Asymmetric synthesis of (-)-7-epiaustraline and (+)-1,7-diepiaustraline

A diastereoselective and modular approach to the synthesis of the 3-hydroxymethyl-2,3,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-1H-pyrrolizine-1,2,7-triol structure, characteristic of several natural pyrrolizidine natural products, has been developed. This approach culminated in the synthesis of (-)-7-epiaustraline and (+)-1,7-diepiaustraline. The oxazolidinone group has been found to be a useful protecting group in the RCM reaction and, as part of a pyrrolo[1,2-c]oxazol-3-one ring system, has functioned as a stereo- and regio-directing group in a key diastereoselective cis-dihydroxylation reaction and a regioselective nucleophilic ring-opening of a S,S-dioxo-dioxathiole.     

Efficient total synthesis of manzacidin B

The highly diastereoselective synthesis of the marine natural product, (?)-manzacidin B, is described. A novel copper-catalyzed aldol reaction of the α-methylserine-derived aldehyde with an isocyanoacetate possessing (1R)-camphorsultam as the chiral auxiliary proceeded in a highly diastereoselective manner to give the (4R,5R,6R)-adduct, which was converted into manzacidin B in a few steps.     

Total synthesis of (+)-hyacinthacine A2 based on SmI2-induced nitrone umpolung

[reaction: see text] A concise total synthesis of (+)-hyacinthacine A(2), a polyhydroxylated pyrrolizidine alkaloid, is described using our recently discovered inversion of the C-N bond polarity in nitrones. In the key step, the diastereoselective reductive coupling of a L-xylose-derived cyclic nitrone with ethyl acrylate allowed the assembly of the bicyclic core of the target molecule, by way of a tandem formation of the C-C and C-N bonds. The method opens a novel, short, and general route for the synthesis of other pyrrolizidine alkaloids.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of enokipodins A-D

The first enantioselective total synthesis of enokipodins A-D, highly oxidized α-cuparenone-type sesquiterpenoids with antimicrobial activity, was accomplished by using Meyers' diastereoselective alkylation protocol for the construction of the C7-quaternary asymmetric center. The present synthesis also constitutes a formal enantioselective synthesis of (S)-1,4-cuparenediol and (S)-cuparene-1,4-quinone.     

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.     

An enantioselective total synthesis of pinnaic acid

An enantioselective and convergent total synthesis of marine natural product pinnaic acid has been achieved. Our general synthetic approach is featured with an asymmetric hydrogenation of racemic γ-keto ester 3, a diastereoselective methylation on the α-methylene of the (1R,5R)-lactone 4, and a diastereoselective Michael addition of the tertiary nitro cyclopentane. The central azaspiro[4.5]decane was constructed utilizing reductive cyclization of the δ-nitroketone followed by highly stereoselective reduction of the cyclic imine with NaBH₄. Ultimately, successive use of triethyl-2-phosphonopropionate and Heathcock's phosphorane 18 to elaborate C5 and C13 side chains completed the total synthesis of pinnaic acid.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of (+)-nephrosterinic acid and (+)-protolichesterinic acid

A diastereoselective synthesis of (+)-nephrosterinic acid and (+)-protolichesterinic acid, common members of the paraconic acids is described. The synthesis is based on a diastereoselective orthoester Johnson–Claisen rearrangement of a (Z)-allyl alcohol with a vicinal dioxolane moiety as key steps. The synthesis is completed in 10 steps and with overall yields of 15.9% for (+)-nephrosterinic acid and 16.4% for (+)-protolichesterinic acid.     

On the stereoselective bicyclization of aminodienes catalyzed by chelating diamide complexes of the group 3 metals. A direct comparison of Sc(III) and Y(III) bis(amide)s with an application to the synthesis of alkaloid 195F

Highly diastereoselective bicyclizations of aminodienes catalyzed by chelating diamide complexes of Sc(III) and Y(III) that lead to pyrrolizidines and indolizidines are described. This bis(annulation) procedure has been utilized in a concise synthesis of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid 195F.     

First total synthesis of (+)-viroallosecurinine

The first diastereoselective chiral synthesis of (+)-viroallosecurinine, isolated from Securinega virosa as a cytotoxic alkaloid, was achieved by using a chelation-controlled addition of an alkyne moiety to the corresponding ketone, and a ring-closing metathesis, as key reactions.     

First total synthesis of a new pyrrolizidine alkaloid, amphorogynine A

An efficient and stereodefined strategy is described for the first asymmetric synthesis of a new type of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, amphorogynine A and its 1-epi-isomer. The key 2,4-disubstituted pyrrolidine ring was constructed by elaboration of the chiral lactam derivative incorporating the d-malic acid-derived skeleton through asymmetric cis-allylation of the functionalized allysilane.     

