Total synthesis of (±)-meloscine

The total synthesis of (±)-meloscine was completed in a highly stereoselective manner starting from the known 4-(2-aminophenyl)-2,3-dihydro-N-methoxycarbonylpyrrole. The crucial step in this total synthesis involves the efficient construction of the tetracyclic framework of the target natural product by the intramolecular Pauson-Khand reaction.     

Total synthesis of the tricyclic marine alkaloids (-)-lepadiformine, (+)-cylindricine c, and (-)-fasicularin via a common intermediate formed by formic acid-induced intramolecular conjugate azaspirocyclization

A very short and efficient enantioselective total synthesis of the tricyclic marine alkaloids (-)-lepadiformine (3), (+)-cylindricine C (1c), and (-)-fasicularin (4) has been developed utilizing the formyloxy 1-azaspiro[4.5]decane 5 as a common intermediate. The key strategic element for the synthesis was the formic acid-induced intramolecular conjugate azaspirocyclization, which proved to be a highly efficient and stereoselective way to rapid construction of the 1-azaspirocyclic substructure of these natural products in a single operation. Thus, the common intermediate 5, synthesized in two steps with 70% overall yield starting from the known (S)-N-Boc-2-pyrrolidinone 7 via the conjugate spirocyclization using an acyclic ketoamide 6, was utilized for the concise and stereoselective total synthesis of (-)-lepadiformine (3), which was accomplished in seven steps with 45% overall yield from 5 (31% yield from 7). The developed strategy based on the conjugate spirocyclization was also applied to the stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-cylindricine C (1c), which was achieved in 10 steps from 5 in 18% overall yield (12% yield from 7). Further application of this approach using 5 led to the synthesis of (-)-fasicularin (4), wherein an extremely efficient method for the introduction of the thiocyanato group via an aziridinium intermediate at the last step was developed. Thus, the highly efficient first enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-fasicularin was accomplished in nine steps with an overall yield of 41% from 5 (28% yield from 7).     

A Simple Synthesis of γ-Cyclohomocitral

A simple and efficient synthesis for γ-cyclohomocitral (10), a key and versatile intermediate for the synthesis of some furanosesquiterpenes, is described. The formal total synthesis of (±) Pallenscensone (2) was accomplished.     

Enantiocontrolled synthesis of 2,3,6-trisubstituted piperidines using (eta(3)-dihydropyridinyl)molybdenum complexes as chiral scaffolds. Total synthesis of (-)-indolizidine 209B.

Enantiopure TpMo(CO)2(pyridinyl) complexes were prepared using an efficient and scalable enzymatic kinetic resolution of the precursor to the molybdenum complex. A single TpMo(CO)2(pyridinyl) complex can function as a chiral scaffold for the enantiocontrolled synthesis of either 2,3,6-cis- or 2,6-cis-3-trans-trisubstituted piperidines. The synthetic potential of this methodology was demonstrated by a total synthesis of (-)-indolizidine 209B.     

Efficient synthesis of lupane-type saponins via gold(I)-catalyzed glycosylation with glycosyl ortho-alkynylbenzoates as donors

Glycosylation of the acid labile betulin and betulinic acid derivatives was achieved with glycosyl ortho-hexynylbenzoates as donors under the catalysis of PPh(3)AuNTf(2); this enabled the efficient synthesis of lupane-type saponins, as exemplified by the total synthesis of the proposed betulinic acid trisaccharide from Bersama engleriana.     

Total synthesis of (+)-laurencin: an asymmetric alkylation-ring-closing metathesis approach to medium ring ethers

[formula: see text] The enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-laurencin 1 is achieved in 18 steps from (S)-(+)-4-benzyl-3-benzyloxyacetyl-2-oxazolidinone. The key steps in this synthesis are an asymmetric glycolate alkylation leading to acyl oxazolidinone 2 and a subsequent ring-closing olefin metathesis to construct the oxocene core of 1. The approach to medium ring ethers utilized in this synthesis provides a general and efficient route to the cyclic core of other marine natural products.     

