Allyl protecting group mediated intramolecular aglycon delivery (IAD): synthesis of α-glucofuranosides and β-rhamnopyranosides

The use of allyl protecting group mediated intramolecular aglycon delivery (IAD) as a strategy for intramolecular glycosylation has been extended to allow the stereoselective synthesis of α-glucofuranosides and β-rhamnopyranosides, in a totally stereoselective fashion. The efficiency of intramolecular glycosylation is dependent on the protecting group pattern of the glycosyl donor, and on the steric bulk of the glycosyl acceptor.     

Stereoselective synthesis of functionalised triol units by SnCl4 promoted allylation of α-benzyloxyaldehydes: crucial role of the stoichiometry of the Lewis acid

Enantiomerically pure syn-anti and syn-syn configured triol units are efficiently synthesized by the SnCl₄ mediated allylation of chiral α-benzyloxyaldehydes with the uniquely functionalised allylstannane 9. Remarkably, the stereochemistry of the adducts is solely governed by the amount of Lewis acid employed.     

Stereocontrolled intramolecular nitrile oxide cycloaddition reaction using a gauche-gauche interaction

A gauche-gauche interaction is proposed as a powerful controlling factor for the stereochemistry in the intramolecular nitrile oxide cycloaddition reaction derived from N-protected 3-(N-allylamino)propionaldehyde and 2-(N-homoallylamino)acetaldehyde oximes. High levels of stereoselectivity (76% de to perfect) were obtained from the reaction involving nitrile oxides with substituents at the adjacent carbon atom to the tether nitrogen.     

Organocatalytic double arylation of 3-isothiocyanato oxindoles: Stereocontrolled synthesis of complex spirooxindoles

Quinones, precursors of aromatic structures, were firstly employed as the electrophiles for the organocatalytic Michael addition/cyclization cascade reaction with versatile 3-isothiocyanato oxindoles. Chiral bifunctional organocatalyst was appropriate for this enantioselective transformation to afford a variety of novel spirooxindoles, possessing a spirocyclic stereocenter adjacent to the aromatic ring, via asymmetric double arylation. These synthesized spirooxindoles are very difficult to access by the reported methods and were obtained in excellent chemical yields with excellent enantioselectivities.     

An asymmetric route to total synthesis of the furano lignan (+)-veraguensin

Total synthesis of the furano lignan (+)-veraguensin is described. The key steps involve a diastereoselective aldol-type condensation of an ester enolate having an α-chiral center with an aromatic aldehyde and a novel isomerization of the syn vicinal substituents on the furan ring via a ring opening-ring closing protocol.     

A simple route to enantiopure bis-lactones: synthesis of both enantiomers of epi-nor-canadensolide, nor-canadensolide, and canadensolide

A simple strategy has been developed for the synthesis of both enantiomers of nor-canadensolide, epi-nor-canadensolide, and an intermediate to canadensolide. An orthoester Claisen rearrangement of an appropriately constructed allyl alcohol derivative prepared from R-(+)-2,3-di-O-cyclohexylidine glyceraldehyde followed by epoxidation of the resulting unsaturated esters produced hydroxy-lactones, which on oxidation gave keto-lactones. Stereoselective reduction of the keto-carbonyl using either a chelation controlled or a non-chelation controlled process led to the natural or the epi-series, respectively. The interplay of the electronic effect between the polar groups and the steric effect of the β-substituent during reduction of the keto-lactones turned out to be the key factors in deciding the stereochemical outcome. Regeneration of the aldehyde functionality latent in the ketal moiety of the hydroxy-lactones provided the lactols, which on oxidation gave the bis-lactones.     

Synthetic studies toward the pyran core and the amide side chain of psymberin

A synthetic approach to the polysubstituted pyran core and amide side chain of psymberin (irciniastatin A) using stereoselective organoboron methodology is described. An advanced oxyranyl pyran intermediate was prepared using a catalytic enantioselective and diastereoselective three-component reaction involving first an inverse electron-demand hetero [4+2] cycloaddition between 3-boronoacrolein pinacolate and 1-ethoxy-2-methylpropene, followed by an allylboration of ethyl glyoxylate. The amide side chain was prepared highly efficiently using the first example of a doubly diastereoselective allylboration of a chiral α-alkoxy aldehyde under the Lewis acid-catalyzed reaction manifold.     

Synthesis of the C15-C23 fragment of dictyostatin using a highly stereoselective Carreira alkynylation

A straightforward synthesis of the C15-C23 fragment of dictyostatin has been achieved by a highly stereoselective Carreira alkynylation between alkyne 1 and aldehyde 2, followed by three chemoselective reductions.     

A comprehensive survey of stille-type Csp-Csp single bond forming processes in the synthesis of retinoic acid and analogs

The synthesis of the retinoid skeleton has been exhaustively explored using the Stille coupling for the formation of the side-chain single bonds. On employing the experimental catalytic conditions developed by Farina [Pd₂(dba)₃, AsPh₃, NMP] we have modified the electronic and steric requirement of the coupling parters, alkenyl stannanes and electrophiles (alkenyl iodides and triflates). The comprehensive survey afforded appropriately matched components for every bond formation considered. Moreover, from the comparison of the reactivities of different coupling partners with different degrees of steric hindrance, the sensitivity of the Stille coupling to steric effects was confirmed. Besides providing a variety of building blocks for retinoid synthesis, the study highlights some trends that might be useful for the application of the Stille reaction to the synthesis of unsubstituted conjugated polyenes.     

Synthesis of optically active seven-membered 1,5-anhydrocarbasugars and 1,4,5-tribenzoyloxy-2-ethoxy cycloheptanes via [5+2] cycloaddition

[5+2] Cycloaddition followed by asymmetric dihydroxylation procedure have been utilized to prepare novel cyclitols. Accordingly, rac-2α-hydroxy-6α-ethoxy-1,5-anhydro cyclohept-3-ene, 10 derived from [5+2] cycloaddition of 3-oxidopyrylium ylide and vinyl ether has been recognized as a seven-membered carbasugar equivalent and elaborated to 1,4,5-tribenzoyloxy-2-ethoxy cycloheptanes through a flexible, regio- and stereoselective strategy involving Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation conditions to resolve the compounds obtained. The structures and relative configurations of newly synthesized (+)-2α-acetoxy-6α-ethoxy-3β,4β-dihydroxy-1,5-anhydro cycloheptane ((+)-12)); (−)-1β,4β,5β-tribenzoyloxy-6α-ethoxy cycloheptane ((−)-17) and (+)-1α,4α,5α-tribenzoyloxy-6β-ethoxy cycloheptane ((+)-17) are unambiguously established by single crystal X-ray analysis and duly supported by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy data.