Total synthesis of the tricyclic skeleton of the natural Celastraceae sesquiterpenoids and related synthetic analogs

A concise and efficient synthesis of the C₁₃ tricyclic core of the dihydro-β-agarofuran skeleton common to the natural Celastraceae sesquiterpenoids is described. The strategy entails a Mukaiyama aldol reaction of a tetrahydronaphthalene enol silane with acetone, epoxidation, ketone reduction, and acid-catalyzed cyclization. This key scaffold was converted into diverse polyhydroxylated derivatives, which were tested for insecticidal activity.     

Synthesis of (−)-elemoxide,a commercially important fragrance compound

(?)-Elemoxide, a fragrant compound was synthesised using commercially available elemol in four steps with overall yield of 32%. The cyclic ether skeleton was constructed via intramolecular hydroalkoxylation using I₂ and PhSiH₃ catalytic system. Also, intramolecular oxymercuration-demercuration was employed as an alternate approach for cyclization. The various regioselective strategies involving epoxidation of alkene, reduction of epoxide and intramolecular cyclization were the highlights of the work. The key intermediate diol serves as a versatile intermediate for the synthesis of elemoxide and elemene.     

Total Synthesis of Maoecrystal P: Application of a Strained Bicyclic Synthon

A new strategy was devised for the total synthesis of highly oxidized ent‐kauranoids. A highly regio‐ and diastereoselective intermolecular Diels–Alder cycloaddition involving a diene embedded in a substituted bicyclo[4.1.0] skeleton was used to assemble all carbon centers but C17 of the target molecule at an early stage of the synthesis. Subsequent synthetic steps, including redox manipulations, SmI₂‐mediated cyclization, and isomerization reactions, afforded the antitumor natural product maoecrystal P.     

Synthesis of the 8,19-Epoxysteroid Eurysterol A

We report the first chemical synthesis of eurysterol A, a cytotoxic and antifungal marine steroidal sulfate with a unique C8−C19 oxy-bridged cholestane skeleton. After C19 hydroxylation of cholesteryl acetate, used as an inexpensive commercial starting material, the challenging oxidative functionalization of ring B was achieved by two different routes to set up a 5α-hydroxy-7-en-6-one moiety. As a key step, an intramolecular oxa-Michael addition was exploited to close the oxy-bridge (8β,19-epoxy unit). DFT calculations show this reversible transformation being exergonic by about −30 kJ mol⁻¹. Along the optimized (scalable) synthetic sequence, the target natural product was obtained in only 11 steps in 5 % overall yield. In addition, an access to (isomeric) 7β,19-epoxy steroids with a previously unknown pentacyclic ring system was discovered.     

Adenophorone,An Unprecedented Sesquiterpene from Eupatorium adenophorum: Structural Elucidation,Bioinspired Total Synthesis and Neuroprotective Activity Evaluation

(−)-Adenophorone ( 1 ), a caged polycyclic sesquiterpene featuring an unprecedented tricyclo[4.3.1.0^5,9]decane skeleton, was isolated from Eupatorium adenopharum Spreng. The structure of 1 was unambiguously established by a combination of spectroscopic analysis, X-ray crystallography, and bioinspired total synthesis. Key synthetic features include a sequential Reformatsky/oxidation/regio- and stereoselective hydrogenation, and subsequent merged MBH–Tsuji–Trost cyclization. The concise synthetic sequence efficiently constructs the bicyclic skeleton of cadinene sesquiterpene (+)-euptox A ( 2 ) in 8 steps from commercially available monoterpene (−)-carvone ( 6 ), with outstanding performance on diastereocontrol. The bioinspired synthesis of 1 was achieved from 2 , a plausible biogenetic precursor, via transannular Michael addition. This work provides experimental evidence of our proposed biosynthetic hypothesis of 1 . Additionally, compound 1 showed potent neuroprotective activity in H₂O₂-treated SH-SY5Y and PC12 cells.     

Synthesis of 5(6)-dihydro-OSW-1 by using the intact skeleton of tigogenin

5(6)-Dihydro-OSW-1 (1), an analogue of OSW-1 with the potent anticancer activity, was synthesized by utilizing the intact skeleton of tigogenin in 13 steps in 9.0% overall yield. This synthesis demonstrated an effective and reasonable synthetic strategy for bioactive steroids with side chains as compared with their routine synthesis.     

