Total synthesis of (±)-hyrtiazepine

The total synthesis of the azepinoindole alkaloid, (±)-hyrtiazepine, was achieved. Construction of the azepinoindole core structure was carried out by C-4 selective α-hydroxyalkylation of 5-hydroxyindole, introduction of serine at C-3 of the indole moiety, and intramolecular imination.     

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.     

A novel synthetic route for the total synthesis of (±)-uleine

In this study, a new synthetic route for the total synthesis of (±)-uleine is described. The important step in the synthesis of this alkaloid consists of an intramolecular cyclization of the D ring of the azocino[4,3-b]indole skeleton. Reduction of (N-methyl){3-β-ethyl-4-oxo-2,3,4,9-tetrahydrospiro[1H-carbazole-1,2′(1,3)dithiolane]-2-yl}-2-acetamide with borane yielded the corresponding (N-methyl){3-β-ethyl-4-hydroxy-2,3,4,9-tetrahydrospiro[1H-carbazole-1,2′(1,3)dithiolane]-2-yl}-2-acetamide, which underwent acid-catalyzed ring closure to produce azocino[4,3-b]indole core. Finally, the synthesis of (±)-uleine was completed through several steps from the azocino[4,3-b]indole core.     

Total synthesis of (±)-pseudopterosin A-F and K-L aglycone

A total synthesis of (±)-pseudopterosin A-F and K-L aglycone is described in which three aromatic alkylation reactions are used to construct the hexahydrophenalene ring system.     

Total synthesis of (±)-cyclooroidin

The first total synthesis of (±)-cyclooroidin, a member of the pyrrole-imidazole alkaloid family recently isolated from the sponge Agelas oroides in optically pure form, is described. The synthesis was achieved in nine linear steps, with an overall yield of 10%. Key step was a Wolff bromoketone synthesis performed on the intermediate longamide B.     

A new approach to the C28 fatty acid chain of the marine natural products schulzeines B and C: a concise diastereoselective total synthesis of(−)-schulzeine B

An enantioselective approach to the C₂₈ fatty acid chain of the marine natural products schulzeines B and C was established based on the l-tartaric acid derived C₄ chiron 11 via successive 1,4-bis-chain elongation reactions and catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation. The chiral tricyclic core 8 was constructed via a diastereoselective Pictet-Spengler cyclization reaction (dr = 89:11) of the l-glutamic acid derived precursor 13. On this basis, a concise total synthesis of (−)-schulzeine B (5) was disclosed.     

Efficient assembly of 3-substituted oxindole-based isoxazolines leading to the synthesis of (±)-flustraminol-B and related natural product building blocks

An efficient synthesis of oxindole-based isoxazolines has been developed and the resulting spirocyclic intermediates have been elaborated to synthetically versatile 3-hydroxy-3-alkyl oxindole building blocks such as the 3-hydroxy-3-methylenecyano-2-oxindoles (6) and γ-amino alcohols (12). Utility of this methodology is demonstrated through the synthesis of pyrrolo[2,3-b]indolines including the marine natural product (±)-flustraminol-B.     

First synthesis of naturally occurring (±)-epi-conocarpan

(±)-epi-Conocarpan 1 was synthesized via the key intermediate 5-bromo-cis-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-methyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran 6 which was synthesized by a ruthenium(II) porphyrin-catalyzed intramolecular C-H insertion reaction using aryl tosylhydrazone salt 5 as the carbene source, starting from the commercially available 5-bromo-2-hydroxyacetophenone.     

Total synthesis of (±)-brazilin and formal synthesis of (±)-brazilein, (±)-brazilide A using m-CPBA

Total synthesis of (±)-brazilin has been accomplished. m-CPBA epoxidation of allyl alcohol 10 and epoxy opening reaction mediated by m-chlorobenzoic acid, formed in situ as a byproduct, gave advanced intermediate diol 14. O-alkylation and cyclization gave phenol 6 which enabled the formal synthesis of (±)-brazilein and (±)-brazilide A.     

