Biomimetic total synthesis of (+)-gelsemine

Challenging: (+)-gelsemine was synthesized from (R,R)-aziridine 1 in 25 steps with approximately 1 % overall yield. A multistep, one-pot enol-oxonium cyclization cascade was used to construct, simultaneously, the E ring, F ring, C3 stereocenter, and C7 quaternary stereocenter. This synthesis using the enol-oxonium cyclization reaction as a key step to make the cage structure has demonstrated the proposed biosynthetic pathway of the gelsemine family.     

IMDA-radical cyclization approach to (+)-himbacine

[reaction: see text] A formal total synthesis of the selective muscarinic receptor antagonist himbacine is presented. Key C-C bond-forming steps include an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction, Stille coupling reactions, and a 6-exo-trig acyl radical cyclization to a conjugated enyne. An unexpected secondary alcohol to chloride conversion is witnessed during attempted thionocarbonate formation.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-cannabisativine

The asymmetric total synthesis of natural (+)-cannabisativine 1 was completed in 19 steps and 7% overall yield. The key synthetic intermediate 29 was prepared with a high degree of stereocontrol in 12 steps starting from chiral 1-acylpyridinium salt 10. Addition of zinc enolate 11 to pyridinium salt 10 furnished dihydropyridone 12 containing two contiguous stereocenters of the correct absolute configuration. Luche reduction of ketone 16 afforded diol 17 in high yield (96%) and excellent diastereoselectivity. The Mukaiyama-Michael reaction of pyridones 27a/b with O-silyl ketene acetal 32 gave phenyl selenyl ketones 33a/b with complete stereoselectivity. Elimination of cis-beta-hydroxyselenides 34 and 35 effected the regiocontrolled preparation of tetrahydropyridine derivative 29. Several approaches to the macrocyclic ring closure of the 13-membered ring were investigated, ultimately leading to the completion of an asymmetric synthesis of the target compound with a high degree of stereocontrol.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-tricycloclavulone

The first total synthesis of (+)-tricycloclavulone having a unique tricyclo[5,3,0,01,4]decane skeleton and six chiral centers was achieved in a highly stereoselective manner. It includes a catalytic enantioselective [2+2]-cycloaddition reaction using novel chiral copper catalyst, extremely effecting an intramolecular ester transfer reaction, and asymmetric reduction of the carbonyl group on the alpha-chain using Noyori's chiral ruthenium catalyst.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-fostriecin

[structure: see text] The title compound, a potent protein phosphatase inhibitor and anticancer agent, was prepared by an efficient, multiconvergent asymmetric synthesis. Key transformations include a ring forming olefin metathesis leading to the alpha,beta-unsaturated lactone and creation of the triene moiety via Suzuki cross-coupling.     

Stereocontrolled total synthesis of (+)-pederine

A mild one-pot method for the synthesis of acyclic N-(1-methoxyalkyl)amides starting from carboxylic acid and methyl imidates has been developed and applied to the first total synthesis of (+)-pederine (1), a potent insect poison. Furthermore, the stereocontrolled total synthesis of 1 was also achieved by employing acid catalyzed double alkoxy-exchange reaction of N-(1 -methoxylakyl)amide group as key step.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-cardiobutanolide

Stereoselective synthesis of styryllactone (+)-cardiobutanolide was accomplished in good overall yield from d-(-)-tartaric acid. Key features of the synthesis include the elaboration of a gamma-hydroxy butyramide obtained from the dimethylamide of tartaric acid, involving a combination of the addition of 1,3-dithian-2-yllithium and stereoselective reduction.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-swainsonine

A concise asymmetric synthesis of (+)-swainsonine (ent-1) is described starting from 2, which was readily prepared from commercially available l-glutamic acid. The method features installation of the indolizidine ring via an intramolecular cyclisation of α-sulfinyl carbanion as a key step. (+)-Swainsonine was obtained in 11.8% overall yield in 10 steps.     

