Neat total synthesis of six monoterpenic alkaloids of the actinidine series

A concise enantiopure synthesis of six monoterpenic alkaloids of the actinidine series possessing a cyclopenta[c]pyridine skeleton, (+)-deoxyrhexifoline (4), (+)-boschniakinic acid (5), (+)-boschniakine (6), (−)-plantagonine (7), (−)-indicaine (8) and (−)-tecostidine (9) is reported starting with the chiral precursor 3-bromo-5-((4R)-phenyloxazolin-2-yl)pyridine (10). It involves a C-4 regioselective connection of a butene appendice and an intramolecular 5-exo-trig Heck annulation sequence followed by hydrogenation of the exocyclic alkene. Mixture of (3R)- and (3S)-7-((4R)-phenyloxazolin-2-yl)cyclopenta[c]pyridines was separated by HPLC before being transformed into enantiopure natural products (4-9) by modification of the oxazoline group.     

The synthesis, N-alkylation and epimerisation study of a phthaloyl derived thiazolidine

The synthesis of the phthaloyl protected thiazolidine, N-phthaloyl-methyl-2(R)-thiazolidine-4(R)-methyl ester, 2, and a study of its susceptibility to epimerise in a range of solvents, using ¹H NMR spectroscopy, are described. Compound 2 was further reacted to yield the thiazole amino acid derivative, 3, and an N-alkylated thiazolidine derivative, 6, as a single diastereoisomer. The N-alkylation of 2, using mild bases, resulted in the formation of a mixture of diastereoisomers of 2 (2R,4R) and (2S,4R). Successful cleavage of the methyl ester and the phthaloyl protecting groups was achieved, giving rise to the formation of the two heterocyclic building blocks, 4 and 5.     

δ-Lactone formation from δ-hydroxy-trans-α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids accompanied by trans-cis isomerization: synthesis of (−)-tetra-O-acetylosmundalin

(±)-(4,5-anti)-4-Benzyloxy-5-hydroxy-(2E)-hexenoic acid 6 was subjected to δ-lactonization in the presence of 2,4,6-trichlorobenzoyl chloride and pyridine to give the α,β-unsaturated-δ-lactone congener (±)-7 (87% yield) accompanied by trans-cis isomerization. This δ-lactonization procedure was applied to the chiral synthesis of (+)-(4S,5R)-7 or (−)-(4R,5S)-7 from the chiral starting material (+)-(4S,5R)-6 or (−)-(4R,5S)-6. Deprotection of the benzyl group in (+)-(4S,5R)-7 or (−)-(4R,5S)-7 by the AlCl₃/m-xylene system gave the natural osmundalactone (+)-(4S,5R)-5 or (−)-(4R,5S)-5 in good yield, respectively. Condensation of (−)-(4R,5S)-5 and tetraacetyl-β-d-glucosyltrichloroimidate 22 in the presence of BF₃·Et₂O afforded the condensation product (−)-8 (97% yield), which was identical to tetra-O-acetylosmundalin (−)-8 derived from natural osmundalin 9.     

First stereoselective total synthesis of triumfettamide

The first total synthesis of triumfettamide (1) is described. The asymmetric syntheses of two highly functionalized units—α-hydroxylated C17 monounsaturated fatty acid unit (2) and C26 phytosphingosine (3) have been accomplished involving Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, Sharpless kinetic resolution, regioselective epoxide opening, regioselective DIBAL-H reduction of acetal, Wittig olefination as the key steps. Finally N-acylation of phytosphingosine 3 with (2R,6Z)-2-hydroxy-6-heptadecenoic acid 2 followed by DDQ deprotection of PMB, provided target compound 1.     

