Total synthesis and structural elucidation of azaspiracid-1. Final assignment and total synthesis of the correct structure of azaspiracid-1

The molecular structure of azaspiracid-1, a neurotoxin isolated from mussels, has been elucidated by total synthesis which also enriched its supplies. The degradatively derived fragments of this marine biotoxin, compounds 5 (EFGHI), 6 (FGHI), and 40 (ABCD), were matched with synthetic materials, thus confirming their structural identities. Based on this detective work, a new structure of azaspiracid-1 (i.e., 1) was proposed and constructed by total synthesis. The final strategy for the total synthesis of azaspiracid-1 featured a dithiane anion (C(21)-C(27) fragment) reacting with a pentafluorophenol ester (C(1)-C(20) fragment) followed by a Stille-type union of an advanced allylic acetate substrate (C(1)-C(27) fragment) with a vinyl stannane as the main coupling processes to assemble the carbon skeleton of the molecule. In addition to the total synthesis of azaspiracid-1 (1), the syntheses of its C(1)-C(20) epimer (2) and of several truncated analogues for biological investigations are described.     

Studies directed towards the synthesis of antascomicin A: stereoselective synthesis of the C1-C21 fragment of the molecule

A stereoselective synthesis of the C1-C21 fragment of the non-immunosuppressive immunophilin-binding natural product, antascomicin A was achieved using, as key steps, highly stereoselective Aldol reactions to build the C1-C17 fragment and a Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi reaction to couple it with the remaining C18-C21 moiety.     

Total Synthesis of Pulvomycin D

A synthetic route to the pulvomycin class of natural products is presented, which culminated in the first synthesis of a pulvomycin, pulvomycin D. Key elements of the strategy include a pivotal aldol reaction which led to bond formation between the C24-C40 and the C8-C23 fragment. The remaining C1-C7 fragment was attached by a Yamaguchi esterification completing the assembly of the 40 carbon atoms within the main skeleton. Ring closure to the 22-membered lactone ring was achieved in the final stages of the synthesis by a Heck reaction. The completion of the synthesis required the removal of six silyl protecting groups in combination with olefin formation at C26-C27 by a Peterson elimination.     

Total synthesis of cruentaren B

A convergent total synthesis of the cytotoxic natural product cruentaren B is completed in 26 steps (longest linear sequence) with an overall yield of 7.1%. For the construction of the C1-C11 benzolactone fragment of the molecule, the key steps used were O-methylation, using a Mitsunobu reaction, a Stille coupling method to construct the C7-C8 bond, and a Brown's asymmetric crotylboration reaction for the direct enantioselective installation of the two chiral centers present in this fragment. For diastereoselective installation of the chiral centers in the C12-C20 polyketide fragment, an Evans syn aldol reaction on a chiral aldehyde, derived from methyl (R)-3-hydroxyl-2-methylpropionate, and subsequently a Mukaiyama aldol reaction were employed. For the construction of the C21-C28 tail, a "non-Evans" syn aldol reaction was used. The three fragments were coupled by an SN2 reaction and a Wittig olefination reaction followed by standard functional group manipulations to furnish the target molecule.     

Studies of the Total Synthesis of Epothilone B and D:A Facile Synthesis of C7-C14 and C15-C21 Fragments

A mild and highly efficient synthesis of C7-C14 and C15-C21 fragments of epothilone B and D is described in which racemic C7-C14 fragment is prepared from nerol through four steps and C15-C21 fragment is obtained from 1,3-dichloroacctone.thioacetamide and propionaldehyde.     