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.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-azimine and (+)-carpaine

[reaction: see text] The enantioselective total syntheses of (+)-azimine and (+)-carpaine have been developed, starting with (S)-1,2,4-butanetriol as a single source of chirality. The key common feature in these syntheses involves stereoselective intramolecular hetero-Diels-Alder reaction of an acylnitroso compound. The critical macrocyclic dilactonization of the N-Cbz derivatives of azimic acid and carpamic acid was efficiently achieved by using the Yamguchi macrocyclization conditions.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-aspicilin

A stereoselective synthesis of (+)-aspicilin is described. Regio- and stereoselective functionalization by intramolecular participation of the sulfinyl group, ene reaction, and macrolactonization by Wadsworth-Emmons reaction employing Masamune-Roush protocol are the key steps of the route.     

New total synthesis of (+)-ambrein

The convergent synthesis of (+)-ambrein 1 was achieved based on a modified Julia coupling reaction between aldehyde 14 corresponding to the left-half A and sulfone 25a or 25b corresponding to the right-half B. Aldehyde 14 was synthesized in 14% overall yield (nine steps) from the enzymatic resolution product, epoxy alcohol (8aS)-2. Sulfone 25a or 25b was synthesized in 11 steps (25a: 41% overall yield, 25b: 56% overall yield) from the enzymatic resolution product, (1S,6S)-2,2-dimethyl-6-hydroxyhexane-1-carboxylate 4.     

The total synthesis of (+)-migrastatin

The first total synthesis of (+)-migrastatin, a macrolide natural product with interesting antimetastatic properties, has been accomplished. Our concise and flexible approach utilizes a Lewis acid-catalyzed diene aldehyde condensation to install the three contiguous stereocenters and the trisubstituted (Z)-alkene of migrastatin. Construction of the two remaining stereocenters and incorporation of the glutarimide-containing side chain have been achieved via an anti-selective aldol reaction, followed by a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination. Finally, the assembly of the macrocycle has been realized by a highly (E)-selective ring-closing metathesis.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-boronolide

A seteroselective total synthesis of (+)-boronolide is described. The key steps are Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, Shibasaki's asymmetric Henry reaction, asymmetric allylation and ring closing metathesis.     

Formal total synthesis of (+)-gephyrotoxin

An efficient formal total synthesis of (+)-gephyrotoxin is described. The key step of our strategy relies on the diastereoselective reduction of a chiral pyrrolidine beta-enamino ester obtained by condensation of ( S)-phenylglycinol on a protected 8-hydroxy-3,6-dioxooctanoate.     

Alternative total synthesis of (+)-aspicilin

The total synthesis of an 18-membered polyhydroxylated macrolide (+)-Aspicilin was accomplished starting from commercially available enantiopure propylene oxide and D-(+)-gluconolactone by asymmetric synthetic approach. The key reactions involved are Witttig reaction, Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, and Yamaguchi macrolactonization.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-dibromophakellstatin

The first enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-phakellstatin and (+)-dibromophakellstatin was achieved. Key steps in the synthesis were a desymmetrization of the diketopiperazine (S,S)-cyclo (Pro, Pro) via a diastereoselective acylation, an intramolecular Mitsunobu reaction to introduce the C6 aminal, and a tandem Hofmann rearrangement/cyclization to simultaneously introduce the C10 quaternary aminal center and deliver the cyclic urea. The synthesis also demonstrates the unusual stability of pyrrolo aminals. Importantly, this strategy has the potential for producing phakellstatin derivatives, derived from (R,R)-cyclo (Pro, Pro), necessary for biological studies. A similar annulation protocol is also expected to be applicable to the synthesis of palau'amine.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-neosymbioimine

[reaction: see text] The enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-neosymbioimine was accomplished in 18 steps from (-)-(S)-citronellol utilizing an organocatalytic alpha-oxidation of aldehyde 6. The carbon core was constructed by a tandem Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) reaction and an intramolecular Diels-Alder cyclization. All double bonds of 12 were made in a stereoselective manner by Wittig-type reactions. Selective formation of the monosulfate monoester was accomplished by one-pot excessive sulfation followed by kinetic hydrolysis of bissulfate 18 in 79% yield.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-monocerin

A concise asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-monocerin has been accomplished. The cis-fused furobenzopyranone of monocerin was efficiently constructed via a Lewis acid-mediated stereoselective cyclization of 1,2,4-triols intermediate.