Asymmetric synthesis of (-)-eburnamonine and (+)-epi-eburnamonine from (4S)-4-ethyl-4-[2-(hydroxycarbonyl)ethyl]-2-butyrolactone.

The key chiral nonracemic 4,4-disubstituted 2-butyrolactone carboxylic acid, (S)-4, is readily accessible via an efficient and stereospecific dirhodium(II) tetraacetate catalyzed tertiary C-H insertion reaction of the diazomalonate (S)-5. The coupling of the acid (S)-4 with tryptamine produces the amide (S)-3, which is then transformed into the aldehyde 23 and hydroxy-lactam 24. Acid-mediated Pictet-Spengler cyclization of 23 and 24 produces the tetracyclic indole lactams (1S,12bS)-25a and (1S,12bR)-25b. Compounds 25a and 25b are converted, via the lactam alcohols 30a and 30b, to (-)-eburnamonine (1a) and (+)-epi-eburnamonine (1b).     

Novel and stereocontrolled synthesis of (+/-)-tetrodotoxin from myo-inositol

[reactions: see text] The novel and stereocontrolled synthesis of (+/-)-tetrodotoxin from myo-inositol is described. The key steps involve the stepwise oxidation of hydroxyl groups to the carbonyl function, followed by the addition of specific nucleophiles, including the successive spiro alpha-chloroepoxide formation and its ring-opening with the azide anion, to give the desired branched chain structures (5-->6, 17-->18-->19-->20 and 23-->24-->25) with the desired regio- and stereoselectivities in high yields. The stepwise conversion of the alpha-azido aldehyde 25 to the delta-lactone 29, followed by reduction of the azide, introduction of a guanidine moiety, aldehyde formation, and deprotection, produced the (+/-)-tetrodotoxin.     

Synthesis of (-)-quinocarcin by directed condensation of alpha-amino aldehydes

An enantioselective synthesis of the natural antiproliferative agent quinocarcin was achieved by the directed condensation of optically active alpha-amino aldehyde intermediates. Condensation of the N-protected alpha-amino aldehyde 1, prepared in eight steps (19% yield) from (R,R)-pseudoephedrine glycinamide, with the C-protected alpha-amino aldehyde derivative 2, prepared in seven steps (34% yield) from (R,R)-pseudoephedrine glycinamide, afforded the corresponding imine in quantitative yield. Without isolation, direct treatment of this imine intermediate with 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) and hydrogen cyanide led to cleavage of the fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) protective group followed by addition of cyanide (Strecker reaction) to form the bis-amino nitriles 3 as a mixture of diastereomers, in 91% yield. Treatment of the diastereomers 3 with trimethylsilyl cyanide and zinc chloride in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol at 60 degrees C led to stepwise cyclization to form the tetracyclic product 4 (42% yield from 1 and 2). The latter intermediate was transformed into (-)-quinocarcin (1) in five steps (45% yield). The yield of quinocarcin was 19% from 1 and 2 (7 steps), and 4% from pseudoephedrine glycinamide (15 steps).     

Synthesis of (S)-(+)-sotalol and (R)-(−)-isoproterenol via a catalytic enantioselective Henry reaction

A unified approach for the synthesis of (S)-(+)-sotalol and (R)-(?)-isoproterenol has been developed. The enantioselective Henry reaction of the appropriate aldehyde in the presence of a camphor-derived amino pyridine–Cu(II) complex was the key step of the synthesis. The reduction of the nitro group to give the corresponding amino alcohols followed by reductive alkylation of the amine provided the target products with high enantiomeric excesses.     

Convenient Syntheses of Functionalized Dialkyl Ketones and Alkanoylsilanes: 1-(Benzotriazol-1-yl)-1-phenoxyalkanes as Alkanoyl Anion Equivalents

