Total Synthesis of Murrayanine Involving 4,5‐Dimethyleneoxazolidin‐2‐ones and a Palladium(0)‐Catalyzed Diaryl Insertion

A new total synthesis of the natural carbazole murrayanine ( 1 ) was developed by using the 4,5‐dimethyleneoxazolidin‐2‐one 12 as starting material. The latter underwent a highly regioselective Diels–Alder cycloaddition with acrylaldehyde (=prop‐2‐enal; 13 ) to give adduct 14 (Scheme 3). Conversion of this adduct into diarylamine derivative 9 was carried out via hydrolysis and methylation (Scheme 4). Differing from our previous synthesis, in which such a diarylamine derivative was transformed into 1 by a Pd^II‐stoichiometric cyclization, this new approach comprised an improved cyclization through a more efficient Pd⁰‐catalyzed intramolecular diaryl coupling which was applied to 9 , thus obtaining the natural carbazole 1 in a higher overall yield.     

Reconstitution of Biosynthetic Machinery for the Synthesis of the Highly Elaborated Indole Diterpene Penitrem

Penitrem A is one of the most elaborated members of the fungal indole diterpenes. Two separate penitrem gene clusters were identified using genomic and RNA sequencing data, and 13 out of 17 transformations in the penitrem biosynthesis were elucidated by heterologous reconstitution of the relevant genes. These reactions involve 1) a prenylation‐initiated cationic cyclization to install the bicyclo[3.2.0]heptane skeleton (PtmE), 2) a two‐step P450‐catalyzed oxidative processes forming the unique tricyclic penitrem skeleton (PtmK and PtmU), and 3) five sequential oxidative transformations (PtmKULNJ). Importantly, without conventional gene disruption, reconstitution of the biosynthetic machinery provided sufficient data to determine the pathway. It was thus demonstrated that the Aspergillus oryzae reconstitution system is a powerful method for studying the biosynthesis of complex natural products.     

Metal‐Catalyzed Cyclization Reactions of 2,3,4‐Trien‐1‐ols: A Joint Experimental–Computational Study

Controlled preparation of tri‐ and tetrasubstituted furans, as well as carbazoles has been achieved through chemo‐ and regioselective metal‐catalyzed cyclization reactions of cumulenic alcohols. The gold‐ and palladium‐catalyzed cycloisomerization reactions of cumulenols, including indole‐tethered 2,3,4‐trien‐1‐ols, to trisubstituted furans was effective, due to a 5‐endo‐dig oxycyclization by attack of the hydroxy group onto the central cumulene double bond. In contrast, palladium‐catalyzed heterocyclization/coupling reactions with 3‐bromoprop‐1‐enes furnished tetrasubstituted furans. Also studied was the palladium‐catalyzed cyclization/coupling sequence involving protected indole‐tethered 2,3,4‐trien‐1‐ols and 3‐bromoprop‐1‐enes that exclusively generated trisubstituted carbazole derivatives. These results could be explained through a selective 6‐endo‐dig cumulenic hydroarylation, followed by aromatization. DFT calculations were carried out to understand this difference in reactivity.     

Perquinolines A–C: Unprecedented Bacterial Tetrahydroisoquinolines Involving an Intriguing Biosynthesis

Metabolic profiling of Streptomyces sp. IB2014/016‐6 led to the identification of three new tetrahydroisoquinoline natural products, perquinolines A–C ( 1 – 3 ). Labelled precursor feeding studies and the cloning of the pqr biosynthetic gene cluster revealed that 1 – 3 are assembled by the action of several unusual enzymes. The biosynthesis starts with the condensation of succinyl‐CoA and l ‐phenylalanine catalyzed by the amino‐7‐oxononanoate synthase‐like enzyme PqrA, representing rare chemistry in natural product assembly. The second condensation and cyclization events are conducted by PqrG, an enzyme resembling an acyl‐CoA ligase. Last, ATP‐grasp RimK‐type ligase PqrI completes the biosynthesis by transferring a γ‐aminobutyric acid or β‐alanine moiety. The discovered pathway represents a new route for assembling the tetrahydroisoquinoline cores of natural products.     

