Formal synthesis of (+)-discodermolide

[structure: see text] Herein we report the formal total synthesis of (+)-discodermolide in 21 steps (longest linear sequence) from commercially available Roche ester. This synthesis features the assembly of C(9-18) and C(19-24) fragments via a metal-chelated aldol coupling reaction.     

Further studies on synthesis of the 12,13-seco norditerpenoid alkaloids

After a series of optimization for the reaction conditions (reagents, reaction temperature, etc.), treatment of the sulfonates 4, 8, 13 and 15 with 8% NaOH (room temperature, 24 h) via a semipinacol rearrangement afforded the corresponding C-nor compounds 5, 9, 12 and 16, as the major of a pair of epimer at C-16, to an excellent extent, in 95%, 92%, 100% and 90% yield, respectively. The 12,13-seco compounds 21 and 22 (23) were obtained in 20% and 60% yield, respectively, by treating 5 with Br(2)-glacial HOAc (room temperature, 24 h). Treatment of the C-nor compounds 5 or 6, 16 or 17, and 28 from 10 with SOCl(2)-anhydrous benzene (room temperature, overnight) afforded the 12,13-seco compounds 24, 26 and 30 in 70% or 100%, 40% and 66% yield, respectively. When treatment of the C-nor compound 29 from 9 under same conditions gave the 12,13-seco products 30, 31 and 32 in 33%, 26% and 20% yield. When treating 21 or 24, and 26 with 5% KOH in EtOH afforded the 12,13-seco compounds 25 and 27 quantitatively, respectively. The compound 31 converted to 30 quantitatively by treatment with Na(2)CO(3) in MeOH. All of the new compounds were isolated and fully characterized.     

Synthesis applications of aza-cope rearrangements : A stereoselective synthesis of 9a-arylhydrolilolidines [and a new approach to the synthesis of aspidosperma] alkaloids

A “Mannich-directed” 2-azonia-[3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement is the key step in a new, completely stereoselective, method for preparing 9a-arylhydrolilolidines. Specifically, cis-fused bicyclic aminoalcohols 24 upon treatment with formaldehyde and acid afford hydrolilolidines 25 in a single step and in excellent yield. The complete stereoselectivity of this “ring-enlarging pyrrolidine annulation” reaction follows stereorationally from the trans-relationship of vinyl and amine functions in the bicyclic precursor 24 (eqn 6).     

The synthesis of macrocyclic polyether-diester compounds with a pyridine subcyclic unit

Two new series of macrocyclic polyether-diester ligands ( 4-15 ) containing a pyridine subcyclic unit have been prepared by treating various oligoethylene glycols and sulfur-containing oligo-ethylene glycols with 2,6- and 3,5-pyridine dicarbonyl chlorides. The compounds prepared from 2,6-pyridine dicarbonyl chloride were: 3,6,9,12-tetraoxa-18-azabicyclo[12.3.1 ]oetadeca-1(18), 14,16-triene-2,13-dione ( 4 ); 3,6,9,12,15-pentaoxa-21-azabieyclo[15.3.1]heneicosa-1(21),17,19-triene-2,16-dione ( 5 ); 3,6,12,15-tetraoxa-9-thia-21-azabicyclo[15.3.1 ]heneicosa-1(21),17,19-tri-ene-2,16-dione( 6 ); 3,9,15-trioxa-6,12-dithia-21-azabicyclo[15.3.1]heneicosa-1(21),17,19-triene-2,16-dione ( 7 ); 3,6,9,12,15,18-hexaoxa-24-azabicyclo[18.3.1 ]tetracosa-1(24),20,22-triene-2,19-dione ( 8 ); 3,6,9,12,15,18,21-heptaoxa-27-azabicyclo[21.3.1]heptacosa-1(27),23,25-triene-2,22-dione ( 9 ); and the corresponding analogues from 3,5-pyridine dicarbonyl chloride ( 10-15 ). The solid potassium thiocyanate complex of compound 5 was also prepared.     

A formal total synthesis of (-)-cephalotaxine.

