Synthesis of C15-C27 segment of venturicidine X by utilizing desymmetrization protocol

We have achieved the synthesis of C15-C27 fragment of venturicidine X using desymmetrization protocol, substrate-controlled Grignard reaction, Barton-McCombie reaction, Sharpless epoxidation, and TBSOTf-mediated rearrangement to produce the aldol product through a non-aldol route as the key step following 23 longest linear sequences with 6.4% overall yield starting from a known intermediate 11.     

Stereoselective synthesis of the C33-C44 fragment of palau’amide

An efficient stereoselective synthesis of the C33-C44 fragment of palau’amide is described using a Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation, a regioselective nucleophilic ring opening of the epoxide, a Grignard reaction and a Luche stereoselective reduction of a keto compound as the key steps.     

The first stereoselective and the total synthesis of Leiocarpin C and total synthesis of (+)-Goniodiol

The synthesis of the styryl lactone Leiocarpin C has been achieved in a highly stereoselective manner using Jacobsen’s kinetic resolution, Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation and Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation as key steps. This is the first total synthesis of Leiocarpin C, and thus establishes for the first time the absolute stereochemistry of this natural product.     

Studies towards the total synthesis of cruentaren A and B: Stereoselective synthesis of fragments C1-C11, C12-C22 and C23-C28

A convergent and stereoselective approach for the synthesis of C1-C11, C12-C22, and C23-C28 fragments of cytotoxic natural products cruentaren A and B are accomplished. Highlights of the strategy include a Sharpless epoxidation followed by a regioselective opening of epoxide to generate anti and syn-stereochemistry at C9-C10 and C15-C16, an Alder-Rickert reaction between a 1,5-dimethoxy-1,4-cyclohexadiene and dienophile to construct the aromatic ring, and a lithium-mediated aldol reaction to install the C17-C18 anti-stereochemistry. The synthesis of C1-C11 and C12-C22 fragments proceed with a longest linear sequence of 10 and 17 steps from commercially available 2-butyne-1,4-diol and cis-2-butene-1,4-diol respectively.     

Stereoconvergent synthesis of the C1-C11 and C12-C24 fragments of (−)-macrolactin-A

Stereoconvergent syntheses of the C1-C11 and C12-C24 fragments of (−)-macrolactin-A are reported.     

Iterative deoxypropionate synthesis based on a copper-mediated directed allylic substitution: formal total synthesis of borrelidin (C3-C11 fragment)

A new iterative strategy for the flexible preparation of any oligodeoxypropionate stereoisomer is presented which relies on an o-DPPB-directed copper mediated allylic substitution employing enantiomerically pure Grignard reagents; the reaction is working with perfect control over all aspects of the reaction selectivity. This key C--C bond-forming step features reversed polarity compared with established enolate alkylation methodology. It thus avoids existing problems of enolate alkylation strategies such as enolate reactivity as well as costs and problems associated with the chiral auxiliary. Practicability of this new method is demonstrated through application in natural product syntheses. Thus, an efficient synthesis of the northern part of the angiogenesis inhibitor borrelidin (28), the deoxypropionate building block 27, could be devised, representing a formal total synthesis.     

Progress towards the total synthesis of 2,3-dihydroxytrinervitanes

Intramolecular Diels-Alder approach to construct the fused AB ring of trinervitane has been demonstrated efficiently. The key intermediate for the Diels-Alder cyclization has been achieved following highly stereoselective Julia-Kocienski olefination, Sharpless epoxidation and Evan’s asymmetric alkylation as the key reactions.     

Formal total synthesis of (−)-spongidepsin

The formal total synthesis of (−)-spongidepsin is described. Three fragments I, II, and III were first prepared from readily available starting materials and then assembled to the target compound. The key steps involved in the synthesis are asymmetric α-hydroxylation, Ender's alkylation, and ring-closing metathesis reactions. An alternative route for the fragment II is also achieved involving Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation and Gilman's alkylation as key reactions.     

Studies towards the total synthesis of (−)-borrelidin: a strategy for the construction of the C11-C15 cyanodiene fragment and the utility of RCM for macrocyclization using model systems

We report here a methodology for the construction of a conjugated cyanodiene synthon and the propensity of such synthons to participate in the olefin metathesis reaction. To this end, we have developed a strategy for the construction of the C11-C15 fragment of borrelidin and demonstrated the utility of the RCM reaction in the preparation of the final macrolide. To our knowledge, this is the first example of a RCM with a nitrile functionality on a diene.     

