Total Synthesis of (+)-Cornexistin

Herein, we describe the first total synthesis of (+)-cornexistin as well as its 8-epi-isomer starting from malic acid. The robust and scalable route features a Nozaki–Hiyama–Kishi reaction, an auxiliary-controlled syn-Evans-aldol reaction, and a highly efficient intramolecular alkylation to form the nine-membered carbocycle. The delicate maleic anhydride moiety of the nonadride skeleton was constructed from a β-keto nitrile. The developed route enabled the synthesis of 165 mg (+)-cornexistin.     

Total Synthesis of (+)‐Neomarinone

The first total synthesis of (+)‐neomarinone has been achieved by following a concise and convergent route using methyl (R)‐lactate and (R)‐3‐methylcyclohexanone as chiral building blocks. Key steps of the synthesis are the stereocontrolled formation of the two quaternary stereocenters by diastereoselective 1,4‐conjugate addition and enolate alkylation reactions, and the construction of the furanonaphthoquinone skeleton by regioselective Diels–Alder reaction between a 1,3‐bis(trimethylsilyloxy)‐1,3‐diene and a bromoquinone. The synthesis proves the relative and absolute stereochemistry of natural neomarinone.     

Total Synthesis of (+)‐Machaeriols B and C and of Their Enantiomers with a Cannabinoid Structure

An efficient and concise synthesis of the biologically interesting (+)‐machaeriol B ( 2 ) and its enantiomer 5 was accomplished from O‐phenylhydroxylamine ( 7 ) in four steps (Scheme 2). In addition, the first total synthesis of natural (+)‐machaeriol C ( 3 ) and its enantiomer 6 was achieved from the readily available ester 15 in eight steps (Scheme 4). The key strategies in the syntheses of 2 and 5 involved benzofuran formation through a [3,3]‐sigmatropic rearrangement and trans‐hexahydrodibenzopyran formation by a domino aldol‐type/hetero‐Diels–Alder reaction. In the case of 3 and 6 , the key steps were stilbene formation by a Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction and trans‐hexahydrodibenzopyran formation by domino reactions.     

Enantioselective and Collective Total Syntheses of Xanthanolides

An enantioselective synthesis of (+)‐8‐epi ‐xanthatin hinging on a chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed tandem allylboration/lactonization reaction is reported. With (+)‐8‐epi ‐xanthatin as the precursor, the collective synthesis of a series of synthetically challenging xanthanolides was also accomplished. Among them, xanthipungolide, one of the most complex xanthanolide monomers, was accessed through a bioinspired tandem double‐bond isomerization/6π electronic cyclization/intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction, and pungiolides A, B, D, E, and L–N, a group of xanthanolide dimers, were assembled through a bioinspired Diels–Alder dimerization followed by late‐stage diversification.     

Radical Cyclization Route to the Stereoselective Synthesis of (+)‐trans‐Cognac Lactone and (+)‐trans‐Aerangis Lactone

Stereoselective total synthesis of two chiral lactones, (+)‐trans‐cognac lactone (1b) and (+)‐trans‐aerangis lactone (2c), has been achieved from the same intermediate using a radical‐based cyclization route.     

Stereoselective Total Synthesis of Pectinolides A,C, and H

A simple and straightforward stereoselective total synthesis of Pectinolides A, C, and H is described. The synthesis has been started from commercially available (+)‐diethyl l ‐tartrate and involves Ohira–Bestmann reaction, Corey–Bakshi–Shibata (CBS) reduction, and Still–Gennari olefination as key steps.     

