Chemoselective Construction of Substituted Conjugated Dienes Using an Olefin Cross-Metathesis Protocol

The intriguing modeling of cis-trans selectivity in ruthenium-catalyzed olefin metathesis

In this study we have investigated computationally the origin of the cis–trans selectivity in the Ru-catalyzed cross metathesis (CM) of a prototype monosubstituted olefin, i.e., propene. Our calculations suggest that the origin of the preferential formation of trans-olefins is in the product release step, which prevents the initially formed cis-olefin from escaping the metal, and returns it to the reaction pool until the trans-olefin is formed.

Streamlined syntheses of (-)-dictyostatin, 16-desmethyl-25,26-dihydrodictyostatin, and 6-epi-16-desmethyl-25,26-dihydrodictyostatin

The dictyostatins are a promising class of potential anti-cancer drugs because they are powerful microtubule-stabilizing agents, but the complexity of their chemical structures is a severe impediment to their further development. On the basis of both synthetic and medicinal chemistry analyses, 16-desmethyl-25,26-dihydrodictyostatin and its C6 epimer were chosen as potentially potent yet accessible dictyostatin analogues, and three new syntheses were developed. A relatively classical synthesis involving vinyllithium addition and macrocyclization gave way to a newer and more practical approach based on esterification and ring-closing metathesis reaction. Finally, aspects of these two approaches were combined to provide a third new synthesis based on esterification and Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi reaction. This was used to prepare the target dihydro analogues and the natural product. All of the syntheses are streamlined because of their high convergency. The work provided several new analogues of dictyostatin, including a truncated macrolactone and a C10 E-alkene, which were 400- and 50-fold less active than (-)-dictyostatin, respectively. In contrast, the targeted 16-desmethyl-25,26-dihydrodictyostatin analogues retained almost complete activity in preliminary biological assays.

Stereoselective synthesis of (-)-amphidinolide E

The total synthesis of (-)-amphidinolide E was accomplished by following a synthetic scheme that incorporates the labile C2 stereocenter at a very late stage. The oxolane unit was prepared by beta-alkoxyacrylate radical cyclization. The enyne metathesis reaction was employed for the synthesis of the side chain. The Kocienski-Julia reaction was used for the union of the two major fragments, and the Kita macrolactonization protocol was used for macrolide synthesis.

Synthesis of amphidinolide E C10-C26 fragment

The key C10-C26 fragment in a total synthesis of (-)-amphidinolide E has been prepared from an oxolane-containing C10-C17 segment (9, derived from L-glutamic acid) via a Julia-Kocienski reaction with aldehyde 3, followed by a Sharpless AD to obtain the desired diol. The C22-C26 fragment was installed by means of an efficient Suzuki-Molander coupling, with an organotrifluoroborate reagent (4, arising from a cross-metathesis reaction between a vinylboronate and 2-methyl-1,4-pentadiene).

Total synthesis and proof of relative stereochemistry of (-)-aureonitol

Two trisubstituted epimeric tetrahydrofurans, 1 and 2, have been synthesized in order to confirm the relative stereochemistry in the natural product aureonitol. The key step in the synthesis of 1 and 2 involved a stereoselective intramolecular allylation of an allylsilane with an aldehyde, which introduced the stereotriad in the five-membered ring. The major tetrahydrofuran diastereoisomer 18 from this cyclization reaction was subsequently elaborated to tetrahydrofuran 1. Its 3-epimer (2) was then prepared from 1 via an oxidation-reduction sequence. Compound 1 exhibits identical (1)H NMR data to those reported for aureonitol, which was isolated from Helichrysum aureonitons by Bohlmann in 1979, whereas the (1)H NMR data for 2 are markedly different. The (1)H NMR data (in CDCl3, CD3OD, and C6D6) and (13)C NMR data (in CDCl3) for 1 are also identical with those reported for a natural product isolated from various Chaetomium sp. by Abraham, Seto, and Teuscher. These findings support Abraham's conclusion that the structure of aureonitol should be revised from 2 to 1. The enantioselective synthesis of 1 has also confirmed that (-)-aureonitol isolated by Abraham contains the (2S,3R,4S) absolute configuration of stereocenters on the tetrahydrofuran ring.

One-pot terminal alkene homologation using a tandem olefin cross-metathesis/allylic carbonate reduction sequence

A one-carbon homologation of terminal alkenes has been developed utilizing an olefin cross-metathesis followed by a palladium-mediated allylic carbonate reduction; various substrates were used to demonstrate the scope of the reaction, with yields ranging from 65 to 86%.