Total synthesis and confirmation of the absolute stereochemistry of semiviriditoxin, a naphthopyranone metabolite from the fungus Paecilomyces variotii

The first total synthesis of (S)-semiviriditoxin 2 is described. The approach utilizes a tandem Michael-Dieckmann reaction between ortho-toluate 5 and dihydropyran-2-one 6 to construct the naphthopyranone core, the dihydropyran-2-one 6 being prepared from (R)-1,2-epoxy-4-butanol. Spectroscopic comparison of synthetic (S)-semiviriditoxin 2 with (R)-semivioxanthin 3, prepared in four steps from (R)-propylene oxide, confirmed the (S)-stereochemistry of natural semiviriditoxin from Paecilomyces variotii.     

A novel dynamic kinetic resolution accompanied by intramolecular transesterification: asymmetric synthesis of a 4-hydroxymethyl-2-oxazolidinone from serinol derivatives

Reaction paths of the one-pot reaction of (R)-2-(α-methylbenzyl)amino-1,3-propanediol (1) and 2-chloroethyl chloroformate with DBU giving (4S,αR)-4-hydroxymethyl-3-(α-methylbenzyl)-2-oxazolidinone [(4S)-2] (94% de) were investigated. Intermediates of this reaction, 2-chloroethyl (2S)- and 2-chloroethyl (2R)-3-hydroxy-2-[(αR)-α-methylbenzyl]aminopropyl carbonates [(2S)-4 and (2R)-4], were synthesized individually. After the addition of DBU to the respective solution of the carbonate (2S)-4 and that of (2R)-4 in dichloromethane, the intramolecular transesterification between (2S)-4 and (2R)-4 and the diastereoselective intramolecular cyclization proceeded to afford (4S)-2 in high diastereomeric excess. Therefore, two monocarbonates (2S)-4 and (2R)-4 were kinetically resolved by this cyclization during the intramolecular transesterification between (2S)-4 and (2R)-4. We found that this process involved dynamic kinetic resolution accompanied by intramolecular transesterification.     

Total synthesis of (+)-epiepoformin, (+)-epiepoxydon and (+)-bromoxone employing a useful chiral building block, ethyl (1R,2S)-5,5-ethylenedioxy-2-hydroxycyclohexanecarboxylate

Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-epiepoformin 1, (+)-epiepoxydon 2 and (+)-bromoxone 3 using a chiral building block, ethyl (1R,2S)-5,5-ethylenedioxy-2-hydroxycyclo- hexanecarboxylate 6, is described. Since the synthesis afforded intermediates 18, 2 and 25, it accomplished a formal synthesis of (−)-theobroxide 19, (−)-phyllostine 22, (+)-herveynone 27 and (−)-asperpentyn 28. The usefulness of 6 for the synthesis of natural epoxycyclohexene derivatives was demonstrated.     

Preparation of both enantiomers of β-(3,4-dihydroxybenzyl)-β-alanine, higher homologues of Dopa

β²-(3,4-Dihydroxybenzyl)-β-alanine [β²-Homo-Dopa, 1] is a novel β-amino acid homologue of Dopa, the most successful therapeutic agent in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Enantioenriched (R)-1 and (S)-1 were obtained via the diastereoselective alkylation of enantiopure pyrimidinone (R)- and (S)-3, chiral derivatives of β-alanine, with veratryl iodide. The major diastereomeric products (2S,5R)-4 and (2R,5S)-4 were hydrolyzed with 57% HBr, and the desired β-amino acids were purified by silica gel chromatography. Alternatively, enantioenriched (R)- and (S)-1 were prepared by means of the highly diastereoselective alkylation (3,4-dimethoxybenzyl iodide) of open-chain β-aminopropionic acid derivatives (R,R,S)-8 and (S,S,R)-8 containing the chiral auxiliary α-phenylethylamine. Finally, nearly enantiopure (R)- and (S)-1 were obtained by resolution of racemic N-benzyloxycarbonyl-2-(3,4-dibenzyloxybenzyl)-3-aminopropionic acid, rac-12, with (R)- or (S)-α-phenylethylamine, followed by catalytic hydrogenolysis.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of a potent agonist of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors, (+)-LY354740, and its related derivatives

Efficient synthesis of (+)-2-aminobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (LY354740: 1) and its structurally related analogs (−)-2 and (−)-3 has been accomplished starting with (1S,2R)-1-amino-2-hydroxycyclopentane- or cyclohexanecarboxylic acid (4 or 17 ) via an intramolecular cyclopropanation of α-diazo acetamide.     

