Total syntheses of (-)- and (+)-goniomitine

The Stille coupling reaction of 3-(benzyloxymethyl)-1-(tert-butyldiphenylsiloxy)ethyl-1-(tributylstannyl)allene with N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-iodoaniline directly produced the corresponding 2-vinylindole derivative, which was independently transformed into natural (-)-goniomitine and unnatural (+)-goniomitine via the cross-metathesis with chiral oxazolopiperidone lactams. The antiproliferative activity of the synthesized natural (-)-goniomitine in Mock and MDCK/MDR1 cells showed them to be more potent to retard cell growth than unnatural (+)-goniomitine.     

Total syntheses of (+)- and (-)-peribysin E

A convergent, stereocontrolled route to either antipode of the cell adhesion inhibitor, peribysin E, has been achieved from carvone. Highlights of the synthesis include a Diels-Alder reaction to generate a cis-decalin framework, followed by semipinacol-type ring contraction to secure the stereochemistry of the C7 quaternary center. Potential mechanistic pathways for the critical ring contraction were studied through deuterium incorporation studies. In addition, an optimized olefin isomerization/Saegusa oxidation protocol is described for the conversion of [4+2] cycloadducts of 2-(trialkylsilyloxy)-1,3-dienes to 1,6(2H,7H)-naphthalenediones, having stereochemical arrangements not accessible via conventional Robinson annulation protocols. Finally, the ability to independently prepare either enantiomer of peribysin E from the corresponding antipode of carvone led to a reassignment of the absolute configuration of peribysin E.     

Total syntheses of (+)-australine and (-)-7-epialexine

Three approaches were examined for the synthesis of 3-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolizidines, a class of compounds that includes the polyhydroxylated pyrrolizidine alkaloids alexine (1), australine (2), and various stereoisomers of thereof. In the first approach, the intramolecular cycloaddition of an azide onto an electron-rich 1, 3-diene bearing a terminal alkoxymethyl substituent (i.e., 21) afforded the dehydropyrrolizidines 22a and 22b, with 22a predominating. A rationale for this stereoselectivity was proposed. Transformation of the major diastereomer 22a into a natural 3-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolizidine was not possible due to difficulties encountered in transforming the phenyl vinyl sulfide functionality into other useful functional groups. A second approach was examined, wherein the intramolecular cycloaddition of an azide with an optically pure S-t-Bu-substituted diene (i.e., 30) was found to produce the pyrrolizidine 31. In this case, the alkoxymethyl substituent was incorporated into the tether between the azide and the diene, rather than on the diene itself. A key transformation in the synthesis of the diene 30 was the use of the allylic borane R(2)BCH(2)CH=C(TMS)(StBu) for the stereoselective conversion of the D-arabinose-derived azido aldehyde 28 to the E-isomer of 30. The cyclization of 30 to 31 also produced the bicyclic triazene 32, the result of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the azide onto the distal double bond of the diene. Again, difficulties in transformation of the vinyl sulfide functionality of 31 into useful oxygen functionality limited this approach to naturally occurring 3-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolizidines. A third approach to these compounds was successful. The transformation of L-xylose into the azido epoxy tosylate 46 was accomplished using two Wittig reactions and an epoxidation, in addition to other standard functional group manipulations. Reductive double-cyclization of 46 afforded the pyrrolizidines 47a and 47b, which were debenzylated to afford (+)-australine 2 and (-)-7-epialexine 4, respectively. In the preliminary report of this work, erroneous spectroscopic data in the original literature on the structural assignment of australine led to the conclusion that the synthetic material obtained herein was actually (+)-7-epiaustraline. Recently corrected spectroscopic data have appeared which verify that (+)-australine 2 was indeed synthesized for the first time.     

Total syntheses of (-)-haemanthidine, (+)-pretazettine, and (+)-tazettine

[structures: see text] The total syntheses of the amaryllidaceae alkaloids haemanthidine, pretazettine, and tazettine as optically pure enantiomers are reported. Using D-mannose as the starting material, the critical relative stereochemical relationships are established with an intramolecular nitrone-alkene cycloaddition reaction. The synthetic route leads successively to (-)-haemanthidine and then to (+)-pretazettine and (+)-tazettine, taking advantage of the well-established complex relationships among these three alkaloids.     

