Die Prins-Makrocyclisierung als effiziente Ringschluss-Strategie in der Naturstoffsynthese

1,5-Allyl Shift by a Sequential Achmatowicz/Oxonia-Cope/Retro-Achmatowicz Rearrangement

1,3-Allyl and 1,2-allyl shifts through [3,3]- and [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangements are well-established and widely used in organic synthesis. In contrast, 1,5-allyl shift through related [3,5]-sigmatropic rearrangement is unknown because [3,5]-sigmatropic rearrangement is thermally Woodward-Hoffmann forbidden. Herein, we report an unexpected discovery of a formal 1,5-allyl shift of allyl furfuryl alcohol through a 2-step sequential rearrangement. Mechanistically, this formal 1,5-allyl shift is achieved through a sequential ring expansion/contraction rearrangement: 1) Achmatowicz rearrangement (ring expansion), and 2) cascade oxonia-Cope rearrangement/retro-Achmatowicz rearrangement (ring contraction). This new 1,5-allyl shift method is demonstrated with >20 examples and expected to find applications in organic synthesis and materials chemistry.

Tandem Macrolactone Synthesis: Total Synthesis of (-)-Exiguolide by a Macrocyclization/Transannular Pyran Cyclization Strategy

Tetrahydropyran-containing macrolactones were synthesized by integrating Meyer-Schuster rearrangement, macrocyclic ring-closing metathesis, and transannular oxa-Michael addition under gold and ruthenium catalysis. Single-step access to a variety of 14- to 20-membered macrolactones containing a tetrahydropyran ring was possible from readily available linear precursors in good yields and with moderate to excellent diastereoselectivity. A 13-step synthesis of (-)-exiguolide, an anticancer marine macrolide, showcased the feasibility of our tandem reaction sequence for macrolactone synthesis and also demonstrated the power of transannular reactions for rapid assembly of the tetrahydropyran rings of the target natural product.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Cephanolide A

The first asymmetric total synthesis of cephanolide A, a complex hexacyclic C₁₈ dinorditerpenoid from cephalotaxus sinensis, was achieved. The synthesis features a convergent strategy, which provides a flexible approach to prepare the biogenetically cephalotaxus diterpenoids and structurally related derivatives for biological studies. A mild intramolecular Prins cyclization was developed to construct the central hexahydrofluorenol skeleton (A-B-C ring), which relies on the originally proposed hydroacylation strategy. A remote hydroxy group directed hydrogenation was applied to stereospecifically reduce the tetra-substituted enone unit. A sequence of ring forming steps, including lactonization, cation mediated etherification and Friedel-Crafts cyclization, was efficiently utilized to forge the cage-like skeleton.

Catalytic Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Exiguolide

The catalytic asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-exiguolide, a complex 20-membered macrolide embedded with a bis(tetrahydropyran) motif, is reported. The convergent synthesis involves the construction of the C1-C11 tetrahydropyran segment via catalytic asymmetric allylation and Prins cyclization, and the formation of the C12-C21 phosphonate segment via catalytic asymmetric cyclocondensation reaction and Johnson-Claisen rearrangement. The synthesis of 15-epi-exiguolide is also described.

CuBr2-catalyzed diastereoselective allylation: total synthesis of decytospolides A and B and their C6-epimers

An efficient CuBr₂-catalyzed diastereoselective allylation of a cyclic hemiacetal with allyltrimethylsilane as a nucleophile has been developed. The protocol offers a cost effective, protecting group tolerant, and operationally simple approach to 2,6-trans-disubstituted tetrahydropyran with excellent diastereoselectivity. Furthermore, the application of this methodology has been demonstrated in the total synthesis of decytospolides A and B and their C6-epimers.

A Comparative Synthetic Strategy Perspective on α-Amino Acid- and Non-Amino Acid-Derived Synthons towards Total Syntheses of Selected Natural Macrolides

Macrocyclic alkaloids (macrolides) and cyclopeptides have an immense range of applications in drug discovery research because of their natural abundance and potential biological and physicochemical properties. Presently, more than 100 approved drugs or clinical drug candidates contain macrocyclic scaffolds as the biologically active component. This review provides an interesting perspective about the use of amino acid-derived chiral pools versus other methods derived from miscellaneous synthons towards the total synthesis of non-peptidic macrolides. The synthetic routes and the key strategies involved in the total syntheses of ten natural macrolides have been discussed. Both the amino acid-derived and non-amino acid-derived synthetic routes have been illustrated to present a comparative study between the two approaches.

Assembly of Tetrahydropyran Derivatives from Aldehydes, Allylboronates, and Syngas by Asymmetric Relay Catalytic Cascade Reaction

An efficient synthesis of highly enantio-enriched tetrahydropyrans from readily available aldehydes, allylboronates, and syngas has been established by multiply relay catalysis of rhodium and chiral phosphoric acid. The cascade reaction integrates the asymmetric allylboration of aldehydes and alkene hydroformylation, providing a structurally diverse range of products with different workup procedures. The concise synthesis of key chiral building blocks to access herboxidiene and leucascandrolide A demonstrates the high synthetic utility of this method. The cascade reaction employing alkenes to replace aldehydes was also successful.