Total Synthesis of (+)‐Gracilamine Based on an Oxidative Phenolic Coupling Reaction and Determination of Its Absolute Configuration

The enantioselective total synthesis of (+)‐gracilamine ( 1 ) is described. The strategy features a diastereoselective phenolic coupling reaction followed by a regioselective intramolecular aza‐Michael reaction to construct the ABCE ring system. The configuration at C3a in 1 was controlled by the stereocenter at C9a, which was selectively generated (91 % ee) by an organocatalytic enantioselective aza‐Friedel–Crafts reaction developed by our research group. This synthesis revealed that the absolute configuration of (+)‐gracilamine is 3aR, 4S, 5S, 6R, 7aS, 8R, 9aS.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Arene cis‐Dihydrodiols from 2‐Pyrones

An enantioselective chemical synthesis of arene cis‐dihydrodiols has been realized from 2‐pyrones through sequential ytterbium‐catalyzed asymmetric inverse‐electron‐demand Diels–Alder (IEDDA) reaction of 2‐pyrones and retro‐Diels–Alder extrusion of CO₂. By using this strategy, a series of substituted arene cis‐dihydrodiols can be obtained efficiently with high enantioselectivity (>99 % ee in many cases). Based on this strategy, efficient and concise asymmetric total syntheses of (+)‐MK7607 and 1‐epi‐(+)‐MK7607 were accomplished.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Assembly of Octahydroindolones: Divergent Synthesis of Lycorine‐type Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids (+)‐α‐Lycorane and (+)‐Lycorine

We report the first catalytic asymmetric approach to octahydroindolones and a divergent enantioselective synthesis of perhydroindole alkaloids, as exemplified by lycorine‐type Amaryllidaceae alkaloids (+)‐α‐lycorane and (+)‐lycorine, from a common intermediate by using a highly concise route. The assembly of octahydroindolones employs a catalytic enantioselective 1,4‐conjugate addition of nitro dienynes, followed by a TsOH‐catalyzed cascade synthesis of highly functionalized enones, and a diastereoselective intramolecular Michael addition.     

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (−)‐Stenine and 9a‐epi‐Stenine

A route for the asymmetric synthesis of (?)‐stenine, a member of the Stemona alkaloid family used as folk medicine in Asian countries, is described. The key features of the sequence employed include stereoselective transformations on a cyclohexane ring controlled by a chiral auxiliary unit and an intramolecular Mitsunobu reaction to construct the perhydroindole ring system. By using an intermediate in the route to (?)‐stenine, an asymmetric synthesis of 9a‐epi‐stenine was also executed. The C(9a) stereocenter in 9a‐epi‐stenine was installed by using a Staudinger/aza‐Wittig reaction of a keto–azide precursor followed by reduction of the resulting imine. The results of this effort demonstrate the applicability of the chiral auxiliary based strategy to the preparation of naturally occurring alkaloids that contain highly functionalized cyclohexane cores.     

Total Synthesis of the Marine Sesquiterpene Quinones Hyatellaquinone and Spongiaquinone

The synthesis of the marine sesquiterpene quinone (+)‐hyatellaquinone ( 1 ) was achieved starting from the sesquiterpene aldehyde (+)‐albicanal ((+)‐ 3 ) (Schemes 3 and 4). Coupling of (+)‐albicanal with 2,3,5,6‐tetramethoxyphenyllithium led to the aryl‐sesquiterpene system, which was modified to the target molecule. Furthermore, the first total synthesis of the marine compound spongiaquinone ( 2 ) was carried out starting from ((?)‐albicanal (?)‐ 3 ) in a reaction sequence encompassing a stereoselective C?C bond hydrogenation and a one‐pot AcOH elimination/demethylation reaction (Schemes 7 and 10). The occurrence of 1,2‐ and 1,4‐benzoquinone forms of 1 and 2 depends on the pH of the solvent system.     

