(+)-Sorangicin A: evolution of a viable synthetic strategy.

An effective, asymmetric total synthesis of the antibiotic (+)-sorangicin A (1) has been achieved. Central to this venture was the development of first and second generation syntheses of the signature dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane core, the first featuring chemo- and stereoselective epoxide ring openings facilitated by a Co(2)(CO)(6)-alkyne complex, the second involving a KHMDS-promoted epoxide ring formation/opening cascade. Additional highlights include effective construction of the dihydro- and tetrahydropyran ring systems, respectively via a stereoselective conjugate addition/α-oxygenation protocol and a thioketalization/hydrostannane reduction sequence. Late-stage achievements entailed two Julia-Kociénski olefinations to unite three advanced fragments with high E-stereoselectivity, followed by a modified Stille protocol to introduce the Z,Z,E trienoate moiety, thereby completing the carbon skeleton. Mukaiyama macrolactonization, followed by carefully orchestrated Lewis and protic acid-promoted deprotections that suppressed isomerization and/or destruction of the sensitive (Z,Z,E)-trienoate linkage completed the first, and to date only, total synthesis of (+)-sorangicin A (1).

One-carbon ring expansion of azetidines via ammonium ylide [1,2]-shifts: a simple route to substituted pyrrolidines.

Simple N-substituted azetidines were heated with diazocarbonyl compounds in the presence of catalytic Cu(acac)(2) to furnish substituted pyrrolidines via Stevens [1,2]-shift. In all but two examples, complete selectivity was seen for ring expansion rather than migration of the other exocyclic group on the azetidinium nitrogen. The two exceptions, observed with ylides substituted with two carbonyl groups and lacking a stabilizing group at the 2-position of the azetidine, underwent exocyclic benzyl migration in preference to ring expansion.

Ring expansion of azetidinium ylides: rapid access to the pyrrolizidine alkaloids turneforcidine and platynecine.

[reaction: see text] Azetidinecarboxylate esters react readily with metallocarbenes in an inter- or intramolecular fashion to generate azetidinium ylides. Efficient [1,2]-shift by the ester-substituted carbon furnishes ring-expanded pyrrolidine products. In the case of substrate 1, this provides access to the pyrrolizidine alkaloids turneforcidine and platynecine via a high-yield, five-step sequence starting with readily available methyl 1-benzylazetidine-2-carboxylate.

(+)-Sorangicin A synthetic studies. Construction of the C(1-15) and C(16-29) subtargets.

[structure: see text] Effective stereocontrolled syntheses of subtargets (-)-2 and (-)-4, comprising respectively the C(16-29) and C(1-15) tetrahydropyran and dihydropyran moieties of the potent antibiotic (+)-sorangicin A (1), have been achieved. The cornerstone for the synthesis of (-)-2 involved an aldol tactic exploiting 1,4-induction, followed in turn by an acid-mediated cyclization/ketalization and hydrosilane reduction promoted by TMSOTf, while construction of (-)-4 entailed a stereoselective conjugate addition/alpha-oxygenation sequence.

Catalyst and ring size effects on periselectivity of oxonium ylide rearrangements.

Diazoketones were subjected to carbene-transfer with Rh(II) or Cu(II) catalysts to probe the selectivity for rearrangement via five- or six-membered oxonium ylides. 4,5-Bis(benzyloxy) and 4-allyloxy-5-benzyloxy substrates 3a,b showed a large preference for rearrangement via the five-membered ylide under all conditions. However, a sharp divergence was seen with 5-allyloxy-4-benzyloxy substrate 3c, which underwent predominantly a [2,3]-shift to pyran 5c via the six-membered ylide with Cu(II) catalysis and a [1,2]-shift to furan 4c via the five-membered ylide with Rh(II) catalysis.

A novel, stereoselective silyl-directed Stevens [1,2]-shift of ammonium ylides.

[reaction: see text] The silyl group of 2-silylpyrrolidines such as 1 plays several critical roles: a stereochemical control element in a facially selective carbenoid addition to the ring nitrogen, a stereochemical "placeholder" during regioselective 1,2-migration with retention by the resulting spirocyclic ammonium ylide, and a hydroxyl surrogate for an eventual stereoselective Fleming-Tamao oxidation. This chemistry represents a novel use of the Stevens rearrangement and offers a short, enantioselective route to hydroxylated quinolizidines such as 3 from Boc-pyrrolidine.