Cross-metathesis approach to a (2E,4E)-dienoic acid intermediate for the synthesis of elaiolide

A (2E,4E)-7-hydroxy-2,4-dienoic acid, previously employed as a key intermediate for the total synthesis of the macrodiolide antibiotic elaiolide, was prepared stereoselectively and concisely from (S)-2-methyl-3-trityloxypropanal by a three-step sequence consisting of Brown’s asymmetric crotylboration, olefin cross-metathesis, and alkaline treatment. Ethyl 3-pivaloyloxy-4-pentenoate was used as a masked dienoate in the cross-metathesis step.     

Asymmetric synthesis of tert-butyl ((1R,4aR,8R,8aR)-1-hydroxyoctahydro-1H-isochromen-8-yl)carbamate

The asymmetric synthesis of methyl (E)-4-((1R,2S,3R)-3-amino-2-((E)-2-methoxycarbonyl-eten-1-yl)cyclohexyl)but-2-enoate 14 has been achieved from dimethyl (2E,7E)-nona-2,7-dienedioate 2. A key step is the asymmetric synthesis of 1-hydroxyoctahydro-1H-isochromene derivative 5 whose X-ray analysis corroborated the stereochemistry of the new stereocenters. The asymmetric synthesis of the isochromenyl acetate derivative 11 shows the potential of this methodology for fused cyclohexanic system heterocyclic synthesis.     

Total synthesis of (+)-spiculoic acid A

The total synthesis of natural (+)-spiculoic acid A, a new cytotoxic marine natural product of polyketide origin, has been accomplished for the first time. The key step of the total synthesis was a stereoselective and high-yielding intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of a highly functionalized (E,E,E)-2,7,9-dodecanal derivative for the construction of the core tetrahydroindan-2-one skeleton.     

Asymmetric synthesis of macrolactin analogue

Total asymmetric synthesis of macrolactin A analogue was accomplished by the convergent strategy. Rapid access to advanced intermediate 16 through isomerization of ynone to (E,E)-conjugated dienone is a key step of this synthesis. Overall, control of all of the four stereocenters was achieved by means of asymmetric and diastereoselective reactions without using any chiral natural sources.     

A chemoenzymatic asymmetric synthesis of methyl (6S,13R)-6,13-dihydroxytetradeca-(2E,4E,8E)-trienoate,a component of Mycosphaerella rubella

The first asymmetric synthesis of (6S,13R)-6,13-dihydroxytetradeca-(2E,4E,8E)-trienoate has been developed. The key steps of the synthesis were the use of an efficient lipase-catalyzed acylation, a chiral template-driven enantiocontrolled allylation for introducing the stereogenic centers, and a cross-metathesis for controlling the C-8 olefin geometry.     

(+)-Sorangicin A: evolution of a viable synthetic strategy

An effective, asymmetric total synthesis of the antibiotic (+)-sorangicin A (1) has been achieved. Central to this venture was the development of first- and second-generation syntheses of the signature dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane core, the first featuring chemo- and stereoselective epoxide ring openings facilitated by a Co₂(CO)₆-alkyne complex, the second involving a KHMDS-promoted epoxide ring formation/opening cascade. Additional highlights include effective construction of the dihydro- and tetrahydropyran ring systems, respectively, via a stereoselective conjugate addition/α-oxygenation protocol and a thioketalization/hydrostannane reduction sequence. Late-stage achievements entailed two Julia-Kociénski olefinations to unite three advanced fragments with high E-stereoselectivity, followed by a modified Stille protocol to introduce the Z,Z,E trienoate moiety, thereby completing the carbon skeleton. Mukaiyama macrolactonization, followed by carefully orchestrated Lewis and protic acid-promoted deprotections that suppressed isomerization and/or destruction of the sensitive (Z,Z,E)-trienoate linkage completed the first, and to date only, total synthesis of (+)-sorangicin A (1).     