(Benzotriazol-1-yl)-1-phenoxyalkanes 10, prepared by two-step transformations of the corresponding aldehydes, are readily deprotonated at the methine group by BuLi. Subsequent reactions with alkyl halides, aldehydes, ketones, and imines yield the corresponding substituted derivatives that undergo hydrolysis under acidic conditions to afford the expected functionalized ketones 13, 15,17, 19, 21, 24, and25. Two successive lithiations of (benzotriazolyl)phenoxymethane, each followed by reaction with a trialkylsilyl chloride, alkyl halide, aldehyde, or ketone, generate similar intermediates 27, 29, 31,33, and 36. Subsequent hydrolyses of 27, 29, 31, 33, and 36 yield the functionalized ketones 28, 30, and 32 and the alkanoylsilanes 34 and 37 in good yields.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-callystatin A and (-)-20-epi-callystatin A employing chemical and biological methods

An efficient asymmetric total synthesis of the potent cytotoxic marine natural product (-)-callystatin A and its 20-epi analogue has been achieved. The synthetic pathway involved the preparation of three fragments to be coupled with each other at the end of the route. The first fragment 3 was obtained using a biocatalytic enantioselective reduction of a 3,5-dioxocarboxylate as the key step. For the second intermediate 4 the asymmetric alpha-alkylation of an O-protected derivative of 4-hydroxybutanal was performed exploiting the SAMP/RAMP hydrazone alkylation methodology, and followed by a highly Z-selective Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction under modified conditions. For the synthesis of the polypropionate fragment 5 a diastereoselective syn-aldol reaction was employed between a chiral ethyl ketone and an alpha-substituted chiral aldehyde, both prepared in enantiopure form again by means of the asymmetric alkylation of their corresponding RAMP hydrazones. Finally, these three building blocks were coupled using highly E-selective Wittig reactions via allyltributylphosphonium ylides to afford the target compounds after a final oxidation/deprotection sequence.     

(10Z)- and (10E)-19-fluoro-1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3: an improved synthesis via 19-nor-10-oxo-vitamin D

An efficient synthetic route to (10Z)- and (10E)-19-fluoro-1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 was developed. The key feature of this pathway is the introduction of a 19-fluoromethylene group to a (5E)-19-nor-10-oxo-vitamin D derivative. The 10-oxo-compound was obtained via a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of (5E)-1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D with in situ generated nitrile oxide followed by ring cleavage of the formed isoxazoline moiety with molybdenum hexacarbonyl. Conversion of the keto group of (5E)-19-nor-10-oxo-vitamin D to the E and Z fluoromethylene group was achieved through a two-step sequence involving a reaction of lithiofluoromethyl phenyl sulfone followed by the reductive desulfonylation of the alpha-fluoro-beta-hydroxy sulfone. The dye-sensitized photoisomerization of the (5E)-19-fluorovitamin D afforded the desired (5Z)-19-fluorovitamin D derivatives, (10Z)- and (10E)-19-fluoro-1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.     

Pheromone XXXVII. Eine stereospezifische synthese der komponenten des sexualpheromons von antherea polyphemus, (E)-6,(Z)-11-hexadecadienylacetat und (E)-6,(Z)-11-hexadecadienal.

Starting from the aldehydes $\text{2}$ and $\text{9}$ the acetylene $\text{16}$ is prepared via the borane $\text{15}$ by means of a combined Wittig reaction-hydroboration reaction sequence. $\text{16}$ may be converted into the (E)-6,(Z)-11-hexadecadienylacetate ($\text{18}$) and the corresponding aldehyde $\text{19}$. The synthetic route proceeds with high stereospecifity (isomeric purity of $\text{18}$ and $\text{19}$ ? 97%).     

Syntheses of (+)-cytisine, (-)-kuraramine, (-)-isokuraramine, and (-)-jussiaeiine A

Total syntheses of (+)-cytisine, (-)-kuraramine, (-)-isokuraramine, and (-)-jussiaeiine A were achieved via a samarium diiodide-promoted reductive deamination reaction, followed by simultaneous recyclization of a proline derivative to give the corresponding delta-lactam derivative, as a key step.     

