Synthetic Chameleon Turns into Oximes, Nitrones, and Hydroxylamines when Exposed to Blue Light.

A metal-free, user-friendly photochemical transformation of nitroalkanes to oximes, nitrones, and hydroxylamines has been developed. The visible-light-induced reactions are catalyzed by the readily available photoredox organocatalyst 4CzIPN and use inexpensive amines as reductants. Broad in scope and tolerant of multiple functional groups and heterocycles, the transformation proceeds under mild conditions. Its synthetic potential was demonstrated in the formal total synthesis of amathaspiramide F. A basic insight into the reaction mechanism was gained with the help of an NMR study.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationship of berkeleylactone A-derived antibiotics.

Berkeleylactone A is a potent 16-membered macrolactone antibiotic, recently isolated from a coculture of Berkeley Pit Lake fungi. Although its antimicrobial activity has already been investigated, little is known about the structure-activity relationship. Based on our previous synthetic studies, a series of berkeleylactone A derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial activities against methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. Our data confirmed the essential role of the embedded conjugated system and suggest a reversible sulfa-protection of the Michael acceptor as a viable option. Structurally simplified achiral macrolactam 8 showed the best inhibitory activity against S. aureus L12 (MRSA) with MIC50 values of 0.39 µg mL-1, 8-fold lower than those of berkeleylactone A. These studies may be of value in the development of more advanced candidates for antibiotic applications.

Stereochemical switch driven by crystallization: Interplay between stoichiometry and configuration of the products.

An intriguing example of a crystallization-induced stereochemical switch in the configuration of aza-Michael reaction products is described. Depending on both the stereochemical purity and stoichiometric ratio of the chiral amine used, the reaction delivers crystalline diastereomers of a different stereochemistry. The optically pure diastereomer smoothly converts to its racemic epimer salt upon the addition of a complementary chiral amine.

Visible-Light-Promoted Cross-Coupling of N-Alkylpyridinium Salts and Nitrostyrenes.

A stereoselective, denitrative cross-coupling of ß-nitrostyrenes with N-alkylpyridinium salts for the preparation of functionalized styrenes has been developed. The visible-light-induced reaction proceeds without any catalyst at ambient temperature. Broad in scope and tolerant to multiple functional groups, the moderately yielding transformation is orthogonal to several traditional metal-catalyzed cross-couplings.

Chemiluminescence Detection of Hydrogen Sulfide Release by ß-Lactamase-Catalyzed ß-Lactam Biodegradation: Unprecedented Pathway for Monitoring ß-Lactam Antibiotic Bacterial Resistance.

ß-Lactamase positive bacteria represent a growing threat to human health because of their resistance to commonly used antibiotics. Therefore, development of new diagnostic methods for identification of ß-lactamase positive bacteria is of high importance for monitoring the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Here, we report the discovery of a new biodegradation metabolite (H2S), generated through ß-lactamase-catalyzed hydrolysis of ß-lactam antibiotics. This discovery directed us to develop a distinct molecular technique for monitoring bacterial antibiotic resistance. The technique is based on a highly efficient chemiluminescence probe, designed for detection of the metabolite, hydrogen sulfide, that is released upon biodegradation of ß-lactam by ß-lactamases. Such an assay can directly indicate if antibiotic bacterial resistance exists for a certain examined ß-lactam. The assay was successfully demonstrated for five different ß-lactam antibiotics and eight ß-lactam resistant bacterial strains. Importantly, in a functional bacterial assay, our chemiluminescence probe was able to clearly distinguish between a ß-lactam resistant bacterial strain and a sensitive one. As far as we know, there is no previous documentation for such a biodegradation pathway of ß-lactam antibiotics. Bearing in mind the data obtained in this study, we propose that hydrogen sulfide should be considered as an emerging ß-lactam metabolite for detection of bacterial resistance.

Denitrative Cross-Couplings of Nitrostyrenes.

Interestingly, ß-nitrostyrenes, typically bench stable compounds, are highly promising cross-coupling partners, due to their excellent availability and well understood reactivity. In this review, we report on the discovery and advancements, in the field of stereoselective, denitrative cross-couplings of ß-nitrostyrenes with miscellaneous organic reagents. The rapidly expanding field offers alternative access to a broad range of functionalized alkenes, including ß-alkylated styrenes, chalcones, stilbenes, cinnamic acids, and conjugated sulfones and phosphonates. The most important mechanistic pathways are briefly discussed, to familiarize readers with the elementary reactions occurring during the coupling.

Crystallization Does It All: An Alternative Strategy for Stereoselective Aza-Henry Reaction.

An efficient and experimentally straightforward method for the stereoselective synthesis of a variety of ß-nitro-α-amino carboxylic acids via aza-Henry (nitro-Mannich) reaction of aldimines is disclosed, yielding either anti- or a rarely reported syn-configuration. The reaction operates directly on free glyoxylic acid and generates imine species in situ. Crystallization-controlled diastereoselectivity enables isolation of the target compounds in high enantio- and diastereomeric purities by a simple filtration.