Asymmetric synthetic study of macrolactin analogues

We designed two aromatic analogues 1a and 1b of macrolactin A with expectation of enhancing biological activity and metabolical stability. As a result of retrosynthetic analysis of these compounds 1a-b, two synthetic strategies have been examined. The first strategy includes the enantioselective addition of nonadienyl anion, derived from 3, to aldehyde 4 as a key step. The second one includes epimerization of ynone 7 to (E,E)-conjugated dienone 31 and subsequent diastereoselective hydride-reduction of 31. Although the former route furnished no desired target, the latter one was revealed to work well for the synthesis of 1. Unfortunately, the aimed (2Z,4E)-analogue 1a could not be synthesized due to an epimerization of the (2Z)-olefin into the (2E)-olefin. However, these methods could be applied to the total asymmetric synthesis of the (2E,4E)-analogue 1b. Overall, control of all of the four stereocenters was achieved by means of asymmetric and diastereoselective reactions without using any chiral natural sources.     

Asymmetric synthesis of naturally occurring (−)-seimatopolides A and B

Asymmetric total synthesis of polyhydroxylated naturally occurring nonenolide seimatopolide A (3S,6S,7S,9R) and seimatopolide B (3S,6R,9R) is described in this article. An E-selective cross metathesis (CM) reaction between two suitable fragments followed by macrolactonization reaction is the main highlight of our synthesis for the two natural products. The fragment containing 6S,7S,9R stereocenters for seimatopolide A has been synthesized from l-tartaric acid as a chiral pool starting material, by employing (R)-CBS-mediated stereoselective keto reduction reaction. Another fragment, which is common for both the molecules, containing the 3S stereocenter was prepared by ME-DKR (metal enzyme combined dynamic kinetic resolution) method. The fragment having 6R,9R stereocenters for seimatopolide B has been prepared from n-decanal by adopting (R)-CBS-mediated keto reduction and Brown asymmetric allylation reaction.     

Tartaric acid-derived chiral phosphite-type P,N-ligands: behavioural features in Pd-catalyzed asymmetric transformations

A practical synthesis of new phosphoramidite, phosphite and diamidophosphite P,N-ligands derived from (R,R)-tartaric acid was carried out. A study of these chiral inducers showed them to provide up to 93% ee in the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylations of (E)-1,3-diphenylallyl acetate, up to 84% ee in the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric alkylation of cinnamyl acetate with ethyl 2-oxocyclohexane-1-carboxylate and up to 63% ee in the Pd-catalyzed desymmetrization of N,N′-ditosyl-meso-cyclopent-4-ene-1,3-diol biscarbamate. The effects of the structural modules, such as the nature of the phosphorus-containing ring or exocyclic substituent as well as of the nature of palladium source on the catalytic activity and enantioselectivity were investigated.     

Stereoselective Total Synthesis of the Natural Oxylipin (6R,7E,9R,10S)‐6,9,10‐Trihydroxyoctadec‐7‐enoic Acid

The stereoselective total synthesis of the natural oxylipin, (6R,7E,9R,10S)‐6,9,10‐trihydroxyoctadec‐7‐enoic acid, has been accomplished using nonanal and hexane‐1,6‐diol as the starting materials. The synthesis involves Sharpless kinetic resolution, asymmetric epoxidation, and olefin cross‐metathesis as the key steps.     

Total synthesis of hydroxystrobilurin A via Stille coupling

A six-step total synthesis of the fungicidal natural product hydroxystrobilurin A is described, utilising Stille chemistry for efficient access to the strobilurin (E,Z,E)-triene system.     

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.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (+)-sordidin, the male-produced aggregation pheromone of the banana weevil Cosmopolites sordidus

Stereoselective synthesis of (1S,3R,5R,7S)-(+)-sordidin, the natural male-produced aggregation pheromone of the banana weevil Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar) starting from 5-benzyloxy-(2E)-pentene-1-ol is described. The key transformations employed in the synthesis are Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation, Ueno-Stork cyclization, and Jacobsen kinetic resolution.     

