Synthesis of endogenous sperm-activating and attracting factor isolated from ascidian Ciona intestinalis

A chemoattractant candidate named sperm-activating and attracting factor (SAAF) from the eggs of ascidian Ciona intestinalis, was synthesized from chenodeoxycholic acid in 16 steps. The present synthesis led to the unambiguous structure determination of SAAF to be (3R,4R,7R,25S)-3,4,7,26-tetrahydroxycholestane-3,26-disulfate. The synthetic pure specimen was also used to confirm the dual sperm-activating and attracting activity.     

Synthesis and identification of an endogenous sperm activating and attracting factor isolated from eggs of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis; an example of nanomolar-level structure elucidation of novel natural compound

A sperm-activating and attracting factor (SAAF) was isolated from the eggs of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis, and its structure was deduced with only approximately 4 μg of the specimen. Based upon the proposed structure, two epimers were synthesized from chenodeoxycholic acid in 16 steps. Comparison between synthetic and natural compounds led to the unambiguous structure determination of SAAF to be (3R,4R,7R,25S)-3,4,7,26-tetrahydroxycholestane-3,26-disulfate. The synthetic pure specimen was also utilized to confirm that both sperm-activation and attraction were elicited by a single compound.     

Asymmetric routes to pentadec-1-en-4-ol: application to the syntheses of aculeatins F and epi-F, (R)- and (S)-5-hexadecanolide and a formal synthesis of solenopsin

A short and simple route to the synthesis of pentadec-1-en-4-ol, an important synthetic building block for the aculeatins F and epi-F, insect pheromone 5-hexadecanolide, solenopsin and various other natural products has been developed via proline-catalyzed α-aminoxylation of an aldehyde and hydrolytic kinetic resolution of a terminal epoxide. While the synthesis of aculeatins F and epi-F has been accomplished using a PIFA promoted oxidative spirocyclization/dithiane deprotection reaction sequence and linchpin coupling as key steps, the synthesis of hexadecanolide and a formal synthesis of solenopsin was performed using ring-closing metathesis (RCM) as key step.     

Synthesis of a key intermediate for the total synthesis of pseudopteroxazole

A facile synthesis of a key intermediate for the total synthesis of anti-mycobacterial compound pseudopteroxazole is described employing an intramolecular Diels-Alder cyclization and an iodine-mediated oxidative aromatization step.     

Application of oxetane ring opening toward stereoselective synthesis of zincophorin fragment

A stereoselective synthesis of the C1–C11 fragment of zincophorin was achieved by using an intramolecular oxetane ring opening reaction as the key step. The oxetane moiety was synthesized by employing a desymmetrization protocol developed at our group and a non-Evans syn aldol as the key steps toward the synthesis.     

Synthetic studies towards dendridine A: synthesis of hemi-dendridine A acetate by Fischer indolization

A short synthesis of hemi-dendridine A acetate has been accomplished. The synthesis is based on a modified Fischer indolization that represents a rare example of the single-step synthesis of a 7-oxytryptamine from an ortho-oxygenated phenylhydrazine. The synthetic route required developing an efficient synthesis of N-acetyl-2-pyrroline, the key coupling partner for the modified Fischer indolization. Some interesting chemistry associated with the abnormal Fischer indolization has been uncovered, whereby two molecules of the phenylhydrazine substrate combined along the abnormal reaction pathway, affording an unusual N-phenylindoleamine product.     

Synthesis of the 6′-iso analogues of neplanocin A and 5′-homoneplanocin A

An efficient synthesis of 6′-isoneplanocin A and 6′ -isohomoneplanocin A is reported. The key steps in the synthesis include an enyne metathesis and a regioselective oxidation.     

An expedient synthesis of salviadione

An expedient synthesis of the alkaloid salviadione, the only to date isolated naturally occurring 1H-benzo[def]carbazole is described. The key step in the synthesis is a palladium-catalyzed, carbon monoxide-mediated reductive N-heterocyclization of a nitroarene with an adjacent alkene.     

Formal synthesis of（＋）-tashiromine and study toward the total synthesis of（＋）-stemoamide

An effcient formal synthesis of（＋）-tashiromine was achieved by employing an intermolecular asymmetric Mannich-type reaction as the key step.Concurrently,a novel approach toward the total synthesis of（＋）-stemoamide through dyotropic rearrangement of 3,4-cis-b-lactone was also explored.     

Enantioselective synthesis of epi-(+)-Sch 642305: observation of an interesting diastereoselection during RCM

In an approach towards the enantioselective total synthesis of the novel bioactive natural product Sch 642305, an unusual diastereoselection during the key RCM reaction, resulted in the synthesis of the 11-epi-isomer of Sch 642305.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of polyketide lactone, (3R,4S,5S,9S)-3,5,9-trihydroxy-4-methylundecanoic acid δ-lactone

The total synthesis of lactone 1 has been described. The convergent asymmetric synthesis relies on the use of an Evans’ syn-aldol, chain extension with lithio tert-butyl acetate, and the stereoselective reduction of a ketone as the key reactions.     

