Absolute configuration of gomadalactones A, B and C, the components of the contact sex pheromone of Anoplophora malasiaca

Absolute configuration of gomadalactones A (1), B (2) and C (3), the pheromone components of the white-spotted longicorn beetle (Anoplophora malasiaca) was assigned as (1S,4R,5S)-1, (1R,4R,5R)-2 and (1S,4R,5S,8S)-3 by comparing their published CD spectra with those of (1R,5R)-(+)-4,4,8-trimethyl-3-oxabicyclo[3.3.0]oct-7-ene-2,6-dione (4) and (1S,5R,8S)-(+)-4,4,8-trimethyl-3-oxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane-2,6-dione (5) prepared from (R)-(−)-carvone (6).     

δ-Lactone formation from δ-hydroxy-trans-α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids accompanied by trans-cis isomerization: synthesis of (−)-tetra-O-acetylosmundalin

(±)-(4,5-anti)-4-Benzyloxy-5-hydroxy-(2E)-hexenoic acid 6 was subjected to δ-lactonization in the presence of 2,4,6-trichlorobenzoyl chloride and pyridine to give the α,β-unsaturated-δ-lactone congener (±)-7 (87% yield) accompanied by trans-cis isomerization. This δ-lactonization procedure was applied to the chiral synthesis of (+)-(4S,5R)-7 or (−)-(4R,5S)-7 from the chiral starting material (+)-(4S,5R)-6 or (−)-(4R,5S)-6. Deprotection of the benzyl group in (+)-(4S,5R)-7 or (−)-(4R,5S)-7 by the AlCl₃/m-xylene system gave the natural osmundalactone (+)-(4S,5R)-5 or (−)-(4R,5S)-5 in good yield, respectively. Condensation of (−)-(4R,5S)-5 and tetraacetyl-β-d-glucosyltrichloroimidate 22 in the presence of BF₃·Et₂O afforded the condensation product (−)-8 (97% yield), which was identical to tetra-O-acetylosmundalin (−)-8 derived from natural osmundalin 9.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis and HPLC analysis of the stereoisomers of miyakosyne A [(4E,24E)-14-methyloctacosa-4,24-diene-1,27-diyne-3,26-diol], a cytotoxic metabolite of a marine sponge Petrosia sp., to determine the absolute configuration of its major component as 3R,14R,26R

Six samples [(3R,14R,26R)-, (3R,14S,26R)-, (3S,14R,26S)-, and (3S,14S,26S)-1, a mixture of (3R,14R,26S)- and (3S,14R,26R)-1, and a mixture of (3R,14S,26S)- and (3S,14S,26R)-1] of miyakosyne A [1, (4E,24E)-14-methyloctacosa-4,24-diene-1,27-diyne-3,26-diol] were synthesized starting from the enantiomers of citronellal (2), employing olefin cross metathesis and R-selective asymmetric acetylation of a stereoisomeric mixture of acetylenic alcohols with vinyl acetate and lipase PS as key reactions. Separation of the eight stereoisomer of 1 by reversed phase HPLC at −56 °C was achieved after their esterification with (1R,2R)-2-(anthracene-2,3-dicarboximido)cyclohexanecarboxylic acid (16), and the natural miyakosyne A was found to be a mixture of 95.7% of (3R,14R,26R)-1 and 4.3% of (3R,14S,26R)-1. This is different from the (3R,14S,26R)-configuration of 1 as tentatively assigned by X-ray analysis.     

Synthesis of ‘thianthrene dimer’ by the coupling reaction of stannylthianthrenes in the presence of copper catalysts

The coupling reaction of 1-tributylstannylthianthrene (5) and 2-tributylstannylthianthrene (7) in the presence of copper catalysts at rt afforded the thianthrene dimer 1,1′-bithianthrene (3), 2,2′-bithianthrene (8), and 1,2′-dithianthrene (9) in high yields. Also we obtained thianthrene oxide dimer (R,R) (S,S)-1-(10-S-monoxythianthrene-1-yl)thianthrene-10-S-monoxide (12) and (R,S) (S,R)-1-(10-S-monoxythianthrene-1-yl)thianthrene-10-S-monoxide (13) from 1-tributylstannyl-10-S-monoxythianthrene (10) under the same reaction condition. The final structural conformation of 3, 8, 9, and 12 was performed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Further, the solvent effects in the coupling reactions were also examined.     