Synthesis of (S)-, (R)-, and (rac)-2-amino-3,3-bis(4-fluorophenyl)propanoic acids and an evaluation of the DPP IV inhibitory activity of Denagliptin diastereomers

The non-proteinogenic amino acid (2S)-2-amino-3,3-bis(4-fluorophenyl)propanoic acid [(S)-1] is a key intermediate required for the synthesis of Denagliptin (2a). Denagliptin is a dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) inhibitor that is being developed for the treatment of type-2 diabetes mellitus. A diastereoselective, cost-efficient synthetic procedure for (S)-1 was developed by alkylating a Ni(II) glycine equivalent derived from (S)-2-[(N-benzylprolyl) amino] benzophenone [(S)-BPB]. The alkylated product was then decomposed to isolate the target amino acid (S)-1 (ee >99%) and ligand (S)-BPB, which can be reused in subsequent reactions. The enantiomer (R)-1 and racemate (rac)-1 were synthesized from their corresponding Ni(II) glycine equivalents. Denagliptin diastereomers (2), derived from the key intermediates (S)-1, (R)-1, and (rac)-1 were synthesized, and their dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitory activities were investigated. These findings are important in the design and synthesis of DPP IV inhibitors.     

Absolute configuration of gomadalactones A, B and C, the components of the contact sex pheromone of Anoplophora malasiaca

Absolute configuration of gomadalactones A (1), B (2) and C (3), the pheromone components of the white-spotted longicorn beetle (Anoplophora malasiaca) was assigned as (1S,4R,5S)-1, (1R,4R,5R)-2 and (1S,4R,5S,8S)-3 by comparing their published CD spectra with those of (1R,5R)-(+)-4,4,8-trimethyl-3-oxabicyclo[3.3.0]oct-7-ene-2,6-dione (4) and (1S,5R,8S)-(+)-4,4,8-trimethyl-3-oxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane-2,6-dione (5) prepared from (R)-(−)-carvone (6).     

Synthesis of trihydroxy quinolizidine alkaloids: 1,3-addition reaction of allylmagnesium bromide to a sugar nitrone

The synthesis of (1R,2R,3S,9aR) and (1R,2R,3S,9aS) trihydroxy quinolizidine alkaloids 3a and 3b from d-glucose derived nitrone 4 is described. The key transformation involves the 1,3-addition of allylmagnesium bromide to nitrone 4 that afforded high diastereoselectivity in the presence of TMSOTf. The N-O bond reductive cleavage, N-Cbz protection, ozonolysis, Wittig olefination, lactum formation and reductive amination cascade afforded the target compounds 3a and 3b in good overall yield.     

Synthesis of (4R,8R)- and (4S,8R)-4,8-dimethyldecanal: the common aggregation pheromone of flour beetles

The synthesis of (4R,8R)- and (4S,8R)-4,8-dimethyldecanal 1 and 1a has been achieved connecting the chiral building block (R)-2-methyl-1-bromobutane 4 with (R)- and (S)-citronellol derivatives. The key intermediate 4 was obtained optically pure in five steps from methyl (S)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpropionate 2.     

Synthesis of difluorinated pseudopeptides using chiral α,α-difluoro-β-amino acids in the Ugi reaction

2,2-Difluoro-3-(2-hydroxy-1 R-phenylethylamino)-3 S-phenylpropionic acid 3, obtained by a Reformatsky-type reaction of ethyl bromodifluoroacetate with (4R)-2,4-diphenyloxazolidine, was used as a classical carboxylic acid in the Ugi reaction to prepare various difluorinated pseudopeptides 5a-n. Compounds 5 were then deprotected by hydrogenolysis to furnish difluorinated pseudopeptides 6.     

