Design and synthesis of simplified polycyclic ethers and evaluation of their interaction with an α-helical peptide as a model of target proteins

Two simplified pentacyclic ethers, having 6/7/6/6/7 and 6/7/6/7/7 ring systems, were synthesized. A convergent route based on the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling strategy was applied to synthesize these two compounds. Interactions between α-helical peptide, melittin, and synthesized pentacyclic ethers were evaluated by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Interestingly, only the polycyclic ether having a 6/7/6/7/7 ring stabilized the α-helical structure of melittin. This result indicated that a ring fusion manner of the polycyclic structure is important to recognize membrane proteins.     

Total synthesis of (+)-amphidinolide A. Assembly of the fragments

The structure elucidation of (+)-amphidinolide A, a cytotoxic macrolide, has been accomplished by employing a combination of total synthesis and NMR spectroscopic analysis. Amphidinolide A possesses two skipped 1,4-diene subunits which are accessible by ruthenium-catalyzed alkene-alkyne couplings. Previous total syntheses had revealed that the reported structure was incorrect; therefore, to incorporate maximum flexibility into the synthesis, with the ultimate goal of determining the correct structure, a highly convergent approach was chosen. Furthermore, liberal use was made of catalytic asymmetric transformations to set individual stereocenters. Three different strategies were envisioned for the end game, and due to the highly convergent nature of the synthesis, all three routes disconnect to the same three key intermediates, 5, 6, and 7. Diastereomers of 6 and 7 were easily prepared by modification of the synthetic routes to allow access to multiple diastereomers of 1 for structural determination.     

Total synthesis of the cyclic heptapeptide Argyrin B: a new potent inhibitor of T-cell independent antibody formation

[structure: see text] The total synthesis of Argyrin B (1) is presented using a synthetic plan that is convergent and flexible and conserves the stereogenic centers. The unusual amino acid 4-methoxy tryptophan (6) was obtained via an enzymatic resolution. Cyclization followed by oxidative elimination of the phenylseleno cysteine to the sensitive dehydroalanine afforded synthetic 1.     

Convergent and diastereoselective synthesis of the polycyclic pyran core of saudin

The natural product saudin was found to induce hypoglycemia in mice and, therefore, could be an appealing lead structure for the development of new agents to treat diabetes. A diastereoselective tandem Stille-oxa-electrocyclization reaction has been developed which provides access to the core structure of saudin in a rapid and convergent manner. This new reaction has been extended to the convergent preparation of a series of polycyclic pyran systems. Progress has been made on the advancement of these complex pyran systems toward the natural product. A complete account of these synthetic efforts is presented.     

Cholic-acid-based fluorescent sensor for dicarboxylates and acidic amino acids in aqueous solutions

[structure: see text] The binding affinities of a cholic-acid-based fluorescent neutral receptor toward dicarboxylate anions and amino acids have been investigated in a CH3OH/H2O system (1:1, 0.01 M HEPES buffer, pH = 7.4) by fluorescence titration experiments. The synthetic host bearing four convergent functionalities strongly binds glutamate via multiple hydrogen bonds with a binding constant of (5.57 +/- 0.88) x 10(6).     

Total synthesis of khafrefungin using highly stereoselective vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction

[structure: see text] A convergent total synthesis of khafrefungin was accomplished on the basis of (1) the highly stereoselective TiCl4-mediated vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction using vinylketene silyl N,O-acetal and (2) syn-selective aldol reaction of enal 5a and ethyl ketone 6 followed by anti-dehydration under Mitsunobu conditions.     

Divergent approach for synthesis and terminal modifications of dendritic polyphenylazomethines

In the past, dendritic polyphenylazomethines (DPA) have been synthesized via the convergent method. However, the convergent method has problems such as difficult terminal-group modifications and an increased number of steps. Therefore, we synthesized the terminal-protected DPA to construct the dendritic structure via the divergent method. The combination of the convergent method and the divergent method easily achieved the rapid synthesis of a higher generation dendrimer. Furthermore, we succeeded in the synthesis of the water-soluble PEG-DPA via the divergent method using the ester-DPA.     

Total Synthesis of the Hamigerans

The first total synthesis of hamigerans D, G, L, and N–Q has been accomplished. A convergent approach was used to build the basic tricarbocyclic ring system bearing a 5‐6‐6 structure. A sequence of oxidative cleavage, homologation, and ring regeneration provided access to the 5‐7‐6 skeleton of hamigeran G. Based on the biogenetic hypothesis, elegant and highly efficient biomimetic transformations of hamigeran G into hamigerans D, N–Q, and L were achieved.     

Synthesis of pterocellin A

The first total synthesis of pterocellin A (1) was achieved in 10 linear steps from commercially available kojic acid (6) and 2-bromo-3-pyridinol (11) in a convergent sequence. The key constructive steps are a directed lithiation to couple two pyridines and an intramolecular nucleophilic aromatic substitution to form 1. [structure: see text]     

Synthetic studies of the cyclic depsipeptides bearing the 3-amino-6-hydroxy-2-piperidone (Ahp) unit. Total synthesis of the proposed structure of micropeptin T-20

The first total synthesis of a cyclic depsipeptide possessing the 3-amino-6-hydroxy-2-piperidone (Ahp) unit was successfully achieved in a convergent manner by the oxidative construction of the Ahp unit at the later stage of the synthesis. This synthetic work provides data indicating that the structure of the target Ahp-depsipeptide, micropeptin T-20, should be re-examined.     