Enantioselective syntheses of 2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidines based on iridium-catalyzed allylic aminations--total syntheses of alkaloids from amphibian skins

A broadly applicable route to trans‐2,5‐disubstituted pyrrolidines has been developed. Key steps are an asymmetric iridium‐catalyzed allylic amination, a Suzuki–Miyaura coupling, and an intramolecular aza‐Michael addition. Enantiomeric excesses in the range of 93–99 % ee have been achieved. Total syntheses of the alkaloids (?)‐ 225 C , (+)‐ and (?)‐ 223 H (xenovenine), (+)‐ 223 AB , (+)‐ 195 B , and (+)‐ 223 R have been carried out as applications.     

gem‐Dihalocyclopropanes as Building Blocks in Natural‐Product Synthesis: Enantioselective Total Syntheses of ent‐Erythramine and 3‐epi‐Erythramine

ent‐Erythramine ((?)‐ 1 ), the enantiomer of the alkaloid erythramine, was prepared in 15 steps from known compounds. The first of three pivotal bond‐forming steps in the synthesis was a Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction of the starting materials to give a bis‐silyl ether. The second involved silver(I)‐induced electrocyclic ring opening of the gem‐dichlorocyclopropane formed in the next step and trapping of the ensuing π‐allyl cation by the tethered nitrogen atom to give, following cleavage of the allyloxycarbonyl protecting group, an approximately 5:6 mixture of the chromatographically separable diastereoisomeric spirocyclic products. In the third critical bond‐forming reaction, the iodide formed from one of the diastereoisomers underwent a radical‐addition/elimination reaction sequence that led to (?)‐ 1 in 89 % yield. The application of the same sequence of transformations to the other diastereoisomer afforded 3‐epi‐(+)‐erythramine (3‐epi‐(+)‐ 1 ).     

Thermal Isomerization of Isoborneols and Dehydroisoborneols to New Chiral Building Blocks in Terpenoid Synthesis

The substituted isoborneols 1a – 1g and 5,6‐dehydroisoborneols 6a – 6c , readily prepared in excellent yields from (+)‐camphor and (+)‐5,6‐dehydrocamphor ( 2 ) by aryl, vinyl, or alkyl Grignard addition in the presence of stoichiometric amounts of CeCl₃, were thermally isomerized in a flow reactor system under DGPTI (dynamic gas‐phase thermo‐isomerization) conditions at temperatures between 480 and 630° to give the enantiomerically pure monocyclic carbonyl compounds 7a – 7d, 19a , b, 23 , and 24 . In all cases, product formation proceeded highly regio‐ as well as stereoselectively. The absolute configurations of the new stereogenic centers were determined by ¹H‐NOE measurements. DGPTI of the aryl substrates 1a – 1d is proposed to effect initial cleavage of the weakest single bond in the molecule under formation of a diradical intermediate state followed by intramolecular H‐abstraction to afford the acetophenone derivatives 7a – 7d . This reaction path was further supported by a ²H‐labeling study showing the OH group to be the exclusive H‐source. In contrast, DGPTI of the vinyl substrates 1e and 6b allowed concerted retro‐ene and oxy‐Cope rearrangements. In the case of 5,6‐dehydro‐2‐phenylisoborneol ( 6a ), concomitant diradical and retro‐Diels–Alder reaction pathways could be observed. In addition, a new route to (+)‐trans‐α‐campholanic acid ( 9 ) and (+)‐trans‐α‐dihydrocampholytic acid ( 14 ) is presented by regioselective Baeyer–Villiger oxidation and subsequent hydrolysis of 7c and 7d , respectively.     

Highly trans‐Selective Arylation of Achmatowicz Rearrangement Products by Reductive γ‐Deoxygenation and Heck–Matsuda Reaction: Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (−)‐Musellarins A–C and Their Analogues

Fully functionalized pyranuloses derived from Achmatowicz rearrangement (AR) are versatile building blocks in organic synthesis. However, access to trans‐2,6‐dihydropyrans from pyranuloses remains underexplored. Herein, we report a new two‐step trans arylation of AR products to access 2,6‐trans‐dihydropyranones. This new trans‐arylation method built on numerous plausible, but unsuccessful, direct arylation reactions, including Ferrier‐type and Tsuji–Trost‐type reactions, was finally enabled by an unprecedented, highly regioselective γ‐deoxygenation of AR products by using Zn/HOAc and a diastereoselective Heck–Matsuda coupling. The synthetic utility of the reaction was demonstrated in the first asymmetric total synthesis of (?)‐musellarins A–C and 12 analogues in 11–12 steps. The brevity and efficiency of our synthetic route permitted preparation of enantiomerically pure musellarins and analogues (>20 mg) for preliminary cytotoxicity evaluation, which led us to identify two analogues with three‐to‐six times greater potency than the musellarins as promising new leads.     

