Formal Synthesis of (±)-Morphine

Total Synthesis of (±)-Simonsol C

Total synthesis of simonsol C has been achieved, focusing on the postdearomatization transformations. Our methodology integrates an efficient combination of dearomatization and Zn/AcOH reduction to introduce an allyl group, followed by oxo-Michael addition, to construct the 6/5/6 benzofuran skeleton. It offers a novel method for synthesizing allyl-containing quaternary carbon atoms in a straightforward manner.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Hydroindoles via Desymmetrizing [3+2] Annulation of p-Quinamines and Arylalkylketenes

The asymmetric desymmetrizing [3+2] annulation reaction of p-quinamines and arylalkylketenes to synthesize hydroindoles was realized. Catalyzed by chiral bisguanidinium hemisalt via multiple hydrogen bond interactions, enantiomerically enriched products with reversal of diastereoselectivity in comparison with the racemic version were afforded in good yields under mild reaction conditions. Diaryl-substituted hydroindoles could also perform the Friedel-Crafts type of addition to give more complicated multicycles. Density functional theory calculations revealed that the enantio- and diastereoselectivity stem from varied hydrogen-bonding manners.

Morphine alkaloids: History, biology, and synthesis

This chapter provides a short overview of the history of morphine since it's isolation by Sertürner in 1805. The biosynthesis of the title alkaloid as well as all total and formal syntheses of morphine and codeine published after 1996 are discussed in detail. The last section of this chapter provides a detailed overview of medicinally relevant derivatives of the title alkaloid.

Total Synthesis of (±)-Thebainone A by Intramolecular Nitrone Cycloaddition

Using an intramolecular nitrone cycloaddition and a Heck cyclization as the crucial transformations, a total synthesis of the racemic morphine alkaloid thebainone A was accomplished in 22 steps commencing with isovanillin.

A Nine-Step Formal Synthesis of (±)-Morphine

A nine-step stereoselective formal synthesis of (±)-morphine from readily available o-vanillin is presented. The carbocyclic structure of morphine was quickly assembled through an orchestration of the intermolecular Diels-Alder/Claisen/Friedel-Crafts sequential reaction. This approach involves many one-pot procedures and no protecting groups, and only a few chromatographic purifications are required.

Enantioselective synthesis of 3-amino-hydrobenzofuran-2,5-diones via Cu(i)-catalyzed intramolecular conjugate addition of imino esters

The copper-catalyzed enantioselective intramolecular conjugate addition of imino esters for desymmetrization of cyclohexadienones was described, providing access to enantioenriched 3-amino-hydrobenzofuran-2,5-diones.

New Strategy To Access Enantioenriched Cyclohexadienones: Kinetic Resolution of para-Quinols by Organocatalytic Thiol-Michael Addition Reactions

Existing stereoselective routes to 2,5-cyclohexadienones involve either desymmetrization of an achiral substrate or have attempted to perform an asymmetric dearomatization of a phenol. Herein, we report proof-of-principle experiments aimed at developing a kinetic resolution as an alternative method for accessing enantioenriched 2,5-cyclohexadienones. More specifically, chiral bifunctional thiourea catalysts were used to promote the addition of 2-thionapthalene into unsymmetric para-quinols. The selectivity of the kinetic resolution was found to be quite sensitive to substitution around the substrate.

Asymmetric synthesis of (-)-naltrexone

(-)-Naltrexone, an opioid antagonist used extensively for the management of drug abuse, is derived from naturally occurring opioids. Herein, we report the first asymmetric synthesis of (-)-naltrexone that does not proceed through thebaine. The synthesis starts with simple, achiral precursors with catalytic enantioselective Sharpless dihydroxylation employed to introduce the stereogenic centers. A Rh(i)-catalyzed C-H alkenylation and torquoselective electrocyclization cascade provides the hexahydro isoquinoline bicyclic framework that serves as the precursor to the morphinan core. The acidic conditions used for Grewe cyclization not only provide the morphinan framework, but also cause a hydride shift resulting in the introduction of the C-6 oxo functionality present in (-)-naltrexone. The C-14 hydroxyl group is installed by an efficient two-step sequence of Pd-mediated ketone to enone dehydrogenation followed by C-H allylic oxidation using Cu(ii) and O₂, a method that has not previously been reported either for the synthesis or semi-synthesis of opioids. The longest linear sequence is 17 steps, and because the stereogenic centers in the product rely on Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, the route could be used to access either enantiomer of the natural product, which have disparate biological activities. The route also may be applicable to the preparation of opioid derivatives that could not be easily prepared from the more fully elaborated and densely functionalized opioid natural products that have traditionally served as the starting inputs.

Total Synthesis of the Norhasubanan Alkaloid Stephadiamine

(+)-Stephadiamine is an unusual alkaloid isolated from the vine Stephania japonica. It features a norhasubanan skeleton, and contains two adjacent α-tertiary amines, which renders it an attractive synthetic target. Here, we present the first total synthesis of stephadiamine, which hinges on an efficient cascade reaction to implement the aza[4.3.3]propellane core of the alkaloid. The α-aminolactone moiety in a highly hindered position was installed via Tollens reaction and Curtius rearrangement. Useful building blocks for the asymmetric synthesis of morphine and (nor)hasubanan alkaloids are introduced.

Programmed serial stereochemical relay and its application in the synthesis of morphinans

Herein we report a rationally designed, serial point-to-axial and axial-to-point stereoinduction and its integration into multi-step and target-oriented organic synthesis. In this proof-of-concept study, the configurational stability of several carefully designed atropisomeric intermediates and the fidelity of their unconventional stereoinductions were systematically investigated. The highly functionalized prepared synthetic intermediate was further applied in a novel chemical method to access the morphinans and it is potentially applicable to other structurally related alkaloids.

