Synthesis of 4a-carba-β-l-lyxofuranose, 4a-carba-β-l-arabinofuranose and 2,2,5-trimethyl-3a,6a-dihydro-cyclopenta[1,3]dioxol-4-one using Mn/CrCl3 mediated domino reactions and ring closing metathesis

A common method for the synthesis of 4a-carba-β-l-lyxofuranose and 4a-carba-β-l-arabinofuranose from d-mannose and 2,2,5-trimethyl-3a,6a-dihydro-cyclopenta[1,3]dioxol-4-one from d-ribose is described using catalytic Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi (NHK) conditions and ring closing metathesis (RCM). In this transformation, ω-deoxy-ω-iodo manno/ribo furanoside undergoes reductive elimination in the presence of Mn/CrCl₃ to give the corresponding olefin-aldehyde which was trapped by nucleophile under the same conditions to afford the desired diolefinic species. The ring closing metathesis reaction on these diolefinic species with Grubbs second generation catalyst produced the required carbocycles.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of iso-cladospolide B, cladospolide C and cladospolide B from tartaric acid

The enantioselective synthesis of the natural products cladospolide B, cladospolide C, and iso-cladospolide B has been accomplished from tartaric acid. Key reactions in the synthetic sequence include the elaboration of a γ-hydroxy amide derived from tartaric acid via alkene cross metathesis, Yamaguchi lactonization, and ring closing metathesis.     

Total synthesis of (+)-anamarine

An enantiospecific total synthesis of polyhydroxy δ-pyrone natural product (+)-anamarine is accomplished. The main features of the synthesis include the stereoselective reduction of the ketone obtained by the desymmetrization of the bis-dimethyl amide of tartaric acid and further elaboration involving asymmetric Brown's allylation and ring closing metathesis.     

A facile synthesis of (Z)-1, 6-disubstituted-7H-benzo[b][1,5]diazonin-7-one derivatives via arylation-allylation-RCM pathway of anthranilamide and isatoic anhydride

A facile and efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of (Z)-6-allyl-1-phenyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-7H-benzo[b][1,5]diazonin-7-one and (Z)-1,6-diphenyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-7H-benzo[b][1,5]diazonin-7-one from anthranilamide via N-arylation/N-allylation and from isatoic anhydride via ring opening/N-arylation/N-allylation followed by ring closing metathesis using Grubbs-II catalyst as a key step. Grubbs-II catalyst was found to be superior over Grubbs-I catalyst in terms of reaction time and yield of the product, and the routes developed were suitable to synthesize benzo fused nine membered nitrogen heterocycles. The requirement of diallylated substrates with protected amine and amide nitrogen is suitable for RCM has been established for the synthesis of diazoninone derivatives.     

An efficient microwave-assisted synthesis of dihydropyrazinones and bis-benzoylketones

Microwave-assisted modified Sandmeyer reactions of oximinoacetanilides, themselves obtained from substituted primary aromatic amines, in concentrated H₂SO₄ give isatins. N-Acetylisatins undergo ring cleavage and subsequent ring closing with alkanediamines in the presence of ethanol under MW irradiation to give the corresponding dihydropyrazinones in excellent yields. Modification of the reaction conditions affords bis-benzoylketones under MW irradiation.     

MgI(2)-mediated ring expansions of secondary methylenecyclopropyl amides

Ring expansion of secondary methylenecyclopropyl amides in the presence of MgI2 was investigated. Various isomeric five-membered unsaturated lactams were obtained, depending on the character of the substituent Q. The amide group served as a nucleophile in ring closing as well as an activator for ring opening. In the presence of a variety of aryl aldimines or aldehydes, alkylative ring expansion occurred in a single step under mild and neutral conditions leading to gamma'-amino- or -hydroxy-alkylated pyrrol-2-ones. Also, it was shown that a 4-methylpyrrol-2-one could be transformed to a gamma-hydroxy-alkylated product by the use of a direct vinylogous aldol reaction.     