Synthesis of (±)‐Trinervitadiene‐2,3‐diol

The first synthesis of trinervita‐1(15),8(19)‐dien‐2β,3α‐diol ( 2a ) and its 2α‐isomer 2b , which have been isolated from termite soldiers, where they are used as defense chemicals, is documented starting from geranylgeranioic acid in 33 steps. The route for construction of the key intermediate of the trinervitane skeleton 8 has been developed previously (Scheme 1). Noteworthy features include the efficient construction of the trinervitane framework from the corresponding bicyclic 7(16)‐secotrinervitane skeleton and Me₃SiCl (TMSCl)‐induced ring‐opening of tetrasubstituted epoxide to give the corresponding allyl alcohols (Scheme 7). The synthetic route developed in the present study seems applicable to the syntheses of other trinervitane‐type natural products.     

Total Synthesis of Nonenolide

A novel synthetic route has been reported for the synthesis of nonenolide. The syntheses of fragments were initiated from commercially available and inexpensive starting materials. The synthesis involves key steps like Sharpless epoxidation, Jacobsen's resolution, lactonization, and cross‐metathesis.     

Stereoselective Synthesis,Configurational Assignment and Biological Evaluations of the Lipid Mediator RvD2n-3 DPA

Herein we report the first total synthesis of RvD2_{n-3 DPA}, an endogenously formed mediator biosynthesized from the omega-3 fatty acid n-3 docosapentaenoic acid. The key steps are the Midland Alpine borane reduction, Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions, and a Z-selective alkyne reduction protocol, yielding RvD2_{n-3 DPA} methyl ester in 13 % yield over 12 steps (longest linear sequence). The physical property data (UV chromophore, chromatography and MS/MS fragmentation) of the synthetic lipid mediator matched those obtained from biologically produced material. Moreover, synthetic RvD2_{n-3 DPA} also carried the potent biological activities of enhancing macrophage uptake of Staphylococcus aureus and zymosan A bioparticles.     

A highly efficient synthesis of 22-deoxy-OSW-1 by utilizing the intact skeleton of diosgenin

22-Deoxy-OSW-1 (1), an analogue of OSW-1 with the potent anticancer activity, was synthesized by utilizing the intact skeleton of diosgenin in 11 steps in 13.7% overall yield. This synthesis demonstrated an effective and reasonable synthetic strategy for bioactive steroids with side chains.     

Brønsted acid promoted intramolecular cyclization of O-alkynyl benzoic acids: Concise total synthesis of exserolide F

Herein we report the stereoselective total synthesis of Exserolide F. The key step involves triflic acid catalyzed highly regioselective intramolecular cyclization of an O-alkynyl benzoic acid derivative to accomplish the core isocoumarin skeleton of the natural product via 6-endo-dig mode of cyclization. The other important steps are: Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation, Barbier propargylation, Sonogashira coupling en route to access the O-alkynyl benzoic acid derivative.     

Total Synthesis of Spiroalkaloids Lycibarbarines A–C

The concise and efficient synthesis of tetrahydroquinoline alkaloids lycibarbarines A−C has been accomplished in four steps from a common intermediate derived from commercially available 2-deoxy-D-ribose and 8-hydroxyquinoline. For the synthesis of the unique tetracyclic spiro-heterocycle skeleton we employed a synthetic strategy that features two key transformations: iodomethyllithium-based homologation of lactone / N-alkylation to access tetracyclic spiro-heterocycle skeleton in one step and one-pot acetonide deprotection, hemiacetal formation, and spirocyclization cascade process.     

Total Synthesis of the Polyoxygenated Sesquiterpenes Guignarderemophilanes C and D

The total syntheses of the neural anti‐inflammatory agents guignarderemophilanes C and D have been accomplished for the first time starting from γ‐hydroxy carvone in 15 and 14 steps, respectively. The presented synthetic route proceeds via a known intermediate, whose synthesis has been elaborated in our group in the course of the total synthesis of the sesquiterpenoid periconianone A. Key for the successful conversion of this intermediate into both targets was finding a suitable strategy to install the 1,2,3‐trihydroxylated A‐ring scaffold. For this purpose, we effectively employed a Mitsunobu inversion, epoxidation, and regioselective epoxide opening sequence, before the bicyclic ring system was constructed by an aldol condensation reaction on a sterically demanding substrate. Our reported synthesis set the stage for SAR studies to prepare even more potent compounds by modification and derivatization of the natural product's scaffold.     

Radical cyclizations of acylsilanes in the synthesis of (+)-swainsonine and formal synthesis of (−)-epiquinamide

Radical cyclization of acylsilane is an useful synthetic methodology. To demonstrate the versatility of this method using the cyclization as a key step, polyhydroxylated indolizidine (+)-swainsonine was synthesized through two different bond connection approaches to construct the bicyclic skeleton. In the first approach, we used 2,3-isopropylidene-d-ribono-1,4-lactone (20) as a chiral building block to form the indolizidine skeleton through a 1,6-cyclization. In the second approach, (S)-(+)-5-oxo-2-tetrahydrofurancarboxylic acid (23) was used to construct the same ring system through a 1,5-cyclization. Starting from acid 23, we also synthesized exo-1-hydroxyquinolizidin-4-one (56), which was a synthetic intermediate in the synthesis of polyhydroxylated quinolizidine (−)-epiquinamide.     

