Total synthesis of (+/-)-frondosin B

An expeditious reaction sequence featuring a microwave-assisted tandem 5-exo cyclization-Claisen rearrangement process was used to assemble the A/B ring system of frondosin B. Completion of the target natural product was achieved in 38.2% yield over an eight-step linear sequence.     

Total synthesis of (-)-reveromycin B

[structure: see text] The total synthesis of the epidermal growth factor inhibitor reveromycin B (2) is described. A novel, convergent, and stereoselective reaction sequence was utilized to construct the 5,6-spiroketal system 10 which was converted into the natural product 2 by a 16-step sequence.     

A catalytic, asymmetric formal synthesis of (+)-hamigeran B

A concise asymmetric, formal synthesis of (+)-hamigeran B is reported. A Pd-catalyzed, decarboxylative allylic alkylation, employing a trifluoromethylated derivative of t-BuPHOX, is utilized as the enantioselective step to form the critical quaternary carbon center in excellent yield and enantioselectivity. The product is converted in three steps to a late-stage intermediate previously used in the synthesis of hamigeran B.     

Synthesis of (-)-hamigeran B

The synthesis of (-)-hamigeran B has been achieved, based on a new approach to cyclopentane construction, the rhodium-mediated intramolecular C-H insertion of alpha-aryl-alpha-diazoketones. The endo-isopropyl group was installed by selective hydrogenation of a cyclopropylidene substituent.     

Synthesis of (-)-calicoferol B

The first total synthesis of (-)-calicoferol B (III) is described. The cyclozirconation product I, prepared in enantiomerically pure form, was converted into the CD ring chiron II. This was coupled with the aromatic A-ring, and then the side chain was constructed with control of relative and absolute configuration to complete the total synthesis of III. The first total synthesis of (-)-calicoferol B (1) is described. The cyclozirconation product 8, prepared in enantiomerically pure form, was converted into the CD ring chiron 6. This was coupled with the aromatic A-ring, and then the side chain was constructed with control of relative and absolute configuration to complete the total synthesis of 1.     

Synthesis of natural (−)-hamigeran B

Alkylation of lactam 10, first with iodide 15 and then with MeI, gave mainly (18:1) lactam 18. This was converted by treatment with t-BuLi and then with aqueous base into enone 4, which was elaborated into (−)-hamigeran B. A key feature of the last part of the synthesis is the use of t-BuMe₂Si-groups (as in intermediate 24) both to direct hydrogenation from the appropriate face and to protect the benzylic CO bond from hydrogenolysis.     

First total syntheses of (+/-)-annuionone B and (+/-)-tanarifuranonol

The intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of o-quinol allyl ether was accomplished and subsequently applied to the first total syntheses of natural products annuionone B (1) and both the proposed and revised structure of tanarifuranonol, 4 and 17.     

Total synthesis of (+/-)-herbindole B and (+/-)-cis-trikentrin B

[reaction: see text] Herbindole B and cis-trikentrin B are naturally occurring indoles having the unusual and synthetically challenging pattern of carbon substitution at the 4-7 and 5-7 positions, respectively, with no substitution at the 1-3 positions. The total syntheses of these polyalkylated indoles have been achieved in 19 and 12 steps, respectively. The synthesis of herbindole B relies on two iterations of a quinine monoimine Diels-Alder reaction, while cis-trikentrin B uses a single cycloaddition of a suitable quinone monoimine. Indolization of the adducts provides suitably substituted benzopyrrole nuclei for elaboration to the natural products.     

Total synthesis of (+/-)-hapalindole Q

[reaction: see text] The total synthesis of the antibacterial and antimycotic alkaloid hapalindole Q has been achieved in eight steps and 12.4% overall yield. The key step involves a regio- and diastereoselective Diels-Alder reaction to afford a bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene. This cycloadduct was subsequently dihydroxylated, cleaved, and converted to the natural product.     

Total synthesis of (+/-)-mycoepoxydiene,a novel fungal metabolite having an oxygen-bridged cyclooctadiene skeleton

[reaction: see text] The first total synthesis of (+/-)-mycoepoxydiene has been accomplished. A ring-closing olefin metathesis (RCM) approach was employed for the construction of the oxygen-bridged eight-membered bicyclic skeleton. The RCM product was converted to the target natural product featuring the oxidative rearrangement of a furfuryl alcohol introduced as the side chain and the stereoselective 1,2-reduction of a delta-keto-beta,gamma-unsaturated alpha-lactol intermediate.     

Total synthesis of (+/-)-hedychilactone B: stepwise allenoate diene cycloaddition to prepare trimethyldecalin systems

[reaction: see text] The total synthesis of the diterpene hedychilactone B 1 is reported. The exo adduct 4x, the major product of the stepwise [4+2] cycloaddition of the diene 2 and the allenoate 3, has been converted into 1 via 7 steps, among them a key nonconjugative hydrolysis of a gamma-methylene silyl enol ether and an E-selective olefination.     

New synthesis of (+/-)-isonucleosides

[Structure: see text] A novel method for synthesizing isonucleosides, a new class of anti-HIV nucleosides, is described. 2,2-Dimethyl-1,3-dioxan-5-one was converted into a dioxabicyclohexane derivative in six steps. After cleaving the epoxide group with thiophenol, the resulting product was subjected to the Mitsunobu reaction in the presence of a nucleobase to give the desired isonucleoside derivative via migration of the thiophenyl group. Removal of the thiophenyl group under radical conditions followed by deprotection led to the 4'-substituted 2',3'-dideoxyisonucleosides as a racemic mixture.     

