Total syntheses of the thiopeptides amythiamicin C and D

The thiopeptides amythiamicin C and D were synthesized by employing amide bond formation, a Stille cross-coupling reaction, and two Negishi cross-coupling reactions as key transformations. The central 2,3,6-trisubstituted pyridine ring of the target compounds was introduced as a 2,6-dibromo-3-iodopyridine, which was selectively metalated at the 3-position and connected to the complete Southern fragment of the amythiamicins by a Negishi cross-coupling. For the synthesis of amythiamicin C, this step was followed by a Negishi cross-coupling at C-6 of the pyridine core. Subsequent attachment of the Eastern fragment was achieved by amide bond formation and macrolactam ring closure by a Stille cross-coupling at C-2. The Eastern bithiazole fragment of the amythiamins was constructed also by regioselective metalation and cross-coupling reactions. The pivotal step involved the diastereoselective addition of 4-bromothiazole-2-magnesium bromide to a chiral sulfinyl imine. For the synthesis of amythiamicin D, the order of cross-coupling at C-6, amide bond formation, and cross-coupling at C-2 was changed. The amide bond formation to the Eastern fragment was performed first and it was subsequently attempted to close the macrolactam by an intramolecular regioselective Stille cross-coupling at C-2. Despite the low regioselectivity of this reaction it paved the way to the immediate completion of the amythiamicin D synthesis when followed by a Negishi cross-coupling at C-6 with 2-zincated methyl thiazole-5-carboxylate.     

Total synthesis of the proposed structure of the anthrapyran metabolite delta-indomycinone

The first total synthesis of the proposed structure of delta-indomycinone has been accomplished. The key steps involve the Diels-Alder reaction of a bromonaphthoquinone (6) and 1-methoxy-3-methyl-1-trimethylsiloxy-1,3-butadiene (7) to access the anthraquinone skeleton, representing a common building block of other naturally occurring anthraquinone antibiotics, regioselective bromination of anthraquinone (14) and a highly diastereoselective alkylation of enantiomerically pure dioxolanone 8. The reported synthetic approach has the advantage of high yields, excellent selectivity and a remarkable general applicability for the total synthesis of other anthrapyran natural products. The spectroscopic data obtained for the synthetic compounds 2 and 36 are not in agreement with those reported for the natural product, and therefore revision of the assigned structure is required.     

Total syntheses of zaragozic acids A and C by a carbonyl ylide cycloaddition strategy

A carbonyl ylide cycloaddition approach to the squalene synthase inhibitors zaragozic acids A and C is described. The carbonyl ylide precursor 8 was synthesized starting from di-tert-butyl D-tartrate (47) via an eleven-step sequence involving the regioselective reduction of the mono-MPM (MPM=4-methoxybenzyl) ether 48 with LiBH4 and the diastereoselective addition of sodium tert-butyl diazoacetate to alpha-keto ester 10. The reaction of alpha-diazo ester 8 with 3-butyn-2-one (40) in the presence of a catalytic amount of [Rh2(OAc)4] gave the desired cycloadduct 59 as a single diastereomer. The dihydroxylation of enone 59 followed by sequential transformations permitted the construction of the fully functionalized 2,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane core 5. Alkene 79 derived from 5 serves as a common precursor to zaragozic acids A (1) and C (2), since the elongation of the C1 alkyl side chain can be attained by olefin cross-metathesis, especially under the influence of Blechert's catalyst (85).     

Total syntheses of polyketide-derived bioactive natural products

Recent progress of total syntheses in our laboratory has been described along with our background and methodologies. The target bioactive polyketides are classified into three categories according to their structures: (i) lactone-fused polycyclic compounds [(+)-cochleamycin A, (+)-tubelactomicin A, and (-)-tetrodecamycin], (ii) aromatic compounds [(-)-tetracycline, (-)-BE-54238B, lymphostin, and (-)-lagunamycin], and (iii) acyclic polyketides [xanthocillin X dimethylether, (+)-trichostatin D, and (+)-actinopyrone A]. Features of the total syntheses are described. Original methodologies have been developed and applied to construct the inherent structures of the target molecules. Most syntheses cited herein are the first total syntheses, and the absolute structures of the target molecules have been determined.     

