Short, Enantioselective Total Synthesis of Stephacidin A

Nickel(II)-Catalyzed Formal [3+2] Cycloadditions between Indoles and Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes

This article describes the development of a nickel-catalyzed regio- and diastereoselective formal [3+2] cycloaddition between N-substituted indoles and donor-acceptor cyclopropanes to synthesize cyclopenta[b]indoles. Optimized reaction conditions provide the desired nitrogen-containing cycloadducts in up to 93% yield and dr 8.6:1 with complete regioselectivity. The substrate scope showed high tolerance to various substituted indoles and cyclopropanes, resulting in the synthesis of six new cyclopenta[b]indoles and the isolation of five derivatives previously reported in the literature. In addition, a mechanistic proposal for the reaction was studied through online reaction monitoring by ESI-MS, allowing for the identification of the reactive intermediates in the Ni(II) catalyzed process. X-ray crystallography confirmed the structure and relative endo stereochemistry of the products. This method enables the fast and efficient construction of fused indolines from readily accessible starting materials.

Total synthesis of complex 2,5-diketopiperazine alkaloids

The 2,5-diketopiperazine (DKP) motif is present in many biologically relevant, complex natural products. The cyclodipeptide substructure offers structural rigidity and stability to proteolysis that makes these compounds promising candidates for medical applications. Due to their fascinating molecular architecture, synthetic organic chemists have focused significant effort on the total synthesis of these compounds. This review covers many such efforts on the total synthesis of DKP containing complex alkaloid natural products.

The application of C–H bond functionalization in the total syntheses of indole natural products

The recent advances in total synthesis of indole natural products focusing on the application of C–H bond functionalization are summarized.

A unified strategy to reverse-prenylated indole alkaloids: total syntheses of preparaherquamide, premalbrancheamide, and (+)-VM-55599

A full account of our studies toward reverse-prenylated indole alkaloids that contain a bicyclo[2.2.2]core is described. A divergent route is reported which has resulted in the synthesis of preparaherquamide, (+)-VM-55599, and premalbrancheamide. An intramolecular Dieckmann cyclization between an enolate and isocyanate was used to forge the bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane core that is characteristic of these molecules. The pentacyclic indole scaffold was constructed through a one-pot Hofmann rearrangement followed by Fischer indole synthesis. The utilization of our previously reported indole peripheral functionalization strategy also led to natural products including malbrancheamides B, C, stephacidin A, notoamides F, I and R, aspergamide B, and waikialoid A. Ultimately, the divergent route that we devised provided access to a wide range of prenylated indole alkaloids that are differently substituted on the cyclic amine core.

Progress in recent development of stereoselective synthesis of β2-amino acid derivatives from β-nitroacrylate derivatives

The synthesis and properties of β-amino acids have drawn considerable attention owing to their ubiquitous presence in naturally occurring products of biological importance. While β3-amino acids can be readily prepared from α-amino acids via one-carbon homologation, the synthesis of β2-amino acids generally requires multistep efforts. This review focuses on the recent advances in the synthesis of β2-amino acids and their derivatives from substituted β-nitropropionate analogues obtained from the stereoselective transformation of β-nitroacrylates.

CuSO4-Catalyzed Tandem C(sp3)-H Insertion Cyclization of Toluenes with Isonitriles to Form Indoles

A CuSO₄-catalyzed tandem benzylic C-H insertion cyclization of toluene derivatives and isonitriles is described. The naturally abundant salt CuSO₄ serves as a low-cost ligand-free redox catalyst. This reaction provides a practical modular synthesis of N-aryl indoles from isonitriles.

Structural and stereochemical diversity in prenylated indole alkaloids containing the bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane ring system from marine and terrestrial fungi

Covering: up to February 2017 Various fungi of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Malbranchea produce prenylated indole alkaloids possessing a bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane ring system. After the discovery of distinct enantiomers of the natural alkaloids stephacidin A and notoamide B, from A. protuberus MF297-2 and A. amoenus NRRL 35660, another fungi, A. taichungensis, was found to produce their diastereomers, 6-epi-stephacidin A and versicolamide B, as major metabolites. Distinct enantiomers of stephacidin A and 6-epi-stephacidin A may be derived from a common precursor, notoamide S, by enzymes that form a bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane core via a putative intramolecular hetero-Diels-Alder cycloaddition. This review provides our current understanding of the structural and stereochemical homologies and disparities of these alkaloids. Through the deployment of biomimetic syntheses, whole-genome sequencing, and biochemical studies, a unified biogenesis of both the dioxopiperazine and the monooxopiperazine families of prenylated indole alkaloids constituted of bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane ring systems is presented.

