Studies toward the total synthesis of gambieric acids: convergent synthesis of the GHIJ-ring fragment having a side chain

A stereocontrolled synthesis of the GHIJ-ring fragment having a side chain of gambieric acids, which are potent antifungal polycyclic ether natural products, has been achieved. The synthesis features convergent assembly of the tetracyclic polyether skeleton by using aldol coupling and stereoselective construction of the J-ring side chain by a cerium chloride-promoted Julia-Kocienski reaction.     

Studies toward the total synthesis of gambieric acids, potent antifungal polycyclic ethers: convergent synthesis of the CDEFG-ring system

[reaction: see text] A convergent synthetic route to the CDEFG-ring system of gambieric acids, potent antifungal polycyclic ether marine natural products, has been developed. The present synthesis features convergent union of the CD- and G-rings through esterification, formation of the E-ring as a lactone form, stereoselective allylation to set the C26 stereocenter, and ring-closing metathesis reaction to construct the nine-membered F-ring.     

Convergent synthesis of the BCDEFGHIJ-ring polyether core of gambieric acids, potent antifungal polycyclic ethers

A convergent synthesis of the nonacyclic BCDEFGHIJ-ring polyether core of gambieric acids, potent antifungal polycyclic ether marine natural products, has been achieved. The present synthesis involved as key features: (i) convergent union of the BCD- and GHIJ-ring fragments through esterification, (ii) construction of the E-ring as a lactone form via reductive acetylation, (iii) stereoselective allylation to establish the C26 stereocenter, and (iv) ring-closing metathesis reaction to form the nine-membered F-ring.     

Studies toward the total synthesis of gambieric acids, potent antifungal polycyclic ethers: convergent synthesis of a fully elaborated GHIJ-ring fragment

A stereocontrolled synthesis of a fully elaborated GHIJ-ring fragment of gambieric acids, which are potent antifungal polycyclic ether natural products, has been accomplished. The synthesis features convergent assembly of the tetracyclic polyether skeleton through aldol coupling/cyclodehydration/reductive etherification processes and stereoselective construction of the J-ring side chain by a CeCl₃-promoted Julia-Kocienski olefination.     

Total synthesis, structure revision, and absolute configuration of (-)-brevenal

Total synthesis of structure 1 originally proposed for brevenal, a nontoxic polycyclic ether natural product isolated from the Florida red tide dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis, was accomplished. The key features of the synthesis involved (i) convergent assembly of the pentacyclic polyether skeleton based on our developed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling chemistry and (ii) stereoselective construction of the multi-substituted (E,E)-dienal side chain by using copper(I) thiophen-2-carboxylate (CuTC)-promoted modified Stille coupling. The disparity of NMR spectra between the synthetic material and the natural product required a revision of the proposed structure. Detailed spectroscopic comparison of synthetic 1 with natural brevenal, coupled with the postulated biosynthetic pathway for marine polyether natural products, suggested that the natural product was most likely represented by 2, the C26 epimer of the proposed structure 1. The revised structure was finally validated by completing the first total synthesis of (-)-2, which also unambiguously established the absolute configuration of the natural product.     

Convergent syntheses of polycyclic ethers. Illustrations of the utility of acetal-linked intermediates

One of the most characteristic and spectacular class of compounds isolated from marine sources is the polycyclic ethers. Following the initial report of the structural determination of brevetoxin B, a variety of novel polycyclic ethers have begun to surface. These natural products include ciguatoxins, gambierol, gambieric acids, yessotoxins and gymnocins, each of which exhibit distinct biological properties such as cytotoxicity and neurotoxicity, as well as antiviral and antifungal activities. Because of these intriguing biological activities and their complex molecular architecture, the total synthesis of these compounds has been pursued by many laboratories over two decades. In particular, the development of novel convergent strategies to assemble the structural fragments is crucial for the successful construction of these nano-scale molecules. This Perspective will focus on a recent convergent methodology using an acetal-linkage as a key motif. Application of this methodology culminated in the total syntheses of gambierol and ciguatoxin CTX3C.     

Total synthesis of the proposed structure of brevenal

Total synthesis of the proposed structure of brevenal, a natural marine polycyclic ether product, has been accomplished. The synthesis features (i) convergent synthesis of the pentacyclic polyether skeleton using our developed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling strategy and (ii) construction of the multi-substituted dienal side chain by CuTC-mediated Stille reaction. Comparison of the NMR data of the synthetic compound with those reported for the natural product revealed that the proposed structure of brevenal needs to be revised.     

