Advances in Total Synthesis of Some 2,3,5-Trisubstituted Tetrahydrofuran Natural Products

Enantioselective (3+2) Annulation of Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes with Aldehydes and Ketones Catalyzed by Brønsted Bases

The substituted tetrahydrofuran core is a structural motif in many biologically active and natural compounds. However, the scarcity of enantioselective methods developed towards its synthesis makes this field challenging and attractive to explore. Herein, the first Brønsted-base catalyzed enantioselective (3+2) annulation of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes with aldehydes and ketones affording enantioenriched 2,3,5-substituted tetrahydrofurans is reported. The reaction concept is based on activation of racemic β-cyclopropyl ketones by a chiral bifunctional Brønsted base which catalyzes the (3+2) annulation for a range of aldehydes and ketones. For aldehydes, the annulation furnished tetrahydrofurans in excellent yield, good diastereoselectivity and with excellent enantioselectivity up to >99 % ee. Surprisingly, aromatic aldehydes afforded the cis-2,5-substituted tetrahydrofurans as the major diastereoisomer, while for aliphatic aldehydes the trans-cycloadduct was favored. The reaction also proceeds well for ketones affording spiro tetrahydrofurans in excellent yields and enantioselectivities (up to 99 % ee). Hammett studies have been conducted to elucidate the influence of the electronic nature of benzaldehydes on the stereoselectivity. Based on the diastereochemical outcome for the aldehydes, two reaction paths for aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes are proposed. Finally, two diastereoselective synthetic transformations have been conducted to demonstrate the synthetic potential of the obtained products.

Stereoselective Synthesis of anti-2,4-Disubstituted Tetrahydrofurans via a Pd-Catalyzed Hayashi-Heck Arylation and Rh-Catalyzed Hydroformylation Sequence

A catalytic, two-step protocol for the expedient synthesis of anti-2,4-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans is described. In the first step, an enantioselective and regioselective Pd-catalyzed Hayashi-Heck arylation was developed using (R)-hexaMeOBiphep to generate 5-aryl-2,3-dihydrofurans. A subsequent Rh-catalyzed hydroformylation step proceeds at low Rh loading with high regio- and diastereoselectivity for the anti-2,4-disubstituted tetrahydrofuran isomer. Key to the development of the hydroformylation reaction was the utilization of either (R)-Me-i-Pr-INDOLphos or (R,R)-Ph-BPE to control the regioselectivity and provide the kinetic product isomer.

Total Synthesis of (+)-Muricatetrocin B via a Late-Stage Co-Catalyzed Hartung-Mukaiyama Cyclization

Convergent total synthesis of (+)-muricatetrocin B, a tetrahydrofuran-containing acetogenin with potent and selective cytotoxicity against the HT-29 human colon adenocarcinoma cell line, was achieved in 13 steps. Our synthesis is highlighted by a late-stage sequential olefin cross-metathesis/Hartung-Mukaiyama cyclization for convergent assembly of the 2,5-trans-substituted tetrahydrofuran ring.

Protecting-group-directed stereodivergent Tsuji-Trost cyclization: total synthesis of oxylipids and (+)-petromyroxol

A stereodivergent protecting-group-directed Tsuji-Trost cyclization for efficient synthesis of both 2,5-cis- and 2,5-trans-disubstituted-THF scaffolds has been realized. The presence of a β-O-silyl group in allyl acetate results in cis-2,5-disubstituted-3-oxygenated THF in a good up to 9 : 1 dr. Alternatively, when the free OH at the β-position is available for acetate co-ordination, it gives a trans-2,5-disubstituted-3-hydroxy THF scaffold almost as a single diastereomer (up to 1 : 0 dr). The THF scaffolds synthesized were carried forward in the total synthesis of oxylipids and (+)-petromyroxol.

