Synthesis of (+)-agelasine D from (+)-manool

(+)-Agelasine D, originally isolated from the marine sponge Agelas nakamurai, is synthesized for the first time. The terpenoid side chain was readily available from the diterpene alcohol (+)-manool.     

Synthesis of (+)-pechueloic acid and (+)-aciphyllene. Revision of the structure of (+)-aciphyllene

1αH,7αH,10αH-Guaia-4,11-dien-3-one and its 1βH,10βH diastereomer, easily obtained from (+)-dihydrocarvone, are good starting materials for the synthesis of natural guaiane derivatives. Allylic oxidation of the 1αH,10αH isomer gave as main product its 13-hydroxy derivative and a small amount of (+)-7β-hydroxy-1αH,10αH-guaia-4,11-dien-3-one, whereas the 1βH,10βH diastereomer afforded selectively the (−)-7α-hydroxy-1βH,10βH enantiomer in excellent yield. From the 13-hydroxy derivative (+)-pechueloic acid and (+)-methyl pechueloate were synthesized. Deoxygenation at C₃ of the 1βH,10βH guaiadienone afforded a guaiadiene with the reported structure for aciphyllene but its spectral data did not agree with those reported for the natural diene. The structure of natural (+)-aciphyllene has been corrected to 1αH,7αH,10αH-guaia-4,11-diene obtained by deoxygenation of the 1αH,10αH guaiadienone.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-curcutetraol and (+)-sydonol

The asymmetric total syntheses of (+)-curcutetraol and (+)-sydonol, phenolic bisabolane-type sesquiterpenoids having chiral tertiary alcohol moiety in the o-position of a phenol, were achieved in high enantiomeric excesses (99% ee). The chiral tertiary benzylic alcohol moiety of these compounds was constructed by an asymmetric synthesis using an easily available chiral aminal, (−)-(2R,5S)-2-methoxycarbonyl-3-phenyl-1,3-diazabicyclo[3.3.0]octane. The absolute configurations of both (+)-curcutetraol and (+)-sydonol have been assumed to be S-configuration based on the stereochemical course of the well established asymmetric synthesis used in the syntheses.     

(+)-Trans-chrysanthemic acid from (+)-Δ3-carene

A new and more efficient route for the conversion of the readily available (+)-Δ³-carene into (+)-trans-chrysanthemic acid is described.     

A concise synthesis of (+)-goniofufurone, (+)-7-epi-goniofufurone, (+)-crassalactones B and C

The concise and efficient synthesis of (+)-goniofufurone, (+)-7-epi-goniofufurone, (+)-crassalactones B and C were achieved in 6 to 7 steps from the known d-glucono-δ-lactone derivative 9. An acid-mediated cascade cyclization was employed to construct the furanofurone bicyclic framework in one-pot.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of cis-(+)- and trans-(+)-disparlure

An expedient enantioselective synthetic approach for the gypsy moth sex-attractant pheromone cis-(+)-1 and trans-(+)-disparlure 2 is described employing the optimized combination of organocatalytic MacMillan’s self aldol reaction, Wittig olefination, regioselective ring opening of an epoxide and Mitsunobu esterification reactions as key steps.     

First total syntheses of (+)-7-deoxynogarol and (+)-7-con-o-methylnogarol

The first total syntheses of (+)-7-deoxynogarol (2) and (+)-7-con-O-methylnogarol (3), the notable members of nogalamycin congeners, were achieved employing the Diels-Alder reaction of the highly functionalized dienes (11 and 20) with the (+)-naphthoquinone (6), the CDEF-ring system of nogalamycin congeners, as a key synthetic step.     

Concise syntheses of (+)-austrodoral and (+)-austrodoric acid Based on H2O2 mediated oxidative ring contraction

Asymmetric synthesis of the marine nor-sesquiterpenoid (+)-austrodoric acid and (+)-austrodoral in seven and nine steps respectively from Wieland-Miescher ketone was described herein. The synthesis featured an oxidative ring contraction of α-formyl cyclic ketone mediated by H₂O₂ to forge the hydrindane scaffold together with the contiguous quaternary carbon centers simultaneously.     

