Rapid and efficient synthesis of dysiherbaine and analogues to explore structure-activity relationships

A rapid and efficient total synthesis of dysiherbaine (1), a potent and subtype-selective agonist for ionotropic glutamate receptors, has been accomplished. A key intermediate 15 was synthesized by two approaches. The first synthetic route utilized compound 9, an advanced intermediate in our previous total synthesis of neodysiherbaine A, as the starting point, and the cis-oriented amino alcohol functionality on the tetrahydropyran ring was installed by using an intramolecular S(N)2 cyclization of N-Boc-protected amino alcohol 20. An alternative and even more efficient synthetic approach to 15 featured stereoselective introduction of an amino group at C8 by iodoaminocyclization prior to constructing the bicyclic ether skeleton. The amino acid appendage was efficiently constructed by a catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of enamide ester 36. The synthetic route developed here provided access to several dysiherbaine analogues, including 9-epi-dysiherbaine (38), 9-deoxydysiherbaine (39), 9-methoxydysiherbaine (40), and N-ethyldysiherbaine (41). The preliminary structure-activity relationship studies revealed that the presence and stereochemistry of the C9 hydroxy group in dysiherbaine is important for high-affinity and selective binding to glutamate subtype receptors.     

Total synthesis of dysiherbaine

An efficient total synthesis of dysiherbaine, a potent and subtype-selective agonist for ionotropic glutamate receptors, has been achieved. An advanced key intermediate in the previous synthesis of neodysiherbaine A and its analogues was selected as the starting point, and cis-oriented amino alcohol functionality on the tetrahydropyran ring was installed by using an intramolecular S_N2 cyclization of N-Boc-protected amino alcohol. The amino acid appendage was constructed by catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of enamide ester.     

A Flexible Approach to Grandisine Alkaloids: Total Synthesis of Grandisines B,D, and F

This article describes in detail the first total synthesis of grandisine alkaloids, grandisines B, D, and F, which show affinity for the human δ‐opioid receptor. The key steps in this synthesis are construction of the isoquinuclidinone moiety of 2 by intramolecular imine formation and the tetracyclic ring system of 4 by stereoselective ring closure of the enolate of amine 8 generated by 1,4‐addition of ammonia to 9 . Synthesis of key intermediate 9 featured a highly stereoselective Brønsted acid mediated Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) reaction via the N‐acyl iminium ion.     

Azetidinic amino acids: stereocontrolled synthesis and pharmacological characterization as ligands for glutamate receptors and transporters

A set of ten azetidinic amino acids, that can be envisioned as C-4 alkyl substituted analogues of trans-2-carboxyazetidine-3-acetic acid (t-CAA) and/or conformationally constrained analogues of (R)- or (S)-glutamic acid (Glu) have been synthesized in a diastereo- and enantiomerically pure form from beta-amino alcohols through a straightforward five step sequence. The key step of this synthesis is an original anionic 4-exo-tet ring closure that forms the azetidine ring upon an intramolecular Michael addition. This reaction was proven to be reversible and to lead to a thermodynamic distribution of two diastereoisomers that were easily separated and converted in two steps into azetidinic amino acids. Azetidines 35-44 were characterized in binding studies on native ionotropic Glu receptors and in functional assays at cloned metabotropic receptors mGluR1, 2 and 4, representing group I, II and III mGlu receptors, respectively. Furthermore, azetidine analogues 35, 36, and 40 were also characterized as potential ligands at the glutamate transporter subtypes EAAT1-3 in the FLIPR Membrane Potential (FMP) assay. The (2R)-azetidines 35, 37, 39, 41 and 43 were inactive in iGlu, mGlu and EAAT assays, whereas a marked change in the pharmacological profile at the iGlu receptors was observed when a methyl group was introduced in the C-4 position, compound 36 versus t-CAA. At EAAT1-3, compound 35 was inactive, whereas azetidines 36 and 40 were both identified as inhibitors and showed selectivity for the EAAT2 subtype.     

Stereoselective synthesis of orthogonally protected alpha-methylnorlanthionine

[reaction: see text] As the unusual amino acid norlanthionine (nor-Lan) has previously been incorporated into cyclic peptide analogues of the ring C of lantibiotic nisin, we report here the stereoselective synthesis of the new (S,R)- and (R,R)-alpha-methylnorlanthionines (alpha-Me-nor-Lan). The orthogonally protected derivatives of these compounds have also been prepared. The key step in the synthesis of these bisamino acids was the S(N)2 opening reaction of the corresponding cyclic sulfamidates with the SH group of appropriately protected l-cysteine derivatives.     

