Total synthesis of gambierol: the generation of the A-C and F-H subunits by using a C-glycoside centered strategy

Gambierol, a representative of the marine ladder toxin family, consists of eight ether rings, 18 stereocenters, and two challenging pyranyl rings having methyl groups that are in a 1,3-diaxial orientation to one another. Herein we describe the generation of gambierol's A-C and F-H ring systems and demonstrate the versatility of the glycosyl anhydride, enol ether-olefin RCM strategy to fused polycyclic ethers. This work has both enabled us to generate sufficient quantities of the gambierol precursors and has enabled us to better understand the chemical transformations that were key to these efforts. Fundamental work included efforts to C-glycosides and C-ketosides, Claisen rearrangements, and enol ether-olefin RCM reactions.     

Synthesis of an A-E gambieric acid subunit with use of a C-glycoside centered strategy

This paper describes our synthesis of the A-E subunit of gambieric acid (GA) in addition to the synthesis of the A-ring and the C-E tricycle. The use of an enol ether-olefin RCM strategy to couple the A and C-E subunits and, in the process, generate the B-ring is noteworthy.     

Synthesis of the ABCD ring of gambierol

A fully functionalized ABCD ring moiety of gambierol, a marine polycyclic ether toxin, was synthesized by the use of the oxiranyl anion strategy and reductive cycloetherification of a beta,delta-dihydroxy ketone.     

Synthesis of novel pyranoquinones using an acyl radical cyclization strategy

The thiol-catalysed cyclization of acyl radicals generated directly from benzaldehyde precursors has been investigated. Hindered β-benzyloxyacrylates cyclize efficiently providing a tin-free radical cyclization approach to the serine/threonine kinase AKT inhibitor frenolicin B, whilst γ-aryloxy crotonates give good yields of benzopyran-4-ones. This method is applied to the synthesis of a novel tetracyclic analogue of the pyranonaphthoquinone antibiotics.     

Synthesis of the ABCD trioxadispiroketal subunit of azaspiracid-1: an iodoetherification-dehydroiodination strategy for complex spiroketals

An unusual spiroketalization strategy in which a hydroxyalkene serves as a precursor to a cyclic enol ether was applied to the synthesis of the ABCD trioxadispiroketal subunit of azaspiracid-1. The trioxadispiroketal product, which represents a double anomeric effect, was obtained as a single trioxadispiroketal diastereomer. A key ploy in the synthesis of the CD segment was the use of a cyclopropane as a synthon for the C-14 methyl group.     

Total synthesis of gambierol

The convergent total synthesis of gambierol (1) is described. The octacyclic ether framework of 1 was constructed via the intramolecular allylation of alpha-chloroacetoxy ether followed by ring-closing metathesis. A modified Stille coupling was successfully applied to the synthesis of the triene side chain.     

The total synthesis of gambierol

This communication describes the total synthesis of the marine polyether toxin, gambierol. This work couples our iterative C-glycoside/enol ether-olefin metathesis strategy to the subunits with a unique olefin metathesis/carbonyl olefination reaction to bring the subunits together.     

Stereoselective synthesis of a chiral ferrosalen ligand using an aromatization strategy

A new chiral salen ligand based on two ferrocenyl groups is designed. Unlike known salen ligands, of which chirality originates from central and axial chiral centers, the chirality of this ligand comes from the planar chiral ferrocenyl groups. The ligand is synthesized stereoselectively using a novel aromatization strategy starting from a ferrocene derivative, which was readily prepared using a known chiral auxiliary approach.     

Synthesis of unsaturated 1,4-heteroatom-containing benzo-fused heterocycles using a sequential isomerization-ring-closing metathesis strategy

A small library of 1,4-benzodioxins and 4H-1,4-benzoxazines was synthesized from the corresponding bis-allyloxy precursors by way of an initial isomerization to the bis-vinyloxy compounds, followed by a ring-closing metathesis using the second generation Grubbs' catalyst (G2). A related strategy, starting from benzene-1,2-dithiol and 2-mercaptophenol, afforded benzodithiin and 1,4-benzoxathiin, respectively.     

