Synthetic studies directed toward the total synthesis of dolabriferol

Herein we report our results towards the total synthesis of (−)-dolabriferol, describing the synthesis of fragments C1-C9 and C10-C21. This convergent asymmetric approach relies on the use of a common Weinreb amide precursor for the preparation of both fragments, an efficient anti-aldol reaction followed by Zn(BH₄)₂ reduction to give a 1,3-syn diol, a selective oxidation of a triol under Swern conditions with concomitant lactol formation, and a diastereoselective epoxidation of an allylic alcohol with m-CPBA followed by an efficient epoxide opening with Me₂CuCNLi₂.     

Synthetic studies directed toward the AB decalin common to HMP-Y1 and hibarimicinone

Efforts toward the synthesis of the decalin ring system common to the hibarimicin shunt metabolite HMP-Y1 and parent aglycone hibarimicinone are reported herein. An intramolecular Diels–Alder cyclization rapidly generated the decalin framework. Two approaches toward completion of the AB decalin were vetted. Incorporation of a phenylsulfonyl leaving group β- to both a ketone and a γ-lactone followed by base-induced elimination of sulfinate led to the undesired α,β-unsaturated lactone. Methanolysis of the γ-lactone followed by elimination produced the unexpected bridged cyclic ether by way of an intramolecular oxy-Michael addition of the endo oriented C13 alcohol.     

Synthetic studies directed toward the proposed structure for heteroscyphic acid A

A route to the carbon skeleton of the proposed structure for heteroscyphic acid A was developed utilizing a Mn(III)/Cu(II) mediated oxidative free-radical cyclization and nucleophilic addition to (3-methylpentadienyl)iron(1+) cation.     

Synthetic studies toward 1,2-dioxanes as precursors of potential endoperoxide-containing antimalarials

Introduction in therapy of the naturally occurring trioxane artemisinin opened a new era in malaria treatment and prompted the development of semisynthetic and synthetic derivatives characterized by the presence of the key peroxide bridge. The 1,2-dioxane ring is present in some natural endoperoxides such as plakortin and dihydroplakortin, which are endowed with interesting antimalarial properties. Here we describe the development of a versatile stereocontrolled synthetic strategy to 1,2-dioxanes functionalized at the critical C3, C4, and C6 positions, potentially useful for the development of innovative antimalarials.     

Synthetic studies directed toward guianolides: an organoiron route to the 5,7,5 tricyclic ring system

A diastereoselective route to the 5,7,5-tricyclic core of the guianolides is presented. This route relies on Cope rearrangement of a divinylcyclopropane prepared by alkenyl Grignard addition to a (pentadienyl)iron(+1) cation, followed by oxidative decomplexation. An additional key reaction involves oxidative rearrangement of a 3,4-epoxy-1,7-diol to generate a γ-lactone. The relative stereochemistry of this product was established by X-ray crystallography.     

Synthetic studies toward zoapatanol

The oxepane core of zoapatanol was efficiently synthesized from commercially available 1,2,4-butanetriol, and it was shown to be possible to introduce the angular methyl group at C2′ by the reaction of an intermediate butenolide with diazomethane.     

Synthetic studies toward spiroleucettadine

Synthetic hydroxydienone precursors to spiroleucettadine and to an isomer thereof resist cyclization to the orthoamide-type functionality present in the proposed structure of the natural product.     

Synthetic studies toward Maoecrystal V

The investigation of an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction, en route to a projected total synthesis of maoecrystal V, is described.     

Synthetic studies toward the haouamines

[reaction: see text] A concise synthetic approach toward the haouamines based on Stork-Danheiser alkylation and Friedel-Crafts chemistry is described. A novel electrophilic aromatic substitution with concomitant formation of an enol triflate is reported.     

Synthetic studies toward plakortide E: application of the Feldman oxygenation to synthesis of highly substituted 1,2-dioxolanes

The Feldman radical oxygenation of vinylcyclopropanes is successfully applied to the synthesis of the highly substituted core of the 1,2-dioxolane natural product, plakortide E. The ratio of the desired cis-1,2-dioxolane can be enhanced by choice of cyclopropane substituents.     