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Propindilactone G,Part 2: Enantioselective Construction of the Fully Functionalized BCDE Ring System

The enantioselective synthesis of the fully functionalized BCDE tetracyclic ring system of propindilactone G ( A ) is reported. Several synthetic methods were developed and applied to achieve this goal, including: 1) an asymmetric Diels–Alder reaction in the presence of Hayashi′s catalyst for the synthesis of optically pure key intermediate 3 ; 2) an intramolecular Pauson–Khand reaction (PKR) for the stereoselective synthesis of the BCDE ring with an all‐carbon chiral quaternary center at the C13 position by using the TMS‐substituted acetylene as the substrate; and 3) Pd‐catalyzed reductive hydrogenolysis for the stereoselective synthesis of the fully functionalized BCDE tetracyclic ring system. The chemistry developed herein provided a greater understanding of the total synthesis propindilactone G ( A ) and its analogues.     

An Advanced Intermediate for the Synthesis of (±)‐Pumiliotoxin C and Its Analogues

Abstract

Compound 1 as a versatile intermediate for the synthesis of (±)‐pumiliotoxin C and its analogues was prepared from commercially available cyclohexanone. The key step in the synthesis was the construction of octahydroquinoline ring by a stereoselective aminocyclization.     

Synthesis of C1–C11 eribulin fragment and its diastereomeric analogues

A practical stereoselective synthesis of the central C1–C10 fragment of eribulin and its two diastereomeric analogues is developed. Our approach relied on the use of l-ascorbic acid as the starting material which allowed accessing a key intermediate with a syn diol moiety (C9 and C10 of eribulin) and a carboxylic ester group. A functionalized six membered lactone having several required hydroxyl groups was then obtained. In a number of steps, the lactone was converted to an intermediate for our key oxa-Michael reaction. A regio- and stereocontrolled intramolecular oxa-Michael reaction completed the synthesis of the C1–11 fragment having a trans-fused tetrahydropyrans with the exact stereochemistry of various hydroxyl groups, as in eribulin.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of γ-hydroxy-α-amino acids via intramolecular amidomercuration

A general method for the stereoselective conversion of homoallylic alcohols to erythro- or threo-β-hydroxy-α-amino acids is described. The key step is the stereoselective mercuric ion-initiated cyclofunctionalization of acylaminomethyl ether derivatives of the homoallylic alcohols (3 → 8). The stereochemistry of the products obtained from the cyclofunctionalization is controlled by the choice of reaction conditions. Reaction under conditions of kinetic control leads to predominant formation of cis 4,6-disubstituted tetrahydro-1,3-oxazines, while reaction under conditions which allow for equilibration of the organomercurial intermediates results in the formation of the trans stereoisomer with very high stereoselectivity. Oxidative demercuration and oxidation of the resulting alcohol produces a protected form of the title amino acids (8 → 9 → 10). Cleavage of the tetrahydrooxazine ring with hydrobromic acid then produces the amino acid products asγ-butyrolactone hydrobromides (11 and 12). This general method thus allows for stereoselective synthesis of either diastereomer of the amino acid product starting with a single homoallylic alcohol.     

An efficient and enantioselective approach to the azaspirocyclic core of alkaloids: formal synthesis of halichlorine and pinnaic acid

A novel, highly stereoselective synthesis of an azaspirocyclic core, which contains four stereogenic carbons consistent with structures of natural halichlorine and pinnaic acid, is presented. Lipase PS-catalyzed selective acylation, asymmetric methylation on the alpha-methylene of the bicyclic lactone, and an asymmetric Michael addition of the tertiary nitro cyclopentane were concisely used to conquer the challenging problem of successfully constructing the C9 quarternary carbon center with complete stereocontrol. The spiropiperidine ring was formed by reduction of the delta-nitroketone, intramolecular condensation, and then highly stereoselective reduction of the cyclic nitrone with NaBH(4). This spirocyclic core is a key intermediate in Danishefsky's synthesis of pinnaic acid and halichlorine.     