Total syntheses of enantiomerically enriched R-(+)- and S-(-)-deplancheine

Total syntheses of indoloquinolizidine alkaloid (+/-)-, R-(+)-, and S-(-)-deplancheine are described here. The synthesis features an enantioselective intramolecular formal aza-[3 + 3] cycloaddition for the construction of the quinolizidine CD-ring. This application serves to introduce a new synthetic strategy for the synthesis of indoloquinolizidine alkaloids.     

Total syntheses of (+)-tedanolide and (+)-13-deoxytedanolide

Convergent total syntheses of the potent cytotoxins (+)-tedanolide (1) and (+)-13-deoxytedanolide (2) are described. The carbon framework of these compounds was assembled via a stereoselective aldol reaction that unifies the C(1)-C(12) ketone fragment 5 with a C(13)-C(23) aldehyde fragment 6 (for 13-deoxytedanolide) or 52 (for tedanolide). Multiple obstacles were encountered en route to (+)-1 and (+)-2 that required very careful selection and orchestration of the stereochemistry and functionality of key intermediates. Chief among these issues was the remarkable stability and lack of reactivity of hemiketals 33b and 34 that prevented the tedanolide synthesis from being completed from aldol 4. Key to the successful completion of the tedanolide synthesis was the observation that the 13-deoxy hemiketal 36 could be oxidized to C(11,15)-diketone 38 en route to 13-deoxytedanolide. This led to the decision to pursue the tedanolide synthesis via C(15)-(S)-epimers, since this stereochemical change would destabilize the hemiketal that plagued the attempted synthesis of tedanolide via C(15)-(R) intermediates. However, use of C(15)-(S)-configured intermediates required that the side-chain epoxide be introduced very late in the synthesis, owing to the ease with which the C(15)-(S)-OH cyclized onto the epoxide of intermediate 50.     

Total syntheses of (+)-temisin, (+)-melitensin and related elemanolides from (-)-artemisin

(+)-Temisin, (+)-melitensin, and related sesquiterpene lactones have been synthesized from (-)-artemisin.     

Total syntheses of Lycopodium alkaloids (+)-fawcettimine, (+)-fawcettidine, and (-)-8-deoxyserratinine

A shared story: Three fawcettimine- and serratinine-type Lycopodium alkaloids are prepared from a common tetracyclic spirodiketone intermediate in concise total syntheses. The intermediate was constructed by a remarkable biosynthesis-inspired transannular N-C bond formation to the spiro-configured carbon center and a hydroxy-directed pinacol coupling promoted by SmI(2).     

Total syntheses of racemic, natural (-) and unnatural (+) glyceollin I

The first total syntheses of racemic glyceollin I and its enantiomers are described. A Wittig approach was utilized as an entry to the appropriately substituted isoflav-3-ene so that an osmium tetroxide mediated asymmetric dihydroxylation could be deployed for stereospecific introduction of the 6a-hydroxy group. While using triphenylphosphine hydrobromide, a novel method was found for gently removing MOM from protected phenolic hydroxyl groups present within sensitive systems.     

Enantioselective syntheses of (-)- and (+)-monomorine I

A concise enantioselective total synthesis of unnatural (-)-monomorine I has been achieved starting from lactam 2 in 54% overall yield. Natural (+)-monomorine I was also synthesized.     

Total syntheses of (+)-castanospermine and (+)-deoxynojirimycin

The absolute configuration of castanospermine has been determined by total synthesis to be as shown in 1.     

