A concise and efficient synthesis of salvinal from isoeugenol via a phenoxenium ion intermediate

In this letter, we describe how salvinal can be efficiently synthesized from isoeugenol via a phenoxenium ion intermediate by four steps in 23% over all total yield.     

Enantiomerically pure synthesis of beta-substituted gamma-butyrolactones: a key intermediate to concise synthesis of pregabalin

Chiral beta-substituted gamma-butyrolactones are known to be important intermediates for many biologically active compounds such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) derivatives and lignans. We have developed a general, convenient, and scalable synthetic method for enantiomerically pure beta-substituted gamma-butyrolactones, with either configuration, via nucleophilic cyclopropane ring opening of (1S,5R)- or (1R,5S)-bicyclic lactone followed by decarbethoxylation. The utility of our method was demonstrated by streamlined synthesis of pregabalin ((S)-3-isobutyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid), an anticonvulsant drug for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain.     

Studies in macrolide synthesis: A concise asymmetric synthesis of a macrolide intermediate for the erythronolides.

The enantiomerically-pure 14-membered ring macrolide 1 is prepared in 14 steps from the racemic aldehyde 4, Z=SPh. The C₂-C₄ and C₈-C₁₀ stereorelationships in 1 are controlled in a single step by an Evans aldol condensation with (±)-4. Macrolactonisation, 23 → 1, takes place in high yield (91%).     

A divergent approach to apoptolidin and FD-891: asymmetric preparation of a common intermediate

Biologically active Apoptolidin and FD-891 have structural similarity in their macrocyclic cores. Asymmetric preparation of a common intermediate in the total synthesis of these two macrolides is presented. A modified Masuyama Sn-allylation was employed to control the relative stereochemistry in the synthesis of the intermediate.     

Regioselective preparation of 2-substituted 3,4-diaryl pyrroles: a concise total synthesis of ningalin B

Methylisocyanoacetate undergoes a 2 + 3 cycloaddition with alpha,beta-unsaturated nitriles to provide a regioselective synthesis of 2-substituted 3,4-diaryl pyrroles. The ease of preparation of alpha,beta-unsaturated nitriles allows the rapid synthesis of pyrroles with varied substituents. Using this method, a key intermediate (1) for the synthesis of the marine natural products lukianol A, lamellarin O, and lamellarin Q was prepared in two steps. A total synthesis of ningalin B (11) was also accomplished utilizing this methodology.     

An approach to the stereoselective synthesis of enantiopure dihydropyrroles and aziridines from a common sulfinyl-sulfinamide intermediate

The diastereoselective addition of lithiated vinyl sulfoxides to enantiopure sulfinimines provides direct access to a wide assortment of allylic sulfinamides in good yields and excellent selectivities. These adducts are key precursors to differently functionalized cis- and trans-dihydropyrroles. Modulation of the protecting group on nitrogen prior to cyclization has a significant impact on the stereochemical outcome, allowing for the selective preparation of 2,5-cis- or 2,5-trans-3-sulfinyl disubstituted dihydropyrroles from a common sulfinamide intermediate. Further research on halocyclization conditions has also yielded a stereoselective synthesis of trisubstituted vinyl aziridines from these chiral sulfinamides, simply by changing the halogenating agent.     

Chiral bicyclic guanidines: a concise and efficient aziridine-based synthesis

A series of chiral bicyclic guanidines, either symmetrical or non-symmetrical, was synthesized using a concise and efficient aziridine-based synthetic methodology. Starting from commercial amino alcohols, five synthetic steps were performed, with only three requiring chromatographic purification, giving the desired guanidines in 43-71% overall yield. Preliminary studies using these guanidines showed moderate enantioselectivity for several Michael reactions.     

Syntheses of alpha- and beta-C-glucopyranosyl serines from a common intermediate

A versatile synthesis leading to either C-linked alpha- or beta-glucopyranosyl serines is presented from a common, advanced synthetic intermediate. Cyclization of the penultimate carbinol onto the alkene and methanolysis of the lactone yields selectively the alpha-linkage. A transposition of these last steps leads to the beta-linked isomer selectively.     