Application of chiral tetrahydropentalene ligands in rhodium-catalyzed 1,4-addition of (E)-2-phenylethenyl- and (Z)-propenylboronic acids to enones

Chiral tetrahydropentalenes (3aR,6aR)-1 have been prepared and used as ligands in the Rh-catalyzed 1,4-addition of 1-alkenylboronic acids to cyclic enones 5. It has been discovered that the stereochemistry of the reaction was controlled by the steric properties of the aryl groups in 1 rather than their electronic nature. In the vinylation with (E)-2-phenylethenylboronic acid 5, ligands (3aR,6aR)-1 provided enantioselectivity up to 87% ee and gave high yields of ethenylketones 6 in the presence of 1 (6.6 mol %). The configuration of all ketone products obtained with (3aR,6aR)-1 is (S). Rh-catalyzed reaction of cyclopentenone 4a and (Z)-propenylboronic acid 7 in the presence of ligands (3aR,6aR)-1 yielded at 50 °C an inseparable mixture of (Z)- and (E)-ketones 8 with (Z)-8 as the major product and both in only moderate enantiomeric excess.     

(+)-Cystothiazole G: isolation and structural elucidation

Palladium-catalyzed cyclization-methoxycarbonylation of (2R,3S)-3-methylpent-4-yne-1,2-diol (6) derived from (2R,3S)-epoxybutanoate 5 followed by methylation gave the tetrahydro-2-furylidene acetate (−)-7, which was converted to the left-half aldehyde (+)-3. A Wittig reaction between (+)-3 and the phosphoranylide derived from the bithiazole-type phosphonium iodide 4 using lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide afforded the (+)-cystothiazole G (2), whose spectral data were identical with those of the natural product (+)-2. Thus, the stereochemistry of cystothiazole G (2) was proved to be (4R,5S,6(E)).     

Synthesis and stereochemistry of ceramide B, (2S,3R,4E,6R)-N-(30-hydroxytriacontanoyl)-6-hydroxy-4-sphingenine, a new ceramide in human epidermis

(2S,3R,4E,6R)-N-(30-Hydroxytriacontanoyl)-6-hydroxy-4-sphingenine (1) and its (6S)-isomer (1′) were synthesized by starting from pentadecan-15-olide, the enantiomers of 1-pentadecyn-3-ol, and (S)-Garner's aldehyde. Comparison of the ¹H NMR spectra of the tetraacetyl derivatives of 1 and 1′ with that of ceramide B, a new protein-bound ceramide in human stratum corneum, revealed it to be (2S,3R,4E,6R)-1.     

Synthesis of (3′R,5′S)-3′-hydroxycotinine using 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a nitrone

To synthesize (3′R,5′S)-3′-hydroxycotinine [(+)-1], the main metabolite of nicotine (2), cycloaddition of C-(3-pyridyl)nitrones 3a, 3c, and 15 with (2R)- and (2S)-N-(acryloyl)bornane-10,2-sultam [(2R)- and (2S)-8] was examined. Among them, l-gulose-derived nitrone 15 underwent stereoselective cycloaddition with (2S)-8 to afford cycloadduct 16, which was elaborated to (+)-1.     

Synthetic access to optically active isoflavans by using allylic substitution

A general approach to the (S)- and (R)-isoflavans was invented, and efficiency of the method was demonstrated by the synthesis of (S)-equol ((S)-3), (R)-sativan ((R)-4), and (R)-vestitol ((R)-5). The key step is the allylic substitution of (S)-6a (Ar¹=2,4-(MeO)₂C₆H₃) and (R)-6b (Ar¹=2,4-(BnO)₂C₆H₃) with copper reagents derived from CuBr·Me₂S and Ar²-MgBr (7a, Ar²=4-MeOC₆H₄; 7b, 2,4-(MeO)₂C₆H₃; 7c, 2-MOMO-4-MeOC₆H₃), furnishing anti S_N2′ products (R)-8a and (S)-8b,c with 93-97% chirality transfer in 60-75% yields. The olefinic part of the products was oxidatively cleaved and the Me and Bn groups on the Ar¹ moieties was then removed. Finally, phenol bromide 9a and phenol alcohols 9b,c underwent cyclization with K₂CO₃ and the Mitsunobu reagent to afford (S)-3 and (R)-4 and -5, respectively.     

Synthesis and ring opening reactions of 2-glyco-1,4-dimethyl-3-nitro-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-enes

The high-pressure asymmetric Diels-Alder reactions of d-galacto- (1a) and d-manno-3,4,5,6,7-penta-O-acetyl-1,2-dideoxy-1-nitrohept-1-enitol (1b) with 2,5-dimethylfuran (2) afforded mixtures of cycloadducts, from which the (2S,3R)-3-exo-nitro (3a and 3b), (2R,3S)-3-exo-nitro (4a and 4b), and (2R,3S)-1′,2′,3′,4′,5′-penta-O-acetyl-1′-C-(1,4-dimethyl-3-endo-nitro-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-exo-yl)-d-galacto-pentitol (5b) were isolated pure. Deacetylation of these compounds led to new chiral mono-, bi-, and tricyclic ethers, being their asymmetric centers arising from the chiral inductor used in the cycloaddition reaction. A ring opening mechanism through a 1-nitro-1,3-cyclohexadiene intermediate has been proposed.     

