Construction of tricyclic enone, a common precursor for aphidicolane and stemodane B/C/D-ring system

Synthesis of a tricyclic enone (B/C/D ring system), a common key precursor for the aphidicolane- and stemodane-type diterpene, is described. The key reaction for the construction of the quaternary carbon center is allylation of epoxide at the more substituted carbon with an organotitanium reagent. Asymmetric reduction with DIP-Cl followed by stereoselective cyclization of spirocyclic ketone and the functional group modification gave the desired tricyclic enone in good yield.     

A short route to enantiomerically pure benzophenanthridinone skeleton: synthesis of lactone analogues of narciclasine and lycoricidine

Condensation of functionalized o-toluamide anions on a carbohydrate-derived lactone, followed by intramolecular aldol cyclization, provides enantiomerically pure 2-arylcyclohexenones. Different approaches for the stereoselective transformation of the carbonyl group of these key intermediates into an amino group were unsuccessful. However 1,4-addition of thiolate and concomitant ring closure to isocoumarine provided a useful method for the transformation of the tertiary amide function. Opening of the isocoumarin with ammonia provided the corresponding amide and recovery of the enone system. Subsequent reductive amination of this cyclohexenone was found to depend on the nature of the protecting groups and led to the protected form of 4-epi- and -iso-narciclasine. Oxo analogues of narciclasine and epi-narciclasine and lycoricidine were also obtained after reduction of the enone and subsequent lactonization. They showed no biological activity as antitumor agents.     

The total synthesis of the Galbulimima alkaloid GB 13

This contribution describes a synthetic approach to alkaloid GB 13, previously isolated from the North Australian and Papua New Guinean rain forest tree Galbulimima belgraveana. A Birch reductive alkylation of 2,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid by 3-methoxybenzyl bromide, followed by an acid-catalyzed cyclization was used to synthesize the [3.3.1]bicyclononane 8. A ring contraction performed on the diazo derivative 9 of the [3.3.1]bicyclononane led to [3.2.1]bicyclooctane 10. This [3.2.1]bicyclooctane was converted into a dienophile and subjected to a Diels-Alder reaction to generate a pentacyclic intermediate 13 with a carbon skeleton closely resembling the target alkaloid. The surplus substituent, required for activation and regioselectivity in the Diels-Alder reaction, was removed using Birch reductive conditions to effect a decyanation. It was discovered that a Birch reduction of the aromatic ring also present in the molecule could be performed at the same time to give the enone 15, which was cleaved by means of an Eschenmoser fragmentation. The piperidine ring found in the natural product was formed by reductive cyclization of the bis-oxime 18 derived from the alkynyl ketone 17 and the resulting material further elaborated to GB 13 (1) via ketone 20.     

An approach to the total synthesis of welwistatin

An approach to the total synthesis of the antimicrotubule agent welwistatin is described. Key transformations include (1) a 7-endo intramolecular conjugate addition reaction of enone 6 to deliver the strained bicyclo[4.3.1]decanone 5; (2) a 6pi electrocyclic ring closure of trienecarbamate 16 followed by oxidation to afford protected aniline 17; and (3) an intramolecular cyclization of acetic acid derivative 18 to give rise to indole 19. [reaction: see text]     

Anionic cyclization approach toward perhydrobenzofuranone: stereocontrolled synthesis of the hexahydrobenzofuran subunit of avermectin

A facile anionic cyclization approach toward stereocontrolled synthesis of the hexahydrobenzofuran subunit 3 of avermectin is described. As a model study, treatment of iodo compound 7 with n-BuLi at -100 degrees C effected metal-halogen exchange and subsequent anionic cyclization to afford perhydrobenzofuranone 8. For the total synthesis of subunit 3, compound 9 was dihydroxylated to give diol 10. Protection of the hydroxyl groups of diol 10 gave compound 11. Ketone 11 was then converted into the required enone 12 using Saegusa's protocol. On iodination followed by Luche reduction, enone 12 yielded alpha-iodo allylic alcohol 14, which on alkylation afforded ether 15. Conversion of the ester unit of 15 into a Weinreb amide group followed by anionic cyclization gave enone 17. 1,4-Addition of (MeOCH(2))(2)CuCNLi(2) to enone 17 followed by cleavage of the acetal unit afforded ketone 19. Preferential acetylation of the secondary alcoholic function of 19 afforded compound 20. The stereochemistry of 20 is confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Elimination of HOAc from 20 gave the crucial olefin 21. Hydrolysis of the acetate unit of 21 followed by protection of the resulting alcoholic function yielded tert-butyldimethylsilyl ether 23. Introduction of a hydroxyl group at the ring junction of 23, using Davis's procedure, finally afforded the hexahydrobenzofuran subunit 3.     

