Stereocontrolled synthesis of (+)-methoxyphenylkainic acid and (+)-phenylkainic acid

The efficient total syntheses of (+)-methoxyphenylkainic acid (3) and (+)-phenylkainic acid (4) were achieved using a rhodium carbenoid-mediated intermolecular C-H insertion reaction. Complete stereoselective construction of the kainoid skeleton was accomplished by utilizing the stereochemistry at the C-4 position as a pivotal stereogenic center.     

Stereoselective total synthesis and absolute configuration of the natural decanolides (-)-microcarpalide and (+)-lethaloxin. Identity of (+)-lethaloxin and (+)-pinolidoxin

[reaction: see text] Convergent, stereoselective syntheses of the pharmacologically active, naturally occurring lactones (-)-microcarpalide and (+)-lethaloxin have been achieved from the commercially available, chiral reagents (R)-glycidol, (S,S)-tartaric acid, and d-ribose as the starting materials. These syntheses have further served to establish the hitherto unknown absolute configuration of (+)-lethaloxin and to show its identity with (+)-pinolidoxin.     

Total syntheses of (+)-spiculoic acid A and (+)-zyggomphic acid, new marine natural products of polyketide origin

The total syntheses of both natural (+)-spiculoic acid A and (+)-zyggomphic acid, new cytotoxic marine natural products of polyketide origin, have been accomplished for the first time. These syntheses were achieved by the highly stereoselective and high-yielding intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of a functionalized (E,E,E)-2,7,9-dodecanal derivative to construct the core tetrahydroindan-2-one skeleton. A stereocongener of (+)-spiculoic acid A, i.e., the (2R,5S,6R)-isomer, was also synthesized. The details of these total syntheses are described.     

Concise enantioselective total syntheses of (+)-homochelidonine, (+)-chelamidine, (+)-chelidonine, (+)-chelamine and (+)-norchelidonine by a Pd II-catalyzed ring-opening strategy

New enantioselective syntheses of the B/C hexahydrobenzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids (+)-homochelidonine, (+)-chelamidine, (+)-chelidonine, (+)-chelamine, and (+)-norchelidonine are described. Our rapid and convergent route to this class of natural products involved the development and application of a Pd II-catalyzed asymmetric ring-opening reaction of a meso-azabicyclic alkene with an aryl boronic acid as the key step. By screening a variety of functionalized ortho-substituted aryl boronic acids, chiral ligands and reaction conditions we were able to prepare the requisite cis-1-amino-2-aryldihydronaphthalenes in high yield and in up to 90 % ee. Early attempts to complete the synthesis of (+)-homochelidonine using an N-Boc azabicyclic alkene are described in full. The successful route required a protecting group alteration followed by B ring formation and then stereoselective installation of the C-11 syn-hydroxy group by regioselective epoxide ring-opening using a hydride source. Ring-opening of the same epoxide intermediate with water ultimately led to the synthesis of (+)-chelamidine. The same strategy was then used to synthesize the other structurally similar B/C hexahydrobenzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids, (+)-chelidonine, (+)-chelamidine, and (+)-norchelidonine.     

Concise syntheses of (+)-macrosphelides A and B

[reaction: see text]. Unified and highly convergent total syntheses of (+)-macrosphelides A and B are described. Key features of the syntheses include (1) concise synthesis of the optically active delta-hydroxy-gamma-keto alpha,beta-unsaturated acid fragment via the direct addition of a trans-vinylogous ester anion equivalent to the readily available Weinreb amide and (2) facile construction of the 16-membered macrolide core of the macrosphelide series via an intramolecular nitrile-oxide cycloaddition (INOC).     

Stereoselective synthesis of the naturally occurring styryllactones (+)-goniofufurone and (+)-cardiobutanolide

The naturally occurring gamma-lactones (+)-goniofufurone 1 and (+)-cardiobutanolide 2, two pharmacologically active products from Goniothalamus species (Annonaceae), have been synthesized in enantiopure form using l-erythrulose as the chiral starting material. Key steps of these syntheses were a stereoselective anti boron aldol reaction and an asymmetric allylboration.     

Stereoselective total syntheses of three Lycopodium alkaloids, (-)-magellanine, (+)-magellaninone, and (+)-paniculatine, based on two Pauson-Khand reactions

The total syntheses of (-)-magellanine, (+)-magellaninone, and (+)-paniculatine were completed from diethyl l-tartrate via the common intermediate in a stereoselective manner. The crucial steps in these syntheses involved two intramolecular Pauson-Khand reactions of enynes: the first Pauson-Khand reaction constructed the bicyclo[4.3.0] carbon framework, the corresponding A and B rings of these alkaloids in a highly stereoselective manner, whereas the second Pauson-Khand reaction stereoselectively produced the bicyclo[3.3.0]skeleton, which could be converted into the C and D rings of the target natural products.     

