The Stereoselective Total Synthesis of (6S)‐5,6‐Dihydro‐6‐[(2R)‐2‐hydroxy‐6‐phenylhexyl]‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one via Prins Cyclization

The stereoselective total synthesis of an antiproliferative and antifungal α‐pyrone natural product (6S)‐5,6‐dihydro‐6‐[(2R)‐2‐hydroxy‐6‐phenylhexyl]‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one is described. The key steps involved are the Prins cyclization, Mitsunobu reaction, and ring‐closing metathesis reaction.     

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (−)‐Cladospolide B

An enantioselective total synthesis of (?)‐cladospolide B was described. The key steps in this synthesis include(a) a Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation to elaborate syn diol at C‐4 and C‐5 positions; (b) a Mitsunobu esterification to reverse the configuration at C‐11 from (S) to (R); and (c) a ring‐closing metathesis to access the 12‐membered macrocyclic ring.     

Synthetic Studies Toward (+)‐Spongidepsin

A convergent enantiomerically controlled synthetic effort toward (+)‐spongidepsin is reported. The synthesis benefits from the use of readily available and inexpensive starting materials like D ‐mannitol and (?)‐β‐citronellene. Key transformations include Evans asymmetric methylation, Mitsunobu esterification, (1H‐benzotriazol‐1‐yloxy)tripyrrolidinophosphonium hexafluorophosphate (PyBOP)‐mediated amide formation for the preparation of a fully functionalized acyclic precursor, and ring‐closing metathesis (RCM).     

Highly Diastereoselective Total Syntheses of (+)‐7‐Epigoniodiol, (−)‐8‐Epigoniodiol,and (+)‐9‐Deoxygoniopypyrone

An expedient concise total synthesis of (+)‐7‐epigoniodiol, (?)‐8‐epigoniodiol, and (+)‐9‐deoxygoniopypyrone is accomplished. The key transformations include a catalytic hydroxylation and base‐mediated N‐(acetyl)oxazolidinone addition reactions, which could set the consecutive OH motif that is either syn,syn or syn,anti with high diastereoselectivity. Moreover, this approach envisioned to facilitate the synthesis of other representatives of the family with structural and stereochemical variation.     

Total Synthesis of (−)‐Cleistenolide

An efficient and short total synthesis of (?)‐cleistenolide ( 1 ) from D ‐mannitol with an overall yield of 23.6% is described. The chiron approach for the synthesis of (?)‐cleistenolide involves a one‐C‐atom Wittig olefination, a selective allylic triethylsilyl protection, and a Grubbs‐catalyzed ring‐closure‐metathesis (RCM) reaction as the key steps.     

A Convergent Synthesis of a Twelve‐Membered Macrolide Natural Product, (6R,12S)‐6‐Hydroxy‐12‐methyl‐1‐oxacyclododecane‐2,5‐dione

A new polyketide metabolite, the twelve‐membered macrolide 1 , isolated from the endophytic fungal strain Cladosporium tenuissimum LR 463 of Maytenus hookeri, whose structure had been determined as (6R,12S)‐6‐hydroxy‐12‐methyl‐1‐oxacyclododecane‐2,5‐dione, was synthesized for the first time by a convergent strategy via Yamaguchi esterification of 2 with 3 and ring‐closing metathesis (RCM) to afford the cyclic ester 1 that was eventually transformed to the target molecule. However, the total synthesis revealed that the assigned structure of the natural product is not correct.     

Synthesis of poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐block‐poly(ethylene)‐block‐poly(3‐hexylthiophene) via a combination of ring‐opening olefin metathesis polymerization and grignard metathesis polymerization

