Total Synthesis of (−)‐Isoschizogamine

The total synthesis of (?)‐isoschizogamine was accomplished, featuring the construction of the quaternary carbon center by the modified Johnson–Claisen rearrangement in basic media and the facile assembly of the key tetracyclic quinolone intermediate through a cascade cyclization. The characteristic cyclic aminal was constructed by late‐stage C?H functionalization at the position adjacent to the lactam nitrogen using a combination of CrO₃ and nBu₄NIO₄ and subsequent Bi(OTf)₃‐mediated cyclization.     

Synthesis of bhimamycin B based on oxidative rearrangement of 4-acetylnaphtho[1,2-b]furan-5-ol to naphtho[2,3-c]furan-4,9-dione

The first total synthesis of bhimamycin B, a novel member of naphtho[2,3-c]furan quinone antibiotics, was achieved by oxidative skeletal rearrangement of 4-acetylnaphtho[1,2-b]furan-5-ol.     

Oxidative rearrangement of indoles: a new approach to the EFHG-tetracyclic core of diazonamide A

A new approach to the ring EFHG-tetracyclic core fragment of the marine secondary metabolite diazonamide A is described. The route is based on the oxidative rearrangement of 3-arylindole-2-carboxylates. Thus, a range of 3-arylindole-2-carboxylates (3, 8) underwent rearrangement to the corresponding 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles (4, 9) with migration of the ester group upon treatment with tert-butyl hypochlorite followed by acid. The oxindoles 9 with a 3-[2-(4-methoxybenzyloxy)]phenyl substituent underwent cyclization to the tetracyclic aminals 11 following N-protection, reduction, and treatment with methanesulfonic anhydride. The methodology was applied to the tyrosine-indole derivative 17 to give the EFHG-tetracyclic core of diazonamide A.     

An unexpected aminocyclopropane reductive rearrangement

A reductive rearrangement of aminocyclopropanes is described for the synthesis of cis- or trans-fused bicyclic 1,2-diaminocyclobutanes. Ionization of a cyclic aminal using BF₃·OEt₂ induces rearrangement to a cyclobutyl iminium ion, which is subsequently reduced by Et₃SiH. Substitution with allyltrimethylsilane allows carbon incorporation, giving a quaternary center. Silyloxy-substituted cyclopropanes rearrange rapidly to cyclobutanones which react with NaBH₄ to provide 1,2-aminohydroxycyclobutanes. These aminals were generated by the reduction of a Boc-imide with DIBAL-H or LiBH₄.     

Synthesis of a new chiral cyclic aminal derived from rac-1,2-propanediamine

The cyclic aminal 4,9-dimethyl-1,3,6,8-tetraazatricyclo[4.4.1.1^3,8]dodecane 4c was synthesized by the reaction of commercial rac-1,2-propanediamine with paraformaldehyde in an aqueous solution. ¹H NMR analysis clearly revealed that the compound is chiral and racemic with an axis of chirality. To our knowledge, this is the first example of an azaadamantane derivative having axial chirality. This aminal was used in a Mannich type reaction with p-chlorophenol yielding 2,2′-[(4-methylimidazolidine-1,3-diyl)dimethanediyl]bis(4-chlorophenol) 7 as a racemic mixture. The crystal structure of 7 was determined by single X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Total synthesis of (+)-isatisine A

Total synthesis of (+)-isatisine A is described based on the application of a silyl-directed Mukaiyama-type [3 + 2]-annulation for the preparation of a fully substituted furan core. The indole branch forming the quaternary carbon center at C2 was constructed by addition to an intermediate N-acyliminium ion derived from aminal 4. In addition, the fused tetracyclic framework including furan core was built up using modified Buchwald amidation conditions.     