Control of the Stereochemical Course of [4+2] Cycloaddition during trans‐Decalin Formation by Fsa2‐Family Enzymes

Enzyme‐catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition has been proposed to be a key transformation process in various natural product biosynthetic pathways. Recently Fsa2 was found to be involved in stereospecific trans‐decalin formation during the biosynthesis of equisetin, a potent HIV‐1 integrase inhibitor. To understand the mechanisms by which fsa2 determines the stereochemistry of reaction products, we sought an fsa2 homologue that is involved in trans‐decalin formation in the biosynthetic pathway of an enantiomerically opposite analogue, and we found phm7, which is involved in the biosynthesis of phomasetin. A decalin skeleton with an unnatural configuration was successfully constructed by gene replacement of phm7 with fsa2, thus demonstrating enzymatic control of all stereochemistry in the [4+2] cycloaddition. Our findings highlight enzyme‐catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition as a stereochemically divergent step in natural product biosynthetic pathways and open new avenues for generating derivatives with different stereochemistry.     

Cytochrome P450 Mediated Cyclization in Eunicellane Derived Diterpenoid Biosynthesis**

Terpene cyclization, one of the most complex chemical reactions in nature, is generally catalyzed by two classes of terpene cyclases (TCs). Cytochrome P450s that act as unexpected TC-like enzymes are known but are very rare. In this study, we genome-mined a cryptic bacterial terpenoid gene cluster, named ari, from the thermophilic actinomycete strain Amycolatopsis arida. By employing a heterologous production system, we isolated and characterized three highly oxidized eunicellane derived diterpenoids, aridacins A−C ( 1 – 3 ), that possess a 6/7/5-fused tricyclic scaffold. In vivo and in vitro experiments systematically established a noncanonical two-step biosynthetic pathway for diterpene skeleton formation. First, a class I TC (AriE) cyclizes geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) into a 6/10-fused bicyclic cis-eunicellane skeleton. Next, a cytochrome P450 (AriF) catalyzes cyclization of the eunicellane skeleton into the 6/7/5-fused tricyclic scaffold through C2−C6 bond formation. Based on the results of quantum chemical computations, hydrogen abstraction followed by electron transfer coupled to barrierless carbocation ring closure is shown to be a viable mechanism for AriF-mediated cyclization. The biosynthetic logic of skeleton construction in the aridacins is unprecedented, expanding the catalytic capacity and diversity of P450s and setting the stage to investigate the inherent principles of carbocation generation by P450s in the biosynthesis of terpenoids.     

A General Diversified Synthesis of Carbazoles and the First Synthesis of Karapinchamine A

[IPrAuCl]/AgSbF₆‐catalyzed cyclization of the readily available 4‐benzoxyl‐1‐(indol‐2‐yl)‐2‐alkynols occurred smoothly in 1,2‐dichloroethane (DCE) in the presence of 4 Å MS to form a series of differently polysubstituted 2‐oxygenated carbazole derivatives efficiently. Based on mechanistic study, a possible mechanism involving 1,3‐migration of a benzoate group to form the allene, Au⁺‐mediated cyclization–elimination to form a gold–carbene intermediate, and subsequent highly selective 1,2‐migration has been proposed for the formation of carbazoles. Highly selective 1,2‐migration referring to the two substituents R³ and R⁴ (R⁴=H, alkyl, and aryl group) was observed: (1) In the presence of both H and alkyl groups, 1,2‐hydrogen migration is exclusive; (2) in the presence of a methyl group (R³), propyl, isopropyl, 4‐methylphenyl, and 4‐chlorophenyl groups (R⁴) migrate exclusively. Finally, the first total synthesis of the recently isolated naturally occurring carbazole alkaloid karapinchamine A in 5.2 g scale has been realized in 6 steps from commercially available chemicals without need for any protection–deprotection.     

Regioselective Synthesis of Ellipticine

An eight‐step synthesis of the tetracyclic pyridocarbazole alkaloid ellipticine (= 5,11‐dimethyl‐6H‐pyrido[4,3‐b]carbazole; 1a ) in an overall yield of 13% is reported, starting from 4,7‐dimethyl‐1H‐indene. Key steps were iodination, Suzuki coupling, reductive cyclization, DDQ oxidation, and heterocyclization under loss of H₂O.     