Total Synthesis of Berkeleylactone A.

The first total synthesis of the potent antibiotic berkeleylactone A is described in 10 steps with an overall yield of 9.5%. A key step of our concise route is a late-stage, highly diastereoselective, sulfa-Michael addition. The 16-membered macrocyclic lactone was formed via ring closing metathesis and subsequent chemoselective reduction. The absolute stereochemical configuration was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Synthetic berkeleylactone A was tested against several methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains, and its potent antibacterial activity was verified.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Functionalized α-Amino Acids Isolated by Filtration.

Crystallization-induced diastereomer transformation (CIDT) represents a highly appealing and convenient synthetic tool. Despite its numerous advantages, it remains rather rarely used due to its uncertain predictability to occur. Herein, we describe CIDT based on aza-Michael reactions of diversely functionalized ( E)-3-acylacrylic acids. This method provides direct access to a broad variety of α-amino acid derivatives in excellent stereochemical purities.

Total Synthesis of (-)-Himalensine A.

The first enantioselective synthesis of (-)-himalensine A has been achieved in 22 steps. The synthesis was enabled by a novel catalytic, enantioselective prototropic shift/furan Diels-Alder (IMDAF) cascade to construct the ACD tricyclic core. A reductive radical cyclization cascade was utilized to build the B ring, and end-game manipulations featuring a molecular oxygen mediated γ-CH oxidation, a Stetter cyclization to access the pendant cyclopentenone, and a highly chemoselective lactam reduction delivered the natural product target.

Towards the total synthesis of keramaphidin B.

The enantio- and diastereoselective Michael addition of a δ-valerolactone-derived pronucleophile to a substituted furanyl nitroolefin catalysed by a bifunctional cinchonine-derived thiourea has been used as the key stereocontrolling step in a new synthetic strategy to the heavily functionalised piperidine core of keramaphidin B.

A platform for the discovery of new macrolide antibiotics.

The chemical modification of structurally complex fermentation products, a process known as semisynthesis, has been an important tool in the discovery and manufacture of antibiotics for the treatment of various infectious diseases. However, many of the therapeutics obtained in this way are no longer effective, because bacterial resistance to these compounds has developed. Here we present a practical, fully synthetic route to macrolide antibiotics by the convergent assembly of simple chemical building blocks, enabling the synthesis of diverse structures not accessible by traditional semisynthetic approaches. More than 300 new macrolide antibiotic candidates, as well as the clinical candidate solithromycin, have been synthesized using our convergent approach. Evaluation of these compounds against a panel of pathogenic bacteria revealed that the majority of these structures had antibiotic activity, some efficacious against strains resistant to macrolides in current use. The chemistry we describe here provides a platform for the discovery of new macrolide antibiotics and may also serve as the basis for their manufacture.

Enantioselective synthesis of (-)-chloramphenicol via silver-catalysed asymmetric isocyanoacetate aldol reaction.

The highly enantio- and diastereoselective aldol reaction of isocyanoacetates catalysed by Ag2O and cinchona-derived amino phosphines applied to the synthesis of (-)- and (+)-chloramphenicol is described. The concise synthesis showcases the utility of this catalytic asymmetric methodology for the preparation of bioactive compounds possessing α-amino-ß-hydroxy motifs.

Iridium-catalyzed reductive nitro-Mannich cyclization.

A new chemoselective reductive nitro-Mannich cyclization reaction sequence of nitroalkyl-tethered lactams has been developed. Relying on the rapid and chemoselective iridium(I)-catalyzed reduction of lactams to the corresponding enamine, subsequent nitro-Mannich cyclization of tethered nitroalkyl functionality provides direct access to important alkaloid natural-product-like structures in yields up to 81 % and in diastereoselectivities that are typically good to excellent. An in-depth understanding of the reaction mechanism has been gained through NMR studies and characterization of reaction intermediates. The new methodology has been applied to the total synthesis of (±)-epi-epiquinamide in four steps.

Strategies towards the synthesis of calyciphylline A-type Daphniphyllum alkaloids.

The Daphniphyllum alkaloids are a diverse family of natural products rich in number and structural diversity that have been known for many decades. However, the structurally unique subclass of calyciphylline A-type alkaloids has only recently been discovered and is relatively unexplored. Several noteworthy core syntheses and the development of a wide range of novel synthetic strategies have been achieved. This includes strategies based on intramolecular Michael addition, Pd-catalysis, cycloaddition, and Mannich-type reactions. This review will provide an overview of these synthetic studies.

Gold and BINOL-phosphoric acid catalyzed enantioselective hydroamination/N-sulfonyliminium cyclization cascade.

