Evolution of a strategy for the synthesis of structurally complex batzelladine alkaloids. Enantioselective total synthesis of the proposed structure of batzelladine F and structural revision

Stereoselective synthesis of octahydro-5,6,6a-triazaacenaphthalenes 29 and 34 having the anti-relationship of the angular hydrogens flanking the pyrrolidine nitrogen confirmed suspicions that the relative configuration of the left-hand tricyclic guanidine fragment of batzelladine F should be revised to have the syn relationship of these hydrogens. Several strategies were examined for coupling tricyclic guanidine fragments to prepare potential structures for batzelladine F. Eventually, a convergent synthesis strategy was devised, whose central step was a fragment-coupling tethered-Biginelli reaction (Scheme 17). Using this approach we synthesized four potential structures of batzelladine F, 35-38. None of these compounds, nor their enantiomers, were identical to natural batzelladine F. Reinvestigation of mass spectra of natural batzelladine F, and fragments 88 and 89 obtained upon saponification of batzelladine F, demonstrated that the originally proposed connectivity of this alkaloid was also incorrect. The revised connectivity, 90, of natural batzelladine F depicted in Scheme 21 is proposed.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of batzelladine D

[formula: see text] The first enantioselective total synthesis of a batzelladine alkaloid is described. The central reaction in the synthesis of (-)-batzelladine D (2) is a tethered Biginelli condensation of a guanidine aldehyde and an acetoacetic ester to generate a 7-substituted-1-iminohexahydropyrrolo-[1,2-c]pyrimidine intermediate having the anti stereochemistry of the methine hydrogens flanking the pyrrolidine nitrogen.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of cytotoxic taiwaniaquinones A and F

The first synthesis of cytotoxic (-)-taiwaniaquinone A and (-)-taiwaniaquinone F has been achieved through the intramolecular aldol condensation of a ketoaldehyde and the oxidative cleavage of an isopropylidene ketal.     

Studies towards the total synthesis of batzelladine A

Application of a diastereoselective three-component coupling to the bicyclic core of the batzelladine alkaloids is described. The synthesis features the elaboration of glutamic acid by use of Eschenmoser sulfide contraction. An earlier approach is also included, which shows some limitations of dithiane chemistry when applied to the particular compounds required for this target.     

Enantioselective total synthesis and stereochemical revision of communiols E and F

The enantioselective total synthesis of candidate structures for communiols E and F, novel bicyclic polyketides of fungal origin, was accomplished using a Lewis acid-mediated ring closure reaction of an allylsilane intermediate as the key step. Comparison of the spectral data of the synthetic materials with those of natural communiols E and F, coupled with biosynthetic considerations, led to the conclusion that the stereochemistry of communiols E and F should be (2S,5S,7R, 8S,11R)- and (5S,7R,8S,11R)-forms, respectively.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of briarellins E and F: the first total syntheses of briarellin diterpenes

Enantioselective total syntheses of briarellin E (4) and briarellin F (5) have been achieved starting with (S)-(+)-carvone and (S)-(-)-glycidol. These total syntheses are the first of briarellin diterpenes. The central step in these syntheses is acid-promoted condensation of cyclohexadienyl diol 15 and (Z)-alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde 16 to form, with complete stereocontrol, the hexahydroisobenzofuran core and six stereocenters of these coral metabolites. These syntheses also feature stereospecific photolytic deformylation of beta,gamma-unsaturated aldehyde 17 to remove the extraneous carbon introduced in the Prins-pinacol step, chemo- and stereoselective hydroxyl-directed epoxidation of dienyl alcohol 18 to incorporate the C3 oxygen stereocenter, regio- and stereoselective rearrangement of epoxy ester 19 to install the C4 oxygen substituent, efficient dehydrative cyclization of a 1,6-diol intermediate to form the oxepane ring, and diastereoselective Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi cyclization of vinyl iodide aldehyde 25 to forge the oxacyclononane ring and the C6 hydroxyl stereocenter. These total syntheses establish the absolute configurations of 4 and 5, define a concise strategy for the total synthesis of briarellin diterpenes, and provide additional illustrations of the uncommon utility of pinacol-terminated cationic cyclizations for stereocontrolled synthesis of complex oxacyclic natural products.     

