Concise syntheses of (±)-protoemetinol and related alkaloids using radical cyclisation

Both (±)-protoemetinol, its 3-epi-isomer and (±)-3-desmethyl protoemetinol have been prepared in five linear steps from a dihydroisoquinoline using a 6-exo-trig cyclisation of a vinyl radical in the key step. This novel and particularly short route has potential application in the synthesis of Alangium and Mitragyna alkaloids.     

Concise syntheses of racemic and enantiopure deoxydysibetaine

Racemic deoxydysibetaine was efficiently obtained in few steps from methyl pyroglutamate. The 2S enantiomer was synthesized from (S)-pyroglutaminol as chiral starting material, through the key intermediate (S)-2-hydroxymethylglutamic acid recently prepared with complete stereoselectivity in our laboratory.     

Concise syntheses of (+)-macrosphelides A and B

[reaction: see text]. Unified and highly convergent total syntheses of (+)-macrosphelides A and B are described. Key features of the syntheses include (1) concise synthesis of the optically active delta-hydroxy-gamma-keto alpha,beta-unsaturated acid fragment via the direct addition of a trans-vinylogous ester anion equivalent to the readily available Weinreb amide and (2) facile construction of the 16-membered macrolide core of the macrosphelide series via an intramolecular nitrile-oxide cycloaddition (INOC).     

Concise syntheses of bacteriohopanetetrol and its glucosamine derivative

This study describes the syntheses of bacteriohopanetetrol and its glucosamine derivative through a key direct coupling of a ribose derivative to the hopane skeleton.     

Concise total syntheses of heliannuols B and D

Concise and efficient enantioselective total syntheses of heliannuols B and D have been accomplished using chirality transfer through a Lewis acid-promoted Claisen rearrangement for the construction of the C7 tertiary stereogenic center and a relay ring-closing metathesis for assembling the dihydrobenzo[b]oxepine backbone of the natural products as the key steps.     

Concise total syntheses of variolin B and deoxyvariolin B

The total synthesis of the marine alkaloid variolin B has been achieved in 8 steps and 17% overall yield, starting from commercially available 4-chloro-2-methylthiopyrimidine. The key reaction involves the tandem deoxygenation and cyclization of a triarylmethanol using a combination of triethylsilane and trifluoroacetic acid. In addition, the deoxygenated analogue was prepared in 6 steps and 23% overall yield, starting from the same starting material.     

Concise asymmetric syntheses of radicicol and monocillin I.

Radicicol (1) exhibits potent anticancer properties in vitro, which are likely to be mediated through its high affinity (20 nM) for the molecular chaperone Hsp90. Recently, we reported the results of a synthetic program targeting radicicol (1) and monocillin I (2), highlighted by the application of ring-closing metathesis to macrolide formation. These efforts resulted in a highly convergent synthesis of radicicol dimethyl ether but failed in the removal of the two aryl methyl ethers. Simple exchange of these methyl ethers with more labile functionalities disabled a key esterification in the initial route. Through extended experimentation, a successful route to both natural products was secured, along with some intriguing results that emphasize the implications of this design on a broad range of fused benzoaliphatic targets, including analogues of these natural products.     

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.     

Total syntheses of crinine and related alkaloids

Cyclizations of a bicyclic amine via an intramolecular Heck reaction followed by an oxidation reaction generated a tetracyclic spirocyclohexadione. From this useful intermediate, different crinine alkaloids such as crinine, buphanisine, flexinine, and augustine could be synthesized. Dienol/benzene or dienone/phenol rearrangement of this tetracyclic spirodienone afforded apogalanthamine analogs.     

Concise syntheses of trifluoromethylated cyclic and acyclic analogues of cADPR

A novel trifluoromethylated analogue of cADPR, 8-CF3-cIDPDE (5) was designed and synthesized via construction of N1,N9-disubstituted hypoxanthine, trifluoromethylation and intramolecular condensation. A series of acyclic analogues of cADPR were also designed and synthesized. These compounds could be useful molecules for studying the structure-activity relationship of cADPR analogues and exploring the cADPR/RyR Ca2+ signalling system.     

