Asymmetric epoxidation of some arylalkenyl sulfones using a modified Juliá-Colonna procedure

A modified procedure for performing the Juliá-Colonna epoxidation reaction effects the oxidation of some vinyl sulfones to generate the corresponding epoxides 5-8 in good to excellent optical purity.     

Towards the synthesis of [15]-membered stevastelins through the 2,3-epoxy analogues

A synthetic approach to the [15]-membered stevastelins, a novel class of immunosuppressant agents, is reported based on a macrolactamization route to the 2,3-epoxy derivative 6. The synthesis of this compound was achieved via a stereoselective epoxidation of the allylic alcohol 13, followed by a coupling reaction with a variety of peptide derivatives to give the epoxy peptides 7-10. After an extensive study of cyclizations with these precursors, the best result was achieved with the macrolactamization of 8 in the presence of DEPC, to obtain the epoxy cyclic depsipeptide 6 in 42% yield. From this product, an epoxy analogue of stevastelin B, compound 27, was prepared. Finally, the synthesis of the natural product was attempted through the opening of the oxirane ring contained in 6 and 26, with a variety of methyl cuprate reagents, but without success.     

Tandem Electrocyclic Ring Opening/Radical Cyclization: Application to the Total Synthesis of Cribrostatin 6

A concise total synthesis of cribrostatin 6 (1), an antimicrobial and antineoplastic agent, was accomplished using a tandem electrocyclic ring opening/radical cyclization sequence. Specifically, intermediate 4 underwent a 4π-electrocyclic ring opening, radical cyclization, and homolytic aromatic substitution sequence followed by an oxidation to afford the natural product 1 in one pot. Owing to the rapid buildup of complexity in the key step, 1 could be synthesized from commercially available starting materials in only four linear steps. Application of this chemistry to the concise syntheses of analogs of cribrostatin 6 (1) is also reported.     

Total synthesis of the mushroom metabolite (+)-calopin

A synthesis of (+)-calopin (1a) was achieved employing a highly stereoselective ene reaction between 8-phenylmenthyl glyoxylate (3) and the β,β-dimethylstyrene 4c. Transesterification of the resulting homoallylic alcohol 5c, followed by allylic oxidation and hydrogenation yielded the δ-lactone 13 which was deprotected to the natural product 1a.     

Total synthesis and determination of the absolute configuration of (+)-neoisoprelaurefucin

The first total synthesis of the seven-membered ring ether marine natural product (+)-neoisoprelaurefucin (1) has been achieved employing a regioselective internal alkylation of amide 3, a novel sequence for removal of the triethylsilyl group from the resulting triethylsilyloxepene 2, and a bromoetherification of alcohol 16 as key steps. In addition, the absolute stereochemistry of the natural product was assigned.     

A synthetic route to 1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran natural products: the synthesis of methyl ethers of pestacin

A synthetic route to 1-(2,6-dihydroxyphenyl)phthalan natural products is described. It is typified by the synthesis of permethyl and monomethyl ethers (21 and 22) of pestacin (1), a 1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran natural product. The key step is hydrodeoxygenation of the corresponding isobenzofuranone 19 in 2 steps: reduction and intramolecular etherification. A route involving hydrodesulfurization of a thionophthalide to a phthalan (e.g., 8) is also reported.     

Synthesis and characterization of coumarin and dimedone-derived diazabicycles

A series of diazabicyclic derivatives were prepared in three to four steps from p-anisidine and p-nitrobenzaldehyde. The key step of the synthesis involved the acid-catalyzed coupling of 4-aminocoumarin or dimedone derivatives with amino alcohols 3 or 7 to give the ring-opened forms 4, 10, 12 and the ring-closed diazabicycles 5, 6, 9, 11. When 4-alkylaminocoumarins were used as the coupling reagents, the major cyclized product was N-dealkylated diazabicycle 5, rather than the corresponding N-alkylated products. Alternatively, compound 4 was cyclized by DDQ oxidation to produce quinone imine 13. The molecular structures of the synthesized compounds were characterized by X-ray crystallography.     