Recent advances on the total synthesis of alkaloids in mainland China

Alkaloids are a large family of natural products that mostly contain basic nitrogen atoms. Because of their intriguing structures and important functions, they have long been popular targets for synthetic organic chemists. China's chemists have made significant progress in the area of alkaloid synthesis over past decades. In this article, selected total syntheses of alkaloids from research groups in mainland China during the period 2011–16 are highlighted.

Rapid construction of the 6/6/5 tricyclic framework via a tandem radical cyclization reaction and its application to the synthesis of 5-epi-7-deoxy-isoabietenin A

A tandem radical cyclization towards the 6/6/5 tricyclic skeleton, which exists in numerous natural products, was developed in modest to good yields.

A Cascade Strategy Enables a Total Synthesis of (±)-Morphine

Morphine has been a target for synthetic chemists since Robinson proposed its correct structure in 1925, resulting in a large number of total syntheses of morphine alkaloids. Here we report a total synthesis of (±)‐morphine that employs two key strategic cyclizations: 1) a diastereoselective light‐mediated cyclization of an O‐arylated butyrolactone to form a tricyclic cis‐fused benzofuran and 2) a cascade ene–yne–ene ring closing metathesis to forge the tetracyclic morphine core. This approach enables a short and stereoselective synthesis of morphine in an overall yield of 6.6 %.

Endogenous opiates and behavior: 2014

This paper is the thirty-seventh consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2014 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides, opioid receptors, opioid agonists and opioid antagonists. The particular topics that continue to be covered include the molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors related to behavior (endogenous opioids and receptors), and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia (pain and analgesia); stress and social status (human studies); tolerance and dependence (opioid mediation of other analgesic responses); learning and memory (stress and social status); eating and drinking (stress-induced analgesia); alcohol and drugs of abuse (emotional responses in opioid-mediated behaviors); sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (opioid involvement in stress response regulation); mental illness and mood (tolerance and dependence); seizures and neurologic disorders (learning and memory); electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (opiates and conditioned place preferences (CPP)); general activity and locomotion (eating and drinking); gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (alcohol and drugs of abuse); cardiovascular responses (opiates and ethanol); respiration and thermoregulation (opiates and THC); and immunological responses (opiates and stimulants). This paper is the thirty-seventh consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2014 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides, opioid receptors, opioid agonists and opioid antagonists. The particular topics that continue to be covered include the molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors related to behavior (endogenous opioids and receptors), and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia (pain and analgesia); stress and social status (human studies); tolerance and dependence (opioid mediation of other analgesic responses); learning and memory (stress and social status); eating and drinking (stress-induced analgesia); alcohol and drugs of abuse (emotional responses in opioid-mediated behaviors); sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (opioid involvement in stress response regulation); mental illness and mood (tolerance and dependence); seizures and neurologic disorders (learning and memory); electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (opiates and conditioned place preferences (CPP)); general activity and locomotion (eating and drinking); gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (alcohol and drugs of abuse); cardiovascular responses (opiates and ethanol); respiration and thermoregulation (opiates and THC); and immunological responses (opiates and stimulants).

Synthesis of ent-ketorfanol via a C-H alkenylation/torquoselective 6π electrocyclization cascade

The asymmetric synthesis of ent-ketorfanol from simple and commercially available precursors is reported. A Rh(I) -catalyzed intramolecular CH alkenylation/torquoselective 6π electrocyclization cascade provides a fused bicyclic 1,2-dihydropyridine as a key intermediate. Computational studies were performed to understand the high torquoselectivity of the key 6π electrocyclization. The computational results demonstrate that a conformational effect is responsible for the observed selectivity. The ketone functionality and final ring are introduced in a single step by a redox-neutral acid-catalyzed rearrangement of a vicinal diol to give the requisite carbonyl, followed by intramolecular Friedel-Crafts alkylation.

Allylsamarium Bromide-Mediated Cascade Cyclization of Homoallylic Esters. Synthesis of 2-(2-Hydroxyalkyl)cyclopropanols and 2-(2-Hydroxyethyl)bicyclo[2.1.1]hexan-1-ols

In continuation of our previous study on the intramolecular reductive coupling of simple homoallylic esters promoted by allylSmBr/HMPA/H2O, which afforded a facile synthesis of 2-(2-hydroxyalkyl)cyclopropanols, here we report the reductive cascade cyclization of but-3-enyl but-3-enoates mediated by allylSmBr/HMPA/CuCl2·2H2O, in which the two C═C bonds were successively coupled to allow the construction of the structurally interesting bridged bicyclic tertiary alcohols. Thus, the 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)bicyclo[2.1.1]hexan-1-ols were prepared in moderate to good yields with excellent diastereoselectivity.

Asymmetric transformations of achiral 2,5-cyclohexadienones

Cyclohexadienones are versatile platforms for performing asymmetric synthesis as evidenced by the numerous natural product syntheses that exploit their diverse reactivity profile. However, there are few general methods available for the direct asymmetric synthesis of chiral cyclohexadienones. To circumvent this problem, several researchers have developed catalytic asymmetric methods that employ readily available achiral 2,5-cyclohexadienones as substrates. Many of these reactions are desymmetrizations in which one of the enantiotopic alkenes of an achiral dienone is transformed. Others involve selective reaction at one alkene of an unsymmetrically substituted, achiral dienone. This review will cover advances in this area over the last 20 years and the application of these strategies in complex molecule synthesis.