Total syntheses of (-)-haemanthidine, (+)-pretazettine, and (+)-tazettine

[structures: see text] The total syntheses of the amaryllidaceae alkaloids haemanthidine, pretazettine, and tazettine as optically pure enantiomers are reported. Using D-mannose as the starting material, the critical relative stereochemical relationships are established with an intramolecular nitrone-alkene cycloaddition reaction. The synthetic route leads successively to (-)-haemanthidine and then to (+)-pretazettine and (+)-tazettine, taking advantage of the well-established complex relationships among these three alkaloids.     

Nitro-Mannich reaction and intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition route to acylpyrrolidinones: Synthesis of a tetramic acid and (+)-laccarin

An efficient synthetic pathway to acylpyrrolidinones via a nitro-Mannich reaction, followed by the intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a nitrile oxide to an alkyne was developed. The syntheses of a leucine-derived tetramic acid and natural tetramide (+)-laccarin were achieved in five steps using aldehydes, 2-alkynamides and nitromethane as the carbon sources.     

First total syntheses of (+)-7-deoxynogarol and (+)-7-con-o-methylnogarol

The first total syntheses of (+)-7-deoxynogarol (2) and (+)-7-con-O-methylnogarol (3), the notable members of nogalamycin congeners, were achieved employing the Diels-Alder reaction of the highly functionalized dienes (11 and 20) with the (+)-naphthoquinone (6), the CDEF-ring system of nogalamycin congeners, as a key synthetic step.     

Synthesis of the azaphilones (+)-sclerotiorin and (+)-8-O-methylsclerotiorinamine utilizing (+)-sparteine surrogates in copper-mediated oxidative dearomatization

Enantioselective syntheses of the azaphilone natural products (+)-sclerotiorin and (+)-8-O-methylsclerotiorinamine that possess the natural R-configuration at the quaternary center are reported. The syntheses were accomplished using copper-mediated asymmetric dearomatization employing bis-μ-oxo copper complexes prepared from readily available (+)-sparteine surrogates. Of note, site-selective O-methylation of a vinylogous pyridone was used to access the isoquinolin-6(7H)-one core of (+)-8-O-methylsclerotiorinamine.     

Concise, protecting group free total syntheses of (+)-sattabacin and (+)-4-hydroxysattabacin

The first asymmetric total syntheses of the antiviral natural products (+)-sattabacin and (+)-4-hydroxysattabacin are reported. Both total syntheses are remarkably concise and were completed without the use of protecting groups. These syntheses allowed the unambiguous assignment of the absolute configuration of both natural products. The syntheses of these natural products, which exhibit marked antiviral activity, are readily amenable to the preparation of structural analogs and progress in this regard is also reported.     

Asymmetric total syntheses of (+)-cheimonophyllon e and (+)-cheimonophyllal

The highly enantiocontrolled total syntheses of natural (+)-cheimonophyllon E (5) and (+)-cheimonophyllal (6), biologically intriguing oxygenated bisabolane-type sesquiterpenoids, have been completed. The present synthetic strategy featured the use of an asymmetric aldol-type reaction for preparing in the first synthetic step an optically active 6-C-substituted 3-methyl-2-cyclohexenone derivative. Thus, a Mukaiyama aldol reaction of 1-methyl-3-silyloxy-1,3-cyclohexadiene 31 with alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde 11 in the presence of a chiral (acyloxy)borane (CAB)-type Yamamoto catalyst 33 proceeded with high levels of both diastereo- and enantioselectivities. The predominant aldol adduct, syn-9, was transformed into gamma,delta-epoxy allylic alcohol 8 by a nine-step sequence, including the substrate-controlled 1,2-reduction of enone, syn-12, also the epoxidation of allylic alcohol 15. Epoxy-alcohol 8 underwent 5-exo-cyclization in a high regioselective manner under acidic conditions to produce a bicyclic key intermediate (+)-7, which was eventually efficiently converted to (+)-cheimonophyllon E (5) or (+)-cheimonophyllal (6).     

