A short synthesis of (+) and (−)-falcarinol

A short, practical synthesis of the bis-acetylenic natural product falcarinol 1 is reported. This method relies on the alternate functionalisation of bis-trimethylsilylbutadiyne 10. This may be achieved in one-pot, however, better yields were obtained more conventionally. Lipase mediated enzymatic kinetic resolution of the racemic adduct in an organic solvent afforded (+)-1 in 97% enantiomeric excess. The analogous process performed with racemic 3-acetoxy falcarinol 11 under aqueous conditions gave (−)-1. Oxidation of 1 with Dess-Martin periodinane gave falcarinone 2.     

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (+)‐Ryanodol and (+)‐Ryanodine

(+)‐Ryanodine ( 1 ) is the ester derivative of 1H‐pyrrole‐2‐carboxylic acid and the complex terpenoid (+)‐ryanodol ( 2 ), which possesses eleven contiguous stereogenic centers on the ABCDE‐ring system. Compound 1 is known to be a potent modulator of intracellular calcium release channels, whereas the activity of 2 is significantly weaker. To chemically construct 1 , the multiple oxygen functional groups must be installed on the fused pentacycle in stereoselective fashions and the extremely hindered C3‐hydroxy group must be acylated in a site‐selective manner. First, the total synthesis of 2 was accomplished by introducing the five stereocenters from the previously prepared enantiopure ABDE‐ring 7 . Stereoselective construction of the C3‐secondary, C2‐ and C6‐tertiary alcohols was achieved by three nucleophilic reactions. The C9‐ and C10‐trisubstituted carbon centers were regio‐ and stereoselectively introduced by hydroboration/oxidation of the six‐membered C‐ring, which was formed by the ring‐closing metathesis reaction. Direct esterification of the C3‐alcohol with pyrrole‐2‐carboxylic acid proved unsuccessful; therefore, we developed a new, two‐step protocol for attachment of the pyrrole moiety. The C3‐hydroxy group was first converted into the less sterically cumbersome glycine ester, which was then transformed into the pyrrole ring through condensation with 1,3‐bis(dimethylamino)allylium tetrafluoroborate. This procedure resulted in the first total synthesis of 1 .     

Synthesis of (+)- and (−)-isocarvone

The first synthesis of 5-isopropenyl-3-methyl-cyclohex-2-enone, (isocarvone) (2), in enantiomerically pure form is reported. Both enantiomers of 2 can be produced by manipulation of carboxylic acid 5, which is available from R-(−)-carvone (1). These materials provide new chiral building blocks that could be used in total synthesis of natural products and related optically active compounds.     

Total Synthesis of the Diterpenoid (+)‐Harringtonolide

Described herein is the first asymmetric total synthesis of (+)‐harringtonolide, a natural diterpenoid with an unusual tropone imbedded in a cagelike framework. The key transformations include an intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction and a rhodium‐complex‐catalyzed intramolecular [3+2] cycloaddition to install the tetracyclic core as well as a highly efficient tropone formation.     

Protecting‐Group‐Free Enantioselective Synthesis of (−)‐Pallavicinin and (+)‐Neopallavicinin

The first enantioselective synthesis of (?)‐pallavicinin and (+)‐neopallavicinin has been achieved in 15 steps. The described synthesis avoids protecting‐group manipulations by synthesis designs predicated on highly chemo‐ and stereoselective transformations. Highlights of the synthesis include a palladium‐catalyzed enantioselective decarboxylative allylation to form the chiral all‐carbon quaternary stereocenter, a palladium‐catalyzed oxidative cyclization to assemble the [3.2.1]‐bicyclic moiety, and an unprecedented LiBHEt₃‐induced fragmentation/protonation of an α‐hydroxy epoxide to form the α‐furan ketone with the desired configuration.     

Synthesis of the marine furanoditerpene (−)-marginatone

A synthesis of the marine labdane furanoditerpene (−)-marginatone 1 has been accomplished by a short sequence of reactions starting from (+)-coronarin E 5. The key step is the stereocontrolled-intramolecular electrophilic cyclisation of the (+)-dihydrocoronarin E 6, to the tetracyclic marginatane skeleton 7, which is subsequently functionalized by allylic oxidation to give 1. As (+)-coronarin E 5 was previously synthesized from (−)-sclareol 10, the herein reported preparation constitutes the first formal total synthesis of (−)-marginatone 1, by which its absolute configuration has been confirmed.     

