Total synthesis of amphidinolide X

A concise total synthesis of the cytotoxic marine natural product amphidinolide X (1) is described. A key step of the highly convergent route to this structurally rather unusual macrodiolide derivative consists of a newly developed, highly syn selective formation of allenol 6 by an iron-catalyzed ring opening reaction of the enantioenriched propargyl epoxide 5 (derived from a Sharpless epoxidation) with a Grignard reagent. Allenol 6 was then cyclized with the aid of Ag(I) to give dihydrofuran 7 containing the (R)-configured quarternary sp3 chiral center at C19 of the target. The anti-configured chiral centers at C10 and C11 were formed by the palladium-catalyzed, Et2Zn-promoted addition of propargyl mesylate 12 to the functionalized aldehyde 11. The key fragment coupling at the C13-C14 bond was achieved by the "9-MeO-9-BBN" variant of the alkyl-Suzuki reaction. Finally, the 16-membered macrodiolide ring was formed by a Yamaguchi esterification/lactonization strategy.     

Stereocontrolled and convergent total synthesis of amphidinolide T3

Stereocontrolled and convergent total synthesis of amphidinolide T3 has been described. A retrosynthetic scheme was constructed that led to the recognition of readily available and enantiomerically related compounds as starting materials for the total synthesis of amphidinolide T3. Thus, the two key building blocks 6 and 7 were defined as subtargets and synthesized in optically active forms. The C1-C12 fragment 6 was derived from commercially available D-glutamic acid or its synthetically equivalent (R)-5-hydroxymethyltetrahydrofuran-2-one 16 as starting material involving highly diastereoselective asymmetric allylation as a key step. The C13-C21 fragment 7 was efficiently synthesized in high yield through the dithiane coupling of the segment 10 and iodide 11, followed by subsequent deprotection and Petasis olefination. Eventually, assembly of the fragment aldehyde 6 and dithiane 7 along with C-C bond formation, a two-step oxidation-reduction sequence, selective macrolactonization, and functional transformation furnished the convergent total and formal synthesis of amphidinolide T3 and T4, and this approach also provides a flexible and practical synthesis of amphidinolide T macrolides.     

Total syntheses of amphidinolide X and Y

Concise total syntheses of the cytotoxic marine natural products amphidinolide X (1) and amphidinolide Y (2) as well as of the nonnatural analogue 19-epi-amphidinolide X (47) are described. A pivotal step of the highly convergent routes to these structurally rather unusual secondary metabolites consists of a syn-selective formation of allenol 17 by an iron-catalyzed ring opening reaction of the enantioenriched propargyl epoxide 16 (derived from a Sharpless epoxidation) with a Grignard reagent. Allenol 17 was then cyclized with the aid of Ag(I) to give dihydrofuran 19 containing the (R)-configured tetrasubstituted sp3 chiral center at C.19, which was further elaborated into tetrahydrofuran 25 representing the common heterocyclic motif of 1 and 2. The aliphatic chain of amphidinolide X featuring an anti-configured stereodiad at C.10 and C.11 was generated by a palladium-catalyzed, Et2Zn-promoted addition of the enantiopure propargyl mesylate 29 to the functionalized aldehyde 28. The preparation of the corresponding C.1-C.12 segment of amphidinolide Y relies on asymmetric hydrogenation of an alpha-ketoester, a diastereoselective boron aldol reaction, and a chelate-controlled addition of MeMgBr in combination with suitable oxidation state management for the elaboration of the tertiary acyloin motif. Importantly, the end games of both total syntheses follow similar blueprints, involving key fragment coupling processes via the "9-MeO-9-BBN" variant of the alkyl-Suzuki reaction and final Yamaguchi esterifications to forge the 16-membered macrodiolide ring of amphidinolide X and the 17-membered macrolide frame of amphidinolide Y, respectively. This methodological convergence ensures high efficiency and an excellent overall economy of steps for the entire synthesis campaign.     

Synthesis of amphidinolide T1 via catalytic, stereoselective macrocyclization

Two nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling reactions of alkynes were instrumental in a modular, stereoselective synthesis of amphidinolide T1 (1). The C13-C21 fragment was prepared from two simple starting materials that were joined in a catalytic alkyne-epoxide fragment coupling operation, whereas an intramolecular aldehyde-alkyne reductive coupling simultaneously formed the final carbon-carbon bond of the macrocycle and established the C13 carbinol configuration with complete selectivity in the desired fashion.     

