Enantioselective Synthesis of Putative Lipiarmycin Aglycon Related to Fidaxomicin/Tiacumicin B

An enantioselective synthesis of a putative lipiarmycin aglycon was accomplished and features: 1) Brown′s enantioselective alkoxyallylboration and allylation of aldehydes, 2) chain elongation by iterative Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons olefination, 3) Evans’ aldol reaction and 4) an ene‐diene ring‐closing metathesis. A neighboring‐group‐assisted chemoselective reductive desilylation was uncovered in this study and was instrumental to the realization of the present synthesis.     

A Total Synthesis of Norhalichondrin B

Four corners : The syntheses of four key building blocks for the total synthesis of norhalichondrin B (see structure) are described. The assembly of these subunits into the natural product is also reported. Key features of the synthesis are the use of the Achmatowicz oxidation/ionic hydrogenation for the synthesis of pyrans and pyranopyrans, and the application of tandem metathesis for the synthesis of pyranopyrans.

     

Total Synthesis of Leucosceptroids A and B

Leucosceptroids A and B are sesterterpenoids with potent antifeedant and antifungal activities. A more efficient gram‐scale total synthesis of leucosceptroid B and the first total synthesis of leucosceptroid A are presented. The key transformations include an aldol reaction between a substituted dihydrofuranone and an (S)‐citronellal‐derived aldehyde, a SmI₂‐mediated intramolecular ketyl–olefin radical cyclization, and final‐stage alcohol oxidation.     

Total Synthesis of the Protected Aglycon of Fidaxomicin (Tiacumicin B,Lipiarmycin A3)

Fidaxomicin, also known as tiacumicin B or lipiarmycin A3, is a novel macrocyclic antibiotic that is used in hospitals for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infections. This natural product has also been shown to have excellent bactericidal activity against multidrug‐resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In spite of its attractive biological activity, no total synthesis has been reported to date. The enantioselective synthesis of the central 18‐membered macrolactone is reported herein. The key reactions include ring‐closing metathesis between a terminal olefin and a dienoate moiety for macrocyclization, a vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction, and a Stille coupling reaction of sterically demanding substrates. The retrosynthesis involves three medium‐sized fragments, thus leading to a flexible yet convergent synthetic route.     

Total Synthesis of (−)‐Haouamine B Pentaacetate and Structural Revision of Haouamine B

The enantiocontrolled total synthesis of (?)‐haouamine B pentaacetate was accomplished via an optically active indane‐fused β‐lactam, which was prepared by a newly developed Friedel–Crafts reaction. Subsequent cleavage of the β‐lactam and an intramolecular McMurry coupling reaction provided the core indane‐fused tetrahydropyridine, which led to the elucidation of the structure, as proposed by Trauner and Zubía.     

Total Synthesis of Cyathin A3 and Cyathin B2

A stereoselective synthesis of cyathin A₃ and cyathin B₂ has been achieved by a Prins‐type reaction of a cycloalkenyl cyclopropanol. Particularly noteworthy is the use of a spirocyclobutanone moiety as a convenient scaffold for an efficient ring‐closing metathesis to stereoselectively construct a suitably functionalized seven‐membered ring (see scheme).

     

Total Synthesis of Plakortone B

Plakortone B is a naturally occurring bicyclic[3.3.0]furanolactone compound with attractive bioactivities. Although the relative configuration of plakortone B’s central core had been established by NMR spectroscopic methods, the absolute configuration of its four stereocenters remained unknown. In the present paper, all four possible isomers of plakortone B were synthesized and one of these molecules was found to be identical with the natural plakortone B on the basis of ¹H, ¹³C NMR spectra and specific rotation comparisons. Thus, the absolute configuration of the natural plakortone B was determined to be (3S,4S,6R,10R).     

Total Synthesis of Rubriflordilactone B

Taking advantage of a 6π electrocyclization–aromatization strategy, we accomplished the first and asymmetric total synthesis of rubriflordilactone B, a heptacyclic Schisandraceae bisnortriterpenoid featuring a tetrasubstituted arene moiety. The left‐hand fragment was accessed through a chiral‐pool‐based route, and linked to the right‐hand fragment by a Sonogashira coupling. The cis geometry of the electrocyclization substrates was established by hydrogenation or hydrosilylation of the alkyne. An electrocyclization–aromatization sequence finally built the multisubstituted arene. The hydrosilylation approach was of significant advantage in terms of reaction scale, reproducibility, and intermediate stability. The structure of synthetic rubriflordilactone B was validated by X‐ray crystallographic analysis, and found to be consistent with that reported for the authentic natural product based on an independent X‐ray crystallographic analysis. However, obvious differences in the NMR spectra of the synthetic and authentic samples suggest that the authentic samples subjected to X‐ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy were two different compounds.     

Total Synthesis of Sporolide B

An ocean of discovery : The first total synthesis of the highly oxygenated, marine‐derived, natural product sporolide B has been achieved through a convergent strategy. The key steps involve a ruthenium‐catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition to assemble the indene structural motif and a thermally induced Diels–Alder‐type reaction to forge the macrocycle (see scheme).

     

Total Synthesis of (−)‐Ophiodilactone A and (−)‐Ophiodilactone B

The first asymmetric total synthesis of (?)‐ophiodilactone A and (?)‐ophiodilactone B, isolated from the ophiuroid (Ophiocoma scolopendrina), is reported. The key features of the synthesis include the highly stereocontrolled construction of the structurally congested γ‐lactone/δ‐lactone skeleton through an asymmetric epoxidation, diastereoselective iodolactonization, and intramolecular epoxide‐opening with a carboxylic acid, and biomimetic radical cyclization of ophiodilactone A to ophiodilactone B.