Total Synthesis of (+)-Scyphostatin, a Potent and Specific Inhibitor of Neutral Sphingomyelinase

Highly(≥98%) Stereo- and Regioselective Trisubstituted Alkene Synthesis of Wide Applicability via 1-Halo-1-alkyne Hydroboration-Tandem Negishi-Suzuki Coupling or Organoborate Migratory Insertion Protocol

(Z)-1-Halo-1-alkenylboranes (7), preparable in 82-90% yields as ≥98% isomerically pure compounds via hydroboration of 1-halo-1-alkynes, have been converted to a wide range of trisubstituted alkenes via three different routes in the tail-to-head (T-to-H) direction, i.e., (i) Palladium-catalyzed Negishi-Suzuki tandem alkenylation, (ii) treatment of 7 with organolithium or Grignard reagents to generate α-bromo-1-alkenylboronate complexes (10) that can undergo migratory insertion of a carbon group (R²) to form (E)-alkenylboranes (11) with inversion of alkene configuration (≥98% inversion), followed by fluoride-promoted Suzuki alkenylation, and (iii) Negishi coupling to generate (Z)-alkenylboranes (8) in ≥98% retention of configuration, followed by treatment with organolithium or Grignard reagents to produce trisubstituted alkenes with reversed stereo configurations. The synthetic utility of the present methodology has been demonstrated in the highly selective synthesis of side chain (4) of scyphostatin in 28% yield over nine steps in the longest linear sequence from allyl alcohol. Thus, this new tandem protocol has been emerged as the most widely applicable and highly selective route to trisubstituted alkenes including those that are otherwise difficult to prepare.

A strategy for the late-stage divergent syntheses of scyphostatin analogues

This account details the synthesis of two scyphostatin analogues exhibiting a reactive polar epoxycyclohexenone core and various amide side chains outfitted for late-stage chemical derivatization into the desirable lipophilic tails. Our efforts highlight a key ipso-dearomatization process and provide new insights regarding the incompatibility and orthogonal reactivity of scyphostatin's functional groups. We further showcase the utility of resorcinol derived 2,5-cyclohexadienones as synthetic platforms capable of participating in selective chemical reactivity, and we further demonstrate their potential for rapid elaboration into complex structural motifs.

Synthesis and evaluation of novel phosphate ester analogs as neutral sphingomyelinase inhibitors

A novel sphingomyelin inhibitor RY221B-a, which contains a bipyridyl moiety as a metal coordination site was designed based upon the mechanism of phosphate ester hydrolysis. RY221B-a was synthesized from N-Boc-sphingosine in three steps via selective etherification using stannyl acetal. Synthesized RY221B-a exhibited relatively-strong inhibitory activity against Bc-SMase (IC(50)=1.2microM).

Total synthesis of (+)-scyphostatin featuring an enantioselective and highly efficient route to the side-chain via Zr-catalyzed asymmetric carboalumination of alkenes (ZACA)

(+)-Scyphostatin (1) was synthesized via (i) construction of a side-chain 3b of > or = 98% purity in 19% yield in eleven steps featuring ZACA reaction, Negishi coupling, and HWE olefination, (ii) an asymmetric synthesis of a fully protected core 4 from 10a, and (iii) a three-step assembly of 1 in 42% yield.

Enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-candelalides A, B and C: potential Kv1.3 blocking immunosuppressive agents

Novel Kv1.3 blocking immunosuppressants, (-)-candelalides A, B and C, were efficiently synthesized for the first time in a convergent and unified manner starting from (+)-5-methyl-Wieland-Miescher ketone. The synthetic method involved the following key steps: i) a strategic [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement of a stannylmethyl ether to install the stereogenic center at C9 and the exo-methylene function at C8 present in the decalin portion; ii) a straightforward coupling of a trans-decalin portion (BC ring) and a gamma-pyrone moiety through the C16-C3' bond to assemble the requisite carbon framework; and iii) a construction of a characteristic di or tetrahydropyran ring (A ring) by internal nucleophilic ring closure of a hydroxy aldehyde or a hydroxy epoxide. The present total synthesis has fully established the absolute configuration of these natural products.

Concise Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Scyphostatin, a Potent Inhibitor of Neutral Sphingomyelinase

The concise asymmetric total synthesis of scyphostatin has been achieved by condensation of the optically active cyclohexane unit, prepared from the commercially available 1,4-cyclohexadiene by our own method, and the side chain, prepared by the method developed by Hoye and Tennakoon (T. R. Hoye, M. A. Tennakoon, Org. Lett. 2000, 2, 1481-1483). The modification of the epoxy cyclohexenone unit was achieved in a late stage of the total synthesis, and deprotection of the primary alcohol was conducted in the final step. During the synthesis several key reactions were attained: 1) intramolecular bromoetherification of the cyclohexadiene acetal; 2) stereoselective introduction of the tertiary alcohol, 3) deprotection of the acetal function to the aldehyde by combination with silyl triflate/2,4,6-collidine and the one-pot synthesis of the disilyl aldehyde compounds, with different types of silyl groups, from the dihydroxy acetal compounds; and 4) facile deprotection of the 2,4-dimethoxyphenylmethyl ((2,4)DMPM) protecting group of the primary alcohol.

Stereoselective Total Synthesis of (+)-Scyphostatin via a π-Facially Selective Diels−Alder Reaction

A stereoselective total synthesis of scyphostatin is described. The hydrophilic moiety was stereoselectively synthesized via (i) a highly pi-facially selective Diels-Alder reaction of a spirolactone generated from L-tyrosine and (ii) a hydroxy group directed epoxidation as key reactions. The hydrophilic moiety was combined with the hydrophobic side chain in the final stage. Total synthesis was achieved by overcoming the instability of the C5-C6 epoxide ring with carefully executed mild reactions. In the course of this work, it was revealed that we had mistakenly assigned the relative stereochemistry of the C5-C6 epoxide ring of the end product in our previous model study. Revision of the stereochemical assignment in the model study is described. A diastereomer of (+)-scyphostatin epimeric at C5 and C6 (the epoxide region) was also synthesized.

Synthetic Studies toward GKK1032s, Novel Antibiotic Antitumor Agents: Enantioselective Synthesis of the Fully Elaborated Tricyclic Core via an Intramolecular Diels−Alder Cycloaddition

An enantioselective synthesis of the fully elaborated tricyclic decahydrofluorene core (ABC-ring system) of GKK1032s, novel antimicrobial and antitumor agents, has been accomplished for the first time by employing a highly diastereoselective intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reaction. The key substrate for the IMDA reaction was efficiently prepared through (i) an intermolecular Diels-Alder reaction between a siloxydiene and an optically active enone derived from D-mannitol to construct the appropriately functionalized C-ring and (ii) CuCl-promoted Stille coupling of an (E)-vinyl iodide and a vinylstannane to install the requisite triene side chain as the crucial steps.

A scalable route to trisubstituted (E)-vinyl bromides

An effective, readily scalable two-step synthesis of trisubstituted (E)-vinyl bromides involving bromination of alpha,beta-unsaturated lactones followed by hydrolytic fragmentation has been developed. Several trisubstituted (E)-vinyl bromides, including multigram quantities of (+)-(E)-4-bromo-2-methyl-3-pentenol, a synthetic intermediate required for the C(8)-C(11) moieties of (+)-tedanolide (1) and (+)-13-deoxytedanolide (2), illustrate the utility of this protocol. [reaction: see text]

Synthesis and Antiapoptotic Activity of a Novel Analogue of the Neutral Sphingomyelinase Inhibitor Scyphostatin

The enantioselective synthesis of an analogue of scyphostatin, a potent inhibitor of the neutral sphingomyelinase, is described. The synthesis starts with cyclohexanone and a protected D-serine derivative. The key step is an asymmetric hydroxylation to access a hydroxycyclohexanone, which is transformed into a substituted hydroxycyclohexenone. This is converted into the scyphostatin analogue 14, a chemically and metabolically stabilised compound lacking the epoxy function of the natural congener and carrying a palmitic acid group instead of the native trienoyl residue. An evaluation of the biological activity of 14 revealed neutral sphingomyelinase inhibition in several in vivo test systems (monocytes, macrophages, hepatocytes) monitoring antiapoptotic effects and the inversion of phorbolester-induced translocation of green fluorescent protein labelled kinase (protein kinase C-alpha).

Synthesis of a 4,5-epoxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one derivative via epoxide ring opening, 1,3-carbonyl transposition and epoxide ring regeneration: a synthetic study on a scyphostatin analogue

A 6-alkyl-4,5-epoxy-6-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one derivative, a model compound for the hydrophilic moiety of scyphostatin, was stereoselectively synthesized from the Diels-Alder adduct. The key steps were the reductive cleavage of the 4,5-epoxide ring of the epoxidated adduct, the 1,3-carbonyl transposition of the 3-carbonyl group to the C1 position by a Wharton reaction and stereoselective bromination to provide a trans bromohydrin derivative, a precursor to the desired compound. Desilylation of the bromohydrin derivative with TBAF directly gave the target compound.