Recent advances of desymmetrization protocol applied in natural product total synthesis

Desymmetrization synthesis strategy has simplified and improved the efficiency of synthesis, which attracted great attention in the past few decades. Since the strategy has been developed rapidly and got a wide range of applications in natural product total synthesis, the rules are urgent to be summarized. In this Letter, the recent developments of desymmetrization protocol in natural product total synthesis were summarized.     

Recent topics of the stereodivergent synthesis of natural products

A variety of natural products, a valuable source of drug lead compounds, coexist with their stereoisomers as congeners. For pursuing the structural elucidation and the structure–activity relationship study of natural products, it is needed to establish the streamlined synthetic route to supply natural products and their stereoisomers. Divergent pathway is one of the synthetic strategies to deliver more than one target compound. In this digest, selected examples of the stereodivergent approach toward the synthesis of natural products are described. Especially, this digest focuses on common synthetic intermediates and stereodiversification steps from the common intermediates to reach the target compounds.     

From determination of enantiopurity to the construction of complex molecules: The Horeau principle and its application in synthesis

In 1973, Horeau and co-workers reported a technique capable of upgrading the enantiopurity of a scalemic mixture (for example, [(R)-enantiomer]?>?[(S)-enantiomer]). This method involved coupling the compound of interest to a simple, bifunctional reagent in order to form a statistical mixture of (R,R)-, (S,S)-, and (R,S)-stereoisomers. Separation of the two diastereomers and cleavage of the incorporated coupling agent effectively removes the minor, (S)-enantiomer from the major, (R)-enantiomer; thereby increasing the enantiopurity of the starting compound. Since that time, this concept of removing a minor enantiomer through the statistical formation of diastereomeric compounds (the Horeau principle) has also been applied when sequential enantioselective reactions are performed on a substrate, when multiple enantioenriched fragments are coupled together, and for determining the enantiopurity of the initial scalemic mixture. Under the right circumstances, the Horeau principle can be deployed in an iterative fashion in order to access material with extremely high enantiopurity (>99.999% ee). This review provides comprehensive coverage of the underlying theory behind the Horeau principle and its application in organic synthesis.     

Recent topics in application of selective Rh(II)-catalyzed CH functionalization toward natural product synthesis

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Screening,isolation and selection of a potent lipase producing microorganism and its use in the kinetic resolution of drug intermediates

Lipases are ubiquitous enzymes that belong to family of serine hydolases with a wide variety of industrial applications. This study reports isolation, screening and identification of enantioselctive lipase producing microorganism for kinetic resolution of racemic alcohols. For this, we collected soil samples from different oil rich environments and we performed primary screening that was by carried out by using MSM-tributryin clear zone assay. The selected samples from first screen were subjected to secondary screening to distinguish lipase producing strains from esterase producing strains using p-nitrophenyl palmitate lipase assay. In tertiary screening, 16 lipase producing strains that were identified in secondary screening were employed for resolution of 5 different (RS)-alcohols. Out of all 16 lipase producing strains, only one strain selectively converted 3 racemic alcohols. Based on morphological, biochemical and physiological characteristics, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the strain was identified as Pseudomonas beteli. The strain was found to be S-selective and there been no reports on use of Pseudomonas beteli lipase for kinetic resolution of alcohols. The lipase activity was further increased by media optimization and by improving growth conditions, and production of lipase in shake flask study as well as in laboratory scale fermenter. The optimum time for enzyme production by Pseudomonas beteli was 96 ​h whereas cell mass growth was highest at 72 ​h. Optimum temperature and pH were 30 ​°C and 6, respectively. Beef extract (5 ​g/L), peptone (5 ​g/L), sodium chloride (5 ​g/L), yeast extract (1 ​g/L) and glucose (5 ​g/L) were found as optimum nutrition sources for the cell mass growth and lipase production by Pseudomonas sp. Overall, 3.4 times higher enzyme activity and 2.75 times higher cell mass growth were achieved in bioreactor in comparison to the shake flask study. Lipase having high titer was employed successfully for the kinetic resolution of several drug intermediates.     

