Stereoselective Total Syntheses of Guanacastepenes N and O.

Total syntheses of (±)-guanacastepenes N and O were accomplished with 2-cycloheptenone as starting material. The six- and five-membered rings of the core [5, 7, 6] ring skeleton were constructed with an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction and α-carbonyl radical cyclization. The quaternary centers and their stereochemistry were established with sequential Cu(I)-mediated conjugate additions. A sequence with dihydroxylation, conjugate addition, and ß-elimination was devised to incorporate all oxygen functionalities at positions. The total synthesis is adaptable for the synthesis of enantiopure guanacastepenes N and O using chiral intermediate (R)-3-vinyl-2-cycloheptenol obtained from lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution.

Stereoselective total synthesis of (±)-peribysin E.

Radical cyclization of iodoketone 3 afforded cis-hydrindanone 8. Compound 8 was converted into key intermediate 5 via conventional transformations. Annulation of a spiro-lactal unit to 5 was pursued with three different approaches. In the first approach, radical cyclization of propargyl ester 17 provided spiro-lactone 18 with an undesired stereochemistry. Attempts to invert the stereochemistry at the spiro-center via retro-aldol and aldol condensation of compound 20 failed. In the second approach, key intermediate 5 was transformed into 23. Acylation of compound 23 gave 24 as a single diastereomer with the desired stereochemistry but in low yield. NBS bromination of 24 followed by lactone formation gave 26 in low yield. Alternatively, allylic oxidation of 24 with SeO(2) followed by lactonization gave 26 also in low yield. Finally, a third approach employing a semipinacol-type rearrangement of epoxy-alcohol 33 gave aldehyde 34 with the desired stereochemistry. Treatment of compound 34 with HCl in MeOH effected spiro-lactal formation and provided (±)-peribysin E. The overall yield of our synthesis is 3.2% from 2-methylcyclohenen-1-one.

Synthesis and antiproliferative activities of ottelione a analogues.

Through the syntheses of its C-1 desvinyl, C-7 methylene, C-7 exocyclic ethylidene, and various C-3 phenylmethyl analogues, the structure-activity relationship of antimitotic ottelione A (4) against tubulin and various cancer cells was established. The results indicated that compound 4 was a colchicine-competitive inhibitor and that the C-1 vinyl group is unnecessary for its potency, whereas the C-7 exocyclic double bond is essential, possibly because of its irreversible interaction with tubulin. Further optimization of the substituents on the phenylmethyl group at the C-3 position generated compound 10g with a 3'-fluoro-4'-methoxyphenylmethyl substituent, which was 6-38-fold more active against MCF-7, NCI-H460, and COLO205 cancer cells relative to 4. Results from in vitro tubulin polymerization assay confirmed the potency of compounds 4, 10g, and 11a.

Enantioselective total synthesis of otteliones A and B.

Enantioselective total synthesis of otteliones A and B was accomplished. The key steps are radical cyclization of an alpha-iodoketone to construct the cis-hydrindanone skeleton and Suzuki-Miyaura coupling to incorporate the aromatic group. (+)-Ottelione A was converted to (-)-ottelione B on treatment with NaOH in THF.

Total syntheses of (+/-)-axamide-1 and (+/-)-axisonitrile-1 via 6-Exo-dig radical cyclization.

Total syntheses of (+/-)-axamide-1 (1) and (+/-)-axisonitrile-1 (2) were accomplished by using the alpha-carbonyl radical cyclization as the key step. Thienylcyanocuprate 24 mediated conjugated addition of 5-(trimethylsilyl)-4-pentynylmagnesium chloride (23) to 3-methylcyclopenten-1-one (22) and subsequent treatment with TMSCl afforded silyl enol ether 25. Iodination of 25 with NaI and m-CPBA afforded alpha-iodoketone 21. 6-Exo-dig radical cyclization of 21 and subsequent desilylation furnished hydroindane derivative 20. Bicyclic ketone 20 was converted to nitrile 19 via a three-step sequence involving Luche reduction, mesylation, and S(N)2 substitution reaction. Finally, tandem alkylation-reduction on nitrile 19 and subsequent functional group transformations afforded (+/-)-axamide-1 (1) and (+/-)-axisonitrile-1 (2).

An expedient route to Montanine-type Amaryllidaceae alkaloids: total syntheses of (-)-brunsvigine and (-)-manthine.

The first total syntheses of (-)-brunsvigine (1) and (-)-manthine (2) were accomplished in 10 and 18 steps, respectively. (-)-Quinic acid was converted to enone 12 in five steps. Iodination of enone 12 followed by stereoselective reduction yielded alpha-iodo allylic alcohol 16. Conversion of alcohol 16 into Weinreb amide 11 followed by anionic cyclization gave bicyclic enone 10. Stereoselective reduction of enone 10 and subsequent protection afforded pivaloate 9. Grignard addition of 8 to 9 and detosylation afforded amine derivative 19. Pictet-Spengler cyclization of 19 with Eschenmoser's salt and subsequent hydrolysis gave enantiomerically pure (-)-brunsvigine (1). For the total synthesis of (-)-manthine (2), the key intermediate 7 was hydrolyzed to diol 21. Conversion of 21 into 22 followed by regioselective cleavage with DIBAL furnished alcohol 25. Alcohol 25 was converted to the corresponding triflate 26, which on treatment with CsOAc and 18-crown-6 gave stereoinverted acetate 27. Hydrolysis of acetate 27 followed by methylation afforded compound 29. Detosylation of 29 afforded amine derivative 30. Pictet-Spengler cyclization of 30 followed by debenzylation gave alcohol 33. Finally, methylation of alcohol 33 afforded (-)-manthine (2).