Efficient synthesis of enantiomerically pure 2-acylaziridines: Facile syntheses of N-Boc-safingol, N-Boc-D-erythro-sphinganine, and N-Boc-spisulosine from a common intermediate

Various enantiomerically pure 2-acylaziridines were prepared efficiently from the corresponding aziridine-2-carboxylate via Weinreb's amide and the subsequent treatment of organometallic compounds. The carbonyl group of those 2-acylaziridines was stereoselectively reduced by NaBH4in the presence of ZnCl2 to give erythro-1,2-amino alcohols with high diastereoselectivities and chemical yields. Using this methodology, we prepared (1R,2S)-N-Boc-norephedrine 5, N-Boc-safingol 8, N-Boc-D-erythro-sphinganine 9, and N-Boc-spisulosine 10 in high yields.     

Silenes in organic synthesis: a concise synthesis of (+/-) -epi-picropodophyllin

A concise, seven step synthesis of the aryl tetralin lignan lactone epi-picropodophyllin from piperonal is described. The key steps are a silene diene Diels-Alder reaction and the Hosomi-Sakurai reaction of the resultant silacyclohexene.     

Synthesis of the aglycones of altromycins and kidamycin from a common intermediate

The aglycone structures 1 and 2, respectively corresponding to the antitumor antibiotic natural products altromycin and kidamycin, have been efficiently synthesized from a common advanced intermediate 3. A series of Claisen condensations and aromatizations affords the anthracene section of 3, followed by annulation of the pyrone ring. The functional groups of 3 can be manipulated for enantioselective introduction of the epoxide side-chain of altromycin aglycone 1, as well as synthesis of the kidamycin aglycone 2. [reaction: see text]     

Stereocontrolled assembly of tetrasubstituted tetrahydrofurans: a concise synthesis of virgatusin

The condensation of substituted allylsiloxanes with aldehydes leads to the highly stereoselective construction of 2,3,4,5-tetrasubstituted tetrahydrofurans. With electron-rich aryl and alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes as substrates, the stereochemical outcome at C5 can be dictated by appropriate choice of Lewis acid. The reaction has been applied to a concise (nine step) synthesis of (+)-virgatusin (ent-1). [reaction: see text]     

Oligonucleotide labelling: A concise synthesis of a modified thymidine phosphoramidite

The condensation of 5'-dimethoxytrityl-5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine (1) with N-trifluoroacetylpropargylamine (2) in the presence bis(triphenylphosphine) Pd(II) chloride and copper(I)iodide and subsequent conversion to the 3'-phosphoramidite (4) is an efficient and rapid method of preparing modified nucleosides valuable in oligonucleotide labelling studies. We believe this to be the most expedient route yet devised to these types of molecules.     

A concise synthesis of ent-Cholesterol

ent-Cholesterol was synthesized in 16 steps from commercially available (S)-citronellol. The overall yield for the synthesis was 2.0%. This route is amenable to gram-scale preparation of ent-cholesterol. Isotopic incorporation near the end of the synthesis was achieved using labeled methyl iodide. This synthesis is the most practical to date and will make ent-cholesterol more readily available to use as a probe of the function and metabolism of cholesterol.     

A concise synthesis of honokiol

Two approaches to the synthesis of the plant-derived biaryl neolignan honokiol are described. The second approach provided the natural product in either four steps with 34% overall yield or five steps and 55% overall yield.     

A concise synthesis of butylcycloheptylprodigiosin

A short and efficient total synthesis of the tripyrrole alkaloid butylcycloheptylprodigiosin is described. Key to the brevity of the approach is a two-step synthesis of macrocyclic formylpyrrole 4 from cyclononenone 6.     

Preparation of advanced intermediates for the synthesis of both methyllycaconitine and racemulsonine via a common intermediate

Polycyclic precursors to 1 and 2 have been prepared via a common intermediate. The key steps include the intramolecular alkylation of a phenol and a selective metal-ammonia reduction.     

A concise synthesis of honokiol

A simple synthesis of the natural product honokiol 1 has been developed which proceeds in four steps and provides a 32% overall yield. Suzuki coupling of 4-allyl-2-bromoanisole 3 with 4-hydroxyphenyl boronic acid, followed by allylation, gave 5-allyl-4′-allyloxy-2-methoxy-biphenyl 5. This compound 5 underwent Lewis acid-catalyzed Claisen rearrangement and demethylation in a one-pot reaction which yielded honokiol.     

A concise synthesis of denbinobin

A concise synthesis of denbinobin is described via an intramolecular free radical cyclization and Fremy’s salt mediated oxidation as a key reactions. A seven-step process starting from commercially available 3,5-dimethoxybenzyl bromide (6) and 2-bromoisovanillin (5) effectively constructs the natural product denbinobin (1).