Enantioselective reductive coupling of 1,3-enynes to glyoxalates mediated by hydrogen: asymmetric synthesis of beta,gamma-unsaturated alpha-hydroxy esters

Catalytic hydrogenation of 1,3-enynes 1a-8a in the presence of ethyl glyoxalate at ambient pressure and temperature using a rhodium catalyst modified by (R)-(3,5-tBu-4-MeOPh)-MeO-BIPHEP results in highly regio- and enantioselective reductive coupling to furnish the corresponding alpha-hydroxy esters 1b-8b. As demonstrated by the elaboration of alpha-hydroxy ester 1b, the terminal and internal olefin moieties embodied by the diene side chain are subject to selective manipulation, one over the other.

Ruthenium-Catalyzed Tandem Cross-Metathesis/Wittig Olefination: Generation of Conjugated Dienoic Esters from Terminal Olefins

[reaction: see text] In the presence of ruthenium-based olefin metathesis catalysts and triphenylphosphine, alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes can be olefinated with diazoacetates. This ruthenium-catalyzed transformation has been employed in tandem with olefin cross-metathesis to convert terminal olefins into 1,3-dienoic esters in a single operation.

Selective synthesis of (2Z,4E)-dienyl esters by ene-diene cross metathesis

[reaction: see text] Cross metathesis of terminal alkenes with methyl (2Z,4E)-hexadienoate and related dienyl esters provides substituted (2Z,4E)-dienyl esters in good yields. Small-scale reactions are effectively promoted by the standard second-generation Grubbs-Hoveyda catalyst (GH-II), while a new fluorous GH-II catalyst is used for separation and recovery in gram-scale reactions. The transformation is featured in a rapid synthesis of the bottom fragments of the potent anticancer agents (-)-dictyostatin and 6-epi-dictyostatin.

Structure-activity relationships at the 5-position of thiolactomycin: an intact (5R)-isoprene unit is required for activity against the condensing enzymes from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Escherichia coli

Thiolactomycin inhibits bacterial cell growth through inhibition of the beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase activity of type II fatty acid synthases. The effect of modifications of the 5-position isoprenoid side chain on both IC(50) and MIC were determined. Synthesis and screening of a structurally diverse set of 5-position analogues revealed very little tolerance for substitution in purified enzyme assays, but a few analogues retained MIC, presumably through another target. Even subtle modifications such as reducing one or both double bonds of the diene were not tolerated. The only permissible structural modifications were removal of the isoprene methyl group or addition of a methyl group to the terminus. Cocrystallization of these two inhibitors with the condensing enzyme from Escherichia coli revealed that they retained the TLM binding mode at the active site with reduced affinity. These results suggest a strict requirement for a conjugated, planar side chain inserting within the condensing enzyme active site.

Formal syntheses of (+/-)-pinnaic acid and (+/-)-halichlorine

[chemical reaction: see text]. Concise formal syntheses of marine alkaloids (+/-)-pinnaic acid (1) and (+/-)-halichlorine (2) have been accomplished from a common intermediate. The syntheses illustrate the utility of selective olefin cross metathesis methodologies for the elaboration of advanced synthetic intermediates in complex molecule synthesis.

Hydrogen-mediated reductive coupling of conjugated alkynes with ethyl (N-Sulfinyl)iminoacetates: synthesis of unnatural alpha-amino acids via rhodium-catalyzed C-C bond forming hydrogenation

Rhodium-catalyzed hydrogenation of 1,3-enynes 1a-8a and 1,3-diynes 9a-13a at ambient temperature and pressure in the presence of ethyl (N-tert-butanesulfinyl)iminoacetate and ethyl (N-2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfinyl)iminoacetates, respectively, results in reductive coupling to afford unsaturated alpha-amino acid esters 1b-13b in good to excellent yields with exceptional levels of regio- and stereocontrol. Further hydrogenation of the diene containing alpha-amino acid esters 1b-8b using Wilkinson's catalyst at ambient temperature and pressure results in regioselective reduction to afford the beta,gamma-unsaturated alpha-amino acid esters 1c-8c in good to excellent yields. Exhaustive hydrogenation of the unsaturated side chains of the Boc- and Fmoc-protected derivatives of enyne and diyne coupling products 14b-16b occurs in excellent yield using Crabtree's catalyst at ambient temperature and pressure providing the alpha-amino acid esters 14d-16d, which possess saturated side chains. Finally, cross-metathesis of the Boc-protected reductive coupling product 14b with cis-1,4-diacetoxy-2-butene proceeds readily to afford the allylic acetate 14e. Isotopic labeling studies that involve reductive coupling of enyne 1a and diyne 9a under an atmosphere of elemental deuterium corroborate a catalytic mechanism in which oxidative coupling of the alkyne and imine residues is followed by hydrogenolytic cleavage of the resulting metallacycle. A stereochemical model accounting for the observed sense of asymmetric induction is provided. These studies represent the first use of imines as electrophilic partners in hydrogen-mediated reductive carbon-carbon bond formation.