Total syntheses of the Securinega alkaloids (+)-14,15-dihydronorsecurinine, (-)-norsecurinine, and phyllanthine

A new strategy for enantiospecific construction of the Securinega alkaloids has been developed and applied in total syntheses of (+)-14,15-dihydronorsecurinine (8), (-)-norsecurinine (6), and phyllanthine (2). The B-ring and C7 absolute stereochemistry of these biologically active alkaloids originated from trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline (10), which was converted to ketonitrile 13 via a high-yielding eight-step sequence. Treatment of this ketonitrile with SmI2 afforded the 6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane B/C-ring system 14, which is a key advanced intermediate for all three synthetic targets. Annulation of the A-ring of (-)-norsecurinine (6) with the required C2 configuration via an N-acyliminium ion alkylation was accomplished using radical-based amide oxidation methodology developed in these laboratories as a key step, providing tricycle 33. Annulation of the D-ring onto alpha-hydroxyketone 33 with the Bestmann ylide 45 at 12 kbar gave (+)-14,15-dihydronorsecurinine (8). In the securinine series, the D-ring was incorporated using an intramolecular Wadsworth-Horner-Emmons olefination of phenylselenylated alpha-hydroxyketone 47. The C14,15 unsaturation was installed late in the synthesis by an oxidative elimination of the selenoxide derived from tetracyclic butenolide 50 to give (-)-norsecurinine (6). The A-ring of phyllanthine (2) was formed from hydroxyketone 14 using a stereoselective Yb(OTf)3-promoted hetero Diels-Alder reaction of the derived imine 34 with Danishefsky's diene, affording adduct 35. Conjugate reduction and stereoselective equatorial ketone reduction of vinylogous amide 35 provided tricyclic intermediate 36, which could then be elaborated in a few steps to stable hydroxyenone 53 via alpha-selenophenylenone intermediate 52. The D-ring was then constructed, again using an intramolecular Wadsworth-Horner-Emmons olefination reaction to give phyllanthine (2).     

Total syntheses of (+)- and (-)-cacospongionolide B: new insight into structural requirements for phospholipase A(2) inhibition

The first total synthesis of the antiinflammatory marine sponge metabolite (+)-cacospongionolide B has been accomplished in 12 linear steps. The pivotal transformations include a three-step sequence coupling the two main regions of the natural product as well as generating the side chain dihydropyran ring. The activity of the synthetic analogues against bee venom phospholipase A(2) suggests that cacospongionolide B has an enantiospecific interaction with the enzyme that is independent of the gamma-hydroxybutenolide moiety.     

Total synthesis of the supposed structure of (-)-sclerophytin A and an improved route to (-)-7-deacetoxyalcyonin acetate

[reaction: see text]Stereoselective acid-catalyzed rearrangement of 15-->16 is the central step in total syntheses of (-)-7-deacetoxyalcyonin acetate (1) and the compound with the alleged structure of sclerophytin A (2). Since tetracyclic diether 2 is not identical to sclerophytin A, the structure of this antineoplastic marine diterpene must be revised. The conversion of 15-->16 demonstrates for the first time that tetrahydrofurans containing (Z)-1-methylalkenyl side chains can be prepared by Prins-pinacol rearrangements.     

Total syntheses of (+)- and (−)-syringolides 3 and of (+)- and (−)-syributins 1, 2 and 3

The first total syntheses of (−)-syringolide 3, (+)-syributin 3 and their unnatural enantiomers (+)-syringolide 3 and (−)-syributin 3 using a common intermediate as starting material are described. In addition, total syntheses of (−)- and (+)-syributins 1 and 2 were accomplished by means of the same methodology.     

Total synthesis of (-)- and (+)-dysibetaine

Glycidamides 6R and 6S were elaborated to (R,R)- and (S,S)-dysibetaines (1R and 1S) by intramolecular alkylation and functional group modification in 23% overall yield. The absolute stereochemistry of natural dysibetaine was established as S,S by comparison of the optical rotation of the natural product with that of the synthetic materials.     

Total synthesis of (-)- and (+)-lentiginosine

Total synthesis of (-)-lentiginosine was achieved from D-mannitol using highly stereoselective reactions. Similarly, (+)-lentiginosine was synthesized from L-tartaric acid.