Asymmetric total synthesis of ent-(-)-roseophilin: assignment of absolute configuration

An asymmetric total synthesis of ent-(-)-roseophilin (1), the unnatural enantiomer of a novel naturally occurring antitumor antibiotic, is described. The approach enlists a room temperature heterocyclic azadiene inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reaction of dimethyl 1,2,4,5-tetrazine-3,6-dicarboxylate (7) with the optically active enol ether 6 bearing the C23 chiral center followed by a reductive ring contraction reaction for formation of an appropriately functionalized pyrrole ring in a key 1,2,4,5-tetrazine --> 1,2-diazine --> pyrrole reaction sequence. A Grubbs' ring closing metathesis reaction was utilized to close the unusual 13-membered macrocycle prior to a subsequent 5-exo-trig acyl radical-alkene cyclization that was used to introduce the fused cyclopentanone and complete the preparation of the tricylic ansa-bridged azafulvene core 32. Condensation of 32 with 33 under the modified conditions of Tius and Harrington followed by final deprotection provided (22S,23S)-1. Comparison of synthetic (22S,23S)-1 ([alpha](25)(D), CD) with natural 1 established that they were enantiomers and enabled the assignment of the absolute stereochemistry of the natural product as 22R,23R. Surprisingly, ent-(-)-1 was found to be 2-10-fold more potent than natural (+)-1 in cytotoxic assays, providing an unusually rewarding culmination to synthetic efforts that provided the unnatural enantiomer.     

The first total synthesis of xenitorins B and C: assignment of absolute configuration

Starting from (-)-beta-pinene, the first total synthesis of xenitorins B and C has been accomplished, which also allowed the assignment of their absolute configuration.     

Synthesis of eupomatilone-6 and assignment of its absolute configuration

[Reaction: see text]. The Zn-mediated Barbier reaction of the biarylaldehyde 8 with crotyl bromide followed by hydroboration and oxidation provided the gamma-butyrolactones 4 and 5. The stereoselective installation of methyl group at C-3 by using LiHMDS and MeI completed the synthesis of racemic eupomatilone-6 (2) and its diastereomer 3. The spectroscopic data of 2 was in full agreement with reported spectra of natural product, thus confirming the revised relative configuration of eupomatilone-6. Similarly, an optically active (3R,4R,5S)-isomer of eupomatilone-6 (23) was prepared in which the aldol reaction with thiazolidinethione as a chiral auxiliary was employed as a key step. On the basis of the spectroscopic data and optical rotation values of 23, the absolute configuration of eupomatilone-6 was proposed.     

Enantiospecific first total synthesis and assignment of absolute configuration of the sesquiterpene (-)-cucumin H

The first total synthesis of the sesquiterpene (-)-cucumin H, a linear triquinane isolated from Macrocystidia cucumis, has been accomplished starting from (R)-limonene employing two different cyclopentannulation methodologies, which in addition to confirming the structure also established the absolute configuration of the natural product. [reaction: see text]     

Efficient iron-mediated approach to pyrano[3,2-a]carbazole alkaloids--first total syntheses of O-methylmurrayamine A and 7-methoxymurrayacine, first asymmetric synthesis and assignment of the absolute configuration of (-)-trans-dihydroxygirinimbine

Iron-mediated oxidative cyclisation provides an efficient approach to pyrano[3,2-a]carbazole alkaloids. Thus, improved routes to girinimbine and murrayacine as well as the first total syntheses of O-methylmurrayamine A and 7-methoxymurrayacine are reported. Asymmetric epoxidation of girinimbine led to (-)-trans-dihydroxygirinimbine and the assignment of its absolute configuration.     

Synthetic studies towards oxazinins. An expedient first total synthesis and proof of the absolute stereochemistry of oxazinin-3

A synthetic strategy, based on intramolecular addition of an appropriate hydroxyl substituent to a 3-methyleneindolenine, towards the naturally occurring marine toxins oxazinin-1, -2 and -3 is presented. The expedient first total synthesis of oxazinin-3, thus accomplished, demonstrated the efficiency of the approach and established the absolute stereochemistry of oxazinin-3 as 2S,5S.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of (-)-perrottetinene and assignment of its absolute configuration

The first stereoselective total synthesis of the bibenzyl tetrahydrocannabinol, (-)-perrottetinene, has been achieved from readily available starting materials. The absolute stereochemistry is derived from a chiral gamma-hydroxy vinylstannane. The key reaction is the synthesis of the cis-disubstituted cyclohexene ring of perrottetinene by diastereoselective Ireland-Claisen rearrangement and a ring-closing metathesis reaction. The absolute configuration of (-)-perrottetinene is proposed.     

The first total synthesis of putaminoxin and determination of its absolute configuration

Asymmetric synthesis of putaminoxin, a phytotoxic macrolide from the cultured dinoflagellate Amphidinium sp., has been accomplished. Absolute configuration of putaminoxin was concluded to be 1 from comparison of the NMR data and [α]_D values of synthetic and natural putaminoxin.     

