Enantioselective synthesis of cyclopropyl δ-lactonealdehydes and dodecyl-5-ene-1-yne-3-ol: advanced intermediates of solandelactone A and B

A stereocontrolled synthesis of cyclopropyl δ-lactonealdehydes and dodecyl-5-ene-1-yne-3-ol is accomplished with predictable absolute stereochemistry via organocatalytic and catalytic asymmetric transfer hydrogenation reactions. The salient feature of this protocol is the genesis of chirality through an organocatalytic reaction and utilized for installing a critical bifunctional trans-cyclopropane motif, which is a key segment of every representative member of the oxylipin class of natural products such as solandelactone A and B.     

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.     

Synthesis and bioactivity of (±)-tetrahydrohaliclonacyclamine A

The total synthesis of tetrahydrohaliclonacyclamine A (5) is described. A key step involves the hydrogenation of an unsaturated bis-piperidine incorporated into a 17-membered macrocycle to provide the cis-syn-cis stereochemistry common to haliclonacyclamines A-D. The hydrogenation product is advanced to the title compound following a five-step reaction sequence. Tetrahydrohaliclonacyclamine A is shown to bind to a variety of ion channels/GPCRs and act as a muscarinic M₁ antagonist.     

Total synthesis of emericellamides A and B

A concise total synthesis of emericellamides A and B, two cyclic depsipeptides exhibiting antibacterial and cytotoxic activities, is reported. A Paterson anti-aldol reaction and a hydroxy directed 1,3-anti reduction were applied for construction of the polypropionate unit with the required stereochemistry in emericellamides A and B. An FDPP mediated macrolactamization was used to construct the macrocycle of emericellamides A and B.     

Total synthesis of maremycins A,B, C1/C2, D1, and D2

The total synthesis of maremycins A, B, C₁/C₂, D₁, and D₂ is achieved starting from the natural amino acids l-isoleucine and S-methyl-l-cysteine, in which the total synthesis of maremycins B, C₁/C₂, and D₂ is accomplished for the first time. The synthesis features a position-selective intramolecular bromination process for the synthesis of key chiral building block, a Pd-catalyzed indole synthesis for the preparation of (2S,3S)-β-methyltryptophan and hydroxylation of oxindoles by molecular oxygen. In addition, the protocol for conversion of maremycins A and B to maremycins C and D was improved.     

Total synthesis of PGF2α and 6,15-diketo-PGF1α and formal synthesis of 6-keto-PGF1α via three-component coupling

The asymmetric total synthesis of PGF_2α and 6,15-diketo-PGF_1α and formal synthesis of 6-keto-PGF_1α from a common key intermediate are described. The key intermediate, which has a chiral cyclopentane backbone possessing suitable functional groups with required stereochemistry for both side chains, was prepared from (R)-4-silyloxy-2-cyclopentenone through a three-component coupling reaction. The Wittig reaction, Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi (NHK) coupling and cross metathesis completed the synthesis of PGF_2α, 6,15-diketo-PGF_1α and 6-keto-PGF_1α.     

Copper-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to 1-(N,N-diisopropylcarbamoyloxy)-1-tosyl-1-alkenes

A copper-catalyzed conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to 1-(N,N-diisopropylcarbamoyloxy)-1-tosyl-1-alkenes led to 1-(N,N-diisopropylcarbamoyloxy)-1-tosyl-2-branched alkanes. Various copper ligands were screened for this reaction. From certain substrates and allylmagnesium bromide, several Josiphos ligands gave low to moderate asymmetric inductions, along with good diastereoselectivity. The stereochemistry of the 1-(N,N-diisopropylcarbamoyloxy)-1-tosyl-2-branched alkanes from this reaction was assigned by comparison with the same products from another synthetic route using chiral pool synthesis and stereoselective lithiation methods.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of unsaturated 1,2-amino alcohols from α-hydroxy allyl ethers using chlorosulfonyl isocyanate

Diastereoselective synthesis of 1,2-amino alcohols was achieved from a highly diastereoselective allylic amination reaction of α-hydroxy allyl ethers using chlorosulfonyl isocyanate. Diastereoselectivities varied depending on the stereochemistry of the ethers used and the stability of the carbocation intermediate obtained during the reaction. We propose that this CSI reaction is the results of either a S_Ni or S_N1 mechanism, according to the stability of the carbocation intermediate.     

