Enantiodivergent synthesis of cytotoxic styryl lactones from d-xylose. The first total synthesis of (+)- and (−)-crassalactone C

Enantiodivergent total syntheses of both (+)- and (−)-enantiomers of goniofufurone, 7-epi-goniofufurone and crassalactone C have been accomplished starting from d-xylose. The key steps of the synthesis of 7-epi-(+)-goniofufurone were a stereo-selective addition of phenyl magnesium bromide to a protected dialdose, and a stereospecific furano-lactone ring formation by reaction of a related hemiacetal derivative with Meldrum's acid. Synthesis of both (+)-goniofufurone and (+)-crassalactone C required a configurational inversion at C-5 in the common intermediate that was efficiently achieved under the standard Mitsunobu conditions, or alternatively through a sequential oxidation of the benzylic hydroxyl group followed by a stereo-selective reduction with borohydride. A similar approach was then applied to the synthesis of the unnatural (−)-enantiomers of goniofufurone, 7-epi-goniofufurone and crassalactone C, as well as two novel, conformationally constrained analogues of both (+)- and (−)-goniofufurone. Their in vitro antiproliferative activities against a number of human tumour cell lines were recorded and compared with those observed for the parent natural products.     

Enantiopure hydroxylactones from d-xylose. A novel approach to the enantiodivergent synthesis of (+)- and (−)-muricatacin suitable for the preparation of 7-oxa analogues

A new route towards enantiopure hydroxylactones 3 and ent-3, the final chiral precursors in an enantiodivergent synthesis of (+)- and (−)-muricatacin, has been developed starting from d-xylose.     

Enantiodivergent synthesis of (−)-methylenolactocin and (+)-methylenolactocin from d-mannitol

An enantiodivergent synthesis of both enantiomers of methylenolactocin is described through stereocontrolled addition of n-pentyl magnesium bromide to two d-mannitol-derived diastereomerically related aldehydes having an α-chiral center with a β hetero atom.     

A concise total synthesis of (+)-deoxocassine and (−)-deoxoprosophylline from d-xylose

A concise total synthesis of (+)-deoxocassine (1) and (−)-deoxoprosophylline (2) has been achieved for the first time from d-xylose. The key steps involved in these synthesis are alkyl Grignard reaction, S_N2 substitution of mesylate by azide, Wittig reaction, and reductive amination.     

Total synthesis of d-(+)-biotin

A total synthesis of d-(+)-biotin is described starting from d-(+)-glucosamine using acyliminium chemistry.     

New synthesis of (−)- and (+)-actinobolin from d-glucose

The total synthesis of (−)-actinobolin 2, an antipode of the natural product starting from d-glucose is described. A three-component coupling reaction of a functionalized cyclohexenone (+)-6, derived from d-glucose by way of Ferrier's carbocyclization, with vinyl cuprate and an aldehyde (R)-5 effectively constructed the carbon framework of 2 in a highly stereoselective manner. The formal synthesis of the natural enantiomer 1 from d-glucose was also achieved.     

Total synthesis of (+)-lentiginosine from d-glucose

A total synthesis of (+)-lentiginosine, a potent and selective amyloglucosidase inhibitor, is reported from a d-glucose-derived epoxide in 38% overall yield. In this synthesis, ambient conditions and readily available starting materials and reagents are used.     

Total synthesis of the alkaloid (−)-codonopsinine from l-xylose

The enantiopure total synthesis of (−)-codonopsinine is described from commercially available l-xylose in 20% overall yield. The key steps included Julia trans olefination and cascade epoxidation-cyclisation strategies.     

Total synthesis of (+)-galanthamine starting from d-glucose

The stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-galanthamine (+)-1 starting from d-glucose is described. The cyclohexene ring in (+)-1 was prepared in an optically active form from d-glucose using Ferrier’s carbocyclization reaction, and the critical quaternary carbon was stereoselectively generated via chirality transfer based on the Claisen rearrangement of a cyclohexenol. The dibenzofuran skeleton was effectively constructed by the bromonium ion-mediated intramolecular cyclization of a cyclohexene possessing a phenolic ether function. After the introduction of a carbon-carbon double bond, the Pictet-Spengler type cyclization, followed by the reduction of the amide function completed the chiral synthesis of (+)-1.     

Radical cyclisation approach for the synthesis of (+)dihydrocanadensolide, (+)dihydrosporothriolide and their C-3 epimers from d-xylose

Intramolecular radical cyclisation protocol on 5-hexenyl systems derived from d-xylose, was utilized for the synthesis of (+)dihydrocanadensolide, (+)-dihydrosporothriolide and their C-3 epimers, wherein a study on the impact of C-2′ stereocentre on radical cyclisation was conducted.     

A concise synthesis of 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-imino-d-mannitol (DMDP) and HomoDMDP from l-xylose

A short and practical procedure for the preparation of C-2 substituted polyhydroxypyrrolidines is described. The C-2 substituent is introduced by a stereoselective addition of a Grignard reagent to a 2,3,5-protected aldofuranose and the cyclization to the pyrrolidine ring system is performed through a bis-mesylation/double nucleophilic displacement sequence. The efficiency of the methodology was demonstrated by its application to the synthesis of HomoDMDP and DMDP.     