V. Thioanalogues of sparteine lactams. (+)-2-Thiono-17-oxosparteine and (+)-2,17-dithionosparteine

The X-ray and spectroscopic results clearly indicate that the (+)-2-thiono-17-oxosparteine (1) and (+)-2,17-ditihionosparteine (2) are conformationally rigid. In order to analyze deviations of lactam/thiolactam groups from planarity induced by ring constraints, the Dunitz-Winkler approach has been used. The lactam and thiolactam groups are close to planarity, only the lactam group in one of the two independent molecules of 1 is markedly non-planar. The bond angles in the thiolactam and lactam groups are highly diverse. Rings A and C adopt a distorted sofa conformation in both compounds. The distortions in the molecules of 2 as compared with those in the related monothiolactams correspond to the unusual chemical shifts of H5(eq), H5(ax) and H11, as well as to the extremely low J_5ax-6 and extremely large J_5eq-6 coupling constants. Also chemical shifts show a similar regularity being extremely high and low for C2 and C17, respectively.     

Sequential Baylis-Hillman/RCM protocol for the stereoselective synthesis of (+)-MK7607 and (+)-streptol

Sequential Baylis-Hillman/ring-closing metathesis (RCM) approach toward the total synthesis of (+)-MK7607 and (+)-streptol starting from (R,R)-tartaric acid is reported.     

Formal enantioselective synthesis of (+)-vincamine. The first enantioselective route to (+)-3,14-epivincamine and its enantiomer

A formal synthesis of (+)-vincamine (1) from (S)-(+)-2-ethyl-2-(2-methoxycarbonylethyl) cyclopentanone (6a) is described. This intermediate had previously been obtained by our research group in 90% ee through d'Angelo's deracemizing alkylation of the chiral imine 7, easily prepared from (R)-(+)-α-methylbenzylamine and 2-ethyl cyclopentanone with methyl acrylate. A potencial advanced intermediate for the synthesis of (+)-4, an epimer of (+)-1 at positions C-3 and C-14, has also been prepared from 6a.     

Short syntheses of (+)-ferruginol from (+)-dehydroabietylamine

Short syntheses of bioactive (+)-ferruginol in five or six synthetic steps starting from commercially available (+)-dehydroabietylamine are described. The oxygenated function at C12 was introduced via a Friedel-Crafts acylation of N-phthaloyldehydroabietylamine followed by Baeyer-Villiger oxidation. Then, overall deprotection of functional groups, reductive deamination or biomimetic oxidative deamination, and final Wolff-Kishner reduction provided (+)-ferruginol in 21 and 23% overall yields, respectively.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of (+)-nephrosterinic acid and (+)-protolichesterinic acid

A diastereoselective synthesis of (+)-nephrosterinic acid and (+)-protolichesterinic acid, common members of the paraconic acids is described. The synthesis is based on a diastereoselective orthoester Johnson–Claisen rearrangement of a (Z)-allyl alcohol with a vicinal dioxolane moiety as key steps. The synthesis is completed in 10 steps and with overall yields of 15.9% for (+)-nephrosterinic acid and 16.4% for (+)-protolichesterinic acid.     

Total syntheses of (+)-spiculoic acid A and (+)-zyggomphic acid, new marine natural products of polyketide origin

The total syntheses of both natural (+)-spiculoic acid A and (+)-zyggomphic acid, new cytotoxic marine natural products of polyketide origin, have been accomplished for the first time. These syntheses were achieved by the highly stereoselective and high-yielding intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of a functionalized (E,E,E)-2,7,9-dodecanal derivative to construct the core tetrahydroindan-2-one skeleton. A stereocongener of (+)-spiculoic acid A, i.e., the (2R,5S,6R)-isomer, was also synthesized. The details of these total syntheses are described.     

