Total Synthesis of Aflastatin A.

The total syntheses of aflastatin A and its C3-C48 degradation fragment (6a, R = H) have been accomplished. The syntheses feature several complex diastereoselective fragment couplings, including a Felkin-selective trityl-catalyzed Mukaiyama aldol reaction, a chelate-controlled aldol reaction involving soft enolization with magnesium, and an anti-Felkin-selective boron-mediated oxygenated aldol reaction. Careful comparison of the spectroscopic data for the synthetic C3-C48 degradation fragment to that reported by the isolation group revealed a structural misassignment in the lactol region of the naturally derived degradation product. Ultimately, the data reported for the naturally derived aflastatin A C3-C48 degradation lactol (6a, R = H) were attributed to its derivative lactol trideuteriomethyl ether (6c, R = CD3). Additionally, the revised absolute configurations of six stereogenic centers (C8, C9, and C28-C31) were confirmed.

Stereodivergent Allylic Substitutions with Aryl Acetic Acid Esters by Synergistic Iridium and Lewis Base Catalysis.

The preparation of all possible stereoisomers of a given chiral molecule bearing multiple stereocenters by a simple and unified method is a significant challenge in asymmetric catalysis. We report stereodivergent allylic substitutions with aryl acetic acid esters catalyzed synergistically by a metallacyclic iridium complex and benzotetramisole. Through permutations of the enantiomers of the two chiral catalysts, all four stereoisomers of the products bearing two adjacent stereocenters are accessible with high diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity. The resulting chiral activated ester products can be converted readily to enantioenriched amides, unactivated esters, and carboxylic acids in a one-pot manner.

Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective α-Arylation of α-Fluoroketones.

The transition-metal-catalyzed α-arylation of carbonyl compounds is a widely practiced method for C-C bond formation. Several enantioselective versions of this process have been reported, but intermolecular, enantioselective coupling reactions of aryl electrophiles with α-fluoro carbonyl compounds have yet to be disclosed. We report enantioselective coupling of aryl and heteroaryl bromides and triflates with α-fluoroindanones catalyzed by palladium complexes of a BINOL-derived monophosphine and Segphos, respectively. The enolates were generated directly from α-fluoroindanones in the presence of potassium phosphate base during the reactions. We also report that reactions of α-fluorotetralones occur in high yields and enantioselectivities when conducted with enolates generated by elimination of trifluoroacetate from trifluoromethyl ß-diketone hydrates. These reactions were catalyzed by palladium complexes of the commercially available bisphosphine Difluorphos. Thus, the formation of enantioenriched α-aryl-α-fluoroketones can be readily achieved by C-C bond formation when the appropriate palladium catalyst and α-fluoro enolate precursor were used.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of monopyrrolinone-based HIV-1 protease inhibitors possessing augmented P2' side chains.

A series of monopyrrolinone-based HIV-1 protease inhibitors possessing rationally designed P2' side chains have been synthesized and evaluated for activity against wild-type HIV-1 protease. The most potent inhibitor displays subnanomolar potency in vitro for the wild-type HIV-1 protease. Additionally, the monopyrrolinone inhibitors retain potency in cellular assays against clinically significant mutant forms of the virus. X-ray structures of these inhibitors bound in the wild-type enzyme reveal important insights into the observed biological activity.