Enzyme-assisted asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-podophyllotoxin and (-)-picropodophyllin

Described is the first catalytic, asymmetric synthesis of (-)-podophyllotoxin and its C(2)-epimer, (-)-picropodophyllin. Asymmetry is achieved via the enzymatic desymmetrization of advanced meso diacetate 20, through PPL-mediated ester hydrolysis. A second key feature of the synthesis is the strategically late introduction of the highly oxygenated natural ring E through an arylcopper species. The successful implementation of this approach augers well for the introduction of other functionalized rings E for future SAR work. The synthesis begins from piperonal, which is fashioned into isobenzofuran (IBF) precursor 14 in three steps (bromination, acetalization, and halogen-metal exchange/hydroxymethylation). Interestingly, treatment of 14 with HOAc in commerical dimethyl maleate (contains 5% dimethyl fumarate) leads to a nearly equimolar mixture of fumarate- (15) and maleate-IBF Diels-Alder adducts (16 and 17), indicating that IBF 11 reacts about 15 times faster with dimethyl fumarate than with dimethyl maleate. With scrupulously pure dimethyl maleate a 2.8:1 endo:exo mixture of maleate DA adducts is still obtained. On the other hand, the desired meso diester 16 is obtained pure and in nearly quantitative yield by employing neat dimethyl acetylene dicarboxylate as the dienophile, followed by catalytic hydrogenation. Reduction (LiAlH(4)) of 16 provides meso diol 19, which is then treated with Ac(2)O, BzCl, and PhCH(2)COCl to provide the corresponding meso diesters, 20-22. Screening of these meso benzoxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl substrate candidates across a battery of acyl transfer enzymes leads to an optimized match of diacetate 20 with PPL. Even on 10-20 g scales, asymmetry is efficiently introduced here, yielding the key chiral intermediate, monoacetate 25 (66% isolated yield, 83% corrected yield, 95% ee). Protecting group manipulation and oxidation (Swern) provide aldehyde 27b, which undergoes efficient retro-Michael ring opening to produce dihydronaphthalene 30, in which the C(3) and C(4) stereocenters are properly set. Following several unsuccessful approaches to the intramolecular delivery of ring E (via Claisen rearrangement, Heck-type cyclization, or radical cyclization), a highly diastereoselective, intermolecular conjugate addition of the arylcopper reagent derived from (3,4,5-trimethoxy)phenylmagnesium bromide and CuCN to acyl oxazolidinone 50 was developed (85% yield, only the required alpha-stereochemistry at C(1) is observed). The conjugate addition product is converted to (-)-picropodophyllin in two steps (lactonization, SEM deprotection) or to (-)-podophyllotoxin, in three steps, through the introduction of a C(2)-epimerization step, under Kende conditions, prior to the final conjugate addition.     

Synthesis of methyl N-Boc-(2S,4R)-4-methylpipecolate

An efficient stereoselective synthesis of fully protected (2S,4R)-4-methylpipecolic acid has been developed. The synthesis was achieved by initial asymmetric α-alkylation of glycine with a chiral iodide, affording the linear precursor as a single stereoisomer. Subsequent aldehyde formation using OsO(4)/NaIO(4) followed by immediate intramolecular cyclization afforded an enamine that was then subjected to hydrogenation to give the final compound in 23% yield over 10 steps.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of Wieland-Gumlich aldehyde and (-)-strychnine

A total synthesis of (-)-strychnine in 15 steps from 1,3-cyclohexanedione in 0.15% overall yield is described. The sequence followed in the assembling of rings is: E-->AE [2-(2-nitrophenyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione]-->ACE (3a-aryloctahydroindol-4-one)-->ACDE (arylazatricyclic core)-->ABCDE (strychnan skeleton)-->ABCDEF (Wieland-Gumlich aldehyde)-->ABCDEFG (strychnine). The key steps of the synthesis are the enantioselective construction of the 3a-(2-nitrophenyl)-octahydroindol-4-one ring system and the closure of the piperidine ring by a reductive Heck cyclization to generate the pivotal intermediate (-)-14. In contrast, a Lewis acid promoted a-alkoxypropargylic silane-enone cyclization did not lead to synthetically useful azatricyclic ACDE intermediates. The introduction of C-17 and the closure of the indoline ring by reductive amination of the alpha-(2-nitrophenyl) ketone moiety complete the strychnan skeleton from which, via the Wieland-Gumlich aldehyde, the synthesis of (-)-strychnine is achieved.     