Construction of Chiral Tetrahydro‐β‐Carbolines: Asymmetric Pictet–Spengler Reaction of Indolyl Dihydropyridines

A highly efficient synthesis of the enantioenriched tetrahydro‐β‐carbolines was developed by using a chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed Pictet–Spengler reaction of indolyl dihydropyridines. The reaction proceeds under mild reaction conditions to afford the desired chiral tetrahydro‐β‐carbolines in good to excellent yields (up to 96 %) and high enantioselectivities (up to 99 % ee ). With this method, a formal synthesis of tangutorine and a total synthesis of deplancheine were achieved in a highly efficient manner.     

Construction of Chiral Tetrahydro-β-Carbolines: Asymmetric Pictet–Spengler Reaction of Indolyl Dihydropyridines

A highly efficient synthesis of the enantioenriched tetrahydro-β-carbolines was developed by using a chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed Pictet–Spengler reaction of indolyl dihydropyridines. The reaction proceeds under mild reaction conditions to afford the desired chiral tetrahydro-β-carbolines in good to excellent yields (up to 96 %) and high enantioselectivities (up to 99 % ee). With this method, a formal synthesis of tangutorine and a total synthesis of deplancheine were achieved in a highly efficient manner.     

Stereoselective synthesis of spirocyclic oxindoles based on a one-pot Ullmann coupling/Claisen rearrangement and its application to the synthesis of a hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indole alkaloid

An efficient and convenient approach to the synthesis of spirocyclic oxindoles from iodoindoles has been developed. The most striking feature of this approach is that the sequential intramolecular Ullmann coupling and Claisen rearrangement proceeds in a one-pot manner to afford 3-spiro-2-oxindoles in good yield with excellent diastereoselectivity. Application of this one-pot reaction to chiral non-racemic tertiary alcohol substrates resulted in complete chirality transfer to the spirocyclic quaternary carbon. Using this method, asymmetric total synthesis of (−)-debromoflustramine B was accomplished.     

Direct C-glycosylation of organotrifluoroborates with glycosyl fluorides and its application to the total synthesis of (+)-varitriol

A mild, stereoselective, and quick approach to accessing alkynyl and alkenyl C-glycosides via BF(3)·Et(2)O promoted coupling of organotrifluoroborates and glycosyl fluorides is reported. The application of this method was further demonstrated by the concise and efficient total synthesis of (+)-varitriol in only seven steps.     

Synthetic applications of Baylis-Hillman chemistry: an efficient and solely stereoselective synthesis of (E)-alpha-methylcinnamic acids and potent hypolipidemic agent LK-903 from unmodified Baylis-Hillman adducts

An efficient and solely stereoselective synthesis of (E)-alpha-methylcinnamic acids has been accomplished in single pot by reduction of the unmodified Baylis-Hillman adducts, methyl-3-hydroxy-3-aryl-2-methylenepropanoates with I(2)/NaBH(4) reagent system at room temperature followed by hydrolysis. The efficacy of this method has been proved in the total synthesis of 1-[p-(myristyloxy)-alpha-methylcinnamoyl]glycerol, LK-903, a highly active hypolipidemic agent.     

Total synthesis of phorboxazole B

An efficient and highly convergent total synthesis of the potent antitumor agent phorboxazole B has been achieved. The synthetic strategy of this synthesis features: 1) a highly efficient substrate-controlled hydrogenation to construct the functionalized cis-tetrahydropyrane unit; 2) iterative crotyl addition to synthesize the segment that contains alternating hydroxyl and methyl substituents; 3) Hg(OAc)2/I2-induced cyclization to establish the cis-tetrahydropyrane moiety; 4) 1,3-asymmetric induction in the Mukaiyama aldol reaction to afford the stereogenic centers at C9 and C3; and 5) the exploration of the Still-Gennari olefination reaction to complete the macrolide ring of phorboxazoloe B.     

