Total synthesis of neolaulimalide and isolaulimalide

The first total syntheses of the potential antitumoral leads neolaulimalide (2) and isolaulimalide (3) have been achieved. Key steps in our convergent, fully stereocontrolled route are a Yamaguchi macrolactonization, a Julia-Lythgoe-Kocienski olefination, a Kulinkovich reaction, and a cyclopropyl-allyl rearrangement to install the exo-methylene group. Overall, we synthesized 2 in 21 linear steps (3% yield) and 3 in 24 steps (2% yield).     

Synthesis of 2'-C-alpha-(hydroxyalkyl) and 2'-C-alpha-alkylcytidine phosphoramidites: analogues for probing solvent interactions with RNA

Nucleoside analogues bearing 2'-C-alpha-(hydroxyalkyl) and 2'-C-alpha-alkyl substitutes have numerous applications in RNA chemistry and biology. In particular, they provide a strategy to probe the interaction between the 2'-hydroxyl group of RNA and water. To incorporate these nucleoside analogues into oligonucleotides for studies of the group II intron (Gordon, P. M.; Fong, R.; Deb, S.; Li, N.-S.; Schwans, J. P.; Ye, J.-D.; Piccirilli, J. A. Chem. Biol. 2004, 11, 237), we synthesized six new phosphoramidite derivatives of 2'-deoxy-2'-C-alpha-(hydroxyalkyl)cytidine (36: R = -(CH2)2OH; 38: R = -(CH2)3OH; 40: R = -(CH2)4OH) and 2'-deoxy-2'-C-alpha-alkylcytidine (37: R = -CH2CH3; 39: R = -(CH2)2CH3; 41: R = -(CH2)3CH3) from cytidine or uridine via 2'-C-alpha-allylation, followed by alkene and alcohol transformations. Phosphoramidites 36 and 37 were prepared from cytidine in overall yields of 14% (10 steps) and 7% (11 steps), respectively. Phosphoramidites 38 and 39 were prepared from uridine in overall yields of 30% (10 steps) and 13% (11 steps), respectively. Phosphoramidites 40 and 41 were synthesized from uridine in overall yields of 21% (13 steps) and 25% (14 steps), respectively.     

Enantiodivergent Syntheses of (R)- and (S)-3,5-Dimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-ones from (R)-Pulegone

R-(+)-pulegone (1) is transformed to (R)-5-methyl-2-(phenylsulfinyl)cyclohexanone (5) (65%, 3 steps). Sulfoxide 5 is converted to R-(-)-3,5-dimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-one (4) (53%, 4 steps) and S-(+)-4 (26%, 3 steps).     

Efficient enantiomeric synthesis of pyrrolidine and piperidine alkaloids from tobacco

An enantiomeric synthesis of six piperidine and pyrrolidine alkaloids, (S)-nornicotine 1, (S)-nicotine 2, (S)-anatabine 3, (S)-N-methylanatabine 4, (S)-anabasine 5, and (S)-N-methylanabasine 6, known as natural products in tobacco, was established from a common chiral homoallylic (S)-3-(1-azido-but-3-enyl)-pyridine 15. An intramolecular hydroboration-cycloalkylation of the homoallylic azide intermediate 15 served as the key step in the pyrrolidine ring formation. A ring closing metathesis reaction (RCM) of a diethylenic amine intermediate (S)-allyl-(1-pyridin-3-yl-but-3-enyl)-carbamic acid benzyl ester 20 served as the key step in the piperidine ring formation. From the commercially available 3-pyridinecarboxaldehyde 13, a short and convenient enantiomeric synthesis of tobacco alkaloids is described: (S)-nornicotine 1 (5 steps, with an overall yield of 70%), (S)-nicotine 2 (6 steps, 65%), (S)-anatabine 3 (8 steps, 30%), (S)-N-methylanatabine 4 (8 steps, 25%), (S)-anabasine 5 (8 steps, 35%), and (S)-N-methylanabasine 6 (8 steps, 25%).     

Efficient and selective synthesis of siphonarienolone and related reduced polypropionates via Zr-catalyzed asymmetric carboalumination

[reaction: see text] Siphonarienolone (1) has been synthesized from siphonarienal (3) in 66% over four steps. Synthesis of 3, in turn, has been achieved in two steps (85% combined yield) from 4, prepared from 3-buten-1-ol in seven steps (23% combined yield). Also, a two-step conversion of 3 into siphonarienone (2) is reported.     

Total synthesis of dispyrin, purpurealidin E, and aplysamine-1

Bromotyrosine alkaloids dispyrin (1), purpurealidin E (2), and aplysamine-1 (3) isolated from marine sponge, were synthesized from commercially available tyramine (4) as a common starting material. The overall yield was 18%, 39%, and 22% for 1 from 4 in 5 steps, 2 in 5 steps, and 3 in 6 steps, respectively.     

