A Radical Cascade Enabling Collective Syntheses of Natural Products

Enantioselective Total Syntheses of (-)-20-epi-Vincamine and (-)-20-epi-Eburnamonine by Ir-Catalyzed Asymmetric Imine Hydrogenation/Lactamization Cascade

The Eburnamine-Vincamine alkaloids have been studied intensively over the past six decades for their outstandingly potent vasorelaxation activity. Stereocontrolled assembly of the C20/C21 adjacent chiral centers has been a formidable challenge in the synthesis of this family. Herein, we report a concise stereoselective total synthesis of two trans-ring-fused non-natural analogues, (-)-20-epi-Vincamine and (-)-20-epi-Eburnamonine, that features the following key steps: a) a continuous-flow oxidation/lactam alcoholysis cascade producing the symmetrical dihydro-β-carboline diester precursors, and b) a highly stereoselective Ir/f-Binaphane-catalyzed hydrogenation/lactamization cascade leading to the privileged trans-(20R, 21S) lactam ester scaffold with high-level enantio- and diastereocontrol.

A light- and heat-driven glycal diazidation approach to nitrogenous carbohydrate derivatives with antiviral activity

The aminated mimetics of 2-keto-3-deoxy-sugar acids such as the anti-influenza clinical drugs oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) are important bioactive molecules. Development of synthetic methodologies for accessing such compound collections is highly desirable. Herein, we describe a simple, catalyst-free glycal diazidation protocol enabled by visible light-driven conditions. This new method requires neither acid promoters nor transition-metal catalysts and takes place at ambient temperature within 1-2 hours. Notably, the desired transformations could be promoted by thermal conditions as well, albeit with lower efficacy compared to the light-induced conditions. Different sugar acid-derived glycal templates have been converted into a range of 2,3-diazido carbohydrate analogs by harnessing this mild and scalable approach, leading to the discovery of new antiviral agents.

Total Syntheses of Dihydroindole Aspidosperma Alkaloids: Reductive Interrupted Fischer Indolization Followed by Redox Diversification

We report a novel reductive interrupted Fischer indolization process for the concise assembly of the 20-oxoaspidospermidine framework. This rapid complexity generating route paves the way toward various dihydroindole Aspidosperma alkaloids with different C-5 side chain redox patterns. The end-game redox modulations were accomplished by modified Wolff-Kishner reaction and photo-Wolff rearrangement, enabling the total synthesis of (-)-aspidospermidine, (-)-limaspermidine, and (+)-17-demethoxy-N-acetylcylindrocarine and the formal total synthesis of (-)-1-acetylaspidoalbidine.

NHC-Ni catalyzed 1,3- and 1,4-diastereodivergent heterocycle synthesis from hetero-substituted enyne

Diastereodivergent heterocycle synthesis has been recognized as an important tool for drug discovery in recent years, yet strategies based on nickelacycle formation have not been established. Here, we report a NHC-Ni catalyzed highly 1,3- and 1,4-diastereodivergent heterocycle synthesis from enyne, which is achieved by manipulating the enyne N-substituent (allowing switching of selectivity from up to 2:98 to 98:2). The key to success is the efficient diastereodivergent formation of a nickelacyclopentene, with broad enyne scope at mild conditions, which subsequently provides reductive hydroalkenylation, acylation and silylation products on demand. Diastereoisomers which are sterically hard to distinguish or difficult to access by conventional routes are now accessible easily, including those with very similar 4°, contiguous and skipped stereocenters.

The Introduction of the Radical Cascade Reaction into Polymer Chemistry: A One-Step Strategy for Synchronized Polymerization and Modification

Polymerization and modification play central roles in polymer chemistry and are generally implemented in two steps, which suffer from the time-consuming two-step strategy and present considerable challenge for complete modification. By introducing the radical cascade reaction (RCR) into polymer chemistry, a one-step strategy is demonstrated to achieve synchronized polymerization and complete modification in situ. Attributed to the cascade feature of iron-catalyzed three-component alkene carboazidation RCR exhibiting carbon-carbon bond formation and carbon-azide bond formation with extremely high efficiency and selectivity in one step, radical cascade polymerization therefore enables the in situ synchronized polymerization through continuous carbon-carbon bond formation and complete modification through carbon-azide bond formation simultaneously. This results in a series of α, β, and γ poly(amino acid) precursors. This result not only expands the methodology library of polymerization, but also the possibility for polymer science to achieve functional polymers with tailored chemical functionality from in situ polymerization.