Copper-catalyzed oxidative benzylic C-H cyclization via iminyl radical from intermolecular anion-radical redox relay

Base-promoted C-H cleavage without transition metals opens a practical alternative for the one based on noble metals or radical initiators. The resulting carbanion can pass through radical addition to unsaturated bonds like C-N or C-C triple bonds, in which stoichiometric oxidants are needed. When in situ C-H cleavage meets catalytic carbanion-radical relay, it turns to be challenging but has not been accomplished yet. Here we report the combination of base-promoted benzylic C-H cleavage and copper-catalyzed carbanion-radical redox relay. Catalytic amount of naturally abundant and inexpensive copper salt, such as copper(II) sulfate, is used for anion-radical redox relay without any external oxidant. By avoiding using N-O/N-N homolysis or radical initiators to generate iminyl radicals, this strategy realizes modular synthesis of N-H indoles and analogs from abundant feedstocks, such as toluene and nitrile derivatives, and also enables rapid synthesis of large scale pharmaceuticals.

The synthesis of high value heterocycles from cheap starting materials remains challenging. Here, the authors develop a new strategy to realize practical and modular synthesis of N-H indoles and analogs from toluene and nitrile derivatives using naturally abundant copper salt as catalyst.

First total synthesis of ent-asperparaline C and assignment of the absolute configuration of asperparaline C

The first asymmetric total synthesis of a member of the asperparaline family was accomplished and the unknown absolute configuration of asperparaline C has been determined to be all-(S).

A Strategy for the Convergent and Stereoselective Assembly of Polycyclic Molecules

The stereoselective oxidative coupling of cyclic ketones via silyl bis-enol ethers followed by ring-closing metathesis is shown to be a general and powerful reaction sequence for the preparation of diverse polycyclic scaffolds from simple precursors. The modular strategy successfully constructs substructures prevalent in numerous bioactive natural product families, varying in substitution and carbocyclic composition. Several of the prepared compounds were shown to possess potent cytotoxic activity against a panel of tumor cell lines. The utility of this strategy was further demonstrated by a concise and highly convergent 17-step formal synthesis of the complex antimalarial marine diterpene, (+)-7,20-diisocyanoadociane.

Further Investigation of the Intermolecular Diels-Alder Cycloaddition for the Synthesis of Bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane Alkaloids

The convergent synthesis of bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane structures using an intermolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition between a pyrazinone and commercially available fumarate or maleate precursors is reported. High reactivity and stereoselection is observed with both dienophile substrates. Structure validation was achieved by conversion of cycloadducts into known [2.2.2]diazabicyclic compounds or into crystalline derivatives suitable for X-ray analysis. The cycloadduct derived from reaction of pyrazinone and maleic anhydride underwent selective anhydride ring opening and intersected an established precursor in the synthesis of brevianamide B.

Bioinspired chemical synthesis of monomeric and dimeric stephacidin A congeners

Stephacidin A and its congeners are a collection of secondary metabolites that possess intriguing structural motifs. They stem from unusual biosynthetic sequences that lead to the incorporation of a prenyl or reverse-prenyl group into a bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane framework, a chromene unit or the vestige thereof. To complement biosynthetic studies, which normally play a significant role in unveiling the biosynthetic pathways of natural products, here we demonstrate that chemical synthesis can provide important insights into biosynthesis. We identify a short total synthesis of congeners in the reverse-prenylated indole alkaloid family related to stephacidin A by taking advantage of a direct indole C6 halogenation of the related ketopremalbrancheamide. This novel strategic approach has now made possible the syntheses of several natural products, including malbrancheamides B and C, notoamides F, I and R, aspergamide B, and waikialoid A, which is a heterodimer of avrainvillamide and aspergamide B. Our approach to the preparation of these prenylated and reverse-prenylated indole alkaloids is bioinspired, and may also inform the as-yet undetermined biosynthesis of several congeners.