Total syntheses of (-)-methyl atis-16-en-19-oate, (-)-methyl kaur-16-en-19-oate, and (-)-methyl trachyloban-19-oate by a combination of palladium-catalyzed cycloalkenylation and homoallyl-homoallyl radical rearrangement

Asymmetric total syntheses of (-)-methyl atis-16-en-19-oate (1c), (-)-methyl kaur-16-en-19-oate (2c), and (-)-methyl trachyloban-19-oate (3c) have been achieved by employing a hybrid strategy of palladium-catalyzed cycloalkenylation and homoallyl-homoallyl radical rearrangement. The common synthetic intermediate 5 was prepared from 2-allylcyclohexanone (4) with 98% ee using d'Angelo's asymmetric Michael addition. A series of functional group modifications in 5 via palladium-catalyzed cycloalkenylation led to (+)-14, which had already been prepared by us as racemate. (-)-Methyl atis-16-ene-19-oate (1c) was generated via homoallyl-homoallyl radical rearrangement. On the other hand, Wolff-Kishner reduction of 18 followed by esterification yielded (-)-methyl kaur-16-en-19-oate (2c) together with (-)-methyl trachyloban-19-oate (3c).     

An expedient route to Montanine-type Amaryllidaceae alkaloids: total syntheses of (-)-brunsvigine and (-)-manthine

The first total syntheses of (-)-brunsvigine (1) and (-)-manthine (2) were accomplished in 10 and 18 steps, respectively. (-)-Quinic acid was converted to enone 12 in five steps. Iodination of enone 12 followed by stereoselective reduction yielded alpha-iodo allylic alcohol 16. Conversion of alcohol 16 into Weinreb amide 11 followed by anionic cyclization gave bicyclic enone 10. Stereoselective reduction of enone 10 and subsequent protection afforded pivaloate 9. Grignard addition of 8 to 9 and detosylation afforded amine derivative 19. Pictet-Spengler cyclization of 19 with Eschenmoser's salt and subsequent hydrolysis gave enantiomerically pure (-)-brunsvigine (1). For the total synthesis of (-)-manthine (2), the key intermediate 7 was hydrolyzed to diol 21. Conversion of 21 into 22 followed by regioselective cleavage with DIBAL furnished alcohol 25. Alcohol 25 was converted to the corresponding triflate 26, which on treatment with CsOAc and 18-crown-6 gave stereoinverted acetate 27. Hydrolysis of acetate 27 followed by methylation afforded compound 29. Detosylation of 29 afforded amine derivative 30. Pictet-Spengler cyclization of 30 followed by debenzylation gave alcohol 33. Finally, methylation of alcohol 33 afforded (-)-manthine (2).     

Total synthesis of (-)-bafilomycin A(1)

A highly stereoselective total synthesis of (-)-bafilomycin A(1), the naturally occurring enantiomer of this potent vacuolar ATPase inhibitor, is described. The synthesis features the highly stereoselective aldol reaction of methyl ketone 8b and aldehyde 60c and a Suzuki cross-coupling reaction of the highly functionalized advanced intermediates 12 and 39. Vinyl iodide 12 was synthesized by a 14-step sequence starting from the readily available beta-alkoxy aldehyde 14, while the vinylboronic acid component 39 was synthesized by a nine-step sequence from beta-hydroxy-alpha-methyl butyrate 44 via a sequence involving the alpha-methoxypropargylation of chiral aldehyde 49 with the alpha-methoxypropargylstannane reagent 54. Syntheses of fragments 12 and 39 also feature diastereoselective double asymmetric crotylboration reactions to set several of the critical stereocenters. The Suzuki cross-coupling of 12 and 39 provided seco ester 40, which following conversion to the seco acid underwent smooth macrolactonization to give 41. The success of the macrocyclization required that C(7)-OH be unprotected. The Mukaiyama aldol reaction between aldehyde 60c and the TMS enol ether generated from 8b provided aldol 65 with high diastereoselectivity. Finally, all silicon protecting groups were removed by treatment of the penultimate intermediate 65 with TAS-F (tris(dimethylamino)sulfonium difluorotrimethylsilicate), thereby completing the total synthesis of (-)-bafilomycin A(1).     