Total synthesis of epothilones B and D: stannane equivalents for beta-keto ester dianions

Studies leading to a total synthesis of epothilones B and D are described. The overall synthetic plan was based on late-stage fragment assembly of two segments representing C(1)-C(9) and C(10)-C(21) of the structure. The C(1)-C(9) fragment was prepared by elaboration of commercially available (2R)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpropanoate at both ends of the three-carbon unit. Introduction of carbons 1-4 containing the gem-dimethyl unit was achieved in a convergent manner using a diastereoselective addition of a stannane equivalent of a beta-keto ester dianion. An enantioselective addition of such a stannane equivalent for a beta-keto ester dianion was also used to fashion one version of the C(10)-C(21) subunit; however, the fragment assembly (using bimolecular esterification followed by ring-closing metathesis) with this subunit failed. Therefore, fragment assembly was achieved using a Wittig reaction; this was followed by macrolactonization to close the macrocycle. The C(10)-C(21) subunit needed for this approach was prepared in an efficient manner using the Corey-Kim reaction as a key element. Other key reactions in the synthesis include a stereoselective SmI(2) reduction of a beta-hydroxy ketone and a critical opening of a valerolactone with aniline which required extensive investigation.     

Convergent assembly of the spiroacetal subunit of didemnaketal B

A highly convergent synthesis of the C9-C28 spiroacetal subunit of didemnaketal B has been accomplished. Assembly of the C9-C15 alkylborate and C16-C21 enol phosphate by means of Suzuki-Miyaura coupling and acid-catalyzed cyclization of the derived dihydroxy enol ether enabled a rapid and efficient construction of the spiroacetal subunit. The C22-C28 side chain was incorporated via Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi coupling to complete the synthesis.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of spongistatins 1 and 2

The total synthesis of spongistatin 1 (1) and spongistatin 2 (2) has been achieved through an advanced-stage intermediate. The synthesis is highlighted by a highly convergent assembly of the four key fragments (the C1-C15 AB fragment 2, the C16-C28 CD fragment 3, the C29-C43 EF fragment 4, and the C44-C51 side chain 5) at a very advanced stage of the synthesis with minimal functional group interconversion. The CD fragment 3 functions as the central building block to which the other fragments are attached. The synthesis of the AB and CD spiroketal fragments is accomplished through the addition of a metalated gamma-pyrone to a beta-alkoxy aldehyde followed by spiroketalization. The EF subunit was assembled with high diastereoselectivity relying on asymmetric aldol reactions of chlorotitanium enolates of N-propionyl oxazolidinethiones and a double diastereoselective boron aldol to join the E and F fragments. Wittig coupling of the CD and EF fragments followed by a diastereoselective aldol reaction between the CDEF ketone and an AB aldehyde set the stage for attachment of the C44-C51 side chains and final macrolactonization and deprotection.     

Toward the synthesis of norzoanthamine: complete fragment assembly

The complex marine alkaloid norzoanthamine (2) was envisioned to be assembled from three key building blocks: the C1-C5 fragment A, the C6-C10 fragment B, and the C11-C24 fragment C. The synthesis of fragment A was achieved in 14 steps and 33% overall yield from (R)-gamma-hydroxymethyl-gamma-butyrolactone. Fragment B was made in two steps from PMB-protected 4-pentynol in 76% yield. The C11-C24 fragment C was made from (S)-carvone via (R)-isocarvone in 18 steps (6% overall yield). The convergent stereoselective synthesis of the entire carbon framework (C1-C24) of the target molecule was achieved via the following assemblage. Alkenyl iodide 20 derived from the C11-C24 fragment C was coupled to fragment B (C6-C10) through a high-yielding Stille coupling reaction of these two sterically very demanding coupling partners, affording the key Diels-Alder precursor 24. The intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction proceeded smoothly in excellent yield and diastereoselectivity, generating the tricyclic trans-anti-trans perhydrophenanthrene motif of norzoanthamine (C6-C24). The final fragment coupling between lithiated fragment A (C1-C5) and aldehyde 40 (C6-C24) has also been successfully accomplished affording the entire carbon framework of the natural product.     

