Synthesis and structure of novel cyclonucleoside analogues of uridine

Novel cyclonucleoside analogues of uridine having pentylene and hexylene linker between the 5′-O and 3-N positions (thereby generating a 13- and 14-membered ring, respectively) were synthesized from uridine via ring-closing metathesis. An example of cyclic dinucleosides having two butylene linkers between the 5′-O and 3-N positions (24-membered ring) was synthesized from uridine via tandem cross-metathesis and ring-closing metathesis.     

Access to the core structure of aurisides by a ring-closing metathesis/transannular ketalisation sequence

A short access to the macrocyclic structure of aurisides has been achieved by combining a ring-closing metathesis leading first to a 14-membered ring and a subsequent transannular ketalisation to build the tetrahydropyran subunit.     

Total synthesis of phytotoxic herbarumin-I from d-mannitol

A simple carbohydrate-based convergent approach towards the total synthesis of herbarumin-I, a 10-membered lactone is described. The key features of the synthetic strategy include Grignard reaction and ring-closing metathesis reaction for the formation of the 10-membered ring and E-olefinic moiety. d-Mannitol has been used as a chiral pool material for the construction of the key fragment.     

The use of d-mannitol-derived C2-symmetric trienes in tandem metathesis reactions towards valuable lactones

Chiral lactones were synthesized from d-mannitol. C₂-symmetric triene precursors were constructed with a central relay-olefin allowing the key domino ring-closing metathesis to be achieved. It led to the symmetrical cleavage of the substrate and to the formation of 2 mol of the desired 5- or 6-membered lactone. Attempts to form 7-membered lactones thus far only led to 14-membered macrodiolides instead.     

Stereoselectivity of macrocyclic ring-closing olefin metathesis

[reaction: see text] Macrocyclic ring-closing olefin metathesis using ruthenium catalyst 3 was performed to produce a 14-membered lactone. The E/Z ratio of lactone was high regardless of the R group (auxiliary) or the initial alkene stereochemistry. A kinetic study demonstrates that the high E/Z ratio is due to secondary metathesis reactions that isomerize the product to the thermodynamic E/Z ratio.     

Cytotoxic alkaloids motuporamines A-C: synthesis and structural verification

[formula: see text] The unusual structure and biological properties of the marine alkaloids motuporamines A-C, as well as the uncertainty as to the position of the olefin within the ring of motuporamine C, led us to synthesize these compounds. The strategy utilized the ring-closing metathesis reaction to form the 14- and 15-membered rings and Michael addition and amidation chemistry to introduce the spermine-like unit. The syntheses, structure assignment verifications, and also the determination of the position of the olefin in motuporamine C are described.     

Systematic study of the synthesis of macrocyclic dipeptide beta-turn mimics possessing 8-, 9-, and 10- membered rings by ring-closing metathesis

[structures: see text] A systematic study was performed to establish general synthesis protocols for forming enantiomerically pure macrocyclic dipeptide lactams. Focusing on macrocycles of 8-, 9-, and 10-membered rings, effective syntheses were achieved by a sequence featuring peptide coupling of allyl- and homoallyl-glycine building blocks followed by ring-closing metathesis. The 8-membered lactam-possessing cis-amide and cis-olefin geometry as well as 9-membered [corrected] lactams having trans-amide and cis-olefin [corrected] configurations were effectively prepared by a general strategy employing the respective protected dipeptide, the first generation Grubbs' catalyst, and temporary protection of the central amide as a benzyl derivative. The 10-membered macrocycle was synthesized possessing cis- or trans-olefin geometry by employing similar metathesis conditions in the presence or absence of temporary benzyl amide protection, respectively [corrected]     

The synthesis of 12-membered macrocycles containing a C1–C8 alkene unit via ring-closing metathesis

Model cross and ring-closing metathesis strategies toward the C1–C8-linear carbon skeleton are presented. The introduction of a four-atom tether enables the formation of 12-membered rings in good-to-excellent yields and stereoselectivity. Furthermore, the study revealed that the cross-metathesis approach and the formation of medium ring sizes via ring-closing metathesis are much less favorable.     

Syntheses of aza-analogues of macrosphelides via RCM strategy and their biological evaluation

Syntheses of 16-membered macrolactams, which were aza-analogues of macrosphelides, could be established effectively by a ring-closing metathesis (RCM) strategy. Novel 19 analogues and six aza-macrosphelide-epothilone hybrids were furnished according to simple operations. Biological assay of these artificial aza-macrosphelides revealed that some of them showed stronger apoptosis-inducing activity against human lymphoma cells than the parent compound.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of β-zearalenol from (s)-propylene oxide

The total synthesis of 14-membered resorcylic acid macrolide, β-zearalenol, was accomplished starting from commercially available enantiomerically pure propylene oxide and methyl 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methylbenzoate using Grignard reaction, asymmetric dihydroxylation, Yamaguchi macrolactonization, and ring-closing metathesis as key steps.     

Total synthesis of 10-deoxymethynolide and narbonolide

A flexible and convenient approach was developed for the synthesis of 10-deoxymethynolide (1) and narbonolide (2), which are aglycones of the methymycin and the pikromycin families of macrolide antibiotics. These lactones are produced by pikromycin polyketide synthase from Streptomyces venezuelae. Polyketide lactones, 10-deoxymethynolide and narbonolide, which contain 12- and 14-membered rings, respectively, were synthesized efficiently. These target lactones were retrosynthetically divided into three parts and assembled by using an asymmetric aldol reaction, the Yamaguchi esterification, and ring-closing metathesis. The ring-closing metathesis reaction catalyzed by the second-generation Grubbs catalyst is particularly efficient in preparing these macrocyclic polyketide lactones.     

