First Total Synthesis of (−)‐Ligustiphenol

The first asymmetric total synthesis of (?)‐ligustiphenol is reported. The key step was conducted by exploiting a steric hindrance effect to control the formation of the adduct in a nucleophilic α‐Li‐phenolate addition reaction to the intermediate α‐oxo (?)‐menthyl ester. The synthesis is concise and feasible for the construction of analogous compounds and investigation of their biological activity.     

A Stereoselective Total Synthesis of Xyolide,a Natural Bioactive Nonenolide

A stereoselective total synthesis of xyolide, a naturally occurring bioactive nonenolide, has been accomplished. The acid fragment of the molecule has been prepared from D ‐mannitol and the alcohol fragment from (2Z)‐but‐2‐ene‐1,4‐diol. The synthesis involves the coupling of these two fragments using the Yamaguchi esterification protocol, followed by intramolecular ring‐closing methathesis. The diastereoisomeric alcohol fragment has also been utilized in this synthesis by employing the Mitsunobu esterification.     

Total Synthesis of (−)‐Cleistenolide

An efficient and short total synthesis of (?)‐cleistenolide ( 1 ) from D ‐mannitol with an overall yield of 23.6% is described. The chiron approach for the synthesis of (?)‐cleistenolide involves a one‐C‐atom Wittig olefination, a selective allylic triethylsilyl protection, and a Grubbs‐catalyzed ring‐closure‐metathesis (RCM) reaction as the key steps.     

A Chiron Approach for the Total Synthesis of Crassalactone A

The total synthesis of crassalactone A ( 1 ) has been achieved in twelve steps starting from commercially available 1,5‐D ‐gluconolactone. Still? Gennari olefination, one‐pot deprotection, and lactonization are the key reactions involved in the synthesis.     

An Efficient Stereoselective Total Synthesis of Synargentolide A and Its Epimer

The stereoselective total synthesis of a naturally occurring α‐pyrone (=2H‐pyran‐2‐one) derivative, synargentolide A ( 1 ), and of its epimer 2 (with the originally proposed structure of synargentolide A) was efficiently accomplished involving D ‐tartaric acid as the starting material and an olefin cross‐metathesis reaction as the key step.     

A New Stereoselective Total Synthesis of Phomonol

A stereoselective total synthesis of phomonol, following organocatalytic enantioselective epoxidation and intramolecular oxa‐Michael reaction as key steps, is described. The use of readily available D ‐tartaric acid as a chiral source renders this approach quite simple and attractive.     

Natural (−)‐Vasicine as a Novel Source of Optically Pure 1‐Benzylpyrrolidin‐3‐ol

A facile and scalable methodology for the preparation of optically active (3S)‐1‐benzylpyrrolidin‐3‐ol ( 3 ), an important drug precursor, is reported. Starting from the naturally occurring alkaloid (?)‐vasicine ( 1 ), a major alkaloid of the plant Adhatoda vasica, 3 was obtained in 84% overall yield (Scheme 3).     

Stereoselective Total Synthesis of Goniothalesdiol A via Chiron Approach

The stereocontrolled synthesis of goniothalesdiol A, a dihydroxylated tetrahydropyran compound, has been accomplished using D ‐ribose as chiral precursor. The key steps involved are aryl Grignard reaction, stereoselective alkoxy‐directed keto reduction, and intramolecular oxy‐Michael addition.     

Stereoselective Total Synthesis of Decytospolides A and B Starting from D‐Mannitol

The stereoselective total synthesis of decytospolides A and B, two naturally occurring pyran derivatives, has been achieved using D ‐mannitol as the starting material. The intramolecular oxa‐Michael reaction has been employed to construct the tetrahydropyran ring of the molecules and Weinreb amide formation to generate their side chain with a keto function.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of (−)‐(R)‐Cordiachromene and (−)‐(R)‐Dictyochromenol Utilizing Intramolecular SNAr Reaction

A simple and efficient enantioselective synthesis of chromene, (?)‐(R)‐cordiachromene ( 1 ), and (?)‐(R)‐dictyochromenol ( 2 ) has been accomplished. This convergent synthesis utilizes intramolecular S_NAr reaction for the formation of chroman ring, and Seebach's method of ‘self‐reproduction of chirality’ should establish the (R)‐configuration of the C(2) side chain as key steps.     

Trichodermates A–F,New Cytotoxic Trichothecenes from the Plant Pathogenic Fungus Trichoderma sp.

Trichodermates A – F ( 1 – 6 , resp.), six new trichothecene polyunsaturated octadioic acid esters, and (?)‐harzianum B ( 7 ) were isolated from the fermentation extract of Trichoderma sp., a plant pathogenic fungus isolated from stem rot of an unidentified tree in Thailand. The structures of 1 – 7 were elucidated by NMR experiments. The absolute configuration at C(12) in 3 was assigned by in situ dimolybdenum circular dichroism method, whereas that in 7 was deduced after hydrolysis of 7 to 8 via modified Mosher's method. Compounds 1 and 2 showed modest cytotoxic activities against the K562 (human myelogenous leukemia) cell line with IC₅₀ values of 12.12 and 13.08 μM , respectively.     

Stereoselective Total Synthesis of Multiplolide A and of a Diastereoisomer

A stereoselective total synthesis of multiplolide A ( 1 ) and of its diastereoisomer 2 was described from easily accessible starting materials (Schemes 2–4). The synthetic strategy involves a Jacobsen resolution, Sharpless epoxidation, Swern oxidation, Yamaguchi reaction, and ring‐closing metathesis (RCM).     

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (−)‐Cladospolide B

An enantioselective total synthesis of (?)‐cladospolide B was described. The key steps in this synthesis include(a) a Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation to elaborate syn diol at C‐4 and C‐5 positions; (b) a Mitsunobu esterification to reverse the configuration at C‐11 from (S) to (R); and (c) a ring‐closing metathesis to access the 12‐membered macrocyclic ring.     

Stereoselective Total Synthesis of Phenolic Nonadecanediol

A simple and highly efficient synthetic route has been developed for synthesis of 1‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)nonadecane‐3,5‐diol ( 1 ). The two stereogenic centers were generated by employing proline asymmetric α‐hydroxylation (MacMillan α‐hydroxylation), Jacobsen's hydrolytic kinetic resolution (HKR), and, finally, Yamaguchi oxirane opening as key steps (Scheme 2).     

Stereoselective Total Synthesis of Passifloricin A

The stereoselective total synthesis of passifloricin A ( 1 ), a naturally occurring dihydropyranone with leishmanicidal and antiprotozoal activities, has been accomplished starting from protected glyceraldehyde using Maruoka asymmetric allylation, diastereoselective iodo‐carbonate cyclization, and Grubbs' olefin metathesis reactions as the key steps.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of (−)‐Pinidinone

A simple and efficient stereoselective linear approach to the total synthesis of (?)‐pinidinone has been accomplished starting from propane‐1,3‐diol, and employing Maruoka asymmetric allylation and Grubbs' olefin cross‐metathesis as the key steps.