Enantioselective synthesis and absolute configuration assignment of gabosine O. Synthesis of (+)- and (-)-gabosine N and (+)- and (-)-epigabosines N and O

[reaction: see text] A rational approach to the synthesis of gabosines and other related carba-sugars starting from a masked p-benzoquinone has been designed. The enantioselective acetylation of the hydroxyketal 2 provides a practical entry to either enantiomer of the target products. The strategy has been applied to the synthesis of (+)- and (-)-gabosines N and O and (+)- and (-)-epigabosines N and O. The absolute configuration of natural gabosine O has been established.     

Total synthesis of (+)-epiepoformin and (−)-phyllostine

An efficient asymmetric total synthesis of naturally occurring cyclohexeneoxides, (+)-epiepoformin and (−)-phyllostine has been achieved using the chiral building block available from the base-catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction of 3-hydroxy-2-pyrone. Since (−)-theobroxide was derived from the same precursor of (+)-epiepoformin, the formal total synthesis of (−)-theobroxide has also been achieved.     

Angucyclinone antibiotics: total syntheses of YM-181741, (+)-ochromycinone, (+)-rubiginone B2, (-)-tetrangomycin, and MM-47755

A concise and highly enantioselective route has been developed for the synthesis of angucyclinone-type natural products. Utilizing this strategy, total syntheses of five natural products YM-181741, (+)-ochromycinone, (+)-rubiginone B2, (-)-tetrangomycin, and MM-47755 have been accomplished in 22%, 23%, 19%, 18%, and 12% overall yields, respectively. Our approach for the synthesis of these natural products having the benz[a]anthraquinone skeleton is based on a sequential intramolecular enyne metathesis, intermolecular Diels-Alder reaction (DAR), and aromatization. The intramolecular enyne metathesis reaction was employed for the synthesis of enantiopure 1,3-dienes in excellent yields. Furthermore, the synthesis of YM-181741 as well as structurally similar angucyclinones such as (+)-ochromycinone and (+)-rubiginone B2 was achieved via asymmetric enolate alkylation of an oxazolidinone in excellent de. The related angucyclinones (-)-tetrangomycin and MM-47755, bearing a labile tertiary alcohol, were synthesized via Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation of a known allylic alcohol followed by opening the epoxide with Red-Al. The introduction of oxygen functionality at C-1 in all these natural products was accomplished by photooxygenation under a positive pressure of oxygen.     

Enantioselective syntheses of (-)- and (+)-monomorine I

A concise enantioselective total synthesis of unnatural (-)-monomorine I has been achieved starting from lactam 2 in 54% overall yield. Natural (+)-monomorine I was also synthesized.     

Enantioselective syntheses of bioactive epoxyquinone natural products (+)-harveynone and (−)-asperpentyn

Stereo- and enantioselective syntheses of (+)-harveynone and (−)-asperpentyn are reported.     

Synthesis of (S)-(+)-sotalol and (R)-(−)-isoproterenol via a catalytic enantioselective Henry reaction

A unified approach for the synthesis of (S)-(+)-sotalol and (R)-(?)-isoproterenol has been developed. The enantioselective Henry reaction of the appropriate aldehyde in the presence of a camphor-derived amino pyridine–Cu(II) complex was the key step of the synthesis. The reduction of the nitro group to give the corresponding amino alcohols followed by reductive alkylation of the amine provided the target products with high enantiomeric excesses.     

An enantioselective total synthesis of (+)- and (-)-saudin. Determination of the absolute configuration.

A short efficient enantioselective synthesis of both (+)- and (-)-saudin, a naturally occurring hypoglycemic diterpene, is described. This synthesis establishes the absolute configuration of natural (-)-saudin for the first time. The key steps include the enantioselective construction of a dimethyl Hagemann's ester by an asymmetric Michael reaction and establishment of the key 1,3 disposed quaternary centers by means of a novel Ti(IV) promoted Claisen rearrangement. The assembly of the polycyclic ketal skeleton was likely under kinetic control proceeding via formation of the C1oxygen-C7 bond through an oxonium ion intermediate in the final stage.     

Absolute configuration of anti-HIV-1 agent (-)-concentricolide: total synthesis of (+)-(R)-concentricolide

The first enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-(R)-concentricolide, the enantiomer of an anti-HIV-1 agent isolated from Daldinia concentrica, from 2-iodophenol in 7 steps reveals the (S)-configuration for the natural form of the furanophthalide. The key features include an anionic ortho-Fries rearrangement to furnish 3-iodosalicylamide, facile construction of the benzofuran system employing the tandem Sonogashira coupling annulation reaction, directed ortho metalation to introduce a propanoyl group, as well as CBS reduction, establishing the stereocenter enantioselectively.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-triptolide, (-)-triptonide, (+)-triptophenolide, and (+)-triptoquinonide

The first enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-triptolide (1), (-)-triptonide (2), (+)-triptophenolide (3), and (+)-triptoquinonide (4) was completed. The key step involves lanthanide triflate-catalyzed oxidative radical cyclization of (+)-8-phenylmenthyl ester 30 mediated by Mn(OAc)3, providing intermediate 31 with good chemical yield (77%) and excellent diastereoselectivity (dr 38:1). (+)-Triptophenolide methyl ether (5) was then prepared in > 99% enantiomeric excess (> 99% ee), and readily converted to natural products 1-4. In addition, transition state models were proposed to explain the opposite chiral induction observed in the oxidative radical cyclization reactions of chiral beta-keto esters 17 (without an alpha-substituent) and 17a (with an alpha-chloro substituent).     