A Concise, Enantioselective Approach for the Synthesis of Yohimbine Alkaloids

We report a concise, enantioselective synthesis of the yohimbine alkaloids (-)-rauwolscine and (-)-alloyohimbane. The key transformation involves a highly enantio- and diastereoselective NHC-catalyzed dimerization and an amidation/N-acyliminium ion cyclization sequence to furnish four of the five requisite rings and three of the five stereocenters in two operations. This route also provides efficient access to all four diastereomeric arrangements of the core stereotriad of the yohimbine alkaloids from a common intermediate. This platform approach in combination with the ability to access both enantiomers from the carbene-catalyzed reaction is a powerful strategy that can produce a wide range of complex alkaloids and related structures for future biomedical investigations.

Synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted indoles via a tandem reaction

A wide array of 2,3-disubstituted indoles were accessed in modest to good yields via a tandem reduction/condensation/fragmentation/cyclization sequence. Differential fragmentation made the reaction more complicated.

Recent progress in the total synthesis of Strychnos alkaloids

The recent synthetic approaches toward Strychnos alkaloids are summarized, including novel synthetic methodologies and strategies.

Chiral piperidines from acyclic amines via enantioselective, radical-mediated δ C-H cyanation

Piperidines are the most prevalent heterocycle found in medicines. Yet, while they are often chiral, there remain no robust methods for their asymmetric syntheses. To solve this challenge, we have interrupted the century-old Hofmann-Löffler-Freytag (HLF) reaction to afford this privileged heterocycle. The catalytic, regio- and enantio- selective δ C-H cyanation of acyclic amines described herein, incorporates a carbonyl equivalent selectively at the δ position. This δ C-H cyanation is enabled by a chiral Cu catalyst, which both initiates and terminates intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) by an N-centered radical relay mechanism. The broad scope and utility of this highly enantioselective method for δ C-C formation is presented, as well as conversion of the resulting enantioenriched δ amino nitriles to a family of chiral piperidines. Experiments probing the chemo-, regio-, and enantio- selectivity of this HAT mechanism are also included to enable extension to other stereoselective δ C-H functionalizations.

A Divergent Synthetic Route to the Vallesamidine and Schizozygine Alkaloids: Total Synthesis of (+)-Vallesamidine and (+)-14,15-Dehydrostrempeliopine

The total synthesis of representative members of the schizozygine alkaloids, (+)-vallesamidine and (+)-14,15-dehydrostrempeliopine, were completed from a late-stage divergent intermediate. The synthesis took advantage of efficient nitro-group reactions with the A/B/C ring skeleton constructed concisely on a gram scale through an asymmetric Michael addition, nitro-Mannich/lactamisation, Tsuji-Trost allylation, and intramolecular C-N coupling reaction. Other key features of the synthesis are a novel [1,4] hydride transfer/Mannich-type cyclisation to build ring E and a diastereoselective ring-closing metathesis reaction to construct ring D. This approach gave access to a late-stage C14,C15 alkene divergent intermediate that could be simply transformed into (+)-vallesamidine, (+)-14,15-dehydrostrempeliopine, and potentially other schizozygine alkaloids and unnatural derivatives.

Synthesis of 1,4- and 1,5-Amino Alcohols via Nucleophilic Addition of Semicyclic N,O-Acetal with Organozinc Reagents

An efficient approach to access functionalized 1,4- and 1,5-amino alcohols has been developed through the nucleophilic addition of semicyclic N,O-acetal with organozinc reagents. A number of substituted benzyl zinc reagents (including nitrile and ester substituted) could react with semicyclic N,O-acetals 1 and 2, affording the desired products 3a-3p and 4a-4o in good to excellent yields.

Development of bifunctional organocatalysts and application to asymmetric total synthesis of naucleofficine I and II

The proline-type organocatalysts has been efficiently employed to catalyze a wide range of asymmetric transformations; however, there are still many synthetically useful and challenging transformations that remain unachievable in an asymmetric fashion. Herein, a chiral bifunctional organocatalyst with a spirocyclic pyrrolidine backbone-derived containing fluoro-alkyl and aryl sulfonamide functionalities, are designed, prepared, and examined in the asymmetric Mannich/acylation/Wittig reaction sequence of 3,4-dihydro-β-carboline with acetaldehyde, acyl halides, and Wittig reagents. As a result, the spirocyclic pyrrolidine trifluoromethanesulfonamide catalyst can facilitate this versatile sequence as demonstrated by 18 examples displaying excellent enantioselectivity (up to 94% ee), as well as moderate to good yields (up to 54% over 3 steps). As a practical application, the asymmetric total synthesis of naucleofficine I (1a) and II (1b) in ten steps have been accomplished.

