Total synthesis of (+)-obtusenyne

The stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-obtusenyne is described. The oxonene skeleton possessing trans-orientated alkyl substituents at the α,α′-positions was stereoselectively constructed via cyclization of the corresponding hydroxy epoxide promoted by Eu(fod)₃.     

Total synthesis of (+)-laurallene

The stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-laurallene is described. The required key oxocene skeleton possessing trans-orientated alkyl substituents at the α,α′-positions was stereoselectively constructed via the cyclization of the corresponding hydroxy epoxide promoted by Eu(fod)₃.     

Unexpected formation of (Z)-3-(halomethylene)isoindolinones from gem-dihalovinylbenzonitriles: efficient synthesis of enyne-containing isoindolinones

An efficient one-pot procedure for the regioselective synthesis of (Z)-3-(halomethylene)-isoindolin-1-ones was developed from easily accessible 2-(2,2-dihalovinyl)benzonitriles. From this key intermediate, a variety of isoindolinones containing an enyne moiety were synthesized in good to excellent yields via palladium-catalyzed Sonogashira reaction. The generated enyne-containing isoindolinones could be further manipulated by iodide induced cyclization reaction to afford a versatile synthetic intermediate 5H-pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoindolol-5-one in high yield and could be further elaborated.     

Chemo-enzymatic enantio-convergent asymmetric synthesis of (R)-(+)-Marmin

Asymmetric biohydrolysis of trisubstituted terpenoid oxiranes (rac-1a-rac-3a) was accomplished by employing the epoxide hydrolase activity Rhodococcus and Streptomyces spp. Depending on the biocatalyst, the biohydrolysis proceeded in an enantio-convergent fashion and gave the corresponding vic-diols in up to 97% ee at conversions beyond the 50%-threshold. In order to avoid a depletion of the ee of product by further oxidative metabolism, bioconversions had to be conducted in an inert atmosphere with exclusion of molecular oxygen. The synthetic applicability of this method was demonstrated by the asymmetric total synthesis of the monoterpenoid coumarin (R)-(+)-Marmin in 95% ee.     

Total synthesis of (R)-(+)-goniothalamin and (R)-(+)-goniothalamin oxide: first application of the sulfoxide-modified Julia olefination in total synthesis

A short and efficient synthesis of (R)-(+)-goniothalamin 1 and (R)-(+)-goniothalamin oxide 2 is described. During this approach, the sulfoxide-modified Julia olefination was used as a key step to connect aldehyde 5 to sulfoxide 6. The desired styryl-containing adduct is obtained in good yield and with excellent E/Z selectivity.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (Z)-axino- and (Z)-debromoaxinohydantoin

(Z)-Axinohydantoin and (Z)-debromoaxinohydantoin, two pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids isolated from different marine sponges, possess moderate activities in inhibiting the progress of the cell cycle at different phases. A stereoselective synthesis of both natural products was achieved. The key step in the synthetic pathway was the installation of the hydantoin northern ring by using 1-benzoyl-2-methylsulfanyl-1,5-dihydroimidazol-4-one.     

Total synthesis of 1-(Z)-atractylodinol

The total synthesis of 1-(Z)-atractylodinol, a natural polyacetylenic alcohol with several biological activities, has been achieved using a newly developed telluride synthon and a novel use for the Negishi type coupling reaction employing vinyl tellurides.     

Novel (E)- and (Z)-3(5)-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4-styrylpyrazoles from (E)- and (Z)-3-styrylchromones: the unexpected case of (E)-3(5)-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4-(4-nitrostyryl)pyrazoles

An efficient synthetic method for the preparation of (E)- and (Z)-3(5)-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4-styrylpyrazoles has been developed. The reaction of (E)- and (Z)-3-styrylchromones with hydrazine hydrate afforded the corresponding (E)- and (Z)-4-styrylpyrazoles, respectively, saved 4′-nitro-derivatives where both (E)- and (Z)-4′-nitro-3-styrylchromones afforded (E)-3(5)-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4-(4-nitrostyryl)pyrazoles. The reaction mechanism for these transformations was discussed and the stereochemistry of all products was assigned by NMR experiments.     

Reactions of alkynes with trisubstituted (Z)-bromoalkenyl-pinacolboronates towards the synthesis of 1,2,4,6-tetrasubstituted benzenes

Treatment of trisubstituted (Z)-bromoalkenyl-pinacolboronates with terminal alkynes in the presence of cuprous iodide, palladium(0) tetrakis(triphenylphosphine) and Hünig’s base leads to the formation of 1,2,4,6-tetrasubstituted aromatic compounds in a one-pot fashion. Substrate scope was shown for three trisubstituted (Z)-bromoalkenyl-pinacolboronates and four terminal alkynes.     

A concise asymmetric synthesis of (+)-muscarine from (S)-γ-hydroxymethyl-γ-butyrolactone

A highly stereoselective synthesis of (+)-muscarine iodide has been achieved in eight steps and 20% overall yield from commercially available (S)-γ-hydroxymethyl-γ-butyrolactone.     