Synthetic studies toward melotenine A

Attempts to the construction of B/C ring and E ring in melotenine A are described. Based on para-dienone chemistry, a tactical application of tandem aminolysis/aza-Michael addition reaction was made to access highly functionalized building blocks with the pyrrolo[2,3-d]carbazole tetracyclic unit (A/B/C/D ring). Albeit negative results for assembling the dihydroazepine unit (E ring) by using the proposed fragmentation reaction of gem-dihalocyclopropanes, an alternative strategy based on ring closing metathesis was evolved to forge the E ring possessing a twisted 1,3-diene unit embedded in the rigid skeleton of melotenine A.     

Stereoselective synthesis of functionalised carbocyclic amides: construction of the syn-(4aS,10bS)-phenanthridone skeleton

A new synthetic approach has been developed for the preparation of 7-deoxypancratistatin analogues bearing a syn-(4aS,10bS)-phenanthridone ring junction. A one-pot tandem process involving a substrate-directed Overman rearrangement and ring closing metathesis reaction was developed for the stereoselective synthesis of a carbocyclic allylic trichloroacetamide. Conversion to a 6-bromopiperonyl amide, followed by a Heck reaction generated a homoallylic alcohol and completed the syn-(4aS,10bS)-phenanthridone carbon skeleton. Stereoselective epoxidation and dihydroxylation of the syn-(4aS,10bS)-phenanthridone framework was then investigated leading to the preparation of new analogues of 7-deoxypancratistatin.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of (−)-synrotolide diacetate from d-ribose

Stereoselective total synthesis of synrotolide as its diacetate from d-ribose utilizing a diastereoselective Grignard reaction, preferential (Z)-Wittig olefination, asymmetric allylation, and ring closing metathesis as key steps is reported.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of 5′-epi-paecilomycin-F

The asymmetric total synthesis of one of the stereoisomers of the naturally occurring 14-membered ring macrolide paecilomycin-F (5′-epi) has been reported in this article. The main highlight of the synthetic strategy involves the successful application of a ring closing metathesis (RCM) reaction at a late stage. Asymmetric Keck allylation, Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, and Mitsunobu esterification have also been used successfully for the total synthesis of 5′-epi-paecilomycin-F.     

Novel methodology for the synthesis of the benz[a]anthracene skeleton of the angucyclines using a Suzuki-Miyaura/isomerization/ring closing metathesis strategy

The synthesis of the benz[a]anthracene skeleton of the angucyclines is described. Key steps involve the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction, isomerization of an aromatic allyl substituent to the corresponding styrene, and the use of the ring closing metathesis reaction to construct a benzene ring. For example, exposure of 3-allyl-2-bromo-1,4,5-trimethoxynaphthalene to (2-formyl-4-methoxyphenyl)boronic acid under palladium catalysis conditions resulted in the formation of 2-(3-allyl-1,4,5-trimethoxynaphthalen-2-yl)-5-methoxybenzaldehyde. This 2-naphthyl benzaldehyde then underwent a Wittig reaction to furnish 3-allyl-1,4,5-trimethoxy-2-(4-methoxy-2-vinylphenyl)naphthalene. Isomerization of the allyl group of this compound afforded the diene, (E)-1,4,5-trimethoxy-2-(4-methoxy-2-vinylphenyl)-3-(prop-1-en-1yl)naphthalene. Exposure of the formed diene to the Grubbs II catalyst resulted in the formation of the benzanthracene, 3,7,8,12-tetramethoxytetraphene, which was easily oxidized to the corresponding quinone.     

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (−)‐Deoxoapodine

The first enantioselective total synthesis of (−)‐deoxoapodine is described. Our synthesis of this hexacyclic aspidosperma alkaloid includes an efficient molybdenum‐catalyzed enantioselective ring‐closing metathesis reaction for the desymmetrization of an advanced intermediate that introduces the C5‐quaternary stereocenter. After C21‐oxygenation, the pentacyclic core was accessed by electrophilic C19‐amide activation and transannular spirocyclization. A biogenetically inspired dehydrative C6‐etherification reaction proved highly effective to secure the F‐ring and the fourth contiguous stereocenter of (−)‐deoxoapodine with complete stereochemical control.     