Formal syntheses of naturally occurring welwitindolinones

The formal syntheses of N-methylwelwitindolinone C isothiocyanate, N-methylwelwitindolinone C isonitrile, N-methylwelwitindolinone D isonitrile, 3-hydroxy-N-methylwelwitindolinone C isothiocyanate, and 3-hydroxy-N-methylwelwitindolinone C isonitrile are reported. The synthesis features several novel processes, including a Lewis acid mediated coupling between a benzylic-type heteroaromatic alcohol and a highly functionalized silyl ketene acetal, an intramolecular enolate arylation, and a regioselective, Pd(0)-catalyzed π-allylic cyclization of a γ-benzoyloxy enone moiety that is revealed by unmasking a furan ring.     

Redox regulation of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B): a biomimetic study on the unexpected formation of a sulfenyl amide intermediate

The effect of steric and electronic environments around the sulfur and nitrogen atoms and the role of nonbonded S...O/N interactions on the cyclization reactions of amide substituted benzene sulfenic acids are described. The reaction profiles and the role of different substituents on the cyclization are investigated in detail by theoretical calculations. It is shown that the synthetic thiols having ortho-amide substituents may serve as good models for the enforced proximity of the amide and cysteine thiol groups at the active site of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B). However, some of the sulfenic acids derived from such models do not effectively mimic the cyclization of protein sulfenic acids. This is mainly due to the requirement of very high energy for breaking the S-O bond to form a planar five-membered ring of isothiazolidinone. It is shown that the sulfenic acid having two substituents-an amide moiety and a heterocyclic group-in the ortho-positions undergoes a rapid cyclization reaction to produce the corresponding sulfenyl amide species. These studies reveal that the introduction of a substituent at the 6-position of the benzene ring enhances the cyclization process not only by facilitating a closer approach of the -OH group and the backbone -NH moiety but also by increasing the electrophilicity of the sulfur atom in the sulfenic acid.     

Stereoselective convergent synthesis of a trans-fused polycyclic ether ring system including a 4-hydroxy-5-methyl-tetrahydropyran ring

[reaction: see text] Stereoselective convergent synthesis of a trans-fused 6-6-6-6-membered tetracyclic ether ring system including 4alpha- or 4beta-hydroxy-5-methyl-tetrahydropyran was achieved. The key reactions involve the acetylide-aldehyde coupling of two tetrahydropyrans, intramolecular hetero-Michael cyclization of enone, stereoselective reduction of enone, hydroboration, intramolecular acetalization, and stereoselective reduction of the acetal with Et(3)SiH-TMSOTf.     

An expedient route to Montanine-type Amaryllidaceae alkaloids: total syntheses of (-)-brunsvigine and (-)-manthine

The first total syntheses of (-)-brunsvigine (1) and (-)-manthine (2) were accomplished in 10 and 18 steps, respectively. (-)-Quinic acid was converted to enone 12 in five steps. Iodination of enone 12 followed by stereoselective reduction yielded alpha-iodo allylic alcohol 16. Conversion of alcohol 16 into Weinreb amide 11 followed by anionic cyclization gave bicyclic enone 10. Stereoselective reduction of enone 10 and subsequent protection afforded pivaloate 9. Grignard addition of 8 to 9 and detosylation afforded amine derivative 19. Pictet-Spengler cyclization of 19 with Eschenmoser's salt and subsequent hydrolysis gave enantiomerically pure (-)-brunsvigine (1). For the total synthesis of (-)-manthine (2), the key intermediate 7 was hydrolyzed to diol 21. Conversion of 21 into 22 followed by regioselective cleavage with DIBAL furnished alcohol 25. Alcohol 25 was converted to the corresponding triflate 26, which on treatment with CsOAc and 18-crown-6 gave stereoinverted acetate 27. Hydrolysis of acetate 27 followed by methylation afforded compound 29. Detosylation of 29 afforded amine derivative 30. Pictet-Spengler cyclization of 30 followed by debenzylation gave alcohol 33. Finally, methylation of alcohol 33 afforded (-)-manthine (2).     

