Confirmation of the absolute configuration of (−)-aurantioclavine

We confirm our previous assignment of the absolute configuration of (−)-aurantioclavine as 7R by crystallographically characterizing an advanced 3-bromoindole intermediate reported in our previous synthesis. This analysis also provides additional support for our model of enantioinduction in the palladium(II)-catalyzed oxidative kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols.     

Total syntheses of (+)- and (−)-1,3,4,5-tetragalloylapiitol and revision of absolute configuration of naturally occurring (−)-1,3,4,5-tetragalloylapiitol

The total syntheses of (+)- and (−)-1,3,4,5-tetragalloylapiitol were achieved in seven steps from d- and l-ribose, respectively. By comparing the optical rotations of both enantiomers with those of the natural product, the absolute configuration at C-3 in the naturally occurring 1,3,4,5-tetragalloylapiitol has been revised to R. The absolute configurations at C-3 in the synthetic (+)- and (−)-1,3,4,5-tetragalloylapiitol were further confirmed by the circular dichroism exciton chirality method.     

Chiral HPLC separation and absolute configuration assignment of a series of new triazole compounds

A series of novel chiral triazole compounds were synthesized. They were separated into enantiomers by liquid chromatography on an amylose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) (ADMPC) chiral stationary phase (CSP). The absolute configuration of each enantiomer of the investigated compounds was established by combined use of chemical correlation, chiral HPLC and circular dichroism (CD) spectra analysis methods. The influence of the mobile-phase modifiers and the structure of chiral triazole compounds on the chiral separation and retention were investigated. Reversal of the elution order of some enantiomeric pairs upon using different mobile-phase modifier was observed. The temperature effect on the chiral separation and the thermodynamic properties including enthalpy and entropy change of binding to the ADMPC-CSP were also investigated.     

Synthesis and absolute configuration of (−)-chettaphanin I and (−)-chettaphanin II

An efficient synthesis of chettaphanin I and II has been achieved from ent-halimic acid. The absolute configuration of the natural products was established by nOe experiment and by X-ray analysis of chettaphanin II.     

Sequential cross-metathesis/cyclopropanation: short syntheses of (+/−)-cascarillic acid and (+/−)-grenadamide

The total synthesis of (+/−)-cascarillic acid has been achieved by a sequential cross-metathesis/Simmons-Smith cyclopropanation between, respectively, 1-octene with an appropriate unsaturated carboxylic acid. In parallel, a direct access to grenadamide was developed from 1-nonene with a readily available unsaturated amide. In both cases, the chemical yields were high (up to 98%) and the E/Z ratio was near 80/20. The synthesis of a dibromocyclopropane analogue has also been considered.     

Enantioselective, chemoenzymatic synthesis, and absolute configuration of the antioxidant (−)-gloeosporiol

The natural antioxidant (−)-gloeosporiol, isolated as a peracetylated derivative from a culture of the fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, has been enantioselectively prepared from 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde by means of a chemoenzymatic synthesis. The key intermediate was obtained by resolution with a lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia. Its stereochemistry, initially assigned as R, according to the Kazlaukas empirical rule for secondary alcohols, was independently confirmed by NMR and chirooptic methods. This, in turn, allowed the assignment of compound (−)-1 as (−)-(2S,3R,4R)-2-(3′,4′dihydroxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran-3,4-diol.     

Synthesis of a novel sphingosine kinase inhibitor (−)-F-12509A and determination of its absolute configuration

The synthesis of a novel sphingosine kinase inhibitor, (−)-F-12509A ((−)-1), was achieved in a highly efficient manner that included nine longest linear steps and 45% overall yield from (−)-bicyclic β-ketoester (−)-2, and its absolute configuration was determined to be (5S,9S,10S).     

Determination of absolute configuration of C14−C23 fragment in symbiodinolide

The degradation product C14−C23 2 was obtained using ethenolysis with the 2nd-generation Hoveyda-Grubbs catalyst from 62-membered lactone in symbiodinolide (1). The absolute configurations of three chiral centers in fragment 2 were assigned as 17R, 18R, and 21R by a combination of J-based configuration analysis and the Mosher-Riguera method.     

Decomposition of oroidin in DMSO/TFA

Oxidative cyclization of the pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids oroidin and sventrin in DMSO/TFA (1:1) yields oxazolines via nucleophilic attack of the carbonyl oxygen at the alkenyl double bond. Oxidation takes place in the benzylic position of the imidazole ring. On prolonged reaction times, the oxazoline ring is hydrolyzed yielding the corresponding ester of pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid containing a free amino group. Overall, the double bond of oroidin is dioxygenated.     

