Formal total synthesis of stigmatellin A

An efficient and stereoselective approach for the formal total synthesis of Stigmatellin A has been described. The key steps involved in this synthesis are desymmetrization of the bicyclic olefin to introduce two methyl and two hydroxyl chiral centers, Friedel Crafts acylation, regioselective demethylation, Baker-Venkataraman rearrangement and Grubbs cross metathesis.     

Cross-metathesis of vinyl aromatic heterocycles: comparison of Grubbs catalyst and Schrock catalyst

Metathesis of 2-vinyl aromatic heterocycles such as furan and thiophene has been investigated in the presence of a ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst from a synthetic standpoint. The self-metathesis of 2-vinyl aromatic heterocycles was not successful. However, the cross-metathesis of these aromatic heterocycles with 1-octene occurred efficiently, but the selectivity of cross-metathesis product was very low, below 50%. The origin of the low selectivity of heterodimer formation was elucidated through metallacyclobutane intermediate mechanism, observations of carbenes by in situ ¹H NMR, and the reaction products. The effect of oxygen on the reaction behavior was also examined. Furthermore, the data obtained on the Grubbs catalyst were compared with those on a molybdenum-based Schrock catalyst.     

Stereoselective synthesis of C1-C9 and C9-C17 fragments of (+)-13-deoxytedanolide

An efficient and highly stereoselective asymmetric synthesis of C1-C9 and C9-C17 fragments of (+)-13-deoxytedanolide have been achieved. Utilization of desymmetrization technique to prepare the triol with five stereogenic centers, regioselective Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, Evans' aldol reaction, chiral methylation, and Wittig olefination are highlights of the synthesis.     

First stereoselective synthesis of synargentolide A and revision of absolute stereochemistry

The first stereoselective total synthesis of synargentolide A isolated from Syncolostemon argenteus has been achieved from commercially available (R)-benzyl glycidyl ether using Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation and cross-metathesis reactions as the key steps. Comparing the spectral data of the synthesized and naturally occurring synargentolide A, the C4′ and C6′- stereogenic centers of the natural synargentolide A were assigned a corrected anti relationship.     

The facile preparation of alkenyl metathesis synthons

We report synthetic methodology allowing the preparation of any length alkenyl halide from inexpensive starting reagents. Standard organic transformations were used to prepare straight chain α-olefin halides in excellent overall yields with no detectable olefin isomerization and full recovery of any unreacted starting material. Reported transformations can be used for the selective incorporation of pure α-olefin metathesis sites in highly functionalized molecules.     

A cross-metathesis approach to the synthesis of new etretinate type retinoids, ethyl retinoate and its 9Z-isomer

Two aromatic retinoids were synthesized from styrene derivatives using a novel strategy with a cross-metathesis reaction as a key step. The biological activity of the new etretinate analogues was tested. Cross-metathesis reactions were also employed for the preparation of ethyl retinoate and its 9Z-isomer via the C₁₅ + C₅ route.     

Synthesis of the unusual α-amino acid component of some novel histone deacetylase inhibiting cyclic peptides

A flexible protocol for the synthesis of three lipophilic α-amino acid components of some novel cyclic peptides having important histone deacetylase inhibiting properties has been developed from a common source, which featured a cross-metathesis reaction between two unhindered terminal olefins as the key step.     

Understanding the effect of allylic methyls in olefin cross-metathesis

A series of NMR spectroscopy experiments have been conducted with both the model compound, 3-methyl-1-pentene and the corresponding ADMET monomer 3,6,9-trimethylundeca-1,10-diene (11) to better understand the effect of allylic methyls during olefin metathesis chemistry. Traditional ADMET catalysts such as Schrock’s molybdenum (1), and Grubbs’ ruthenium 1st and 2nd generation (2 and 3) were examined under cross-metathesis and ADMET conditions. Regardless of catalyst selection, 50% or less metathesis conversion was observed for all reactions, especially in the case of the more sterically encumbered diene. With Schrock’s molybdenum catalyst 1, the reaction leads to an accumulation of the non-productive metallacyclobutane, trapping the catalyst in an inactive form. With Grubbs’ ruthenium catalysts 2 and 3, the substrate coordinates to the metal center primarily to yield non-productive metathesis, which results in a build-up of the methylidene complex leading to catalyst decomposition. These results are directly correlated to the orientation of the substrate’s bulk during the metallacyclobutane formation, the alkyl branch being adjacent to the metal center in the case of the molybdenum catalyst 1, and opposite to it in the case of ruthenium catalyst 2 and 3.     

A cross-metathesis approach to the stereocontrolled synthesis of the AB ring segment of ciguatoxin

Synthesis of the AB ring segments of ciguatoxin is described. The present synthesis includes a Lewis acid mediated cyclization of allylstannane with aldehyde, cross-metathesis reaction introducing the side chain, and Grieco-Nishizawa dehydration on the A ring.     

E/Z product distribution in the metathesis of allyl alcohol derivatives with a first generation ruthenium-based catalyst

Based on experiments with four simple derivatives of allyl alcohol, it has been shown that the product of cross-metathesis as mediated by a ‘first generation’ ruthenium catalyst increases in its proportion of the E-isomer as the reaction progresses. This increase is due to equilibration, which is also mediated by the ruthenium catalyst.