A Total Synthesis of Aphidicolin: Stereospecific Synthesis of (±)-3α, 18-Dihydoxy-17-Noraphidicolan-16-one

A simple, efficient, and stereospecific total synthesis of (±)-3α, 18-dihydroxy-17-noraphidicolan-16-one (2) , by solvolytic rearrangement of the endo-bicyclo-[2.2.2]oct-5-en-2-yl methanesulfonate 16 , is described. Since aphidicolin (1) has already been obtained from 2 , the preparation of the latter formally constitutes a new total synthesis of 1 .     

Syntheses of (±)-17α- and (±)-17β-hydroxytacamonine; determination of configuration at C-17

Both (±)-17α-hydroxytacamonine (3) and its 17β-isomer (4) were synthesized in two steps (one-pot) from aldehyde mixture 5/6 via the cyanohydrin reaction. NMR spectral characterization of isomer 3 revealed it to be unidentical with natural 17-hydroxytacamonine, whereas spectral data of isomer 4 were in agreement with those published for the natural isomer. The configuration at C-17 was confirmed by NOE difference spectroscopy.     

Total Synthesis of (±)-3-Deoxy-7,8-dihydromorphine, (±)-4-Methoxy-N-methylmorphinan-6-one and 2,4-Dioxygenated (±)-Congeners

A total synthesis of racemic 3-deoxy-7,8-dihydromorphine ((±)- 2 ) and 4-me-thoxy-ALmethylmorphinan-6-one ((±)- 3 ) is described. The key intermediate was 2,4-dihydroxy-N-formylmorphinan-6-one (11) , obtained from 3,5-dibenzyloxy-phenylacetic acid (4) in 41.8% overall yield. Bromination of 11 , and treatment with aqueous N_aOH-solution afforded, after N-deblocking and reductive N-methylation with concomitant removal of the aromatic bounded Br-atom, the morphinanone 14. Elimination of the HO–C(2) group in 14 was accomplished by hydrogenolysis of its N-phenyltetrazolyl ether 15 , to give 3-deoxy-6,0-didehydro-7,8-dihydromorphine (16). Reduction of 16 with L-Selectride at low temperature provided (±)- 2 in high yield. The ether 15 directly afforded, under more vigorous reduction conditions, 4-hydroxy-N-methylmorphinan-6-one (17). and after O-methylation of 17 , the methyl ether (±)- 3 was obtained. A (1:l)-mixture of 4-hydroxy-2-methoxy-N-methylmor-phinan-6-one (28) and its 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy isomer 30 svere obtained by Grewe-cyclization of a mono-methoxylated aromatic precursor similar to that which afforded 11. The 2,4-dioxygenated N-methylmorphinan-6-ones 29 , 31 and 38 were also prepared and characterized.     

Total Synthesis of (±)‐Integrifolin

The total synthesis of (±)‐integrifolin has been achieved for the first time through the stereoselective preparation of the bicyclo[5.3.0]decane skeleton based on the tungsten‐catalyzed cyclization of acyclic trienynes under photoirradiation conditions. Further key transformations of the cyclized product are the Tamao oxidation through cyclic silyl ether, the introduction of two oxygen functionalities by the oxidation of the diene and the construction of three exo‐methylene moieties.     

Total Synthesis of (±)‐Strictamine

The total synthesis of strictamine has been achieved in nine steps from a known enol triflate. Characteristic features of our approach included: a) creation of a C7 all‐carbon quaternary stereocenter at an early synthetic stage; b) use of an N,N‐dimethyl tertiary amine as a surrogate of the primary amine for the rapid build‐up of a functionalized 2‐azabicyclo[3,3,1]nonan‐9‐one skeleton (achieved by using a reaction sequence of α‐bromination of the ketone, followed by a stereoconvergent intramolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction); and c) a late‐stage construction of the indolenine unit.     

Total Synthesis of (±)‐Waihoensene

The first total synthesis of waihoensene, a tetracyclic diterpene containing an angular triquinane and a six‐membered ring, with four contiguous quaternary carbon atoms, was achieved through the tandem cycloaddition reaction of an allenyl diazo substrate containing a six‐membered ring via trimethylenemethane (TMM) diyl intermediate.     

Total Synthesis of (±)‐Boonein

A total synthesis of (±)‐boonein ( 8 ) from bicyclo[2.2.1]ketone 9 is described. Bicyclo[3.2.1]lactone 10 is the key intermediate.     

Total Synthesis of (±)‐Corymine

The first total synthesis of the hexacyclic indole alkaloid (±)‐corymine is described. Starting from the readily available N‐protected tryptamine, the title compound was achieved in 21 steps in 3.4 % overall yield. Key steps of the synthesis include: a) the addition of a malonate to a 3‐bromooxindole to afford 3,3‐disubstituted oxindole, b) the formation of a 12‐membered cyclic enol ether by intramolecular O‐propargylation, immediately followed by propargyl Claisen rearrangement to provide the α‐allenyl ketone stereospecifically, c) DMDO oxidation to install a hydroxy group in a highly stereoselective manner, and d) the SmI₂‐mediated reductive C−O bond cleavage to remove the α‐keto carboxyl group.