Synthesis of a new glycosphingolipid from the marine ascidian Microcosmus sulcatus using a one-pot glycosylation strategy

A novel neutral glycosphingolipid found in Microcosmus sulcatus containing a β-d-Galp(1→4)[α-d-Fucp-(1→3)]β-d-Glcp-(1→)Cer motif was synthesized. Trisaccharide derivatives were synthesized using trimethylsilyltrifluoromethanesulfanate (TMSOTf) and N-iodosuccimide (NIS)/trifluoromethane sulfonic acid (TfOH) as the promoters. Synthesis was achieved with an efficient one-pot glycosylation strategy. This is the first report of a one-pot glycosylation strategy using the procedure of Boons et al. for the synthesis of a natural product. Coupling of trisaccharide derivative 19 and ceramide derivative 20 by TMSOTf afforded the glycosphingolipid derivative 21. The fully protected glycoside was deprotected to give the target glycosphingolipid 2.     

Synthesis of a six-carbon sialic acid using an indium-mediated coupling

[reaction: see text] The synthesis of a six-carbon truncated sialic acid is described. A key step in the synthesis was an indium-mediated allyl addition to a serine-derived aldehyde. Careful choice of protecting groups was found to be necessary in order to prevent unwanted side reactions throughout the sequence. The truncated sialic acid was obtained in a form suitable for activation as a glycosyl donor.     

Synthesis of tetrahydrocannabinols based on an indirect 1,4-addition strategy

The synthetic procedure presented for the preparation of the title compounds requires 1,4-addition of bulky cuprates to cyclohexenones and subsequent reaction with electrophiles. However, the enolates generated by BF(3).OEt(2)-assistance suffer from lack of nucleophilicity. To circumvent this problem, we developed an indirect method consisting of the following three steps: (1) iodination of the cyclohexenones at the alpha position; (2) BF(3).OEt(2)-assisted 1,4-addition of cuprates (Ar(2)Cu(CN)Li(2), Ar = aryl) followed by quenching the enolates with water; (3) reaction of the alpha-iodo-beta-aryl-cylohexanones thus formed with EtMgBr to generate magnesium enolates. The enolates thus generated in this way showed a high reactivity toward ClP(O)(OEt)(2) to furnish enol phosphates. The aforementioned procedure was also applied to a synthesis of optically active Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol. In addition, a naphthalene analogue of the latter compound was also synthesized in a similar way.     

Synthesis of 2'-amino-LNA: a new strategy

In this paper we present revised and significantly improved synthetic routes to 2'-amino-LNA (locked nucleic acid). The optimal route is convergent with the synthesis of LNA monomers ("2'-oxy-LNA") via a common intermediate obtained by a mild deacetylation for the liberation of the 2'-hydroxy group to give compound 23 without the concomitant ring closure that affords the 2'-oxy-LNA skeleton. After inversion of the stereochemistry at C2' and triflate formation at the 2'-hydroxy group a new common intermediate 16 is obtained which gives easy access to a range of other analogues exemplified by the introduction of a sulfur nucleophile leading to the 2'-thio-LNA structure. After substitution of the triflate with azide a basic reduction affords the desired 2'-amino-LNA structure, i.e., compound 18. This new synthesis strategy towards 2'-amino-LNA improves the overall yield significantly and converges the syntheses of 2'-oxy-LNA and LNA analogues.     

Synthesis of bastadin analogs through an SNAr coupling strategy

The synthesis of a bastadin-5 analog was achieved in 16% overall yield (16 steps, longest linear sequence) using a strategy of intermolecular S_NAr coupling to create diphenyl ether bonds and sequential amide couplings to close the ring. Noteworthy elements include assembly of all four substituted aryl rings from two simple benzaldehydes, strict regiocontrol of meta- versus para-aryl ether bonds and management of the reductively-sensitive aryl bromine substituents.     

Synthesis of linear and cyclic carbophosphazenes via an oxidative chlorination strategy