The first total synthesis of (±)-zenkequinone B

The first total synthesis of tetrahydrobenzo[a]anthraquinone natural product (±)-zenkequinone B (1) is reported. The key step involves the TiCl₄-promoted intramolecular cyclization of 4-aryl-2-hydroxybutanal diethyl acetal 4 to give compound 3. The total synthesis of (±)-zenekequinone B (1) has been accomplished in five steps from readily available 2-(chloromethyl)-9,10-dimethoxyanthracene (5) in 40.3% overall yield.     

Total syntheses of proposed (±)-trichodermatides B and C

Total syntheses of putative (±)-trichodermatides B and C are described. These efficient syntheses feature the oxa-[3+3] annulation strategy, leading to B and C along with their respective C2-epimers. However, these synthetic samples are spectroscopically very different from the natural products. DFT calculations of C13 chemical shifts are conducted and the predicted values are in good agreement with those of synthetic samples, thereby questioning the accuracy of structural assignments of trichodermatides B and C.     

Applications of NHC-mediated O- to C-carboxyl transfer: synthesis of (±)-N-benzyl-coerulescine and (±)-horsfiline

NHC-promoted O- to C-carboxyl transfer of 3-allyl indolyl phenyl carbonates generates 3-allyl-3-phenoxycarbonyl-oxindoles with good catalytic efficiency, which are readily converted into (±)-N-benzyl-coerulescine and (±)-horsfiline.     

Formal synthesis of (±)-udoteatrial hydrate

The formal synthesis of antimicrobial diterpene udoteatrial hydrate (1) is described in nine steps. Diol 6 used as starting material. The key intermediate 4 was obtained from bicyclic ketone 5 via the key Norrish type I reaction.     

(±)-Diinsininone: made nature's way

We report the synthesis of diinsininone (33), the aglycone of (±)-diinsinin (2). Thereby, we complete the first construction of a proanthocyanidin (PA) type-A compound incorporating a [3.3.1]-bicyclic ketal as its characteristic core. Our strategy utilizes a coupling between a benzopyrilium salt and a flavanone that proves applicable to other PA type-A compounds. During this undertaking, treatment of naringenin (9) with 2-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) followed by reductive work-up affords eriodictyol (10). This reactivity mirrors that of catechol hydroxylase (F3H) found in the flavonoid pathway. Other interesting transformations include the formation of flavonoids through an ortho-quinone methide (o-QM) cycloaddition-oxidation sequence and regioselective β-glycosidations of several unprotected flavanones suggesting a likely synthesis of 2 from the aglycone 33.     

Formal total synthesis of (±)-magellanine

Formal total synthesis of magellanine is described. Key features in the synthesis were stereoselective Ireland-Claisen rearrangement and intramolecular Pauson-Khand reaction of exo-cyclic enynes.     

Original synthesis of 2-substituted-4,11-dimethoxy-1-(phenylsulfonyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-naphtho[2,3-f]indole-5,10-diones using TDAE and Cu-catalyzed reaction strategy

We report herein an original and rapid synthesis of 2-substituted-4,11-dimethoxy-1-(phenylsulfonyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-naphtho[2,3-f]indole-5,10-diones by TDAE mediated synthesis of N-benzylsulfonamides followed by an intramolecular N-arylation using Cu-catalyzed system.     

Synthesis of vinca alkaloids and related compounds. Part 102: Simple synthesis and ring transformation of (±)-minovincine. First synthesis of (±)-vincaminine

A molecule with an indole skeleton, containing a latent acrylic ester function—acting as a diene—readily reacted with benzoic acid (4-bromomethylene-5-oxo)hexyl ester that had been built up from pentane-2,4-dione. Dehydration of the enamine and subsequent [4+2] cycloaddition supplied epimers having the d-secoaspidospermane skeleton. These compounds directly or after epimerization gave (±)-minovincine. Oxidative ring transformation of (±)-minovincine under different conditions led to (±)-16-acetyl-16-deethylapovincamine and (±)-vincaminine.