Photoinduced electron transfer-initiated asymmetric cyclization of N-benzoyl-α-dehydronaphthylalanine alkyl esters carrying chiral and bulky auxiliaries

The irradiation of the title compounds [(Z)-1] having (S)-(+)-sec-butyl, (−)-mentyl and related chiral auxiliaries in methanol and 1,2-dichloroethane containing 2-(diethylamino)ethanol afforded chiral auxiliary-substituted (4S,5S)-, (4R,5R)-, (4R,5S)- and (4S,5R)-4,5-dihydrooxazole derivatives (2) along with (E)-1. It was found that the photoinduced electron transfer-initiated cyclization of 1 gives either of the two diastereomers for cis-2 and trans-2 in diastereomeric excess whose value varies from 6% to 81% depending on solvent and chiral auxiliary.     

Synthesis and odor of optically active trans-2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexyl methyl ketones and their related compounds

The synthesis characterized by cationic olefin cyclizations accomplished using ketone enol esters and odor of novel (1R,6S)- and (1S,6R)-2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexyl methyl ketones (5) are described. The stereoselective syntheses of (E)-(1R,6S)- and (E)-(1S,6R)-1-(2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexyl)-2-buten-1-one (6) and (1R,6S)-ethyl 2,2,6-trimethylcyclohexylcarboxylate (7), useful raw materials for flavor and fragrance, starting from the (1R,6S)- and (1S,6R)-5 are also described.     

Formal synthesis of (−)-anisomycin based on stereoselective nucleophilic substitution along with 1,2-aryl migration

The stereoselective conversion of (4R)-5-hydroxy-4-(4′-methoxyphenyl)-2(E)-pentenoate 4 into the (4S)-4-hydroxy-5-(4′-methoxyphenyl)-2(E)-pentenoate 5 using the AgNO₃/MS 4 Å/MeNO₂ system was accomplished along with complete inversion at the C₄-position, and the synthesis of the intermediate (4S)-7 for the chiral synthesis of (−)-anisomycin 6 from (4S)-7 based on osmium tetroxide-catalyzed stereoselective hydroxylation was achieved.     

Regioselective rearrangement of 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-aminyl radicals: first synthesis of 2,8-diazabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-enes and their conversion into 5-(2-aminoethyl)-2,3,4-trihydroxypyrrolidines, new inhibitors of α-mannosidases

Enantiomerically pure 2,8-diazabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-ene derivatives (+)-5 and (−)-5 have been obtained from 2-azido-3-tosyl-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes (+)-1 and (−)-2 and their enantiomers, by ring expansion under radical conditions. Compounds (+)-5 and (−)-5 were transformed into hemiaminals 9 ((3S,4R,5R)- and 10 ((3R,4S,5S)-5-(2-aminoethyl)-2,3,4-trihydroxypyrrolidine) that are good inhibitors of α-mannosidases.     

Determination of the absolute structure of albaconol

The concise synthesis of (8aR)-(−)-albaconol (1) from (8aR)-albicanol (2) obtained from the lipase-assisted asymmetric acetylation of rac-2, was achieved in 45% overall yield (eight steps). By comparison of the sign of specific rotation of between synthetic (8aR)-(−)-albaconol (1) and natural (+)-albaconol (1), the absolute structure of natural (+)-1 was determined to be 1R,2R,4aS,8aS configuration.     

Enantioselective synthesis of axially chiral 1-(1-naphthyl)isoquinolines and 2-(1-naphthyl)pyridines through sulfoxide ligand coupling reactions

Racemic 1-(1′-isoquinolinyl)-2-naphthalenemethanol rac-12 was prepared through a ligand coupling reaction of racemic 1-(tert-butylsulfinyl)isoquinoline rac-7 with the 1-naphthyl Grignard reagent 10. Resolution of rac-12 was achieved through chromatographic separation of the Noe-lactol derivatives 14 and 15, providing (R)-(−)-12 of >99% ee and (S)-(+)-12 of 90% ee. The ligand coupling reaction of optically enriched sulfoxide (S)-(−)-7 (62% ee) with Grignard reagent 10 furnished rac-12, with the absence of stereoinduction resulting from competing rapid racemisation of the sulfoxide 7. Reaction of optically enriched (S)-(−)-7 with 2-methoxy-1-naphthylmagnesium bromide was also accompanied by racemisation of the sulfoxide 7, and furnished optically active (+)-1-(2′-methoxy-1′-naphthyl)isoquinoline (+)-3b in low enantiomeric purity (14% ee). The absolute configuration of (+)-3b was assigned as R using circular dichroism spectroscopy, correcting an earlier assignment based on the Bijvoet method, but in the absence of heavy atoms. Optically active 2-pyridyl sulfoxides were found not to undergo racemisation analogous to the 1-isoquinolinyl sulfoxide 7, with the ligand coupling reactions of (R)-(+)- and (S)-(−)-2-[(4′-methylphenyl)sulfinyl]-3-methylpyridines, (R)-(+)-17 and (S)-(−)-17, with 2-methoxy-1-naphthylmagnesium bromide providing (−)- and (+)-2-(2′-methoxy-1′-naphthyl)-3-methylpyridines, (−)-18 and (+)-18, in 53 and 60% ee, respectively. The free energy barriers to internal rotation in 3b and 18 have been determined, and the isoquinoline (R)-(−)-12 examined as a ligand in the enantioselectively catalysed addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde; (R)-(−)-12 was also converted to (R)-(−)-N,N-dimethyl-1-(1′-isoquinolinyl)-2-naphthalenemethanamine (R)-(−)-19, and this examined as a ligand in the enantioselective Pd-catalysed allylic substitution of 1,3-diphenylprop-2-enyl acetate with dimethyl malonate.     