Study of the oxidation of 3-hydroxypyrroloindoles to pyrrolobenzoxazine alkaloids

This report describes a detailed study of the oxidation-Meisenheimer rearrangement of N-methyl-3-hydroxy-7-chloropyrroloindoline ethyl ester and the corresponding O-Boc and N-Boc derivatives. Experimental conditions were found, which allowed the selective Boc protection of either the tertiary alcohol substituent or the NH group of the aminal function. It was shown that both the parent compound and its O-Boc derivative yielded a mixture of oxazines and, in some cases, N-oxides upon treatment with m-CPBA. MS fragmentation (APCI) clearly differentiates formation of N-oxides and oxazines. The N-Boc derivatives exclusively yielded the N-oxides showing that the Meisenheimer rearrangement requires the presence of a high energy lone pair on the neighbouring nitrogen atom. Both the parent compound and the O-Boc derivative gave a mixture of rearranged products and N-oxide depending on the reaction conditions.     

Explorations on the asymmetric total synthesis of isoschizogamine

Two approaches to the synthesis of isoschizogamine were reported. Both routes utilized an efficient aza-Claisen rearrangement to establish the absolute stereochemistry of the all-carbon quaternary center in the natural product. In the first approach, a highly diastereoselective (10:1) hetero-Diels-Alder reaction was utilized to reach a densely functionalized tetrahydroquinoline derivative as an advanced intermediate to the targeted alkaloid. An acylamidine intermediate was prepared and studied in the intramolecular cyclization reaction under acidic conditions in our second approach.     

A furan ring expansion approach to the synthesis of novel pyridazino-psoralen derivatives

A convenient preparation of the parent tetrahydrobenzodifuran 2 was developed from resorcinol. The oxidation of one or both furan rings of this key intermediate was accomplished with DDQ and the resulting benzodifuran was subsequently reacted with 3,6-dimethoxycarbonyl-1,2,4,5-tetrazine to afford the expected pyridazino-psoralen derivative in good yield. This simple method allowed the efficient preparation of a pyridazino-psoralen derivative with a formyl group at C-7, which was introduced by directed ortho-lithiation in the intermediate 2. An aminoalkyl side-chain was also introduced to the tetracyclic skeleton through the aldehyde functionality in a reductive amination process, which was accompanied by an unprecedented reduction of the pyridazine ring.     

Reaction of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2,4,5-trimethylpyrrolo[1,2-c]pyrimidine and its 7-formyl-substituted derivative with nitric acid

1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-2,4,5-trimethylpyrrolo[1,2-c]pyrimidine and its 7-formyl derivative when treated with nitric acid are converted to substituted tetrahydropyrrolo-[1,2-c]pyrimidine-7-carboxylic acid. Conversion occurs through opening of the aminal moiety and formylation of the second molecule of tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2-c]pyrimidine by formaldehyde formed to the 7-formyl-substituted derivative.Russian University of International Friendship, Moscow 117198. Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp 219–222, February, 1999.     

A novel total synthesis of isocryptolepine based on a microwave-assisted tandem Curtius rearrangement and aza-electrocyclic reaction

A new entry to the total synthesis of isocryptolepine (cryptosanguinolentine), isolated from Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, was achieved by constructing a tetracyclic ring system through a microwave-assisted tandem Curtius rearrangement and electrocyclic reaction of an aza 6π-electron system. The tetracyclic lactam was converted to isocryptolepine in a four-step sequence.     

Oxidative rearrangement of spiro cyclobutane cyclic aminals: efficient construction of bicyclic amidines

A new rearrangement reaction of spirocyclic cyclobutane N-halo aminals is described. This process, promoted by treatment of the aminals with N-halosuccinimides (NXS, X = Br or Cl), efficiently produces bicyclic amidines by a pathway involving initial N-halogenation of one of the aminal nitrogens followed by cyclobutane ring expansion through 1,2-C-to-N migration with simultaneous N-X bond cleavage.     

Synthesis and use of a stable aminal derived from TsDPEN in asymmetric organocatalysis

A stable aminal formed stereoselectively from (R,R)-N-tosyl-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethylenediamine (TsDPEN) is capable of asymmetric organocatalysis of Diels-Alder and α-amination reactions of aldehydes.     

