Practical, efficient, stereoselective, formal synthesis of (2R,3R,4R)-3-hydroxy-4-methylproline

A highly efficient and stereoselective synthesis of (2R,3R,4R)-HMP is disclosed employing the sulfinyl group as an internal nucleophile to functionalize an olefin in the key step of the reaction sequence. The proline ring is elaborated by a (4C+N) cyclization.     

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.     

The absolute configuration of the palmarumycins C9, C10, and C12 by quantum-mechanical calculations of CD spectra

The absolute configurations of the palmarumycins C₉ 1a, C₁₀ 2, and C₁₂ 3 were assigned by comparison of the quantum-mechanically calculated with the experimental CD spectra as (2R,3S,4aS,8aR), (2R,3R,4S,4aS,8aR), and (2R,3R,4R), respectively.     

Thermal intramolecular cycloaddition of 4-alkenylfulvene; highly regio- and diastereoselective formation of [4+2] adduct

4-Alkenylfulvenes were prepared by the annulation of 1,4-ynediones and allylidenetriphenylphosphorane and subjected to a thermal reaction. Highly regio- and stereoselective [4+2] cycloaddition is accomplished with 4-((R)-3-benzyloxypent-4-en-1-yl)fulvene and the resulting adduct is transformed into bicyclo[3.3.0]octene derivative.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (Z)-fluoroalkenes directed to peptide isosteres: copper mediated reaction of trialkylaluminum with 4,4-difluoro-5-hydroxyallylic alcohol derivatives

Copper mediated alkyl-transfer reaction of trialkylaluminum (R₃Al) with (E)-4,4-difluoro-5-hydroxyallylic alcohol derivative smoothly proceeded to give the corresponding 2-alkylated 4-fluoro-5-hydroxyhomoallylic alcohol derivative with completely Z and 2,5-syn selective manner. Regio- and stereoselective conversion of the C5-hydroxyl group of the fluoroolefin thus obtained to amino group could be achieved through one-pot mesylation and azidation reaction.     

Structure elucidation and stereoselective total synthesis of pavettamine, the causal agent of gousiekte

The structure elucidation of a novel natural product pavettamine (1), the causal agent of the plant toxicosis gousiekte, is reported. The structure was defined by analysis of NMR and MS data and the relative configuration followed from the ¹³C NMR data of the acetonide derivative. The absolute stereochemistry was established by total synthesis from (2S)-malic acid using chiral sulfoxide methodology as (2S,4R,8R,10S)-1,11-diamino-6-aza-undecane-2,4,8,10-tetraol.     

A novel stereoselective synthesis of (−)-β-conhydrine from (R)-2,3-O-cyclohexylidine glyceraldehyde

A novel stereoselective synthesis of (−)-β-conhydrine is achieved. Stereoselective Grignard reaction of (R)-2,3-O-cyclohexylidine glyceraldehyde with ethyl magnesium bromide, chelation controlled stereoselective Grignard reaction of allyl imine derivative with allyl magnesium bromide, and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) of the diallyl product provides (−)-β-conhydrine in high yield.     

A concise stereoselective synthesis of pterosin B

Pterosin B is a naturally occurring indanone found in bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) that displays a variety of interesting pharmacological properties, but for which few stereoselective syntheses exist. Herein we describe a 7-step stereoselective synthesis of (2R)-pterosin B via 6-bromo-5,7-dimethylindan-1-one whose structure was confirmed by NOE analysis and structure determination by X-ray crystallography. The hydroxyethyl chain was introduced via a Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction. The 2-methyl group was introduced stereoselectively by methylation of a SAMP [(S)-1-amino-2-methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine] hydrazone and the chiral auxiliary was removed to produce (2R)-pterosin B. The structure of pterosin B was confirmed by specific rotation and structural determination by X-ray crystallography.     

Absolute configuration of 2-hydroxy-2-(1-naphthyl)propionic acid as determined by the 1H NMR anisotropy method

Enantiopure 2-hydroxy-2-(1-naphthyl)propionic acid (+)-2 was prepared by the stereoselective Grignard reaction of 1-naphthylmagnesium bromide with (1R,3R,4S)-menthyl pyruvate 3 or (1R,3R,4S)-8-phenylmenthyl pyruvate 4, and the absolute configuration of acid (+)-2 was unambiguously determined to be S by the ¹H NMR anisotropy method.     