Unlocking Reactivity of TrpB: A General Biocatalytic Platform for Synthesis of Tryptophan Analogues

Derivatives of the amino acid tryptophan (Trp) serve as precursors for the chemical and biological synthesis of complex molecules with a wide range of biological properties. Trp analogues are also valuable as building blocks for medicinal chemistry and as tools for chemical biology. While the enantioselective synthesis of Trp analogues is often lengthy and requires the use of protecting groups, enzymes have the potential to synthesize such products in fewer steps and with the pristine chemo- and stereoselectivity that is a hallmark of biocatalysis. The enzyme TrpB is especially attractive because it can form Trp analogues directly from serine (Ser) and the corresponding indole analogue. However, many potentially useful substrates, including bulky or electron-deficient indoles, are poorly accepted. We have applied directed evolution to TrpB from Pyrococcus furiosus and Thermotoga maritima to generate a suite of catalysts for the synthesis of previously intractable Trp analogues. For the most challenging substrates, such as nitroindoles, the key to improving activity lay in the mutation of a universally conserved and mechanistically important residue, E104. The new catalysts express at high levels (>200 mg/L of Escherichia coli culture) and can be purified by heat treatment; they can operate up to 75 °C (where solubility is enhanced) and can synthesize enantiopure Trp analogues substituted at the 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-positions, using Ser and readily available indole analogues as starting materials. Spectroscopic analysis shows that many of the activating mutations suppress the decomposition of the active electrophilic intermediate, an amino-acrylate, which aids in unlocking the synthetic potential of TrpB.

Unlocking Reactivity of TrpB: A General Biocatalytic Platform for Synthesis of Tryptophan Analogues

Derivatives of the amino acid tryptophan (Trp) serve as precursors for the chemical and biological synthesis of complex molecules with a wide range of biological properties. Trp analogues are also valuable as building blocks for medicinal chemistry and as tools for chemical biology. While the enantioselective synthesis of Trp analogues is often lengthy and requires the use of protecting groups, enzymes have the potential to synthesize such products in fewer steps and with the pristine chemo- and stereoselectivity that is a hallmark of biocatalysis. The enzyme TrpB is especially attractive because it can form Trp analogues directly from serine (Ser) and the corresponding indole analogue. However, many potentially useful substrates, including bulky or electron-deficient indoles, are poorly accepted. We have applied directed evolution to TrpB from Pyrococcus furiosus and Thermotoga maritima to generate a suite of catalysts for the synthesis of previously intractable Trp analogues. For the most challenging substrates, such as nitroindoles, the key to improving activity lay in the mutation of a universally conserved and mechanistically important residue, E104. The new catalysts express at high levels (>200 mg/L of Escherichia coli culture) and can be purified by heat treatment; they can operate up to 75 °C (where solubility is enhanced) and can synthesize enantiopure Trp analogues substituted at the 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-positions, using Ser and readily available indole analogues as starting materials. Spectroscopic analysis shows that many of the activating mutations suppress the decomposition of the active electrophilic intermediate, an amino-acrylate, which aids in unlocking the synthetic potential of TrpB.

Methods Utilizing First-Row Transition Metals in Natural Product Total Synthesis

First-row transition-metal-mediated reactions constitute an important and growing area of research due to the low cost, low toxicity, and exceptional synthetic versatility of these metals. Currently, there is considerable effort to replace existing precious-metal-catalyzed reactions with first-row analogs. More importantly, there are a plethora of unique transformations mediated by first-row metals, which have no classical second- or third-row counterpart. Herein, the application of first-row metal-mediated methods to the total synthesis of natural products is discussed. This Review is intended to highlight strategic uses of these metals to realize efficient syntheses and highlight the future potential of these reagents and catalysts in organic synthesis.

Recent progress in organocatalytic asymmetric total syntheses of complex indole alkaloids

Indole and its structural analogues have been frequently found in numerous alkaloids, pharmaceutical products and related materials. The enantioselective construction of these structures allows efficient total synthesis of optically pure indole alkaloids, and hence has received worldwide interest. In the past decade, asymmetric organocatalysis has been recognized as one of the most powerful strategies to create chiral molecules with high levels of stereoselectivity. In particular, organocatalytic asymmetric cascade reactions often occur with multiple bond-breaking and forming events simultaneously or sequentially, leading to the appearance of various straightforward approaches to access core structures for asymmetric total synthesis. This review will summarize recent applications of asymmetric organocatalysis in the enantioselective synthesis of indole alkaloids.

