Expeditious syntheses of (+/-)-5-oxosilphiperfol-6-ene and (+/-)-silphiperfol-6-ene

[reaction: see text]Stereocontrolled syntheses of 5-oxosilphiperfol-6-ene (1) and silphiperfol-6-ene (2) have been accomplished in four and five steps, with overall yields of 32% and 26%, respectively, from 1-acetyl-3-methylcylopentene. The strategy features two pivotal reactions: (a) a Diels-Alder reaction between 1,3-dimethylcyclopentadiene and 1-acetyl-3-methylcyclopentene, which proceeds with remarkable regio-, endo-, and diastereofacial selectivities, and (b) an intramolecular Paterno-Büchi reaction to snap together the triquinane framework.     

First total syntheses of (+/-)-annuionone B and (+/-)-tanarifuranonol

The intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of o-quinol allyl ether was accomplished and subsequently applied to the first total syntheses of natural products annuionone B (1) and both the proposed and revised structure of tanarifuranonol, 4 and 17.     

Total syntheses of (+/-)-beta-erythroidine and (+/-)-8-oxo-beta-erythroidine by an intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition of a 2-amidoacrolein

[reaction: see text] The total syntheses of (+/-)-beta-erythroidine and (+/-)-8-oxo-beta-erythroidine are described. The tetracyclic ring system of the natural products was quickly assembled by a strategy that features a retrocycloaddition/cycloaddition reaction of an amidodioxin, an intramolecular Heck reaction, and a 6pi-electrocyclic ring closure of a dienoic acid.     

Formal synthesis of (+/-)-platensimycin

A formal total synthesis of (+/-)-platensimycin [(+/-)-1] is reported involving an intramolecular Stetter reaction and a radical cyclization.     

Total synthesis of (+/-)-aspidospermidine

(+/-)-Aspidospermidine (1) has been synthesized from readily available methyl 3-ethyl-2-oxocylo-pentanecarboxylate (17) in 5.9% yield over 13 steps. The key step of the synthesis is an intramolecular cascade reaction that simultaneously forms the B, C, and D rings of 1. A high-yielding method of closing the remaining E ring is also described.     

Total synthesis of (+/-)-morphine

[Structure: see text] The morphinan skeleton was effectively synthesized by an intramolecular Mannich-type reaction. Further transformation led to total synthesis of morphine.     

Total synthesis of (+/-)-2-isocyanoallopupukeanane

2-Isocyanoallopupukeanane (4) has been obtained in racemic form from methyl 2-exo-methylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-endo-carboxylate via dibromocarbene addition, S(N)2' displacement, chain extension, and elaboration of the unsaturated ketone 12c which underwent an intramolecular hetero-Diels-Alder reaction to afford 13 containing all the skeletal carbon atoms. The dihydropyran unit was cleaved by ozonolysis to give the tricarbocyclic intermediate which required seven more steps to complete the synthesis.     

Syntheses of the Stemona alkaloids (+/-)-stenine, (+/-)-neostenine, and (+/-)-13-epineostenine using a stereodivergent Diels-Alder/azido-Schmidt reaction

A tandem Diels-Alder/azido-Schmidt reaction sequence provides rapid access to the core skeleton shared by several Stemona alkaloids including stenine, neostenine, tuberostemonine, and neotuberostemonine. The discovery and evolution of inter- and intramolecular variations of this process and their applications to total syntheses of (+/-)-stenine and (+/-)-neostenine are described. The stereochemical outcome of the reaction depends on both substrate type and reaction conditions, enabling the preparation of both (+/-)-stenine and (+/-)-neostenine from the same diene/dienophile combination.     

Total synthesis of (+/-)-symbioimine

The synthesis of (+/-)-symbioimine (1) has been completed in only 12 linear steps in 8% overall yield. The key step is the treatment of 13b with BF3.Et2O to generate N-carboalkoxydihydropyridinium cation 14b, which undergoes a novel stereospecific intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction to give adduct 16b in 42% yield. Cleavage of the N-Troc group of 16b afforded imine 24b stereospecifically. Cleavage of the TBDMS ethers and sulfation provided (+/-)-symbioimine (1). [reaction: see text].     

Expedient synthesis of (+/-)-bipinnatin J

[reaction: see text] A nine-step, stereoselective synthesis of bipinnatin J is described, which features a ruthenium-catalyzed Alder-ene reaction, a Stille cross coupling, and an intramolecular Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi allylation as key steps. The biosynthetic relationship between bipinnatin J and complex polycyclic diterpenes isolated from gorgonian corals is discussed.     

Stereocontrolled formal synthesis of (+/-)-platensimycin

The caged structure of platensimycin, known as Nicolaou's key intermediate for total synthesis of platensimycin, was synthesized stereoselectively by using the following key steps: (i) diastereoselective Diels-Alder reaction between gamma-benzoyloxy enone and tert-butyldimethylsiloxydiene, (ii) formation of a dihydropyran ring by intramolecular catalytic oxypalladation, and (iii) transannular radical cyclization of monothioacetal with tributyltin hydride and AIBN.     

An expeditious total synthesis of (+/-)-stenine

(+/-)-Stenine was synthesized in eight steps from a known ketophosphonate reagent. The key step was an exo-selective Diels-Alder/intramolecular Schmidt domino reaction that afforded three of the four rings and four stereocenters in a single reaction.     