Total syntheses of epothilones B and D

Total syntheses of the microtubule stabilizing antitumor drugs epothilone B and D are described, starting from optically pure (S)-malic acid and methyl (R)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpropionate. The synthesis is highly convergent by coupling the three fragments C1-C6 (fragment D), C7-C10 (fragment C), and C11-C21 (fragment B). Key steps are two stereoselective Wittig type olefinations to generate the 12,13- and 16,17-double bonds, an enantioselective Mukaiyama aldol addition to synthesize fragment D, and a sulfone anion allyl iodide alkylation to connect fragments B and C. Finally fragment D was attached to the B + C fragment via aldol addition.     

The stereocontrolled total synthesis of spirastrellolide A methyl ester. Expedient construction of the key fragments

Due to a combination of their promising anticancer properties, limited supply from the marine sponge source and their unprecedented molecular architecture, spirastrellolides represent attractive and challenging synthetic targets. A modular strategy for the synthesis of spirastrellolide A methyl ester, which allowed for the initial stereochemical uncertainties in the assigned structure was adopted, based on the envisaged sequential coupling of a series of suitably functionalised fragments; in this first paper, full details of the synthesis of these fragments are described. The pivotal C26-C40 DEF bis-spiroacetal was assembled by a double Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation/acetalisation cascade process on a linear diene intermediate, configuring the C31 and C35 acetal centres under suitably mild acidic conditions. A C1-C16 alkyne fragment was constructed by application of an oxy-Michael reaction to introduce the A-ring tetrahydropyran, a Sakurai allylation to install the C9 hydroxyl, and a 1,4-syn boron aldol/directed reduction sequence to establish the C11 and C13 stereocentres. Two different coupling strategies were investigated to elaborate the C26-C40 DEF fragment, involving either a C17-C25 sulfone or a C17-C24 vinyl iodide, each of which was prepared using an Evans glycolate aldol reaction. The remaining C43-C47 vinyl stannane fragment required for introduction of the unsaturated side chain was prepared from (R)-malic acid.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-amphidinolide t1

An enantioselective first total syntheis of amphidinolide T1 (1) is described. Amphidinolide T1 (1), a 19-membered macrolide isolated from Amphidinium sp., has shown potent antitumor properties against a variety of NCI tumor cell lines. The synthesis is convergent and involves the assembly of C1-C10 segment 2 and C11-C21 segment 3 by an oxocarbenium ion-mediated alkylation and Yamaguchi macrolactonization sequence. The synthesis of fragment 2 involves an efficient cross metathesis and hydrogenation sequence between the terminal olefins of 5 and 6 to form the C4-C5 carbon-carbon bond. Enol ether 4 is designed to be the surrogate of fragment 3 where the sensitive C16-exo-methylene and the C13-hydroxyl group were protected as the bromoether derivative during the Lewis acid-catalyzed alkylation process. Both stereocenters in fragment 5 as well as the C2 and C3 stereocenters in fragment 4 are accessed by a highly diastereoselective ester-derived titanium enolate-mediated syn-aldol reaction. The bromoether derivative 24 was unraveled at the final stage of the synthesis, providing (+)-amphidinolide T1.     

Synthesis of vinylic iodides for incorporation into the C17-C27 fragment of bryostatins

Vinylic iodides were identified as useful intermediates for the synthesis of the C17-C27 fragment of the bryostatins with control of the geometry of the exocyclic methoxycarbonylmethylene group. Following literature precedent, the Piers (E)-stereoselective addition of tributyltin hydride to an alkynoate followed by ester reduction and tin-iodine exchange gave vinylic iodides that could be used to form the C20-C21 bond of the bryostatins. Chelation controlled addition of lithiated 3-silyloxypropynes to 2-alkoxyaldehydes followed by reductive iodination was used to prepare vinylic iodides that could be used in the complementary assembly of the C21-C22 bond of the bryostatins. Initial studies of the synthesis of intermediates for metathesis studies using metal catalysed reactions of a vinylic iodide for C21-C22 bond formation were complicated by cyclisation reactions.     