(9Z)- and (11Z)-8-methylretinals for artificial visual pigment studies: stereoselective synthesis, structure, and binding models

Artificial visual pigment formation was studied by using 8-methyl-substituted retinals in an effort to understand the effect that alkyl substitution of the chromophore side chain has on the visual cycle. The stereoselective synthesis of the 9-cis and 11-cis isomers of 8-methylretinal, as well as the 5-demethylated analogues is also described. The key bond formations consist of a thallium-accelerated Suzuki cross-coupling reaction between cyclohexenylboronic acids and dienyliodides (C6-C7), and a highly stereocontrolled Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons or Wittig condensation (C11-C12). The cyclohexenylboronic acid was prepared by trapping the precursor cyclohexenyllithium species with B(OiPr)(3) or B(OMe)(3). The cyclohexenyllithium species is itself obtained by nBuLi-induced elimination of a trisylhydrazone (Shapiro reaction), or depending upon the steric hindrance of the ring, by iodine-metal exchange. In binding experiments with the apoprotein opsin, only 9-cis-5-demethyl-8-methylretinal yielded an artificial pigment; 9-cis-8-methylretinal simply provided residual binding, while evidence of artificial pigment formation was not found for the 11-cis analogues. Molecular-mechanics-based docking simulations with the crystal structure of rhodopsin have allowed us to rationalize the lack of binding displayed by the 11-cis analogues. Our results indicate that these isomers are highly strained, especially when bound, due to steric clashes with the receptor, and that these interactions are undoubtedly alleviated when 9-cis-5-demethyl-8-methylretinal binds opsin.     

Improved synthesis of C4α- and C4β-methyl analogues of 2-aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate

An efficient and divergent synthesis of C4α- and C4β-methyl-substituted analogues of 2-aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane 2,6-dicarboxylate, which are important tools in the study of metabotropic glutamate receptor function, has been achieved. By taking advantage of an unanticipated facial selectivity of the bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane ring system, either the C4α- or C4β-methyl substituent was introduced in a highly stereoselective and high-yielding manner.     

Synthesis of 8-methoxy-1-methyl-1H-benzo[de][1,6]naphthyridin-9-ol (Isoaaptamine) and analogues

8-Methoxy-1-methyl-1H-benzo[de][1,6]naphthyridin-9-ol, isoaaptamine, a PKC inhibitor isolated from sponge was synthesized. The synthesis parallels a synthesis of 8,9-dimethoxybenzo[de][1,6]naphthyridine, aaptamine, but uses a nitromethyl substituent as a precursor of the key 5-(2-aminoethyl)-1H-quinolin-4-one intermediate. The quinolone intermediates were prepared by thermolysis (220-240 degrees C) of anilinomethylene derivatives of Meldrum's acid. The quinolone intermediates were N-methylated prior to cyclization to the benzo[de][1,6]naphthyridine derivatives. Aaptamine and several analogues of aaptamine and isoaaptamine were prepared including 9-demethylaaptamine, 1-methyl-8-demethylaaptamine, 1-methylaaptamine, and the 8,9-methylenedioxy analogues of aaptamine and 1-methylaaptamine.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of FR900482

The development of two approaches for the enantioselective total synthesis of FR900482 is described. A precursor for the formation of the benzazocine ring was assembled effectively by a modification of the Sonogashira coupling of an aryl triflate with a chiral acetylene unit derived from tartaric acid and the subsequent novel ketone formation via conjugate addition of pyrrolidine to the o-nitrophenylacetylene derivative. The first-generation approach to the key pentacyclic intermediate of our racemic total synthesis utilizes an intramolecular Mitsunobu reaction of an omega-hydroxynitrobenzenesulfonamide to form the benzazocine ring and a stepwise sequence to construct the hydroxymethyl group at the C(7) position. The key intermediate could be synthesized in optically pure form via formation of the characteristic hydroxylamine hemiacetal and a stereoselective epoxide formation. In the second-generation approach, the N-hydroxybenzazocine ring could be constructed directly from an omega-formylnitrobenzene derivative by intramolecular reductive hydroxylamination. The crucial stereoselective hydroxymethylation and the formation of the hydroxylamine hemiacetal could be performed efficiently by a one-pot sequence. After leading to the pentacyclic key intermediate, the total synthesis of (+)-FR900482 was accomplished by a modification of our protocol established in the racemic total synthesis. Stereochemical issues involved in the hydroxymethylation at the C(7) position and formation of the hydroxylamine hemiacetal are also discussed in detail.     

