Enantiomeric Isopulegol as the Chiral Pool in the Total Synthesis of Bioactive Agents

Isopulegol, a pool of abundant chiral terpene, has long served as the starting material for the total synthesis of isopulegol-based drugs. As an inexpensive and versatile starting material, this compound continues to serve modern synthetic chemistry. This review highlights the total syntheses of terpenoids in the period from 1980 to 2020 in which with isopulegol applied as a building block.

Gold Catalysis for Heterocyclic Chemistry: A Representative Case Study on Pyrone Natural Products

2-Pyrones and 4-pyrones are common structural motifs in bioactive natural products. However, traditional methods for their synthesis, which try to emulate the biosynthetic pathway of cyclization of a 1,3,5-tricarbonyl precursor, are often harsh and, therefore, not particularly suitable for applications to polyfunctionalized and/or sensitive target compounds. π-Acid catalysis, in contrast, has proved to be better for a systematic exploration of the pyrone estate. To this end, alkynes are used as stable ketone surrogates, which can be activated under exceedingly mild conditions due to the pronounced carbophilicity of [LAu]⁺ fragments (L=two electron donor ligand); attack of a tethered ester carbonyl group onto the transient alkyne-gold complex then forges the pyrone ring in a fully regiocontrolled manner.

Total Syntheses of the Reported Structures of Curcusones I and J through Tandem Gold Catalysis

Total syntheses of the reported structures of the rhamnofolane diterpene natural products curcusones I and J in racemic form were achieved. The synthetic strategy features a novel tandem gold-catalyzed furan formation and furan-allene [4+3] cycloaddition to build the 5,7-fused ring system with an oxa-bridge in one step, and a stereoselective exo-Diels-Alder reaction to form the 6-membered ring. The newly developed tandem gold catalysis is quite general and can be scaled up. Our syntheses suggest that structural revisions of curcusones I and J are needed.

Ruthenium-Catalyzed Metathesis Cascade Reactions in Natural Products Synthesis

In this account, we provide a brief summary of recent developments in ruthenium-catalyzed metathesis cascade reactions towards the total synthesis of natural products. We also highlight recent progress from our own laboratory regarding the synthesis of securinega alkaloids and humulanolides, which has resulted in the development of novel ruthenium-catalyzed metathesis cascade reactions. Inspired and guided by the pioneering and elegant research conducted in this area, we developed a regio-controlled relay dienyne metathesis cascade reaction and a cyclobutene-promoted RCM/ROM/RCM cascade reaction for the synthesis of securinega alkaloids and humulanolides, respectively.

Concise, Enantioselective, and Versatile Synthesis of (-)-Englerin A Based on a Platinum-Catalyzed [4C+3C] Cycloaddition of Allenedienes

A practical synthesis of (-)-englerin A was accomplished in 17 steps and 11 % global yield from commercially available achiral precursors. The key step consists of a platinum-catalyzed [4C+3C] allenediene cycloaddition that directly delivers the trans-fused guaiane skeleton with complete diastereoselectivity. The high enantioselectivity (99 % ee) stems from an asymmetric ruthenium-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of a readily assembled diene-ynone. The synthesis also features a highly stereoselective oxygenation, and a late-stage cuprate alkylation that enables the preparation of previously inaccessible structural analogues.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of New (-)-Englerin Analogues

We report the synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of (-)-englerin A analogues obtained along our previously reported synthetic route based on a stereoselective gold(I) cycloaddition process. This synthetic route is a convenient platform to access analogues with broad structural diversity and has led us to the discovery of unprecedented and easier-to-synthesize derivatives with an unsaturation in the cyclopentyl ring between C4 and C5. We also introduce novel analogues in which the original isopropyl motif has been substituted with cyclohexyl, phenyl, and cyclopropyl moieties. The high selectivity and growth-inhibitory activity shown by these new derivatives in renal cancer cell lines opens new ways toward the final goal of finding effective drugs for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