Formation of bicyclic ethers from Lewis acid promoted cyclizations of cyclic oxonium ions

Oxacycles carrying a vinyl group and an acetal were extended with a cyclization terminator (vinyl silane or vinyl sulfide) by Suzuki coupling. Treatment with Lewis acid induced cyclization to provide bicyclic ethers in reasonable yields. In the case of the vinyl silane, an ene-like mechanism is preferred, whereas the thioenol ether enters into a Prins-type reaction channel. In one instance, the bicyclic compound was opened to give the ten-membered functionalized enone 24. [reaction: see text]     

Total synthesis and absolute stereochemical assignment of (+)- and (-)-galbulimima alkaloid 13

We describe the total synthesis of (+)- and (-)-galbulimima alkaloid 13. The absolute stereochemistry of natural (-)-galbulimima alkaloid 13 is revised to 2S. Sequential use of catalytic cross-coupling and cross-metathesis reactions followed by an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction provided the required trans-decalin AB-ring system and masked the C16 carbonyl as an N-vinyl carbamate for late-stage unveiling in the form of the necessary C16 enone. A vinyl radical cyclization secured the C-ring, while successful execution of our strategy for introduction of the CDE-ring system in complex galbulimima alkaloids provided the target pentacycle with complete diastereoselection.     

Methodological Advances Permit the Stereocontrolled Construction of Diverse Fully Synthetic Tetracyclines Containing an All-Carbon Quaternary Center at Position C5a

Here we describe chemical innovations that enable the preparation of fully synthetic tetracyclines containing an all-carbon quaternary, stereogenic center at position C5a, a structurally novel class of compounds in this important family of therapeutic agents. In the key transformation and an important extension of the powerful Michael-Claisen cyclization (AB plus D) approach to the construction of fully synthetic tetracyclines, we show that the six-membered C ring comprising a C5a quaternary carbon center can be assembled by highly stereocontrolled coupling reactions of β-substituted AB enones and o-toluate ester anion D-ring precursors. Novel and versatile β-functionalization reaction sequences employing tris(methylthio)methyllithium and 2-lithio-1,3-dithiane have been developed to transform the AB enone 1 (the key precursor to fully synthetic tetracyclines) into a diverse range of β-substituted AB enone products, including a highly efficient, single-operation method for the synthesis of a β-methyl ester-substituted AB enone. A C5a-C11a-bridged cyclopropane tetracycline precursor was found to undergo efficient and regioselective ring-opening reactions with a range of nucleophiles in the presence of magnesium bromide, thus providing another avenue for the preparation of fully synthetic tetracyclines containing an all-carbon quaternary center at position C5a. Two compounds prepared from the bridged cyclopropane intermediate served as (further) diversifiable branch-points, allowing maximally expedient synthesis of C5a-substituted tetracyclines by final-step diversification.     

Organocatalytic,Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (−)‐Haliclonin A

The first total synthesis of the alkaloid (?)‐haliclonin A is reported. The asymmetric synthesis relied on a novel organocatalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of nitromethane with 3‐alkenyl cyclohex‐2‐enone to set the stereochemistry of the all‐carbon quaternary stereogenic center. The synthesis also features a Pd‐promoted cyclization to form the 3‐azabicyclo[3,3,1]nonane core, a SmI₂‐mediated intermolecular reductive coupling of enone with aldehyde to form the requisite secondary chiral alcohol, ring‐closing alkene and alkyne metathesis reactions to build the two aza‐macrocyclic ring systems, and an unprecedented direct transformation of enol into enone.     

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.     

