Synthesis of the EF-ring segment of ciguatoxin CTX1B based on novel regioselective reduction of unsaturated cyanohydrins and ring-closing olefin metathesis

Aiming at a convergent total synthesis of ciguatoxin CTX1B, its EF-ring segment has been synthesized. During the synthesis, a novel method for the construction of branched ethers, based on regioselective reduction of γ-alkoxy β,γ-unsaturated α-silyloxy nitriles with borontrifluoride etherate and trialkyl silane or tributyltin hydride, has been developed. Combination use of the method and ring-closing olefin metathesis successfully provided medium-sized cyclic ethers. Efficient site-selective reduction of vinyl epoxides into homoallyl alcohols has also been developed.     

A double ring-closing olefin metathesis approach to [3]catenanes

A [3]catenane with peripheral olefinic macrocycles was conveniently synthesized via a double ring-closing olefin metathesis. Highlights of this work include the synthesis of a 65-membered macrocycle featuring two phenanthroline ligands, a Cu(I)-templated synthesis of a [3]pseudorotaxane, and the key double ring-closing olefin metathesis to afford the desired [3]catenane in 71% yield.     

[2,3]-Wittig rearrangement by a chlorine-lithium exchange

The reaction of different allylic chloromethyl ethers 1 with an excess of lithium powder (1:7 molar ratio) and a catalytic amount of DTBB (2.5 mol %) in THF at 0 °C for 1 h gives, after hydrolysis with water, the expected alcohols 2 resulting from a [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement, in an exclusive manner. The same process can also be applied to the corresponding [1,2]-Wittig rearrangement, as it is exemplified for benzyl chloromethyl ether.     

Chirality transfer in the aza-[2,3]-Wittig sigmatropic rearrangement

The aza-[2,3]-Wittig sigmatropic rearrangements of substrates derived from enantiomerically pure alanine, valine and serine with phenyl and ester anion stabilising groups were investigated for their efficiency in chirality transfer. It was found that a methyl substituent at the stereogenic centre of the rearrangement precursors was inadequate to control the alkene stereoselectivity and enantioselectivity of the rearrangement. Ester stabilised anions of valine and serine derivatives were the most successful with up to 66% yield, 14 : 1 alkene (E)-stereoselection and 88% chirality transfer. A limitation to the steric bulk of the stereogenic centre was noted in that the substituent has to be bulky enough to dictate alkene stereoselection, but not too large to compromise the directing effect of the activating phenyldimethyl silyl substituent on the anion stabilising group. Experimental evidence suggested a possible complimentary coordinating effect of an O-MOM serine substituent, which may assist alkene stereoselectivity and enantioselectivity.     

Synthesis of beta-bisabolol by ring-closing olefin metathesis reaction

A ring-closing olefin metathesis is the key step in the synthesis of the beta-bisabolols.     

Synthesis of bridged azabicyclic structures via ring-closing olefin metathesis

A new strategy for the facile synthesis of azabicyclo[m.n.1]alkenes (m = 3-5; n = 3, 2) has been developed that involves the ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction of cis-2,6-dialkenyl-N-acyl piperidine derivatives. The requisite 2,6-dialkenylpiperidines may be readily prepared in six steps starting from glutarimide (11) or three steps from 4-methoxypyridine (25). In one example that establishes the practical utility of the procedure, the functionalized 8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane 32, which is a potential intermediate for the syntheses of various tropane alkaloids, was prepared. Additionally, a new route for the construction of the bridged tetrahydro-beta-carboline ring system 5 has been developed that features the ring-closing metathesis of the enyne 45 to construct the bridging ring in 46. This concise route to 46 also features a potentially general and useful procedure for the one-step preparation of a terminal alkyne from an ester function. Selective oxidation of the vinyl group in 46 afforded the unsaturated aldehyde 47, which may serve as a useful intermediate in syntheses of several Sarpagine alkaloids.     

Synthesis of substituted benzenes and phenols by ring-closing olefin metathesis

New synthetic approaches to substituted aromatic compounds are reported. Ring-closing olefin metathesis (RCM)/dehydration and RCM/tautomerization are the key processes in the synthesis of substituted benzenes 3 and phenols 6, respectively. Readily accessible 1,5,7-trien-4-ols 7, which are the precursors of benzenes, were prepared from beta-halo-alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes 11 or beta-halo-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters 19 by utilizing reliable transformations in which cross-coupling with vinylic metal reagents 12 and allylation with allylic metal reagents 13 were employed as carbon-carbon bond forming reactions. RCM of 7, followed by dehydration, afforded a wide variety of substituted benzenes 3. In addition, RCM of 1,5,7-trien-4-ones 9, which were prepared by oxidation of 7, furnished various substituted phenols 6 by automatic tautomerization.     

Synthesis of psudoheliotridane via formal [3+2] annulation and ring-closing metathesis

Base-induced coupling/cyclization stepwise [3+2] annulation of α-sulfonylacetamide with (Z)-2-bromoacrylates yielded polysubstituted pyroglutamates with three contiguous chiral centers with trans-trans orientation in a one-pot synthesis. The pyrrolizidine skeleton was obtained via the ring-closing metathesis (RCM) method. This facile strategy was used to synthesize psudoheliotridane.     

Synthesis of diversely functionalized pyrrolizidines and indolizidines using olefin ring-closing metathesis

Various nitrogen-fused tricyclic compounds, having benzoindolizidine and benzopyrrolizidines ring systems were synthesized via ene-ene metathesis using the first and second-generation Grubbs catalyst. The ene-ene metathesis proceeded smoothly in refluxing CH₂Cl₂ with 3.0 mol % of G₁, giving good yields (78-86%) of the benzoindolizidine products 12a,b. The benzopyrrolizidine 6 was prepared after optimization in 64% yield by using 5.0+5.0 mol % of G₂. The resulting olefin moiety of the indolizidine framework is a suitable precursor for polyhydroxy structures via the Sharpless process. The structures of the polyhydroxylated adducts were determined by ¹H NMR spectra and single-crystal X-ray analysis.     

