De novo asymmetric syntheses of (+)-goniothalamin, (+)-goniothalamin oxide, and 7,8-bis-epi-goniothalamin using asymmetric allylations

A highly enantio- and diastereoselective approach to either enantiomer of (+)-goniothalamin, (+)-goniothalamin oxide, and 7,8-bis-epi-goniothalamin oxide has been developed from achiral cinnamyl alcohol or cinnamaldehyde. The asymmetry of the synthesis was installed by means of a Krische or Leighton allylation. The remaining stereochemistry was installed by a diastereoselective epoxidation.     

Short syntheses of (−)-clavaminol A and deacetyl (+)-clavaminol H

Concise stereoselective syntheses of (?)-clavaminol A and deacetyl (+)-clavaminol H have been achieved from simple starting materials. Highlights of the synthesis for (?)-clavaminol A include a highly diastereoselective chelation-controlled hydride reduction of an amino ketone to give the anti amino alcohol directly, and NaBH₄-mediated dehalogenation. The main synthetic approach for deacetyl (+)-clavaminol H features a highly diastereoselective chelation-controlled hydride reduction of the amino ketone to construct the anti amino alcohol and a palladium catalyzed hydrogenation reaction at the final step.     

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.     

A new asymmetric synthesis of 2,6-cis-disubstituted 4-methylenepiperidines: total synthesis of (+)-alkaloid 241D and (+)-isosolenopsin A

A highly diastereoselective synthesis of 2,6-cis-disubstituted-4-methylenepiperidines based on a Mannich type intramolecular cyclization of an allylsilane on an iminium ion is described. The synthetic potential of this methodology is demonstrated by the enantioselective synthesis of two natural piperidine alkaloids: (+)-alkaloid 241D and (+)-isosolenopsin A.     

Organocatalytic enantioselective synthesis of quinolizidine alkaloids (+)-myrtine, (−)-lupinine, and (+)-epiepiquinamide

The organocatalytic synthesis of quinolizidine alkaloids (+)-myrtine, (−)-lupinine, and (+)-epiepiquinamide is described. It involved, as the key step, an enantioselective intramolecular aza-Michael reaction (IMAMR) catalyzed by Jørgensen catalyst I, affording the common precursor with high enantioselectivity. This compound was subsequently transformed into the three alkaloids in a highly diastereoselective manner.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-sapinofuranone B

Two approaches for the total synthesis of (+)-sapinofuranone B have been described. The first strategy utilizes the methodology developed earlier in our group to get the chiral propargyl alcohol and the second strategy involves generation of threo-1,2-diol derivative by diastereoselective and enantioselective addition of [(Z)-γ-methoxymethoxyallyl]diisopinocampheylborane onto aldehyde and cross metathesis as the key steps.     

Convergent synthesis of (+)-aspergillide B via a highly diastereoselective oxocarbenium allylation

The synthesis of (+)-aspergillide B is described by means of a highly diastereoselective oxocarbenium allylation followed by a cross-metathesis and final Yamaguchi macrolactonization.     

Synthesis of (+)-goniopypyrone and (+)-goniotriol using Pd-catalyzed carbonylation

Syntheses of (+)-goniopypyrone and (+)-goniotriol isolated from Goniothalamus giganteus were achieved. The key steps involve Pd-catalyzed carbonylation for lactone ring formation and diastereoselective reduction of ynone using the (R)-CBS catalyst and borane dimethyl sulfide complex.     

Stereoselective construction of skipped polyol enabled by oxonia-Cope rearrangement and iodolactonization: enantioselective synthesis of (+)-yashabushitriol

Skipped polyol is a common motif in numerous biologically significant polyketides and has been the focus of the development of novel synthetic methods and strategies. In this work, we devised a highly diastereoselective approach to access skipped triol(anti,syn-isomer) from a chiral α-allenic alcohol which was derived from kinetic resolution in our previous studies. An iodolactonization and subsequent radical deiodonation efficiently introduced the hydroxyl group at C3 in a highly diastereoselective manner and exemplified in enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-yashabushitriol.     

A total synthesis of (+)-isolaurepan

A versatile and efficient method for the enantioselective synthesis of 2,7-cis-disubstituted oxepane 1c, (+)-isolaurepan, using oxidative resolution of a secondary alcohol and highly diastereoselective Et₃SiH/TMSOTf-promoted reductive cyclization of a hydroxy ketone is described.     