Organocatalytic,Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (−)‐Haliclonin A

The first total synthesis of the alkaloid (−)‐haliclonin A is reported. The asymmetric synthesis relied on a novel organocatalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of nitromethane with 3‐alkenyl cyclohex‐2‐enone to set the stereochemistry of the all‐carbon quaternary stereogenic center. The synthesis also features a Pd‐promoted cyclization to form the 3‐azabicyclo[3,3,1]nonane core, a SmI₂‐mediated intermolecular reductive coupling of enone with aldehyde to form the requisite secondary chiral alcohol, ring‐closing alkene and alkyne metathesis reactions to build the two aza‐macrocyclic ring systems, and an unprecedented direct transformation of enol into enone.     

Stereocontrolled formal synthesis of (+/-)-platensimycin

The caged structure of platensimycin, known as Nicolaou's key intermediate for total synthesis of platensimycin, was synthesized stereoselectively by using the following key steps: (i) diastereoselective Diels-Alder reaction between gamma-benzoyloxy enone and tert-butyldimethylsiloxydiene, (ii) formation of a dihydropyran ring by intramolecular catalytic oxypalladation, and (iii) transannular radical cyclization of monothioacetal with tributyltin hydride and AIBN.     

Total syntheses of melinonine-E and strychnoxanthine: Evolution of the synthetic strategy enabled by novel method development

In this full account, the evolution of a synthetic strategy was detailed from a nitroso-ene cyclization to an aza-Wacker reaction for ring construction in the syntheses of melinonine-E and strychnoxanthine. The aza-Wacker cyclization to form the bridged ring was successfully developed and applied in the first asymmetric syntheses of melinonine-E and strychnoxanthine in 5–6 steps from a readily available chiral lactone. The proposed biogenesis of these two rare β-carbolinium alkaloids was revised based on their absolute configurations. Moreover, the substrate scope of the aza-Wacker cyclization demonstrated its potential for accessing various bridged ring skeletons. The mechanistic investigation established that the profound effect of the N-substituent on the amide was crucial to the success of the cyclization via the tunable amidopalladation pathway.     

Synthesis and reactivity of 4-(2-chloro-5-nitrophenyl)-1,2,3-thiadiazole. A novel one-pot synthesis of N-substituted indole-2-thiols

4-(2-Chloro-5-nitrophenyl)-1,2,3-thiadiazole undergoes ring opening to produce a thioketene intermediate that reacts with an O- or N-nucleophile, forming an ester or an amide of the aryl-substituted thioacetic acid. Intermolecular cyclization of the thioacetic acid derivative via nucleophilic substitution of halogen in the aromatic ring gives an N-substituted indole-2-thiol (in case of an N-nucleophile) or a 2-alkoxy-substituted benzo[b]thiophene (in case of an O-nucleophile). The reaction is also applicable to the synthesis of heterocyclic analogues of N-substituted indole-2-thiols: 1-butyl-1,3-dihydropyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-2-thione was synthesized as an example. In the presence of potassium thioacetate (an S-nucleophile) 4-nitro-2-(1,2,3-thiadiazol-4-yl)benzenethiol is formed more quickly than thiadiazole ring opening occurs, making the heterocyclic ring tolerant toward the base.     

Studies directed toward the synthesis of the scabrosins: validation of a tandem enyne metathesis approach

A synthetic approach to the scabrosin family of antibiotics using a ruthenium carbene-catalyzed tandem metathesis and a Pd(II)-catalyzed cyclization is described. The chiral propargyl amino acid is furnished through enantioselective phase-transfer propargylation. The synthesis of the cyclohexadiene ring system is achieved through ring synthesis using tandem enyne metathesis, previously developed in our lab. The complementary methods of methylene-free and 1,5-hexadiene-alkyne metatheses are compared. The indoline heterocycles are formed using a two-step chloroacetoxylation (Bäckvall reaction) with subsequent nucleophilic attack by an amide nucleophile. The indoline subunits were joined and cyclized to furnish the core diketopiperazine ring. The stereochemical assignment of intermediates is also discussed.     

Facile synthesis of 2,5,7-trisubstituted oxazolo[5,4-d]pyrimidines via copper-catalyzed intramolecular C–O bond formation

A novel and convenient synthesis of 2,5,7-trisubstituted oxazolo[5,4-d]pyrimidines was presented. The key step involved an intramolecular C–O cross-coupling of the ortho-halopyrimidine amide via a copper (I)-mediated cyclization reaction, which provided target trisubstituted oxazolopyrimidine in moderate to good yields.