Toward the synthesis of the antibiotic branimycin: novel approaches to highly substituted cis-decalin systems

A variety of highly functionalized cis-decalin systems have been prepared by means of the stereoselective transannular Diels-Alder (TADA) reaction of a (Z,E,Z,Z)-tetraene macrolide, and by means of intramolecular nitrile oxide olefin (INOC) or ring-closing metathesis (RCM) annulations to quinic acid derivatives.     

Total synthesis of branimycin: an evolutionary approach

The first total synthesis of the macrolactone antibiotic branimycin (4) has been described. The key disconnection leads to a cis-dehydrodecalone core and a polyketide side chain which are connected via organometallic addition. The dehydrodecalone core was targeted via altogether five different approaches featuring various kinds of chiral elements and ring-closing methodology. In the end the most successful method starting from diepoxynaphthalene 109 was chosen to carry on with the synthesis. Thus the oxygen functions and carbon appendages were introduced via organometallic desymmetrization reactions to generate epoxy ketone 107, to which vinyl iodide 11 was added after conversion into the organolithium species. The synthesis was completed by introducing the ester side chain via Michael addition and subsequent macrolactonization.     

A new approach to the 1,10-phenanthroline core

A protocol for the synthesis of substituted 1,10-phenanthrolines is reported. The phenanthroline scaffold has been obtained constructing the central cycle starting from two pyridine rings. The method is hinged upon the intramolecular coupling of cis-1,2-di(2-bromo-3-pyridyl)ethenes that are in turn obtained from the Wittig reaction of 2-bromonicotinaldehydes with phosphonium salts prepared from 2-bromo-3-(bromomethyl)pyridines. Yields up to 75% have been obtained.     

Stereocontrolled formation of highly substituted cis-decalins via INOC annulation. An access to the branimycin core

Quinic acid was used as a chiral scaffold for elaborating the highly substituted cis-decalin core system of branimycin via an Eschenmoser-Ireland rearrangement-INOC annulation sequence.     

A radical mediated approach to the core structure of huperzine A

The synthesis of the core structure of huperzine A by cyclisation of 2-pyridylmethyl radicals is described. (2-Methylpyridin-3-yl)cyclohexenols are directly selenated at the benzylic position by deprotonation/selenation and the products undergo either 5-exo-trig or 6-exo-trig radical cyclisations giving access to hexahydroindenopyridines and the bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane core of huperzine A, respectively.     

A convergent approach to the tetracyclic core of atisane diterpenes

Atisane diterpenes are biologically interesting natural products. We report here a convergent approach to construct the tetracyclic core of the atisane skeleton. The two segments were assembled through a Wittig reaction, while an intramolecular Aldol condensation served as the key step to furnish the tetracyclic skeleton.     

An efficient approach to chiral nonracemic trans- and cis-decalin scaffolds for drimane and labdane synthesis

Optically active trans- and cis-ring junction decalinic intermediates, which represent useful precursors for the synthesis of more complex natural targets, have been conveniently prepared starting from the β-ketoester 2 obtained by standard chemistry from β-ionone and dimethyl carbonate. The chiral auxiliary (−)-menthol, easily attached to 2 through DMAP-catalyzed transesterification, allowed a clean separation of the diastereomers obtained in the key electrocyclization step, which were further elaborated to chiral intermediates already taken to drimane and labdane sesquiterpenes.     

A concise approach to the epidithiodiketopiperazine (ETP) core

A novel approach to the epidithiodiketopiperazine nucleus, incorporating two three-component reactions in a four-step synthetic sequence is reported.     

A synthetic approach to the functionalized hydroazulene core of guanacastepenes and heptemerenes

A functionalized hydroazulene derivative has been synthesized efficiently from 2-methylcyclopent-2-en-1-one as a part of a study oriented toward the total synthesis of diterpenoids of biological significance, guanacastepenes, and heptemerones.     

An approach to the core structure of leiodermatolide

The synthesis of the 16-membered core structure of leiodermatolide 40 has been achieved in 26 linear steps starting from (R)-Roche ester. The key steps in the synthesis of 40 are a Stille cross-coupling between two main fragments 11 and 33 having roughly equal size. For the trisubstituted C4/C5 double bond a carbometalation reaction followed by a Suzuki coupling was used. A Yamaguchi macrolactonization furnished macrolactone 39.     