Novel rod–coil–rod ABA triblock copolymers, poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐block‐poly(ethylene)‐block‐poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT‐b‐PE‐b‐P3HT) were synthesized by using a combination of a Ru‐catalyzed ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of 1,4‐cyclooctadiene in the presence of a suitable chain transfer agent (CTA) and a Ni‐catalyzed Grignard metathesis polymerization of 5‐chloromagnesio‐2‐bromo‐3‐hexylthiophene followed by hydrogenation. Using this methodology, the molecular weights of the poly(butadiene) (PBD) or the P3HT blocks were controlled by adjusting the initial monomer/CTA or the initial monomer/macroinitiator ratio, respectively. In addition, the triblock structure was confirmed by selective oxidative degradation of the PBD block found in the intermediate P3HT‐b‐PBD‐b‐P3HT copolymer produced in the aforementioned method, followed by analysis of the degradation products. Thermal analysis and atomic force microscopy of P3HT‐b‐PE‐b‐P3HT revealed that the material underwent phase separation in the solid state, a feature which may prove useful for improving charge mobilities within electronic devices. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 3810–3817     

Stereoselective Total Synthesis of Oxylipins: (6S,7E,9R,10S)‐6,9,10‐Trihydroxyoctadec‐7‐enoic Acid and (6Z,8R,9R,10S)‐8,9,10‐Trihydroxyoctadec‐6‐enoic Acid

The stereoselective total syntheses of oxylipins 1b and 1c are described starting from readily accessible natural sugars via the Grubbs cross‐metathesis, Wittig olefination, and Zn‐mediated reductive elimination as key steps.     

Total Synthesis of (+)‐Cryptocaryalactone and of a Diastereoisomer of (+)‐Strictifolione via Ring‐Closing Metathesis (RCM) and Olefin Cross‐Metathesis (CM)

Ring‐closing metathesis (RCM) and olefin cross‐metathesis (CM) reactions were used as the key steps for the synthesis of (+)‐cryptocaryalactone ( 1 ) and the first synthesis of the diastereoisomer 3 of (+)‐strictifolione, starting from the commercially available L ‐malic acid (=(2S)‐2‐hydroxybutanedioic acid).     

Efficient Synthesis of the C1‐C9 Fragment of 7,8‐O‐Isopropylidene Protected Iriomoteolide 3a Derivative

An efficient and stereoselective synthesis of the C1‐C9 moiety of the 7,8‐O‐isopropylidene protected iriomoteolide 3a derivative has been accomplished. In our strategy, we employed olefin cross‐metathesis of the L‐(+)‐tartaric acid derivative (((4S,5S)‐2,2‐dimethyl‐5‐vinyl‐1,3‐dioxolan‐4‐yl)methoxy)(tert‐butyl)diphenylsilane with a synthesized methyl (S)‐3‐methylhex‐5‐enate to successfully provide the correct olefin geometry of the desired fragment.     

Synthesis of 3‐Aryl‐2,5‐Dihydro‐1‐Benzoxepines from Phenol via Ring‐Closing Metathesis

In this paper, the synthesis of 3‐aryl‐2,5‐dihydro‐1‐benzoxepines is described. While the reaction was started from phenol and based on the sequential reactions such as Claisen rearrangement, O‐alkylation, Wittig reaction, and ring‐closing metathesis (RCM), a series of new 3‐aryl‐1‐benzoxepines were prepared in good overall yields.     

Efficient Synthesis of a Styryl Analogue of (2S,3R,4E)‐N2‐Octadecanoyl‐4‐tetradecasphingenine via Cross‐Metathesis Reaction

The first total synthesis of sphingolipid (2S,3R,4E)‐N²‐octadecanoyl‐4‐tetradecasphingenine ( 1a ), a natural sphingolipid isolated from Bombycis Corpus 101A, and of its styryl analogue 1b was achieved in good overall yield (Schemes 1 and 2). The key step involved the installation with (E) stereoselectivity of a long lipophilic chain or phenyl group on allyl alcohol derivative 3 via a cross‐metathesis reaction (→ 5a or 5b ). The N‐Boc protected 3 was easily accessible from (S)‐Garner aldehyde.     

