First total synthesis of salinipyrone A using highly stereoselective vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction

A synthetic approach for the total synthesis of salinipyrone A has been developed. Key steps involve the TiCl₄-mediated vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction (VMAR) of chiral ketene silyl N,O-acetal with propionaldyhyde, an aldol condensation, Witting olefination, and a cyclization. The synthesis proceeds in eight steps.     

Novel synthesis of the 2-azaanthraquinone alkaloid, scorpinone, based on two microwave-assisted pericyclic reactions

The total synthesis of the 2-azaanthraquinone alkaloid, scorpinone (4), isolated from the mycelium of a Bispora-like tropical fungus, has been completed in nine steps. The two key steps involve a microwave-assisted thermal electrocyclic reaction for the synthesis of an 8-oxygenated isoquinoline skeleton from a 1-aza 6π-hexatriene system, and a regioselective microwave-assisted [4+2] cycloaddition for the construction of a 2-azaanthraquinone framework.     

Synthesis of α-conhydrine

A synthesis of α-conhydrine has been achieved from trans-(2S,4R)-4-hydroxyproline via diastereoselective Grignard addition, regioselective Baeyer-Villiger reaction, and ring-closing metathesis as the key steps.     

First stereoselective synthesis of serinol-derived malyngamides and their 1′-epi-isomers

A stereoselective synthesis of 1a {N-[(1R)-2-hydroxy-1-methoxy-methyl ethyl]-(4E,7S)-7-methoxy-4-eicosenamide} has been accomplished in 10 steps from 1-tetradecanol for the first time in 28% overall yield. The key steps involved the coupling reaction of a chiral alkyne with a protected bromide in the presence of t-BuLi, as well as the amidation reaction of (4E,7S)-7-methoxyeicos-4-enoic acid with (R)-methoxyamino alcohol. Acetylation of 1a finished the preparation of 1b {N-[(1S)-2-acetyloxy-1-methoxy-methyl ethyl]-(4E,7S)-7-methoxy-4-eicosenamide}. Their 1′-epi-isomers have also been synthesized with a similar strategy.     

Concise synthesis and revision of the proposed biogenesis of helicascolides

A concise synthesis of helicascolides A, B and C was achieved in three to five steps from commercially available materials. The key transformations of the synthesis include an Evans-Metternich anti-aldol reaction of the known β-keto imide 10 and strategic base-mediated one-pot cyclization/alkylation. Based on the new chemical evidence of ring-opening reaction of β-keto ester under biocompatible basic conditions, Krohn’s proposal for the biosynthetic relationship between helicascolide A (1) and a naturally co-existing acyclic dienone 4 was suggested in a reverse manner.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-(6R,2′S)-cryptocaryalactone and (−)-(6S,2′S)-epi cryptocaryalactone via asymmetric acetate aldol reaction

The total synthesis of (+)-(6R,2′S)-cryptocaryalactone and (?)-(6S,2′S)-epi cryptocaryalactone is reported based on asymmetric acetate aldol reaction. Still–Gennari reaction, Evans acetal intramolecular oxa-Michael reaction and lactonisation are the key steps in the target synthesis.     

Synthetic studies of carzinophilin. Part 2: Synthesis of 3,4-dibenzyloxy-2-methylidene-1-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane systems corresponding to the C1-C17 fragment of carzinophilin

A model compound bearing the C1-C17 fragment of carzinophilin was synthesized. The synthesis involved coupling reaction of a cyclic thioimidate with the 4H-oxazol-5-one derivative, ring-opening of the 4H-oxazol-5-one to furnish a dehydropeptide system, elaboration of the C1-C6 enolamide, and construction of the aziridine ring as key steps.     

syn-Selective dihydroxylation of γ-amino-α,β-unsaturated (Z)-esters from d-serine: stereoselective synthesis of d-iminolyxitol

An efficient and stereoselective synthesis of d-iminolyxitol, a potent α-galactosidase inhibitor, is achieved in 11 steps over 45% overall yield from N-Boc-O-Bn-d-serine. The key step involves the OsO₄-catalyzed syn-selective dihydroxylation reaction of the acyclic γ-amino-α,β-unsaturated (Z)-ester controlled by an N-diphenylmethylene group.     

