Total synthesis of Palmarumycin BGs, C1 and Guignardin E

The first total synthesis of Palmarumycin BG1–3, BG5–6, C₁ and Guignardin E (1–7) were achieved by the same intermediate Palmarumycin C₂ through a N-benzyl cinchoninium chloride-catalyzed epoxidation, an organoselenium-mediated reduction, and a cerium(iii) chloride hydrate-promoted regioselective ring-opening and elimination of cyclic α,β-epoxy ketone as the key steps via6–7 step routes using 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) and 5-methoxytetralone as the starting materials in overall yields of 1.0–17.4%, respectively. Their structures and absolute configurations were characterized and determined by ¹H, ¹³C NMR, IR, HR-ESI-MS and X-ray diffraction data. These compounds displayed significant inhibition activities against HCT116, U87-MG, HepG2, BGC823 and PC9 cell lines.

The first total syntheses of Palmarumycin BG1–3, BG5–6, C₁ and Guignardin E were achieved. These compounds displayed significant inhibition activities against HCT116, U87-MG, HepG2, BGC823 and PC9 cell lines.

The Alstoscholarisine Alkaloids: Isolation, Structure Determination, Biogenesis, Biological Evaluation, and Synthesis

The alstoscholarisines are a small family of biologically and structurally interesting polycyclic monoterpenoid indole alkaloids isolated from the leaf extracts of Alstonia scholaris. The alkaloids can be divided into three different subtypes based upon their structures and putative biogenesis: (1) (-)-alstoscholarisines A-E, (2) (+)-alstoscholarisine G, and (3) (+)-alstoscholarisines H-J. This review discusses the isolation, structure determination, biological activity, and proposed biosynthesis of these metabolites. In addition, synthetic studies on the alkaloids are described including total syntheses of racemic alstoscholarisines A-E, a total synthesis of (-)-alstoscholarisine A, and a synthesis of racemic alstoscholarisine H.

Recent applications of the 1,2-carbon atom migration strategy in complex natural product total synthesis

1,2-Carbon atom rearrangement has been broadly applied as a guiding strategy in complex molecule assembly. As it entails the carbon-carbon or carbon-heteroatom bond migration between two vicinal atoms, this type of reaction is capable of generating structural complexity through a molecular skeletal reorganization. This review will focus on recent employment of this strategy in the total synthesis of natural products, highlighting the exceptional utility of such synthetic methodologies in the construction of intricate carbocycles, heterocycles or structurally complex motifs from synthetically more accessible precursors.

Synthesis of Alstoscholarisines A-E, Monoterpene Indole Alkaloids with Modulating Effects on Neural Stem Cells

A divergent synthetic strategy has been developed for stereoselective total syntheses of alstoscholarisines A-E, monoterpenoid indole alkaloids which are modulators of adult neuronal stem cells. A pivotal step includes an intermolecular Michael addition of an indole-2-acetic acid methyl ester enolate to an α,β-unsaturated N-sulfonyllactam to form the C15, C16 bond of the alkaloids. Other features of the strategy involve a selective partial reduction of an intermediate N-sulfonyllactam followed by cyclization to a bridged aminal system that serves as a key precursor for all five of the alkaloids as well as the use of an allyl group as a masked aldehyde equivalent.

Ruthenium(0)-Catalyzed [4+2] Cycloaddition of Acetylenic Aldehydes with α-Ketols: Convergent Construction of Angucycline Ring Systems

Ruthenium(0) complexes modified by CyJohnPhos or RuPhos catalyze the successive C-C coupling of acetylenic aldehydes with α-ketols to form [4+2] cycloadducts as single diastereomers. This method enables convergent construction of type II polyketide ring systems of the angucycline class.

A mild preparation of alkynes from alkenyl triflates

We report herein a protocol for preparing alkynes from alkenyl triflates at ambient temperature with LiCl as a promoter.

Ruthenium(0) Catalyzed Endiyne-α-Ketol [4 + 2] Cycloaddition: Convergent Assembly of Type II Polyketide Substructures via C-C Bond Forming Transfer Hydrogenation

Upon exposure of 3,4-benzannulated 1,5-diynes (benzo-endiynes) to α-ketols (α-hydroxyketones) in the presence of Ru(0) catalysts derived from Ru3(CO)12 and RuPhos or CyJohnPhos, successive redox-triggered C-C coupling occurs to generate products of [4 + 2] cycloaddition. The proposed catalytic mechanism involves consecutive alkyne-carbonyl oxidative couplings to form transient oxaruthanacycles that suffer α-ketol mediated transfer hydrogenolysis. This process provides a new, convergent means of assembling Type II polyketide substructures.

The endeavor of total synthesis and its impact on chemistry, biology and medicine

The synthesis of urea in 1828 set in motion the discipline of organic synthesis in general and of total synthesis in particular, the art and science of synthesizing natural products, the molecules of living nature. Early endeavors in total synthesis had as their main objective the proof of structure of the target molecule. Later on, the primary goal became the demonstration of the power of synthesis to construct complex molecules through appropriately devised strategies, making the endeavor an achievement whose value was measured by its elegance and efficiency. While these objectives continue to be important, contemporary endeavors in total synthesis are increasingly focused on practical aspects, including method development, efficiency, and biological and medical relevance. In this article, the emergence and evolution of total synthesis to its present state is traced, selected total syntheses from the author's laboratories are highlighted, and projections for the future of the field are discussed.