An Efficient Synthesis of Benzazocines by Gold(I)-Catalyzed Tandem 1,2-Acyloxy Shift/[3+2] Cycloaddition of Terminal 1,9-Enynyl Esters

An effective synthesis of structurally diverse benzazocines was accomplished in good to excellent chemical yields (55-82 %) through a gold(I)-catalyzed cascade reaction involving tandem 1,2-acyloxy shift/[3+2] cycloaddition of terminal 1,9-enynyl esters. The reaction proceeds under extremely mild conditions and represents one of the relatively few transition-metal-catalyzed intramolecular cycloaddition reactions for the synthesis of benzazocines.

Capturing Biological Activity in Natural Product Fragments by Chemical Synthesis

Natural products have had an immense influence on science and have directly led to the introduction of many drugs. Organic chemistry, and its unique ability to tailor natural products through synthesis, provides an extraordinary approach to unlock the full potential of natural products. In this Review, an approach based on natural product derived fragments is presented that can successfully address some of the current challenges in drug discovery. These fragments often display significantly reduced molecular weights, reduced structural complexity, a reduced number of synthetic steps, while retaining or even improving key biological parameters such as potency or selectivity. Examples from various stages of the drug development process up to the clinic are presented. In addition, this process can be leveraged by recent developments such as genome mining, antibody–drug conjugates, and computational approaches. All these concepts have the potential to identify the next generation of drug candidates inspired by natural products.

Tandem Allylboration-Prins Reaction for the Rapid Construction of Substituted Tetrahydropyrans: Application to the Total Synthesis of (-)-Clavosolide A

Tetrahydropyrans are common motifs in natural products and have now been constructed with high stereocontrol through a three‐component allylboration‐Prins reaction sequence. This methodology has been applied to a concise (13 steps) and efficient (14 % overall yield) synthesis of the macrolide (−)‐clavosolide A. The synthesis also features an early stage glycosidation reaction to introduce the xylose moiety and a lithiation‐borylation reaction to attach the cyclopropyl‐containing side chain.

A Novel Allyl Transfer Coupled with a Grob Fragmentation

A novel acid-promoted rearrangement is disclosed. In the previously unknown transformation, an allyl group migrated to an in situ formed carbocation stabilized by an electron-rich aryl or heteroaryl group, resulting in a stereoselective intramolecular Grob fragmentation. The outcome of the rearrangement observed with an array of substrates can be satisfactorily rationalized using a working hypothesis with the aid of a six-membered transition state similar to those proposed for the anionic oxy-Cope or oxonia-Cope rearrangements, but involving only one instead of two double bonds.

Stereoselective synthesis and physicochemical properties of liquid-crystal compounds possessing a trans-2,5-disubstituted tetrahydropyran ring with negative dielectric anisotropy

Three stereoselective syntheses and the physicochemical properties of trans,trans-5-(4-ethoxy-2,3-difluorophenyl)-2-(4-propylcyclohexyl)tetrahydropyran, which is an important liquid-crystal compound with a large negative dielectric anisotropy (Δε=-7.3), are described. The key step in the construction of the trans-2,5-disubstituted tetrahydropyran ring in the first approach involved a benzylic cation mediated intramolecular olefin cyclization of a 2-allyloxy-1-arylethanol derivative. The second method included the Et2 Zn-induced 1,2-aryl shift of a bromohydrin obtained from a hetero-Diels-Alder reaction, followed by stereoselective bromination. The third approach utilized the hetero-Diels-Alder reaction of trans-4-propylcyclohexanecarboxaldehyde and a 2-aryl-3-(trimethylsilyl)oxy-1,3-butadiene, followed by stereoselective protonation. From results obtained by using a quantum chemical calculation method, the reason why the target compound shows a large negative Δε value is discussed.

Gold-catalyzed 1,2-acyloxy migration/intramolecular [3+2] 1,3-dipolar cycloaddtion cascade reaction: an efficient strategy for syntheses of medium-sized-ring ethers and amines

A highly efficient strategy for the formation of medium-sized-ring ethers and amines based on a gold-catalyzed cascade reaction, involving enynyl ester isomerization and intramolecular [3+2] cyclization, has been developed. Various multisubstituted medium-sized-ring unsaturated ethers and amines were obtained through this transformation. This method represents one of the relatively few transition metal catalyzed intramolecular cycloaddition reactions for medium-sized ring synthesis.

Facile access to cis-2,6-disubstituted tetrahydropyrans by palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative allylation: total syntheses of (±)-centrolobine and (+)-decytospolides A and B

cis-2,6-Tetrahydropyran is an important structural skeleton of bioactive natural products. A facile synthesis of cis-2,6-disubstituted-3,6-dihydropyrans as cis-2,6-tetrahydropyran precursors has been achieved in high regio- and stereoselectivity with high yields. This reaction involves a palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative allylation of various 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran substrates. Extending this reaction to 1,2-unsaturated carbohydrates allowed the achievement of challenging β-C-glycosylation. Based on this methodology, the total syntheses of (±)-centrolobine and (+)-decytospolides A and B were achieved in concise steps and overall high yields.

A tandem isomerization/prins strategy: iridium(III)/Brønsted acid cooperative catalysis

Working together: A mild and efficient isomerization/protonation sequence generates pyran-fused indoles by cooperative catalysis between cationic iridium(III) and Bi(OTf)3 . Three distinct cyclization manifolds lead to the corresponding bioactive scaffolds in good yields. In addition, N-substituted indoles can be synthesized enantioselectively in the presence of a chiral phosphate.