The enantioselective syntheses of bisabolane sesquiterpenes Lepistirone and Cheimonophyllon E

The synthetic approach to the bisabolane sesquiterpenes Lepistirone 1 and Cheimonophyllon E 2 involves the transformation of (+)-2-carene (5) into the p-menthane furans 8 and 11. Regio- and stereoselective alkylation, and standard reactions complete the enantioselective syntheses.     

Johnson-Claisen rearrangement of γ-fluoro-γ-(di- or tri-fluoromethyl)allyl alcohols affording stereoselective access to β-fluoro-β-di- or tri-fluoromethylated γ,δ-unsaturated carboxylic acid esters

γ-Fluoro-γ-di- or tri-fluoromethyl-β-(tosyloxy)allyl alcohols smoothly reacted with the orthoacetic acid triethyl ester in the presence of a catalytic amount of propionic acid and hydroquinone at 140 °C for 24 h or 48 h to afford the corresponding (Z)-β-fluoro-β-polyfluoromethyl-γ,δ-unsaturated carboxylic acid esters in fair to good yields.     

Chiral vicinal diols as platforms for separable diastereomers in Johnson-Claisen rearrangement: a new short route to (−)-nor-canadensolide, (−)-canadensolide and (−)-sporothriolide

The chiral vicinal diols prepared by asymmetric dihydroxylation in high enantioselectivities provide an excellent platform for separable diastereomers in the Johnson-Claisen rearrangement. The separated syn-diastereomers were converted into the advanced γ-(lactone-lactol) intermediates (in six steps, 26-27% overall yields) for the synthesis of (−)-nor-canadensolide, (−)-canadensolide and (−)-sporothriolide.     

Silicon guided rearrangement of epoxydecalines to spirocyclic compounds. Synthesis of gleenol and axenol from carvone

The synthesis of the spirocyclic sesquiterpenes (−)-gleenol and (−)-axenol in enantiomerically pure form has been achieved starting from R-(−)-carvone. The key step is the silicon guided acid-promoted rearrangement of a 9-trimethylsilyl-5,6-epoxy-noreudesmane prepared from 3-trimethylsilyldihydrocarvone in several steps involving Robinson annulation, enone deconjugation and epoxidation. Acid treatment of the epoxy-noreudesmane gave a norspiroaxane as the main product, which was used as intermediate for the synthesis of two naturally occurring sesquiterpenes gleenol and axenol.     

Synthesis of tetrahydroxy perhydroaza-azulenes: tandem Johnson-Claisen rearrangement of D-glucose-derived allylic alcohols

The Johnson-Claisen rearrangement of D-glucose-derived allylic alcohols 5a,b, afforded sugar-substituted gamma,delta-unsaturated ester in high yield. Conversion of the ester group to an azidomethyl group, epoxidation of the double bond and hydrogenation gave pyrrolidine ring skeletons 13a and 13b, which were transformed to tetrahydroxy perhydroaza-azulenes 1a and 1b, respectively. Glycosidase inhibitory activity was also evaluated.     

Efficient Total Synthesis of Racemic Bisabolane Sesquiterpenes Curcuphenol and Xanthorrhizol Starting from Substituted Acetophenones

A total synthesis of natural bisabolane sesquiterpenes curcuphenol ( 1 ) and xanthorrhizol ( 2 ) was developed by using the substituted acetophenones 4 and 5 , respectively, as starting materials. The acetyl group of the latter was activated through ethoxycarbonylation to carry out the prenylation, which was performed successfully to give their respective precursors 11a and 11b , and 21 that were converted into the corresponding natural sesquiterpenes 1 and 2 , respectively, over four steps and in high overall yields.     

Perezoperezone and curcuperezone: bisabolane dimers from the soft coral Pseudopterogorgia rigida

Perezoperezone (1), curcuperezone (2), and diperezone (3), belonging to the rare class of bisabolane dimers, were isolated as minor constituents of the organic extract of the Caribbean soft coral, Pseudopterogorgia rigida. The structures of the new compounds 1 and 2 were established by detailed analyses of their NMR and MS data.     

Synthesis of lupiwighteone via a para-Claisen-Cope rearrangement

The lanthanide catalysed para-Claisen-Cope rearrangement has been used as the key step in a short synthesis of the prenylated isoflavone, lupiwighteone. The Mitsunobu reaction was employed for the 5-O-prenylation of the acid/base sensitive acetylated isoflavone to afford the allyl aryl ether precursor, which was then rearranged under mild conditions in good yield. Rearrangement of the isoflavone gave the 8-prenylisoflavone as a single product, in good yield.     