A de novo Diels-Alder strategy toward the novel pentacyclic natural product fluostatin C: a concise synthesis of 6-deoxyfluostatin C

A conceptually new Diels-Alder approach, involving a diene moiety grafted on a preformed epoxyquinone platform and a 4-hydroxy-indenone as the dienophile, delivers the pentacyclic framework of fluostatin C in one key step.     

Alternative synthesis of poly(hydroxymethylsiloxane) for lipase immobilization and use of the adsorbates as esterification biocatalysts

A medium molar mass poly(hydrogenomethyl- siloxane), Me₃Si(O-SiHMe)_nOSiMe₃, (PHMS), has been used for preparing poly(hydroxymethylsiloxane) supports (PHOMS) for lipase immobilization. The procedure involved the conversion of PHMS to the corresponding poly(alkoxymethylsiloxanes). Me₃Si(OSi(OR) Me/_nOSiMe₃ (PHMS), their alkaline hydrolysis to form poly(siloxanolates) which were then converted to PHOMS by neutralization. The effect of different catalysts and alcohols (methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol) on the course of poly(alkoxymethylsiloxanes) formation is reported. PHOMS supports were characterized by BET and Hg porosimetry, and the degree of their crosslinking was determined by solid-phase NMR. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to assess surface polarity and determine lipase loading. The efficiency of lipase adsorbed on these supports was tested in the esterification of stearic acid with propanol in hexane. It was found that the activity of the adsorbates is controlled by their porosity. The addition of an inert addend (e.g. hydrotalcite) in the step of alkaline hydrolysis of poly(alkoxymethylsiloxanes) increases the adsorption efficiency of the supports as compared to PHOMS. The potential application of the biocatalysts, lipase-PHOMS adsorbates, was extended by their encapsulation into a RTV silicone rubber containing Si-substituted poly(imide) as a swelling modifier.     

Lipase-catalyzed enantioselective reaction of amines with carboxylic acids under reduced pressure in non-solvent system and in ionic liquids

Lipase-catalyzed enantioselective acylation of 1-phenylethylamine and 2-phenyl-1-propylamine was performed by reacting the amines with carboxylic acids in a non-solvent system or in ionic liquids as reaction media. The reaction equilibrium was shifted toward amide synthesis by the removal of formed water under reduced pressure.     

Recent applications of magnesium- and Zinc-TMP amides in the synthesis of bioactive targets

Magnesium- and zinc-TMP amides have come out from relative obscurity to be recognized as important tools in modern synthetic chemistry. Development of LiCl-activated metal amides like TMPMgCl·LiCl and TMP₂Zn·2MgCl₂·2LiCl has been important to obtain new organometallic reagents through highly chemo- and regioselective reactions. Herein, we review how these reagents are applied in the synthesis of important bioactive targets such as natural products and drugs.     

Intramolecular Larock indole synthesis for the preparation of tricyclic indoles and its application in the synthesis of tetrahydropyrroloquinoline and fargesine

A general and efficient strategy for fused tricyclic indoles from substituted 2-halogenanilines via the palladium-catalyzed intramolecular Larock indolization process has been developed. Using this strategy, a number of 3,4- and 3,5-fused indoles with a variety of ring sizes can been prepared. The utility of this method is demonstrated through the synthesis of the known tetrahydropyrrolo[4,3,2-de]quinoline 10 and the first total synthesis of fargesine.     

Expeditious synthesis of 2,3-dihydro-2-alkoxy-3-methylenebenzofurans from N-benzofuran-3-ylmethyl N,N,N-trialkylammonium bromides: a new approach to access the natural product, 2-hydroxy-3-methylene-6-methyl-2, 3-dihydrobenzofuran

A highly efficient strategy was developed to construct a natural product-based library of 2-alkoxy-3-methylene-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans from N-benzofuran-3-ylmethyl N,N,N-trialkylammonium bromides.     