Enantiomeric high‐performance liquid chromatography resolution and absolute configuration of 6β‐benzoyloxy‐3α‐tropanol

The absolute configuration of the naturally occurring isomers of 6β‐benzoyloxy‐3α‐tropanol ( 1 ) has been established by the combined use of chiral high‐performance liquid chromatography with electronic circular dichroism detection and optical rotation detection. For this purpose (±)‐ 1 , prepared in two steps from racemic 6‐hydroxytropinone ( 4 ), was subjected to chiral high‐performance liquid chromatography with electronic circular dichroism and optical rotation detection allowing the online measurement of both chiroptical properties for each enantiomer, which in turn were compared with the corresponding values obtained from density functional theory calculations. In an independent approach, preparative high‐performance liquid chromatography separation using an automatic fraction collector, yielded an enantiopure sample of _OR(+)‐ 1 whose vibrational circular dichroism spectrum allowed its absolute configuration assignment when the bands in the 1100–950 cm^‐1 region were compared with those of the enantiomers of esters derived from 3α,6β‐tropanediol. In addition, an enantiomerically enriched sample of 4 , instead of _OR(±)‐ 4 , was used for the same transformation sequence, whose high‐performance liquid chromatography follow‐up allowed their spectroscopic correlation. All evidences lead to the _OR(+)‐(1S,3R,5S,6R) and _OR(?)‐(1R,3S,5R,6S) absolute configurations, from where it follows that samples of 1 isolated from Knightia strobilina and Erythroxylum zambesiacum have the _OR(+)‐(1S,3R,5S,6R) absolute configuration, while the sample obtained from E. rotundifolium has the _OR(?)‐(1R,3S,5R,6S) absolute configuration.     

Isolation and absolute configuration determination of alkaloids from Pandanus amaryllifolius

Seven new alkaloids belonging to three typical classes, isolated from an ethanolic extract of Pandanus amaryllifolius, were applied to establish the models in structural elucidation. The first type [pandanusines A and B (1 and 2)] was applied to alkaloids with a diazaspirocyclic ring system. The absolute stereochemistry of aminal carbon is determined by analysis of J-based configuration analysis and circular dichroism spectroscopy, which has never been revealed before. The second type [pandalizines C–E (3–5)], the stereochemistry of unusual indolizinone with chiral hydroxyl substitutions were determined by circular dichroism spectroscopy and vibrational circular dichroism experiments. The last type [norpandamarilactonines C and D (6 and 7)], a comparing model in determination of diastereomers of pyrrolidinyl α,β-unsaturated γ-lactone alkaloids was established. Our study provides solutions for a challenging subject in stereochemistry determination for three different types of Pandanus alkaloids.     

Structure elucidation of highly condensed stilbenoids: chiroptical properties and absolute configuration

We investigated the potential roles of the skeleton-based comparative study of electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra for an application of absolute configuration (AC) determination of oligostilbenoids (OS). This approach was ultimately achieved followed by the isolation and elucidation of relative configuration (RC) of upunaphenol Q (1) (new compound) and vateriaphenol A (2), namely two octamers are dimeric tetramers of resveratrol (Res). The common building blocks (BB) provide further insight into how smaller OS are apparently conserved during downstream metabolites, as well as providing additional impetus to resolve AC of highly condensed stilbenoids (HCS). They also underline the importance of studies on determination of AC of common BB in the chemical library and to provide chiroptical properties.     

Total Syntheses of (±)‐Fawcettimine, (±)‐Fawcettidine, (±)‐Lycoflexine,and (±)‐Lycoposerramine‐Q

The total syntheses of four fawcettimine‐related Lycopodium alkaloids, (±)‐fawcettimine, (±)‐fawcettidine, (±)‐lycoposerramine‐Q, and (±)‐lycoflexine, were completed in a highly stereoselective manner. The Pauson–Khand reaction of 4‐methylidene‐6‐siloxyoct‐1‐en‐7‐yne followed by regio‐ and stereoselective hydrogenation led to the short‐step preparation of the bicyclo[4.3.0]nonenone intermediate bearing a methyl group with the required stereochemistry. The subsequent chemical manipulation of the bicyclic compound afforded the 6‐5‐9‐membered tricyclic dioxo compound, which was then transformed into the four targeted alkaloids in an alternative and more efficient fashion.     