Amphidinolides T2, T3, and T4, new 19-membered macrolides from the dinoflagellate Amphidinium sp. and the biosynthesis of amphidinolide T1.

Three new 19-membered macrolides, amphidinolides T2 (2), T3 (3), and T4 (4), structurally related to amphidinolide T1 (1) have been isolated from two strains of marine dinoflagellates of the genus Amphidinium. The structures of 2-4 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. The absolute configurations at C-7, C-8, and C-10 of 1-4 were determined by comparison of NMR data of their C-1-C-12 segments with those of synthetic model compounds for the tetrahydrofuran portion. The biosynthetic origins of amphidinolide T1 (1) were investigated on the basis of 13C NMR data of a 13C enriched sample obtained by feeding experiments with [1-(13)C], [2-(13)C], and [1,2-(13)C2] sodium acetates and 13C-labeled sodium bicarbonate in the cultures of the dinoflagellate. These incorporation patterns suggested that amphidinolide T1 (1) was generated from four successive polyketide chains, an isolated C1 unit formed from C-2 of acetates, and three unusual C2 units derived only from C-2 of acetates. Furthermore, it is noted that five oxygenated carbons of C-1, C-7, C-12, C-13, and C-18 were not derived from the C-1 carbonyl, but from the C-2 methyl of acetates.     

Total synthesis of woodrosin I--part 2: final stages involving RCM and an orthoester rearrangement

The completion of the first total synthesis of the complex resin glycoside woodrosin I (1) is outlined using the building blocks described in the preceding paper. Key steps involve the TMSOTf-catalyzed coupling of diol 2 with trichloroacetimidate 3 which leads to the selective formation of orthoester 5 rather than to the expected tetrasaccharide. Diene 5, on treatment with catalytic amounts of the Grubbs carbene complex 6 or the phenylindenylidene ruthenium complex 7, undergoes a high yielding ring closing olefin metathesis reaction (RCM) to afford macrolide 8. Exposure of the latter to the rhamnosyl donor 4 in the presence of TMSOTf under "inverse glycosylation" conditions delivers compound 9 by a process involving glycosylation of the sterically hindered 2'-OH group and concomitant rearrangement of the adjacent orthoester into the desired beta-glycoside. This transformation constitutes one of the most advanced applications of the Kochetkov glycosidation method reported to date. Cleavage of the chloroacetate followed by exhaustive hydrogenation completes the total synthesis of the targeted glycolipid 1.     

Total syntheses of (S)-(-)-zearalenone and lasiodiplodin reveal superior metathesis activity of ruthenium carbene complexes with imidazol-2-ylidene ligands

Total syntheses of the bioactive orsellinic acid derivatives zearalenone 3 and lasiodiplodin 1 are reported based on a ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction of styrene precursors as the key steps. These and closely related macrocyclizations are catalyzed with high efficiency by the "second generation" ruthenium carbene catalyst 5 bearing a N-heterocyclic carbene ligand, whereas the standard Grubbs carbene 4 fails to afford any cyclized product. Only the (E)-isomer of the macrocyclic cycloalkene is formed in all cases. The substrates for RCM can be obtained either via a Stille cross-coupling reaction of tributylvinylstannane or, even more efficiently, by Heck reactions of the aryl triflate precursors with pressurized ethene. Furthermore, the synthesis of 1 via RCM is compared with an alternative approach employing a low-valent titanium-induced McMurry coupling of dialdehyde 47 for the formation of the large ring. This direct comparison clearly ends in favor of metathesis which turned out to be superior in all preparatively relevant respects.     

A Concise Total Synthesis of Dactylol via Ring Closing Metathesis

A straightforward total synthesis of the cyclooctenoid sesquiterpene dactylol (1) and of 3a-epi-dactylol (13) has been achieved in six synthetic operations. The unusual rearranged bicyclo[6.3.0]undecane isoprenoid skeleton of these target molecules has been formed via an initial three-component coupling triggered by 1,4-addition of a methylcopper reagent (MeLi, CuI, Bu(3)P) to cyclopentenone, followed by trapping of the enolate formed with 2,2-dimethyl-4-pentenal as the electrophile. The aldol 8 thus obtained was elaborated into the trans-disubstituted cyclopentanone derivative 10 which reacted with a methallylcerium reagent to afford a mixture of the tertiary alcohols 11a and 12a. Separation and O-silylation of these diastereoisomers, ring-closing metathesis (RCM) of the resulting dienes 11b and 12b to form the cyclooctene ring using Schrocks molybdenum carbene 5 as a precatalyst, and a final deprotection afforded the title compound and its epimer in excellent yields. This approach clearly surpasses previous ones in terms of efficiency, flexibility, accessibility of the substrates, number of steps, atom economy, and overall yield.     

