Determination of daumone in mouse plasma by HPLC/MS-MS

Daumone, a pheromone secreted by Caenorhabditis elegans, is an essential regulator of chemosensory processes in development and aging. A quantification method using HPLC/MS-MS was developed for the determination of daumone in mouse plasma. After simple protein precipitation with acetonitrile including methaqualone (an internal standard), the analytes were chromatographed on a reversed-phase column and detected by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization. The accuracy and precision of the assay were in accordance with FDA regulations for validation of bioanalytical methods. This method was applied to measure the plasma daumone concentrations following a 5-week repeated oral administration of daumone in mice.     

Synthese D'Azotures et de Benzoates de Glycosyle a Partir de Sulfites Cycliques Enc C-1, C-2

The reaction of sugars bearing a cyclic sulfite group on C-1, C-2 with azide or benzoate ions, is strereoselective and gives trans- 1,2 glycosyl azides or glycosyl benzoates with a free hydroxyle at C-2. The reaction is performed under mild conditions and gives excellent yields of glycosyl derivatives.     

Access and regioselective transformations of 6-substituted 4-aryl-2,8-dichloropyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidine compounds

We report herein an efficient route for the synthesis of 2,4,8-trichloropyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidines 1 with R(1) substituents at C-6. The potential of such scaffolds was demonstrated by the possibility to displace regioselectively each aromatic chloride to introduce diversity. Sequential sulfur nucleophilic addition followed by Liebeskind-Srogl cross-coupling reaction yielded unprecedented aryl introduction at C-4 on a trichloropyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivative. The reactivity difference of the remaining two chlorides toward S(N)Ar reactions was investigated. Amination yielded high C-2 regioselectivity, while thiolation was influenced by C-6 substituents, resulting in medium to high C-2 versus C-8 regioselectivity. The last chloride was efficiently displaced by S(N)Ar, Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction, or reduction. C-2 arylation as a final step was also possible by Liebeskind-Srogl cross-coupling reaction on the previously introduced C-2 thioether. A concise and highly divergent synthetic use of 1 was developed, thereby providing an efficient approach to explore the structure-activity relationship of pyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives such as 9, 10, 15, and 16.     

Total synthesis of epothilone A

[reaction: see text]Epothilones A (1) and B (2) are potent antitumor natural products with a Taxol-like mechanism of action. A total synthesis of epothilone A (1) is reported, which utilized chiral silane-based bond construction methodology to introduce the key C-6 and C-7 stereocenters of fragment 4. The C-15 stereocenter of fragment 5 was established by a lipase-mediated kinetic resolution. The fragments were assembled with a Suzuki coupling reaction and an aldol condensation and cyclized with a Yamaguchi-type macrolactonization reaction.     

Stereoselectivity of 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of l-valine-derived nitrones with methyl acrylate

Chiral nitrones derived from l-valine react with methyl acrylate to afford the corresponding diastereomeric 3,5-disubstituted isoxazolidines. The dibenzylsubstituted nitrone gave also 3,4-disubstituted isoxazolidine in 4% yield, additionally. The stereoselectivity was dependent on the steric hindrance of the nitrone and reaction conditions. High pressure decreased the reaction time of the cycloadditions. The major products were found to have the C-3/C-6 erythro and C-3/C-5 trans relative configuration. The major cycloadduct undergoes N-O cleavage and deprotection to a chiral diaminodiol derivative.     

Regioselective synthesis of 2,8-disubstituted 4-aminopyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidine-6-carboxylic acid methyl ester compounds

We report herein the synthesis of 4-amino-2,8-dichloropyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives 2 and their regioselective diversification through S(N)Ar and metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. While amination of 2 took place selectively at C-2, the regioselectivity of thiol or thiolate addition depended on the reaction conditions. Selective C-8 addition was obtained in DMF with Hünig's base and C-2 addition in (i)PrOH. These C-2 or C-8 regioselective thiolations provided an opportunistic way to selectively activate either of the two positions toward the metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction. The chloride could be efficiently substituted by Suzuki-Miyaura reaction and the sulfanyl group by Liebeskind-Srogl cross-coupling reaction, demonstrating the orthogonality of both reactive centers. The development of regioselective conditions for these different transformations yielded the synthesis of 4-amino-2,6,8-trisubstituted pyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives, with various substituents.     