Dipyrone approach toward the synthesis of the cytotoxic natural product auripyrone A

An approach to the synthesis of the cytotoxic natural product auripyrone A 1 via the cyclization of an alcohol onto a γ-pyrone in 3 is described. The bis(pyrone) alcohol 3 was prepared efficiently from the advanced aldolate 4 via silyl ether cleavage, oxidation, pyrone formation, and PMB ether removal. Instead of providing auripyrone A 1, the attempted cyclization of 3 gave the product of 1,5-acyl migration 8. Model studies show this to be a general process; therefore, cyclization of an alcohol on such a hindered γ-pyrone under normal conditions is very difficult.     

Synthetic approach to potential precursors of sclerophytin A

A direct approach to simple bicyclic analogues of the antitumor natural diterpene, sclerophytin A, is described. The readily available bicyclic ketone 8 (prepared from furan and trichloroacetone) was enantioselectively methylated to give the optically active ketone 11. Regioselective allylation using Negishi's method afforded the α,α-dialkyl ketone 12, which was converted to the chloroacetate 15 by hydroboration-oxidation and protection. Regioselective Baeyer-Villiger oxidation afforded the lactone 7a which could be transformed into the silyl ether 7b. Tebbe olefination furnished a mixture of two enol ethers in which the desired product 17 was the minor isomer. Several attempts to use the major endocyclic enol ether 18 to give the tricyclic analogues of sclerophytin proved unsuccessful. Opening of the lactone of 18 and selective protection of the diol afforded the primary alcohol 24 which was oxidized to the keto aldehyde 25. Unfortunately pinacol coupling of 25 did not give any cyclic product. The diene 27 was also prepared from 25 but all attempts at ring-closing metathesis of 27 met with the same fate. The failure of these various cyclization methods underscores the difficulty in forming medium-sized ring systems, especially those cis-fused at the 2- and 5-positions of a tetrahydrofuran ring.     

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.     

The total synthesis of (−)-connatusin A, a hirsutane-type sesquiterpene isolated from the fungus Lentinus connatus BCC8996

The title sesquiterpenoid natural product 1 has been prepared for the first time using the enantiomerically pure cis-1,2-dihydrocatechol 3 as starting material. Key steps associated with the synthesis include a Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction of the acetonide 5 with cyclopentenone (4) and an oxa-di-π-methane rearrangement of bicylco[2.2.2]octenone 6 derived from the initial adduct. The product of this sequence, the cyclopropannulated triquinane 7, was elaborated, over a further eight steps including those involving Upjohn dihydroxylation and Swern oxidation protocols, to the target 1. A single-crystal X-ray analysis served to confirm the structure of this synthetically derived material.     

Biomimetic synthesis of the dinaphthofuranquinone violet-quinone, utilizing oxidative dimerization with the ZrO2/O2 system

The first total and biomimetic synthesis of violet-quinone (1), which has a dinaphthofuranquinone (DNFQ) framework, is described. This synthesis features the oxidative dimerization of 1-naphthol 4 and the construction of the DNFQ framework by photochemical ring closure of 2,2′-binaphthoquinone 7 as a key intermediate. Compound 7 was prepared by the novel oxidative dimerization of 4 with a semiconductor (such as ZrO₂) in the presence of dioxygen, followed by oxidation of the resulting 2,2′-binaphthyl-1,1′-quinone 6 with HNO₃.     

Preparation of 3-hydroxyoxindoles with dimethyldioxirane and their use for the synthesis of natural products

This work describes a general protocol for the oxidation of indole and oxindole derivatives with dimethyldioxirane to give 3-hydroxyoxindoles present in many natural products. This strategy allowed us to synthesize the natural product 1, to carry out the first total synthesis of 4, a formal total synthesis of donaxaridine (5) and to achieve the synthesis of pyrroloindoline 8, a debromo analogue of the natural product flustraminol B (7).     