Chiral building blocks from d-xylose and their application in synthesis of avocadotriol monoacetate

Facile routes to several enantiomerically pure flexible chiral building blocks carrying a hidden syn or anti 1,3-diol motif were developed with the inexpensive and readily available carbohydrate d-xylose as the starting material. Application of the newly developed chiral building blocks in total synthesis is exemplified through a synthesis of (2S,4S)- and (2S,4R)-avocadotriol. Both triols were selectively acetylated on the primary hydroxyl group in high yields with Novozyme 435/vinyl acetate. On the basis of comparison of the ¹H NMR, optical rotation, and melting point data, the natural avocadotriol 1-monoacetate was assigned to be of (2R,4R) configuration.     

An efficient synthesis of d-ribo- and l-lyxo-phytosphingosine from d-tartaric acid

The preparations of d-ribo- and l-lyxo-phytosphingosines (1, 2) are described. Chelation-controlled addition of tetradecylmagnesium bromide to pentylidene-protected d-threitol aldehyde 6 afforded the key intermediate tetrol 7, providing the desired l-lyxo stereochemistry of phytosphingosine. Inversion at C4 of intermediate 7 provided the d-ribo stereochemistry.     

d- and l-Erythrose as sources of chiral quaternary carbon centers. Total synthesis of (−)-malyngolide and (+)-tanikolide

A highly efficient and versatile approach was applied for the total synthesis of the marine natural products (−)-malyngolide and (+)-tanikolide from isopropylidene l- and d-erythrose, using a common strategy.     

Total synthesis of (+)-epiquinamide from d-mannitol

The total synthesis of (+)-epiquinamide, a novel quinolizidine alkaloid isolated from the Ecuadoran poison frog, Epipedobates tricolor is described. The key step includes a ring-closing metathesis reaction to construct both the six member rings. d-Mannitol was used as a chiral pool material.     

Hydrolytic degradation of carbohydrate-based polyamides of the AABB type derived from l-arabinose and d-xylose

The hydrolytic degradation of a series of aregic carbohydrate-based polyamides derived from l-arabinose and d-xylose is described. These polyamides are those that are fully sugar-based (PA-SuSu), those derived from aldaric acids and polyalkylene diamines (PA-mSu), and those derived from diamine sugars and polyalkylene dicarboxylic acids (PA-Sun). Their physical properties and crystal structures depend on their constitution and the configuration of the carbohydrate-based moiety. The feasibility of the hydrolysis of these polyamides was, in general, related with such structural properties. Thus, the fully sugar-based PA-SuSu were amorphous, water-soluble materials, and were hydrolysed in water at 70 °C. PA-mSu were crystalline and more resistant to hydrolysis — they were degraded at pH 2 and 70 °C [T_g(s) 60-90 °C]. PA-Sun were amorphous and highly hygroscopic materials — they were hydrolysed in water at 37 °C [T_g(s) 25-40 °C].     

Novel practical synthesis of d-cycloserine

The synthesis of d-cycloserine has been successfully accomplished from the readily available d-serine through three simple and efficient routes. In each synthetic strategy, cyclization reactions are involved as the key step, and one-pot processes are employed. The simple treatment and mild reaction conditions are attractive features in this methodology.     

Novel synthesis of 5-thio-hexopyranoside: preparation of 5-thio-d- and l-glucose and 1,6-anhydro-5-thio-l- and d-altrose

Asymmetric synthesis of both d- and l-isomers of 5-thioglucose and 1,6-anhydro-5-thioaltrose are described. The key intermediates, l- and d-threose diethylacetal derivatives, were derived by chemical transformation from d-xylose or d-arabinose and by Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation from γ-hydroxycrotylaldehyde diethylacetal. They transformed to γ-thiiranyl diethylacetal via trans-2,3-epoxy alcohol in seven steps. Acetic acid-promoted cyclization of γ-thiiranyl diethylacetal gave 5-thiopyranoside. Removal of the protected groups under the acidic conditions afforded 5-thio-d- and l-glucose and 1,6-anhydro-5-thio-l- and d-altrose, respectively.     

Total synthesis of (−)-microcarpalide from d-mannitol

The total synthesis of the actin-targeting metabolite (−)-microcarpalide is described. Ring-closing metathesis of a dienic ester was used as the key step. d-Mannitol was used as the chiral pool material for the construction of the olefinic acid moiety as well as the olefinic alcohol moiety of the molecule.     

A highly efficient synthesis of unnatural l-sugars from d-ribose

A preparative and short synthesis of l-ribose and l-apiose was accomplished starting from d-ribose via stereoselective cis-dihydroxylation and C2-hydroxymethylation, respectively. These l-sugars can serve as versatile intermediates for the synthesis of l-nucleosides.