Total Synthesis of (−)-Glaucocalyxin A

A practically useful method for the formation of the highly oxygenated bicyclo[3.2.1]octane ring system through Mn(OAc)₃-mediated radical cyclization of alkynyl ketones was developed, which opens up a new avenue for the total synthesis of a number of highly oxidized diterpenoids. Application of this method enabled the first total synthesis of (−)-glaucocalyxin A. Other salient features of the synthesis include a highly enantioselective conjugate addition/acylation cascade reaction, a Yamamoto aldol reaction, and an intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction to assemble the A/B ring system.     

Divergent Total Synthesis of Euphoranginol C,Euphoranginone D,ent-Trachyloban-3β-ol,ent-Trachyloban-3-one,Excoecarin E,and ent-16α-Hydroxy-atisane-3-one

A divergent synthetic approach to biogenetically related diterpenoids such as ent-kauranes, ent-trachylobanes, ent-beyerane, and ent-atisane has been developed. The unified synthetic route involves the De Mayo reaction to rapidly generate the bicyclo[3.2.1]-octane moiety of ent-kaurane. The key reactions also include bioinspired nucleophilic cyclopropanation generating the [3.2.1.0^2,7]-tricyclic core of ent-trachylobane and regioselective cyclopropane fragmentation furnishing ent-beyerane and ent-atisane through the nucleophilic attack and protonation of the cyclopropane ring. This strategy enables the asymmetric total syntheses of six diterpenoids from the commercially available geraniol.     

Bioinspired Total Synthesis of Sespenine

The first total synthesis of sespenine, a rare indole sesquiterpenoid from a mangrove endophyte, has been accomplished. A bioinspired aza‐Prins/Friedel–Crafts/retro Friedel–Crafts cascade reaction assembles the bridged tetrahydroquinoline core. Further investigations on the aza‐Prins cyclization imply that the C3 configuration of the hydroxyindolenine intermediate is crucial to the biosynthesis of sespenine and its congener xiamycin A.     

Photochemical reactions as key steps in natural product synthesis

Photochemical reactions contribute in a significant way to the existing repertoire of carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions by allowing access to exceptional molecular structures that cannot be obtained by conventional means. In this Review, the most important photochemical transformations that have been employed in natural product synthesis are presented. Selected total syntheses are discussed as examples, with particular attention given to the photochemical key step and its stereoselectivity. The structural relationship between the photochemically generated molecule and the natural product is shown, and, where necessary, the consecutive reactions in the synthesis are illustrated and classified.     

Synthesis of Each Enantiomer of Rocaglamide by Means of a Palladium(0)‐Catalyzed Nazarov‐Type Cyclization

A recently reported Pd⁰‐catalyzed asymmetric Nazarov‐type cyclization has been successfully applied in the key step of the first catalytic asymmetric total synthesis of (?)‐rocaglamide (natural) and (+)‐rocaglamide. The stereochemistry at the C3 position that controls the stereochemistry of all other stereocenters is determined in the cyclization step. This versatile and modular synthesis proceeds from simple reagents.     

Formal Total Synthesis of (−)‐Taxol through Pd‐Catalyzed Eight‐Membered Carbocyclic Ring Formation

A formal total synthesis of (?)‐taxol by a convergent approach utilizing Pd‐catalyzed intramolecular alkenylation is described. Formation of the eight‐membered carbocyclic ring has been a problem in the convergent total synthesis of taxol but it was solved by the Pd‐catalyzed intramolecular alkenylation of a methyl ketone affording the cyclized product in excellent yield (97 %), indicating the high efficiency of the Pd‐catalyzed intramolecular alkenylation. Rearrangement of the epoxy benzyl ether through a 1,5‐hydride shift, generating the C3 stereogenic center and subsequently forming the C1–C2 benzylidene, was discovered and utilized in the preparation of a substrate for the Pd‐catalyzed reaction.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of the Platensimycin Core by Silver(I)-Promoted Cyclization of Δ6-α-Iodoketone

A chiral-pool-based synthesis of the platensimycin core was achieved using (S)-lactic acid as an inexpensive starting material. The cyclohexenone ring was closed in a Mukaiyama–Michael domino sequence, while the quaternary stereocenter was created by a highly stereoselective decarboxylative allylation. The spirobicyclic skeleton was constructed by a RCM reaction. A new silver(I)-promoted cyclization reaction of Δ⁶- and Δ⁷-α-iodoketones was developed and applied for the pivotal carbon–carbon bond formation. The scope and limitations of this methodology are also presented.     

Tackling the Challenges in the Total Synthesis of Landomycin A

The twists and turns toward the total synthesis of landomycin A, a prominent angucycline hexasaccharide antibiotic, in particular those toward the stereoselective construction of the di‐ and trideoxyglycosidic linkages, are described.