Total synthesis of rutamycin B and oligomycin C

The asymmetric synthesis of the macrolide antibiotics (+)-rutamycin B (1) and (+)-oligomycin C (2) is described. The approach relied on the synthesis and coupling of the individual spiroketal fragments 3a and 3b with the C1-C17 polyproprionate fragment 4. The preparation of the spiroketal fragments was achieved using chiral (E)-crotylsilane bond construction methodology, which allowed the introduction of the stereogenic centers prior to spiroketalization. The present work details the synthesis of the C19-C28 and C29-C34 subunits as well as their convergent assembly through an alkylation reaction of the lithiated N,N-dimethylhydrazones 6 and 8 to afford the individual linear spiroketal intermediates 5a and 5b, respectively. After functional group adjustment, these advanced intermediates were cyclized to their respective spiroketal-coupling partners 40 and 41. The requisite polypropionate fragment was assembled in a convergent manner using asymmetric crotylation methodology for the introduction of six of the nine-stereogenic centers. The use of three consecutive crotylation reactions was used for the construction of the C3-C12 subunit 32. A Mukaiyama-type aldol reaction of 35 with the chiral alpha-methyl aldehyde 39 was used for the introduction of the C12-C13 stereocenters. This anti aldol finished the construction of the C3-C17 advanced intermediate 36. A two-carbon homologation completed the construction of the polypropionate fragment 38. The completion of the synthesis of the two macrolide antibiotics was accomplished by the union of two principal fragments that was achieved with an intermolecular palladium-(0) catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between the terminal vinylstannanes of the individual spiroketals 3a and 3b and the polypropionate fragment 4. The individual carboxylic acids 46 and 47 were cyclized to their respective macrocyclic lactones 48 and 49 under Yamaguchi reaction conditions. Deprotection of these macrolides completed the synthesis of the rutamycin B and oligomycin C.     

Synthesis of the C-1-C-28 ABCD unit of spongistatin 1

The synthesis of the C-1-C-28 ABCD fragment of spongistatin is described. Anti-selective boron-mediated aldol coupling of a CD spiroketal ketone fragment to an AB spiroketal aldehyde unit forms the desired C1-C28 advanced intermediate. Other features include the double conjugate addition of a dithiol to an ynone to generate the key beta-keto-dithiane unit required for the synthesis of the AB spiroketal fragment. [reaction: see text]     

The stereocontrolled total synthesis of spirastrellolide A methyl ester. Fragment coupling studies and completion of the synthesis

The spirastrellolides are a novel family of structurally unprecedented marine macrolides which show promising anticancer properties due to their potent inhibition of protein phosphatase 2A. In the preceding paper, a modular strategy for the synthesis of spirastellolide A methyl ester which allowed for the initial stereochemical uncertainties was outlined, together with the synthesis of a series of suitably functionalised fragments. In this paper, the realisation of this synthesis is described. Two alternative coupling strategies were explored for elaborating the C26-C40 DEF bis-spiroacetal fragment: a modified Julia olefination of a C26 aldehyde with a C17-C25 sulfone, and a Suzuki coupling of a C25 trialkylborane with a C17-C24 vinyl iodide, which also required the development of a double hydroboration reaction to install the C23/C24 stereocentres. The latter proved a significantly superior strategy, and was fully optimised to provide a C17 aldehyde which was coupled with a C1-C16 alkyne fragment to afford the C1-C40 carbon framework. The BC spiroacetal was then installed within this advanced intermediate by oxidative cleavage of two PMB ethers with spontaneous spiroacetalisation, which also led to unanticipated deprotection of the C23 TES ether. The ensuing truncated seco-acid was cyclised in high yield to construct the 38-membered macrolactone under Yamaguchi macrolactonisation conditions, suggesting favourable conformational pre-organisation. Exhaustive desilylation provided a crystalline macrocyclic pentaol, revealing much about the likely conformation of the macrolactone in solution. Attachment of the remainder of the side chain proved challenging, potentially due to steric hindrance by this macrocycle; an olefin cross-metathesis to install an electrophilic allylic carbonate and subsequent π-allyl Stille coupling with a C43-C47 stannane achieved this goal. Global deprotection completed the first total synthesis of (+)-spirastrellolide A methyl ester which, following detailed NMR correlation with an authentic sample, validated the full configurational assignment. A series of simplified analogues of spirastrellolide incorporating the C26-C47 region were also prepared by π-allyl Stille coupling reactions.     

