A highly stereoselective synthesis of the C10–C31 (BCDEF ring) portion of pinnatoxin A

An efficient, highly stereoselective synthesis of the C10–C31 (BCDEF ring) portion of pinnatoxin A has been achieved utilizing tandem double hemiketal formation/intramolecular hetero-Michael addition to construct the 6,5,6-dispiroketal (BCD ring) system and subsequent intramolecular ketalization to form the 5,6-bicycloketal (EF ring) system as key steps.     

Total synthesis of (+/-)-scopadulin.

The first total synthesis of (+/-)-scopadulin, an aphidicolane diterpene, is described. The core structure (A/B/C/D ring system) was constructed by an initial synthesis of the B/C/D ring system by our reported methods and a subsequent A ring cyclization by intramolecular aldol condensation. A highly stereoselective cyanation of the tetracyclic enone by Et2AlCN gave a trans-fused A/B ring system with a beta-cyanide at C-4. Stereoselective construction of a quaternary carbon at C-4 was achieved by alpha-alkylation of the cyano group and conversion of the sterically hindered cyano group to a methyl group via our novel reaction for conversion of primary aliphatic amines into alcohols. Finally, the total synthesis of (+/-)-scopadulin was accomplished by a highly chemo- and stereoselective methylation at C-16 and modification of the C-4 alpha-functionality. The stereoselectivity observed in the MeTi(O-i-Pr)3-mediated methylation for the generation of a tertiary axial alcohol at C-16 is extremely high.     

A novel biomimetic route to the 3-acyl-5-hydroxy-3-pyrrolin-2-one and 3-acyl-3,4-epoxy-5-hydroxypyrrolidin-2-one ring systems

Modified Moffat oxidation of alcohols 17, 22, and 25 afforded aldehydes that underwent intramolecular aldol reactions on treatment with a NaOH solution to yield 4-pyrrolin-2-ones 16, 23, and 26. Oxidation with DMDO at -40 degrees C provided 3-acyl-5-hydroxy-3-pyrrolin-2-ones 18, 24, and 27 with the ring system of oteromycin (3), UCS1025A (5), and related natural products. Further oxidation of 18 yielded 3-acyl-3,4-epoxy-5-hydroxy-pyrrolidin-2-one 19 with the ring system of fusarin C (1) and epolactaene (2). Dehydration of 18 afforded 20 with the talaroconvolutin A (4) ring system.     

Stereoselective synthesis and cyclisation of the acyclic precursor to auripyrone A and B

The acyclic precursor to the auripyrones has been synthesized by a stereoselective aldol strategy. This compound fails to undergo cyclisation to form the spiroacetal dihydropyrone ring system found in auripyrone A and B; instead, it forms a dihydropyrone ring by cyclisation of the C11 hydroxyl onto the C15 carbonyl with subsequent dehydration. In contrast, a model compound was prepared and shown to cyclise to both the spiroacetal dihydropyrone ring system and the dihydropyrone ring.     

Synthetic studies on azadirachtin: stereoselective construction of the ABCE ring system

A new method for constructing the ABCE ring system of azadirachtin in a stereoselective manner was developed. The synthesis of the model compound features (1) stereoselective construction of the highly hindered C8 quaternary center by an intermolecular addition reaction of an allylborane with an aldehyde and (2) construction of the E ring moiety by the Pd-catalyzed Nazarov cyclization.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-candelalide A, a novel blocker of the voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3 for an immunosuppressive agent

A convergent route to (-)-candelalide A involved the union of a trans-decalin portion (AB ring) and a gamma-pyrone moiety through the C16-C3' bond to assemble the whole carbon framework and subsequent formation of the dihydropyran ring (C ring) as the crucial steps. A strategic [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement was employed for establishing the stereogenic center at C9 and an exo-methylene function at C8 present in the decalin portion. [reaction: see text]     

Total synthesis of the ristocetin aglycon

The first total synthesis of the ristocetin aglycon is described employing a modular and highly convergent strategy. An effective 12-step (12% overall) synthesis of the ABCD ring system 3 from its amino acid subunits sequentially features an intramolecular aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction for formation of the diaryl ether and closure of the 16-membered CD ring system (65%), a respectively diastereoselective (3:1, 86%) Suzuki coupling for installation of the AB biaryl linkage on which the atropisomer stereochemistry can be further thermally adjusted, and an effective macrolactamization (51%) for closure of the 12-membered AB ring system. A similarly effective 13-step (14% overall) synthesis of the 14-membered EFG ring system 4 was implemented employing a room-temperature intermolecular S(N)Ar reaction of an o-fluoronitroaromatic for formation of the FG diaryl ether (69%) and a key macrolactamization (92%) with formation of the amide linking residues 1 and 2. The two key fragments 3 and 4 were coupled, and the remaining 16-membered DE ring system was closed via diaryl ether formation to provide the ristocetin tetracyclic ring system (15 steps, 8% overall) enlisting an unusually facile (25 degrees C, 8 h, DMF, >/=95%) and diastereoselective (>/=15:1) aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction that benefits from substrate preorganization.     