Diastereoselective total synthesis of (+)-morusimic acid B, an amino acid from Morus alba

An efficient, flexible and diastereoselective synthesis of the naturally occurring pyrrolidine amino acid, (+)-morusimic acid B, has been accomplished. Starting from chiral, optically active (+)-(3S)-hydroxy butyric acid methyl ester the key steps of our synthesis are diastereoselective α-alkylation of its dianion to introduce the main part of the side chain, Curtius rearrangement of the hydrazide derivative to a 2-oxazolidinone followed by N→π-cyclization with mercury(II) acetate to generate the cis-2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidine ring. The remote C-3 stereocentre is established after chain elongation with the dianion of methyl acetoacetate and asymmetric hydrogenation of the resulting β-oxoester with Noyori's Ru(II)-(R)-BINAP catalyst.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (-)-swainsonine, (+)-1,2-di-epi-swainsonine,and (+)-1,2,8-tri-epi-swainsonine

The asymmetric synthesis of (-)-swainsonine via a nonchiral pool route that involves the Sharpless epoxidation to induce chirality is reported. The key steps involve vinyl epoxide aminolysis, ring-closing metathesis, and intramolecular N-alkylation to prepare the indolizidine ring and a highly diastereoselective cis-dihydroxylation using AD-mix-alpha. This synthetic strategy also allowed for the diastereoselective synthesis of (+)-1,2-di-epi-swainsonine and (+)-1,2,8-tri-epi-swainsonine.     

Total synthesis of (+)-valienamine and (−)-1-epi-valienamine via a highly diastereoselective allylic amination of cyclic polybenzyl ether using chlorosulfonyl isocyanate

The total synthesis of (+)-valienamine and (−)-1-epi-valienamine was concisely accomplished from readily available d-glucose via a highly diastereoselective amination of chiral benzylic ether using chlorosulfonyl isocyanate, intramolecular olefin metathesis, and diastereoselective reduction of cyclic enone using l-Selectride as the key steps.     

A new asymmetric synthesis of (+)-12b-epidevinylantirhine

We report a new asymmetric synthesis of the indole alkaloid derivative (+)-12b-epidevinylantirhine through stereoselective cyclization of a tethered indole nucleus onto an N-acyliminium ion intermediate, generated from a readily available non-racemic bicyclic lactam building block, and subsequent template modification through a highly diastereoselective conjugate addition protocol. In addition, we present the first X-ray crystal structure of this indole target.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-boronolide, (+)-anamarine, 8-epi-spicegerolide

A stereoselective total synthesis of the naturally occurring cytotoxic lactones (+)-boronolide, (+)-anamarine, and 8-epi-spicigerolide is described. d-Xylose has been used as a chiral source to construct the four contiguous oxygenated stereogenic centers of target molecules. The diastereoselective allylation was performed using Brown’s protocol and the lactone moiety was prepared by ring closing metathesis.     

Total synthesis of (+)-allocyathin B2

The first enantioselective synthesis of (+)-allocyathin was achieved. The synthesis features a Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation to install the first quaternary center, a Ru-catalyzed diastereoselective cycloisomerization to construct the six-membered ring, and a diastereoselective hydroxylative Knoevenagel reaction to introduce the final hydroxyl group. The unusual olefin isomerization of the Ru-catalyzed cycloisomerization was discussed and exploited for the synthesis.     

A stereoselective synthesis of (+)-L-733,060 from ethyl (R)-(+)-2,3-epoxypropanoate

An asymmetric synthesis of neurokinin substance P receptor antagonist (+)-L-733,060 starting from enantiomerically pure ethyl (R)-(+)-2,3-epoxypropanoate (ethyl glycidate) is described. The synthesis relies on a diastereoselective reductive amination, regioselective intramolecular epoxide opening, and in situ cyclization as the key steps.     

A concise approach to (+)-1-epi-castanospermine

A concise enantioselective synthesis of (+)-1-epi-castanospermine (2) is described, which featured the use of chiral non-racemic tetramic acid derivative 5 as a synthetic equivalent of the challenging synthon A through a highly diastereoselective vinylogous Mukaiyama type reaction.     

An asymmetric synthesis of (+)-monomorine I

The synthesis of (+)-monomorine I, an indolizidine alkaloid isolated from Monomorium pharaonis, has been achieved. The 2,6-cis-piperidine ring moiety of (+)-monomorine I was constructed using diastereoselective aminopalladation. Chain elongation via cross-metathesis using Hoveyda-Grubbs 2nd catalyst followed by deprotection of the Cbz group and cyclic reductive hydroamination afforded (+)-monomorine I.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (+)-1-epiaustraline and attempted synthesis of australine

A diastereoselective synthesis of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid, (+)-1-epiaustraline has been achieved via a diastereoselective syn-dihydroxylation of a pyrrolo[1,2-c]oxazol-3-one precursor that was readily prepared by a RCM reaction. Attempts to extend this methodology to the synthesis of australine were not successful since the final pyrrolidine ring closure to produce the desired pyrrolizidine of the target molecule was not productive.