Direct generation of acyclic polypropionate stereopolyads via double diastereo- and enantioselective iridium-catalyzed crotylation of 1,3-diols: beyond stepwise carbonyl addition in polyketide construction

Under the conditions of transfer hydrogenation employing the cyclometalated iridium catalyst (R)-I derived from [Ir(cod)Cl](2), allyl acetate, 4-cyano-3-nitrobenzoic acid, and the chiral phosphine ligand (R)-SEGPHOS, α-methylallyl acetate engages 1,3-propanediol (1a) and 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol (1b) in double carbonyl crotylation from the alcohol oxidation level to deliver the C(2)-symmetric and pseudo-C(2)-symmetric stereopolyads 2a and 3a, respectively, with exceptional control of anti-diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity. Notably, the polypropionate stereopentad 3a is formed predominantly as 1 of 16 possible stereoisomers. Desymmetrization of 3a is readily achieved upon iodoetherification to form pyran 4. The direct generation of 3a enables a dramatically simplified approach to previously prepared polypropionate substructures, as demonstrated by the synthesis of C19-C27 of rifamycin S (eight steps, originally prepared in 26 steps) and C19-C25 of scytophycin C (eight steps, originally prepared in 15 steps). The present transfer hydrogenation protocol represents an alternative to chiral auxiliaries, chiral reagents, and premetalated nucleophiles in polyketide construction.     

Total synthesis of (-)-senepodine G and (-)-cermizine C

An efficient, stereospecific synthesis of the alkaloids senepodine G (2) and cermizine C (1) has been completed using the BF3.Et2O-promoted stereospecific addition of Me2CuLi to alpha,beta-unsaturated lactam 6 to provide lactam 3, the addition of MeMgBr followed by HCl to convert 3 to senepodine G (2) (six steps, 40% overall yield), and the stereospecific NaBH4 reduction of 2 to give cermizine C (1) (seven steps, 40% overall yield).     

Highly efficient asymmetric synthesis of fluvirucinine A1 via Zr-catalyzed asymmetric carboalumination of alkenes (ZACA)-lipase-catalyzed acetylation tandem process

ZACA-lipase-catalyzed acetylation tandem process has been shown to proceed satisfactorily with either TBS-protected 4-penten-1-ol or 3-buten-1-ol to provide the corresponding enantiomerically pure (R)-2-ethyl-1-alkanols. Either (R)-5 or (R)-6 was converted to 3 in seven steps. The other fragment 4 was synthesized in nine steps from (-)-(S)-citronellol. Conversion of 3 and 4 into 99% pure fluvirucinine A1 was achieved in four steps via amidation-ring closing metathesis, the overall yield in the longest linear sequence being 34% (13 steps).     

Synthesis of 3-geranyl- and 3-prenyl-2,4,6-trihydroxybenzophenone

Biologically active phenyl[3-(3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl)-2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl]methanone (2) and phenyl[2,4,6-trihydroxy-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)phenyl]methanone (3) were synthesized by an efficient and convenient synthetic sequence. The reaction steps of this synthesis included methylation, Friedel-Crafts acylation, demethylation and geranylation steps.     

Theoretical study of catalytic dinitrogen reduction under mild conditions

Density functional theory results on key steps of Schrock's catalytic cycle are presented. The quantum chemical modeling of the dinitrogen-reducing reaction steps is conducted without simplifying the bulky HIPT [HIPT = 3,5-(2,4,6-iPr(3)C(6)H(2))(2)C(6)H(3)] substituents at the triamidoamine ligand.     

A slightly shorter route to carbocyclic nucleosides. Synthesis of (±)-trans-1-[2-(hydroxymethyl)cyclopentylmethyl]uracil

(±)-trans-1-[2-(Hydroxymethyl)cyclopentylmethyl]uracil ( 1 ) was prepared in two steps and 56% yield from 2-hydroxymethylcyclopentylmethylamine (7) and 3-methoxy-2-propenoylisocyanate ( 6 ). Isocyanate 6 was prepared from methyl 3-methoxy-2-propenoate in four steps and 38% overall yield.     

A short and economical synthesis of orthogonally protected C-linked 2-deoxy-2-acetamido-alpha-D-galactopyranose derivatives

A short and high-yielding synthesis has been devised to prepare C-linked 2-deoxy-2-acetamido-alpha-D-galactopyranose derivative 3. One of the main advantages of this approach is that it employs commercially available and inexpensive d-glucosamine as the starting material. The key steps include a highly stereoselective C-allylation followed by epimerization of the C-4 hydroxyl group. Building block 3 and orthogonally protected C-linked 2-deoxy-2-acetamido-alpha-D-galactopyranose derivative 2 were obtained in 44% overall yield (six steps) and 29% overall yield (eight steps), respectively. This represents a significant improvement over previously reported syntheses.     

Synthesis of the complete series of mono acetates of N-acetyl-D-neuraminic acid

The short syntheses of each of the mono-acetates of N-acetyl-D-neuraminic acid are reported. These are important molecules for studying the mechanism and function of enzymes which utilise Neu5Ac as a substrate. However, until now these molecules were not available as pure compounds and instead had to be studied as mixtures. Neu4,5Ac(2) and Neu5,8Ac(2) were synthesised from a common precursor in 2 and 4 steps respectively, while Neu2,4Ac(2) and Neu5,7Ac(2) were synthesised in 3 and 4 steps respectively from another common precursor. Both precursors could be easily prepared in 3 steps from Neu5Ac itself. Importantly, no scrambling of the anomeric stereochemistry was detected throughout the course of these syntheses.     

