Two-directional synthesis of the non-adjacent bis(tetrahydrofuran) core of cis-sylvaticin

Synthesis of the C₂-symmetric, non-adjacent bis(tetrahydrofuran) core of cis-sylvaticin in seven steps and 24% overall yield from (2R,3S)-1,2-epoxy-4-penten-3-ol is reported. A strategy involving assembly of the central 1,4-diol unit by silicon-tethered ring-closing metathesis and subsequent two-directional functionalization, including establishment of the cis/threo stereochemical relationships of the tetrahydrofuran rings by Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation/S_N2 cyclization, is employed.     

The first stereoselective synthesis of dendrodolide A

The first stereoselective total synthesis of natural product, dendrodolide A (1) is described from readily available (R)-propylene oxide and 3-buten-1-ol as starting materials. The synthesis was achieved in 10 steps with an overall yield of 19.1%. The key steps involved in the synthesis are Jacobsen hydrolytic kinetic resolution, epoxide ring opening with 2-allyl-1, 3-dithiane, Yamaguchi esterification, and ring-closing metathesis (RCM).     

A conformationally constrained fused tricyclic nisin AB-ring system mimic toward an improved pyrophosphate binder of lipid II

The bacteria-specific membrane component lipid II is essential for bacterial cell wall synthesis. A tricyclic nisin mimic was designed and synthesized in which both thioether moieties were mimicked by an alkane-bridge, as well as the introduction of a third conformational constraint consisting of a macrocyclic lactam-bridge between the N-terminus and the B-ring. The newly designed tricyclic AB-ring mimic was found to bind lipid II since it was able to inhibit nisin-induced membrane leakage in a dose-dependent manner. These results imply that the tricyclic AB-ring mimic may form a novel class of lead structures for the development of nisin-based peptide antibiotics.     

Synthesis of amphidinolide Y precursors

The Negishi coupling between a chiral C3 synthon and an iodoalkene arising from 3-butyn-1-ol, which gave the C3–C9 fragment of amphidinolide Y, was the starting point of a formal total synthesis of this marine natural product. By means of Sharpless ADH and TADDOL-mediated crotylation, the full western fragment (C1–C11) was obtained, which was coupled with the eastern fragment (3-hydroxyoxolane derivative). The penultimate step (ring-closing metathesis, with G-II, H–G-II, or Nitro-Grela reagents, under several conditions) posed great difficulties. The cyclization was achieved with 15c (7,9-bis-O-TES) and 15d (7-O-TES, 9-O-TBS); more than stoichiometric amounts of the H–G-II Ru complex were required for complete conversion.     

Toward the synthesis of amphidinolide P: optimization of a model ene–yne metathesis fragment coupling

Ene–yne cross metathesis was assessed for use as a key fragment coupling in a planned total synthesis of amphidinolide P. A terminal alkyne containing a β,γ-epoxide was synthesized and employed as the alkyne partner in an intermolecular ene–yne metathesis. In the alkene substrate, optimal functionality and reaction conditions were determined. An unprotected allyl alcohol was found to be critical for both high yield and high E-selectivity. Fewer equivalents of the alkene resulted in incomplete reaction and side reactions consumed the terminal alkyne. The best ruthenium carbene precatalysts were found to be the Hoveyda–Grubbs carbene complexes.     

A practical and efficient synthesis of 6-carboalkoxy-13-cycloalkyl-5H-indolo[2,1-a][2]benzazepine-10-carboxylic acid derivatives

A convenient and practical synthesis of 6-carboalkoxy-13-cycloalkyl-5H-indolo[2,1-a][2]benzazepine-10-carboxylic acid derivatives (6) has been developed. The key step in the synthesis utilizes an intramolecular tandem reaction sequence of a Michael addition followed by a Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons (HWE) olefination reaction between hemi-aminal 11 and methyl 2-(dimethoxyphosphoryl)acrylate 12. The ring construction occurred efficiently and purification of the products 6 was straightforward. The C-10 methyl ester of 6a was hydrolyzed selectively to the carboxylic acid 13 while the olefin of 6d was converted to the cyclopropane 14 using trimethylsulfoxonium iodide in DMSO in the presence of NaH.     

A Molecular modeling study of the changes of some steric properties of the precatalysts during the olefin metathesis reaction

The productive self‐metathesis of 1‐octene with a series of new phosphine ligated Grubbs‐type precatalysts was studied. The resulting structures were used to compare some steric properties of the new precatalysts with those of well‐known precatalysts. The possibility of α‐CC agnostic stabilization as well as the ability of the ligands to shield the metal was studied. A comparison of the obtained data, pointed to the unlikelihood that α‐CC agostic stabilization is a major contribution to the stabilization of the various metallacyclobutane rings. The similarity in the ability of the ligands to shield the metal also raised questions about the comparison of experimentally observed trends with those obtained theoretically. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Selected Thoughts on Hydrophobicity in Drug Design

The fundamental aim of drug design in research and development is to invent molecules with selective affinity towards desired disease-associated targets. At the atomic loci of binding surfaces, systematic structural variations can define affinities between drug candidates and biomolecules, and thereby guide the optimization of safety, efficacy and pharmacologic properties. Hydrophobic interaction between biomolecules and drugs is integral to binding affinity and specificity. Examples of antiviral drug discovery are discussed.     

Synthesis and Antiviral Evaluation of (1,4-Disubstituted-1,2,3-Triazol)-(E)-2-Methyl-but-2-Enyl Nucleoside Phosphonate Prodrugs

A series of hitherto unknown (1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazol)-(E)-2-methyl-but-2-enyl nucleosides phosphonate prodrugs bearing 4-substituted-1,2,3-triazoles were prepared in a straight approach through an olefin acyclic cross metathesis as the key synthetic step. All novel compounds were evaluated for their antiviral activities against HBV, HIV and SARS-CoV-2. Among these molecules, only compound 15j, a hexadecyloxypropyl (HDP)/(isopropyloxycarbonyl-oxymethyl)-ester (POC) prodrug, showed activity against HBV in Huh7 cell cultures with 62% inhibition at 10 μM, without significant cytotoxicity (IC₅₀ = 66.4 μM in HepG2 cells, IC₅₀ = 43.1 μM in HepG2 cells) at 10 μM.     

A Close-to-Aromatize Approach for the Late-Stage Functionalization through Ring Closing Metathesis

An efficient approach for the synthesis of monosubstituted aromatic compounds relying on a ring-closing metathesis followed by spontaneous 1,2-elimination is presented. The efficiency for late-stage functionalization is highlighted in various solvents (up to 920 TON). This approach is compatible with strained cycles and other multiple bonds in the substrate.