Oxidative radical cyclizations of diketopiperazines bearing an amidomalonate unit. Heterointermediate reaction sequences toward the asperparalines and stephacidins

A novel approach to the diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane core of prenylated bridged diketopiperazine alkaloids is described by direct oxidative cyclizations of functionalized diketopiperazines mediated by ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate or the Mn(OAc)₃•2H₂O/Cu(OTf)₂ system. Divergent reaction pathways take place depending on the substitution pattern of the substrates and the oxidation conditions such as temperature or the presence or absence of persistent radical TEMPO. For ester-substituted diketopiperazines, the ester group exerts a significant influence on the reaction outcome and stereochemistry of the radical cyclizations.

Radicals: Reactive Intermediates with Translational Potential

This Perspective illustrates the defining characteristics of free radical chemistry, beginning with its rich and storied history. Studies from our laboratory are discussed along with recent developments emanating from others in this burgeoning area. The practicality and chemoselectivity of radical reactions enable rapid access to molecules of relevance to drug discovery, agrochemistry, material science, and other disciplines. Thus, these reactive intermediates possess inherent translational potential, as they can be widely used to expedite scientific endeavors for the betterment of humankind.

Alkynylation of heterocyclic compounds using hypervalent iodine reagent

The alkynylation of various nitrogen- and/or sulphur-containing heterocyclic compounds using hypervalent iodine TMS-EBX by utilization of tertiary amines under mild conditions is described. The developed metal-free methodology furnishes the corresponding alkynylated heterocycles bearing quaternary carbon in high yields.

Intermolecular Diels-Alder Cycloaddition for the Construction of Bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane Structures: Formal Synthesis of Brevianamide B and Premalbrancheamide

A stereoselective intermolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition of an intermediate pyrazinone with both achiral and chiral acrylate-derived dienophiles provides rapid access to the bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane core shared among several prenylated indole alkaloids. The product derived from cycloaddition with 2-nitroacrylate required an additional five to six synthetic operations to intercept established precursors to premalbrancheamide and brevianamide B. The chemistry detailed in this manuscript constitutes a formal total synthesis (12 steps each) of these [2.2.2]diazabicyclic natural products from proline methyl ester.

Synthetic approaches towards alkaloids bearing α-tertiary amines

Alkaloids account for some of the most beautiful and biologically active natural products. Although they are usually classified along biosynthetic criteria, they can also be categorized according to certain structural motifs. Amongst these, the α-tertiary amine (ATA), i.e. a tetrasubstituted carbon atom surrounded by three carbons and one nitrogen, is particularly interesting. A limited number of methods have been described to access this functional group and fewer still are commonly used in synthesis. Herein, we review some approaches to asymmetrically access ATAs and provide an overview of alkaloid total syntheses where those have been employed.

Synthesis of Structurally Diverse 2,3-Fused Indoles via Microwave-Assisted AgSbF6-Catalysed Intramolecular Difunctionalization of o-Alkynylanilines

2,3-Fused indoles are found in numerous natural products and drug molecules. Although several elegant methods for the synthesis of this structural motif have been reported, long reaction times and harsh conditions are sometimes required, and the yields tend to be low. Herein, we report a microwave method for straightforward access to various types of 2,3-fused indoles via AgSbF₆-catalysed intramolecular difunctionalization of o-alkynylanilines. AgSbF₆ played a role in both the hydroamination step and the imine-formation step. This method, which exhibited excellent chemoselectivity (no ring-fused 1,2-dihydroquinolines were formed), was used for formal syntheses of the natural products conolidine and ervaticine and the antihistamine drug latrepirdine.

Total Synthesis of Verruculogen and Fumitremorgin A Enabled by Ligand-Controlled C-H Borylation

Verruculogen and fumitremorgin A are bioactive alkaloids that contain a unique eight-membered endoperoxide. Although related natural products such as fumitremorgins B and C have been previously synthesized, we report the first synthesis of the more complex, endoperoxide-containing members of this family. A concise route to verruculogen and fumitremorgin A relied not only on a hydroperoxide/indole hemiaminal cyclization, but also on the ability to access the seemingly simple starting material, 6-methoxytryptophan. An iridium-catalyzed C-H borylation/Chan-Lam procedure guided by an N-TIPS group enabled the conversion of a tryptophan derivative into a 6-methoxytryptophan derivative, proving to be a general way to functionalize the C6 position of an N,C3-disubstituted indole for the synthesis of indole-containing natural products and pharmaceuticals.