Synthesis of iso-epoxy-amphidinolide N and des-epoxy-caribenolide I structures. Initial forays

Two strategies for the projected total synthesis of the phenomenally potent antitumour macrolides amphidinolide N (1) and caribenolide I (2) are described. The title compounds are introduced as challenging and unique targets for chemical synthesis, and their retrosynthetic analysis is presented. The synthesis of the four defined key building blocks (10, 39, 67 and 72), required for the construction of amphidinolide N (1), in their enantiomerically pure forms, is described, followed by the coupling of 10, 39 and 72 through hydrazone alkylation processes to generate the complete C6-C29 carbon framework of the target compound (1). Fusion of the remaining C1-C5 sector (72) onto the molecule by metathesis-based methods was unsuccessful, resulting in the adoption of a second-generation strategy which called for the employment of one of the array of palladium-catalysed cross-coupling reactions to generate the C5-C6 carbon-carbon bond. Vinyl bromide 125, representing the C6-C29 skeleton of caribenolide I (2), was prepared through the sequential alkylation of hydrazone 10 with bromide 116 and iodide 55, but failed to engage in the appropriate cross-coupling reaction with a variety of C1-C4 partners. Despite these setbacks, the information gleaned from these endeavours was to prove invaluable in laying the foundation for the eventual successful approach to the macrocyclic structures of amphidinolide N (1) and caribenolide I (2).     

Formal Total Synthesis of Palmerolide A

A formal total synthesis of the 20‐membered marine macrolide, palmerolide A from chiral pool tartaric acid is described. Elaboration of a γ‐hydroxy amide, which is derived from the desymmetrization of tartaric acid amide, and Boord olefination are the pivotal reactions employed for the synthesis of the chiral building blocks, and Stille coupling and ring‐closing metathesis (RCM) are used to assemble the macrolactone.     

Concise Total Syntheses of Amphidinolides C and F

The marine natural products amphidinolide C ( 1 ) and F ( 4 ) differ in their side chains but share a common macrolide core with a signature 1,4‐diketone substructure. This particular motif inspired a synthesis plan predicating a late‐stage formation of this non‐consonant (“umpoled”) pattern by a platinum‐catalyzed transannular hydroalkoxylation of a cycloalkyne precursor. This key intermediate was assembled from three building blocks ( 29 , 41 and 47 (or 65 )) by Yamaguchi esterification, Stille cross‐coupling and a macrocyclization by ring‐closing alkyne metathesis (RCAM). This approach illustrates the exquisite alkynophilicity of the catalysts chosen for the RCAM and alkyne hydroalkoxylation steps, which activate triple bonds with remarkable ease but left up to five other π‐systems in the respective substrates intact. Interestingly, the inverse chemoselectivity pattern was exploited for the preparation of the tetrahydrofuran building blocks 47 and 65 carrying the different side chains of the two target macrolides. These fragments derive from a common aldehyde precursor 46 formed by an exquisitely alkene‐selective cobalt‐catalyzed oxidative cyclization of the diunsaturated alcohol 44 , which left an adjacent acetylene group untouched. The northern sector 29 was prepared by a two‐directional Marshall propargylation strategy, whereas the highly adorned acid subunit 41 derives from D ‐glutamic acid by an intramolecular oxa‐Michael addition and a proline‐mediated hydroxyacetone aldol reaction as the key steps; the necessary Me₃Sn‐group on the terminus of 41 for use in the Stille coupling was installed via enol triflate 39 , which was obtained by selective deprotonation/triflation of the ketone site of the precursor 38 without competing enolization of the ester also present in this particular substrate.     