Synthetic studies on (+)-manzamine A: stereoselective synthesis of the tetracyclic core framework

The stereoselective synthesis of the tetracyclic intermediate 3 for (+)-manzamine A (1) has been achieved. The key features of this stereoselective synthesis of 3 are the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation and a diastereoselective intermolecular Diels-Alder reaction. The 8-membered ring is efficiently constructed utilizing our Ns-strategy.     

Concise asymmetric synthesis of (−)-halosaline and (2R,9aR)-(+)-2-hydroxy-quinolizidine by ruthenium-catalyzed ring-rearrangement metathesis

A ruthenium-catalyzed ring opening-ring closing metathesis reaction serves as the key step in the stereoselective synthesis of a new enantiopure 2-substituted-4,5-dehydropiperidine skeleton, a valuable intermediate for the synthesis of piperidine alkaloids (such as (−)-halosaline) and of hydroxylated quinolizidines (such as (2R,9aR)-(+)-2-hydroxy-quinolizidine).     

Enantioselective synthesis of trans-4-methylpipecolic acid

An asymmetric synthesis for the preparation of both enantiomers of trans-methylpipecolic acids is described. It is based on Sharpless epoxidation as a chirality source, regioselective ring opening with allylamine, and ring-closing metathesis to construct the piperidine ring. The stereogenic center at C-4 is set by stereoselective hydrogenation that is directed by the alcohol functionality of an intermediate and proceeds with good diastereomeric control (trans/cis 16/1). Crystallization of the Boc-protected amino acid afforded the target products with excellent chemical (98% de) and enantiomeric purity (99% ee).     

An approach towards the total synthesis of (+)-epiquinamide and (+)-α-conhydrine from Garner aldehyde

A short and stereoselective route for the synthesis of 1-hydroxyquinolizidine, an advanced synthetic intermediate for the total synthesis of (+)-epiquinamide is presented. The key synthetic steps involve diastereoselective nucleophilic addition on l-serine derived Garner aldehyde and acid mediated (PTSA) ring closing metathesis. The methodology is also elaborated successfully for the total synthesis of (+)-α-conhydrine, an important piperidine alkaloid.     

Synthesis of tricyclic analogues of methyllycaconitine using ring closing metathesis to append a B ring to an AE azabicyclic fragment

The synthesis of several ABE tricyclic analogues of the alkaloid methyllycaconitine 1 is reported. The analogues contain two key pharmacophores: a homocholine motif formed from a tertiary N-ethyl amine in a 3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane ring system and a 2-(3-methyl-2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-ly)benzoate ester 4. The synthesis of the ABE tricyclic analogues of MLA 1 began with selective allylation at C-3 of 3 to produce allyl beta-keto ester 4. Double Mannich reaction of 4 with ethylamine and formaldehyde produced bicyclic amine 5 The C-9 ketone of bicyclic amine 5 was selectively reduced to form bicyclic alcohols 6 and 7 which were subsequently allylated to form dienes 8 and 9. Ring closing metathesis of dienes 8 and 9 afforded tricyclic ethers 11 and 12, respectively, the C-8 ester of which was reduced to a hydroxymethyl group to form ABE tricyclic analogues 13 and 14. Addition of allylmagnesium bromide to the C-9 ketone of 20 afforded dienes 21 and 22, which underwent ring closing metathesis to form tricyclic esters 23 and 24, respectively. Reduction of the C-8 ethyl ester of 23 and 24 to a hydroxymethyl group afforded diols 25 and 26 respectively. The 2-(3-methyl-2,5-dioxopyrrolin-1-ly)benzoate ester was introduced by conversion of alcohols 13, 14, 25 and 26, to the anthranilate esters 16, 17, 27 and 28 using N-(trifluoroacetyl)anthranilic acid 15 followed by fusion with methylsuccinic anhydride to afford the substituted anthranilates 18, 19, 29 and 30 containing the key 2-(3-methyl-2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-ly)benzoate ester pharmacophore.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of dihydrocorynantheol

[reaction: see text] A stereoselective synthesis of the indole alkaloid dihydrocorynantheol (1) from indole-3-acetic acid has been achieved by a sequence involving 9 as a key intermediate. The synthesis of the unsaturated lactam ring in 9 highlights a series of catalytic organometallic reactions featuring two ring-closing metatheses and a zirconocene-catalyzed carbomagnesation. Since no protecting groups were used, the present synthesis of 1 is exceedingly concise, consisting of only eight distinct operations.