Construction of fused polycyclic ethers by strategies involving ring-closing metathesis

Large fused polycyclic ether natural products of marine origin are some of the most complex and formidable synthetic targets found in Nature, and they continue to fascinate and inspire those engaged in target-directed synthesis and the development of new synthetic methods. Novel strategies for the rapid and stereoselective assembly of fused polyethers have been devised in which ring-closing metathesis reactions are used to accomplish cyclic ether construction. Two-directional and iterative ring construction approaches involving ring-closing metathesis are being employed to assemble polyether sequences found in marine natural products such as the ciguatoxins and gambieric acids.     

The first enantioselective total synthesis of the anti-Helicobacter pylori agent (+)-spirolaxine methyl ether

The first enantioselective synthesis of the anti-Helicobacter pylori agent (+)-spirolaxine methyl ether has been carried out in a convergent fashion by heterocycle-activated Julia olefination of a spiroacetal-containing sulfone fragment with a phthalide-containing aldehyde fragment. The total synthesis of (+)-spirolaxine methyl ether establishes the absolute stereochemistry of the natural product to be (3R,2'R,5'R,7'R).     

A convergent strategy for the synthesis of polycyclic ethers by using oxiranyl anions

A new [X+2+Y]-type for the convergent synthesis of polycyclic ethers based on an oxiranyl anion strategy was developed. The sequence involves nucleophilic substitution of a triflate with an oxiranyl anion followed by 6-endo cyclization, ring expansion, and reductive etherification. The protocol features a flexible approach toward trans-fused polycyclic arrays consisting of six- and seven-membered ether rings from the same starting materials.     

Studies toward the total synthesis of gymnocin A,a cytotoxic polyether: a highly convergent entry to the F-N ring fragment

[structure: see text] An efficient and highly convergent synthesis of the FGHIJKLMN ring fragment of gymnocin A, a cyctotoxic polycyclic ether isolated from the notorious red-tide forming dinoflagellate Gymnodinium mikimotoi, has been achieved. The present synthesis relied on extensive use of the B-alkyl Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction.     

Biomimetic synthesis of trans,syn,trans-fused polyoxepanes: remarkable substituent effects on the endo-regioselective oxacyclization of polyepoxides

The biogenesis of trans,syn,trans-fused polycyclic ether substructures of neurotoxic natural products of the brevetoxin-ciguatoxin family may involve regio- and stereoselective oxacyclizations of polyepoxides. We report that a biomimetic Lewis acid-promoted cyclization of 1 to 2 proceeds with endo-regioselectivity and anti-stereospecificity at each position of nucleophilic addition (C3, C7, C11, and C15 in 1) when the tandem cyclization cascade is terminated by a carbonyl oxygen nucleophile. In contrast to expectations from earlier reports with simpler epoxide substrates, alkyl substituents are not required at internal epoxide positions corresponding to C7 and C11 in polyepoxide 1. Furthermore, we report that trimethylsilyl serves as a removable regioselectivity-directing substituent at positions corresponding to C3 of 1. These results greatly expand the potential applications of this biomimetic oxacyclization cascade to the synthesis of fused polycyclic ether natural products.     

The Preparation and Evaluation of Electron Poor Benzylidene Fischer Carbene Complexes: Studies Toward the Total Synthesis of (+)-Olivin

The continued exploration into the fate of the benzannulation reaction is put forth using the electronic nature of substituents on the aryl ring of benzylidene Fischer carbene complexes as a handle to predict, using σ-para values as a guide, the outcome of the reaction based on the accepted mechanism. The design of this work focuses on evaluation of the synthetic utility of the benzannulation reaction and the means by which this reaction may be improved to be a better synthetic tool in the preparation of complex natural products as this is illustrated in our ongoing total synthesis of (+)-olivin which uses the benzannulation reaction as the key convergent synthetic step. To accomplish these tasks, the preparation of several electron poor benzylidene Fischer carbene complexes was carried out and their reaction with simple alkyne substrates studied. While much is known about the preparation of electron rich benzylidene Fischer carbene complexes, little is known about the preparation of their electron poor counterparts. Thus efforts toward developing useful preparative methods of these elusive targets has also been studied. While the use of both carbon and oxygen based aryl substituents has been explored, to date the preparation of benzylidene carbene complexes containing oxygen based aryl substituents has been exploited to a greater degree since these systems carry more immediate synthetic importance. This is so because the skeletal core of many of the natural products that have been targeted with the benzannulation reaction including (+)-olivin contain a highly oxygenated polycyclic aromatic core. The enhancement in efficiency of the benzannulation reaction using this synthetic methodology is demonstrated by the successful completion of the convergent synthetic step in the total synthesis of (+)-olivin.     