Concise syntheses of 2-aminoindans via indan-2-ol

2-Amino-5,6-dimethoxyindan hydrochloride was synthesized in seven steps and with an overall yield of 48%. Indan-2-ol was converted to 5,6-dibromo-indan-2-ol in three steps by acetylation, electrophilic bromination and deacetylation. Dimethoxylation of 5,6-dibromoindan-2-ol with NaOCH₃ in the presence of CuI gave 5,6-dimethoxy-indan-2-ol, which was converted to 2-amino-5,6-dimethoxyindan hydrochloride by azidation, followed by Pd-C catalyzed hydrogenation. Similarly, 2-amino-5-bromoindan was synthesized in five steps and with an overall yield of 50%. Indan-2-ol was converted to 2-aminoindan by azidation followed by Pd-C catalyzed hydrogenation. The reaction of 2-aminoindan with 2.5 equiv Br₂ afforded 2-amino-5,6-dibromoindan.     

Concise syntheses of immunostimulating glycolipids, α-galactosyl ceramides

α-Galactosylceramides (α-GalCers) are well known as immunostimulating agents having therapeutic potential. To facilitate the synthesis of α-GalCers and their derivatives, a novel and convergent strategy was designed, which is expected to be versatile for the preparation of a variety of analogues in a diversity-oriented fashion. As an initial demonstration of our strategy, KRN7000 and OCH were synthesized in eight steps from a common intermediate, which is easily obtainable in a multi-gram scale.     

Microwave-assisted concise total syntheses of quinazolinobenzodiazepine alkaloids

[reactions: see text] One-pot total syntheses of the quinazolinobenzodiazepine alkaloids sclerotigenin (1), (+/-)-circumdatin F (2), and (+/-)-asperlicin C (3) via novel microwave-assisted domino reactions were achieved in 55%, 32%, and 20% yields, respectively, from commercially available starting materials. A two-step total synthesis of (+/-)-benzomalvin A (4) was accomplished with an overall yield of 16%. Additionally, analogues of circumdatin E were synthesized via the three-component one-pot sequential reactions promoted by microwave irradiation. Finally, a two-step formal total synthesis of (+/-)-asperlicin E (5) was also realized by using this microwave-assisted protocol.     

Total syntheses of brominated marine sponge alkaloids

Total syntheses of six brominated marine sponge bis(indole) alkaloids of the hamacanthin, spongotine, and topsentin classes are described. Retrosynthetic analysis shows that their structures all include the 1-(6'-bromoindol-3'-yl)-1,2-diaminoethane unit 13a. This key moiety has been prepared from brominated indolic N-hydroxylamine 5b via synthetic intermediate 8b.     

Concise total syntheses of the bioactive mesotricyclic diterpenoids jatrophatrione and citlalitrione

The highly functionalized [5.9.5] tricyclic framework resident in jatrophatrione (1) and citlalitrione (2) has been synthesized. The route begins with the tandem anionic oxy-Cope rearrangement/methylation/transannular ene cyclization of 21 and subsequent introduction of a conjugated enone double bond. Hydroxyl-directed 1,4-reduction of this functionality in 25 with LiAlH(4)/CuI/hexamethylphosphoramide/tetrahydrofuran sets the stage for the implementation of a Grob fragmentation and expedited generation of 27. Stereocontrolled intramolecular hydrosilylation allows for the subsequent introduction of a cyclic carbonate as in 53. This intermediate undergoes remarkably efficient, fully regiocontrolled Treibs reaction to generate 54, with this maneuver serving as a pivotal step for making 1 available five steps later. Treatment of 1 with m-chloroperbenzoic acid leads to 2, with attack occurring preferentially on a alpha-face of the double bond more remote to the carbonyl.     

Asymmetric and enantiospecific syntheses of 1-hydroxymethyl pyrrolizidine alkaloids

Isoretronecanol and trachelantamidine (laburnine) are naturally occurring pyrrolizidine alkaloids which display potent biological activity, and as such these compounds have, in recent years, attracted significant interest from the bioorganic and synthetic communities. This review delineates both the asymmetric and enantiospecific syntheses of 1-hydroxymethyl pyrrolizidine alkaloids including isoretronecanol, trachelantamidine (laburnine) and related hydroxylated compounds.     

Total syntheses of ellipticine alkaloids and their amino analogues

Staudinger reaction of 9 with triphenylphosphine gave 2,4-dihydropyrrolo[3,4-b]indole 10. Treatment of 10 with di-tert-butyl dicarbonate and 4-dimethylaminopyridine gave 11. Diels-Alder reaction of 11 with 3,4-pyridyne gave cycloadducts 12 and 13, which were converted into ellipticine 1 and isoellipticine 2. New amino analogues of ellipticine 27 and 28 were also synthesized by this new route.