A formal total synthesis of (-)-cephalotaxine (1) has been achieved. The key step is an intramolecular aldol condensation of the diketone 9, which in turn was obtained in three steps from the azabicyclic compound 6 derived from D-proline according to Seebach's procedure. Treatment of 9 with a catalytic amount of sodium 2-methyl-2-butanolate in benzene at room temperature gave the alpha, beta-unsaturated ketone 8 in 43% yield. Catalytic hydrogenation of 8 followed by reduction of the ketone 22 with sodium borohydride and acetylation of the resulting alcohol 23 gave the acetoxy derivative 24, which, after deprotection, was acylated with (methylthio)acetic acid to give the amide 26. Compound 26 was converted into optically active ketolactam 4 following the synthetic operations developed for the synthesis of the racemic compound.     

Total synthesis of the Securinega alkaloid (-)-secu'amamine A

The first enantioselective total synthesis of the rearranged Securinega alkaloid (-)-secu'amamine A is reported starting from D-proline as the source of absolute chirality. The synthesis requires 15 steps starting from D-proline-derived N-trityl aldehyde 11 and proceeds in approximately 9% overall yield. Key steps include a stereoselective conjugate addition of pyrrolidino enedione 19 to afford indolizidine 24 as the major product and cyclization/lactonization of diketoester 25 to produce tetracycle 26. In addition, 1H NMR NOE studies and X-ray analysis on the synthetic alkaloid have established that the indolizidine moiety is trans-fused.     

Short-time synthesis of SBA-15 using various silica sources

A short-time synthesis of SBA-15 is reported by using two different silica sources, sodium metasilicate (Na2SiO3(9)H2O) and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). The SBA-15 samples obtained from both silica sources were highly ordered as evidenced by SAXS spectra showing five reflection peaks characteristic for p6mm symmetry group. While the surface areas of these samples were similar, the pore volume of the sample prepared from TEOS was slightly larger than that from sodium metasilicate. However, the latter exhibited higher microporosity and thicker pore walls. It was shown that a significant reduction of time of the self-assembly step from 24 to 2 h had no detrimental influence on the quality of SBA-15 materials.     

Total synthesis of phorboxazole A. 2. Assembly of subunits and completion of the synthesis

[Structure: see text] Subunits of phorboxazole A containing C1-C2, C3-C8, C9-C19, C20-C32, C33-C41, and C42-C46 were connected in a sequence that first linked C32 with C33 and then C41 with C42. A C3-C8 fragment was joined to C9-C19, and the assembled unit was then joined with the left half of 1. Closure of the macrolide was accomplished by esterification of the C24 alcohol followed by intramolecular Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons condensation to set the (E)-C2-C3 alkene.     

Total synthesis of pancratistatin relying on the [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement

A new total synthesis of the antitumor alkaloid, pancratistatin (1), has been accomplished from readily available starting materials. Claisen rearrangement of the racemic dihydropyranethylene 17 was employed to construct the A and C rings with the appropriate stereochemistry. In addition, the Ireland-Claisen rearrangement of the enantiomerically pure 9 followed by ring-closing metathesis provided the important intermediate 24, thus implying that our approach could yield the enantioselective synthesis of (+)-pancratistatin. With the appropriately functionalized cyclohexene 24, stereo- and regiocontrolled functional group interchanges, such as iodolactonization, dihydroxylations, and a cyclic sulfate elimination reaction, facilitated the production of the target natural product.     

A practical synthesis of (+)-discodermolide and analogues: fragment union by complex aldol reactions

A practical stereocontrolled synthesis of (+)-discodermolide (1) has been completed in 10.3% overall yield (23 steps longest linear sequence). The absolute stereochemistry of the C(1)-C(6) (7), C(9)-C(16) (8), and C(17)-C(24) (9) subunits was established via substrate-controlled, boron-mediated, aldol reactions of the chiral ethyl ketones 10, 11, and 12. Key fragment coupling reactions were a lithium-mediated, anti-selective, aldol reaction of aryl ester 8 (under Felkin-Anh induction from the aldehyde component 9), followed by in situ reduction to produce the 1,3-diol 40, and a (+)-diisopinocampheylboron chloride-mediated aldol reaction of methyl ketone 7 (overturning the inherent substrate induction from the aldehyde component 52) to give the (7S)-adduct 58. The flexibility of our overall strategy is illustrated by the synthesis of a number of diastereomers and structural analogues of discodermolide, which should serve as valuable probes for structure-activity studies.     

