Total synthesis of (-)-amathaspiramide F

The stereoselective total synthesis of the marine alkaloid (-)-amathaspiramide F (1) was achieved from the alpha-hydoxy-alpha-ethynylsilane 2. The crucial steps in this synthesis involved not only the enolate Claisen rearrangement of the alpha-acyloxy-alpha-alkenylsilane 6 for the construction of the nitrogen-containing quaternary carbon center, but also the chemoselective formation of the azaspirohemiaminal 12 using heptamethyldisilazane as the methylamine equivalent and the regioselective dibromination of the phenol moiety of 12 using n-Bu(4)NBrCl(2).     

Total synthesis of (±)-herbertenediol

A formal total synthesis of the sesquiterpene (±)-herbertenediol and its dimers mastigophorenes A-D has been accomplished, starting from vanillin via 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzaldehyde. A combination of Claisen rearrangement and ring-closing metathesis reactions were employed for the generation of the two vicinal quaternary carbons on a cyclopentane ring.     

A concise and stereoselective synthesis of (+)- and (−)-deoxoprosophylline

An efficient synthesis of (+)- and (−)-deoxoprosophylline was accomplished from the readily available cis-2-butene-1,4-diol in which the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation was used as the key step.     

Total synthesis of (±)-megistophylline I

(±)-Megistophylline I (1), carrying a dienone residue in the acridone framework, was synthesized using the Claisen rearrangement to introduce a prenyl group as a key step.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (−)-microcarpalide

A highly convergent and efficient synthesis of (−)-microcarpalide, a 10-membered lactone displaying remarkable microfilament disrupting activity is described. Ring-closing metathesis and Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylations are the key steps. Our strategy highlights the application of novel hydroxy lactone precursors for the stereoselective synthesis of (−)-microcarpalide.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of novel 6′(α)-hydroxy carbovir analogues

This paper describes the racemic and stereoselective synthetic route for a novel 6′(α)-hydroxy-carbovir from a simple acyclic precursor, Solketal. The relative stereochemistry of the target nucleosides was successfully controlled by a sequential stereoselective glycolate Claisen rearrangement followed by a ring-closing metathesis (RCM). Adenine and cytosine were coupled using a Pd(0) catalyzed allylic alkylation strategy in a high regio- and stereoselective manner.     

Formal synthesis of (−)-morphine from d-glucal based on the cascade Claisen rearrangement

The formal synthesis of (−)-morphine is described. The C-ring in morphine was prepared in an optically pure form from d-glucal using Ferrier’s carbocyclization reaction, and the vicinal tertiary and quaternary stereocenters in the C-ring were stereoselectively generated in a one-step reaction based on the cascade sequential Claisen rearrangement of an allylic vicinal diol derivative. After the one-step formation of the dibenzofuran structure, the intramolecular Friedel-Crafts type reaction effectively constructed the ABCE-phenanthrofuran skeleton. Introduction of a tosylamide function, followed by reductive cyclization furnished (−)-dihydroisocodeine, the known synthetic intermediate for (−)-morphine.     

The stereoselective total synthesis of (−)-cleistenolide

The stereoselective total synthesis of (−)-cleistenolide is described employing the Barbier allylation, MacMillan α-hydroxylation, Stille-Gennari olefination, and CeCl₃·7H₂O mediated lactonization as key steps.     

Total synthesis of (−)-centrolobine

Stereoselective synthesis of (−)-centrolobine, an anti-Leishmania agent, was accomplished via an intramolecular Barbier-type reaction of iodo-ester with n- or t-butyllithium followed by Lewis acid-promoted Et₃SiH reduction of the resulting hemiacetal.     

Total synthesis of (−)-incarvilline

An enantioselective synthesis of (−)-incarvilline is presented, employing a three-component coupling reaction and an intramolecular enone-olefin [2+2] photocycloaddition followed by a SmI₂-induced cyclobutane ring-opening reaction.     

Total synthesis of (−)-muricatacin

A total synthesis of (−)-muricatacin has been achieved using a commercially available starting material and our furan approach to oxacyclic systems, the proven scope of which is thus broadened.     

Total synthesis of (−)-cleistenolide

The total synthesis of (−)-cleistenolide, a novel natural product recently isolated from the annonaceae species cleistochlamys kirkii oliver, is described. The synthesis proceeds starting from easily accessible d-manitol using a selective benzoylation, a selective acetonide deprotection, silylprotection and ring-closing metathesis reaction.     

Total synthesis of (−)-xanthatin

The first enantioselective total synthesis of xanthatin, a xanthanolide sesquiterpenoid exhibiting potent antibacterial activity against MRSA, has been accomplished from an optically pure bicyclic lactone, previously synthesized by our group.     

Concise enantioselective synthesis of (−)-lasubine II

An enantioselective synthesis of the quinolizidine alkaloid (−)-lasubine II 1 is reported. Two different pathways to the key intermediate 2 are described. The first case involving a sequence of ring rearrangement metathesis (RRM), simple functional group interconversion operations, followed by a stereoselective cross metathesis (CM) and in the second case a domino ring opening-/ring closing-/cross metathesis step is involved. In both cases, following the metathesis reactions, exclusively the E-isomer was obtained. The final cyclisation towards the quinolizidine skeleton is achieved by an intramolecular Michael reaction. This concept represents the first example of a highly stereoselective RRM-CM combination in the synthesis of a natural product.     

Synthesis of optically active α-(allenyl)- and α-substituted-α-(allenyl)glycines

The synthesis of various types of optically active α-(allenylsilane-containing)glycines via a chirality-transferring ester-enolate Claisen rearrangement of α-acyloxy-α-alkynylsilanes is described. The conversion of the rearranged products into the optically active silicon-free α-(allenyl)- and α-substituted-α-(allenyl)glycines was achieved by the removal of the Me₂PhSi- or TMS group from the allene terminus.     

Total synthesis of (+)-galanthamine starting from d-glucose

The stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-galanthamine (+)-1 starting from d-glucose is described. The cyclohexene ring in (+)-1 was prepared in an optically active form from d-glucose using Ferrier’s carbocyclization reaction, and the critical quaternary carbon was stereoselectively generated via chirality transfer based on the Claisen rearrangement of a cyclohexenol. The dibenzofuran skeleton was effectively constructed by the bromonium ion-mediated intramolecular cyclization of a cyclohexene possessing a phenolic ether function. After the introduction of a carbon-carbon double bond, the Pictet-Spengler type cyclization, followed by the reduction of the amide function completed the chiral synthesis of (+)-1.     

A Concise Total Synthesis of (+)‐Tetrabenazine and (+)‐α‐Dihydrotetrabenazine

Highly concise asymmetric total syntheses of (+)‐tetrabenazine ( 1 ), a drug for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington’s disease, and of (+)‐α‐dihydrotetrabenazine ( 2 ), an active metabolite of 1 , have been accomplished. Our synthetic route features a trans‐selective enol etherification, followed by an unprecedented cation‐dependent aza‐Claisen rearrangement to establish the carbon framework and two stereogenic centers of tetrabenazine. The syntheses consist of seven steps (34 % overall yield) for (+)‐ 2 and eight steps (22 % overall yield) for (+)‐ 1 .