黄烷类衍生物的合成及其生物活性研究

An efficient and feasible synthetic approach was developed for the synthesis of an array of new flavane derivafives from the substituted benzaldehyde with the reduction of chalcones and subsequent cyclization as the key steps. The purity and structure of the products were confirmed by the elemental analysis and a combination of its IR, ^1H and ^13C NMR, and mass spectra. These synthetic compounds were tested for xanthine oxidase （XO） inhibitions and antifungal actions against Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus sp. and Trichophyton rubrum. 7-Hydrazinocarbonylmethoxy-4＇-methoxyflavane （9） was found to be the most XO inhibitory with IC50=76.4 μmol/L, and the most potent antifungal compound was 4＇-hydrazinocarbonylmethoxyflavane （12） with minimal inhibition concentration MIC=8 μg/mL against Trichophyton rubrum.     

A Stereocontrolled Total Synthesis of Lipoxin B4 and its Biological Activity as a Pro-Resolving Lipid Mediator of Neuroinflammation

Two stereocontrolled, efficient, and modular syntheses of eicosanoid lipoxin B4 (LXB₄) are reported. One features a stereoselective reduction followed by an asymmetric epoxidation sequence to set the vicinal diol stereocentres. The dienyne was installed via a one-pot Wittig olefination and base-mediated epoxide ring opening cascade. The other approach installed the diol through an asymmetric dihydroxylation reaction followed by a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination to afford the common dienyne intermediate. Finally, a Sonogashira coupling and an alkyne hydrosilylation/proto-desilylation protocol furnished LXB₄ in 25 % overall yield in just 10 steps. For the first time, LXB₄ has been fully characterized spectroscopically with its structure confirmed as previously reported. We have demonstrated that the synthesized LXB₄ showed similar biological activity to commercial sources in a cellular neuroprotection model. This synthetic route can be employed to synthesize large quantities of LXB₄, enable synthesis of new analogs, and chemical probes for receptor and pathway characterization.     

Total Synthesis of Kopsinitarine E

Kopsinitarines A–E are complex octacyclic caged Kopsia alkaloids with strained cage skeletons and a unique cyclic hemiaminal bridge that makes total synthesis challenging. Herein, we disclose the first total synthesis of kopsinitarine E. The key synthetic features include a SmI₂-mediated radical cascade cyclization and a subsequent semi-pinacol rearrangement to install the key carbocyclic skeleton, a chemoselective hydrosilyl amide reduction to construct the hemiaminal ether bridge, and an intramolecular Mannich reaction to establish the highly strained cage system.     

A Short and Versatile Synthesis of 3-Substituted 2-Aminoquinolines

A short and versatile synthesis of a series of 3-substituted -2-aminoquinolines was accomplished in good yields starting from 2-nitrobenzaldehide. Organic phosphonates were used as key synthetic intermediates and in some cases aminoacids as readily available starting materials. The finals two key steps of the sequence involving a reduction and ring closure that led to the 2-aminoquinoline skeleton were carried out in a “one pot” procedure using SnCl₂.2H₂O.     

Stereoselective Total Synthesis of Eburnane‐Type Alkaloids Enabled by Conformation‐Directed Cyclization and Rearrangement

Controlling the cis C20/C21 relative stereochemistry remains an unsolved issue in the synthesis of eburnane‐type indole alkaloids. Provided herein is a simple solution to this problem by developing a unified and diastereoselective synthesis of four representative members of this class of natural products, namely, eburnamonine, larutensine, terengganensine B, and melokhanine E. The synthesis features the following key steps: a) an α‐iminol rearrangement transforming the 3‐hydroxyindolenine into spiroindolin‐3‐one, b) a highly diastereoselective conformation‐directed cyclization leading to the melokhanine skeleton with the desired C20/C21 cis stereochemistry, and c) either an aza‐pinacol or an unprecedented α‐aminoketone rearrangement converting spiroindolinone back into the indole skeleton.     

An Efficient Synthetic Strategy for Introduction of C3‐C4 Double Bond into Eudesmane Skeleton: First Total Synthesis of (+)‐Chrysanthemol

The first enantioselective synthesis of (+)‐chrysanthemol 1 was carried out starting from (+)‐dihydrocarvone in ten steps. In our studies, a facile synthetic strategy has been developed for introduction of C₃‐C₄ double bond into a eudesmane skeleton.