Gold‐Catalyzed Cyclization of 1‐(Indol‐3‐yl)‐3‐alkyn‐1‐ols: Facile Synthesis of Diversified Carbazoles

Efficient cyclization of 1‐(indol‐3‐yl)‐3‐alkyn‐1‐ols in the presence of a cationic gold(I) complex, leading to annulated or specific substituted carbazoles, was observed. Depending on the reaction conditions and substitution pattern, divergent reaction pathways were discovered, furnishing diversified carbazole structures. Cycloalkyl‐annulated [b]carbazoles are obtained through 1,2‐alkyl migration of the metal‐carbene intermediates; cycloalkyl‐annulated [a]carbazoles are formed through a Wagner–Meerwein‐type 1,2‐alkyl shift; carbazole ethers are constructed through ring‐opening of the cyclopropyl group by nucleophilic attack of water or an alcohol.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic investigation of π‐conjugated (E)‐enyne polycarbazole with different organo‐metallic catalysts from 3,6‐diethynyl‐9‐(2‐ethylhexyl)carbazole

In the present study, a new (E)‐rich‐enyne π‐conjugated polymer containing a carbazole was designed and synthesized. Two different synthesis methods of poly[N‐(2‐ethylhexyl)‐3,6‐carbazolyleneethynylene‐(E)‐vinylene] (PCZEV) have been prepared from 3,6‐diethynyl‐9(2‐ethylhexyl)carbazole by using the palladium‐carbene‐catalyzed reaction and/or by using the organolanthanide‐catalyzed reaction leading to well‐defined polymer, and their general properties were studied. Compared to poly[N‐(2‐ethylhexyl)‐3,6‐carbazolyleneethynylene] (PCE), the UV‐vis absorption and photoluminescence of the PCZEV was red‐shifted, which indicates the extension of conjugation length. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2434–2442, 2009     

Recent Progress on Nazarov Cyclizations: The Use of Iron Salts as Catalysts in Ionic Liquid Solvent Systems

Nazarov cyclization is an important and versatile method for the synthesis of five‐membered carbocycles, and extensive studies have been conducted to optimize the reaction. Among recent studies, several trends are recognized. One is the combination of different reactions with Nazarov cyclization in a one‐pot reaction system which enables the preparation of unique cyclization products. The second is the use of a transition‐metal catalyst, though Lewis or Brønsted acids have generally been used for the reaction. The third is the realization of the asymmetric Nazarov cyclization. The fourth is the base‐catalyzed Nazarov cyclization. Furthermore, several useful protocols for realizing Nazarov cyclization have also been developed. The recent progress on Nazarov cyclizations is summarized in Section 2. Section 3 is our chronicle in this field. We focused on the use of iron as the catalyst in Nazarov cyclizations and ionic liquids as solvents: Nazarov cyclization of thiophene derivatives using FeCl₃ as the catalyst was accomplished and we succeeded in demonstrating the first example of an iron‐catalyzed asymmetric Nazarov reaction. We next established Nazarov cyclization of pyrrole or indole derivatives using Fe(ClO₄)₃·Al₂O₃ as the catalyst with high trans selectivities in excellent yields. Since the cyclized product was reacted with a vinyl ketone in the presence of the same iron salt, the system allowed realization of the sequential type of Nazarov/Michael reaction of pyrrole derivatives. Furthermore, we demonstrated the recyclable use of the iron catalyst and obtained the desired Nazarov/Michael reaction products in good yields for five repetitions of the reactions without any addition of the catalyst using an ionic liquid, [bmim][NTf₂], as the solvent. We expect that the iron‐catalyzed Nazarov cyclization, in particular, in an ionic liquid solvent might become a useful method to synthesize functional molecules that include cycloalkene moieties.     

A Cascade Synthesis of Hetero‐arylated Triarylmethanes Through a Double 5‐endo‐dig Cyclization Sequence

A sequential two‐step method for the synthesis of hetero‐arylated triarylmethanes through a Ag‐catalyzed sequential double cyclization–nucleophilic addition cascade is described. This methodology basically involves an initial 5‐endo‐dig cyclization of o‐alkynyl anilines to provide 2‐substituted indole derivatives, which then react with 2‐(2‐enynyl)‐pyridines to afford indolizine‐containing unsymmetrical triarylmethanes through another 5‐endo‐dig cyclization.     

