Total synthesis of (+)-epoxyquinols A and B

Natural epoxyquinoids: isolation, biological activity and synthesis. An update

Epoxyquinoids are of continuing interest due to their wide natural distribution and diverse biological activities, including, but not limited to, antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, enzyme inhibitory, and others. The last review on their total synthesis was published in 2017. Since then, almost 100 articles have been published on their isolation from nature and their biological profile. In addition, the review specifically considers synthesis, including total and enantioselective, as well as the development of shorter approaches for the construction of epoxyquinoids with complex chemical architecture. Thus, this review focuses on progress in this area in order to stimulate further research.

A bioinspired, one-step total synthesis of peshawaraquinone

A concise synthesis of a stereochemically complex meroterpenoid, peshawaraquinone, via the unsymmetrical dimerization of its achiral precursor, dehydro-α-lapachone, is reported. Enabled by reversible oxa-6π-electrocyclizations of 2H-pyran intermediates, the base-catalyzed dimerization sets up an intramolecular (3 + 2) cycloaddition, with the formation of six stereocenters during the cascade. Combining the generation and in situ dimerization of dehydro-α-lapachone allows a one-step total synthesis of peshawaraquinone from lawsone and prenal.

Two ambuic acid dimers derived from homo-endo Diels-Alder reaction from Pestalotiopsis versicolor

Two new dimers of ambuic acid, pestaloversicoloric acids A (1) and B (2), and a known derivative, 13(S)-hydroxyambuic acid (3), were isolated from the static fermentation product of Pestalotiopsis versicolor. The structural identification was accomplished via analyses on the data of HR-MS, 1 D and 2 D NMR, and ECD. Different from the well-known exo-type dimer, torreyanic acid, compounds 1 and 2 represent the first example of endo-type product derived from the intermolecular Diels-Alder reaction of two molecules of ambuic acid derivative with the identical absolute stereochemistry.

Practical synthesis of ECH and epoxyquinols A and B from (-)-shikimic acid

An efficient synthesis of ECH, epoxyquinols A and B, and two bioactive analogs EqM and RKTS-33 has been completed starting from (-)-shikimic acid. Rapid establishment of the desired epoxyquinol core is facilitated through a key allylic oxidation with high stereoselectivity, which is achieved by fine tuning the cyclohexene substrate structure and reaction conditions.

Total Synthesis of (+)-Pestalofone A and (+)-Iso-A82775C

We describe the total synthesis of epoxyquinoid natural products (+)-pestalofone A and (+)-iso-A82775C. The synthesis of (+)-16-oxo-iso-A82775C, the putative biosynthetic precursor of pestalofone C, is also presented. The allene moiety present in (+)-iso-A82775C and (+)-16-oxo-iso-A82775C was constructed from the ketodiene-yne group via a biosynthetically relevant sequence involving a conjugate reduction and a base-catalyzed tautomerization. Attempted Diels-Alder reaction-based dimerizations of (+)-16-oxo-iso-A82775C and (+)-iso-A82775C toward pestalofones B and C are also described.

Recent Advances in the Synthesis of 2H-Pyrans

In this review, we discuss the nature of the different physicochemical factors affecting the valence isomerism between 2H-pyrans (2HPs) and 1-oxatrienes, and we describe the most versatile synthetic methods reported in recent literature to access to 2HPs, with the only exception of 2HPs fused to aromatic rings (i.e., 2H-chromenes), which are not included in this review.

The iso-Nazarov reaction

The acid-promoted cycloisomerization of conjugated dienals and linearly-conjugated dienones for the synthesis of five-membered ring systems is reviewed.

Biosynthetic origins of the epoxyquinone skeleton in epoxyquinols A and B

The biosynthetic origins of epoxyquinols A (1) and B (2) produced by an unidentified fungus have attracted considerable interest because these compounds could be assembled from a biosynthetic precursor, epoxycyclohexenone aldehyde (3), via an electrocyclization/intermolecular Diels-Alder dimerization cascade reaction. Furthermore, very little is known about the biosynthetic origins of naturally occurring epoxyquinone moieties. We herein describe the incorporation of (13)C at specific positions within the structure of a shunt product, epoxycyclohexenone (4), using stable isotope feeding experiments with sodium [1-(13)C]-acetate and sodium [1,2-(13)C2]-acetate. The results of these experiments strongly suggest that the epoxyquinone skeleton is assembled by a polyketide synthase.