A convenient oxazole C-2 protecting group: the synthesis of 4- and 5-substituted oxazoles via metalation of 2-triisopropylsilyloxazoles

[reaction: see text] Metalation of oxazoles at the 4 and 5 position was achieved after regioselective C-2 silyl protection. Removal of the protecting group was then accomplished under mild conditions allowing for a straightforward preparation of C-5 monosubstituted and C-4,5 disubstituted oxazoles. The first practical C-2 protecting group of oxazoles has been demonstrated.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new bicyclic fluorinated uracils through ring-closing metathesis

Two families of bicyclic fluorinated uracils have been prepared starting from a gem-difluorinated unsaturated nitrile, by means of a ring-closing metathesis reaction to form the new ring, which is fused at the C-5/C-6 or N-1/C-6 positions of the uracil moiety. The selective formation of olefin regioisomers in the metathesis process can be controlled according to the reaction conditions (catalyst, solvent, and temperature). The acaricidal activities of the resulting compounds have also been investigated.     

Total synthesis of hyptolide

The total synthesis of hyptolide, a naturally occurring α,β-unsaturated six-membered δ-lactone substituted with a polyoxygenated chain, is described. Sharpless kinetic resolution and opening of two different epoxy alcohols under two different conditions—Swern oxidation conditions and a radical reaction using Cp₂TiCl—fixed the stereocenters at C-9, C-11, and C-12, respectively. Brown’s asymmetric allylation reaction installed the remaining stereocenter at C-6. A RCM protocol was used for construction of the α,β-unsaturated six-membered δ-lactone moiety of the molecule.     

The direct photo-oxidative decarboxylation of α-oxo-carboxylic acids

α-Oxo-carboxylic acids undergo photo-oxidative decarboxylation from both C-1 and C-2 positions, and reaction does not involve singlet oxygen: a mechanism involving an electron transfer reaction is postulated.     

Silicon-guided rearrangement of 10-methyl-4,5-epoxydecalins. Methyl versus methylene migration

The Lewis acid-promoted rearrangement of two 10-methyl-4,5-epoxydecalins bearing a trimethylsilyl (TMS) group on C-1 or C-9 has been studied. Migration of the C-9 methylene group to C-5 is the major reaction pathway when the TMS and the oxirane groups are on the same ring while methyl migration results exclusively when they are on different rings.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed alkene-alkyne coupling: synthesis of the proposed structure of amphidinolide A

The ruthenium-catalyzed alkene-alkyne coupling provides a powerful method for the synthesis of 1,4 dienes and a way to simplify synthetic strategy. The latter potential is explored in the context of a synthesis of the assigned structure of amphidinolide A, which also raises the question of the applicability of this reaction for macrocyclizations. Employing this reaction allows simplification of the target to three subunits corresponding to C-1 to C-6, C-7 to C-15, and C-16 to C-25. The C-7 to C-15 subunit involves introduction of chirality by an asymmetric dihydroxylation. The route to the C-16 to C-25 subunit introduces chirality by a Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation and an asymmetric epoxidation. Assembly of the three subunits employs the Ru-catalyzed addition inter- and intramolecularly. The synthesis culminated in the formation of the assigned structure and is identical to the synthetic samples prepared independently by two completely different routes. As noted by the other two groups, this structure appears to be a diastereomer of the natural product. Because this synthesis introduces all of the stereochemistry of the subunits by catalytic asymmetric processes, either enantiomer as well as diastereomers can be readily accessed to define the correct structure. Notably, the Ru-catalyzed macrocyclization to this macrolide proceeded in better yields than either a Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling or a Ru-catalyzed metathesis, macrocylization methods for the other two total synthesis.     

Preparation of Synthetic and Natural Derivatives of Flavonoids Using Suzuki–Miyaura Cross-Coupling Reaction

Herein, we report the use of the Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction for the preparation of a library of synthetic derivatives of flavonoids for biological activity assays. We have investigated the reactivity of halogenated flavonoids with aryl boronates and with boronyl flavonoids. This reaction was used to prepare new synthetic derivatives of flavonoids substituted at C-8 with aryl, heteroaryl, alkyl, and boronate substituents. The formation of flavonoid boronate enabled a cross-coupling reaction with halogenated flavones yielding biflavonoids connected at C-8. This method was used for the preparation of natural compounds including C-8 prenylated compounds, such as sinoflavonoid NB. Flavonoid boronates were used for the preparation of rare C-8 hydroxyflavonoids (natural flavonoids gossypetin and hypolaetin). A series of previously unknown derivatives of quercetin and luteolin were prepared and fully characterized.     

