Intramolecular Diels-Alder/Tsuji allylation assembly of the functionalized trans-decalin of salvinorin A

An enantioselective synthesis of the highly functionalized trans-decalin core (2) of salvinorin A is described. The tetraene 4 was synthesized in six steps from a known L-(+)-tartaric acid derivative. Three contiguous stereocenters, two of them quaternary, on the trans-decalin were established asymmetrically by an intramolecular Diels-Alder/Tsuji allylation sequence.     

Synthesis of the A,B,C-ring system of hexacyclinic acid

[structure: see text] The synthesis of the A,B,C-ring system (2) of hexacyclinic acid (1) is achieved starting from a selective Diels-Alder reaction followed by vinyl cuprate addition. The diastereoselective reduction of the ketone carbonyl at C16 could be achieved with LiAlH(4). An intramolecular Michael addition established the ring system stereoselectively, providing access to the selective generation of 9 out of the 14 stereocenters of hexacyclinic acid.     

Phosphine-mediated [4 + 2] annulation of bis(enones): a Lewis base catalyzed "mock Diels-Alder" reaction

Lewis-base-catalyzed cycloisomerization of bis(enones) to decalins has been demonstrated as an alternative to the traditional Lewis acid catalyzed Diels-Alder cycloaddition. In this process, a trialkylphosphine mediates both bond formation steps in two distinct catalytic cycles. The single-pot operation generates two carbon-carbon bonds and up to five contiguous stereocenters in one step, starting from achiral, aliphatic substrates; eight examples are provided. [reaction: see text]     

Intramolecular Diels-Alder and tandem intramolecular Diels-Alder/1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of 1,3,4-oxadiazoles

The scope of intramolecular Diels-Alder and a novel tandem Diels-Alder/1,3-dipolar cycloaddition cascade of 1,3,4-oxadiazoles is disclosed. In the cases examined, the tandem cycloadditions construct three new rings with formation of four new C-C bonds and set all six stereocenters about a central six-membered ring in a single step including three contiguous and four total quaternary centers without a trace of a second diastereomer.     

The total synthesis of (+)-hapalindole Q by an organomediated Diels-Alder reaction

The total synthesis of (+)-hapalindole Q has been achieved. The key step is a Diels-Alder reaction mediated by MacMillan's organocatalyst to provide the critical intermediate with high enantioselectivity (93% ee). This step establishes the proper arrangement of the required four contiguous stereocenters, including the quaternary center, and represents the first successful application of an enantioselective organomediated Diels-Alder reaction in total synthesis.     

Assembly of the isoindolinone core of muironolide A by asymmetric intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition

The hexahydro-1H-isoindolin-1-one core of muironolide A was prepared by asymmetric intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition using a variant of the MacMillan organocatalyst which sets the C4,C5 and C11 stereocenters.     

One-pot three-component tandem metathesis/Diels-Alder reaction

[reaction: see text] A tandem enyne, diene-ene metathesis reaction followed by Diels-Alder reaction accomplished a stereoselective three-component reaction protocol with four stereocenters.     

Total synthesis of pleurolactone

The stereoselective total synthesis of pleurolactone has been accomplished in 7 steps. The key synthetic features were the construction of four contiguous stereocenters using an endo-selective Diels-Alder reaction and high diastereoselective dihydroxylation.     

An expeditious total synthesis of (+/-)-stenine

(+/-)-Stenine was synthesized in eight steps from a known ketophosphonate reagent. The key step was an exo-selective Diels-Alder/intramolecular Schmidt domino reaction that afforded three of the four rings and four stereocenters in a single reaction.     

Catalytic asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-yohimbine

The total synthesis of (+)-yohimbine was achieved in 11 steps and 14% overall yield. The absolute configuration was established through a highly enantioselective thiourea-catalyzed acyl-Pictet-Spengler reaction, and the remaining 4 stereocenters were set simultaneously in a substrate-controlled intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction.     

Synthetic studies on diterpenes from a termite soldier: Total synthesis of (±)-biflora-4,10(19),15-triene

The total synthesis of (±)-biflora-4,10(19),15-triene is detailed which features a Diels-Alder strategy for elaboration of the four contiguous stereocenters at C(1), C(6), C(7), and C(11).     