The use of a mild, oxidative chlorination route for the synthesis of linear and cyclic carbophosphazenes is described. For example, chlorination of the linear PNCN chain Ph(2)P-N=C(Ph)-N(SiMe(3))(2) (1) with C(2)Cl(6) led to the clean formation of the previously known 8- and 6-membered rings [Ph(2)PNC(Ph)N](2) (2) and [Ph(2)PNC(Ph)NP(Ph)(2)N] (3), respectively. In a similar fashion, the N-alkyl-substituted PNCN derivatives, Ph(2)P-N=C(Ph)-N((t)Bu)SiMe(3) (4) and Ph(2)P-N=C(Ph)-N(i)Pr(2) (7) were readily converted by C(2)Cl(6) into the halogenated derivatives ClPh(2)P=N-C(Ph)=N(t)Bu (5) and [ClPh(2)P=N=C(Ph)-N(i)Pr(2)]Cl (8), respectively. Protonation of 5 was accomplished using HCl and gave the carbophosphazenium salt [ClPh(2)P=N-C(Ph)=N((t)Bu)H]Cl (6). In addition, the isolation of a rare 8-membered P(2)N(4)C(2) heterocycle [(Cl(3)P=N)ClPNC(Ph)NP(Cl)(2)NC(Ph)N] (9) from the reaction of PCl(5) and Li[PhC(NSiMe(3))(2)] is reported. Treatment of 9 with one equivalent of GaCl(3) led to the discovery of an unusual Lewis acid-induced ring contraction reaction whereby the (PNCN)(2) ring in 9 is converted into the novel 6-membered P(2)N(3)C heterocyclic adduct [(Cl(3)P=N)ClPNP(Cl)(2)NC(Ph)N].GaCl(3) (10) with concomitant release of PhCN. Structural characterization of compounds 1, 5, 6, and 8-10 by single-crystal X-ray diffraction is also provided.     

Synthesis of the alkaloid tyroscherin by an aldol/Curtius strategy

The alkaloid tyroscherin (2), which contains a vicinal anti-amino alcohol subunit was prepared from 4-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid (5) and meso-diol 9. After desymmetrization of diol 9 and suitable protecting group manipulations, one terminus was extended via a Claisen rearrangement giving rise to enoate ent-15. The missing carbon on the other end could be incorporated using MeMgCl/CuBr·SMe₂ leading eventually to aldehyde ent-22. The acylated oxazolidinone 32 derived from acid 5 and aldehyde ent-22 were combined in an aldol reaction. A subsequent Curtius rearrangement on the carboxylic group furnished the amino function of tyroscherin (2). In a proof of concept study the same strategy was used to prepare tyroscherin analog 28.     

Modification of aniline containing proteins using an oxidative coupling strategy

A new bioconjugation reaction has been developed based on the chemoselective modification of anilines through an oxidative coupling pathway. Aryl amines were installed on the surface of protein substrates through lysine acylation reactions or through the use of native chemical ligation techniques. Upon exposure to NaIO4 in aqueous buffer, the anilines coupled rapidly to the aromatic rings of N,N-dialkyl-N'-acyl-p-phenylenediamines. The identities of the reaction products were confirmed using ESI-MS and through comparison to small molecule analogs. Control experiments indicated that none of the native amino acids participated in the reaction. The resulting bioconjugates were found to be stable toward hydrolysis from pH 4 to pH 11 and in the presence of many commonly used oxidants, reductants, and nucleophiles. A fluorescent phenylenediamine reagent was synthesized for the selective detection of aniline labeled proteins in mixtures, and the reaction was used to append the C-terminus of the green fluorescent protein with a single PEG chain. When combined with techniques for the incorporation of unnatural amino acids into proteins, this bioorthogonal coupling method should prove useful for a number of applications requiring a high degree of labeling specificity.     

Diastereoselective construction of substituted tetrahydropyrans using an intramolecular oxy-Michael strategy

The highly diastereoselective construction of substituted tetrahydropyrans, a common core segment (C3-C10) of the thiomarinols and the pseudomonic acid antibiotics, has been accomplished using the intramolecular oxy-Michael reaction under both basic and high-pressure conditions followed by regio- and stereoselective epoxide opening with acetylide.     

Synthesis of phthalides and 3,4-dihydroisocoumarins using the palladium-catalyzed intramolecular benzannulation strategy

A novel method for the synthesis of phthalides and 3,4-dihydroisocoumarins via the palladium-catalyzed intramolecular benzannulation of bis-enyne and enyne-diyne systems is described. Various kinds of substituted phthalides 9 and 17 and 3,4-dihydroisocoumarins 19 were synthesized from 8, 16, and 18, respectively, in moderate to excellent yields. The benzannulation reaction proceeded chemoselectively to give the corresponding fused ring compounds A without the formation of the regioisomeric products B (eq 6). Furthermore, this methodology was applied to the synthesis of biologically active 3-n-butylphthalide 23.