Substituent effects on the reaction mode between 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol derivatives and MEM chloride: synthesis and mechanistic aspects of seven- and ten-membered benzo-fused O,O-acetals

The synthesis of (RS)-2- or (RS)-3-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-5H-1,4-benzodioxepins and (RS)-5- or (RS)-3-methoxy-2,3,5,6-tetrahydro-8H-benzo-[1,4,7]-trioxecins has been developed. The mechanism of such a reaction via the boron trifluoride etherate-promoted transformation of 2-(methoxyethoxymethoxy)benzyloxyacetaldehyde dimethyl acetals or 2-(methoxyethoxymethoxymethyl)phenyloxyacetaldehyde dimethyl acetals has been proposed. Transannular versions of the reaction results in the facile ring contraction of 12-membered intermediates to the 10- and to 7-membered benzene-fused O,O-acetals. The characterization of the by-products strongly supports the mechanisms proposed.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (+)-(8R,8aR)-perhydro-8-indolizidinol

A highly stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-(8R,8aR)-perhydro-8-indolizidinol is described. Key steps involved in this synthesis are diastereoselective zinc allylation, azido-olefin cyclization and reductive amination followed by cyclization which effectively constructed the indolizidine ring. This contributes a unique approach to the synthesis of indolizidine alkaloids that offers the advantages of brevity and relatively high overall yields.     

Easy synthesis of (E)- or (Z)-perfluorinated β-enaminoesters

(E)- or (Z)-perfluorinated β-enaminoesters were prepared by direct addition of primary or secondary amines to ethyl perfluoroalkynoates without any catalyst.     

The first total synthesis of (R)-convolutamydine A

The first total synthesis of (R)-convolutamydine A has been achieved by the organocatalytic addition of acetone to 4,6-dibromoisatin. The absolute configuration was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. DFT studies were used to model the transition states for the aldol reaction and equilibrium geometries of the post-aldol reaction intermediates. The DFT study revealed that the aldol bond forming reaction was considerably endothermic.     

(6Z,9Z,12Z)-6,9,12-Octadecatriene and (3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z)-3,6,9,12-icosatetraene, the novel sex pheromones produced by emerald moths

(6Z,9Z,12Z)-6,9,12-Octadecatriene and (3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z)-3,6,9,12-icosatetraene, hydrocarbons unsaturated more highly than usual lepidopteran Type II pheromones, were identified from geometrid females of Hemithea tritonaria and Thalassodes immissaria intaminata, respectively. The triene was synthesized by a double Wittig reaction between hexanal and an ylide derived from (Z)-1,6-diiodo-3-hexene, and the tetraene was synthesized by a coupling between (Z)-3-undecenal and an ylide derived from (3Z,6Z)-1-iodo-3,6-nonadiene. Each synthetic compound attracted males of the corresponding emerald moths in a field.     

A practical total synthesis of (+)-isogalbulin and (+)-galbulin

A practical total synthesis of the natural products (+)-isogalbulin and (+)-galbulin has been achieved in 10 steps from readily available 3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)propanoic acid. The total yields were 12.3% and 12.9%, respectively. The key steps involved Evans asymmetric alkylation, Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation, and a highly regioselective opening of 1-benzyloxy-2,3-epoxides with an organoaluminum ate-complex formed by Me₃Al and n-BuLi.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-1-deoxy-6-epi-castanospermine

(+)-1-Deoxy-6-epi-castanospermine was asymmetrically synthesized in ten steps from α-furfuryl amine derivative 6 in 2.9% overall yield. The kinetic resolution of α-furfuryl amine derivative 6 and Sharpless AD reaction of 14 were used as key steps.     

Efficient synthesis of (Z)- and (E)-methyl 2-(methoxyimino)-2-phenylacetate

Direct oximation of 2-oxo-2-phenylacetate (3) gave the (Z)-methyl 2-(methoxyimino)-2-phenylacetate (1) in 71% yield, while the E oxime 2 was prepared from 3 in 65% yield via oxime isomerization of 2-(methoxyimino)-2-phenylacetic acid (5). Computational studies suggest that the isomerization of 5 is thermodynamically driven, while the direct oximation of ketoester 3 is kinetically controlled.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-sarcodictyenone

The first enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-sarcodictyenone is described [4.3% overall yield from (5R,6R)-6-methyl-5-trimethylsily-2-cyclohexenone]. This work establishes the absolute stereochemistry of the natural product.     

Novel diastereoselective synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-allylsilanes via organoboranes

A simple, novel diastereoselective synthesis of both (E)- and (Z)-allylsilanes via organoboranes is developed. (E)-1-Alkenylboronate esters easily prepared from the corresponding terminal alkynes via hydroboration with dibromoborane-methyl sulfide complex followed by treatment with 1,3-propane diol readily react with trimethylsilylmethyllithium at −78 °C in methanol followed by reaction with iodine in methanol to produce the corresponding (Z)-allylsilanes in high yields (72-80%) and in high stereochemical purities (98% as evidenced by CMR spectral data). Similarly, the (Z)-1-alkenylboronate esters react with trimethylsilylmethyllithium at −78 °C in methanol followed by treatment with iodine in methanol to produce the corresponding (E)-allylsilanes in moderate yields (57-65%) in high stereochemical purities (>98% as revealed by CMR spectral data).