Asymmetric synthesis of all eight seven-carbon dipropionate stereotetrads

Enantiopure cycloheptadienyl sulfones 6 and 7 are diastereoselectively epoxidized to yield epoxyvinyl sulfones 8, 9, 14, and 16 in high yields and diastereomeric ratios. Syn and anti methylation of epoxides 8, 9, 14, and 16 enables access to all eight possible diastereomeric stereotetrads, seven of which are commonly found in polypropionate natural products. Anti methylations of the above epoxides are possible by either the reaction of methyl organometallics promoted by copper(I), or via reaction with trimethylaluminum to yield stereotetrads 11, 12, 22, and 24. Syn methylations are achieved via Lawton SN2' reaction in the case of stereotetrads 10, 15, and 38, while stereotetrad 13 is accessed by an oxidation/reduction alcohol inversion sequence from stereotetrad 11. All stereotetrads were obtained in high diastereomeric ratios and yields, and their relative stereochemistry was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Oxidative cleavage of the cyclic stereotetrads yields termini-differentiated acyclic heptanyl stereotetrads ready for use in building larger fragments in the course of target syntheses.     

Formal synthesis of nitidine through palladium-catalyzed isocoumarin synthesis

The isoquinolone intermediate 9 for the synthesis of nitidine was synthesized through palladium-catalyzed formation of isocoumarin 7 from o-styrylbenzoic acid derivative 5, which was prepared from palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions of aryl iodide 1 and 2 with vinylsilane.     

Comparative synthesis of oligomeric group IV polyesters

Oligomeric group IV polyesters of the form: have been synthesized by using the interfacial technique. Polymerization rate follows the order Sn > Ge > Si as M is varied. Aliphatic-substituted organometallic compounds exhibit higher polymerization rates than do aromatic-substituted organometallic compounds. This may be the result of (p → d)π bonding between the vacant d orbitals of the metal and the p electrons of the phenyl rings.     

An efficient synthesis of 4,4′,5,5′-tetraiododibenzo-24-crown-8 and its highly conjugated derivatives

4,4′,5,5′-Tetraiododibenzo-24-crown-8 (9), a practical building block, was prepared under efficient and mild reaction conditions starting from the simple starting material, catechol (1). Highly conjugated 4,4′,5,5′-tetraethynyldibenzo-24-crown-8 (10a,b) were prepared via a Sonogashira coupling reaction from tetraiodocrown ether 9. These highly conjugated crown ethers form complexes in CD₂Cl₂ with dibenzylammonium hexafluorophosphate in a 1:1 ratio. Emission spectrum of pseudorotaxane 11 shows a dramatic shift from the non-complexed precursor.     

Reactivity of cyclic sulfamidates towards sulfur-stabilised enolates. Stereocontrolled synthesis of functionalised lactams

A structurally representative series of 1,2- and 1,3-cyclic sulfamidates react with enolates derived from methyl alpha-phenylthioacetate 9b to give 5- and 6-substituted alpha-phenylthio lactams 20-24. These products provide, via the corresponding sulfoxides, an entry to alpha,beta-unsaturated lactams e.g. 12, 27, 29 and their alpha-phenylthio analogues e.g. 26 and 30. With the enantiomerically pure 1,2-cyclic sulfamidates 10, 15 and 17, these reactions all proceed with no detectable loss of stereochemical integrity.     