A Unified Approach to the Daucane and Sphenolobane Bicyclo[5.3.0]decane Core: Enantioselective Total Syntheses of Daucene,Daucenal, Epoxydaucenal B,and 14‐para‐Anisoyloxydauc‐4,8‐diene

Access to the bicyclo[5.3.0]decane core found in the daucane and sphenolobane terpenoids via a key enone intermediate enables the enantioselective total syntheses of daucene, daucenal, epoxydaucenal B, and 14‐para‐anisoyloxydauc‐4,8‐diene. Central aspects include a catalytic asymmetric alkylation followed by a ring contraction and ring‐closing metathesis to generate the five‐ and seven‐membered rings, respectively.     

Total Syntheses of (+)‐Sarcophytin, (+)‐Chatancin, (−)‐3‐Oxochatancin,and (−)‐Pavidolide B: A Divergent Approach

A concise and divergent approach for the total syntheses of four cembrane diterpenoids, namely (+)‐sarcophytin, (+)‐chatancin, (?)‐3‐oxochatancin, and (?)‐pavidolide B, has been developed, and it also led to the structural revision of (?)‐isosarcophytin. The key steps of the strategy feature a double Mukaiyama Michael addition/elimination, a Helquist annulation, two substrate‐controlled facial‐selective hydrations, and a pinacol rearrangement. The described syntheses not only achieved these natural products in an efficient manner, but also provided insight into the biosynthetic relationship between the two different skeletons.     

A General Entry to Antifeedant Sesterterpenoids: Total Synthesis of (+)‐Norleucosceptroid A, (−)‐Norleucosceptroid B,and (−)‐Leucosceptroid K

The first asymmetric total synthesis of the antifeedant terpenoids (+)‐norleucosceptroid A, (?)‐norleucosceptroid B, and (?)‐leucosceptroid K has been accomplished. This highly concise synthetic route was guided by our efforts to develop a platform for the collective synthesis of a whole family of antifeedant natural products. The synthesis features a Hauser–Kraus‐type annulation followed by an unprecedented, highly efficient intramolecular dilactol aldol‐type condensation reaction to produce the 5,6,5 skeleton. The developed synthetic route proceeds for norleucosceptroid A and B in 16 steps (longest linear sequence) from known compounds.     

A Divergent Approach to the Marine Diterpenoids (+)‐Dictyoxetane and (+)‐Dolabellane V

We present a full account of the development of a strategy that culminated in the first total syntheses of the unique oxetane‐containing natural product (+)‐dictyoxetane and the macrocyclic diterpene (+)‐dolabellane V. Our retrosynthetic planning was guided by both classical and nonconventional strategies to construct the oxetane, which is embedded in an unprecedented 2,7‐dioxatricyclo[4.2.1.0^3,8]nonane ring system. Highlights of the successful approach include highly diastereoselective carbonyl addition reactions to assemble the full carbon skeleton, a Grob fragmentation to construct the 11‐membered macrocycle of (+)‐dolabellane V, and a bioinspired 4‐exo‐tet, 5‐exo‐trig cyclization sequence to form the complex dioxatricyclic framework of (+)‐dictyoxetane. Furthermore, an unprecedented strain‐releasing type I dyotropic rearrangement of an epoxide‐oxetane substrate was developed.     

Enantioselective syntheses of bioactive epoxyquinone natural products (+)-harveynone and (−)-asperpentyn

Stereo- and enantioselective syntheses of (+)-harveynone and (−)-asperpentyn are reported.     

Diversity oriented synthesis of hispanane-like terpene derivatives from (R)-(+)-sclareolide

(R)-(+)-Sclareolide 1 has been used as a starting material to develop a diversity oriented methodology to access hispanane 28 a, and hispanane-like derivatives 27 b-27 e. This methodology is based on the intramolecular Friedel-Crafts acylation of the corresponding 12-desoxylabdanoic-like acids 27, for the construction of the cycloheptane ring which is characteristic of the hispananes. Acids 27 are obtained from alcohols 20, available by addition of the lithium or magnesium reagents to amide 12 (followed by Luche reduction), or to aldehyde 21. This sequence has resulted in the preparation of hispanane framework 27 a. The versatility of this methodology therefore allows a structural diversity oriented synthesis, since it allows the access to a wide variety of hispanane-like derivatives.     

