A ring contraction strategy toward a diastereoselective total synthesis of (+)-bakkenolide A.

A diastereoselective route to (+)-bakkenolide A is presented from the readily available optically active Wieland-Miescher ketone. This novel synthesis of this sesquiterpene lactone features the following as key stereoselective transformations: (i) the ring contraction reaction of a octalone mediated by thallium(III) nitrate (TTN); (ii) a hydrogenation to create the cis-fused junction; and (iii) the formation of the C7 quaternary center through an enolate intermediate. Furthermore, during this work, the absolute configuration of a trinorsesquiterpene isolated from Senecio humillimus was assigned.

(+)- and (-)-mutisianthol: first total synthesis, absolute configuration, and antitumor activity.

The first synthesis of the natural product (+)-mutisianthol was accomplished in 11 steps and in 21% overall yield from 2-methylanisole. The synthesis of its enantiomer was also performed in a similar overall yield. The absolute configuration of the sesquiterpene (+)-mutisianthol was assigned as (1S,3R). Key steps in the route are the asymmetric hydrogenation of a nonfunctionalized olefin using chiral iridium catalysts and the ring contraction of 1,2-dihydronaphthalenes using thallium(III) or iodine(III). The target molecules show moderate activity against the human tumor cell lines SF-295, HCT-8, and MDA-MB-435.

Bicyclic beta-Hydroxytetrahydrofurans as precursors of medium ring keto-lactones.

The reaction of a series of cis-fused bicyclic beta-hydroxytetrahydrofurans with ruthenium tetraoxide, generated in situ from ruthenium trichloride and sodium periodate, afforded 9- and 10-membered keto-lactones in moderate to good yields, in a clean and straightforward fashion. The starting beta-hydroxyethers were obtained from the corresponding 3-alkenols by two alternative procedures, depending on their pattern of substitution: (a) epoxidation by dimethyldioxirane, followed by base-catalyzed cyclization of the resulting epoxyalcohol, and (b) thallium trinitrate-mediated cyclization of the 3-alkenols, a method already described by our group.

Unexpected synthesis of conformationally restricted analogues of gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA): mechanism elucidation by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

From previous results with lower homologues, dehydroiodination of the three alkenyl-beta-enamino esters 3a-c was expected to provide six-membered N-heterocyclic products. The reactions of 3a-c with triethylamine are found to lead, however, to the unexpected stereoselective synthesis of the trisubstituted cyclopentane derivatives 4a-c, as confirmed by IR and NMR spectroscopy. Cyclopentanes 4a-c bear two chiral centers and a gamma-amino ester moiety, and are therefore conformationally restricted analogues of gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), which is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Use of electrospray ionization mass (ESI-MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) allowed the key iminium ion intermediates 5a-c(+), as well as the protonated molecules of both the reactant and final products, [3a-c + H](+) and [4a-c + H](+), to be intercepted and structurally characterized. From these findings a mechanism for this unexpected but synthetically attractive and efficient stereoselective reaction is proposed.

Efficient entry into medium-ring keto-lactones. The ruthenium tetraoxide-promoted oxidative cleavage of beta-hydroxyethers.

[reaction: see text] A new use of ruthenium tetraoxide is reported. The catalytic oxidative cleavage of hexahydro-benzofuran-3a-ols led to nine-membered ring keto-lactones in moderate to good yields and high purity. The reaction is clean and easily performed using catalytic amounts of ruthenium trichloride and an excess of sodium periodate as a cooxidant.

Synthesis of cyclic enol ethers from alkenyl-beta-dicarbonyl compounds.

In this work we describe the cyclofunctionalization of eleven differently substituted alkenyl-beta-dicarbonyl compounds, employing three electrophilic reagents, namely, iodine, p-methoxyphenyltellurium trichloride, and phenylselenenyl bromide. The reactions occur through the enolic form of the substrates, to afford the corresponding iodo-, telluro-, or selenocyclic enol ethers. Substrates bearing trisubstituted double bonds failed in reacting with the selenium and tellurium reagents. In general, beta-diketones reacted faster than beta-keto esters with the three studied electrophiles.

Thallium trinitrate mediated oxidation of 3-alkenols: ring contraction vs cyclization.

The reaction of a series of six-membered ring 3-alkenols with thallium trinitrate (TTN) in three different experimental conditions was studied. Either cyclization products or ring contraction products were obtained, depending on the structure of the substrate as well as the nature of the solvent. The reaction of a seven-membered ring 3-alkenol with TTN led to the ring contraction product exclusively.