The ‘lactone method’: enantioselective preparation of novel P,N-biaryl ligands and their use in the synthesis of the biarylic alkaloids, ancistrotanzanine B and ancistroealaine A

The ‘lactone method’ is a versatile tool for the atroposelective synthesis of axially chiral biaryls. The potential and scope of the concept are highlighted, in particular with respect to its use in the preparation of natural products and chiral auxiliaries. As a new application, the synthesis of novel axially chiral phosphineamines in enantiopure form is described; these ligands were used in the asymmetric Suzuki cross coupling of the molecular portions of the biarylic natural products ancistrotanzanine B and ancistroealaine A.     

A convenient preparation of (S)-(−)-4-hydroxy-2-methylcyclopent-2-en-1-one and its application as a chiral synthetic equivalent of 2-methylcyclopent-2-en-1-one in the terpenoid synthesis

A method for the preparation of (S)-4-hydroxy-2-methylcyclopent-2-en-1-one from 1-(2-furyl)ethanol using modified Piancatelli rearrangement and enzymatic kinetic resolution of the racemate was developed. An application of O-protected derivatives of 4-hydroxy-2-methylcyclopent-2-en-1-one to terpenoid synthesis through tandem conjugate addition of allyl-metal reagents, enolate trapping, and consecutive Mukaiyama–Michael addition was studied. An optically active azulene derivative useful for terpenoid synthesis was efficiently synthesized.     

The use of (−)-8-phenylisoneomenthol and (−)-8-phenylmenthol in the enantioselective synthesis of 3-functionalized 2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane derivatives via aza-Diels-Alder reaction

The asymmetric aza-Diels-Alder reaction of the (1R)-8-phenylmenthyl or (1R)-8-phenylisoneomenthyl glyoxylate-derived N-benzylimine with cyclopentadiene resulted in the enantioselective synthesis of the corresponding pure [(1S,3-exo)-2-benzyl-2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene]-3-carboxylates (80 or 69% yield, respectively). Reduction of these cycloadducts with LiAlH₄ afforded pure (−)-[(1S,3-exo)-2-benzyl-2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-3-yl]methanol. Furthermore, a reaction sequence based on Barbier-Wieland degradation of both (1S,3-exo)-adducts afforded pure (+)-(1R)-2-benzoyl-2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-3-one. In the course of the two transformation sequences referred, the chiral auxiliaries were recovered in a virtually quantitative way.     

Enantioselective construction of nitrogen-substituted quaternary carbon centers adjacent to the carbonyl group in the cyclohexane ring: first asymmetric synthesis of anesthetic (S)-ketamine with high selectivity

Enantioselective construction of nitrogen-substituted quaternary carbon centers adjacent to the carbonyl group in the cyclohexane ring was performed with respect to the asymmetric synthesis of anesthetic (S)-ketamine 1. Diastereoselective nucleophilic 1,2-addition reaction of phenyllithium to α-ketoxime-ether acetal 9 bearing chiral auxiliary on the α-carbonyl function gave benzyloxyamine 11 major in 83% yield with 82% de, which was converted to the corresponding amino ketone 12. However, the reaction of 2-chlorophenyllithium did not work in which this route was unavailable for the synthesis of 1. Then, an alternative strategy directed toward 1, starting with a compound having 2-chlorophenyl groups in advance, was designed in which the chiral quaternary carbon center bearing a nitrogen atom in the ring is created by the enantioselective reduction of the atropisomeric intermediate ketone 18, and the sequential allyl cyanate-to-isocyanate rearrangement with complete 1,3-chirality transfer. The first asymmetric synthesis of 1 with excellent selectivity (>99% ee) was accomplished by a short path according to the strategy.