Unusual structure-energy correlations in intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction transition states

Detailed analysis of calculated data from an experimental/computational study of intramolecular furan Diels-Alder reactions has led to the unusual discovery that the mean contraction of the newly forming C-C σ-bonds from the transition state to the product shows a linear correlation with both reaction Gibbs free energies and reverse energy barriers. There is evidence for a similar correlation in other intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions involving non-aromatic dienes. No such correlation is found for intermolecular Diels-Alder reactions.

Transition metal-promoted biomimetic steps in total syntheses

Important biomimetic steps in natural product synthesis have been promoted by transition metals, as exemplified by this beautiful ruthenium-catalyzed rearrangement of an endoperoxide into elysiapyrone A. Such reactions are supposed to occur during the biosynthesis, yet under different catalysis conditions.

Halogenation effects in intramolecular furan Diels-Alder reactions: broad scope synthetic and computational studies

For the first time a comprehensive synthetic and computational study of the effect of halogen substitution on both furan and dienophile for the intramolecular Furan Diels-Alder (IMDAF) reaction has been undertaken. Contrary to our initial expectations, halogen substitution on the dienophile was found to have a significant effect, making the reactions slower and less thermodynamically favourable. However, careful choice of the site of furan halogenation could be used to overcome dienophile halogen substitution, leading to highly functionalised cycloadducts. These reactions are thought to be controlled by the interplay of three factors: positive charge stabilisation in the transition state and product, steric effects and a dipolar interaction term identified by high level calculations. Frontier orbital effects do not appear to make a major contribution in determining the viability of these reactions, which is consistent with our analysis of calculated transition state structural data.

Opioid receptor probes derived from cycloaddition of the hallucinogen natural product salvinorin A

As part of our continuing efforts toward more fully understanding the structure-activity relationships of the neoclerodane diterpene salvinorin A, we report the synthesis and biological characterization of unique cycloadducts through [4+2] Diels-Alder cycloaddition. Microwave-assisted methods were developed and successfully employed, aiding in functionalizing the chemically sensitive salvinorin A scaffold. This demonstrates the first reported results for both cycloaddition of the furan ring and functionalization via microwave-assisted methodology of the salvinorin A skeleton. The cycloadducts yielded herein introduce electron-withdrawing substituents and bulky aromatic groups into the C-12 position. Kappa opioid (KOP) receptor space was explored through aromatization of the bent oxanorbornadiene system possessed by the cycloadducts to a planar phenyl ring system. Although dimethyl- and diethylcarboxylate analogues 5 and 6 retain some affinity and selectivity for KOP receptors and are full agonists, their aromatized counterparts 13 and 14 have reduced affinity for KOP receptors. The methods developed herein signify a novel approach toward rapidly probing the structure-activity relationships of furan-containing natural products.

Pestaloquinols A and B, isoprenylated epoxyquinols from Pestalotiopsis sp

Two new isoprenylated epoxyquinol derivatives, pestaloquinols A (2) and B (3), and their putative biosynthetic precursor, cytosporin D (1), were isolated from the crude extract of the plant endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis sp. The structures of these compounds were elucidated primarily by NMR experiments. Pestaloquinols A (2) and B (3) possess a previously undescribed nonacyclic ring system and showed cytotoxicity against HeLa cells.

Tandem enyne metathesis-metallotropic [1,3]-shift for a concise total syntheses of (+)-asperpentyn, (-)-harveynone, and (-)-tricholomenyn A

A tandem reaction sequence involving relay metathesis-induced enyne RCM and metallotropic [1,3]-shift is an effective tool to construct cyclic alkenes with embedded 1,5-dien-3-yne moieties from acyclic precursors containing a 1,3-diyne. Total syntheses of (+)-asperpentyn, (-)-harveynone, and (-)-tricholomenyn A have been accomplished by implementing this metathesis-based tandem reaction sequence as the key step.

Epoxyquinol B, a naturally occurring pentaketide dimer, inhibits NF-kappaB signaling by crosslinking TAK1

Several epoxyquinoids interfere with NF-kappaB signaling by targeting IKKbeta or NF-kappaB. We report that epoxyquinol B (EPQB), classified as an epoxyquiniod, inhibits NF-kappaB signaling through inhibition of the TAK1 complex, a factor upstream of IKKbeta and NF-kappaB. cDNA microarray analysis revealed that EPQB decreased TNF-alpha-induced expression of NF-kappaB target genes. EPQB covalently bound to a recombinant TAK1-TAB1 fusion protein in vitro, and inhibited its kinase activity. Furthermore, in vitro/in situ treatment with EPQB resulted in a ladder-like hypershift of TAK1 protein bands. We reported recently that EPQB crosslinks proteins via cysteine residues by opening its two epoxides, and our current results suggest that EPQB inhibits NF-kappaB signaling by crosslinking TAK1 itself or TAK1 through other proteins.