Short and Divergent Total Synthesis of (+)‐Machaeriol B, (+)‐Machaeriol D, (+)‐Δ8‐THC,and Analogues

Short and highly efficient stereoselective syntheses provide machaeriols and cannabinoids in a divergent approach starting from a common precursor, commercially available (S)‐perillic acid. Key features of the novel strategy are a stereospecific palladium‐catalyzed decarboxylative arylation and a one‐pot sequence comprising a stereoselective hydroboration followed by oxidation or reduction of the corresponding intermediary boranes. The divergent approach is convincingly demonstrated by the five‐step syntheses of (+)‐machaeriol B, (+)‐machaeriol D, and related analogues, and the four‐step synthesis of (+)‐Δ⁸‐THC and an analogue.     

Total syntheses of (+)-7-epi-goniofufurone, (+)-goniopypyrone and (+)-goniofufurone from a common precursor

Total syntheses of (+)-7-epi-goniofufurone, (+)-goniopypyrone and (+)-goniofufurone have been achieved from an advanced common precursor formed from D-(+)-mannitol by changing the carbinol protection profile.     

Total synthesis of (+)-condylocarpine, (+)-isocondylocarpine, and (+)-tubotaiwine

The first enantioselective total syntheses of indole alkaloids of the condylocarpine type are reported. (+)-Condylocarpine, (+)-isocondylocarpine, and (+)-tubotaiwine were prepared in high enantiomeric purity (er > 99:1) from (1S,5R)-hexahydro-1,5-methano-1H-azocino[4,3-b]indole-12-one 7b by way of five or six isolated intermediates.     

Synthetic studies on nogalamycin congeners [3]1,2 total syntheses of (+)-nogarene, (+)-7-deoxynogarol,and (+)-7-con-o-methylnogarol

According to the retrosynthetic perspective, the title total syntheses were accomplished by employing the regioselective Diels-Alder reactions of the (+)-naphthoquinone (5), the CDEF-ring system of nogalamycin congeners, with various structural types of dienes (8, 16, and 26). The highly functionalized dienes (16 and 26) incorporating all the functionalities present in the A-rings of (+)-7-deoxynogarol (3) and (+)-7-con-O-methylnogarol (2), were prepared efficiently by way of the 1 ,4-cyclohexadiene and 2-cyclohexanone derivatives (6 and 21), respectively. Reaction mechanism of the key Diels-Alder reaction was also discussed in terms of its stereoselectivity.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (+)-passifloricin A and its 6-epimer

Stereoselective total syntheses of the antiprotozoal natural product (+)-passifloricin A and its C-6 epimer have been achieved in ～5% overall yield. The strategy is based on Jacobsen epoxidation, Grubbs’ metathesis and an Evans’ intramolecular oxa-Michael reaction.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-curcutetraol and (+)-sydonol

The asymmetric total syntheses of (+)-curcutetraol and (+)-sydonol, phenolic bisabolane-type sesquiterpenoids having chiral tertiary alcohol moiety in the o-position of a phenol, were achieved in high enantiomeric excesses (99% ee). The chiral tertiary benzylic alcohol moiety of these compounds was constructed by an asymmetric synthesis using an easily available chiral aminal, (−)-(2R,5S)-2-methoxycarbonyl-3-phenyl-1,3-diazabicyclo[3.3.0]octane. The absolute configurations of both (+)-curcutetraol and (+)-sydonol have been assumed to be S-configuration based on the stereochemical course of the well established asymmetric synthesis used in the syntheses.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (+)-nephrosteranic acid, (+)-trans-cognac lactone, and (+)-trans-whisky lactone using a chiral cyclohexadienyl Ti compound

We present the stereoselective transfer of cyclohexadienyl from 3-metalated 1,4-cyclohexadienes to various aldehydes. Lewis-acid-mediated "allylation" of aldehydes by treatment with 3-silylated and 3-stannylated 1,4-cyclohexadienes could not be achieved with high diastereoselectivity. In contrast, cyclohexadienyl titanium compounds reacted with both aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes with good-to-excellent diastereoselectivities. Reaction of a chiral TADDOL-derived (TADDOL, 2,2-dimethyl-alpha,alpha,alpha',alpha'-tetraphenyl-1,3-dioxolandimethanol) cyclohexadienyl Ti derivative with various aldehydes led to the corresponding homoallylic alcohols with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities. Lower selectivities were obtained with chiral B-cyclohexadienyldiisopinocampheylborane. The 1,3-cyclohexadienes are very useful building blocks for the preparation of biologically important gamma-butyrolactones. Short efficient syntheses of (+)-nephrosteranic acid, (+)-trans-whisky lactone, and (+)-trans-cognac lactone by desymmetrization of 1,4-cyclohexadiene are described.