A Vicinal Diol Approach for the Total Synthesis of Molestin E,ent-Sinulacembranolide A and ent-Sinumaximol A

In this work an approach for the synthesis of furanocembranoid natural products containing the C-7,8-diol moiety is disclosed. This culminated in the first total synthesis of the natural product molestin E, together with ent-sinulacembranolide A and ent-sinumaximol A as well as a thorough exploration of their chemistry. Late-stage ring-closure of the C-7,8-diols to the corresponding epoxides was also demonstrated. Key features of this synthetic strategy include a stereoselective Baylis-Hillman reaction, ring-closing metathesis and Shiina macrolactonisation. Chiral-pool materials were deployed to ensure the desired absolute stereochemistry which was confirmed by late-stage single crystal X-ray diffraction.     

The synthesis of new chiral P,N-ligands on the basis of camphor

The synthesis of new chiral P,N-ligands has been developed starting from 1,3-dicarbonyls, which are readily available from camphor. Iridium complexes derived from these ligands are also described. Furthermore, some preliminary results related to catalytic hydrogenation with these iridium complexes are presented.