Toward a modular, bidirectional synthesis of (−)-mucocin

A convergent stereoselective synthesis of the C13-C34 fragment of (−)-mucocin is described. The salient features include (a) the bidirectional synthesis of the C-2 symmetric C13-C21 subunit, (b) regio- and stereoselective preparation of a 1,3-diol derivative from a diene activated by NBS via intramolecular nucleophilic sulfinyl group participation, (c) utilizing the self-metathesis reaction to prepare a functionalized C10 alkene, and (d) regio- and stereoselective intermolecular epoxide opening to construct the ether bond between C20 and C24. An organocatalytic α-hydoxylation has been employed to create the C4 stereogenic center of C1-C12 subunit. Attempted union of the two subunits utilizing the B-alkyl Suzuki coupling did not succeed.     

Highly enantioselective aldol reaction of acetaldehyde and isatins only with 4-hydroxydiarylprolinol as catalyst: concise stereoselective synthesis of (R)-convolutamydines B and E, (−)-donaxaridine and (R)-chimonamidine

A highly enantioselective aldol reaction of acetaldehyde and a wide scope of isatins has been presented only using readily available 4-hydroxydiarylprolinol as catalyst, affording various desired 3-substituted 3-hydroxyindolin-2-one adducts with moderate to high yield (up to 95%) and good enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee). This method not only represents an example of concise stereoselective synthesis of enantiopure (R)-convolutamydines B and E, but also firstly exhibits expedient asymmetric synthesis optically active (−)-donaxaridine and (R)-chimonamidine.     

Stereoselectivity in the construction of rigidified homoserine analogues

Methyl substituted cyclohexyl-1-amino-3-hydroxy-1-carboxylic acid derivatives have been prepared from 5,5-tethered dienes of (2R)-2,5-dihydro-2-isopropyl-3,6-dimethoxypyrazine in stereoselective syntheses. Ring closing metathesis reaction of the diene 2 afforded a heterospirenone which was the substrate for conjugate addition with an alkyl cuprate. Reduction of the adduct followed by hydrolytic cleavage of the heterocyclic ring provided a cyclic α-amino acid derivative. The absolute configuration at the new stereocenters in the products were established by X-ray crystallography analyses.     

Design, synthesis, and cytotoxicity of 4-sulfonamide substituted benzamidobenzimidazolones and an acyl benzimidazolone

4-Sulfonamide substituted benzamidobenzimidazolones were designed and docked into the active site model of CDK2, using an oxindole inhibitor as the template. Compounds 6a-6i were then prepared from the reaction of the sulfonyl chloride 1 with different amines to give the corresponding acids (2a-2i), which were converted to their corresponding acyl chlorides (3a-3i). Reaction of 3a-3i with o-nitrophenylhydrazine afforded the respective nitro derivatives (4a-4i). The nitro groups were then reduced to give the corresponding amines (5a-5i), which, upon reaction with ethyl chloroformate, the target compounds (6a-6i) were produced. Target benzimidazolone derivatives (9a-9e) were also prepared from the reaction of isopropenyl benzimidazolone (8) with different sulfonyl or acyl chlorides. The target compounds were then tested by a modified 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay against the cancer cell lines, Hep G2, HT-29, CL1-5 and AGS. Despite similar binding properties of the flexible benzamidobenzimidazolones and rigid cytotoxic oxindole inhibitors at the active site of CDK2, biological screening results indicated that benzamidobenzimidazolones did not exhibit significant cell growth inhibition in vitro. Their analogue, 3-acyl benzimidazolone (12), however, revealed cytotoxicity similar to that of the reference oxindole inhibitor.     

Synthetic studies on psiguadial B: Construction of bicyclo[4.3.1]decane skeleton via double cyclization reaction of alkyne dicobalt complex

A new method for constructing the polycyclic skeleton of psiguadial B (1), a meroterpenoid isolated from an evergreen shrub of Myrtaceae, was developed. The terpenoid substructure of 1 was constructed on the basis of a cascade double cyclization reaction of an alkyne dicobalt complex, which afforded the bicyclo[4.3.1]decane derivative having a benzyl group with the correct configuration. The substituted aromatic ring was introduced to the bridgehead position of the intermediate, and bromination under radical conditions followed by intramolecular cyclization reaction resulted in formation of the benzopyran moiety in a stereoselective manner.     