A concise synthesis of (−)-cytoxazone and (−)-4-epi-cytoxazone using chlorosulfonyl isocyanate

A concise synthesis of (−)-cytoxazone and its stereoisomer (−)-4-epi-cytoxazone, novel cytokine modulators, has been accomplished each in six steps from readily available p-anisaldehyde with good diastereoselectivity. Key steps in the synthesis include the regioselective and diastereoselective amination of anti- and syn-1,2-dimethyl ethers with chlorosulfonyl isocyanate and the subsequent regioselective cyclization of the diol to construct the oxazolidin-2-one core. The diastereoselectivity of amination reaction using CSI was explained by the Cieplak electronic model via S_N1 mechanism and neighboring group effect, leading to the retention of the configuration.     

Catalytic asymmetric hetero-Diels–Alder route to a key intermediate for the synthesis of calyxin L

A catalytic asymmetric formal synthesis of diarylheptanoid natural product calyxin L has been achieved by incorporating an enantio- and diastereoselective hetero-Diels–Alder (HDA) reaction, a Suzuki–Miyaura coupling, and a stereocontrolled catalytic hydrogenation of 2,4,6-trisubstituted dihydropyran as the key steps. The HDA reaction between 4-(4-benzyloxyphenyl)-2-triethylsilyloxy-1,3-butadiene and (4-benzenesulfonyloxyphenyl)propynal catalyzed by dirhodium(II) tetrakis[(R)-3-(benzene-fused-phthalimido)-2-piperidinonate], Rh₂(R-BPTPI)₄, provided cis-2,6-disubstituted tetrahydropyran-4-one in 91% yield with 91% ee.     

A new approach for the total synthesis of spilanthol and analogue with improved anesthetic activity

A 5-step synthesis of spilanthol (affinin) is reported, where the route features complete control of alkene geometry during the assembling of the double bonds, with the use of a Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction, a Z-selective alkyne semi-reduction and a HWE olefination reaction as the key steps. A simplified analogue was also prepared in 4 steps. Both compounds were found to permeate dermatomed pig ear skin through an in vitro Franz-type diffusion cell. The simplified analogue presented a superior anesthetic effect in vivo, using the tail flick model, when compared to spilanthol and to the commercial standard EMLA^®. These results suggest that both spilanthol and its analogue could be useful as a topical anesthetic in clinical practice.     

First stereoselective total synthesis of (6R)-6-[(4R,6R)-4,6-dihydroxy-10-phenyldec-1-enyl]-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one

A stereoselective total synthesis of (6R)-6-[(4R,6R)-4,6-dihydroxy-10-phenyldec-1-enyl]-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one is reported. The strategy utilizes an iterative Jacobsen hydrolytic kinetic resolution, ring opening with a chiral propargylic synthon and a preferential (Z)-Wittig olefination reaction and lactonization as the key steps.     

Efficient total synthesis of manzacidin B

The highly diastereoselective synthesis of the marine natural product, (?)-manzacidin B, is described. A novel copper-catalyzed aldol reaction of the α-methylserine-derived aldehyde with an isocyanoacetate possessing (1R)-camphorsultam as the chiral auxiliary proceeded in a highly diastereoselective manner to give the (4R,5R,6R)-adduct, which was converted into manzacidin B in a few steps.     

Synthesis of variolin B

The total synthesis of variolin B from 4-methoxy-7-azaindole is described. The preparation of the protected amino derivative 10 and a coupling reaction of the iodo derivative 12 with 2-acetylamino-4-trimethylstannylpyrimidine are the key steps of the sequence. The use of N-tosyldichloromethanimine for the cyclisation step afforded a good entry to the 9-aminopyrido[3′,2′:4,5]pyrrolo[1,2-c]pyrimidine system. Variolin B was obtained from the triply protected tetracyclic compound 13 in two steps.     

A divergent synthesis of d- and l-carbocyclic 4′-fluoro-2′,3′-dideoxynucleosides as potential antiviral agents

d- and l-Carbocyclic 4′-fluoro-2′,3′-dideoxynucleosides have been synthesized from 2, which can be conveniently prepared from 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-d-mannitol 1 in eight steps. Ruthenium-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis has been employed in the synthesis of d-nucleosides, whereas the l-series have been obtained through an intramolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction. The Mitsunobu condensation was used as a general tool for the synthesis of both purine and pyrimidine nucleosides.     