Biomimetic Total Synthesis of Hyperjapones A–E and Hyperjaponols A and C

Hyperjapones A–E and hyperjaponols A–C are complex natural products of mixed aromatic polyketide and terpene biosynthetic origin that have recently been isolated from Hypericum japonicum. We have synthesized hyperjapones A–E using a biomimetic, oxidative hetero‐Diels–Alder reaction to couple together dearomatized acylphloroglucinol and cyclic terpene natural products. Hyperjapone A is proposed to be the biosynthetic precursor of hyperjaponol C through a sequence of: 1) epoxidation; 2) acid‐catalyzed epoxide ring‐opening; and 3) a concerted, asynchronous alkene cyclization and 1,2‐alkyl shift of a tertiary carbocation. Chemical mimicry of this proposed biosynthetic sequence allowed a concise total synthesis of hyperjaponol C to be completed in which six carbon–carbon bonds, six stereocenters, and three rings were constructed in just four steps.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Synthesis of (Hetero)Aryl Alkyl Sulfones from (Hetero)Aryl Boronic Acids,Unactivated Alkyl Halides,and Potassium Metabisulfite

A palladium‐catalyzed one‐step synthesis of (hetero)aryl alkyl sulfones from (hetero)arylboronic acids, potassium metabisulfite, and unactivated or activated alkylhalides is described. This transformation is of broad scope, occurs under mild conditions, and employs readily available reactants. A stoichiometric experiment has led to the isolation of a catalytically active dimeric palladium sulfinate complex, which was characterized by X‐ray diffraction analysis.     

Further chemical studies on the Antarctic nudibranch Austrodoris kerguelenensis: new terpenoid acylglycerols and revision of the previous stereochemistry

The diterpenoid acylglycerol fraction from an extract of the mantle of a new collection of the Antarctic dorid gastropod mollusc Austrodoris kerguelenensis has been chemically analysed. Two novel 2-monoacylglycerols 9 and 12, along with known 1,2-diacyl glyceryl esters 5 and 6, now reassigned as 7 and 8, have been isolated. The linkage of a diterpenoid moiety at C-2 of glycerol characterizes all the compounds. Because the R absolute stereochemistry at C-2 of glycerol has been established for the corresponding 1,3-glyceryl esters 1 and 2, derived from 7 and 8 by acyl-migration of the terpenoid moiety from C-2 to C-3, our finding implies that 1,2-derivatives from Antarctic nudibranchs have the same S stereochemistry as all 1,2-sn-diacylglycerols from the other dorids.     

Synthesis of (−)-pinidinone

The diastereoselective PdCl₂/CuCl₂-catalysed intramolecular methoxyaminocarbonylation of N-benzyl protected alkenyl amine 4 was used as a key step in the total synthesis of the naturally occurring piperidine alkaloid (−)-pinidinone. Commercially available (S)-propylene oxide was employed as starting material, delivering the key substrate 4 in three steps and 68% overall yield. Subsequently, the influence of various reaction parameters on the diastereoselectivity of the key cyclisation of 4 was scrutinised. Copper(II) chloride proved to be the optimum reagent and/or co-catalyst for the successful aminocyclisation-methoxycarbonylation tandem transformation of alkenyl amine 4 into the desired methyl esters 3 and 8. The latter were subsequently transformed into the title natural product.     

Synthesis and stereochemistry of (−)-rosiridol and (−)-rosiridin

The plant-derived monoterpenoids (−)-rosiridol and (−)-rosiridin can be assembled in an enantioselective manner via DIP-Cl reduction of a ketone precursor obtained by BCl₃-mediated C-C coupling of prenyl stannane and an α,β-unsaturated C₅ aldehyde. On the basis of Mosher analyses, the absolute stereochemistry 4S was assigned to (−)-rosiridol; this was confirmed by X-ray structure analysis of pentaacetylrosiridin. Glucosylation of (4S)-4-acetoxygeraniol proceeds under Koenigs-Knorr conditions in diethyl ether. (−)-Rosiridin was synthesized for the first time.     

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (+)‐Bermudenynol,a C15 Laurencia Metabolite with a Vinyl Chloride Containing Oxocene Skeleton,through Intramolecular Amide Enolate Alkylation

A substrate‐controlled asymmetric total synthesis of (+)‐bermudenynol, a compact and synthetically challenging C₁₅ Laurencia metabolite that contains several halogen atoms, is reported. The oxocene core, which contains a vinyl chloride, was constructed by an efficient and highly stereoselective intramolecular amide enolate alkylation (IAEA). This result showcases the broad utility of the IAEA methodology as a useful alternative for cases in which the ring‐closing metathesis is inefficient.