered ring. Diterpenoid 1 possesses a novel pentacyclic skeleton with a ε-lactone. The structures of diterpenoids 1 and 2 were elucidated by interpretation of spectral data and the absolute stereochemistry was established by application of modified Mosher’s method on 3.     

Stereoselective one-pot three-component coupling approach towards the synthesis of the AC ring system of taxanes

The stereoselective one-pot three-component coupling reaction was accomplished by 1,4-addition of the protected cyanohydrin ether 9f to cyclohexenone 10g and subsequent addition of the resulting enolate to formaldehyde in high yield for the formation of the AC ring system of taxanes. We found that the bulky substituents at the 10-position in the A ring prevent the desired 1,4-addition. Similarly, the bulky trialkylsiloxy groups at the 4-position in the C ring prevent the 1,4-addition and electron-donating alkoxy groups at the same position induce the undesired retro-Michael reaction.     

A short enantioselective synthesis of a component of cryptophycin A and arenastatin A

Synthesis of 1, a component of cryptophycin A 2 and arenastatin A 3, was achieved by applying palladium-catalyzed reductive ring opening of optically active alkenyl oxirane 13 for the construction of the vicinal stereogenic centers.     

Base induced cyclobutenone rearrangements and its application in the synthesis of aromatic amines

A series of fully substituted 2-pyridone 2 and functionalized α-pyrones 3 are synthesized starting from cyclobutenones 1 under a base-promoter in toluene at 80 °C. This rearrangement is complimentary to the previously reported ring expansion of cyclobutenones, providing a divergent synthesis of corresponding products from the same precursor 1. In addition, α-pyrones 3 has also been applied to the synthesis of aromatic amines 7 in good yields (64–83%) and in a highly regioselective manner via D-A reaction under mild conditions.     

Studies towards the total synthesis of altohyrtin A: a convergent approach to the C38–C51 carbon framework

The first pyranose-based approach to the F ring (C38–C43) of altohyrtin A 1 together with a synthetic approach to the C44–C51 chloro diene unit of 1 is described.     

Synthetic studies toward merrilactone A: a short synthesis of AB ring motif

An efficient route to the AB ring motif of merrilactone A has been established by remarkable regioselective reduction of cyclic anhydrides 3 and 8 to the γ-lactone moiety, followed by the successive Stille and Heck reactions of 1,1-dibromo-1-alkene.     

A new approach to pyrrolophenanthridone alkaloids via allene intramolecular cycloaddition: Total synthesis of Hippadine

Combination of the indole synthesis (CD ring) via intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of 3-substituted allenic dienamide (5) and base-catalyzed intramolecular N-acylation (B ring formation) provides a simple route to pyrrolophenanthridone alkaloids such as hippadine (1).     

Aphanalides A–H,ring A-seco limonoids from the fruits of Aphanamixis polystachya

Eight new ring A-seco limonoids, aphanalides A–H (1–8) were isolated from the fruits of Aphanamixis polystachya. Aphanalides A–C (1–3) are the first examples of ring A-seco limonoids with an unusual oxetane ring between C-7 and C-14. The structures of aphanalide A (1) and aphanalide C (3) were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray studies. Their structures including absolute stereochemistry were established on the basis of extensive NMR spectroscopic analysis, by comparison of experimental and calculated electron circular dichroism (ECD) and by X-ray diffraction, representing the first report of assignment of absolute configuration of such type ring A-seco limonoids. The biogenetic origin of aphanalides A–D (1–4) from aphanalides E–H (5–8) was also postulated.