Solid-phase synthesis of benzimidazole N-oxides on SynPhase™ Lanterns

A solid-phase synthesis of benzimidazole N-oxides was developed while attempting to synthesize 1,5-benzodiazepine-2,4-diones. The key step of the synthesis involves the reduction of an arylnitro to a hydroxyamino intermediate which subsequently condenses with an internal carbonyl group to give a benzimidazole N-oxide. A library of nine benzimidazole N-oxides was prepared on SynPhase™ Lanterns using this reduction-cyclization methodology.     

Synthetic approaches to the daucane sesquiterpene derivatives employing the intramolecular Buchner cyclisation of α-diazoketones

The use of the intramolecular Buchner cyclisation of an α-diazoketone as an approach to the synthesis of daucane sesquiterpenes is described; in particular the synthesis of the cis-fused analogue of dihydro CAF-603. The key step in the synthesis is the intramolecular Buchner cyclisation, which provides the bicyclo[5.3.0]decane framework with the required stereochemistry at the quaternary centre generated in the cyclisation. A synthetic route enabling access to an asymmetric synthesis is also outlined.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (R)-Sumanirole using organocatalytic asymmetric aziridination of an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde

Herein we report an enantioselective synthesis of (R)-Sumanirole wherein an organocatalytic asymmetric aziridination of 2-nitrocinnamaldehyde was the key step.     

Synthesis of Lapatinib via direct regioselective arylation of furfural

A new synthesis of Lapatinib, an orally active drug for breast cancer, is described. The synthesis involves a palladium catalyzed regioselective arylation of furfural with 6-bromo-N-(3-chloro-4-((3-fluorobenzyl)oxy)phenyl)quinazolin-4-amine. This key step replaces an atom inefficient Suzuki cross coupling reaction used in a previously disclosed route and significantly shortens the synthesis.     

Formal total synthesis of aspergillides A and B

The formal total synthesis of the cytotoxic 14-membered macrolides, aspergillides A and B is described. A combination of a chiron approach and an asymmetric synthesis is adopted for the synthesis of the target macrolides. The required 2,6-syn and 2,6-anti tetrahydropyrans were constructed via a tandem Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation and 6-exo cyclization on δ-hydroxy allylic alcohols, as the key steps. The requisite chiral synthon was prepared from l-ascorbic acid.     

Exploiting morph-DAST mediated ring-expansion of substituted cyclic β-amino alcohols for the preparation of cyclic fluorinated amino acids. Synthesis of 5-fluoromethylproline and 5-fluoropipecolic acid

The synthesis of proline analogues bearing a fluorine-containing substituent at the fifth position of the pyrrolidine ring, racemic trans- and cis-5-fluoromethyl prolines, was performed. The key step of the synthesis is a transformation of the CH₂OH-group into the CH₂F-one using morpholinosulfur trifluoride. During the synthesis, an efficient procedure to prepare trans- and cis-5-fluoropipecolic acids was elaborated.     

Studies towards the biomimetic synthesis of pyridomacrolidin

A possible biomimetic synthesis of pyridomacrolidin has been proposed and experimentally supported by carrying out a model study. Regio and stereospecific [3+2] cycloaddition of an in situ generated unusual di-tert-butylated acyl nitrone with Z-2-cyclodecenone and subsequent aromatisation was the key step in our proposed biomimetic synthesis. Finally a pyridomacrolidin analogue was prepared via Friedel-Crafts di-de-t-butylation of the cycloadduct.     

The efficient synthesis of (3R,5R)-5-hydroxypiperazic acid and its diastereomer using Lewis acid-promoted diastereoselective Strecker synthesis

The stereoselective synthesis of (3R,5R)-5-hydroxypiperazic acid, a component of naturally occurring antibiotic cyclodepsipeptides, and its diastereomer was achieved via the use of Lewis acid-promoted diastereoselective Strecker synthesis as a key step, in which an interesting stereochemical reversal of diastereoselectivity by the choice of Lewis acid catalyst was observed.     

Novel stereoselective synthesis of all four diastereomers of 3a-methyl-pyrrolo[3,4-c]piperidine from glycine ethyl ester

Asymmetric synthesis of all four diastereomers of 3a-methyl-pyrrolo[3,4-c]piperidine is described herein. The key steps in this synthesis are the highly diastereoselective hydrogenation of an alkenyl nitrile through a hydroxyl-directed or sterically controlled hydrogenation, and the resolution of enantiomers using a chiral auxiliary.