First stereoselective total synthesis of antibiotic macrolide Berkeleylactone F

The first stereoselective total synthesis of antibiotic macrolide Berkeleylactone F is described. The synthetic sequence notably features Sharpless kinetic resolution to access chiral epoxide followed by its regioselective ring-opening reaction, Sharpless asymmetric reaction and ring-closing metathesis.     

Stereoselective synthesis of C1-C9 and C9-C17 fragments of (+)-13-deoxytedanolide

An efficient and highly stereoselective asymmetric synthesis of C1-C9 and C9-C17 fragments of (+)-13-deoxytedanolide have been achieved. Utilization of desymmetrization technique to prepare the triol with five stereogenic centers, regioselective Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, Evans' aldol reaction, chiral methylation, and Wittig olefination are highlights of the synthesis.     

First stereoselective total synthesis of decarestrictine O via RCM protocol

A convergent first stereoselective total synthesis of decarestrictine O via RCM protocol starting from 1,3-propanediol and propylene oxide is reported.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-anamarine via cross-metathesis protocol

A convergent stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-anamarine via cross-metathesis (CM) protocol starting from 2-butyn-1,4-diol and vinyl lactone is reported. Other key features of the strategy include the use of Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation, Sharpless dihydroxylation, and Red-Al reduction.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of stagonolide E

The first total synthesis of a 10-membered macrolide, stagonolide E is described from readily available 4-penten-1-ol. The synthetic strategy involves Jacobsen’s kinetic resolution, Sharpless epoxidation, Stille-Gennari, and Yamaguchi lactonization as key reactions.     

A cross metathesis strategy for the synthesis of highly functionalized conjugated cyanodienes: synthesis of the C3-C17 framework of (−)-borrelidin

A cross metathesis strategy for the synthesis of highly functionalized conjugated cyanodienes was developed and was successfully applied in the synthesis of the C3-C17 framework of (−)-borrelidin.     

Synthetic studies on borrelidin: enantioselective synthesis of the C1-C12 fragment

[structure: see text] An efficient, enantioselective synthesis of the C1-C12 fragment 2 of borrelidin is presented. Construction of the "skipped" polymethylene chain of 2 was accomplished by iteration of Myers' alkylation, while formation of the C3 stereocenter was achieved by Roush's asymmetric allylboration methodology.     

First stereoselective total synthesis of trichodermone A

The first stereoselective total synthesis of trichodermone A using Baylis-Hillman and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reactions as key steps is reported.     

Enantioselective synthesis of the C1-C11 fragment of bafilomycin A1 using non-Wittig and desymmetrization strategies

The synthesis of the C1-C11 fragment 33 of bafilomycin A(1) was achieved. Intermediate ketone 16 was prepared in six steps from 4-oxopimelate 13. Desymmetrization of this ketone using Koga's chiral base followed by TMSCl quench furnished silyl enol ether 17 with excellent enantioselectivity. Further elaboration led to C5-C11 aldehyde 24, which was coupled with sulfone 3 to give lactone 25 in very good yield. The subsequent reductive elimination created the E-trisubstituted C4-C5 olefin with a 13:1 selectivity. The E C2-C3 double bond was then installed by methanol elimination, and compound 33 was obtained after a few functional group manipulations and a Negishi methyl zirconation.     

Stereoselective synthesis of the C1-C20 segment of the microsclerodermins A and B

An enantioselective route for the synthesis of key fragment C1-C20 resident in microsclerodermins A and B is described. The route features deoxygenative rearrangement of an hydroxy-alkynoate and a highly enantio- and diastereo-controled iterative dihydroxylation as key reactions, starting from S-(−)-citronellol.     

Studies directed towards the stereoselective total synthesis of ilexlactone via a tandem ring-closing enyne metathesis protocol

Studies directed towards the stereoselective total synthesis of ilexlactone resulted in the synthesis of bicyclic systems 1a, 1b and ent-1a through tandem ring-closing enyne metathesis using Grubbs’ catalyst. The structures of synthetic 1a, 1b and ent-1a revealed that the proposed structure for ilexlactone is incorrect.