Diastereoselective construction of chiral building blocks for the synthesis of indole alkaloids using an intramolecular Heck reaction

Highly diastereoselective construction of the chiral building blocks, with an allylic quaternary carbon stereogenic center, for the synthesis of indole alkaloids has been accomplished by employing a 1,4-chirality transfer via the intramolecular Heck reaction.     

An efficient total synthesis of (+)-heliannuol D

An efficient total synthesis of (+)-heliannuol D was accomplished in 14 steps and in 12% overall yield by employing a diastereoselective conjugate addition reaction to create a tertiary benzylic stereogenic center and simple assembly of the functionalized oxepane framework by an efficient one-pot transformation procedure as the key steps.     

A Protecting-Group-Free Synthesis of (−)-Salvinorin A

A concise enantioselective total synthesis of the neoclerodane diterpene (−)-salvinorin A is reported. The stereogenic center at C-12 was installed by catalytic asymmetric propargylation with excellent enantioselectivity, and the remaining six stereogenic centers were set up highly diastereoselectively under substrate control. As for our previous synthesis of racemic salvinorin A, two intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions were applied to generate the tricyclic core. A chemoselective Mitsunobu inversion of a syn 1,2-diol allowed for further streamlining of the original reaction sequence by two steps. Overall, (−)-salvinorin A was synthesized in only 16 steps starting from 3-furaldehyde with 1.4 % total yield. Furthermore, an alternative intramolecular Diels-Alder strategy employing a 2-bromo-1,3-diene moiety was investigated.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-pironetin employing the SAMP/RAMP hydrazone methodology

A convergent asymmetric total synthesis of pironetin (1), a polyketide with immunosuppressive, antitumor, and plant-growth regulating activities is described. The synthesis was realized by coupling between the C(8)-C(14) 2 and C(7)-C(2) 15 fragments, respectively, by using a Mukaiyama-aldol reaction. The stereogenic centers of each fragment were generated by employing the SAMP/RAMP hydrazone (SAMP=(S)-1-amino-2-methoxymethylpyrrolidine, RAMP=(R)-1-amino-2-methoxymethylpyrrolidine) methodology as a key step. An asymmetric alpha-alkylation of diethyl ketone permitted the introduction of the C(10) stereogenic center of 2, whereas the stereocenters C(4) and C(5) of 15 were installed by an asymmetric aldol reaction. Finally, the formation of the alpha,beta-unsaturated delta-lactone was achieved by ring-closing metathesis in the presence of catalytic amounts of titanium tetraisopropoxide.     

Hydrogen‐Bonding Network Promoted [3+2] Cycloaddition: Asymmetric Catalytic Construction of Spiro‐pseudoindoxyl Derivatives

The enantioselective construction of a spirocyclic quaternary stereogenic carbon center at the C2 position of indole has long been an elusive problem in organic synthesis. Herein, by employing a rationally designed hydrogen‐bonding network activation strategy, for the first time, 2,2′‐pyrrolidinyl‐spirooxindole, which is a valuable and prevalent indole alkaloid scaffold, was directly obtained through a catalytic asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition reaction with high yields and excellent stereoselectivities.     

Asymmetric rhodium-catalyzed hydrogenation meets gold-catalyzed cyclization: Enantioselective synthesis of 8-hydroxytetrahydroisoquinolines

Different furyl-substituted (Z)-dehydroamino acid derivatives were hydrogenated with the rhodium/Mandyphos(OMe)-system to give enantiomeric excesses between 80 and 98 %. The absolute configuration of the newly formed stereogenic center was determined by anomalous diffraction to be R. These chiral furyl alanines were transferred into 8-hydroxytetrahydroisoquinolines by employing gold-catalyzed arene synthesis as the key step. During the latter reaction sequence, also including either a propargylation or a reduction, a protection of the hydroxy group, and a subsequent propargylation, no racemization of the stereogenic center was observed. With very electron-rich furans, instead of the 8-hydroxytetrahydroquinolines as products, furans anellated to seven-membered rings with exocyclic C-C double bonds are formed under the same reaction conditions.     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis of Silicon‐Stereogenic Dibenzosiloles by Enantioselective [2+2+2] Cycloaddition