Total syntheses of enantiomerically enriched R-(+)- and S-(-)-deplancheine

Total syntheses of indoloquinolizidine alkaloid (+/-)-, R-(+)-, and S-(-)-deplancheine are described here. The synthesis features an enantioselective intramolecular formal aza-[3 + 3] cycloaddition for the construction of the quinolizidine CD-ring. This application serves to introduce a new synthetic strategy for the synthesis of indoloquinolizidine alkaloids.     

Total synthesis of (S)-(+)-tylophorine via enantioselective intramolecular alkene carboamination

The enantioselective synthesis of (S)-(+)-tylophorine, a potent cancer cell growth inhibitor, has been accomplished in eight steps from commercially available 3,4-dimethoxybenzyl alcohol. A copper (II)-catalyzed enantioselective intramolecular alkene carboamination was employed as the key step to construct the chiral indolizidine ring.     

First enantioselective syntheses of (+)- and (-)-wilforonide by using chiral auxiliaries derived from the same chiral source

[see structure]. The first enantioselective syntheses of both (+)-wilforonide (>98% ee) and (-)-wilforonide (>98% ee) have been accomplished by employing chiral auxiliaries derived from the same chiral source, (R)-pulegone. The bicyclic skeleton of wilforonide was constructed by using Mn(III)-based oxidative radical cyclization reactions of chiral beta-keto esters. The absolute configuration of natural wilforonide has been established to be (5aR,9aR).     

Total syntheses of (+)-vigulariol and (-)-sclerophytin A

The total syntheses of (+)-vigulariol and (-)-sclerophytin A are reported in 15 steps and 16 steps, respectively, from a known compound. The flexible, readily scalable synthetic strategy allows for rapid construction of a critical tricyclic intermediate and is demonstrated via the synthesis of these two marine natural products. A key reaction in this synthetic protocol is a combination Wittig/intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition.     

A concise enantioselective synthesis of (+)-goniodiol and (+)-8-methoxygoniodiol via Co-catalyzed HKR of anti-(2SR, 3RS)-3-methoxy-3-phenyl-1, 2-epoxypropane

A short, enantioselective synthesis of (+)-goniodiol and (+)-8-methoxygoniodiol, cytotoxic styryllactones, has been achieved in high optical purities (99% ee). The strategy employs Co-catalyzed HKR of racemic anti-(2SR, 3RS)-3-methoxy-3-phenyl-1, 2-epoxypropane and Lewis acid-mediated diastereoselective allylation of aldehyde as chiral inducing key reactions.     

Enantioselective allyltitanations and metathesis reactions. Application to the synthesis of piperidine alkaloids (+)-sedamine and (-)-prosophylline

An enantioselective synthesis of the piperidine alkaloids (+)-sedamine and (-)-prosophylline is reported. The synthesis of (+)-sedamine has been achieved in 12 steps with an overall yield of 20% from benzaldehyde, and (-)-prosophylline was obtained in 15 steps with an overall yield of 9.2%, starting from D-glyceraldehyde acetonide 14. The key steps are enantioselective allyltitanation reactions and ring-closing or cross-metathesis reactions.     

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).     

CATALYTIC DYNAMIC RESOLUTION APPLIED TO THE SYNTHESIS OF 2,6-DISUBSTITUTED PIPERIDINES: PREPARATION OF (+)-LUPETIDINE AND (-)-EPIDIHYDROPINIDINE

The diastereoselective synthesis of trans-2,6-disubstituted piperidines has been rendered enantioselective by incorporating a catalytic dynamic resolution into the first alkylation step. The method has been applied to the synthesis of (-)-epidihydropinidine and (+)-trans-lupetidine.     

Total synthesis of (+)-trans-195A

[reaction: see text] The first enantioselective synthesis of (+)-trans-195A is described. The structure has been constructed by ring-rearrangement metathesis (RRM) and zirconium-mediated Negishi-coupling, used for the first time to prepare 6,6-membered heterocycles, as key steps. By comparison of the synthesized material with the isolated natural product, the absolute configuration of natural trans-195A was determined to be (2R,4aS,5R,8aS)-(-).     

Enantioselective synthesis of natural (−)-tochuinyl acetate, (−)-dihydrotochuinyl acetate and (+)-β-cuparenone using both enantiomers of the same building block

The first enantioselective synthesis of tochuinyl acetate and dihydrotochuinyl acetate, two natural marine products isolated from Tochuina tetraquetra and Gersemia rubiformis, has been achieved starting from an enantiopure building block. The key feature of the present synthesis is complete control of two vicinal quaternary stereogenic centers present in the natural products and elucidation of their absolute stereochemistry, which was previously unknown. Furthermore, starting from the enantiomer of the same building block, the applied methodology provided a new approach towards natural (R)-(+)-β-cuparenone.     

Total synthesis of natural (+)-sesbanimide a and (-)-sesbanimide b

The first total synthesis of natural (+)-sesbanimide A (1) and (-)-sesbanimide B (2), potent antitumor alkaloids isolated from the seeds of the leguminous plant, Sesbania drummondii, has been accomplished starting from D-(+)-xylose. This total synthesis involves efficient construction of the optically active AB-ring system from D-(+)-xylose, introduction of the C₅-unit into the AB-ring system in a form of exo-methylene-γ-lactone, and elaboration of the labile C-ring system at the last stage of the synthesis. The absolute configurations of natural 1 and 2 could be obviously established by our total synthesis.