Concise, Biomimetic Total Synthesis of d,l-Marcfortine C

A biomimetic total synthesis of the fungal metabolite marcfortine C utilizing an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction is described. In addition, a key stereoselective oxaziridine-mediated oxidation/pinacol rearrangement of indole 24 was used to complete the total synthesis.     

Efficient and highly enantioselective formation of the all-carbon quaternary stereocentre of lyngbyatoxin A

Indole 25, an advanced intermediate in a projected enantioselective total synthesis of lyngbyatoxin A 1, was prepared from allylic alcohol 11 in 9 steps and >95% ee, key transformations being the enantiospecific rearrangement of vinyl epoxide 14 and the Hemetsberger-Knittel reaction of azide 24.     

Biomimetic synthesis of petuniasterone D via the epoxy ester[bond]ortho ester rearrangement

The side chain of the insecticidal steroid petuniasterone D was synthesized by the biomimetic acid-catalyzed epoxy ester[bond]ortho ester rearrangement. In addition to the natural (22R,24R)-configuration of the side chain ortho ester, compounds bearing the epimeric (22R,24S)-, (22S,24R)-, and (22S,24S)- [3.2.1]-bicyclic ortho esters were also produced by stereospecific rearrangement of the corresponding isomeric epoxy esters. Functionalization of the steroid nucleus of the (22R,24R)-ortho ester completed the synthesis of the natural product.     

5-Isothiazolidinonyl and 5-isoxazolidinonyl radicals : Approaches to the biogenetic-type synthesis of β-lactams

A possible mechanism for penicillin biosynthesis involves the rearrangement of a 5-isothiazolidinonyl radical (6) to a β-lactam. However, generation of the model radicals (13 and 20) did not lead to β-lactams. The analogous reaction of a 5-isoxazolidinonyl radical is the basis for a potential synthesis of clavulanic acid, but again the rearrangement was not observed in the model radical (24).     

A Facile, Expeditious Route to the Benzooxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane System. Application to a Short, High-Yield Synthesis of Filiformin

A facile and efficacious route to the benzooxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane system has been developed and applied to a synthesis of filiformin (1). The cycloaddition of ethylene to the methoxychromone 13 furnished the oxetanol 14 through a tandem cycloaddition and gamma-hydrogen abstraction sequence. Lithium aluminum hydride reduction to the diol 15 followed by acid-catalyzed rearrangement produced benzooxabicyclooctanone (16), arising from exclusive external bond migration. Similarly, ethoxychromone (17) under the same sequence of reactions afforded the homologous bridged ketone 20. For the synthesis of filiformin (1), methoxychromone 24 on ethylene cycloaddition followed by reduction of resultant oxetanol 25 with lithium aluminum hydride furnished diol 10. Acid-catalyzed rearrangement of 10 provided the bridged ketone 11 which was brominated to give 26. This bromo ketone had previously been converted to filiformin (1), and also aplysin 9, and hence, the present work represents a short, high-yield formal synthesis of these sequiterpenes from a single starting material.     

An Efficient Synthesis of de novo Imidates via Aza-Claisen Rearrangements of N-Allyl Ynamides

A novel thermal 3-aza-Claisen rearrangement of N-allyl ynamides for the synthesis of α-allyl imidates is described. Also, a sequential aza-Claisen, Pd-catalyzed Overman rearrangement is described for the synthesis of azapine-2-ones.     

Total synthesis of (-)-okilactomycin

A highly convergent synthesis of (-)-okilactomycin is described. Key reactions of this synthesis include a strategy-level diastereoselective oxy-Cope rearrangement/oxidation sequence, a Petasis-Ferrier union/rearrangement tactic, and an efficient RCM reaction to construct the 13-membered macrocyclic ring.     

Rearrangement of Cephem Bromohydrins to Thiazepine Derivatives

A new rearrangement of cephem bromohydrins 2 – 5 to thiazepine derivatives 7 – 8 is described. The structure of the rearrangement product is established by an independent synthesis. The probable mechanism of the above rearrangement is discussed.     

Further studies on the synthesis of 24(S),25-epoxycholesterol. A new, efficient preparation of desmosterol

Efforts to improve the synthesis of 24(S),25-epoxycholesterol (1) from stigmasterol (3) have included identification of 6 alpha-hydroxy-i-steroid 11 as a byproduct from the ozonolysis of 9 and an attempt to effect conversion of sulfone 14 to diol 18 via Payne rearrangement and nucleophilic trapping of epoxide 25, which led instead to 27 and 28 (97% yield). A more efficient synthesis of 1 was achieved via coupling of cuprate 21 with allylic acetate 31 to give 73% of 16, in the most efficient conversion yet of a C22 intermediate to desmosterol (5) or its acetate 6.     

A second-generation total synthesis of (+)-phorboxazole A.