Total synthesis of (+)-varitriol via a symmetrical furanose diol as the key intermediate

Alternative, simple and efficient route for (+)-varitriol (1), a marine-derived natural product with potent biological activity, has been synthesized from d-ribose. In this synthetic strategy symmetrical diol (6) with mono alcohol protection, the key intermediate, was produced in eight steps with 35% overall yield and the significance of 6 as the key furanoside building block for the synthesis of novel analogues of 1 for SAR studies was explained.     

Studies toward the total synthesis of di- and sesterterpenes with a dicyclopenta[a,d]cyclooctane skeleton. Construction of a versatile A/B ring building block via a ring-closing metathesis reaction and carbocationic rearrangement

The cyclopentacyclooctane derivative 1, chosen as the key building block in a synthesis of terpenoid ophiobolates and fusicoccins, has been prepared from 2-methylcyclo-pent-2-en-1-one 5. Cyclization of the intermediate 1,9-diene of l,u configuration 10 under metathesis conditions (Grubbs’ catalyst 15) afforded the eight-membered ring product 13, whereas cyclization of the l,l diastereomer 9 produced a seven-membered ring analog 12. Cationic rearrangement of epoxide 26 occurred with methyl group migration to give ketone 27 as the major product.     

Enantioselective synthesis of the farnesyltransferase inhibitor, A-345665.0

The stereoselective synthesis of A-345665.0 1, a novel farnesyl transferase inhibitor, is described. The key step involves a stereoselective addition of an imidazolyl Grignard reagent to aldehyde 8 in the presence of an external chiral auxiliary. Crystallization of the product as the dimeric zinc complex 12 facilitates the isolation of product in >98:2 er. The biaryl linkage is formed by the use of a Suzuki coupling, employing boronic acid 4 prepared by the directed ortho-lithiation of benzonitrile 6. The overall yield for the six step sequence is 21%.     

Synthesis of BCD tricyclic analogues of the novel cardiac glycoside rhodexin A

A concise synthesis of novel cardiac glycoside analogues of rhodexin A, 14 and 24, having the BCD tricyclic system is described. The key constructive step is an inverse-electron demand Diels-Alder reaction of the silyl enol ether 4 and the 2-acetyldiene, 7 and 15.     

The first total synthesis of telephiose A

The first total synthesis of telephiose A (1), a novel trisaccharide ester having two acetyl groups and two benzoyl groups, was achieved by using glucosyl donor 6 and disaccharide acceptor 12. The crucial key step was the stereoselective construction of the β-d-glucosidic linkage featuring the neighboring group participation of the 2-O-N-phenylcarbamoyl group (of donor 6), which can be selectively deprotected in the presence of acetyl and benzoyl groups. Donor 6 was prepared from d-glucose in eight steps (33% yield), whereas acceptor 12 was prepared from sucrose in six steps (35% yield). Precursors 6 and 12 were reacted in subsequent reactions (five steps) to afford 1 in 22% yield.     

A facile approach to trans-4,5-pyrrolidine lactam and application in the synthesis of nemonapride and streptopyrrolidine

An efficient approach to trans-4-hydroxylpyrrolidine lactams 1 starting from amino acid is described. The utility of this method has been demonstrated in the synthesis of antipsychotic nemonapride 3 and antiangiogenic streptopyrrolidine 4. Compared four synthetic stereoisomers of natural streptopyrrolidine 4 in term of spectroscopic and physical data, the absolute structure of the natural product was proposed as (4S,5S)-configuration.     

Synthesis of the Arctic sponge alkaloid viscosaline and the marine sponge alkaloid theonelladin C

The synthesis of Arctic sponge alkaloid viscosaline (1) is achieved by using the Zincke reaction as the penultimate step. A key synthetic intermediate theonelladin C (6), itself a marine sponge natural product, is synthesised efficiently using a four-step sequence.