Development of an approach to the synthesis of the ABC ring system of Hemibrevetoxin B

An efficient approach for the synthesis of a model of the ABC ring system of Hemibrevetoxin B is described. Key features include a ring expansion to yield the ring C oxepane, the reduction of a 2-furyl ketone with high levels of 1,3-stereocontrol, and an Achmatowicz oxidative ring expansion to yield the ring A tetrahydropyran. All seven stereogenic centers present in the model compound were controlled with high levels (>98:<2) of diastereoselectivity.     

A Biomimetic Synthesis of (±)‐Basiliolide B

A highly diastereoselective and practical biomimetic total synthesis of (±)‐basiliolide B has been achieved through the study of the two proposed biosynthetic pathways (O‐methylation and O‐acylation) for the unprecedented 7‐methoxy‐4,5‐dihydro‐3H‐oxepin‐2‐one (C ring). The synthesis featured a cyclopropanation/ring opening strategy for establishing the stereogenic centers at C8 and C9, a biomimetic 2‐pyrone Diels–Alder cycloaddition for the synthesis of the ABD ring system, and finally a highly efficient biomimetic intramolecular O‐acylation for the C ring formation. This result provides an important perspective on the biosynthetic origin of the unprecedented 7‐membered acyl ketene acetal moiety of the C ring.     

Crystal Structure of 8-Demethoxyrunanine

A new hasubanane-type alkaloid, 8-demethoxyrunanine, was isolated from Sino- menium acutum and characterized by melting point, HREIMS, 1H NMR, and X-ray diffraction analysis. X-ray diffraction reveals that the title compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group P212121 with a = 7.308（1）, b = 21.742（5）, c = 22.893（4）A, V = 3637.5（11） A^3, Z = 8, Dx = 1.254 g/cm^3, F（000） = 1472, μ（MoKα） = 0.087 mm^-1, the final R = 0.0438 and wR = 0.0575 for 4497 independent reflections with Rint = 0.0192 and 2091 observed reflections with I 〉 2σ（I）. Four rings （ring A： one benzene ring, ring B： one hexagon carbon ring in a half-chair conformation, ring C： one hexagon carbon ring with α,β-unsaturated ketone segment （-CR2=CR1-C=O） in a screw-boat conformation, and ring D： one nonplanar tetrahydropyrrole） form a hasubanane-type alkaloid.     

Synthesis of ACE tricyclic systems of daphnicyclidin A and dehy-droxymacropodumine A

The synthesis of the ACE tricyclic system of daphnicyclidin A and dehydroxymacropodumine A are developed. The key reactions include an efficient aldol reaction to introduce chiral fragment 33 for further construction of piperidine ring B and seven-membered ring C, a nucleophilic addition of lithium pentene to aldehyde for installation of ring E, and a photocatalytic decarboxylation conjugate addition to construct ring C.     

Enantioselective synthesis of the antiinflammatory agent (-)-acanthoic acid.

An enantioselective synthesis of the potent antiinflammatory agent (-)-acanthoic acid (1) is described. The successful strategy departs from (-)-Wieland-Miescher ketone (10), which is readily available in both enantiomeric forms and constitutes the starting point toward a fully functionalized AB ring system of 1. Conditions were developed for a regioselective double alkylation at the C4 center of the A ring, which produced compound 32 as a single stereoisomer. Construction of the C ring of 1 was accomplished via a Diels-Alder reaction between sulfur-containing diene 43 and methacrolein (36), which after desulfurization and further functionalization yielded synthetic acanthoic acid. The described synthesis confirms the proposed stereochemistry of the natural product and represents a fully stereocontrolled entry into an underexplored class of biologically active diterpenes.     

Synthesis of the ABCD and ABCDE ring systems of azaspiracid-1

The efficient syntheses of the ABCD ring system of the originally proposed structure of azaspiracid-1 and the ABCDE ring system of the revised structure of azaspiracid-1 containing the correct stereochemistry at C(6), C(10), C(13), C(14), C(16), C(17), C(19), C(21), C(22), C(24) and C(25) have been achieved.     

Titanium tetrachloride mediated reductive ring opening of C-aryl pseudoglycals

A facile reductive ring opening of C-aryl pseudoglycals is reported for the first time. The combination of titanium tetrachloride (Lewis acid) and triethylsilane (reducing agent) at −78 °C in dichloromethane is a mild and efficient reagent system for this transformation. The reagent system was successfully tested on various C-aryl pseudoglycal substrates to yield the corresponding ring opened products containing two asymmetric hydroxyls and a cis-double bond.     