Chemistry of odorants: stereoselective synthesis of octahydronaphthalene-based perfumery Georgywood, (+,−)-1-[(1R,2S)-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydro-1,2,8,8-tetramethylnaphthalen-2-yl]ethan-1-one

A straightforward synthesis of octahydronaphthalene-based fragrance, such as Georgywood, is described. The Lewis acid tin (IV) chloride catalyzed efficiently an original one-pot sequential cycloaddition-clyclization process by reaction of myrcene with 3-bromo-but-3-en-2-one, leading directly to the octahydronaphthalene skeleton in very good yields (85%). Then, dehydrohalogenation with DBU gave the key 2,4-dienone intermediate in excellent yield (85%). Regioselective Michael addition gave rise to the formation of the addition product as a trans/cis diastereoisomeric mixture, by reaction either with CH₃Cu·BF₃ (6:1 ratio, 70%) or (CH₃)₂CuLi/TMSCl reagents (3:1 ratio, 80%). The generation of thermodynamically more stable enolate by treatment of the diastereoisomeric mixture with sodium hydride in tetrahydrofuran in the presence of an excess of methyl iodide, allowed stereoselective introduction of the methyl group at C2, leading to the formation of Georgywood in good yield (60%), as the only diastereoisomer, with a trans stereochemistry of the two methyl groups as demonstrated by NMR experiments.     

Synthesis of the C17-C25 subunit of lasonolide A utilizing a Tsuchihashi-Yamamoto type rearrangement

An efficient synthesis of the C₁₇-C₂₅ subunit resident in (−)-lasonolide A is reported herein. The key reaction features that were utilized include a Tsuchihashi-Yamamoto type rearrangement and Molander-Reformatsky SmI₂ mediated intramolecular aldol reaction sequence. Lastly, a diastereoselective target oriented β-C-glycoside formation sequence via an oxocarbenium reduction completed the stereochemistry required for the completion of the C₁₇-C₂₅ segment of (−)-lasonolide A.     

Three-membered ring formation reaction—III : Mechanism of the reaction of α-halogenoacrylic ester with organozinc compounds

The stereochemistry of ring formation in the reaction of α-halogenoacrylic ester with organozinc compounds was studied using β-deuterated α-halogenoacrylic ester. A quantitative study was made on the steric course of every step of the reactions involved in the synthesis of methyl β-deuterio-α-bromoacrylate-cis-d₁ starting from methyl propiolate. The mode of the CC double bond opening of methyl β-deuterio-α-bromoacrylate-cis-_d1 to form dimethyl 1 -bromo-2-propyl-cis-1,2- cyclopropanedicarboxylate-d₂ was confirmed to be cis and trans in a 50 to 50 ratio. Asymmetric syntheses for the cyclopropanedicarboxylic ester were possible, especially under the influence of chiral organozinc alkoxide system. A stepwise mechanism was postulated for the ring formation reaction.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of (±)-7-deoxy-trans-dihydronarciclasine, a potent antineoplastic phenanthridone alkaloid

A short and efficient stereoselective total synthesis of (±)-7-deoxy-trans-dihydronarciclasine, a highly potent antineoplastic agent and constituent of the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, is described. Starting from a known arylcyclohexylamine-type precursor 6, the C-ring with the required stereochemistry is constructed using a chemo- and stereoselective enone reduction (NaBH₄/CaCl₂ system) and a Mitsunobu reaction. For the B-ring closure, the Banwell modification of the Bischler-Napieralski reaction was applied.     

Synthesis of C1–C11 eribulin fragment and its diastereomeric analogues

A practical stereoselective synthesis of the central C1–C10 fragment of eribulin and its two diastereomeric analogues is developed. Our approach relied on the use of l-ascorbic acid as the starting material which allowed accessing a key intermediate with a syn diol moiety (C9 and C10 of eribulin) and a carboxylic ester group. A functionalized six membered lactone having several required hydroxyl groups was then obtained. In a number of steps, the lactone was converted to an intermediate for our key oxa-Michael reaction. A regio- and stereocontrolled intramolecular oxa-Michael reaction completed the synthesis of the C1–11 fragment having a trans-fused tetrahydropyrans with the exact stereochemistry of various hydroxyl groups, as in eribulin.     