Studies directed toward the total synthesis of azaspiracid: stereoselective construction of C(1)-C(12), C(13)-C(19), and C(21)-C(25) fragments

[reaction: see text] The efficient entry to the C(1)-C(12), C(13)-C(19), and C(21)-C(25) fragments of azaspiracid is outlined. The C(1)-C(12) portion is constructed using a key asymmetric allenyl borane addition to the corresponding alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde. The synthesis of the C(13)-C(19) portion utilizes an Evans asymmetric alkylation followed by Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation. In addition, a novel solution to the mismatched effects of a neighboring chiral oxazolidinone during a Sharpless dihydroxylation is detailed.     

Enantiospecific total synthesis of (-)-4-thiocyanatoneopupukeanane

Enantiospecific synthesis of the natural enantiomer of the marine sesquiterpene (-)-4-thiocyanatoneopupukeanane (6) is described. The bicyclo[2.2.2]octanecarboxylate 14, obtained from (R)-carvone via Michael-Michael reaction, was transformed into neopupukeananedione 12 by employing rhodium acetate catalyzed intramolecular C-H insertion of the diazo ketones 16 or 19 as the key reaction. Regioselective deoxygenation of the C-2 ketone transformed the dione 12 into neopupukean-4-one 10. Alternately, the keto ester 18 was also transformed into neopupukean-4-one 10 via regioselective deoxygenation of the ketone in 18 followed by intramolecular rhodium carbenoid C-H insertion of the diazo ketone 31. Finally, neopupukean-4-one 10 was transformed into (-)-4-thiocyanatoneopupukeanane 6 via the alcohol 32 and the mesylate 33.     

Synthesis of (10Z)- and (10E)-19-fluoro-1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3: compounds to probe vitamin D conformation in receptor complex by 19F-NMR

To study the interaction of vitamin D with its receptor by 19F-NMR, (5Z,10Z)- and (5Z,10E)-19-fluoro-1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 were synthesized starting from vitamin D2 via electrophilic fluorination of vitamin D-SO2 adducts as the key step. Regio- and stereoselective electrophilic fluorination at C(19) of vitamin D-SO2 adducts was achieved under the conditions using (PhSO2)2NF and bulky bases. The stereochemistry of the addition and elimination of SO2 of various vitamin D derivatives was studied in detail. SO2 causes Z-E isomerization of the 5,6-double bond of vitamin D and adds to the resulting (5E)-isomer from the sterically less hindered side opposite to the substituent at C(1). Elimination of SO2 from 19-substituted vitamin D-SO2 adducts proceeded exclusively in a suprafacial manner with respect to the diene part under either thermal or reductive conditions. Dye-sensitized photochemical isomerization of 19-fluorovitamin D derivatives was studied in detail. The rapid isomerization at the 5,6-double bond was followed by the slow isomerization at the 10,19-double bond to yield the (5E,10Z)-isomer (by nomenclature of the 1-OH derivatives) as the major product. (10Z)- and (10E)-19-Fluorovitamin Ds were also interconverted thermally probably via the corresponding previtamin D by 1,7-sigmatropic isomerization.     

Codonocarpus alkaloids—IV : Synthesis of 2-methoxy-2′-ethoxy-4-[2-(tetramethylenecarbamoyl)ethyl]-5′-[2-(propylcarbamoyl)ethyl]diphenyl ether

Synthesis of the title compound was accomplished by coupling the iodonium bromide (3) of 4-ethoxybenzaldehyde with methyl hydroferulate (4) to 2-methoxy-2′-ethoxy-4-(methyl β-propionate)-5′-formyldiphenyl ether (5) which was converted to the pyrrolidinyl amide 6, and then the aryl aldehyde group was extended to a n-propyl β-propionamide unit via the Knoevenagel malonic acid reaction through the trans-cinnamic acid 7 followed by hydrogenation and amide formation with n-propylamine.     

SmI2-induced cyclization of (E)- and (Z)-β-alkoxyvinyl sulfones with aldehydes

SmI₂-induced reaction of (E)- and (Z)-β-alkoxyvinyl sulfones onto an aldehyde function afforded 2,6-syn-2,3-trans- and 2,6-syn-2,3-cis-tetrahydropyran-3-ols, respectively, via stereoselective cyclization. This reaction was applied to the synthesis of 2-methyl-tetrahydropyran, corresponding to the N-ring of gymnocin-A, and 2-exo-methylene-tetrahydropyran, a key intermediate for convergent synthesis of polycyclic ethers based on the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction.