Total Synthesis of Cyanolide A in the Absence of Protecting Groups, Chiral Auxiliaries, or Premetalated Carbon Nucleophiles

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.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Cyclization of Terminal and Internal Allenols: An Atom Economic and Highly Stereoselective Access Towards Tetrahydropyrans

A comprehensive study of a diastereoselective Rh-catalyzed cyclization of terminal and internal allenols is reported. The methodology allows the atom economic and highly syn-selective access to synthetically important 2,4-disubstituted and 2,4,6-trisubstituted tetrahydropyrans (THP). Furthermore, its utility and versatility are demonstrated by a great functional-group compatibility and the enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-centrolobine.

Unified Total Synthesis of (-)-Enigmazole A and (-)-15-O-Methylenigmazole A

The total synthesis of cytotoxic marine phosphomacrolides, (-)-enigmazole A and (-)-15-O-methylenigmazole A, is described in detail. The 2,6-cis-substituted tetrahydropyran ring was efficiently elaborated by using a tandem olefin cross-metathesis/intramolecular oxa-Michael addition reaction. The 18-membered macrolactone skeleton was forged via a Au-catalyzed propargylic benzoate rearrangement/macrocyclic ring-closing metathesis sequence. Late-stage diversification of a common intermediate enabled unified total synthesis of (-)-enigmazole A and (-)-15-O-methylenigmazole A.

Feedstock Reagents in Metal-Catalyzed Carbonyl Reductive Coupling: Minimizing Preactivation for Efficiency in Target-Oriented Synthesis

Use of abundant feedstock pronucleophiles in catalytic carbonyl reductive coupling enhances efficiency in target-oriented synthesis. For such reactions, equally inexpensive reductants are desired or, ideally, corresponding hydrogen autotransfer processes may be enacted wherein alcohols serve dually as reductant and carbonyl proelectrophile. As described in this Minireview, these concepts allow reactions that traditionally require preformed organometallic reagents to be conducted catalytically in a byproduct-free manner from inexpensive π-unsaturated precursors.

Total Synthesis of Clavosolide A via Asymmetric Alcohol-Mediated Carbonyl Allylation: Beyond Protecting Groups or Chiral Auxiliaries in Polyketide Construction

The 20-membered marine macrodiolide clavosolide A is prepared in 7 steps (LLS) in the absence of protecting groups or chiral auxiliaries via enantioselective alcohol-mediated carbonyl addition. In 9 prior total syntheses, 11-34 steps (LLS) were required.

Total Synthesis of Cryptocaryol A by Enantioselective Iridium-Catalyzed Alcohol C-H Allylation

The polyketide natural product cryptocaryol A is prepared in 8 steps via iridium catalyzed enantioselective diol double C-H allylation, which directly generates an acetate-based triketide stereodiad. In 4 previously reported total syntheses, 17-28 steps were required.

Catalytic enantioselective C-H functionalization of alcohols by redox-triggered carbonyl addition: borrowing hydrogen, returning carbon

The use of alcohols and unsaturated reactants for the redox-triggered generation of nucleophile-electrophile pairs represents a broad, new approach to carbonyl addition chemistry. Discrete redox manipulations that are often required for the generation of carbonyl electrophiles and premetalated carbon-centered nucleophiles are thus avoided. Based on this concept, a broad, new family of enantioselective C-C coupling reactions that are catalyzed by iridium or ruthenium complexes have been developed, which are summarized in this Minireview.