Total synthesis of (+/-)-8alpha-hydroxystreptazolone

[reaction: see text] The intramolecular Pauson-Khand reaction of 2-oxazolone derivatives with a suitable pentynyl appendage exclusively gave the corresponding 4-hydroxy-6-substituted-9-oxa-1-azatricyclo[6.2.1.0(5,11)]undec-5-en-7,10-diones. Based on this newly developed Pauson-Khand reaction of 2-oxazolone-alkyne derivatives, the first total synthesis of (+/-)-8alpha-hydroxystreptazolone was accomplished in a highly stereoselective manner.     

Concise total synthesis of (+/-)-maritidine

[reaction: see text] Maritidine can be readily obtained from the corresponding protected beta,gamma-unsaturated ketone. The quaternary carbon of maritidine was created for the first time via an intramolecular Heck reaction.     

Synthesis of (+/-)-vibralactone

Reductive alkylation of methyl 2-methoxybenzoate with prenyl bromide and hydrolysis afforded methyl 6-oxo-1-prenyl-2-cyclohexenecarboxylate. Reduction of the ketone, hydrolysis, iodolactonization, ozonolysis, and intramolecular aldol reaction provided a spiro lactone cyclopentenal. Retro-iodolactonization with activated Zn, formation of the beta-lactone, and reduction of the aldehyde completed an efficient first synthesis of (+/-)-vibralactone. No protecting groups were used except for the novel use of an iodolactone to protect both the prenyl double bond and carboxylic acid.     

Stereoselective syntheses of (+/-)-komaroviquinone and (+/-)-faveline methyl ether through intramolecular Heck reaction

[reaction: see text] An efficient, flexible, and stereoselective convergent route for constructing the trans-10-hydroxy-1,1-dimethyloctahydrodibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-7-ones (5a-c) was achieved via intramolecular Heck reaction. This strategy has been successfully implemented for the syntheses of (+/-)-komaroviquinone (3) through (+/-)-coulterone dimethyl ether (5c) and (+/-)-faveline methyl ether (1a).     

Synthesis of (+/-)-brazilin using IBX

[reaction: see text] A short synthesis of (+/-)-brazilin is reported. This synthesis uses several interesting and underutilized transformations including a regioselective dirhodium-catalyzed aryl C-H insertion, a regioselective IBX phenol --> o-quinone oxidation, a tautomerization of an o-quinone to a p-quinone methide, and an intramolecular aryl cyclization with a p-quinone methide.     

General and efficient strategy for erythrinan and homoerythrinan alkaloids: syntheses of (+/-)-3-demethoxyerythratidinone and (+/-)-erysotramidine

[reaction: see text] A general and efficient strategy to both aromatic-type and nonaromatic-type erythrinan and homoerythrinan alkaloids has been developed. This approach involves a key two-step sequence, an alkylation of a ketone with various N-substituted iodoacetamides followed by a N-acyliminium ion promoted intramolecular cyclization, and represents one of the shortest routes to erythrinan and homoerythrinan alkaloids. As the application, the formal total synthesis of (+/-)-3-demethoxyerythratidinone and the total synthesis of (+/-)-erysotramidine have been achieved, respectively.     

Total synthesis of (+/-)-scopadulin.

The first total synthesis of (+/-)-scopadulin, an aphidicolane diterpene, is described. The core structure (A/B/C/D ring system) was constructed by an initial synthesis of the B/C/D ring system by our reported methods and a subsequent A ring cyclization by intramolecular aldol condensation. A highly stereoselective cyanation of the tetracyclic enone by Et2AlCN gave a trans-fused A/B ring system with a beta-cyanide at C-4. Stereoselective construction of a quaternary carbon at C-4 was achieved by alpha-alkylation of the cyano group and conversion of the sterically hindered cyano group to a methyl group via our novel reaction for conversion of primary aliphatic amines into alcohols. Finally, the total synthesis of (+/-)-scopadulin was accomplished by a highly chemo- and stereoselective methylation at C-16 and modification of the C-4 alpha-functionality. The stereoselectivity observed in the MeTi(O-i-Pr)3-mediated methylation for the generation of a tertiary axial alcohol at C-16 is extremely high.     

Biogenetically inspired approach to the Strychnos alkaloids. Concise syntheses of (+/-)-akuammicine and (+/-)-strychnine

A linear synthesis of the indole alkaloid (+/-)-akuammicine (2) was completed by a novel sequence of reactions requiring only 10 steps from commercially available starting materials. The approach features a tandem vinylogous Mannich addition and an intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction to rapidly assemble the pentacyclic heteroyohimboid derivative 8 from the readily available hydrocarboline 6. Oxidation of the E ring of 8 gave the lactone 9 that was converted into deformylgeissoschizine (11). The subsequent elaboration of 11 into 2 was effected by a biomimetically patterned transformation that involved sequential oxidation and base-induced skeletal reorganization. A variation of these tactics was then applied to the synthesis of the C(18) hydroxylated akuammicine derivative 36. Because 36 had previously been converted into strychnine (1) in four steps, its preparation constitutes a concise, formal synthesis of this complex alkaloid.