Chameleon Reactivity of the Allene Bond of 4-Vinylidene-2-oxazolidinone: Novel Through-Space Conjugative Nucleophilic Addition of Electron-Rich Alkenes and Hetero-Nucleophiles

The Calpha==Cbeta double bond of allene carbamates 1 serves as an electron acceptor similar to the double bond of conjugated enones by means of a through-space interaction with the N--SO2 bond; the carbamate double bond is thus subject to nucleophilic addition for a wide variety of nucleophiles, which proceeds under mild conditions by heating at 70-100 degrees C. Depending on the kind of nucleophiles, 1 displays three different reaction modes: 1) Typically enol ethers and allylsilanes promote 1,3-sulfonyl migration of 1 and undergo the inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reaction with the 1-aza-1,3-butadiene intermediates II thus formed to furnish bicyclic 2-alkoxy-5-sulfonyltetrahydropyridines 2 and 2-silylmethyl-5-sulfonyltetrahydropyridines 3, respectively, with high regio- and stereoselectivity and retention of configuration of the double bonds of these electron-rich alkenes; 2) silanes (RnSiH4-n, n=1-3) and thiols deliver the hydride and the thiolate at the Cbeta carbon and promote the 1,3-sulfonyl migration, followed by protonation of the thus-formed carbamate anion (Z)-III to provide, for example, (Z)-4 a and (Z)-4 j, respectively; 3) alcohols simply add to the Calpha==Cbeta double bond and provide (E)-6. Usually, the reaction with alcohols is accompanied by the second pathway, giving rise to, for example, (Z)-4 b in addition to (E)-6 b. Phenol engages in the third pathway and provides (E)-6 g exclusively. Heteroaromatics, such as furans and benzofurans follow the first pathway, however, in a different regioselectivity from enol ethers and allylsilanes, delivering the oxygen atom at the 3-position of 5-sulfonyltetrahydropyridines (2 g and 2 h). Indoles, on the other hand, show a dichotomy, equally enjoying the first and the third pathways and provide mixtures of (E)-7 and (E)-8, respectively.

Enantio- and diastereoselective total synthesis of (+)-panepophenanthrin, a ubiquitin-activating enzyme inhibitor, and biological properties of its new derivatives

The asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-panepophenanthrin, an inhibitor of ubiquitin-activating enzyme (E1), has been accomplished using catalytic asymmetric alpha aminoxylation of 1,4-cyclohexanedione monoethylene ketal as a key step, followed by several diastereoselective reactions. The biomimetic Diels-Alder reaction of a monomer precursor was found to proceed efficiently in water. The investigation of the biological properties of new derivatives of (+)-panepophenanthrin enabled us to develop new cell-permeable E1 inhibitors, RKTS-80, -81, and -82.

Cascade Reactions in Total Synthesis

The design and implementation of cascade reactions is a challenging facet of organic chemistry, yet one that can impart striking novelty, elegance, and efficiency to synthetic strategies. The application of cascade reactions to natural products synthesis represents a particularly demanding task, but the results can be both stunning and instructive. This Review highlights selected examples of cascade reactions in total synthesis, with particular emphasis on recent applications therein. The examples discussed herein illustrate the power of these processes in the construction of complex molecules and underscore their future potential in chemical synthesis.

Convergent and Diastereoselective Synthesis of the Polycyclic Pyran Core of Saudin

The natural product saudin was found to induce hypoglycemia in mice and, therefore, could be an appealing lead structure for the development of new agents to treat diabetes. A diastereoselective tandem Stille-oxa-electrocyclization reaction has been developed which provides access to the core structure of saudin in a rapid and convergent manner. This new reaction has been extended to the convergent preparation of a series of polycyclic pyran systems. Progress has been made on the advancement of these complex pyran systems toward the natural product. A complete account of these synthetic efforts is presented.

Computational Study on the Reaction Mechanism of the Key Thermal [4 + 4] Cycloaddition Reaction in the Biosynthesis of Epoxytwinol A

[reaction: see text] The key [4 + 4] cycloaddition in the biosynthesis of epoxytwinol A has been established by theoretical calculations to comprise of three processes. The first step is formation of the C8-C8' bond generating a biradical intermediate. Next, rotation about the C8-C8' bond occurs, and finally the C1-C1' bond is formed. Biradicals stabilized by conjugation and two hydrogen bonds are essential for realization of this rare thermal [4 + 4] cycloaddition.