The Tetrahydrofuran Motif in Marine Lipids and Terpenes

Heterocycles are particularly common moieties within marine natural products. Specifically, tetrahydrofuranyl rings are present in a variety of compounds which present complex structures and interesting biological activities. Focusing on terpenoids, a high number of tetrahydrofuran-containing metabolites have been isolated during the last decades. They show promising biological activities, making them potential leads for novel antibiotics, antikinetoplastid drugs, amoebicidal substances, or anticancer drugs. Thus, they have attracted the attention of the synthetics community and numerous approaches to their total syntheses have appeared. Here, we offer the reader an overview of marine-derived terpenoids and related compounds, their isolation, structure determination, and a special focus on their total syntheses and biological profiles.

Oxo-Rhenium-Mediated Allylation of Furanoside Derivatives: A Computational Study on the Mechanism and the Stereoselectivity

Properly substituted tetrahydrofuran (THF) rings are important building blocks in the synthesis of many natural metabolites. Having reliable procedures to control the stereoselectivity at the THF core while decorating it with different substituents is a fundamental requirement to achieve and fulfill the complexity of nature. We recently reported a new chemical approach to control the stereochemistry in the alkylation and arylation of furanoside derivatives by using a rhenium(V) complex to form an intermediate oxo-carbenium species able to react with proper soft nucleophiles. Here, we describe theoretical calculations, performed at the DFT B3LYP level, to disclose the important mechanistic features which regulate the entire catalytic cycle of the reaction of mono- and disubstituted furanosides with allyltrimethylsilane catalyzed by Re(O)Cl₃(OPPh₃)(Me₂S). Moreover, the key factors governing the allylation step were investigated, confirming that the stereoselectivity, which is independent of the anomeric configuration of starting acetal, mainly arises from the orientation of the substituent at C-4, with only marginal contribution of the substituent at C-5. Finally, puckering Cremer–Pople parameters were used to take trace of the structural modifications throughout the catalytic cycle.

Synthetic Approaches to Diospongins: A Two Decade Journey

Tetrahydropyran units having multiple stereogenic centers serve as excellent building blocks for various active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). In particular, the presence of the unique molecular architecture of the trisubstituted tetrahydropyran (THP) unit in diospongins enhances their biological activity due to multiple stereogenic centers and has attracted attention from the synthetic community over the last two decades. In this review, we discuss synthetic approaches to chiral and racemic forms of diospongins during the period 2006–2020 in chronological order.

The Complexity of Sesquiterpene Chemistry Dictates Its Pleiotropic Biologic Effects on Inflammation

Sesquiterpenes (SQs) are volatile compounds made by plants, insects, and marine organisms. SQ have a large range of biological properties and are potent inhibitors and modulators of inflammation, targeting specific components of the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) signaling pathway and nitric oxide (NO) generation. Because SQs can be isolated from over 1600 genera and 2500 species grown worldwide, they are an attractive source of phytochemical therapeutics. The chemical structure and biosynthesis of SQs is complex, and the SQ scaffold represents extraordinary structural variety consisting of both acyclic and cyclic (mono, bi, tri, and tetracyclic) compounds. These structures can be decorated with a diverse range of functional groups and substituents, generating many stereospecific configurations. In this review, the effect of SQs on inflammation will be discussed in the context of their complex chemistry. Because inflammation is a multifactorial process, we focus on specific aspects of inflammation: the inhibition of NF-kB signaling, disruption of NO production and modulation of dendritic cells, mast cells, and monocytes. Although the molecular targets of SQs are varied, we discuss how these pathways may mediate the effects of SQs on inflammation.

Pd-Catalyzed Asymmetric Three-Component Allenol Carbopalladation and Allylic Cycloaddition Cascade: A Route to Functionalized Tetrahydrofurans

The first Pd-catalyzed asymmetric three-component reaction of 2,3-allenol, aryl iodides, and 2-arylmethylenemolononitriles has been developed via an allenol carbopalladation and an allylic cycloaddition cascade. This process allows rapid access to substituted tetrahydrofurans bearing diverse functional groups in good yields with high diastereoselectivities and excellent enantioselectivities. The concise total synthesis of a lignan, (-)-2-episesaminone, has been achieved by the elaboration of a functionalized tetrahydrofuran obtained from this reaction.