Studies on the synthesis of the lasubine alkaloids

Formal syntheses of lasubine II and subcosine II have been completed by the synthesis of epi-lasubine II. The synthesis involves diastereoselective allylation of a methoxy isoxazolidine and a tandem hydrogenation process leading stereoselectively to a trisubstituted piperidine.     

Enantiospecific synthesis of (−)-2-hydroxy-exo-brevicomin

An enantiospecific synthesis of (−)-2-hydroxy-exo-brevicomin was achieved from l-(+)-tartaric acid in high yield. The key step involves a very highly diastereoselective reduction of a keto Weinreb amide.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of cryptopyranmoscatone A1

The first total synthesis of cryptopyranmoscatone A1 isolated from Cryptocarya moschata has been accomplished from 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-d-glucal. In addition to the RCM and cross-metathesis (CM) reactions, the synthesis features a highly diastereoselective Brown’s allylation reaction and sets the absolute stereochemistry of the natural product.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of phomonol

An efficient asymmetric total synthesis of phomonol 1 is presented, starting from (S)-1,2-epoxypentane. The synthesis features Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD), diastereoselective reductive etherification and Wacker oxidation as key steps.     

The efficient synthesis of (3R,5R)-5-hydroxypiperazic acid and its diastereomer using Lewis acid-promoted diastereoselective Strecker synthesis

The stereoselective synthesis of (3R,5R)-5-hydroxypiperazic acid, a component of naturally occurring antibiotic cyclodepsipeptides, and its diastereomer was achieved via the use of Lewis acid-promoted diastereoselective Strecker synthesis as a key step, in which an interesting stereochemical reversal of diastereoselectivity by the choice of Lewis acid catalyst was observed.     

A synthesis of 5-hydroxysedamine using hydroformylation

A synthesis of 5-hydroxysedamine, a Sedum alkaloid, has been completed using N,O-heterocycle chemistry to establish the aminoalcohol structure, hydroformylation to form the piperidine ring and diastereoselective dihydroxylation to introduce the 5-hydroxy group.     

Isolation synthesis and glycosidase inhibition profile of 3-epi-casuarine

3-epi-Casuarine, the first naturally occurring stereoisomer of casuarine, was isolated from Myrtus communis L. The glycosidase inhibition profile and NMR spectra of 3-epi-casuarine are compared with those of casuarine; the change in configuration at one of the six stereogenic centres causes a dramatic change in the conformation of the bicyclic system. The key step in the 6% overall yield synthesis of 3-epi-casuarine from d-gluconolactone is the efficient cyclization of a completely unprotected pentahydroxyaminomesylate to the pyrrolizidine nucleus. A low yield synthesis of casuarine is also reported.     

Diastereoselective total synthesis of 8-epigrosheimin

The first diastereoselective total synthesis of 8-epigrosheimin was accomplished relying entirely on substrate-controlled methods. 8-Epigrosheimin, isolated as an amoebicidal and antibiotic compound from Crepis virens, is a multi-chiral-centered guaianolide with a cis-hydroazulene and a trans-annulated γ-butyrolactone ring. Our approach featured that the γ-butyrolactone unit was formed firstly before the construction of the cycloheptane ring system. The key steps of the synthesis involved (1) a stereoselective Mukaiyama aldol addition; (2) an oxidative γ-lactonization; and (3) an intramolecular aldehyde-ene cyclization.     

A divergent strategy for synthesis of the tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids renieramycin G and a lemonomycin analog

A divergent synthesis to the tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids (±)-renieramycin G and (±)-lemonomycinone amide is reported. A strategy was developed that allowed access to both the diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane and diazabicyclo[3.2.1]octane ring systems of the respective targets from a common advanced intermediate. The high diastereoselectivity observed throughout the synthesis is controlled by the first stereocenter formed from alkylation of an unactivated isoquinoline. Key findings include the synthesis of isoquinolines under palladium-free Larock conditions, diastereoselective ionic hydrogenation conditions to set the 1,3-cis-tetrahydroisoquinoline architecture, a highly diastereoselective reprotonation, and a thiophilic Lewis acid-catalyzed 5-endo-trig N-acyl iminium ion silyl enol ether cyclization. This divergent approach to the tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids offers an alternative strategy to further structural diversity in this family of natural products.     

An aldol approach to the synthesis of the anti-tubercular agent erogorgiaene

A total synthesis of erogorgiaene is described in 16 steps. The synthesis relies upon a highly diastereoselective intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction of an oxetane derived via an asymmetric syn aldol coupling.