Natural products often contain complex N-fused polycyclic structures with multiple substituents and stereocentres. Here, the authors developed a bifunctional organocatalyst that is instrumental in obtaining such structures and applied it to the total synthesis of naucleofficine I and II in 6 steps.

Visible Light Driven Alkylation of C(sp3)-H Bonds Enabled by 1,6-Hydrogen Atom Transfer/Radical Relay Addition

A visible-light-driven sulfamate esters guided alkylation of unactivated C(sp³)-H bonds enabled by a 1,6-HAT/radical addition cascade is described. Not only structurally diverse Michael acceptors but also styrenes are amenable to this alkylation reaction. Notably, the N-H bonds activation radical relay refrained from prefunctionalization and using excess external oxidants.

Indole Alkaloid Synthesis Facilitated by Photoredox Catalytic Radical Cascade Reactions

The monoterpene indole alkaloids, containing over 3000 known members and more than 40 structural types, represent one of the largest natural product families that have proven to be an important drug source. Their complex chemical structures and significant biological activities have rendered these alkaloids attractive targets in the synthetic community for decades. While chemists have developed many synthetic methodologies and tactics toward this end, general strategies allowing divergent access to a large variety of structural types and members of monoterpene indole alkaloids are still limited and highly desirable. Photoredox catalysis has emerged in recent years as a powerful tool to realize chemical transformations via single electron transfer (SET) processes that would otherwise be inaccessible. In particular, when the radical species generated by the visible light photoinduced approach is involved in well-designed cascade reactions, the formation of multiple chemical bonds and the assembly of structurally complex molecules would be secured in a green and economic manner. This protocol might serve to remodel the way of thinking for the preparation of useful pharmaceuticals and complex natural products. Due to a long-standing interest in the synthesis of diverse indole alkaloids, our group previously developed a cyclopropanation strategy ( Qin , Y. Acc. Chem. Res. 2011 , 44 , 447 ) that was versatile to access several intriguing indole alkaloid molecules. With an idea of developing more general synthetic approaches to as many members of various indole alkaloids as possible, we recently disclosed new radical cascade reactions enabled by photoredox catalysis, leading to the collective asymmetric total synthesis of 42 monoterpene indole alkaloids belonging to 7 structural types. Several important discoveries deserve to be highlighted. First, the use of photocatalytic technology allowed us to achieve an unusual reaction pathway that reversed the conventional reactivity between two nucleophilic amine and enamine groups. Second, a crucial nitrogen-centered radical, directly generated from a sulfonamide N-H bond, triggered three types of cascade reactions to deliver indole alkaloid cores with manifold functionalities and controllable diastereoselectivities. Moreover, expansion of this catalytic, scalable, and general methodology permitted the total synthesis of a large collection of indole alkaloids. In this Account, we wish to provide a complete picture of our studies concerning the original synthetic design, method development, and applications in total synthesis. It is anticipated that the visible-light-driven cascade strategy will find further utility in the realm of natural product synthesis.

Enantioselective Divergent Synthesis of C19-Oxo Eburnane Alkaloids via Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation of an N-Alkyl-α,β-unsaturated Lactam

The C19-oxo-functionalized eburnane alkaloids display unique chemical structure and interesting biological activity. Herein, we report a divergent enantioselective strategy to access these alkaloids by use of a challenging palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of an N-alkyl-α,β-unsaturated lactam. 19-( S)-OH-Δ¹⁴-vincamone (phutdonginin), (-)-19-OH-eburnamine, (+)-19-oxoeburnamine, and (+)-19-OH-eburnamonine (1-4) have been concisely synthesized for the first time in 11 to 13 steps.