Multigram synthesis of the C29-C51 subunit and completion of the total synthesis of altohyrtin C (spongistatin 2)

A multigram synthesis of the C29-C51 subunit of altohyrtin C (spongistatin 2) has been accomplished. Union of this intermediate with the C1-C28 fragment and further elaboration furnished the natural product. Completion of the C29-C51 subunit began with the aldol coupling of the boron enolate derived from methyl ketone 8 and aldehyde 9. Acid-catalyzed deprotection/cyclization of the resulting diastereomeric mixture of addition products was conducted in a single operation to afford the E-ring of altohyrtin C. The diastereomer obtained through cyclization of the unwanted aldol product was subjected to an oxidation/reduction sequence to rectify the C35 stereocenter. The C45-C48 segment of the eventual triene side chain was introduced by addition of a functionalized Grignard reagent derived from (R)-glycidol to a C44 aldehyde. Palladium-mediated deoxygenation of the resulting allylic alcohol was followed by adjustment of protecting groups to provide reactivity suitable for the later stages of the synthesis. The diene functionality comprising the remainder of the C44-C51 side chain was constructed by addition of an allylzinc reagent to the unmasked C48 aldehyde and subsequent dehydration of the resulting alcohol. Completion of the synthesis of the C29-C51 subunit was achieved through conversion of the protected C29 alcohol into a primary iodide. The synthesis of the C29-C51 iodide required 44 steps with a longest linear sequence of 33 steps. From commercially available tri-O-acetyl-d-glucal, the overall yield was 6.8%, and 2 g of the iodide was prepared. The C29-C51 primary iodide was amenable to phosphonium salt formation, and the ensuing Wittig coupling with a C1-C28 intermediate provided a fully functionalized, protected seco-acid. Selective deprotection of the required silicon groups afforded an intermediate appropriate for macrolactonization, and, finally, global deprotection furnished altohyrtin C (spongistatin 2). This synthetic approach required 113 steps with a longest linear sequence of 37 steps starting from either tri-O-acetyl-d-glucal or (S)-malic acid.     

Studies directed toward the synthesis of rhizopodin: stereoselective synthesis of the C1-C15 fragment

A stereoselective synthesis of the C1-C15 fragment of a G-actin binding natural macrodiolide, rhizopodin was achieved using, as key steps, highly stereoselective acetate aldol reactions to build the C1-C7 fragment, one pot oxazole synthesis and an asymmetric Keck allylation reaction to build the C8-C15 fragment and finally, a Stille reaction to couple both the fragments.     

Synthesis of a platform to access bistramides and their analogues

The platform C14-C40, which can be used to prepare bistramide C and 39-oxobistramide K, was synthesized in 19 steps with an overall yield of 6.2%. Furthermore, the chemoselective reduction of the ketone at C-39 was performed giving an easy access to bistramides A, B, D, K, and L. Finally, the versatility of the synthesis of the C14-C40 fragment can allow the preparation of a large variety of stereoisomers to produce bistramide analogues.     

Tandem conjugate addition-elimination for the diastereoselective synthesis of 4E-alkenyl syn-1,3-diols

We have developed a tandem conjugate addition-elimination sequence for the diastereoselective synthesis of protected allylic syn-1,3-diols, starting from vinyl sulfones. The sulfonyl group was then reduced with sodium amalgam to furnish the E-olefin as the major isomer. This method was applied to the synthesis of a trisubstituted alkene modeling the C21-C25 fragment of Dolabelide C.