(-)-Englerin A is a potent and selective activator of TRPC4 and TRPC5 calcium channels

Current therapies for common types of cancer such as renal cell cancer are often ineffective and unspecific, and novel pharmacological targets and approaches are in high demand. Here we show the unexpected possibility for the rapid and selective killing of renal cancer cells through activation of calcium-permeable nonselective transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) calcium channels by the sesquiterpene (-)-englerin A. This compound was found to be a highly efficient, fast-acting, potent, selective, and direct stimulator of TRPC4 and TRPC5 channels. TRPC4/5 activation through a high-affinity extracellular (-)-englerin A binding site may open up novel opportunities for drug discovery aimed at renal cancer.

Meeting the challenge of intermolecular gold(I)-catalyzed cycloadditions of alkynes and allenes

The development of gold(I)-catalyzed intermolecular carbo- and hetero-cycloadditions of alkynes and allenes has been more challenging than their intramolecular counterparts. Here we review, with a mechanistic perspective, the most fundamental intermolecular cycloadditions of alkynes and allenes with alkenes.

A continuum of progress: applications of N-hetereocyclic carbene catalysis in total synthesis

N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed transformations have emerged as powerful tactics for the construction of complex molecules. Since Stetter's report in 1975 of the total synthesis of cis-jasmon and dihydrojasmon by using carbene catalysis, the use of NHCs in total synthesis has grown rapidly, particularly over the last decade. This renaissance is undoubtedly due to the recent developments in NHC-catalyzed reactions, including new benzoin, Stetter, homoenolate, and aroylation processes. These transformations employ typical as well as Umpolung types of bond disconnections and have served as the key step in several new total syntheses. This Minireview highlights these reports and captures the excitement and emerging synthetic utility of carbene catalysis in total synthesis.

Formal synthesis of (-)-englerin A and cytotoxicity studies of truncated englerins

An efficient formal synthesis of (-)-englerin A (1) is reported. The target molecule is a recently isolated guaiane sesquiterpene that possesses highly potent and selective activity against renal cancer cell-lines. Our enantioselective strategy involved the construction of the BC ring system of compound 1 through a Rh(II)-catalyzed [4+3] cycloaddition reaction followed by subsequent attachment of the A ring through an intramolecular aldol condensation reaction. As such, this strategy allows the synthesis of truncated englerins. Evaluation of these analogues with the A498 renal cancer cell-line suggested that the A ring of englerin is crucial to its antiproliferative activity. Moreover, evaluation of these analogues led to the identification of potent growth-inhibitors of CEM cells with GI(50) values in the range 1-3 μM.

Gold-catalysed oxyarylation of styrenes and mono- and gem-disubstituted olefins facilitated by an iodine(III) oxidant

1-Hydroxy-1,2-benziodoxol-3(1H)-one (IBA) is an efficient terminal oxidant for gold-catalysed, three-component oxyarylation reactions. The use of this iodine(III) reagent expands the scope of oxyarylation to include styrenes and gem-disubstituted olefins, substrates that are incompatible with the previously reported Selectfluor-based methodology. Diverse arylsilane coupling partners can be employed, and in benzotrifluoride, homocoupling is substantially reduced. In addition, the IBA-derived co-products can be recovered and recycled.

Gold catalysis in total synthesis--an update

In this critical review, the strongly increasing amount of new applications of gold catalysis in total synthesis is summarised and, for the new developed methods, the mode of activation of the substrate by the gold catalyst is discussed (47 references).

Chemical synthesis of the englerins

In the long lasting battle against cancer, Nature sometimes gives a helping hand to researchers to find new drugs for the treatment of diseases and improvement of patients' well-being. Englerin A has emerged as a promising anticancer candidate as well as being an exciting synthetic challenge for organic chemists. This focus review summarizes the total syntheses reported to date and the synthetic approaches toward analogues of this fascinating natural product.