Concise total synthesis of (-)-8-epigrosheimin

A highly efficient route was developed to synthesize (-)-8-epigrosheimin in four steps from aldehyde 2 based on a substrate-controlled method. The key steps of the synthesis included (1) a stereo- and regioselective allylation addition, (2) an intramolecular translactonization, and (3) an aldehyde-ene cyclization.     

Synthesis of 2-fluoro-11-hydroxy-N-propylnoraporphine: a potential dopamine D2 agonist

[structure: see text]. 2-Fluoro-11-hydroxy-N-propylnoraporphine 4 (2-F-11-OH-NPa) was synthesized from thebaine in 13 steps with an overall yield of 1.35%. The key steps included the Pd-catalyzed 3-dehydroxylation of 14-hydroxymorphine, S(N)2 substitution of Ts(-) by F(-), and CH(3)SO(2)OH-promoted rearrangement of the substituted morphinandiene. The dopamine binding affinity of this compound was also investigated on rat brain membranes, and as expected, this compound displayed high affinity and selectivity at the D(2) receptor.     

Isofagomine lactams,synthesis and enzyme inhibition

The synthesis of isofagomine lactams (2-oxoisofagomines) corresponding to the biologically important hexoses is presented. The D-glucose/D-mannose analogue (3S,4R,5R)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-hydroxymethylpiperidin-2-one (9) was synthesised in 9 steps from D-arabinose, the D-galactose analogue (3S,4S,5R)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-hydroxymethylpiperidin-2-one (10) was synthesised in 11 steps from D-arabinose and the L-fucose analogue (3R,4R,5R)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-2-one (11) was synthesised in 12 steps from L-arabinose. The three lactams 9-11 were found to be glycosidase inhibitors with micro- to nanomolar inhibition constants. The lactam 10 showed slow onset inhibition of beta-galactosidase from A. Oryzae. The rate constants for this process were determined to be k(on) = 2.55 x 10(4) M-1 s-1 and k(off) = 1.7 x 10(-3) s-1. The activation energies and standard thermodynamic functions were also determined.     

Synthesis of 1-[6-Fluoro-(2S)-3H,4H-dihydro-2H-2-chromenyl]-(1R)-1,2- ethanediol and 1-[6-Fluoro-(2R)-3H,4H-dihydro-2H-2-chromenyl]- (1R)-1,2-ethanediol

Benzopyran compounds possess diverse pharmacological properties such as β-blockade, anticonvulsant and antimicrobial.[1,2] Our interest has been focused on the synthesis of 1-[6-Fluoro-2S]-3H,4H-dihydro-2H-2-chromenyl]-(1R)-1,2-ethanediol (6) and 1-[6-fluoro-(2R)-3H,4H-dihydro-2H-2-chromenyl]-(1R)-1,2-ethanediol (7) which are particularly convenient precursor to (S,R,R,R)-NE (8). 8 containing four asymmetrical carbon atoms was reported to be the most active isomer.[3] Chandrasekhar[4] has reported on the synthesis of 8. The key step to synthesize this compound is to obtain the chiral chromanone 6 and 7. 6 was accomplished in 8 steps by the Clasien rearrangement and a one-pot Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation, but the compound 7 was accomplished in 10 steps. Johannes[5] used Zr-catalytic kinetic resolution of allylic ethers and Mo-catalyzed chromene formation to synthesize 8 in 14 steps. However both of the methods request many synthetic steps and expensive reagents.     

Synthesis of novel L-2',3'-dideoxy-2'-trifluoromethyl-4'- thiocytidines from alpha-trifluoromethyl-alpha,beta-unsaturated ester

A short and efficient synthesis of L-2',3'-dideoxy-2'-trifluoromethyl-4'-thiocytidines is described. (2R,4S/2S,4S)-5-(tert-Butyldimethylsiloxy)-2-trifluoromethylpentan-4-olide (3a and 3b) are prepared from alpha-trifluoromethyl-alpha,beta-unsaturated ester (1) in three steps and converted to compounds 6a and 6b. The corresponding 1-O-acetyl derivatives 8a and 8b were obtained via the usual Pummerer rearrangement from 6a and 6b in two steps, which were in turn used to synthesize L-4'-thiocytidines 10a and 10b.     

Concise synthesis of (S,S)-(+)-dehydrohomoancepsenolide

A concise total synthesis of the bis-butenolide 3 in optically active form is reported. Key steps are a zinc-mediated "three-component coupling" with formation of dienyne 9 which undergoes ring closing metathesis (RCM) on treatment with (PCy(3))(2)Cl(2)Ru=CHPh. Dimerization of the resulting butenolide 11 is then achieved via alkyne metathesis using (tBuO)(3)W&tbd1;CCMe(3) as the catalyst. A Lindlar reduction completes this synthesis which delivers product 3 in only five steps with an overall yield of 25%.