Prins and RCM protocols for the synthesis of the pheromones of the giant white butterfly Idea leuconoe

The total syntheses of (6R)-6-[(2R)-2-hydroxyhexyl]tetrahydro-2H-2-pyranone and 7-hydroxy-5-dodecanolide are described utilizing a Prins reaction and ring closing metathesis reaction sequence.     

A stereoselective synthesis of (R)-5-hydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenethyl)cyclohex-2-enone,towards total synthesis of Prelunularin

A first chiral strategy for synthesis of (R)-5-hydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenethyl) cyclohex-2-enone reported. Key transformation includes Barbier allylation, ionic hydrogenation, Jeffery reaction, Katsuki Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation, reductive opening of epoxide and ring closing metathesis.     

Synthesis of seco-psymberin/irciniastatin A: the discovery of a novel PhI(OAc)2 mediated cascade cyclization reaction

The psymberin unsaturated ‘psymberate’ side chain 7 was synthesized in 7 steps (36% yield) with good diastereoselectivity using commercially available starting material to control the stereochemistry at C₄ and C₅. The synthesis of seco-psymberin was completed in an efficient manner based on a CuI mediated coupling reaction between vinyl iodide 8 and ‘psymberamide’ 7. In an attempt to synthesize natural psymberin from the seco-intermediate, a novel PhI(OAc)₂ mediated cascade ring closing reaction was discovered. A possible mechanistic pathway for the formation of the ring closing product was presented.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Macrocyclic Heterobiaryl Derivatives of Molecular Asymmetry by Molybdenum‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Ring‐Closing Metathesis

Winding vine‐shaped molecular asymmetry is induced by enantioselective ring‐closing metathesis with a chiral molybdenum catalyst. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions through an E‐selective ring‐closing metathesis leading to macrocyclic bisazoles with enantioselectivities of up to 96 % ee.     

Concise asymmetric synthesis of (−)-halosaline and (2R,9aR)-(+)-2-hydroxy-quinolizidine by ruthenium-catalyzed ring-rearrangement metathesis

A ruthenium-catalyzed ring opening-ring closing metathesis reaction serves as the key step in the stereoselective synthesis of a new enantiopure 2-substituted-4,5-dehydropiperidine skeleton, a valuable intermediate for the synthesis of piperidine alkaloids (such as (−)-halosaline) and of hydroxylated quinolizidines (such as (2R,9aR)-(+)-2-hydroxy-quinolizidine).     

Asymmetric sp C-H functionalization via a chiral Brønsted acid-catalyzed redox reaction for the synthesis of cyclic aminals

An organocatalytic asymmetric tandem 1,5-hydride transfer/ring closing reaction of o-aminobenzoketones with anilines to give cyclic aminals in fairly good diastereo- and enantioselectivities.     

An efficient approach to isoindolo[2,1-b][2]benzazepines via intramolecular [4+2] cycloaddition of maleic anhydride to 4-α-furyl-4-N-benzylaminobut-1-enes

Acylation of 4-α-furyl-4-N-benzylaminobut-1-enes with maleic anhydride gave 4-oxo-3-aza-10-oxatricyclo[5.2.1.0^1,5]dec-8-ene-6-carboxylic acid via amide formation followed by intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of furan (IMDAF). The cycloaddition proceeded under mild reaction conditions (25 °C) and provided only the exo-adduct in quantitative yield. Treatment of this compound with PPA gave isoindolo[2,1-b][2]benzazepine derivatives via ring opening, aromatization and intramolecular electrophilic alkylation. In order to extend the scope of the reaction sequence, 7-oxo-5,11b,12,13-tetrahydro-7H-isoindolo[2,1-b][2]benzazepine-8-carboxylic acids were further transformed into useful synthetic intermediates.     

An approach to total synthesis of the cylindricine B pyridoquinoline subclass of tricyclic marine ascidian alkaloids

Employing an intramolecular N-acylketiminium ion/olefin hetero Diels-Alder reaction, and a ring closing metathesis of a vinyl chloride as pivotal steps, it is possible to directly access the pyridoquinoline tricyclic ring system of the marine alkaloids cylindrines B and J.