Intermolecular radical addition reactions of alpha-iodo cycloalkenones and a synthetic study of the formal synthesis of enantiopure fawcettimine.

The generation of alpha-carbonyl vinyl radicals from alpha-iodo cycloalkenones, the scope of their participation in intermolecular addition reactions with electron-withdrawing olefins are studied and a synthetic study of the formal synthesis of enantiopure fawcettimine using this reaction is described.

Enantiospecific total synthesis of (-)-bakkenolide III and formal total synthesis of (-)-bakkenolides B, C, H, L, V, and X.

A concise enantiospecific synthesis of (-)-bakkenolide III was accomplished from (S)-(+)-carvone. The key step involved radical cyclization of an iodoketone intermediate which afforded the cis-hydrindanone skeleton. Further synthetic transformations generated bakkenolide III, which also constitutes the formal total synthesis of (-)-bakkenolides, B, C, H, L, V, and X.

Photoinduced atom-transfer cyclization of alpha-iodocycloalkanones bearing an allenyl side chain.

[reaction: see text] Irradiation of alpha-iodocycloalkanones bearing an allenyl side chain with a sunlamp effected atom-transfer cyclization to give cyclized products in good yield. A mechanism, involving radical atom-transfer cyclization accompanied by 1,5- and 1,4-hydrogen transfers, is proposed.

Synthesis of a highly hindered hydrindanone via alpha-carbonyl radical cyclization: enantiospecific formal syntheses of (-)-pinguisenol and (-)-alpha-pinguisene.

An enantiospecific synthesis of Schinzer's ketone 3 from (R)-(+)-pulegone via alpha-carbonyl radical cyclization was accomplished. This work also constitutes an enantiospecific formal syntheses of (-)-pinguisenol and (-)-alpha-pinguisene. The intermediate ketone 4 would be useful for the synthesis of other pinguisane-type sesquiterpenes.

Anionic cyclization approach toward perhydrobenzofuranone: stereocontrolled synthesis of the hexahydrobenzofuran subunit of avermectin.

A facile anionic cyclization approach toward stereocontrolled synthesis of the hexahydrobenzofuran subunit 3 of avermectin is described. As a model study, treatment of iodo compound 7 with n-BuLi at -100 degrees C effected metal-halogen exchange and subsequent anionic cyclization to afford perhydrobenzofuranone 8. For the total synthesis of subunit 3, compound 9 was dihydroxylated to give diol 10. Protection of the hydroxyl groups of diol 10 gave compound 11. Ketone 11 was then converted into the required enone 12 using Saegusa's protocol. On iodination followed by Luche reduction, enone 12 yielded alpha-iodo allylic alcohol 14, which on alkylation afforded ether 15. Conversion of the ester unit of 15 into a Weinreb amide group followed by anionic cyclization gave enone 17. 1,4-Addition of (MeOCH(2))(2)CuCNLi(2) to enone 17 followed by cleavage of the acetal unit afforded ketone 19. Preferential acetylation of the secondary alcoholic function of 19 afforded compound 20. The stereochemistry of 20 is confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Elimination of HOAc from 20 gave the crucial olefin 21. Hydrolysis of the acetate unit of 21 followed by protection of the resulting alcoholic function yielded tert-butyldimethylsilyl ether 23. Introduction of a hydroxyl group at the ring junction of 23, using Davis's procedure, finally afforded the hexahydrobenzofuran subunit 3.

alpha-Carbonyl Radical Cyclization Approach toward Angular Triquinanes: Total Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure (-)-5-Oxosilphiperfol-6-ene.

An alpha-carbonyl radical cyclization approach toward synthesis of angular triquinanes is described. As a model study, conjugate addition of 4-(trimethylsilyl)-3-butynylmagnesium chloride to enone 7 followed by trapping of the enolate with chlorotrimethylsilane gave trimethysilyl enol ether 8. Iodination of 8 with a mixture of NaI and m-CPBA afforded iodo ketone 6. Radical cyclization of 6 effected by Bu(3)SnH and AIBN gave 5. Epoxidation of 5 with m-CPBA yielded epoxy ketone 9. Desilylation and rearrangement of 9 by formic acid gave aldehyde 4. Aldol condensation and dehydration furnished angular triquinane skeleton 3. Total synthesis of (-)-5-oxosilphiperfol-6-ene (1) was accomplished in 12 steps starting from keto ester 14 based on this route. Conjugate addition of 3-hexynylmagnesium bromide to chiral ester 13 followed by treatment with chlorotrimethylsilane gave intermediate 15. Iodination of 15 with a mixture of NaI and m-CPBA gave alpha-iodo ester 12. Intramolecular radical cyclization of 12 gave ester 11. Reduction of 11 by LiAlH(4) yielded alcohol 16. On treatment with m-CPBA, alcohol 16 was converted to the corresponding epoxide 17, which was subjected to the epoxy-ketone rearrangement using BF(3) etherate as a catalyst to give ethyl ketone 18. Subsequent oxidation of 18 with PCC afforded aldehyde 10. Intramolecular aldol condensation of 10 yielded tricyclic compound 19. Methylation of 19 gave 20. Conjugate addition of lithium dimethylcuprate to 20 followed by trapping of the resulting enolate with chlorotrimethylsilane gave 21. Oxidation of 21 by DDQ afforded enantiomerically pure (-)-5-oxosilphiperfol-6-ene (1). Racemic (+/-)-1was also synthesized in the same manner in order to determine the optical purity of chiral product (-)-1. The gas chromatographic analysis with a chiral column proved that 1 has high enantiomeric purity. A single-crystal X-ray analysis of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone 22 was performed to unambiguously confirm the stereochemistry of 19.