An organocatalytic approach to the core of eunicellin

A stereocontrolled synthesis of the core of eunicellin is described featuring a Claisen rearrangement and a diastereoselective organocatalytic Diels-Alder reaction as the key steps.     

Wharton-fragmentation-based approach to the carbocyclic core of the phomoidrides

The carbocyclic core of the phomoidrides has been synthesized efficiently and in high yield. Key steps include a phenolic oxidation/intramolecular Diels-Alder sequence, tandem radical cyclization, and a late-stage Wharton fragmentation of a densely functionalized isotwistane skeleton.     

A non-photochemical approach to the bicyclo[3.2.0]heptane core of bielschowskysin

An asymmetric synthesis of the tricyclic core (-)-1 of the marine diterpene bielschowskysin is described. In particular, a methodology was developed to introduce the crucial quaternary center at C-12.     

A formal total synthesis of roseophilin: cyclopentannelation approach to the macrocyclic core

[formula: see text] The formal total synthesis of the macrocyclic core of roseophilin 4 has been accomplished in 12 steps from 5-hexenal 8. The cyclopentannelation reaction was used to form the aliphatic five-membered ring of 3. Diene 2 was assembled by means of a Stetter reaction. Ring-closing metathesis of 2, reduction, and Knorr reaction of the 1,4-diketone 5 gave the ketopyrrole 3.     

Cycloaldol approach to the isobenzofuran core of eunicellin diterpenes

[reaction: see text] A novel cycloaldol approach to the isobenzofuran core common to many of the eunicellin diterpenes is described. The cycloaldol precursor was prepared by aldol addition of (S)-(+)-carvone and methacrolein followed by etherification to a glycolate ester. Chemoselective enolization of the glycolate ester led to the cycloaldol adduct in high yield and diastereoselectivity. An oxidative rearrangement-allylic diazene rearrangement sequence established the requisite cis ring fusion.     

Studies toward the synthesis of phomactin A. An approach to the macrocyclic core

An approach to the macrocyclic core of phomactin A is described. Central to this strategy is the use of a cis-fused oxadecalin intermediate, prepared using the dihydropyrone Diels-Alder reaction. The conformational bias inherent to this system is then used to facilitate macrocycle formation via an intramolecular B-alkyl Suzuki coupling.     

Efficient approach to the Azaspirane core of FR 901483

[reaction: see text] An efficient approach to the azaspirane core of FR 901483 is described employing lithiated methoxyallene as a crucial C3 building block and a suitably protected enantiopure ketimine as the second component. The resulting dihydropyrrole derivative was smoothly converted into a spiro keto aldehyde which under acidic conditions provided a novel azanorbornane derivative 15. Under basic reaction conditions, the desired 5-azatricyclo[6.3.1.0(1,5)]dodecane skeleton 16 was generated. The ratio of diastereomers strongly depends on the reaction conditions employed with l-proline in DMSO providing the highest selectivity in favor of one azaspirane product.     

An approach to the core skeleton of lancifodilactone F

Two cycloaddition reactions were utilized for the construction of the 5,6,7-tricyclic skeleton of lancifodilactone F and buxapentalactone. A [2+2] ketene cycloaddition reaction was first used to set their adjacent all-carbon quaternary centers at the 5,6-ring junction. An arene-olefin meta-photocycloaddition reaction was then used to install the 6- and 7-membered rings concurrently.     

A new enantioselective approach to the core structure of hypoxia selective prodrugs related to the duocarmycins

The indoline scaffold of hypoxia selective prodrugs of DNA-alkylating agents related to the duocarmycin natural products was synthesized via an enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation. Easily accessible starting materials and good stereoselectivity in the alkylation step provide an enantioselective synthesis of the DNA-alkylating subunit.     

Controlling the facial selectivity of asymmetric [4+2] cyclo-additions: a concise synthesis of the cis-decalin core structure of superstolides A and B

Regio-, stereo-, and facial selective [4 + 2] cycloadditions between highly activated vinyl sulfones and 1,3-dienes derived from (R)-4-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one provide a powerful approach for the asymmetric synthesis of compounds containing the bicyclo[2.2.2]octanone carbon skeleton. This new methodology has been successfully applied to the asymmetric synthesis of the cis-decalin core structure of the potent anticancer marine natural products superstolides A and B.