Stereoselective total syntheses of (+)-exo- and (−)-exo-brevicomins, (+)-endo- and (−)-endo-brevicomins, (+)- and (−)-cardiobutanolides, (+)-goniofufurone

Stereoselective total syntheses of aggregation pheromones (+)-exo-brevicomin (9a), (−)-exo-brevicomin (9b), (+)-endo-brevicomin (9c), (−)-endo-brevicomin (9d) and styryllactones (+)-cardiobutanolide (14a), (−)-cardiobutanolide (14b), and (+)-goniofufurone (19a) were achieved in good yields from enantiomerically pure highly functionalized furanoid glycal building blocks (1a-d) involving similar synthetic strategies, thus making these furanoid glycals highly useful building blocks in diversity-oriented synthesis (DOS).     

A short enantioselective synthesis of (+)-eleutherin, (+)-allo-eleutherin and a formal synthesis of (+)-nocardione B

A short enantioselective synthesis of (+)-eleutherin, (+)-allo-eleutherin and the formal synthesis of (+)-nocardione B is described. The synthesis is completed in six steps in overall yields of 8% for eleutherin and 14% for allo-eleutherin. The synthetic strategy features an efficient combination of the Dötz annulation reaction with a chiral alkyne and an oxa-Pictet Spengler reaction as the keys steps in the stereodivergent synthesis of (+)-eleutherin and (+)-allo-eleutherin. The synthesis of (S)-(+)-2-(2′-hydroxypropyl)-5-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone entails the formal synthesis of (+)-nocardione B.     

Ti-catalyzed transannular cyclization of epoxygermacrolides. Synthesis of antifungal (+)-tuberiferine and (+)-dehydrobrachylaenolide

We present a divergent strategy for the stereoselective synthesis of both eudesmanolides (+)-tuberiferine and (+)-brachylaenolide starting from the accessible germacrolide (+)-costunolide. The key steps of these syntheses are the Ti-catalyzed transannular cyclization of a 1,4-epoxygermacrolide in the presence or absence of water, respectively. The catalytic cycle operating in the presence of water probably involves the reduction of a tertiary radical by H-atom transfer from aquacomplex Cp₂Ti^III(OH₂)Cl. The catalytic cycle under anhydrous conditions presumably occurs through mixed disproportionation between a tertiary radical and Cp₂Ti^IIICl. Synthetic (+)-tuberiferine and (+)-brachylaenolide displayed an antifungal potency against Phycomyces blakesleeanus comparable or even higher than amphotericin B, the gold standard for antifungal therapy.     

A total synthesis of (+)-isolaurepan

A versatile and efficient method for the enantioselective synthesis of 2,7-cis-disubstituted oxepane 1c, (+)-isolaurepan, using oxidative resolution of a secondary alcohol and highly diastereoselective Et₃SiH/TMSOTf-promoted reductive cyclization of a hydroxy ketone is described.     

A practical total synthesis of (+)-isogalbulin and (+)-galbulin

A practical total synthesis of the natural products (+)-isogalbulin and (+)-galbulin has been achieved in 10 steps from readily available 3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)propanoic acid. The total yields were 12.3% and 12.9%, respectively. The key steps involved Evans asymmetric alkylation, Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation, and a highly regioselective opening of 1-benzyloxy-2,3-epoxides with an organoaluminum ate-complex formed by Me₃Al and n-BuLi.     

A divergent and stereoselective approach to phenolic 1,7-dihydroxy-bisabolane sesquiterpenes: asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-curcutetraol, (+)-sydonol, (+)-sydonic acid,and (+)-7-O-methylsydonic acid

The combined use of the Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation, a number of stereospecific chemical transformations, and the 3,5-hexadienoic acid benzannulation protocol allowed us to devise a new, divergent, and stereoselective approach to terpenes with a chiral tertiary hydroxyl group at the ortho-position of a phenol functional group. Accordingly, the natural occurring enantiomeric forms of the bisabolane sesquiterpenes (+)-curcutetraol, (+)-sydonol, (+)-sydonic acid, and (+)-7-O-methylsydonic acid were synthesized with high enantiomeric purity starting from geraniol. The latter two acids were prepared in enantioenriched form for the first time.