Synthesis and Evaluation of Ruthenium 2‐Alkyl‐6‐mercaptophenolate Catalysts for Olefin Metathesis

A series of ruthenium carbene catalysts containing 2‐sulfidophenolate bidentate ligand with an ortho‐substituent next to the oxygen atom were synthesized. The molecular structure of ruthenium carbene complex containing 2‐isopropyl‐6‐sulfidophenolate ligand was confirmed through single crystal X‐ray diffraction. An oxygen atom can be found in the opposite position of the N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) based on the steric hindrance and strong trans‐effects of the NHC ligand. The ruthenium carbene catalyst can catalyze ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) reaction of norbornene with high activity and Z‐selectivity and cross metathesis (CM) reactions of terminal alkenes with (Z)‐but‐2‐ene‐1,4‐diol to give Z‐olefin products (Z/E ratios, 70:30–89:11) in low yields (13%–38%). When AlCl₃ was added into the CM reactions, yields (51%–88%) were considerably improved and process becomes highly selective for E‐olefin products (E/Z ratios, 79:21–96:4). Similar to other ruthenium carbene catalysts, these new complexes can tolerate different functional groups.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of the Non‐Lactonic Portion of (Z)‐Cryptofolione and Approaches towards Its Conversion to (Z)‐Cryptofolione

The stereoselective synthesis of the non‐lactonic part of the natural G₂ checkpoint inhibitor, (Z)‐cryptofolione, has been accomplished. Butane‐1,4‐diol was used as the starting material, and the stereogenic centers were generated through L ‐proline‐catalyzed α‐aminoxylation and Maruoka asymmetric allylation. We attempted to convert this non‐lactonic moiety to (Z)‐cryptofolione via olefin cross‐metathesis reaction, but by this approach another naturally occurring lactonic compound, goniothalamin, was obtained.     

Synthesis and High‐Resolution NMR Structure of a β3‐Octapeptide with and without a Tether Introduced by Olefin Metathesis

Bridging between (i)‐ and (i+3)‐positions in a β³‐peptide with a tether of appropriate length is expected to prevent the corresponding 3₁₄‐helix from unfolding (Fig. 1). The β³‐peptide H‐β³hVal‐β³hLys‐β³hSer(All)‐β³hPhe‐β³hGlu‐β³hSer(All)‐β³hTyr‐β³hIle‐OH ( 1 ; with allylated βhSer residues in 3‐ and 6‐position), and three tethered β‐peptides 2 – 4 (related to 1 through ring‐closing metathesis) have been synthesized (solid‐phase coupling, Fmoc strategy, on chlorotrityl resin; Scheme). A comparative CD analysis of the tethered β‐peptide 4 and its non‐tethered analogue 1 suggests that helical propensity is significantly enhanced (threefold CD intensity) by a (CH₂)₄ linker between the β³hSer side chains (Fig. 2). This conclusion is based on the premise that the intensity of the negative Cotton effect near 215 nm in the CD spectra of β³‐peptides represents a measure of ‘helical content’. An NMR analysis in CD₃OH of the two β³‐octapeptide derivatives without (i.e., 1 ) and with tether (i.e., 4 ; Tables 1–6, and Figs. 4 and 5) provided structures of a degree of precision (by including the complete set of side chain–side chain and side chain–backbone NOEs) which is unrivaled in β‐peptide NMR‐solution‐structure determination. Comparison of the two structures (Fig. 5) reveals small differences in side‐chain arrangements (separate bundles of the ten lowest‐energy structures of 1 and 4 , Fig. 5, A and B ) with little deviation between the two backbones (superposition of all structures of 1 and 4 , Fig. 5, C ). Thus, the incorporation of a CH₂? O? (CH₂)₄? O? CH₂ linker between the backbone of the β³‐amino acids in 3‐ and 6‐position (as in 4 ) does accurately constrain the peptide into a 3₁₄‐helix. The NMR analysis, however, does not suggest an increase in the population of a 3₁₄‐helical backbone conformation by this linkage. Possible reasons for the discrepancy between the conclusion from the CD spectra and from the NMR analysis are discussed.     