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress protecting compounds from the mushroom Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii

Two novel compounds, 3-(hydroxymethyl)-4-methylfuran-2(5H)-one (1) and (3R,4S,1′R)-3-(1′-hydroxyethyl)-4-methyldihydrofuran-2(3H)-one (2), were isolated along with two known ones (3 and 4) from an edible mushroom Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii. The structures of 1-4 were determined by the interpretation of spectroscopic data. Compounds 1-4 showed protective activity against endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-dependent cell death.     

Enantioselective allylation of alkyl glyoxylates catalyzed by (salen)chromium(III) complexes

The enantioselective addition of allylstannanes and allylsilanes to alkyl glyoxylates of type 1, catalyzed by chiral (salen)Cr(III) complexes 3, has been studied. We have found that the reaction proceeded smoothly for low loading (1-2 mol %) of (1R,2R)-(salen)Cr(III)BF₄3a or (1R,2R)-(salen)Cr(III)ClO₄3c, and allyltributyltin under simple, undemanding conditions, affording (R)-2-hydroxypent-4-enoic acid esters 2 in good yield (61-90%) and enantioselectivity (58-76% ee).     

Cyclopalladation of enantiopure oxazolines having the prochiral CMe2 moiety at position 2 of the heterocycle

(R)-4-Ethyl-2-(1,1-dimethylpropyl)-2-oxazoline (1) and (S)-4-tert-butyl-2-(1,1-dimethylbutyl)-2-oxazoline (2) were synthesized in two steps from the corresponding enantiopure amino alcohols and acid chlorides in a total yield of 95% and 72%, respectively. (S)-2-(1-Adamantyl-1-methylethyl)-4-isobutyl-2-oxazoline (3) was obtained from adamantyl bromide and l-leucinol in five steps in a total yield of 82%. Reactions of oxazolines 1–3 with Pd(OAc)₂ in AcOH or CH₂Cl₂ followed by treatment with LiCl afforded the corresponding μ-Cl dimeric cyclopalladated complexes 15, 17, and 20 in good yield. Compounds 15, 17, and 20 reacted with PPh₃ to furnish the corresponding mononuclear complexes 16, 19, and 21. The ³¹P NMR spectra of trans(N,P) adducts 16, 19, and 21 contained signals of two diastereomers in a ratio of ca. 1.3:1.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-β-hydroxyornithine

An efficient and short synthesis of (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-β-hydroxyornithine 1a-b is described using Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and regioselective nucleophilic opening of a cyclic sulfite as the key steps.     

Polyhydroxylated pyrrolizidines. Part 6: A new and concise stereoselective synthesis of (+)-casuarine and its 6,7-diepi isomer, from DMDP

A new synthesis for (+)-casuarine (1) and its 6,7-diepi isomer (15) in a stereocontrolled manner, is reported herein. An appropriately protected polyhydroxylated pyrrolidine, such as (2R,3R,4R,5R)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-2′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine (3, protected DMDP), easily available from d-fructose, was chosen as the chiral starting material. Compounds 1 and 15 were obtained from 3, in seven steps, in a 23.2 and 20.5% overall yields, respectively.     

Stereoselective synthesis of tubuvaline methyl ester and tubuphenylalanine, components of tubulysins, tubulin polymerization inhibitors

Synthetic studies of two components of tubulysins, tubulin polymerization inhibitors are described. The highly stereoselective synthesis of tubuvaline methyl ester (2) was accomplished by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrone d-6 and acrylic acid derivatives 7 as a key step. The synthesis of tubuphenylalanine (3) was conducted by an aldol reaction of a boron enolate of (S)-4-isopropyl-3-propionyl-2-oxazolidinone (13) with aldehyde 14, readily prepared from phenylalanine, followed by Barton deoxygenation under radical conditions.