Enantioselective total synthesis and structure revision of spirodihydrobenzofuranlactam 1. Total synthesis of stachybotrylactam

[reaction: see text] The enantioselective total synthesis and structure revision of spirodihydrobenzofuranlactam 1 and of its regioisomer 25 are presented. Optically pure (+)-Wieland-Miescher ketone was utilized to construct the AB bicyclic core in 10 steps. Introduction of the resorcylate D-ring unit was achieved by use of our tert-butyl ester metalation sequence. Subsequent stereoselective spirocyclization to form the C-ring was followed by regioselective ring cyanation and lactam formation to produce the pentacyclic structure 1 and its regioisomer 25.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of lycopodine

The first enantioselective total synthesis of lycopodine has been completed. Key steps include a highly diastereoselective organocatalyzed cyclization of a keto sulfone to establish the key C7 and C8 stereocenters and a tandem 1,3-sulfonyl shift/intramolecular Mannich cyclization to form the tricyclic core.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of aplyviolene

The enantioselective total synthesis of the rearranged spongian diterpene aplyviolene has been completed in 14 steps from the known hydroazulenone 8. The key junction of the hydrocarbon and oxygenated fragments to form the critical C8 quaternary carbon stereocenter and set the stage for elaborating the delicate bicyclic lactone functionality was accomplished in high yield and exquisite stereoselectivity by Michael addition of an enantioenriched hydroazulenone enolate to an enantiopure α-bromocyclopentenone.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of aspidophytine

[structure: see text] An enantioselective total synthesis of aspidophytine is described. The indole fragment bearing a cis-alkene substituent was efficiently prepared through radical cyclization of a 2-alkenylphenylisocyanide followed by Sonogashira coupling of the generated 2-iodoindole derivative with a functionalized acetylene unit. After formation of the 11-membered cyclic amine, the aspidosperma skeleton and lactone ring were constructed to complete the total synthesis.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of borrelidin

The first total synthesis of the natural product borrelidin is described. The propionate fragment of the molecule was concisely synthesized through catalytic enantioselective reductive aldol reactions, a catalytic Negishi coupling, and a catalytic directed hydrogenation. The propionate segment was then fused to the vinyl iodide fragment through a catalytic Sonogashira coupling. Subsequent catalytic hydrostannylation and catalytic cyanation allowed access to the target structure.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of aperidine

An efficient total synthesis of aperidine was accomplished using a Rh-catalyzed C-H insertion of a cis-dihydrobenzofuran ring. To circumvent the facile epimerization of the cis-dihydrobenzofuran ring, we designed and prepared the C-H insertion precursor diazoamide by Raines' protocol. Finally, the efficient incorporation of a guanidine group and mild deprotection conditions yielded this labile natural product.     

Total synthesis of batzelladine D

[structure: see text] Stereoselective total synthesis of batzelladine D was accomplished in 15 steps. This synthesis features (i) successive 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions to form the 2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidine ring system, (ii) esterification of the side chain to the bicyclic guanidine carboxylate, a common synthetic intermediate of batzelladine alkaloids, and (iii) tricyclic guanidine formation under the Mitsunobu reaction conditions.     

Enantioselective total synthesis and absolute configuration of the alleged structure of crassinervic acid

An enantioselective synthesis of the structure reported for the natural antifungal compound, (−)-crassinervic acid (1), has been achieved starting from geraniol and p-hydroxybenzoic acid. The key chirality-inducing step is a Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation of an allylic alcohol, on the basis of which the S configuration can be assigned to the (−) natural enantiomer. The discrepancies between the spectroscopic data for synthetic and natural crassinervic acid cast some doubts on the structure assigned to the natural compound. A possible revised structure is discussed.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of bistramide A

The enantioselective synthesis of bistramide A has been achieved with a longest linear sequence of 18 steps. The synthetic strategy involves the use of a distereoselective glycolate alkylation, an aldol addition of a chlorotitanium enolate of N-acylthiazolidinthione, and a Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation to synthesize the three key fragments.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of cineromycin B

The enantioselective total synthesis of cineromycin B, a 14-membered unsaturated macrolide with two doubly allylic alcohols, was completed using a Julia coupling, an oxidative [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of selenide, and a Yamaguchi macrolactonization as key reactions.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-dibromophakellstatin

The first enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-phakellstatin and (+)-dibromophakellstatin was achieved. Key steps in the synthesis were a desymmetrization of the diketopiperazine (S,S)-cyclo (Pro, Pro) via a diastereoselective acylation, an intramolecular Mitsunobu reaction to introduce the C6 aminal, and a tandem Hofmann rearrangement/cyclization to simultaneously introduce the C10 quaternary aminal center and deliver the cyclic urea. The synthesis also demonstrates the unusual stability of pyrrolo aminals. Importantly, this strategy has the potential for producing phakellstatin derivatives, derived from (R,R)-cyclo (Pro, Pro), necessary for biological studies. A similar annulation protocol is also expected to be applicable to the synthesis of palau'amine.