Stereoselective Total Synthesis of Eburnane-Type Alkaloids Enabled by Conformation-Directed Cyclization and Rearrangement

Controlling the cis C20/C21 relative stereochemistry remains an unsolved issue in the synthesis of eburnane-type indole alkaloids. Provided herein is a simple solution to this problem by developing a unified and diastereoselective synthesis of four representative members of this class of natural products, namely, eburnamonine, larutensine, terengganensine B, and melokhanine E. The synthesis features the following key steps: a) an α-iminol rearrangement transforming the 3-hydroxyindolenine into spiroindolin-3-one, b) a highly diastereoselective conformation-directed cyclization leading to the melokhanine skeleton with the desired C20/C21 cis stereochemistry, and c) either an aza-pinacol or an unprecedented α-aminoketone rearrangement converting spiroindolinone back into the indole skeleton.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Nicotine via an Iodine-Mediated Hofmann-Löffler Reaction

An iodine-mediated Hofmann-Löffler reaction has been developed that enables the first enantioselective synthesis of nicotine based on this synthetic methodology. The effect of the free pyridine core on the involved electrophilic iodine reagents was explored in detail. The final synthesis proceeds under moderate reaction conditions that tolerate the free pyridine core. The same synthetic sequence is also applicable to a number of derivatives with higher substituted pyridine cores, including bipyridine derivatives.

Samarium(II) folding cascades involving hydrogen atom transfer for the synthesis of complex polycycles

The expedient assembly of complex, natural product-like small molecules can deliver new chemical entities with the potential to interact with biological systems and inspire the development of new drugs and probes for biology. Diversity-oriented synthesis is a particularly attractive strategy for the delivery of complex molecules in which the 3-dimensional architecture varies across the collection. Here we describe a folding cascade approach to complex polycyclic systems bearing multiple stereocentres mediated by reductive single electron transfer (SET) from SmI₂. Simple, linear substrates undergo three different folding pathways triggered by reductive SET. Two of the radical cascade pathways involve the activation and functionalization of otherwise inert secondary alkyl and benzylic groups by 1,5-hydrogen atom transfer (HAT). Combination of SmI₂, a privileged reagent for cascade reactions, and 1,5-HAT can lead to complexity-generating radical sequences that unlock access to diverse structures not readily accessible by other means.

Direct Photocatalytic Synthesis of Medium-Sized Lactams by C-C Bond Cleavage

Reported is a novel two-step ring-expansion strategy for expeditious synthesis of all ring sizes of synthetically challenging (hetero)aryl-fused medium-sized lactams from readily available 5-8-membered cyclic ketones. This step-economic approach features a remote radical (hetero)aryl migration from C to N under visible-light conditions. Broad substrate scope, good functional-group tolerance, high efficiency, and mild reaction conditions make this procedure very attractive. In addition, this method also provides expedient access to 13-15-membered macrolactams upon an additional one-step manipulation. Mechanistic studies indicate that the reaction involves an amidyl radical and is promoted by acid.

Bioinspired Synthesis of (+)-Cinchonidine Using Cascade Reactions

The development of efficient syntheses of complex natural products has long been a major challenge in synthetic chemistry. Designing cascade reactions and employing bioinspired transformations are an important and reliable means of achieving this goal. Presented here is a combination of these two strategies, which allow efficient asymmetric synthesis of the cinchona alkaloid (+)-cinchonidine. The key steps of this synthesis are a controllable, visible-light-induced photoredox radical cascade reaction to efficiently access the tetracyclic monoterpenoid indole alkaloid core, as well as a practical biomimetic cascade rearrangement for the indole to quinoline transformation. The use of stereoselective chemical transformations in this work makes it an efficient synthesis of (+)-cinchonidine.

A Desulfurative Strategy for the Generation of Alkyl Radicals Enabled by Visible-Light Photoredox Catalysis

Herein, we present a new desulfurative method for generating primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl radicals through visible-light photoredox catalysis. A process that involves the generation of N-centered radicals from sulfinamide intermediates, followed by subsequent fragmentation, is critical to forming the corresponding alkyl radical species. This strategy has been successfully applied to conjugate addition reactions that features mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope (>60 examples), and good functional-group tolerance.

Bioinspired Oxidative Cyclization of the Geissoschizine Skeleton for the Total Synthesis of (-)-17-nor-Excelsinidine

We report the first total synthesis of (-)-17-nor-excelsinidine, a zwitterionic monoterpene indole alkaloid that displays an unusual N4-C16 connection. Inspired by the postulated biosynthesis, we explored an oxidative coupling approach from the geissoschizine framework to forge the key ammonium-acetate connection. Two strategies allowed us to achieve this goal, namely an intramolecular nucleophilic substitution on a 16-chlorolactam with the N4 nitrogen atom or a direct I₂ -mediated N4-C16 oxidative coupling from the enolate of geissoschizine.