Building block synthesis of predominantly (E) symmetrical and unsymmetrical 1,2-difluorostilbenes from 1,2-dibromo-1,2-difluoroethene

An efficient synthesis of predominantly (E) symmetrical or unsymmetrical 1,2-difluorostilbenes based on the Suzuki–Miyaura palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of arylboronic acids with predominantly (E)-1,2-dibromo-1,2-difluoroethene in the presence of Cs₂CO₃ in toluene is described. The reaction preserved the stereochemistry of the building block and performed in good yield independently of the electron-withdrawing or electron-donating character of the substituents.     

Austrocolorone B and austrocolorin B1, cytotoxic anthracenone dimers from the Tasmanian mushroom Cortinarius vinosipes Gasparini

The yellow dihydroanthracenone dimer, austrocolorin B₁ and the unique violet-red 1,4-anthraquinone dimer, austrocolorone B, were isolated from the Tasmanian mushroom Cortinariusvinosipes and their structures and stereochemistry were determined from spectroscopic data. Austrocolorin B₁ and austrocolorone B were found to exhibit potent cytotoxic activity in vitro against the murine lymphoblast (P388D₁) cell line with IC₅₀ values in the range 10-31 μg/mL.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of Substituted 2-(Z-Styrylsulfonyl)-1H-imidazoles and Benzothiazole

A novel method has been reported involving the synthesis of z-styryl sulfides by the reaction of phenylacetylene with 2-mercpto benzimidazoles and benzthiazole using NaOH as a base in absolute ethanol. On further oxidation with H₂O₂, these resulted in the formation of the desired styryl sulfones in good yields with retention of stereochemistry.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 2-alkyl-3-thiazoline carboxylates: stereochemistry of the MnO2-mediated oxidation of cis- and trans-2-alkyl-thiazolidine-(4R)-carboxylates

The asymmetric synthesis of a series of 3-thiazoline carboxylates, 2, was effected by MnO₂ oxidation of the corresponding cis/trans thiazolidines, 1. The stereochemistry of the oxidation reaction was studied using NMR and chiral GC analyses. Compounds 2 were obtained with enantiomeric excesses (e.e.s) in the range of 40–100%.     

Stereoselective synthesis of the C1–C12 fragment of the thuggacins

A concise asymmetric synthesis of the C1–C12 fragment of the antibacterial natural product thuggacins has been achieved. The stereochemistry of this fragment was established efficiently via stereoselective reduction and Evans-aldol condensation. Hanztsch’s method and a Horner–Wadsworth–Emmnons reaction were employed for thiazole formation and the construction of the E-α,β-unsaturated double bond.     

Artanomadimers A–F: six new dimeric guaianolides from Artemisia anomala

A novel dimeric guaianolide with an unprecedented skeleton, named artanomadimer A (1), and five new analogues, artanomadimers B–F (2–6), were isolated from the aerial parts of Artemisia anomala. Their structures and stereochemistry were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods, and the absolute stereochemistry of compound 4 was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Artanomadimer A (1) is probably formed through a Diels–Alder reaction with the new carbon–carbon bond formation of C-11/C-2′ and C-13/C-5′ based on its structure. A cytotoxic evaluation showed that compounds 1 and 6 exhibited significant inhibitory effects against the cell growth of BGC-823 tumor cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 2.71 and 6.25 μM, respectively.     

Synthetic and spectroscopic studies on the structures of uniflorines A and B: structural revision to 1,2,6,7-tetrahydroxy-3-hydroxymethylpyrrolizidine alkaloids

The diastereoselective synthesis of the C-2 epimer and the C-1, C-2 di-epimers of the putative structure of the alkaloid uniflorine A has been achieved. The synthesis of the latter di-epimers employed a novel pyrrolo[1,2-c]oxazin-1-one precursor to allow for the reversal of π-facial diastereoselectivity in an osmium(VIII)-catalyzed syn-dihydroxylation (DH) reaction. The NMR spectral data of these epimeric compounds and that of related isomers did not match that of the natural product. From a comparison of the NMR data of uniflorines A and B with that of casuarine and the known synthetic 1,2,6,7-tetrahydroxy-3-hydroxymethylpyrrolizidine isomers we concluded unequivocally that uniflorine B is the known alkaloid casuarine. Although we cannot unequivocally prove the structure of uniflorine A, without access to the original material and data, the published data suggest that the natural product is also a 1,2,6,7-tetrahydroxy-3-hydroxymethylpyrrolizidine with the same relative C-7-C-7a-C-1-C-2-C-3 stereochemistry as casuarine. We thus suggest that uniflorine A is 6-epi-casuarine.