Total Synthesis of (+)‐Dibromophakellin and (+)‐Dibromophakellstatin

A new method for the preparation of quaternary chiral aminals has been developed that employs an enamide‐type Overman rearrangement process. This methodology was applied to enantioselective total syntheses of (+)‐dibromophakellin and (+)‐dibromophakellstatin.     

Synthesis of D-D4FC, a biologically active nucleoside via an unprecedented palladium mediated Ferrier rearrangement-type glycosidation with an aromatization prone xylo-furanoid glycal

D-D4FC (1) is an anti-HIV agent currently under phase II clinical trial (Pharmaset Inc). Its molecular architecture is suitable for a Ferrier rearrangement kind of operation on a furanoid glycal to fix the position of the double bond and the relative stereochemistry. Despite the fact that classical Ferrier rearrangement does not work on furanoid glycals, a palladium mediated modified protocol has been developed for the glycosidation of an aromatization prone xylo-furanoid glycal (5) for the synthesis of D-D4FC.     

Total Synthesis of (+)‐Dibromophakellin

Two members of a family of pyrrole–imidazole marine alkaloids, (+)‐dibromophakellin and the nonnatural congener (+)‐phakellin, were synthesized enantioselectively from 4‐hydroxy‐L ‐proline. The chiral aminal at C10 was constructed efficiently by means of an Overman‐type [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement of an enamide (see scheme).

     

Regioselective synthesis of 1,2- and 1,3-diols from ω-hydroxy allyl acetates and carbonates via Pd complexes using boric acid and trialkyl borates

The synthesis of 1,2- and 1,3-diols and derivatives has been achieved from ω-hydroxy π-allyl palladium complexes by using boric acid and trialkyl borates.     

Palladium-catalyzed intra-molecular olefin insertion reaction of α-alkenyl-α-acyloxytrialkylsilane. Synthesis of optically active carbocycle

Pd-catalyzed intra-molecular olefin insertion/carbonylation reaction of optically active α-alkenyl-α-acyloxysilanes is described. The reactions proceeded in a stereoselective manner to give five- and six-membered optically active carbocycles having (E)-vinylsilane in their side chains. Under CO condition, optically active carbocycles containing one-carbon homologated side chain were produced by Pd-catalyzed tandem olefin insertion-carbonylation reaction.     

A convenient approach to an advanced intermediate for (+)-lactacystin synthesis

A fully stereoselective preparation of the advanced intermediate 24 for the synthesis of (+)-lactacystin from known 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-d-gulofuranose (2), as the source of chirality, has been achieved. The C-5 methyl group was introduced via a Wittig olefination followed by Pd/C-mediated hydrogenation of the conformationally restricted alkene 11 in a highly stereoselective manner. The stereogenic tetrasubstituted carbon centre at C-3, with an amino group, was installed stereoselectively via an Overman rearrangement, which was efficiently controlled by a saccharide environment.     

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)-Eucophylline

The total enantioselective synthesis of (+)-eucophylline 1 was achieved using as a key-structural motif a chiral piperidinone bearing the natural product all-carbon quaternary stereocenter. The elaboration of the latter is based on two strategies relying on the free-radical carbo-cyanation and sulfonyl-cyanation respectively of enantiopure substituted cyclopropenes and cyclobutenes. Co- or Ni-boride reduction of the nitrile functional group along with the cyclopropane and cyclobutane ring-opening then led to the formation of the chiral piperidinone ring. Further elaboration of the latter into the key 1-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane motif followed by its coupling with a 2-cyanoaniline allowed the formation of the tetrahydrobenzo[b][1,8]-naphthyridine skeleton of 1 , which was finally accessible in 17 steps and 5.9 % overall yield from 1,1-dibromobutene.     

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.     

Synthesis of (+)-obtusenyne

An enantioselective synthesis of the halogenated medium-ring ether natural product (+)-obtusenyne is reported which uses the ring expansion of a seven-membered ketene acetal by means of a Claisen rearrangement to construct the core nine-membered oxygen heterocycle. The trans substituents across the ether linkage were established by using a transition-metal-catalyzed intramolecular hydrosilation reaction of an exo-cyclic enol ether. In addition, a formal synthesis of ent-obtusenyne from 2-deoxy-D-ribose is reported. A number of interesting points regarding the chemistry of medium-ring oxygen heterocycles are highlighted.     

Copper mediated defluorinative allylic alkylation of difluorohomoallyl alcohol derivatives directed to an efficient synthetic method for (Z)-fluoroalkene dipeptide isosteres

Difluoroallylation of optically pure O-silylated (S)-2-methyl-3-hydroxypropanal 10a with bromodifluoropropene mediated by indium provided the corresponding difluorohomoallyl alcohol 11a with low diastereoselectivity, but without a decrease in optical purity. Defluorinative allylic alkylation of each diastereomer of the difluorohomoallyl alcohol efficiently proceeded by the reaction with trialkylaluminium and Cu(I) system or Grignard reagent and a catalytic amount of CuI system in THF to give the fluorine-substituted allylic alcohol 12 in an high yield and in an excellent Z selective manner. Subsequent imidate Claisen rearrangement of the allylic alcohol 12 proceeded with a complete 1,3-chirality transfer to give the fluoroalkene dipeptide isostere structure 14 after the final conversion of the primary alcohol 20 into the carboxylic acid form.     

Carbonyl allylation of aldehydes catalyzed by a silica-supported poly-γ-diphenylarsinopropylsiloxane palladium(0) complex

A silica-supported poly-γ-diphenylarsinopropylsiloxane palladium(0) complex has been prepared from γ-chloropropyltriethoxysilane via immobilization on fumed silica, followed by reacting with potassium diphenylarsenide and palladium chloride, and then the reduction with hydrazine hydrate. The palladium(0) complex has been found to catalyze the allylation of aldehydes via the formation of π-allylpalladium complexes, using allylic chlorides as allylating agent and SnCl₂ as reducing agent. This polymeric palladium complex can be recovered and reused.     

A novel deprotection of trichloroacetamide

Deprotection of trichloroacetamide was carried out with Cs₂CO₃ in DMF or DMSO at 100 °C to afford an amine in good yield. A survey of the scope and limitations revealed the utility of the deprotection condition for various functionalized substrates.     

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 .     

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)‐Neostenine

A chirality transfer approach using acyclic polyol intermediates for the synthesis of (+)‐neostenine ( 1 ) has been developed. The sequential Overman/Claisen rearrangement of an allylic 1,2‐diol was especially useful, installing two contiguous stereocenters with complete diastereoselectivity in a one‐pot sequence. The SmI₂‐mediated cyclization and the subsequent chemoselective reduction of a lactam moiety accomplished the first enantioselective total synthesis of (+)‐neostenine ( 1 ).