Gold(I)‐Catalyzed N‐Desulfonylative Amination versus N‐to‐O 1,5‐Sulfonyl Migration: A Versatile Approach to 1‐Azabicycloalkanes

Valuable 1‐azabicycloalkane derivatives have been synthesized through a novel gold(I)‐catalyzed desulfonylative cyclization strategy. An ammoniumation reaction of ynones substituted at the 1‐position with an N‐sulfonyl azacycle took place in the presence of a gold cation by intramolecular cyclization of the disubstituted sulfonamide moiety onto the triple bond. Depending on the size of the heterocyclic ring and substitution of the substrates, two unprecedented forms of nucleophilic attack on the sulfonyl group were exploited, that is, a N‐desulfonylation in the presence of an external protic O nucleophile (37–87 %, 10 examples) and a unique N‐to‐O 1,5‐sulfonyl migration (60–98 %, 9 examples).     

Biomimetic Total Synthesis of Hyperjapones A–E and Hyperjaponols A and C

Hyperjapones A–E and hyperjaponols A–C are complex natural products of mixed aromatic polyketide and terpene biosynthetic origin that have recently been isolated from Hypericum japonicum. We have synthesized hyperjapones A–E using a biomimetic, oxidative hetero‐Diels–Alder reaction to couple together dearomatized acylphloroglucinol and cyclic terpene natural products. Hyperjapone A is proposed to be the biosynthetic precursor of hyperjaponol C through a sequence of: 1) epoxidation; 2) acid‐catalyzed epoxide ring‐opening; and 3) a concerted, asynchronous alkene cyclization and 1,2‐alkyl shift of a tertiary carbocation. Chemical mimicry of this proposed biosynthetic sequence allowed a concise total synthesis of hyperjaponol C to be completed in which six carbon–carbon bonds, six stereocenters, and three rings were constructed in just four steps.     

Unexpected Ritter Reaction During Acid‐Promoted 1,3‐Dithiol‐2‐one Formation

A series of aryl‐substituted 1,3‐dithiol‐2‐ones was prepared by the Bhattacharya? Hortmann cyclization method. Unexpectedly, a Ritter reaction occurred during the acid‐catalyzed cyclization at the cyano group of the aryl substituents and 1,3‐dithiol‐2‐ones bearing a carboxy or a carboxamide group could be selectively obtained (see 1 and 2a in Scheme 1). The formation of the acid or the amide functionality was temperature‐dependent so that the one or the other group could be introduced selectively by modifying the reaction temperature.     

Mechanism of the Transition‐Metal‐Catalyzed Hydroarylation of Bromo‐Alkynes Revisited: Hydrogen versus Bromine Migration

A comprehensive mechanistic study of the InCl₃‐, AuCl‐, and PtCl₂‐catalyzed cycloisomerization of the 2‐(haloethynyl)biphenyl derivatives of Fürstner et al. was carried out by DFT/M06 calculations to uncover the catalyst‐dependent selectivity of the reactions. The results revealed that the 6‐endo‐dig cyclization is the most favorable pathway in both InCl₃‐ and AuCl‐catalyzed reactions. When AuCl is used, the 9‐bromophenanthrene product could be formed by consecutive 1,2‐H/1,2‐Br migrations from the Wheland‐type intermediate of the 6‐endo‐dig cyclization. However, in the InCl₃‐catalyzed reactions, the chloride‐assisted intermolecular H‐migrations between two Wheland‐type intermediates are more favorable. These Cl‐assisted H‐migrations would eventually lead to 10‐bromophenanthrene through proto‐demetalation of the aryl indium intermediate with HCl. The cause of the poor selectivity of the PtCl₂ catalyst in the experiments by the Fürstner group was predicted. It was found that both the PtCl₂‐catalyzed alkyne–vinylidene rearrangement and the 5‐exo‐dig cyclization pathways have very close activation energies. Further calculations found the former pathway would lead eventually to both 9‐ and 10‐bromophenanthrene products, as a result of the Cl‐assisted H‐migrations after the cyclization of the Pt–vinylidene intermediate. Alternatively, the intermediate from the 5‐exo‐dig cyclization would be transformed into a relatively stable Pt–carbene intermediate irreversibly, which could give rise to the 9‐alkylidene fluorene product through a 1,2‐H shift with a 28.1 kcal mol^?1 activation barrier. These findings shed new light on the complex product mixtures of the PtCl₂‐catalyzed reaction.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric [4+3] Cyclization of Trimethylenemethane: Regio‐, Diastereo‐, and Enantioselective Construction of Benzofuro[3,2‐b]azepine Skeletons

The palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric [4+3] cyclization of trimethylenemethane donors with benzofuran‐derived azadienes furnishes chiral benzofuro[3,2‐b]azepine frameworks in high yields (up to 98 %) with exclusive regioselectivities and excellent stereoselectivities (up to >20:1 d.r., >99 % ee). This catalytic asymmetric [4+3] cyclization of Pd‐trimethylenemethane can enrich the arsenal of Pd‐TMM reactions in organic synthesis. In addition, this strategy provides an alternative approach to chiral azepines by a transition‐metal‐catalyzed asymmetric [4+3] cyclization.     

Ligand‐Controlled Regiodivergent Nickel‐Catalyzed Annulation of Pyridones

The 1,6‐annulated 2‐pyridone motif is found in many biologically active compounds and its close relation to the indolizidine and quinolizidine alkaloid core makes it an attractive building block. A nickel‐catalyzed C? H functionalization of 2‐pyridones and subsequent cyclization affords 1,6‐annulated 2‐pyridones by selective intramolecular olefin hydroarylation. The switch between the exo‐ and endo‐cyclization modes is controlled by two complementary sets of ligands. Irrespective of the ring size, the regioselectivity during the cyclization is under full catalyst control. Simple cyclooctadiene promotes an exo‐selective cyclization, whereas a bulky N‐heterocyclic carbene ligand results in an endo‐selective mode. The method was further applied in the synthesis of the lupin alkaloid cytisine.     

The Synthesis of Adamantane Ring Containing Benzimidazole,Benzoxazole, and Imidazo[4,5‐e]benzoxazole Derivatives from 3‐Aminophenol

Adamantane derivatives containing heterocycles such as benzimidazoles, benzoxazoles, and fused imidazo[4,5‐e]benzoxazoles were synthesized from 3‐aminophenol. The route started with amidation of adamantane‐1‐carboxylic acid chloride with 3‐aminophenol furnishing N‐(3‐hydroxyphenyl)adamantane‐1‐carboxamide. Subsequent nitration gave three regioisomers. After reduction of the nitro groups, the respective aniline derivatives were used in the formation of benzimidazole and benzoxazole rings. The cyclization of the 2‐substituted benzoxazole ring was performed using two methods: via condensation of N‐(2‐amino‐3‐hydroxyphenyl)adamantane‐1‐carboxamide with carbonitriles in the presence of a Lewis acid or via Cu(II)‐catalyzed oxidative coupling of aminophenol with aromatic aldehydes. The benzimidazole ring formed by acid‐catalyzed cyclization of N‐(2‐amino‐5‐hydroxyphenyl)adamantane‐1‐carboxamide was then converted to a tricyclic system after three synthetic steps.     

Synthesis of Phaitanthrin E and Tryptanthrin through Amination/Cyclization Cascade

Phaitanthrin E was biomimetically synthesized from methyl indole‐3‐carboxylate and methyl anthranilate or anthranilic acid using the ester group as an activating group. The reaction proceeds through NCS‐mediated dearomatization/TFA‐catalyzed protonation of indolenine/C(2) amination/Et₃N‐promoted aromatization and cyclization in one‐pot procedure. This method is capable of converting simple biomass materials to phaitanthrin E. The synthesis not only allows assessment of antiproliferative activity, but also affords experimental support for the hypothetical biosynthetic pathway of phaitanthrin E. The resulting phaitanthrin E derivatives were evaluated for in vitro antiproliferative activity against human colorectal cancer cells (DLD‐1). The biogenetic intermediate of phaitanthrin E showed higher antiproliferative activity than the natural product, phaitanthrin E. Furthermore, a concise synthesis of tryptanthrin is also accomplished from indole‐3‐carbaldehyde and methyl anthranilate using the aldehyde group as an activating group.