A rhodium‐catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of silicon‐stereogenic dibenzosiloles has been developed through a [2+2+2] cycloaddition of silicon‐containing prochiral triynes with internal alkynes. High yields and enantioselectivities have been achieved by employing an axially chiral monophosphine ligand, and the present catalysis is also applicable to the asymmetric synthesis of a germanium‐stereogenic dibenzogermole. Preliminary studies on the optical properties of these compounds are also described.     

Iminium ion-enamine cascade reaction enables the asymmetric total syntheses of aspidosperma alkaloids vincadifformine and ervinceine

Asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-vincadifformine and (+)-ervinceine is reported by utilizing an iminium ion triggered cascade reaction using chiral 3,3-disubstituted piperidine imine and 2,3-disubstituted indole derivatives coupling partner. In the first generation total synthesis, the pivotal imine is prepared in excellent stereoselectivity but in moderate yield involving a Birch reduction-alkylation strategy. Furthermore, to improve upon the synthesis of the decisive imine, the more practical second generation route is devised through a Johnson-Claisen rearrangement to access chiral 3,3-disubstituted piperidinone in excellent yield and stereoselectivity. Apart from synthesizing (+)-vincadifformine, this strategy is also exploited for the first asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-ervinceine employing an iminium ion mediated cascade reaction. This distinctive strategy simultaneously sets up two new rings, two new stereogenic centers, and three new sigma bonds in a single operation.     

Formal Total Synthesis of Stevastelins B and B3

The formal total synthesis of stevastelins B and B3 ( 2 and 4 , resp.) have been accomplished employing a highly enantiomerically controlled Lewis acid catalyzed non‐aldol approach to obtain the syn aldol product and temperature controlled hydroboration oxidation reaction to construct four consecutive stereogenic centers. The other key reactions include Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation, macrolactonization, and macrolactamization towards building the core skeleton 2 and 4 .     

Tandem single-step construction of chiral hexahydrophenanthrenes: a concise route to (+)-ferruginol

An efficient enantio- and diastereocontrolled construction of hydrophenanthrenes having either a quaternary or a tertiary benzylic stereogenic center has been developed by employing a tandem retro-aldol and intramolecular Friedel-Crafts alkylation sequence. Its application to a diastereocontrolled synthesis of an abietane diterpenoid (+)-ferruginol has also been demonstrated.     

Enantioselective Control of Both Helical and Axial Stereogenic Elements though an Organocatalytic Approach

A highly diastereo‐ and enantio‐selective method for the asymmetric synthesis of molecules containing helicenes and stereogenic axes was developed based on organocatalysis. Various compounds bearing both helical and axial stereogenic elements were obtained in excellent enantioselectivities. The mechanism study revealed that the reaction proceeded through two stages: 1) The first cyclization produces a reaction intermediate containing a stereogenic axis. 2) The dynamic kinetic resolution of helix reaction intermediate following with cyclization generates a helix and another stereogenic axis.     

Construction of vicinal quaternary carbon atoms by Ireland ester Claisen rearrangement: total synthesis of (±)-herbertenolide, (±)-herberteneacetal, (±)-herbertene-1,14-diol and (±)-herbertene-1,15-diol

Efficient total syntheses of the herbertane sesquiterpene title compounds have been accomplished employing an Ireland ester Claisen rearrangement and ring-closing metathesis reaction sequence based strategy for the construction of two stereogenic vicinal quaternary carbon atoms on a cyclopentane.     

Total synthesis of (+)-strictifolione

[reaction: see text] The synthesis of (+)-strictifolione was achieved from 3-phenylproprionaldehyde by using enantioselective allyltitanations to control the stereogenic centers at C6, C4', and C6' and a cross-methathesis to control the configuration of the double bond at C1'-C2'.     