Studies directed toward the total synthesis of discodermolide: asymmetric synthesis of the C1-C14 fragment

[structure: see text] A convergent and stereoselective assembly of the C1-C14 subunit of marine natural product (+)-discodermolide has been completed. The approach employs chiral allylsilane bond construction methodology to establish four of the eight stereogenic centers. Key fragment coupling is achieved via an efficient stereoselective acetate aldol reaction between C1-C6 and C7-C14 subunits.     

Novel[1n]-meta-heterophane frameworks with a bis-betaine nature

A convergent "5 + 1" and "5 + 3" synthetic strategy allowed the synthesis of the first examples of bis-betaines 2 and 3, a prototype of phanes that incorporate heterocyclic betaines. The structure of the quadrupolar macrocyclic systems 2 and 3 together with the dicationic [1(6)]- and [1(8)] meta-heterophane precursors 5*2X and 6*2X were examined by spectroscopy using 1H and 13C NMR techniques together with 1H-DNMR studies and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.     

Novel bis-betaines and betaines within [1(4)]meta-heterophane frameworks

After prior selection of betaine building blocks for the construction of quadrupolar heterophane frameworks, a convergent "3+1" synthetic strategy is reported for the synthesis of the title macrocycles composed of heterocyclic betaine subunit(s). These typify the first example of simple cyclophanes constructed out of both highly pi-excessive and highly pi-deficient heteroaromatic moieties linked in a 1,3-alternating fashion. The chemical reactivity of the quadrupolar heterophanes 1a and 1c toward electrophiles under neutral conditions corroborated their bis-betaine structure. The structural features of the bis-betaines 1, betaines 2 x PF6 and 5 x X, and the corresponding dicationic [1(4)]heterophanes 3 x 2X and 4 x 2Cl were studied by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of macrocycles 1a and 2a x PF6.     

Total synthesis of emericellamides A and B

The total synthesis of emericellamides A and B is reported. A convergent, flexible strategy employing peptide chemistry, asymmetric alkylations, and culminating in macrolactamization is described. The previously reported structure of both compounds is confirmed.     

A Convergent Synthesis of a Twelve‐Membered Macrolide Natural Product, (6R,12S)‐6‐Hydroxy‐12‐methyl‐1‐oxacyclododecane‐2,5‐dione

A new polyketide metabolite, the twelve‐membered macrolide 1 , isolated from the endophytic fungal strain Cladosporium tenuissimum LR 463 of Maytenus hookeri, whose structure had been determined as (6R,12S)‐6‐hydroxy‐12‐methyl‐1‐oxacyclododecane‐2,5‐dione, was synthesized for the first time by a convergent strategy via Yamaguchi esterification of 2 with 3 and ring‐closing metathesis (RCM) to afford the cyclic ester 1 that was eventually transformed to the target molecule. However, the total synthesis revealed that the assigned structure of the natural product is not correct.     

Stereoselective synthesis and structural correction of the naturally occurring lactone stagonolide G

A convergent synthesis of the structure proposed for the naturally occurring lactone stagonolide G is described. All three stereocenters were created with the aid of asymmetric Brown allylations. The lactone ring was built by means of a ring-closing metathesis (RCM). The synthetic and the natural compound differed in their spectral properties. A new structure is now proposed for stagonolide G and demonstrated by means of a chemical transformation.     

Development of convergent synthetic method for saccharide-linked ethynylpyridine foldamers by Huisgen reaction

Based on ‘click chemistry’, the new convergent synthesis to a variety of saccharide-linked 2,6-pyridylene ethynylene ‘ethynylpyridine’ foldamers was developed. Ethynylpyridine 6-, 9-, and 12-meric blocks were linked with 1,7-octadiyne linker block by Sonogashira reaction, and joined with azido group-introduced glucoside, galactoside, and mannoside templates by Huisgen reaction. The resulting saccharide-linked ethynylpyridine foldamers exhibited typical circular dichroism to indicate the formation of a helical structure by intramolecular hydrogen bonds.     

Total synthesis of proposed amphidinolide A via a highly selective ring-closing metathesis

[structure: see text] A highly convergent synthesis of the proposed structure of amphidinolide A is reported. Instructive applications of several organometallic processes are illustrated, including a highly selective ring-closing metathesis reaction.     

Characterization and synthesis of a new calcium antagonist from the venom of a fishing spider

A new calcium antagonist, CNS 2103, is isolated from the venom of a fishing spider, Dolomedes okefinokensis. The structure of this compound is derived from spectroscopic data, including tandem mass spectrometry. A flexible, convergent synthesis of CNS 2103 is described.     

A concise and convergent (formal) total synthesis of huperzine A

The first convergent synthesis of the tricyclic skeleton of huperzine A is described and includes, as the key step, an efficient regioselective intramolecular Heck reaction of 2-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxymethyl)-6-(2-methoxy-5-bromopyridin-6-yl)methylcyclohex-2-enol.