The Tetrahydrofuran Motif in Polyketide Marine Drugs

Oxygen heterocycles are units that are abundant in a great number of marine natural products. Among them, marine polyketides containing tetrahydrofuran rings have attracted great attention within the scientific community due to their challenging structures and promising biological activities. An overview of the most important marine tetrahydrofuran polyketides, with a focused discussion on their isolation, structure determination, approaches to their total synthesis, and biological studies is provided.

Three-component synthesis of α-indole-β-sulfonyl tetrahydrofurans under metal-free conditions

An efficient multi-component reaction has been developed for the synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans in a “one pot” manner, starting from readily available 2-arylindoles, arylsulfonyl azides, and tetrahydrofuran under simple and easily operated reaction conditions.

Zinc Iodide Catalyzed Synthesis of Trisubstituted Allenes from Terminal Alkynes and Ketones

A straightforward, user-friendly, efficient protocol for the one pot, ZnI₂-catalyzed allenylation of terminal alkynes with pyrrolidine and ketones, toward trisubstituted allenes, is described. Trisubstituted allenes can be obtained under either conventional heating or microwave irradiation conditions, which significantly reduces the reaction time. A sustainable, widely available, and low-cost metal salt catalyst is employed, and the reactions are carried out under solvent-free conditions. Among others, synthetically valuable allenes bearing functionalities such as amide, hydroxyl, or phthalimide can be efficiently prepared. Mechanistic experiments, including kinetic isotope effect measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, suggest a rate-determining [1,5]-hydride transfer during the transformation of the intermediate propargylamine to the final allene.

Highly Stereoselective Glycosylation Reactions of Furanoside Derivatives via Rhenium (V) Catalysis

A novel approach for the formation of anomeric carbon-functionalized furanoside systems was accomplished through the employment of an oxo-rhenium catalyst. The transformation boasts a broad range of nucleophiles including allylsilanes, enol ethers, and aromatics in addition to sulfur, nitrogen, and hydride donors, able to react with an oxocarbenium ion intermediate derived from furanosidic structures. The excellent stereoselectivities observed followed the Woerpel model, ultimately providing 1,3-cis-1,4-trans systems. In the case of electron-rich aromatic nucleophiles, an equilibration occurs at the anomeric center with the selective formation of 1,3-trans-1,4-cis systems. This anomalous result was rationalized through density functional theory calculations. Different oxocarbenium ions such as those derived from dihydroisobenzofuran, pyrrolidine, and oxazolidine heterocycles can also be used as a substrate for the oxo-Re-mediated allylation reaction.

Efficient synthesis of tetrahydrofurans with chiral tertiary allylic alcohols catalyzed by Ni/P-chiral ligand DI-BIDIME

Efficient nickel-catalyzed stereoselective asymmetric intramolecular reductive cyclization of O-alkynones with P-chiral bisphosphorus ligand DI-BIDIME is reported.

Total Synthesis of (+)-Petromyroxol, (-)-iso-Petromyroxol, and Possible Diastereomers

The total synthesis of (+)-petromyroxol (1) and its seven diastereomers including the (-)-iso-petromyroxol (2) is described. The employed strategy involves the use of easily available C5-epimeric epoxides 5 and 5' and nonselective anomeric C1-allylation, proceeding with or without inversion at C2, thereby giving the possibility of synthesizing all possible diastereomers. Extensive two-dimensional (2D) NMR analyses of all eight diastereomers have been carried out to assign the chemical shifts of the central carbons and the corresponding attached hydrogens and to learn how the C/H-chemical shifts of the tetrahydrofuran ring were influenced by the adjacent centers.

Emergence of 2,3,5-trisubstituted tetrahydrofuran natural products and their synthesis

The emergence of various 2,3,5-trisubstituted tetrahydrofuran natural products in the recent literature and their synthesis is the focus of this review. These molecules exhibit varied bioactivities and have garnered the interest of several synthetic chemists owing to their efficient synthesis. A few of them have been synthesized and their absolute stereo structure has been confirmed for the first time. These will be appealing candidates in future synthetic investigations along with the untouched molecules. Thus, this compilation will reveal these molecules for expansion of their diversity within the realm of both synthesis and bioactivity studies.