Polyhydroxylated pyrrolizidines. Part 8. Enantiospecific synthesis of looking-glass analogues of hyacinthacine A5 from DADP

(1R,2S,3S,5R,7aR)-1,2-Dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-5-methylpyrrolizidine[(−)-3-epihyacinthacine A₅, 1a] and (1S,2R,3R,5S 7aS)-1,2-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethylpyrrolizidine[(+)-3-epihyacinthacine A₅, 1b] have been synthesized either by Wittig's or Horner-Wadsworth-Emmond's (HWE's) methodology using aldehydes 4 and 9, both prepared from (2S,3S,4R,5R)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-2′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine (2, partially protected DADP), and the appropriate ylides, followed by cyclization through an internal reductive amination process of the resulting α,β-unsaturated ketones 5 and 10, respectively, and total deprotection.     

Acid-catalyzed rearrangement of α-hydroxytrialkylsilanes

Cationic rearrangement of several α-hydroxysilanes is described. Treatment of both (1R,1′R,2′S)-α-hydroxycyclopropylsilane syn-9 and (1S,1′R,2′S)-anti-9 under aqueous H₂SO₄ underwent rearrangement via a common α-silyl cation intermediate A to give a mixture of the ring-opened (R)-vinylsilane 13, the tandem [1,2]-CC bond migration product (1R,2S,1′R)-14, and its 1′S isomer 15. On the other hand, the acidic treatment of (R,E)-α-hydroxyalkenylsilane 8 or (R,Z)-8 was each accompanied with partial racemization to give an enantiomeric isomer of allylic alcohol 23 via a preferential syn-facial S_N2′ reaction, respectively. Both α-hydroxyalkynylsilane 6 and α-hydroxyalkylsilane 12 were inert to the acidic conditions; however, treatment of (R)-α-mesyloxyalkynylsilane 26 under aqueous H₂SO₄ gave a mixture of the optically active rearranged allene 27, α,β-unsaturated ketone 28, and (S)-α-hydroxyalkynylsilane 6 with partial racemization. Comparisons of the reactivities of these α-hydroxysilanes under acidic conditions are also disclosed.     

Pheromone synthesis. Part 245: Synthesis and chromatographic analysis of the four stereoisomers of 4,8-dimethyldecanal, the male aggregation pheromone of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum

All four stereoisomers of 4,8-dimethyldecanal (1) were synthesized from the enantiomers of 2-methyl-1-butanol and citronellal. Enantioselective GC analysis enabled separation of (4R,8R)-1 and (4R,8S)-1 from a mixture of (4S,8R)-1 and (4S,8S)-1, when octakis-(2,3-di-O-methoxymethyl-6-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-γ-cyclodextrin was employed as a chiral stationary phase. Complete separation of the four stereoisomers of 1 on reversed-phase HPLC at −54 °C was achieved after oxidation of 1 to the corresponding carboxylic acid 12 followed by its derivatization with (1R,2R)-2-(2,3-anthracenedicarboximido)cyclohexanol, and the natural 1 was found to be a mixture of all the four stereoisomers.     

Cytotoxic cembranoids from the Red Sea soft coral, Sarcophyton auritum

Chemical investigation of the Red Sea soft coral Sarcophyton auritum led to the isolation and structure elucidation of two new diterpene cembranoids; 2-epi-sarcophine (2) and (1R,2E,4S,6E,8R,11R,12R)-2,6-cembradiene-4,8,11,12-tetrol (4), as well as two known diterpene cembranoids, reported for the first time from this species, namely sarcophine (1) and (+)-7α,8β-dihydroxydeepoxysarcophine (3). Structure elucidation was achieved using spectroscopic techniques, including 1D and 2D NMR and HRMS. The isolated cembranoids were found to display high cytotoxicity against HepG2 (liver cancer cell line) and MCF-7 (breast cancer cell line).