Callipeltoside a: total synthesis,assignment of the absolute and relative configuration,and evaluation of synthetic analogues

The total synthesis of the novel antitumor agent callipeltoside A, as well as several analogues, is accomplished and allows assignment of the stereochemistry not previously established. A convergent strategy is employed wherein the target is dissected into three units-the core macrolactone, the sugar callipeltose, and a cyclopropyl bearing chain. The strategy for the synthesis of the macrolactone derives from employment of diastereoselective aldol reactions that emanate from an 11 carbon piece. The stereochemistry of the latter derives from the chiral pool and two asymmetric reactions-a ketone reduction using CBS-oxazaborolidine and a Pd catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation (AAA). The novelty of the latter protocol is its control of regioselectivity as well as absolute configuration. The trisubstituted olefin is generated using an alkene-alkyne coupling to create a trisubustituted olefin with complete control of geometry. The excellent chemo- and regioselectivity highlights the synthetic potential of this new ruthenium catalyzed process. The macrolactonization employs in situ formation of an acylketene generated by the thermolysis of a m-dioxolenone. Two strategies evolved for attachment of the side chain-one based upon olefination and a second upon olefin metathesis. The higher efficiency of the latter makes it the method of choice. A novel one pot olefin metathesis-Takai olefination protocol that should be broadly applicable is developed. The sugar is attached by a glycosylation by employing the O-trichloroacetimidate. This route provided both C-13 epimers of the macrolactone by using either enantiomeric ligand in the Pd AAA reaction. It also provided both trans-chlorocyclopropane diastereomers of callipeltoside A which allows the C-20 and C-21 configuration to be established as S and R, respectively. The convergent nature of the synthesis in which the largest piece, the macrolatone, require only 16 linear steps imparts utility to this strategy for the establishment of the structure-activity relationship. Initial biological testing demonstrates the irrelevance of the chloro substituent and the necessity of the sugar.     

Asymmetric synthesis and absolute configuration of streptophenazine G

The asymmetric synthesis of the antibacterial natural product, streptophenazine G, has been achieved by employing asymmetric alkylation and asymmetric aldol reactions using chiral oxazolidinones as the key steps. The originally proposed structure for streptophenazine G has been revised, and its absolute configuration has been determined to be 1'S,2'R,6'S. The asymmetric total synthesis of 6'-epi-streptophenazine G is also described.     

The first asymmetric total syntheses and determination of absolute configurations of xestodecalactones B and C

The first efficient asymmetric total syntheses of xestodecalactones B and C have been accomplished in 10 steps with an overall yield of 22 and 20.2%, respectively. The key steps involve the utility of Evans oxazolidinone-mediated syn-aldol condensations to establish the C-9 configuration and the macrolide ring formation by intramolecular acylation. The absolute configurations of xestodecalactones B and C have been determined via these syntheses.     

Enantioselective total syntheses of nankakurines A and B: confirmation of structure and establishment of absolute configuration

Total syntheses of (+)-nankakurine A (2) and (+)-nankakurine B (3) were accomplished by a sequence that employs an intramolecular dipolar cycloaddition of an azomethine imine intermediate to form the azatricyclic moiety and establish the relative configuration of the spiropiperidine ring. These syntheses, together with the synthesis of the originally purported structure 1 of nankakurine A, rigorously establish the relative and absolute configuration of these structurally unusual Lycopodium alkaloids. The syntheses are sufficiently concise that gram quantities of (+)-nankakurine A (2) and (+)-nankakurine B (3) will be available for further biological studies.     

The first total synthesis and determination of the absolute configuration of chapecoderin A, B and C

The seco- and rearranged-labdanes, chapecoderins A 1, B 2, and C 3 have been synthesized for the first time starting from (S)-(+)-Wieland-Miescher ketone analogue 11. Their absolute configurations have been determined as depicted in the structures 1, 2 and 3.     

Asymmetric total syntheses of spisulosine, its diastereo- and regio-isomers

Starting from palmityl alcohol, divergent stereoselective syntheses of spisulosine and its diastereo- and regio-isomers have been achieved. In the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation-based approach, the key step is the synthesis of monoprotected diol, whereas Miyashita’s boron-directed C-2 regioselective azidolysis of enantiomerically pure epoxy alcohol is the vital step in the Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation-based route. The latter approach involves the first protecting-group-free synthesis of spisulosine.     

Asymmetric total syntheses of tuberostemonine, didehydrotuberostemonine, and 13-epituberostemonine

Detailed experimental approaches toward the pentacyclic Stemona alkaloids tuberostemonine and didehydrotuberostemonine and the close analogue 13-epituberostemonine are described. The syntheses originate with a hydroindolinone derivative that can be obtained on a large scale in a single step from carbobenzoxy-protected l-tyrosine. Highlights of the conversion of this hydroindolinone to the target structures are the three-fold use of ruthenium catalysts, first in azepine ring-closing metathesis and then in alkene isomerization and cross-metathesis propenyl-vinyl exchange, as well as the stereoselective attachment of a gamma-butyrolactone ring to a tetracycle core structure by use of a lithiated asymmetric bicyclo[3.2.1]octane (ABO) ortho ester. Structural analysis by density functional theory (DFT) methods revealed that the ease of oxidation of the natural product is likely due to the conformational preferences of the pyrrolidine and the fused cyclohexane rings.     

Determination of absolute configuration of Pandanus alkaloid, pandamarilactonine-A, by first asymmetric total synthesis

The absolute configuration of pandamarilactonine-A, a pyrrolidine alkaloid, was established on the basis of total synthesis starting from l-prolinol. An insight into the mechanism of the low enantiomeric purity of natural pandamarilactonine-A is discussed.     

Azedaralide: total synthesis, relative and absolute stereochemical assignment

Azedaralide, a potentially advanced intermediate for the total synthesis of various tetranortriterpenes, was constructed utilising the Fernández-Mateos protocol and assigned both relative and absolute stereochemistries. Both asymmetric aldol and classical chiral resolution attempts failed to deliver pure enantiomers whereas preparative chiral chromatography resolved racemic azedaralide with ease.     

Vanchrobactin: absolute configuration and total synthesis

The stereochemistry of vanchrobactin, a siderophore produced by the bacterial fish pathogenVibrio anguillarum serotype O2, was elucidated by chiral capillary electrophoresis analysis and total synthesis as N-[N′-(2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl)-d-arginyl]-l-serine.