The Absolute Configuration of (+)‐Ethyl cis‐1‐Benzyl‐3‐hydroxypiperidine‐4‐carboxylate and (+)‐4‐Ethyl 1‐Methyl cis‐3‐Hydroxypiperidine‐1,4‐dicarboxylate; a Revision

Discrepancies between chiroptical data from the literature and our determination of the structure of the title compounds (+)‐ 5 and (+)‐ 9a were resolved by an unambiguous assignment of their absolute configuration. Accordingly, the dextrorotatory cis‐3‐hydroxy esters have (3R,4R)‐ and the laevorotatory enantiomers (3S,4S)‐configuration. The final evidences were demonstrated on both enantiomers (+)‐ and (?)‐ 5 by biological reduction of 4 by bakers' yeast and stereoselective [Ru^II(binap)]‐catalyzed hydrogenations of 4 (Scheme 2), by the application of the NMR Mosher method on (+)‐ and (?)‐ 5 (Scheme 3), as well as by the transformation of (+)‐ 5 into a common derivative and chiroptical correlation (Scheme 4).     

Enantioselective total synthesis of a natural hydrocarbazolone alkaloid,identification of its stereochemistry,and revision of its spectroscopic data

The natural hydrocarbazolone alkaloid (1R,2R,3R)-3-hydroxy-1,2-dimethyl-1,2,3,9-tetrahydro-4H-carbazol-4-one has been synthesized in a catalytic and enantioselective manner. A key hydrocarbazole derivative was constructed by the holmium-catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction of (silyloxyvinyl)indole as the diene. Total synthesis of the natural product clarified the ambiguity in the spectroscopic data reported for natural products.     

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.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 10,14-dimethyloctadec-1-ene, 5,9-dimethyloctadecane, and 5,9-dimethylheptadecane, the sex pheromones of female apple leafminer

The stereoselective synthesis of (10R,14R)-10,14-dimethyloctadec-1-ene (1), (5R,9R)-5,9-dimethyloctadecane (2), and (5R,9R)-5,9-dimethylheptadecane (3) the sex pheromone components of female apple leafminer was accomplished by reductive elimination tosyl and isonitrile groups of dialkylated tosylmethyl isonitrile. The key steps involved were dialkylation of TosMIC with 1-iodo 2-methyl alkanes, which were derived from Evan's alkylation of chiral auxiliary and subsequent reduction.     

Sartorymensin,a new indole alkaloid,and new analogues of tryptoquivaline and fiscalins produced by Neosartorya siamensis (KUFC 6349)

Seven new indole alkaloids including a new indoloazepinone derivative (2), two new quinazolinone derivatives (7, 8) and four new pyrazinoquinazolinone derivatives: epi-fiscalin C (10), epi-fiscalin A (12), neofiscalin A (13), epi-neofiscalin A (14) were isolated, together with 4-dihydroxy-3-methylacetophenone (1), tryptoquivaline (3), tryptoquivalines L (4), H (5), F (6) as well as fiscalins A (11) and C (9), from the culture of the fungus Neosartorya siamensis (KUFC 6349). The absolute configuration of the stereogenic carbons of the previously reported tryptoquivalines F, H, L was revised using the data obtained from an X-ray analysis of tryptoquivaline l and the NOESY correlations. The structures of the new pyrazinoquinazolinone derivatives (10, 12, 13, 14) were established based on 1D and 2D NMR spectral analysis, and the absolute configuration of their stereogenic carbons was determined by an X-ray crystallographic analysis of fiscalin C (9) and a new compound epi-fiscalin C (10), in conjunction with the correlations observed in their NOESY and long range COSY spectra. Compounds 2–8 and 12 were evaluated for their in vitro growth inhibitory activity on the human U373 and Hs683 glioblastoma, the A549 non-small cell lung cancer, the MCF-7 breast cancer and the SKMEL-28 melanoma cell lines by MTT colorimetric assay.     

Synthesis of enantiomerically pure (3R,4R,5R)-4-hydroxy isoleucine lactone

A short four-step synthesis of (3R,4R,5R)-4-hydroxyisoleucine lactone with total control of stereochemistry is reported, the key intermediate being the didehydroamino acid derivative arising from an aldol dehydration reaction between a glycine anion equivalent and butan-2,3-dione.