Total Synthesis of Crotophorbolone

The complex ABC‐tricyclic structure of crotophorbolone, a derivative of the tigliane diterpenoids, was assembled by coupling of simple fragments. The six‐membered C‐ring fragment, having five contiguous stereocenters, was stereoselectively constructed from (R)‐carvone. After attachment of the five‐membered A‐ring through the π‐allyl Stille coupling reaction, the α‐alkoxy bridgehead radical reaction effected the endo‐cyclization of the seven‐membered B‐ring by forming the sterically congested bond at C9 and C10 stereospecifically and stereoselectively, respectively. Finally, the functional groups on the 5/7/6‐membered ring system were manipulated by rhodium‐catalyzed C2 olefin isomerization, C13 decarboxylative oxidation, and C4 hydroxylation, thus completing the first total synthesis of crotophorbolone.     

Synthesis of the ABC ring system of Azaspiracid. 2. A systematic study into the effect of C(16) and C(17) substitution on bis-spirocyclization

[reaction: see text] A systematic study into the effect of C(16) and C(17) substitution on the stereochemical outcome of bis-spirocyclization to form the ABC ring system of azaspiracid is disclosed. Successful construction of the natural 10R,13R bis-spirocyclic stereochemistry has been accomplished on the C(16) benzyloxy-containing precursor.     

Synthesis of taxane ABC tricyclic skeleton from lycoctonine

A new conversional synthesis of the ABC ring system of taxoids from the C19-diterpenoid alkaloid lycoctonine was developed in 6 steps with 2% overall yield. The distinctive features of the conversion include pinacol rearrangement, enlargement of ring B, and opening of a four-membered ring.     

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Propindilactone G,Part 2: Enantioselective Construction of the Fully Functionalized BCDE Ring System

The enantioselective synthesis of the fully functionalized BCDE tetracyclic ring system of propindilactone G ( A ) is reported. Several synthetic methods were developed and applied to achieve this goal, including: 1) an asymmetric Diels–Alder reaction in the presence of Hayashi′s catalyst for the synthesis of optically pure key intermediate 3 ; 2) an intramolecular Pauson–Khand reaction (PKR) for the stereoselective synthesis of the BCDE ring with an all‐carbon chiral quaternary center at the C13 position by using the TMS‐substituted acetylene as the substrate; and 3) Pd‐catalyzed reductive hydrogenolysis for the stereoselective synthesis of the fully functionalized BCDE tetracyclic ring system. The chemistry developed herein provided a greater understanding of the total synthesis propindilactone G ( A ) and its analogues.     

Celogentins A-C, new antimitotic bicyclic peptides from the seeds of Celosia argentea

Three new bicyclic peptides, celogentins A (1), B (2), and C (3), have been isolated together with a known-related peptide, moroidin (4), from the seeds of Celosia argentea, and their structures including absolute stereochemistry were determined by using extensive NMR methods and chemical means. Celogentins A (1), B (2), and C (3) inhibited the polymerization of tubulin, and celogentin C (3) was four times more potent than moroidin (4) in the inhibitory activity. Structure-activity relationship study using moroidin derivatives 5-7 and analogue 8 as well as celogentins A-C (1-3) and moroidin (4) indicates that the bicyclic ring system including unusual non-peptide connections among beta(s)-Leu, Trp, and His residues characteristic of celogentins and moroidin, with ring size and conformations suitable for interaction with tubulin would be important for their biological activity.     

Investigation of intramolecular sulfur-nitro interactions in 2-(2′-pyridylthio)-3-nitropyridine by 13C-NMR spectroscopy and x-ray crystallography

The single crystal X-ray diffraction structure of 2-(2′-pyridylthio)-3-nitropyridine is reported. A non-bonded interaction was observed between the sulfur atom and one of the oxygen atoms of the nitro group with an interatomic distance of 2.678 A. Examination of the molecule's behavior in solution by ¹³C-nmr spin-lattice (T₁) relaxation measurements showed the non-nitro bearing pyridyl ring to reorient anisotropically about the C2′-C5′ bond axis. In contrast, the nitro substituted pyridine ring did not appear to exhibit anisotropic reorientation about the corresponding C2-C5 bond axis. Rather, approximately equivalent relaxation times were noted for all protonated ring carbons, indicating that the relaxations of this portion of the molecule were governed by the overall isotropic reorientation of the system. Based on these observations, it was concluded that the intramolecular sulfur-nitro interaction also operates in the solution state and is sufficiently strong to prevent free rotation of the substituted portion of the molecule about the C2-S bond axis.