Application of the intramolecular vinylogous Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction toward the synthesis of the spinosyn A tricyclic nucleus

[reaction: see text] A concise synthesis of the spinosyn A tricyclic nucleus 27 has been developed by a route featuring a one-pot tandem intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction and intramolecular vinylogous Morita-Baylis-Hillman cyclization in which five stereocenters in tricycle 10 are set with excellent selectivity.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of dendrobatid alkaloid 251F

The dendrobatid alkaloid (-)-251F was synthesized. The key steps of the synthesis were (1) an asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction to establish four of the necessary stereocenters in the target, (2) a ring-opening/ring-closing metathesis reaction to establish a key [3.3.0] bicyclic intermediate, and (3) an intramolecular Schmidt reaction.     

Efficient construction of cyclopenta[b]quinoline core of isoschizozygane alkaloids via intramolecular formal hetero-Diels-Alder reaction

[reaction: see text] Acid-catalyzed condensation of aromatic amines with delta,epsilon-unsaturated aldehydes, followed by intramolecular formal hetero Diels-Alder reaction, is described as a potential route to the cyclopenta[b]quinoline substructure of isoschizozygane alkaloids. Reactions are highly diastereoselective and produce adducts with up to four contiguous stereocenters.     

Synthesis of a functionalized 7,6-bicyclic spiroimine ring fragment of the spirolides

The asymmetric synthesis of a functionalized 7,6-spiroimine related to the spirolides is described. Intermolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition of a chiral trisubstituted dienophile and Danishefsky's diene enabled simultaneous installation of the C7 and C29 stereocenters. Further transformations and late-stage aza-Wittig cyclization afforded the spiroimine in good yield. During this study, an unprecedented 14-membered dialdimine was also obtained.     

Tandem Diels-Alder/fragmentation approach to the synthesis of eleutherobin

[reaction: see text] A synthesis of 28, the carbon framework of the eleutherobin aglycone, is reported in a 15-step sequence from readily available starting materials. The tandem Diels-Alder reaction of 6 and 7 to produce 18, in which three new rings and six new stereocenters are formed, is a key step in the reaction sequence.     

Asymmetric synthetic approach to a functionalized azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane moiety of (+)-sarain A

This paper describes our efforts toward the asymmetric synthesis of sarain A which led to efficient preparation of a functionalized azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane moiety. The key to the synthesis relied on a base-catalyzed asymmetric Diels-Alder cycloaddition to establish multiple stereocenters of a highly substituted cyclohexenone unit and a facile intramolecular aza-Michael addition to form the desired bicyclic system.     

First total synthesis of rhodexin A

An efficient total synthesis of rhodexin A (1) is reported. An initial inverse-electron-demand Diels-Alder reaction of the acyldiene 6 with the silyl enol ether 7 gave the cycloadduct 8 with the required 4 contiguous stereocenters in a single step. This compound was then transformed into the tetracyclic enone 16, which was converted to rhodexin A (1).     

Preparation of a functionalized tetracyclic intermediate for the synthesis of rhodexin A

An efficient synthesis of the tetracyclic steroid core, 19, of rhodexin A and sarmentogenin is reported. An initial inverse-electron-demand Diels-Alder reaction of the acyldiene 6 with the silyl enol ether 7a gave the cycloadduct 8 with the required four contiguous stereocenters in a single step. This compound was then transformed into the methylated enedione 13 which afforded after a reductive alkylation and annulation sequence the tetracycle 19.     

New types of reactivity of α,β-unsaturated N,N-dimethylhydrazones: chemodivergent diastereoselective synthesis of functionalized tetrahydroquinolines and hexahydropyrrolo[3,2-b]indoles

The indium trichloride-catalyzed reaction between aromatic imines and α,β-unsaturated N,N-dimethylhydrazones in acetonitrile afforded 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines bearing a hydrazone function at C4 through a one-pot diastereoselective domino process that involves the formation of two C-C bonds and the controlled generation of two stereocenters, one of which is quaternary. This reaction constitutes the first example of an α,β-unsaturated dimethylhydrazone that behaves as a dienophile in a hetero Diels-Alder reaction. The related reaction between anilines, aromatic aldehydes, and methacrolein dimethylhydrazone in CHCl(3) with BF(3)?Et(2)O as catalyst afforded polysubstituted 1,2,3,3a,4,8b-hexahydropyrrolo[3,2-b]indoles as major products through a fully diastereoselective ABB'C four-component domino process that generates two cycles, three stereocenters, two C-C bonds, and two C-N bonds in a single operation.