Unified Approach to Prenylated Indole Alkaloids: Total Syntheses of (-)-17-Hydroxy-Citrinalin B, (+)-Stephacidin A, and (+)-Notoamide I

A unified strategy for the synthesis of congeners of the prenylated indole alkaloids is presented. This strategy has yielded the first synthesis of the natural product (-)-17-hydroxy-citrinalin B as well as syntheses of (+)-stephacidin A and (+)-notoamide I. An enolate addition to an in situ generated isocyanate was utilized in forging a key bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane moiety, and in this way connected the two structural classes of the prenylated indole alkaloids through synthesis.

Intramolecular dearomative oxidative coupling of indoles: a unified strategy for the total synthesis of indoline alkaloids

Indole alkaloids, one of the largest classes of alkaloids, serve as an important and rich source of pharmaceuticals and have inspired synthetic chemists to develop novel chemical transformations and synthetic strategies. Many biologically active natural products contain challenging indoline scaffolds, which feature a C3 all-carbon quaternary stereocenter that is often surrounded by a complicated polycyclic ring system. The creation of this quaternary stereocenter creates an inherent synthetic challenge because the substituents on the carbon center cause high steric repulsion. In addition, the presence of nitrogen atoms within the surrounding polycyclic rings can lead to synthetic difficulties. Oxidative coupling between two sp(3)-hybridized carbon anions provides a unique and powerful method for building C-C single bonds, especially for generating a C-C bond that joins one or two vicinal quaternary stereocenters. Although chemists have known of this transformation for a long time, they have only applied this reaction in total synthesis of complex natural products during the past decade. The progress of this class of reaction depends on the use of indole moieties as coupling partners. In this Account, we summarize our recent efforts to develop iodine-mediated intramolecular dearomative oxidative coupling (IDOC) reactions of indoles as part of a unified strategy for the total synthesis of three classes of indoline alkaloids. We categorized these IDOC reactions into three types based on their mode of connection to the indole moiety. In type I, the carboanion nucleophile was tethered to the indole at the C3 position. This reaction enabled the assembly of skeleton A, which features a spiro ring at the C3 position of the indole. We demonstrated the efficiency of this method by quickly assembling two classes of tetracyclic compounds and completing the total synthesis of (-)-communesins F, A, and B. For the type II IDOC reactions, the carboanion nucleophile residing at the C2 position of the indole formed a quaternary center at the C3 position of indole to produce skeleton B. We applied this IDOC reaction to synthesize two akuammiline alkaloids, vincorine and aspidophylline A. Type III IDOC reactions employed substrates with a preinstalled ring at the C2 and C3 positions of the indole. These transformations proceeded smoothly to afford polycyclic ring system C, which we used in the first enantioselective total synthesis of Kopsia alkaloid methyl N-decarbomethoxychanofruticosinate. These results further demonstrate how new chemical strategies and reactions facilitate both the first total syntheses of natural products and the discovery of more efficient synthetic routes.

Silica molybdic acid catalysed eco-friendly three component synthesis of functionalised tetrazole derivatives under microwave irradiation in water

An efficient, green and convenient method for the preparation of new tetrazole derivatives using silica molybdic acid as a recyclable and heterogeneous catalyst is reported.

Cascade reactions: a driving force in akuammiline alkaloid total synthesis

The akuammiline alkaloids are a family of intricate natural products which have received considerable attention from scientists worldwide. Despite the fact that many members of this alkaloid class were discovered over 50 years ago, synthetic chemistry has been unable to address their architectures until recently. This minireview provides a brief overview of the rich history of the akuammiline alkaloids, including their isolation, structural features, biological activity, and proposed biosyntheses. Furthermore, several recently completed total syntheses are discussed in detail. These examples not only serve to highlight modern achievements in alkaloid total synthesis, but also demonstrate how the molecular scaffolds of the akuammilines have provided inspiration for the discovery and implementation of innovative cascade reactions for the rapid assembly of complex structures.