A double ring-closing olefin metathesis approach to [3]catenanes

A [3]catenane with peripheral olefinic macrocycles was conveniently synthesized via a double ring-closing olefin metathesis. Highlights of this work include the synthesis of a 65-membered macrocycle featuring two phenanthroline ligands, a Cu(I)-templated synthesis of a [3]pseudorotaxane, and the key double ring-closing olefin metathesis to afford the desired [3]catenane in 71% yield.     

Toward the synthesis of macrolide aspergillide D

Stereoselective synthesis of 16-membered macrocyclic core of marine natural product, Aspergillide D is described using linear strategy. The salient features of this synthetic study include the Sharpless asymmetric kinetic resolution followed by regioselective ring-opening reaction of corresponding epoxide to establish the stereo centers and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) by Grubbs'-II catalyst for the construction of macrocyclic ring.     

Synthesis of macrosphelides with a thiazole side chain: new antitumor candidates having apoptosis-inducing property

Hybrid compounds of macrosphelides and epothilones, both of which are natural macrolides having a 16-membered skeleton, were designed and synthesized using a ring-closing metathesis (RCM) strategy. Some of these hybrids were found to exhibit notable apoptosis-inducing activity against human lymphoma cells with higher potency than parent natural macrosphelides, and to be a promising lead compound for development of a new antitumor agent.     

Total syntheses of [17]- and [18]dehydrodesoxyepothilones B via a concise ring-closing metathesis-based strategy: correlation of ring size with biological activity in the epothilone series

A convergent ring-closing metathesis strategy has been employed for the highly concise syntheses of 10,11-dehydro-13,14-[17]desoxyepothilone B ([17]ddEpoB) and 10,11-dehydro-14,15-[18]desoxyepothilone B ([18]ddEpoB), which are 17- and 18-membered ring homologues of 10,11-dehydro-12,13-desoxyepothilone B ([16]ddEpoB or epothilone 490). We have demonstrated that the ring-closing metathesis (RCM) provides [17]ddEpoB or [18]ddEpoB with a high level of stereocontrol in the generation of the desired olefin in the products. These analogues were evaluated for antitumor activity. The results from the in vitro assays revealed that the [17]ddEpoB analogue is highly active against various tumor cell lines with a potency comparable to that of [16]ddEpoB. This is the first example of a 17-membered ring macrolactone epothilone that has retained its antitumor activity. In contrast, the biological data revealed that [18]ddEpoB is significantly less active than either [17]ddEpoB or the parent [16]ddEpoB.     

Intramolecular silicon-assisted cross-coupling reactions: general synthesis of medium-sized rings containing a 1,3-cis-cis diene unit

The combination of ring-closing metathesis and Pd-catalyzed, silicon-assisted intramolecular cross-coupling has been developed to provide an effective and powerful method for construction of medium-sized rings with an internal 1,3-cis-cis diene unit. Allylic alcohols bearing a Z-iodoalkenyl tether can be silylated with chlorodimethylvinylsilane and subjected to Mo-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis to form unsaturated siloxanes. Activation of the siloxane with tetrabutylammonium fluoride in the presence of [allylPdCl](2) leads to high yielding ring-closing reactions to form 9-, 10-, 11- and 12-membered rings. Extension to the synthesis of 9-membered ring unsaturated ethers has also been accomplished. Noteworthy features of this process include: (1) a highly stereospecific intramolecular coupling process, (2) flexible positioning of the hydroxy group, and (3) potential extension to other medium-sized carbocycles and heterocycles.     

Total synthesis of (+)-SCH 351448

Total synthesis of SCH 351448 was accomplished employing the ring-closing olefin metathesis reaction for the preparation of the 28-membered macrodiolide.     

Formal synthesis of tubelactomicins via a transannular Diels-Alder approach

A formal synthesis of the antimicrobial tricyclic macrolides, tubelactomicins A and E, featured by a transannular Diels-Alder (TADA) approach, has been explored. The key issue for the transannular cyclization was the synthesis of a 24-membered macrolactone equipped with all the requisite functionalities, which has been achieved using an intramolecular Hiyama cross-coupling strategy. The Hiyama coupling reaction spontaneously triggered off the TADA reaction. From the endo-TADA adduct, formal syntheses of tubelactomicins A and E were achieved. The 24-membered macrolactone formation was also achieved via an intramolecular ring-closing metathesis approach.     

Highly chemo- and stereoselective intermolecular coupling of diazoacetates to give cis-olefins by using Grubbs second-generation catalyst

Highly stereoselective formation of cis-2-ene-1,4-diesters by homo- and heterocoupling of alpha-diazoacetates in the presence of Grubbs second-generation catalyst is demonstrated. The dual reactivity of the catalyst in alkene metathesis and diazocoupling has been exploited in the synthesis of 12-26-membered macrocyclic dienyl dilactones by one-pot carbene dimerisation/ring-closing metathesis.     

Synthesis of the HCV protease inhibitor Vaniprevir (MK-7009) using ring-closing metathesis strategy

A highly efficient synthesis of Vaniprevir (MK-7009) has been accomplished in nine linear steps and 55% overall yield. The key features of this synthesis include a cost-effective synthesis of the isoindoline subunit and efficient construction of the 20-membered macrocyclic core of Vaniprevir (MK-7009) utilizing ring-closing metathesis technology. A high-performing ring-closing metathesis protocol has been achieved by simultaneous slow addition of the ruthenium catalyst (0.2 mol %) and the diene substrate at a concentration of 0.13 M.