Total synthesis of (-)-aspidospermine via diastereoselective ring-closing olefin metathesis

An enantiocontrolled total synthesis of (-)-aspidospermine has been achieved. The key element of the strategy is the diastereoselective construction of the quaternary stereogenic center employing 1,4-asymmetric induction during the ring-closing olefin metathesis.     

Synthesis of the c14-c25 subunit of bafilomycin A1

The enantioselective synthesis of the C14-C25 subunit of bafilomycin A1 was realized in a convergent route. The sequence involves two dynamic kinetic resolution steps of 2-alkyl 1,3-diketones that use optically active ruthenium complexes, an anti-selective reduction of a beta-hydroxyketone to control the C23 stereogenic center, and an aldol-type reaction under Evans' conditions, which sets the C17 and C18 stereogenic centers.     

Stereoselective synthesis of the C1-C13 fragment of 2,3-dihydrodorrigocin A

[Chemical reaction: see text] The first synthesis of the C1-C13 fragment of 2,3-dihydrodorrigocin A has been achieved from 6-bromohexanoic acid in 14 linear steps and an overall yield of 2%. The configurations of the stereogenic centers C8, C9, and C10 have been determined to be the same as for migrastatin.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Agrochemically Attractive Trifluoromethylated Dihydroazoles and Related Compounds under Organocatalysis

The unique, partially saturated, fluorinated five‐membered heterocyclic compounds, trifluoromethylated dihydroazoles, and their derivatives, have emerged as a new class of heterocycles with remarkable biological activities in the 21st century. Despite their small molecular structures, a single sterically demanding tetrasubstituted trifluoromethylated stereogenic carbon center has prevented chemists from achieving the asymmetric synthesis of these compounds. In this account, we describe our recent progress in the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of a series of trifluoromethylated heterocycles, such as isoxazolines and pyrrolines having a stereogenic carbon center, based on organocatalysis. Our protocols have advantages in terms of employing inexpensive reagents and organocatalysts and they would be useful for industrial production.     

Asymmetric synthesis of chiral oxindoles using isatin as starting material

Asymmetric synthesis plays an important role in the synthesis of therapeutics and natural products. Asymmetric oxindoles with a stereogenic quaternary carbon center are extensively present in various natural products and biologically active compounds. Several methods such as employing chiral auxiliaries or chiral catalysts were developed for asymmetric synthesis of spirooxindoles or 3,3-disubtituted oxindoles. In this review, we make a detailed overview of the latest developments in the use of isatin as starting material for the asymmetric synthesis of spirooxindoles and 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles during the period from 2015 to 2017.     

Total Synthesis of Calophyline A

Reported herein is the total synthesis of calophyline A, an indoline natural product possessing distinct ring connectivity which has not been synthesized previously. The synthetic route features several key transformations, including an aza‐pinacol rearrangement to construct the nitrogen‐containing bridged [3.2.2] bicycle, a Heck cyclization to assemble the fused 6/5/6/5 ring system, and a challenging late‐stage aldol reaction to generate both a neopentyl quaternary stereogenic center and an oxygen‐containing bridged [3.2.1] bicycle.     

Highly Enantioselective Formation of α‐Allyl‐α‐Arylcyclopentanones via Pd‐Catalysed Decarboxylative Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation

A highly enantioselective Pd‐catalysed decarboxylative asymmetric allylic alkylation of cyclopentanone derived α‐aryl‐β‐keto esters employing the (R,R)‐ANDEN‐phenyl Trost ligand has been developed. The product (S)‐α‐allyl‐α‐arylcyclopentanones were obtained in excellent yields and enantioselectivities (up to >99.9 % ee). This represents one of the most highly enantioselective formations of an all‐carbon quaternary stereogenic center reported to date. This reaction was demonstrated on a 4.0 mmol scale without any deterioration of enantioselectivity and was exploited as the key enantioselective transformation in an asymmetric formal synthesis of the natural product (+)‐tanikolide.