A highly convergent second-generation synthesis of (+)-phorboxazole A has been achieved. Highlights of the synthetic approach include improved Petasis-Ferrier union/rearrangement conditions on a scale to assemble multigram quantities of the C(11-15) and C(22-26) cis-tetrahydropyrans inscribed with the phorboxazole architecture, a convenient method to prepare E- and Z-vinyl bromides from TMS-protected alkynes utilizing radical isomerization of Z-vinylsilanes, and a convergent late-stage Stille union to couple a fully elaborated C(1-28) macrocyclic iodide with a C(29-46) oxazole stannane side chain to establish the complete phorboxazole skeleton. The synthesis, achieved with a longest linear sequence of 24 steps, proceeded in 4.6% overall yield.     

Stereospecific synthesis of hydroxylated steroid side chains. Synthesis of 25,28-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydroergosterol and its c-24 epimer via [2,3] sigmatropic rearrangement.

An efficient, stereospecific synthesis of hydroxylated ergosterol and C-24 epi-ergosterol side chains has been developed using a C-20 keto-steroid as starting material. The side chain is elaborated via stereoselective hydroboration, asymmetric reduction and a stereospecific [2, 3] sigmatropic rearrangement.     

A new entry to the phenanthridine ring system

A new synthesis of phenanthridine derivatives having three-point diversity has been developed based on the sequential application of three-atom economic processes viz. aza-Claisen rearrangement, ring-closing enyne metathesis and Diels–Alder reaction as key steps. An unexpected isomerisation was observed during aza-Claisen rearrangement of N-allylanilines which may open up new opportunities in heterocyclic synthesis.     

Tandem aza-Claisen rearrangement and ring-closing metathesis reactions: the stereoselective synthesis of functionalised carbocyclic amides

A one-pot, tandem process has been developed for the efficient synthesis of functionalised carbocyclic amides. A substituted cyclopentenyl trichloroacetamide was synthesised using a tandem thermal aza-Claisen rearrangement and RCM process, while an analogous cyclohexenyl trichloroacetamide was generated with high diastereoselectivity using a tandem MOM-ether directed metal-catalysed aza-Claisen rearrangement and RCM process.     

Total synthesis of (+)-asteltoxin

A convergent synthesis of (+)-asteltoxin (1) has been achieved by the Horner-Emmons olefination of bis(tetrahydrofuran) aldehyde 53 and alpha-pyrone phosphonate 5. A key step features the stereoselective construction of a sterically congested quaternary center embedded in the densely functionalized bis(tetrahydrofuran) subunit by a Lewis acid-catalyzed, pinacol-type rearrangement of an epoxy silyl ether. This pivotal rearrangement methodology parallels the proposed biosynthetic pathway of 1 and is ripe for applications to the stereocontrolled synthesis of structurally complex natural products.     

Acid catalyzed stereoselective rearrangement and dimerization of flavenes: synthesis of dependensin

Appropriately substituted flavenes undergo stereoselective rearrangement and dimerization when treated with methanolic hydrochloric acid to give benzopyranobenzopyrans. A rationale for the rearrangement is proposed. This synthetic methodology has been used for a high yield synthesis of the natural product dependensin.     

[2,3]-Wittig rearrangement approach to iminosugar C-glycosides: 5-epi-ethylfagomine, 2-epi-5-deoxyadenophorine and formal synthesis of indolizidine 167B and 209D

A new strategy for the synthesis of 1,2-dideoxy iminosugar C-glycosides and indolizidines involving highly stereoselective [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement from Garner aldehyde has been developed. This rearrangement yielded an optically pure, highly functionalized key intermediate, which has been further utilized for the synthesis of 5-epi-ethylfagomine, 2-epi-5-deoxyadenophorine, and 5-hydroxymethyl indolizidine.     

A cyclobutene bridgehead olefin approach to the germacranes

A model study for the synthesis of the germacranes is described which utilizes a consecutive oxy-Cope/cyclobutene ring opening rearrangement sequence. The β,γ-unsaturated enone necessary for the rearrangement is obtained directly from the photocycloaddition of allene and cyclohexenone.     

An Ireland-Claisen approach to beta-alkoxy alpha-amino acids

A diastereoselective Ireland-Claisen approach to beta-alkoxy alpha-amino acid esters is reported. Amino acid esters of enol ethereal allylic alcohols undergo facile syn-selective [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement via silyl ketene acetals. Substrate synthesis, rearrangement development, stereoselectivity, and product elaboration are discussed.     

Computational and Synthetic Investigation of Cationic Rearrangement in the Putative Biosynthesis of Justicane Triterpenoids

A biomimetic cationic structural rearrangement of the oleanolic acid framework is reported for the gram‐scale synthesis and structural reassignment of justicioside E aglycone. The mechanism of the putative biosynthetic rearrangement is investigated with kinetic, computational, and synthetic approaches. The precursor to rearrangement was accessed through two strategic advancements: (1) synthesis of a 1,3‐diketone via oxidation of a β‐silyl enone, and (2) diastereoselective 1,3‐diketone reduction to form a syn‐1,3‐diol using SmI₂ with PhSH as a key additive.