Allenes in catalytic asymmetric synthesis and natural product syntheses

Allenes are the simplest class of cumulenes, with two contiguous C=C bonds, and show unique physical and chemical properties. These features make allenes particularly attractive in modern organic chemistry. In this Review, attention is paid to the advances made in catalytic asymmetric synthesis and natural product syntheses based on well-established reactions of allenes, such as propargylation, addition, cycloaddition, cycloisomerization, cyclization, etc., with or without catalysts. Their versatile reactivity, substituent-loading ability, axial to center chirality transfer, and controllable selectivity allow access to target molecules by unique and efficient approaches. The main topics in this Review are presented with selected examples from 2003 to 2011.     

Total syntheses of colchicine in comparison: a journey through 50 years of synthetic organic chemistry

Colchicine, the major alkaloid of the meadow saffron, is one of the most prominent natural products and, like other tubulin-binding natural products (e.g. taxol and the epothilones), exhibits great pharmaceutical potential. The first syntheses in the late 1950s were milestones in natural product synthesis. But even today this structurally supposedly simple molecule poses a challenge to synthetic chemists. Only in the last years have syntheses been developed that are efficient enough to provide novel structurally modified colchicine analogues. The comparative examination of all known colchicine total syntheses undertaken in this Review not only reveals the tremendous progress in synthetic organic methodology over the past decades, but also shows how the unique synthetic problems posed by this molecule can be solved in an exceptionally creative manner. Only a few target molecules have been synthesized in such multifaceted ways.     

Photochemical reactions as key steps in natural product synthesis

Photochemical reactions contribute in a significant way to the existing repertoire of carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions by allowing access to exceptional molecular structures that cannot be obtained by conventional means. In this Review, the most important photochemical transformations that have been employed in natural product synthesis are presented. Selected total syntheses are discussed as examples, with particular attention given to the photochemical key step and its stereoselectivity. The structural relationship between the photochemically generated molecule and the natural product is shown, and, where necessary, the consecutive reactions in the synthesis are illustrated and classified.     

Total synthesis of abyssomicin C, atrop-abyssomicin C, and abyssomicin D: implications for natural origins of atrop-abyssomicin C

In this article, the total syntheses of the antibiotic abyssomicin C (1) and its biologically inactive sibling abyssomicin D (3) are described. A number of unforseen roadblocks in our synthetic plan encouraged innovation, which culminated in the discovery of a new Lewis acid-templated Diels-Alder reaction. En route to abyssomicin C, we prepared and characterized its stable conformational isomer atrop-abyssomicin C (57), which in the presence of a strong acid underwent an unusual interconversion with the targeted natural product. Close inspection of the X-ray crystallographic structures of these compounds led to hypotheses on the mechanism of their interconversion. Attempted reduction of both atropisomers revealed that atrop-abyssomicin C afforded abyssomicin D much more readily, suggesting that this previously unknown atropisomer may be synthesized by the host organism and serves as a direct precursor of abyssomicin D. Finally, to gain insight into the mechanism of antiobiotic activity, several synthetic intermediates and designed analogues were evaluated for biological activity.     

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Oxazolomycins B and C

Efforts towards the first total synthesis of (−)-oxazolomycin B and (+)-oxazolomycin C from the intermediate of our previous synthesis of (+)-neoxazolomycin are reported. The syntheses were achieved in a longest linear sequence of 25 steps from the amino acid serine in 3.6 and 2.7 % overall yields, respectively. The efficiency of our approach is derived from silyl triflate-mediated reductive oxazolidine ring-opening and Fürstner's Ru-catalyzed hydrosilylation and protodesilylation reactions. The obtained spectra and optical rotations were in good agreement with those of natural products, thus confirming the structures.     

Divergent strategy in natural product total synthesis

Divergent strategy in natural product synthesis allows the comprehensive synthesis of family natural products. Efficient formulation of this idea requires the biosynthetic/biosynthesis-inspired insight toward the well-orchestrated design of a pluripotent late-stage intermediate, in concomitant with the applicability of the intermediates for versatile transformations. This digest focuses on the actual applications of those strategies in natural product synthesis with an emphasis on the recipes for the choice of the common intermediates.