[4 1]及[3 2]会聚式四氢呋喃环合成策略在天然产物全合成中的应用进展

四氢呋喃环广泛存在于具有生物活性的天然产物结构当中,立体选择性地构筑四氢呋喃环往往成为这些天然产物全合成研究中的关键。本文归纳了已有全合成报道中的四氢呋喃环成环策略,以实例展示了其中的会聚式合成策略在近年的发展。相比于直线型的分子内关环策略,以[4+1]、[3+2]为代表的会聚式四氢呋喃关环策略往往能够使全合成的整体路线更加简洁高效,更符合全合成研究领域的发展趋势。     

Total synthesis of brevetoxin B

The convergent total synthesis of brevetoxin B (1) has been achieved. The intramolecular allylation of the O,S-acetal 20, prepared from the alpha-chlorosulfide 17 and the alcohol 5, was carried out using AgOTf as a Lewis acid to give the diene 21, predominantly. Ring-closing metathesis of 21 with the Grubbs catalyst 23 afforded the hexacyclic ether 25 which was converted to the A-G ring segment 2 through several steps. The intramolecular allylation of the alpha-acetoxy ether 42, prepared from 2 and the J-K ring segment 3, followed by ring-closing metathesis provided the polycyclic ether framework 44. A series of reactions of 44, including oxidation of the A ring, deprotection of the silyl ethers, and selective oxidation of the resulting allylic alcohol, furnished 1.     

Convergent synthesis of the ABCDE-ring fragment of the Caribbean ciguatoxin C-CTX-1

Ciguatoxin C-CTX-1 was isolated as a principal causative toxin of ciguatera seafood poisoning in the Caribbean Sea, and is structurally classified as a ladder-shaped polycyclic ether. In this Letter, we report the convergent synthesis of the pentacyclic left half of C-CTX-1, based on a newly developed acyl radical strategy.     

Total synthesis of (+)-asteltoxin

A convergent synthesis of (+)-asteltoxin (1) has been achieved by the Horner-Emmons olefination of bis(tetrahydrofuran) aldehyde 53 and alpha-pyrone phosphonate 5. A key step features the stereoselective construction of a sterically congested quaternary center embedded in the densely functionalized bis(tetrahydrofuran) subunit by a Lewis acid-catalyzed, pinacol-type rearrangement of an epoxy silyl ether. This pivotal rearrangement methodology parallels the proposed biosynthetic pathway of 1 and is ripe for applications to the stereocontrolled synthesis of structurally complex natural products.     

A convergent total synthesis of hemibrevetoxin B

A convergent biomimetic synthesis of hemibrevetoxin B from d-glucal and d-arabinose utilizes an electrophile-promoted cascade anti-Baldwin cyclization of an epoxy alcohol. The epoxy alcohol arises from a palladium-catalyzed coupling of a highly functionalized organozinc compound and an alkenyl iodide, which serve as two chiral building blocks of similar size and complexity. This first successful implementation of a cascade epoxy alcohol cyclization for the synthesis of marine polycyclic ether toxins proceeds in 39 steps and 4% overall yield.     

Novel synthesis of the C1-C15 polyether domain of the thyrsiferol and venustatriol natural products

[formula: see text] A convergent construction of the C1-C15 domain of the thyrsiferol-related natural products has been developed. This involved the separate construction of C1-C7 and C8-C15 fragments, their organochromic-mediated coupling, and subsequent reductive closure of the B ring. This synthetic A-B-C ring construct will be useful for the total synthesis of the biologically active polyether squalenoid natural products, as well as their non-natural analogues.     

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of Brevetoxin A: Convergent Coupling Strategy and Completion

A highly convergent, enantioselective total synthesis of brevetoxin A is reported. The development of a [X+2+X] Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons/cyclodehydration/reductive etherification convergent coupling strategy allowed a unified approach to the synthesis of two advanced tetracyclic fragments from four cyclic ether subunits. The Horner–Wittig coupling of the two tetracyclic fragments provided substrates that were explored for reductive etherification, the success of which delivered a late‐stage tetraol intermediate. The tetraol was converted to the natural product through an expeditious selective oxidative process followed by methylenation.