A highly enantioselective hydroamination/N-sulfonyliminium cyclization cascade is reported using a combination of gold(I) and chiral phosphoric acid catalysts. An initial 5-exo-dig hydroamination and a subsequent phosphoric acid catalyzed cyclization process provide access to complex sulfonamide scaffolds in excellent yield and high enantiocontrol. The method can be extended to lactam derivatives, with excellent yields and enantiomeric excesses of up to 93% ee.

Efficient and selective formation of macrocyclic disubstituted Z alkenes by ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reactions catalyzed by Mo- or W-based monoaryloxide pyrrolide (MAP) complexes: applications to total syntheses of epilachnene, yuzu lactone, ambrettolide, epothilone C, and nakadomarin A.

The first broadly applicable set of protocols for efficient Z-selective formation of macrocyclic disubstituted alkenes through catalytic ring-closing metathesis (RCM) is described. Cyclizations are performed with 1.2-7.5 mol% of a Mo- or W-based monoaryloxide pyrrolide (MAP) complex at 22 °C and proceed to complete conversion typically within two hours. Utility is demonstrated by synthesis of representative macrocyclic alkenes, such as natural products yuzu lactone (13-membered ring: 73% Z) epilachnene (15-membered ring: 91% Z), ambrettolide (17-membered ring: 91% Z), an advanced precursor to epothilones C and A (16-membered ring: up to 97% Z), and nakadomarin A (15-membered ring: up to 97% Z). We show that catalytic Z-selective cyclizations can be performed efficiently on gram-scale with complex molecule starting materials and catalysts that can be handled in air. We elucidate several critical principles of the catalytic protocol: 1) The complementary nature of the Mo catalysts, which deliver high activity but can be more prone towards engendering post-RCM stereoisomerization, versus W variants, which furnish lower activity but are less inclined to cause loss of kinetic Z selectivity. 2) Reaction time is critical to retaining kinetic Z selectivity not only with MAP species but with the widely used Mo bis(hexafluoro-tert-butoxide) complex as well. 3) Polycyclic structures can be accessed without significant isomerization at the existing Z alkenes within the molecule.

Total synthesis of manzamine A and related alkaloids.

Total syntheses of three structurally complex marine natural products, manzamine A, ircinol A, and ircinal A, are reported. The route pivoted on the construction of a late-stage protecting-group-free pentacyclic enol triflate coupling partner, from which all three family members were accessed divergently via palladium-catalyzed reactions. The rapid synthesis of this key pentacyclic enol triflate was achieved by a highly convergent union of five fragments through a stereoselective Michael addition, a three-component nitro-Mannich lactamization cascade, an unprecedented and highly stereoselective reductive nitro-Mannich cyclization cascade, a stereoselective organometallic addition, and a Z-selective alkene ring-closing metathesis. Altogether this chemistry has allowed the shortest synthetic route to date for manzamine A (18-step longest linear sequence) via a late-stage diversification point that is ideal for future manzamine A analogue synthesis.

Stereoselective, nitro-Mannich/lactamisation cascades for the direct synthesis of heavily decorated 5-nitropiperidin-2-ones and related heterocycles.

A versatile nitro-Mannich/lactamisation cascade for the direct stereoselective synthesis of heavily decorated 5-nitropiperidin-2-ones and related heterocycles has been developed. A highly enantioenriched substituted 5-nitropiperidin-2-one was synthesised in a four component one-pot reaction combining an enantioselective organocatalytic Michael addition with the diastereoselective nitro-Mannich/lactamisation cascade. Protodenitration and chemoselective reductive manipulation of the heterocycles was used to install contiguous and fully substituted stereocentres in the synthesis of substituted piperidines.

Synthesis of macrocyclic natural products by catalyst-controlled stereoselective ring-closing metathesis.

Many natural products contain a C = C double bond through which various other derivatives can be prepared; the stereochemical identity of the alkene can be critical to the biological activities of such molecules. Catalytic ring-closing metathesis (RCM) is a widely used method for the synthesis of large unsaturated rings; however, cyclizations often proceed without control of alkene stereochemistry. This shortcoming is particularly costly when the cyclization reaction is performed after a long sequence of other chemical transformations. Here we outline a reliable, practical and general approach for the efficient and highly stereoselective synthesis of macrocyclic alkenes by catalytic RCM; transformations deliver up to 97% of the Z isomer owing to control induced by a tungsten-based alkylidene. Utility is demonstrated through the stereoselective preparation of epothilone C (refs 3-5) and nakadomarin A (ref. 6), the previously reported syntheses of which have been marred by late-stage, non-selective RCM. The tungsten alkylidene can be manipulated in air, delivering the products in useful yields with high stereoselectivity. As a result of efficient RCM and re-incorporation of side products into the catalytic cycle with minimal alkene isomerization, desired cyclizations proceed in preference to alternative pathways, even under relatively high substrate concentration.