General route to 4a-methylhydrofluorene diterpenoids: total syntheses of (+/-)-taiwaniaquinones d and h, (+/-)-taiwaniaquinol B, (+/-)-dichroanal B, and (+/-)-dichroanone

A general and convergent route for the synthesis of the 4a-methylhydrofluorene diterpenoids has been established through a common hexahydrofluorenone intermediate (10) obtained via Pd(0)-catalyzed reductive cyclization of a substituted 2-(2-bromobenzyl) methylene cyclohexane (13). The strategy has been successfully utilized for the synthesis of (+/-)-taiwaniaquinones D (3) and H (5), (+/-)-taiwaniaquinol B (1), (+/-)-dichroanal B (7), and (+/-)-dichroanone (8).     

A biomimetic total synthesis of (-)-spirotryprostatin B and related studies

The prenylated natural products spirotryprostatin A and B derived from the Trp-Pro diketopiperazine also feature an oxidative rearrangement of the indole to form a spirooxindole. Synthetically, formation of the oxindole ring was stereoselectively accomplished by reaction of the appropriate indole precursor with N-bromosuccinimide. For optimum results, the oxidation should be carried out prior to diketopiperazine cyclization. In this manner, we have synthesized the tetrahydro- and dihydro- analogues of spirotryprostatin B in four steps from L-tryptophan methyl ester. The dihydro derivative was then converted to spirotryprostatin B by unsaturation of the pyrrolidine ring to a pyrroline, thus unambiguously confirming the structure of the natural product.     

Total synthesis of (+/-)-psychotrimine

new process for the union of anilines with tryptamine derivatives has been developed, furnishing C-3 quaternized pyrroloindoline architectures. This chemoselective coupling of a tryptamine with 1.2 equiv of 2-iodoaniline proceeds efficiently on a gram-scale using only the simple reagents N-iodosuccinimide and triethylamine. Using this new reaction, the complex natural product psychotrimine has been fashioned with a rare level of efficiency and practicality. From a readily available bromotryptamine, only four steps (41-45% overall isolated yield) are necessary to procure gram quantities of the natural product. Functional group manipulations, protecting group chemistry, and unnecessary redox fluctuations have been minimized.     

Biogenetically inspired approach to the Strychnos alkaloids. Concise syntheses of (+/-)-akuammicine and (+/-)-strychnine

A linear synthesis of the indole alkaloid (+/-)-akuammicine (2) was completed by a novel sequence of reactions requiring only 10 steps from commercially available starting materials. The approach features a tandem vinylogous Mannich addition and an intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction to rapidly assemble the pentacyclic heteroyohimboid derivative 8 from the readily available hydrocarboline 6. Oxidation of the E ring of 8 gave the lactone 9 that was converted into deformylgeissoschizine (11). The subsequent elaboration of 11 into 2 was effected by a biomimetically patterned transformation that involved sequential oxidation and base-induced skeletal reorganization. A variation of these tactics was then applied to the synthesis of the C(18) hydroxylated akuammicine derivative 36. Because 36 had previously been converted into strychnine (1) in four steps, its preparation constitutes a concise, formal synthesis of this complex alkaloid.     

A stereospecific synthesis of (+/-)-5,8-disubstituted indolizidines and (+/-)-1,4-disubstituted quinolizidines found in poison frog skins

An efficient, high-yield stereospecific route to three (+/-)-5, 8-disubstituted indolizidines, (209B (I), 209I (II), 223J (III)) and two (+/-)-1,4-disubstituted quinolizidines (207I (IV), 233A (V)), racemates of alkaloids found in the skins of neotropical and Madagascan poison frogs is reported. The structures of the natural alkaloids were thereby established by chiral GC comparison with the exception of indolizidine 209B (I) for which a natural 209B could no longer be detected.     

Multicomponent coupling approach to (+/-)-frondosin B and a ring-expanded analogue

[reaction: see text] A recently discovered multicomponent coupling reaction is used to give direct access to a late intermediate in the synthesis of frondosin B. This intermediate can also be efficiently converted to a ring-expanded analogue of frondosin B by sustained heating of the reaction mixture. An unprecedented tandem 1,7-hydrogen shift, 8pi-electrocyclization is proposed to explain the formation of this ring-expanded species.     

Efficient formal synthesis of (+/-)-hyphodermin B

An efficient formal synthesis of hyphodermin B 1, a metabolite of Hyphoderma radula, has been completed in 15% overall yield. The tricyclic carbon skeleton 3 was rapidly assembled from a novel vinyl enone via a Diels-Alder reaction, followed by dehydrogenation and anhydride formation. Selective reduction of anhydride 3 with LiAlH(t-BuO)3 gave hyphodermin B 1 in 99% yield. The structure of hyphodermin B 1 was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The anhydride 3, bearing a gamma-carbonyl group, displayed unexpected reactivity with the anhydride carbonyl closest to the gamma-ketone being the most electrophilic site. This was confirmed by HF/6-31G calculations. In the presence of base, 3 underwent a rearrangement to the novel lactone 16.     

Total synthesis of (+/-)-dysibetaine

The marine natural product dysibetaine was synthesized in racemic form from a levulinic acid derivative using a convertible isocyanide and an ammonium acetate in the Ugi 4-center-3-component condensation reaction.