An efficient route for the construction of cyclopenta[b]quinoline derivatives via intramolecular cyclopropanation

A one-pot process to introduce diazoacetoacetate functionality into quinoline was identified with excellent yield and regioselectivity. An intramolecular cyclopropanation of the resulting adducts gave tetracyclic cyclopenta[b]quinoline derivatives in nearly quantitative yields. A synthetic utility of the tetracyclic derivatives was examined by a simple ring opening reaction to afford cyclopenta[b]quinoline in a good yield.     

Synthetic studies directed toward guianolides: an organoiron route to the 5,7,5 tricyclic ring system

A diastereoselective route to the 5,7,5-tricyclic core of the guianolides is presented. This route relies on Cope rearrangement of a divinylcyclopropane prepared by alkenyl Grignard addition to a (pentadienyl)iron(+1) cation, followed by oxidative decomplexation. An additional key reaction involves oxidative rearrangement of a 3,4-epoxy-1,7-diol to generate a γ-lactone. The relative stereochemistry of this product was established by X-ray crystallography.     

Synthesis of variolin B

The total synthesis of variolin B from 4-methoxy-7-azaindole is described. The preparation of the protected amino derivative 10 and a coupling reaction of the iodo derivative 12 with 2-acetylamino-4-trimethylstannylpyrimidine are the key steps of the sequence. The use of N-tosyldichloromethanimine for the cyclisation step afforded a good entry to the 9-aminopyrido[3′,2′:4,5]pyrrolo[1,2-c]pyrimidine system. Variolin B was obtained from the triply protected tetracyclic compound 13 in two steps.     

The synthesis of carnosol derivatives

In this paper we report on the development of an efficient and flexible synthetic strategy towards the synthesis of carnosol type derivatives. The strategy involves the construction of the required trans-decalin structure with a carboxylic functionality in the angular position as well as the elaboration of the lactone ring to afford the tetracyclic core structure of the natural compound 1.     

Total syntheses of (±)-frondosin C and (±)-8-epi-frondosin C via a tandem anionic 5-exo dig cyclization-Claisen rearrangement sequence

Microwave-assisted anionic 5-exo dig cyclization-Claisen rearrangement sequence has been investigated as a convenient ‘one-pot’ route to fused cycloheptanoid ring systems. This process was used as the key transformation to construct the tetracyclic framework of frondosin C. Subsequent manipulation of the core allowed the first total syntheses of (±)-frondosin C and (±)-8-epi-frondosin C in a combined overall yield of 20.8% over 14 steps.     

Total Synthesis of (−)‐Nakadomarin A

A highly efficient 12‐step synthesis of the marine alkaloid (?)‐nakadomarin A has been accomplished. The key advanced intermediate, a tetracyclic ketone derivative, was constructed in just seven steps using a sequence that includes an asymmetric Pauson–Khand reaction, an Overman rearrangement reaction, a ring‐closing metathesis reaction, and an amination reaction. Late introduction of the furan ring during the synthesis of (?)‐nakadomarin A means that the key tetracyclic ketone derivative has the potential to serve as an advanced intermediate for the synthesis of related marine alkaloids.     

Total Syntheses of (−)‐Isoschizogamine and (−)‐2‐Hydroxyisoschizogamine

Total syntheses of (?)‐isoschizogamine and (?)‐2‐hydroxyisoschizogamine are described. The synthesis employs two asymmetric Michael additions to establish chiral centers at C7 and the quaternary carbon C20. Regioselective reduction of the methylthioiminium cation rather than the enamine generates an isoschizogamine‐type pentacyclic skeleton. Acidic hydrolysis of the isoschizogamine‐type intermediate in the absence of oxygen provides natural (?)‐isoschizogamine. Conducting the reaction in the presence of oxygen leads to a multistep oxidative hydrolysis cascade that affords unnatural (?)‐2‐hydroxyisoschizogamine.