Synthesis of precursors of phomactins using [2,3]-Wittig rearrangements

o-Toluic acid has been converted into methyl (8RS,9SR)-7-(bromomethyl)-8,9-dimethyl-1,4-dioxaspiro[4.5]dec-6-ene-8-carboxylate, the stereochemical defining step being a conjugate addition of lithium dimethylcuprate to a cyclohexadienone prepared using a Birch reduction followed by an allylic oxidation. Displacement of the bromide with various propargylic alcohols followed by reduction of the ester and protection of the primary alcohol so formed then gave a series of propargyl cyclohexenylmethyl ethers. [2,3]-Wittig rearrangements of these and related propargylic ethers were studied as an approach to precursors of phomactins. The rearrangements were found to proceed by regioselective deprotonation of the propargylic side-chain to give substituted methylenecyclohexanes but mixtures of stereoisomers were obtained.Aspects of the chemistry of the Wittig rearrangement products were investigated including epoxidation, oxidation of the side-chain hydroxyl groups to give 2-ynones and reactions of the 2-ynones with lithium dimethylcuprate. The propargyl side-chain of a Wittig rearrangement precursor was elaborated to prepare an intermediate, which was fully functionalised for incorporation into a phomactin.     

Synthesis of resorcin[4]arene cavitands by ring-closing metathesis

The synthesis and X-ray crystal structures of the first resorcin[4]arene cavitands by ring-closing metathesis reaction are described.     

Model studies for the stereoselective construction of the BC-ring of armatol F based on Ireland-Claisen rearrangement and relay ring-closing olefin metathesis

Armatol F, isolated from the red alga Chondria armata as a polyether triterpene, has a fused tricyclic ether moiety (BCD-ring) with an unusual cis ring junction at C18-C19 between the C- and D-rings. En route to the total synthesis of armatol F, the stereoselective construction of the C18 and C19 stereocenters by Ireland-Claisen rearrangement and the formation of the C-ring by relay ring-closing olefin metathesis were established through the synthesis of monocyclic (C-ring) and bicyclic (BC-ring) model compounds.     

Synthesis of substituted 1-benzazepin-2-ones via ring-closing olefin metathesis

The 1-benzazepin-2-one ring system is an important structural feature of marketed drugs, clinical candidates, and other bioactive molecules. We have developed a new benzazepinone synthesis that employs ring-closing olefin metathesis as a key step. This route provides efficient access to substituted benzazepinones that are difficult to synthesize via existing procedures.     

Stereoselective synthesis of cis- and trans-2,3-disubstituted eight-membered medium-ring ethers based on Ireland-Claisen rearrangement of 3-alkoxy-2-propenyl glycolate esters and ring-closing olefin metathesis

A simple stereoselective synthesis of cis- and trans-2,3-disubstituted medium-sized cyclic ethers has been developed based on geometry-selective synthesis of 3-alkoxy-2-propenyl glycolate esters, Ireland-Claisen rearrangement of the glycolate esters, and ring-closing olefin metathesis.     

Synthesis of a cryptand with tetrahedral connectivity using multiple ring-closing olefin metathesis

By connecting six terminal olefins sequentially in one molecule under metathesis conditions, three macrocycles were formed efficiently in one pot yielding a novel cryptand with tetrahedral connectivity.     

Synthesis of vinylcyclopropanes by allylation/ring-closing metathesis/Claisen rearrangement

A facile double allylation/ring-closing metathesis/Claisen rearrangement route for preparing vinylcyclopropanes 6 is developed. The efficient synthesis includes O-allylation of α-allyl-α-sulfonylketones 8 with allylic bromides, ring-closing metathesis of diallyl compounds 9 and sequential Claisen rearrangement of the resulting oxepines.     

Synthesis of optically enriched 1,2-aminoalcohols by [2,3]-Wittig rearrangements of 3-aza-allylic alcohol derivatives

[2,3]-Wittig rearrangements of (E)-3-aza-allylic alcohol derivatives can provide access to syn or anti optically enriched 1,2-aminoalcohols by using a chirality transfer or a chiral auxiliary.     

Convenient synthesis of [3]catenane by olefin metathesis dimerizations

[3]Catenane 5a and 5b were synthesized conveniently by olefin metathesis dimerization of pseudorotaxanes 3a and 3b. The yields of 5a and 5b were influenced by concentrations of 3a and 3b, and a ring size of a center wheel of [3]catenane.     

Synthesis and Aza-[2,3]-Wittig Rearrangements of Vinylaziridines: Scope and Limitations

cis- and trans-2,3-Trisubstituted vinylaziridines have been prepared from cis- and trans-epoxy alcohols, respectively, and used as substrates in the aza-[2,3]-Wittig rearrangement. Five different anion-stabilizing groups have been investigated for their efficiency to promote the rearrangement, and it was found that N-tert-butyl acetyl vinylaziridines were superior in this reaction, affording the corresponding cis-2,6-tetrahydropyridines (>90%) as single isomers when treated with LDA. Similarly, the corresponding (Z)-propenylaziridines gave trans,trans-2,3,6-trisubstituted tetrahydropyridines as the sole products while the (E)-propenylaziridines afforded the cis,cis-2,3,6-derivatives with equally high selectivity. The scope and limitations of the process have been investigated by varying the structure of the substrate, and the mechanism of the rearrangement has been probed to some extent; the mechanistic picture is more complex than assumed previously.