Evaluation of Several Molybdenum and Ruthenium Catalysts for the Metathesis Homocoupling of 3‐Methyl‐1‐Butene

We synthesized Mo(NC ₆F₅)(CHCM e₂Ph)(TPPO )(PP hMe₂)Cl (TPPO = 2,3,5,6‐tetraphenylphenoxide), Mo(NC ₆F₅)(CHCM e₂Ph)(TTBTO )(PP hMe₂)Cl (TTBTO = 2,6‐di(3′,5′‐di‐tert‐butylphenyl)phenoxide), and Mo(NC ₆F₅)(CHCM e₂Ph)(TPPO )(PP hMe₂)(CF ₃Pyr) (CF ₃Pyr = 3,4‐bistrifluoromethylpyrrolide), in order to evaluate them as catalysts for the homocoupling of 3‐methyl‐1‐butene. They were compared with Mo(NC ₆F₅)(CHCM e₂Ph)(HMTO )(PP hMe₂)Cl (HMTO = 2,6‐dimesitylphenoxide), Mo(NC ₆F₅)(CHCM e₂Ph)(HIPTO )(PP hMe₂)Cl (HIPTO = 2,6‐di(2′,4′,6′‐triisopropylphenyl)phenoxide), and several other Mo and Ru catalysts. In the best cases turnover numbers (TON s) of 400 – 700 were observed for the homocoupling of 3‐methyl‐1‐butene in a closed vessel (ethylene not removed).     

群柱虫内酯官能团化的C2-C10片段的立体选择性合成

本文以廉价的消旋甲基戊二酸酐为起始原料,完成了具有抗肿瘤活性的海洋天然产物群柱虫内酯（Clavulactone）官能团化的C2-C10片段的立体选择性合成。使用的关键方法包括不对称去对称化获得光学纯手性孤立甲基,和RCM方法构建顺式烯烃。该片段的获得为群柱虫内酯的全合成提供了基础。     

Formal Synthesis of (−)‐Cyclaradine Using Ring Closing Metathesis

The stereoselective formal synthesis of (?)‐cyclaradine from the inexpensively available starting material L ‐glutamic acid is described, using Eschenmoser's reagent, and applying Luche reduction, Grignard reaction, and ring closing metathesis (RCM) as the key steps.     

Synthesis of (4Z)‐4‐(Arylmethylidene)‐5‐ethoxy‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐2‐thiones by the Reaction of Ethyl (2Z)‐3‐Aryl‐2‐isothiocyanatoprop‐2‐enoates with Organolithium Compounds

A convenient one‐pot method for the preparation of (4Z)‐4‐(arylmethylidene)‐5‐ethoxy‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐2‐thiones 2 and 3 from ethyl (2Z)‐3‐aryl‐2‐isothiocyanatoprop‐2‐enoates 1 , which can be easily prepared from ethyl 2‐azidoacetate and aromatic aldehydes, has been developed. Thus, these α‐isothiocyanato α,β‐unsaturated esters were treated with organolithium compounds, including lithium enolates of acetates, to provide 5‐substituted (4Z)‐4‐(arylmethylidene)‐5‐ethoxy‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐2‐thiones, 2 , and 2‐[(4Z)‐(4‐arylmethylidene)‐5‐ethoxy‐2‐thioxo‐1,3‐oxazolidin‐5‐yl]acetates, 3 .     

Thermal Behaviors of 2‐(Dinitromethylene)‐1,3‐diazacycloheptane (DNDH)

2‐(Dinitromethylene)‐1,3‐diazacycloheptane (DNDH) was prepared by the reaction of 1,1‐diamino‐2,2‐dinitroethylene (FOX‐7) with 1,4‐diaminoethane in NMP. Thermal decomposition behavior of DNDH was studied under the non‐isothermal conditions with DSC method, and presents only one intensely exothermic decomposition process. The kinetic equation of the decomposition reaction is dα/dT=10^33.88×3α^2/3exp(−3.353×10⁵/RT)/β. The critical temperature of thermal explosion is 215.97°C. Specific heat capacity of DNDH was studied with micro‐DSC method and theoretical calculation method, and the molar heat capacity is 215.40 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ at 298.15 K. Adiabatic time‐to‐explosion was calculated to be 92.07 s. DNDH has same thermal stability to FOX‐7.