Asymmetric Total Syntheses of (−)‐α‐Lycorane, (−)‐Zephyranthine,and Formal Synthesis of (+)‐Clivonine

An asymmetric route to (−)‐α‐lycorane and (−)‐zephyranthine, and a formal total synthesis of (+)‐clivonine were achieved. A pivotal intermediate, which serves as a potent precursor for the divergent syntheses of these natural products, was accessed by a diastereoselective Pd‐catalyzed cinnamylation of an N ‐tert ‐butanesulfinyl imine.     

Highly regioselective synthesis of chiral diamines via a Buchwald–Hartwig amination from camphoric acid and their application in the Henry reaction

In this work the synthesis of new asymmetric diamine ligands from camphoric acid is described. The new diamines can be directly prepared in a regioselective arylation of the less hindered primary amine group of (+)‐cis‐1,2,2‐trimethylcyclopentane‐1,3‐diamine via a Buchwald–Hartwig amination in high yields. The resulting diamines incorporate a secondary and primary amine group and were successfully applied as ligands in a copper‐catalyzed Henry reaction. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Enantioselective Catalysis Coupled with Stereodivergent Cyclization Strategies Enables Rapid Syntheses of (+)‐Limaspermidine and (+)‐Kopsihainanine A

Enantioselective Pd‐catalyzed allylic alkylations of dihydropyrido[1,2‐a ]indolone (DHPI) substrates were used to construct the C20‐quaternary stereocenters of multiple monoterpene indole alkaloids. Stereodivergent Pictet–Spengler and Bischler–Napieralski cyclization/reduction cascades furnish the cis‐ and trans ‐fused azadecalin subunits present in Aspidosperma and Kopsia alkaloids, respectively, en route to highly efficient syntheses of (+)‐limaspermidine and (+)‐kopsihainanine A.     

Synthetic Applications of the Baylis–Hillman Reaction: Simple and Convenient Synthesis of Five Important Insect Pheromones

A simple and convenient synthesis of five important insect pheromones by means of Baylis–Hillman adducts is described, i.e., of (2E,4S)‐2,4‐dimethylhex‐2‐enoic acid ( 1 ), a mandibular‐gland secretion of the male carpenter ant in the genus Camponotus, of (+)‐(S)‐manicone ( 2 ) and (+)‐(S)‐normanicone ( 3 ), two mandibular‐gland constituents of Manica ants, and of (+)‐dominicalure‐I ( 6 ) and (+)‐dominicalure‐II ( 7 ), two aggregation pheromones of the lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica (F). For the first time, the potential of the Baylis–Hillman chemistry for the stereoselective synthesis of trisubstituted olefins was successfully applied to the synthesis of these pheromone compounds.     

Stereoselective Iodolactonization of 4‐Allenoic Acids with Efficient Chirality Transfer: Development of a New Electrophilic Iodination Reagent

A highly stereoselective iodolactonization of 4‐allenoic acids with a new sterically demanding electrophilic iodination reagent to afford optically active γ‐butyrolactones has been developed. The reaction shows high efficiency of axial chirality transfer and excellent Z/E selectivity and has been applied to the synthesis of chiral cis‐β,γ‐disubstituted γ‐butyrolactones to give very high diastereomeric and enantiomeric excess values. The reaction has been successfully utilized in the synthesis of naturally occurring compounds (+)‐cis‐whisky lactone and (+)‐cis‐3‐methyl‐4‐decanolide.