Solid-phase synthesis and biochemical studies of O-boranophosphopeptides and O-dithiophosphopeptides

Signal transduction cascades maintain control over important cellular processes such as cell growth and differentiation by orchestrating protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. Specific control of these processes in vivo and in vitro can be achieved with peptide analogues that mimic the binding properties of phosphoproteins. We present here the solid-phase synthesis of two novel classes of phosphopeptide mimetics, O-boranophosphopeptides and O-dithiophosphopeptides, derivatized on tyrosine, serine, and threonine. The use of H-phosphonate and H-phosphonothioate monoesters containing the base labile 9-fluorenemethyl protecting group was key to the synthesis of both phosphopeptide mimetics. O-Boranophosphopeptides were synthesized by condensing O-(9-fluorenemethyl)-H-phosphonate to the peptide hydroxylic component (tyr, ser, or thr) followed by oxidation with borane complexes. Similarly, the synthesis of O-dithiophosphopeptides used the O-(9-fluorenemethyl)-H-phosphonothioate synthon and oxidation with elemental sulfur. Base elimination of the Fmol protecting group and cleavage from the solid support with concentrated ammonium hydroxide afforded the boranophosphopeptide and dithiophosphopeptide target compounds. Ac-YIIPLPG-NH2, having either dithiophosphoryl tyrosine or boranophosphoryltyrosine but no sequence specificity for Yersinia protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP), was found to competitively inhibit this enzyme with KI values of 430 +/- 50 and 670 +/- 50 microM, respectively. In addition, both phosphopeptide analogues were resistant toward Yersinia PTP enzymatic hydrolysis. Under conditions (pH 8.0) where the phosphopeptide was rapidly dephosphorylated, the boranophosphopeptide hydrolyzed slowly (t1/2 = 15 h) and the dithiophosphopeptide was completely stable over 24 h.     

Total synthesis of (+/-)-alantrypinone by hetero Diels-Alder reaction

An efficient total synthesis of (+/-)-alantrypinone 4 by hetero Diels-Alder reaction of a novel pyrazine diene 9 with either a functionalized 3-alkylideneoxindole or 3-methyleneoxindole itself is described. The Diels-Alder reactions provide both the desired regiochemistry and exo selectivity. An interesting anionic equilibration between alantrypinone 4 and its epimer 31 or between its ester analogues 23 and 24 has been demonstrated, and a mechanism has been proposed.     

The synthesis of di- and tetramethyl substituted macrocyclic polyether-diester ligands

Three series of macrocyclic polyether-diester ligands have been prepared from dimethyl triethylene glycol ( 20 ), two dimethyl tetraethylene glycols ( 21,23 ), dimethyl pentaethylene glycol ( 22 ) and tetramethyl tetraethylene glycol ( 24 ) and diglycolyl chloride (products 5–9 ), thiadiglycolyl chloride (products 10–14 ) and 2,6-pyridine dicarbonyl chloride (products 15–19 ). The eighteen-membered rings ( 6 and 16 ) formed solid potassium thiocyanate complexes. The eighteen- and twenty-one-membered ring compounds 6–8 and 16–18 complexed with benzylammonium perchlorate in methylene chloride-d₂ as shown by significant chemical shift changes in the ¹H nmr spectra.     

Formal synthesis of squalamine from desmosterol

The key intermediate to squalamine, (5alpha,7alpha,24R)-7,24-dihydroxy-cholestan-3-one, was synthesized from the 3-O-acetyl-24R,25-dihydroxy derivative of desmosterol via 10 steps in 16% overall yield and squalamine was also prepared via two further steps in 7.4% total yield from the desmosterol derivative.     

A novel approach in drug discovery: synthesis of estrone--talaromycin natural product hybrids

Hetero-Diels-Alder reaction of the steroidal exocyclic enol ethers 14 and 15, obtained from the secoestrones 8 and 9 by reduction, iodoetherification, and elimination, with ethyl O-benzoyldiformylacetate (16) leads to the spiroacetals 17 and 18 as a mixture of four diastereomers. Reduction of the major diastereomers 17a and 18a with DIBAH and subsequent hydrogenation yields the novel natural product hybrids 21, 23, 24, and 25, which possess the structural features of the steroid estrone (7) and the mycotoxin talaromycin 6.