Total synthesis of (-)-histrionicotoxin 285A and (-)-perhydrohistrionicotoxin

Starting from commercially available ( S)-glycidol, and via a common intermediate, the total synthesis of (-)-histrionicotoxin 285A and (-)-perhydrohistrionicotoxin has been achieved. Key to this synthesis was the efficient construction of a six-membered, chiral, cyclic nitrone.     

Concise total synthesis of (±)-dasyscyphin D

The first and efficient total synthesis of (±)-dasyscyphin D was achieved in 9 steps with 22.6% overall yield. The key steps involved a PtCl(2)-catalyzed pentannulation reaction and acid-catalyzed double Robinson annulations.     

Enantiospecific Synthesis of Trisubstituted Butyrolactone Natural Products and Their Analogs

A general methodology for the synthesis of highly substituted butyrolactones in enantiomerically pure form has been developed. The application of this process in a highly efficient synthesis of lactone natural products blastmycinone (1), NFX-2 (2), antimycinone (3), and NFX-4 (4) and two lipid metabolites (5, 6) are described. Additionally, the total synthesis of 5-epi-blastmycinone (22), 5-epi-NFX-2 (21b), 5-epi-NFX-4 (21c), and lipid metabolite analogs (19, 20) are also described. The overall yields for the target molecules are the highest reported so far in the literature.     

Total synthesis of an immunosuppressive glycolipid, (2S,3S,4R)-1-O- (alpha-d-galactosyl)-2- tetracosanoylamino-1,3,4-nonanetriol

[reaction: see text] A practical and efficient total synthesis of (2S,3S,4R)-1-O-(alpha-d-galactosyl)-2-tetracosanoylamino-1,3,4-nonanetriol, OCH 1b, a potential therapeutic candidate for Th1-mediated autoimmune diseases, is described. The synthesis incorporates direct alkylation onto epoxide 5 and stereospecific halide ion catalyzed alpha-glycosidation reaction. A key intermediate 10 was obtained in only eight steps and 37% overall yield from commercially available d-arabitol 2, and the total synthesis of 1b was accomplished in 12 steps and 19% overall yield. This method will enable the synthesis of a variety of phytosphingolipids, especially that with the shorter sphingosine side chain than 1a, in a highly stereoselective manner.     

Concise total synthesis of antiarrhythmic drug dronedarone via a conjugate addition followed intramolecular heck cyclization

A concise, scalable, and an efficient total synthesis for dronedarone ( 2 ) was described using conjugate addition followed by intramolecular Heck cyclization. The other key reaction includes selective reduction of nitro functionality and addition of lithiated terminal alkyne to the aldehyde. The overall yield of this approach is 44% in six steps.     

Highly stereoselective and efficient total synthesis of (+)-laurencin

A highly stereoselective and efficient asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-laurencin (1) has been accomplished from the known oxazolidinone 5 in 15 steps. The route features an efficient internal alkylation to form oxocene 3 from 4 and a novel use of acetonitrile anion as a two-carbon acetaldehyde equivalent for direct synthesis of ketone 2 from alpha-alkoxy amide 3.     

Synthesis of cryptophycins via an N-acyl-beta-lactam macrolactonization

An efficient and concise approach to the synthesis of the macrolide core of the cryptophycins has been developed. A novel macrolactonization utilizing a reactive acyl-beta-lactam intermediate incorporates the beta-amino acid moiety within the 16-membered macrolide core. This modular approach, involving a cyanide-initiated acyl-beta-lactam ring opening followed by cyclization, was successfully applied to the total synthesis of cryptophycin-24. The strategy was also used in an efficient synthesis of the 6,6-dimethyl-substituted dechlorocryptophycin-52. In this case, the cyanide-initiated ring opening of the bis-substituted 2-azetidinone followed by macrolactonization was achieved through a catalytic process.