First stereoselective total synthesis of pectinolide H

The stereoselective total synthesis of bio-active pectinolide H (1) is described. Midland’s asymmetric reduction, Sharpless dihydroxylation reactions are involved in generating the stereogenic centers at C-4′, C-5 and C-1′. Other key steps in the synthesis are Sonogashira cross coupling, Z-selective Still–Gennari olefination, one-pot acetonide deprotection–lactonization, and Lindlar’s reaction. This offers a distinctive strategy for the synthesis of γ-lactones.     

Constrained cycloalkyl analogues of glutamic acid: stereocontrolled synthesis of (+)-2-aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (LY354740) and its 6-phosphonic acid analogue

A new stereocontrolled synthesis of (+)-2-aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2.6-dicarboxylic acid (LY354740) 1, a potent and selective 2mGluR agonist, has been accomplished in four steps with an overall yield of 27% starting from the enantiopure (+)-(R)-2-(p-tolylsulfinyl)cyclopent-2-enone 3. The key steps include asymmetric cyclopropanation of 3 with (dimethylsulfuranylidene)acetate (EDSA) and removal of the chiral p-tolylsulfinyl auxiliary from the cycloadduct ent-4c upon treatment with iso-propylmagnesium chloride. The stereoselective hydantoin formation from the bicyclic ketone 6 formed (Bucherer–Bergs reaction) and subsequent hydrolysis completed the synthesis of 1. The same reaction sequence has been applied in the first synthesis of enantiopure (+)-2-amino-6-phosphonobicyclo[3.0.1]hexane-2-carboxylic acid 2, a structural 6-phosphono analogue of 1. The starting bicyclic ketophosphonates 9–11 have been obtained by asymmetric cyclopropanation of (?)-(S)-3 with phosphoryl sulfonium ylides, producing only two endo-isomers. The major endo-isomer (+)-11a containing the 6-diisopropoxyphosphoryl group has been converted in three steps into (+)-endo-2 in 46% overall yield.     

Divergent synthesis of (+)-tanikolide and its analogues employing stereoselective rhodium(II)-catalyzed reaction

In this study, we described the divergent synthesis of (+)-tanikolide and its analogues, such as (4S)- and (4R)-hydroxytanikolides, and nortanikolide, employing a stereoselective dirhodium(II)-catalyzed reaction to construct the quaternary chiral center of tanokolides. The key steps involve (a) a dirhodium(II)-catalyzed oxonium ylide formation–[2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement, (b) an N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed ring-expansion lactonization of tetrahydrofurfural, or (c) an oxidative cleavage of tetrahydrofuran-5-methanol to γ-lactone using a 2-iodobenzamide catalyst. This route would provide high flexibility for analogue synthesis because the long side chain can be introduced at a later stage in the synthesis.     

α-Dimethylaminomethylenation-induced Houben-Hoesch-type cyclization of cyanoacetanilides: a practical synthesis of 3-formyl-4-hydroxyquinolin-2(1H)-ones

The tandem reaction of cyanoacetanilides with triflic anhydride in DMF proceeded at room temperature to afford 3-formyl-4-hydroxyquinolin-2(1H)-ones in good to high yields. A detailed mechanistic study revealed that the tandem reaction proceeded via α-dimethylaminomethylenation, which promoted the subsequent Houben-Hoesch-type cyclization. Both α-functionalization and the cyclization steps were optimized, and a multi-gram scale synthesis of 3-formyl-4-hydroxyquinolin-2(1H)-one was achieved.     

Stereoselective synthesis of methyl branched chiral deoxypropionate units: a new route for synthesis of insect pheromone (−)-lardolure and (2R,4R,6R,8R) 2,4,6,8-tetramethylundecanoic acid

(−)-Lardolure and (2R,4R,6R,8R)-2,4,6,8-tetramethylundecanoic acid have been synthesized via lipase catalyzed desymmetrization strategy to create two methyl chiral centers. Other key steps involved in the synthesis are Wittig reaction, Evan’s asymmetric alkylation, Grignard reaction, Pd-catalyzed isomerization of primary allylic alcohol to corresponding saturated aldehyde, and PhNO/proline catalyzed MacMillan α-hydroxylation.