Synthesis of C13-C22 of amphidinolide T2 via nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling of an alkyne and a terminal epoxide

Several stereoselective routes to the synthesis of (1S,3R)-t-butyldimethyl-(1-methyl-3-oxiranyl-propoxy)-silane (13a) were explored, and the use of Jacobsen's hydrolytic kinetic resolution to separate a mixture of diastereomeric epoxides was a key step in the shortest of these. As part of an approach to the total synthesis of amphidinolide T2 (2), this epoxide, corresponding to C17-C22 of the natural product, was successfully joined with an alkyne (C13-C16) by way of a nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling reaction.     

Total synthesis of amphidinolide J

The marine natural product amphidinolide J has been synthesized according to a convergent strategy. The key steps of this synthesis include a B-alkyl Suzuki-Miyaura coupling and the addition of an alkynyllithium reagent to a Weinreb amide to build the C4-C5 and C12-C13 bonds, respectively, and a Yamaguchi macrolactonization.     

Stereocontrolled total synthesis of amphidinolide X via a silicon-tethered metathesis reaction

Two esterifications and an RCM to create the challenging trisubstituted C12-C13 double bond were required in the total synthesis of amphidinolide X (1) reported here. Assembling the three fragments in this order, no RCM occurred or the process yielded mainly isomer Z. However, generating the E double bond first, by a new variant of a Si-tethered metathesis (using Schrock's catalyst), and carrying out the esterification and macrolactonization steps later, 1 was obtained exclusively.     

Gram scale synthesis of the C(18)-C(34) fragment of amphidinolide C

The synthesis of the C(18)-C(34) fragment of amphidinolide C has been achieved via two routes, culminating in both the shortest (11 steps) and highest yielding (26% overall yield) approaches to this segment. The highly convergent approach will facilitate the synthesis of analogues, including the C(18)-C(29) fragment of amphidinolide F. Synthetic highlights include the selective methylation of a diyne, and the highly efficient use of a second generation cobalt catalyst in the Mukaiyama oxidative cyclization to form the trans-THF ring.     

Ring-closing metathesis in the synthesis of BC ring-systems of taxol

BC ring-systems of taxol with different or no protecting group for the C1,C2-diol moiety have been efficiently synthesized. The eight-membered B ring is formed by a ring-closing metathesis reaction (RCM) between the C10 and C11 carbon atoms. The influence of the 1,2-diol protecting group on the RCM reaction has been studied in detail.     

Synthesis of the C1-C12 acid fragment of amphidinolide T marine macrolides via SmI2-mediated enantioselective reductive coupling of aldehydes with a chiral crotonate

A new strategy for enantioselective assembly of the trisubstituted tetrahydrofuran ring has been established for synthesis of the C1-C12 acid fragment of amphidinolide T series marine macrolides. The key steps involve the SmI₂-mediated highly enantioselective reductive coupling of an aldehyde with the (1S,2R)-N-methylephedrine-derived crotonate to form the cis-3,4-disubstituted γ-butyrolactone and the subsequent BF₃-mediated 1,3-anti-selective allylation of the five-membered-ring oxocarbenium ion with allyltrimethylsilane. The desired C1-C12 acid fragment was obtained in >25% overall yield via a 9-step sequence.     

Total synthesis of apoptolidin: construction of enantiomerically pure fragments

A general strategy for the total synthesis of the antitumor agent apoptolidin (1) is proposed, and the chemical synthesis of the defined key building blocks (4, 5, 6, 8, and 9) in their enantiomerically pure forms is described. The projected total synthesis calls for a dithiane coupling reaction to construct the C(20)-C(21) bond, a Stille coupling reaction to form the C(11)-C(12) bond, and a Yamaguchi macrolactonization to assemble the macrolide ring, as well as two glycosidation reactions to fuse the carbohydrate units onto the molecule. First and second generation syntheses to the required fragments for apoptolidin (1) are described.     

Total synthesis of (+)-amphidinolide A. Structure elucidation and completion of the synthesis

The structure elucidation of (+)-amphidinolide A, a cytotoxic macrolide, has been accomplished by employing a combination of NMR chemical shift analysis and total synthesis. The 20-membered ring of amphidinolide A was formed by a ruthenium-catalyzed alkene-alkyne coupling to forge the C15-C16 bond. Using the reported structure 1 as a starting point, a number of diastereomers of amphidinolide A were prepared. Deviations of the chemical shift of key protons in each isomer relative to the natural material were used as a guide to determine the locations of the errors in the relative stereochemistry. The spectroscopic data for the synthetic and natural material are in excellent agreement.