Synthetic studies toward (+)-cortistatin A

We describe herein the synthesis of a late-stage intermediate en route to cortistatin A. Key transformations included a Snieckus-like cascade sequence culminating in a 6π-electrocyclization, an alkylative dearomatization, and the stereoselective functionalization of the cortistatin A-ring. While the total synthesis we sought was not accomplished, the work sets the stage for several approaches to the preparation of novel analogs via diverted total synthesis.     

Synthetic studies toward human interleukin-5

Disulfide-reduced form of IL-5 is assembled from three peptide segments in the N to C direction. Reconstitution of the protein under different folding conditions has also been investigated.     

Synthetic studies toward lapidilectine-type Kopsia alkaloids

A rapid synthesis of the tetracyclic core of Kopsia indole alkaloids related to lapidilectine B, grandilodine C, and tenuisine A is reported. Key to the success of this route was an efficient and scalable Ugi four-component coupling to install all the necessary carbons found in the natural products.     

Carbon-13 n.m.r. studies of some saturated 1,2-oxazepine derivatives

The influence of incorporating an group, an oxygen atom and the fragment in a saturated 7-membered ring system on carbon-13 n.m.r. chemical shifts is examined, and also, the influence of the dioxolane ring moiety on the ¹³C chemical shifts in these ring systems. Substituent effects are generally additive except in cases where the ring is heavily substituted with methyl groups. A large upfield steric shift (γ effect) of 7–8 ppm is observed in two of the derivatives. An example of long range nonequivalence is also observed. Assignments of the ¹³C n.m.r. spectra have been made by comparison with model compounds, and from proton coupled ¹³C n.m.r. spectra. The synthesis of several new compounds is described.     

Synthetic studies toward halichlorine: complex azaspirocycle formation with use of an NBS-promoted semipinacol reaction

The investigations of a synthetic route incorporating a NBS-promoted semipinacol rearrangement to the 6-azaspiro[4.5]decane fragment within halichlorine ( 1) are presented. A convergent approach was pursued, utilizing two chiral, enantiomerically enriched building blocks, 2-trimethylstannyl piperidene 10 and substituted cyclobutanone 19. Noteworthy synthetic operations in this study include the following: (a) a highly diastereoselective NBS-promoted semipinacol reaction that established four stereogenic centers in ketone 25 and (b) the use of a N- p-toluenesulfonyl-2-iodo-2-piperidene as a precursor to a basic organometallic reagent, which was critical to the success of the coupling of fragments 10 and 19.     

Synthetic studies toward lindenane-type dimers via Diels-Alder reaction

Lindenane-type dimers are natural sesquiterpenoids, mainly from Chloranthaceae, possessing an unique heptacyclic skeleton and diverse bioactivities. Inspection of their structures suggested the possibility of deploying an endo Diels-Alder reaction to construct the key cyclohexene ring. In this article we investigated the feasibility of Diels-Alder reactions between various dienes and dienophiles, leading ultimately to their applications to the realization of [4 + 2] lindenane dimers.     

Synthetic studies directed toward amphidinol 2: elucidation of the relative configuration of the C1-C10 fragment

Model compounds (11 and 12) for the C1-C10 tetrahydropyran fragment of amphidinol 2 were prepared from (2S)-benzyloxypropanal in 9 steps. The synthetic route relied on diastereoselective diene-aldehyde cycloaddition, stereoselective C-allylation, and reagent based enantioselective aldehyde allylation. Comparison of the NMR spectra for models 11 and 12 with that for amphidinol 2 indicated that the C1-C10 segment of the natural product possesses the 2R^∗,4R^∗,6R^∗,7S^∗,8R^∗,10S^∗relative configuration.     

Synthetic studies directed toward streptenol D: enantioselective preparation of the 3,5-diacetoxy-6E,8E-decadiene segment

The enantioselective preparation of 2-(3′R,5′R-diacetoxy-6E,8E-decadienyl)-1,3-dioxane, (+)-13, is described. This synthesis of the skeleton of streptenol D utilizes the ability of a diene-complexed (tricarbonyl)iron unit to serve as a protecting and stereodirecting functionality.     

Model studies directed toward the avermectins: A route to the oxahydrindene subunit

A Mlchael-Aldol sequence of an enoate-ketone triggered by the action of an aluminum thiophenoxy “ate” complex leads to the oxahydrindene subunit of the avermectins.