Structure and absolute stereochemistry of novel C15-halogenated acetogenins from the anaspidean mollusc Aplysia dactylomela

Three novel halogenated C₁₅-acetogenins, compounds 1-3, have been isolated, together with known metabolites, from a South China Sea collection of the anaspidean mollusc Aplysia dactylomela. The structures have been suggested by both NMR analysis and comparison with literature data. The structure of 1 was confirmed by a single crystal X-ray study, which also allowed the establishment of its absolute stereochemistry.     

Concise Syntheses of bis‐Strychnos Alkaloids (−)‐Sungucine, (−)‐Isosungucine,and (−)‐Strychnogucine B from (−)‐Strychnine

The first chemical syntheses of complex, bis‐Strychnos alkaloids (?)‐sungucine ( 1 ), (?)‐isosungucine ( 2 ), and (?)‐strychnogucine B ( 3 ) from (?)‐strychnine ( 4 ) is reported. Key steps included (1) the Polonovski–Potier activation of strychnine N‐oxide; (2) a biomimetic Mannich coupling to forge the signature C23?C5′ bond that joins two monoterpene indole monomers; and (3) a sequential HBr/NaBH₃CN‐mediated reduction to fashion the ethylidene moieties in 1 – 3 . DFT calculations were employed to rationalize the regiochemical course of reactions involving strychnine congeners.     

Elucidation of the absolute configuration of rhizopine by chiral supercritical fluid chromatography and vibrational circular dichroism

The absolute configuration of rhizopine, an opine‐like natural product present in nitrogen‐fixing nodules of alfalfa infected by rhizobia, is elucidated using a combination of state‐of‐the‐art analytical and semi‐preparative supercritical fluid chromatography and vibrational circular dichroism spectroscopy. A synthetic peracetylated racemate was fractionated into its enantiomers and subjected to absolute configuration analysis revealing that natural rhizopine exists as a single enantiomer. The stereochemistry of non‐derivatized natural rhizopine corresponds to (1R,2S,3R,4R,5S,6R)‐4‐amino‐6‐methoxycyclohexane‐1,2,3,5‐tetraol.     

Direct determination of absolute configuration: a vibrational circular dichroism study on dimethyl-substituted phenyloxiranes synthesized by Shi epoxidation

The three possible dimethylsubstituted phenyloxiranes (cis, trans and geminal) were synthesized in both racemic (mCPBA) and enantiomerically enriched forms (Shi epoxidation) and subjected to a vibrational circular dichroism study. The experimental spectra were compared to theoretical spectra obtained using DFT/B3LYP calculations, and the differences between experiment and theory are discussed. The absolute configuration at the benzylic position was established as being (R), (S) and (R) for the cis, trans and geminal dimethylsubstituted phenyloxiranes, respectively. In all three cases the configuration of the major enantiomer was in accordance with a simple transition state model based on the spiro reaction mode. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at () contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Synthesis of the marine furanoditerpene (−)-marginatone

A synthesis of the marine labdane furanoditerpene (−)-marginatone 1 has been accomplished by a short sequence of reactions starting from (+)-coronarin E 5. The key step is the stereocontrolled-intramolecular electrophilic cyclisation of the (+)-dihydrocoronarin E 6, to the tetracyclic marginatane skeleton 7, which is subsequently functionalized by allylic oxidation to give 1. As (+)-coronarin E 5 was previously synthesized from (−)-sclareol 10, the herein reported preparation constitutes the first formal total synthesis of (−)-marginatone 1, by which its absolute configuration has been confirmed.     

The absolute configuration determination of naturally occurring diacetylenic spiroacetal enol ethers from Artemisia lactiflora

Six new naturally occurring diacetylenic spiroacetal enol ethers, Lactiflodiynes A-F (1-6), together with five known congeners (7-11), were isolated from the whole plant of Artemisia lactiflora (Compositae). The structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods, X-ray crystallography, chemical transformations, and CD. The absolute configuration of Lactiflodiyne A (1) was determined to be 2R, 5S, 6S, and 7R by an X-ray crystallographic diffraction experiment using Mo Kα radiation with the absolute parameter of 0.01(8). In combination with CD, the absolute configurations of compounds 2-11 were confirmed by chemical transformations using 1 as the starting material.