The asymmetric syntheses of the C-1 sidechains of zaragozic acid A and zaragozic acid C

The asymmetric syntheses of the C-1 sidechains of zaragozic acid A and C are described. Aldol reaction defines the chirality at C-4′and C-5′in two independent routes. Multigram preparation as well as a route amenable to derivatization are highlights of these approaches.     

Cyclization into hydrindanones using samarium diiodide

Samarium(II) iodide has been employed to promote vinylogous pinacol coupling reaction of aldehyde onto alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones. The diastereoselectivity of 6-endo products was changed by addition of a proton source and/or HMPA and by the reaction temperature. The cyclization reactions described herein provide a general approach to the syntheses of 3,3-dimethylhydrindanes with a cis-relationship between the OH at C-4 and the proton at C-3a with good diastereoselectivity and under mild reaction conditions.     

Synthesis of castanospermine

The diastereoselective synthesis of castanospermine is described in 11 synthetic steps from l-xylose. The borono-Mannich reaction between l-xylose, allylamine, and (E)-styrene boronic acid gives a tetrahydroxy amine with the desired configurations for C-6, C-7, C-8, and C-8a in the target molecule. A novel pyrrolo[1,2-c]oxazol-3-one precursor was employed to allow for the control of π-facial diastereoselectivity in an osmium(VIII)-catalyzed syn-dihydroxylation (DH) reaction. A regioselective ring-opening of the cyclic sulfate derivative of the resulting diol then secured the C-1 hydroxyl group of castanospermine with the correct configuration. A Mitsunobu cyclization then provided di-O-benzyl castanospermine and ultimately the final target alkaloid.     

6,19-carbon-bridged steroids. Synthesis of 6,19-methanoprogesterone

6,19-Methanoprogesterone (4) was synthesized in nine steps from the readily available 3 beta,20 beta-diacetyloxy-5 alpha-bromo-6,19-oxidopregnane (5) in 14% overall yield. The additional carbon atom was introduced by reaction of a C-19 aldehyde with Ph3PCHOCH3 under salt free conditions and subsequent hydrolysis to give the homologous aldehyde. Intramolecular addition of the newly incorporated carbonyl (C-19a) to the olefinic C-6 in ring B was achieved by means of a Prins reaction with TiCl4 as Lewis acid.     

Diastereofacial Selective Addition of Ethynylcerium Reagent and Barton-McCombie Reaction as the Key Steps for the Synthesis of C-3'-Ethynylribonucleosides and of C-3'-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyribonucleosides

We describe the preparation of 3'-alkynyluridine 4a and -adenosine 4b and of 3'-alkynyl-2'-deoxyuridine 16a and -adenosine 16b starting from the corresponding nucleosides. The desired stereochemistry of the C-3' tertiary alcohol was obtained by reaction of an ethynylcerium-lithium reagent on a 3'-ketonucleoside with the hydroxyl group at C-5' unprotected. The 2'-deoxygenation was performed by a Barton-McCombie reaction under appropriate conditions where the addition of tin hydride to the triple bond was suppressed. Evaluation of the anti-HIV activity of the C-3' modified nucleosides is reported.     

Construction of A/E/F ring systems of C19-diterpenoid alkaloids with both C-1 and C-6 oxygen functions

An tricyclic AEF fragment of C₁₉-diterpenoid alkaloid bearing an angular methyl group and the oxygen function groups at C-1 and C-6 was successfully synthesized. The synthesis features a stereoselective intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction and a highly efficient intramolecular Mannich reaction as well as efficient functional groups transformations.     

The first total synthesis of (+/-)-scopadulin, an antiviral aphidicolane diterpene

[reaction: see text] The first total synthesis of (+/-)-scopadulin was accomplished by a stereoselective construction of a quaternary carbon at C-4, conversion of the hindered cyano group to a methyl group via our novel reaction for conversion of primary aliphatic amines into alcohols, and a highly chemo- and stereoselective methylation at C-16.