Synthesis of a tetrasubstituted arylphosphonate via the anionic phospho-Fries rearrangement

The anionic phospho-Fries rearrangement of phosphoric acid (3,5-di-isopropoxy)phenyl ester diethyl ester (11) gave rise to (2-hydroxy-4,6-di-isopropoxy-phenyl)phosphonic acid diethyl ester (12) in excellent yield. The phenol functionality of 12 was converted to the corresponding triflate which was coupled with vinyltributylstannane, under Stille conditions, to give a styrene. This molecule is intended to serve as the aromatic fragment in the synthesis of a phosphorus-based transition-state analogue for the hydrolysis of the S-(−)-zearalenone lactone.     

Synthesis of arenediynes via the vinylidenecarbene-acetylene rearrangement

A convenient method for the two-step synthesis of arenediynes from 1,2-arenedialdehydes is reported. Dibromomethylenation of dialdehydes under Corey-Fuchs conditions (CBr₄, Ph₃P, Zn) provides the tetrabromides in excellent yields. Treatment of the tetrabromides with n-BuLi or LDA affords 3,4-unsaturated 1,5-diynes, the key structural moiety present in several naturally occurring antitumour antibiotics, in varying yields. The key intermediates in these transformations appear to be vinylidenecarbenes or carbenoids, generated in situ via metal-halogen exchange and elimination.     

Synthesis of CD-ring structure of cortistatin A, an anti-angiogenic steroidal alkaloid from marine sponge

Stereoselective synthesis of the CD-ring structure of cortistatin A (1), a novel anti-angiogenic steroidal alkaloid from Indonesian marine sponge, was achieved. The stereogenic tertiary carbon center bearing the isoquinoline moiety was constructed by 1,3-chiral transfer method using Johnson-Claisen rearrangement of the chiral allylic alcohol 5. Subsequent intramolecular Michael-aldol reaction afforded the targeted trans-hydrindane skeleton with moderate stereoselectivity.     

Synthesis of functionalized polycyclic compounds via a novel aromatic oxy-Cope rearrangement

Polycyclic compounds have been prepared by aromatic dianionic oxy-Cope rearrangements involving the π bonds of two phenyl rings in a [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement.     

Synthesis of 2,3-diaminodihydropyrroles via thioimidate cyclopropane rearrangement

The synthesis of novel 2,3-diaminodihydropyrroles is reported. The key step is a thiomethylimidate cyclopropane rearrangement to afford a pyrrolothiomethylimidate intermediate. Reaction of this intermediate with amines produced the title compounds in good yields. The scope and mechanism of the reaction is discussed.     

The rearrangement of cyclopropylketone arylhydrazones. Synthesis of tryptamines and tetrahydropyridazines

The cyclopropyliminium rearrangement of cyclopropylketone arylhydrazones may result in two possible products. The first one forms via cyclopropane ring-opening and ring-closure to give six-membered tetrahydropyridazines. The second is formed via ring-closure resulting in a five-membered ring and subsequent Grandberg rearrangement into a tryptamine. The product ratio depends on the nature of the starting hydrazones.     

Synthesis of a biphenyl-based cyclophane via benzidine rearrangement of a constrained m-nitrophenol derivative

The benzidine rearrangement of a constrained m-nitrophenol derivative results in production of a cyclophane comprising a biphenyl group and a polyether tether connected at the 4,4′ positions.     

Phosphorus-containing disiloxanes: Synthesis and thermal rearrangement of the 1,2-shift type

Methods for the synthesis of tetramethylbis(ω-phosphoryloxyalkyl)disiloxanes were developed. Thermal rearrangement of the 1,2-shift type of tetramethylbis(phosphoryloxymethyl)disiloxanes was studied. The 1,2-shift rearrangement of dimethyl(diphenoxyphosphoryloxymethyl)silyl hydrogen sulfate was found. Dedicated to Academician N. K. Kochetkov on the occasion of his 90th birthday. __________ Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 1210–1214, May, 2005.     

Synthetic studies on antascomicin A: construction of the C18-C34 fragment

Stereoselective synthesis of the C18-C34 fragment of antascomicin A is described. Construction of the C27-C34 carbocycle moiety was achieved via catalytic Ferrier carbocylization and Johnson-Claisen rearrangement, which was converted to iodide 2 by use of asymmetric alkylation and Sharpless epoxidation as key transformations. Coupling of iodide 2 and sulfone 3 furnished the C18-C34 fragment.     

Reagent Control of [1,2]‐Wagner–Meerwein Shift Chemoselectivity Following the Nazarov Cyclization: Application to the Total Synthesis of Enokipodin B

An approach toward the carbon framework of various sesquiterpenes from the herbertane and cuparane families is described, including the concise total synthesis of enokipodin B. The key step is the construction of the vicinal quarternary centers of the skeleton through a tandem Nazarov cyclization/Wagner–Meerwein rearrangement mediated by a copper(II) complex. During this study, it was also found that changing the ligand architecture on the copper(II) promoter improved the chemoselectivity of the cationic rearrangement.