An enantioselective total synthesis of the stilbenolignan (−)-aiphanol and the determination of its absolute stereochemistry

The title natural product (−)-aiphanol has been prepared by total synthesis. A key step involved the asymmetric dihydroxylation of (E)-3,5-dimethoxy-4-(methoxymethoxy)cinnamyl alcohol with the AD-mix-β to give triol (1R,2R)-1-(3′,5′-dimethoxy-4′-methoxymethoxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydroxypropanol, the absolute stereochemistry of which was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis of a readily available bromo-derivative. These studies have established that the naturally occurring enantiomer of aiphanol possesses the (S)-configuration at each of C-2′ and C-3′.     

The first chemoenzymatic total synthesis of the phytotoxic nonenolide putaminoxin and its (5S,6E,9S)-diastereomer

The limitations of an alcohol dehydrogenase regarding the oxidative kinetic resolution of homoallylic alcohol containing alkyl chains were investigated, leading to a valuable building block for the total synthesis of phytotoxic nonenolide putaminoxin. The enzymatic approach towards the enantioenriched homoallylic alcohol was compared to classical, nonenzymatic approaches using asymmetric reagent controlled allyl additions and the obtained building block was used for the total synthesis of putaminoxin and its (5S,6E,9S)-diastereomer. After the spectroscopic analysis of the synthesized compounds, discrepancies were observed to already published data of isolated and synthesized putaminoxin. Therefore, a systematic comparison of NMR data was carried out. The result underlines the necessity of total synthesis for the absolute assignment of configuration.     

Synthesis of flexibilene,a naturally occurrring 15-membered-ring diterpene

A total synthesis of the naturally occurring 15-membered ring diterpene, flexibilene, was accomplished using a titanium-induced cyclization of the keto-aldehyde 3,37,11-tetramethyl- 15-oxohexadeca-4E,7E,11E-trienal as the key step.     

Asymmetric synthesis of naturally occurring nonenolide xyolide through cross metathesis and macrolactonization reaction

Asymmetric total synthesis of xyolide, a small ring macrolide is presented in this article. The synthesis is achieved through an ‘E’ selective cross metathesis (CM) reaction between two appropriate fragments followed by lactonization by Shiina method. One of the fragments containing 7S,8S,9R stereocenters of xyolide is accessed from n-nonanal by adopting an organocatalytic asymmetric α-aminooxylation, Z-selective Ando olefination, and substrate directed dihydroxylation reaction. The other fragments containing 4S stereocenter was prepared by ME-DKR (metal enzyme combined dynamic kinetic resolution) method.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (S)-(−)-acromelobinic acid

A total synthesis of (S)-(−)-acromelobinic acid 2, which was isolated from clitocybe acromelalga, was achieved via an asymmetric hydrogenation protocol. Dehydroamino acid derivative 12 was prepared from 2,5-lutidine 5 and subjected to asymmetric hydrogenation using (S,S)-[Rh(Et-DuPHOS)(COD)]BF₄ to give the (S)-(+)-pyridylalanine derivative 13 in 93% yield and >96% e.e. Removal of the protecting groups in (S)-(+)-13 afforded (S)-(−)-acromelobinic acid 2.     

New stereoselective methodology for the synthesis of dihydroxerulin and xerulin, potent inhibitors of the biosynthesis of cholesterol

A new stereoselective methodology for the synthesis of both dihydroxerulin and xerulin has been devised. The key step required cross-coupling reactions between the bromo trienyne, (1E,3E,5E)-1-bromo-8-trimethylsilyl-1,3,5-octatrien-7-yne and the appropriate conjugated diynes. The palladium-catalyzed tandem cross-coupling/cyclization reaction of the resulting polyenynes with (Z)-3-iodo-2-propenoic acid led directly to dihydroxerulin or xerulin with a high degree of stereoselectivity.     

Synthesis of methyl (5Z,8Z,10E,12E,14Z)-eicosapentaenoate

The first total synthesis of methyl (5Z,8Z,10E,12E,14Z)-eicosapentaenoate has been achieved in seven steps and in 16% overall yield. The synthesis confirmed the assigned structure of this polyunsaturated natural product.