Reoptimization of the Organocatalyzed Double Aldol Domino Process to a Key Enal Intermediate and Its Application to the Total Synthesis of Δ12 -Prostaglandin J3

Total Synthesis of (15R)- and (15S)-Prostaglandin A2

From both pharmaceutical and structural perspectives, the large family of prostaglandins represent a truly remarkable class of natural products. Prostaglandin A2 is a tissue hormone naturally found in human seminal plasma and in the sea whip Plexaura homomalla with yet poorly understood biological or therapeutic effects. Herein, a novel strategy for the stereoselective construction of both naturally occurring prostaglandin A2 epimers and first insights into their functional effects on the major inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A receptors (GABAAR) are provided. The synthesis of both epimers was achieved in only 11 steps starting from commercially available 2,5-dimethoxy-tetrahydrofuran employing an organocatalytic domino-aldol reaction, a Mizoroki-Heck reaction, a Wittig reaction as well as an oxidation-decarboxylation sequence. The (15R)-epimer significantly reduced GABA-induced currents through GABAA receptors while its (15S)-epimer did not show any significant effect. These data suggest that (15R)-PGA2 might serve as a novel scaffold for the development of selective GABAA receptor modulators.

Baeyer-Villiger oxidation: a promising tool for the synthesis of natural products: a review

Baeyer-Villiger oxidation is a well-known reaction utilized for the synthesis of lactones and ester functionalities from ketones. Chiral lactones can be synthesized from chiral or racemic ketones by employing asymmetric Baeyer-Villiger oxidation. These lactones act as key intermediates in the synthesis of most of the biologically active natural products, their analogues, and derivatives. Various monooxygenases and oxidizing agents facilitate BV oxidation, providing a broad range of synthetic applications in organic chemistry. The variety of enzymatic and chemoselective Baeyer-Villiger oxidations and their substantial role in the synthesis of natural products i.e., alkaloids, polyketides, fatty acids, terpenoids, etc. (reported since 2018) have been summarized in this review article.

A concise and scalable chemoenzymatic synthesis of prostaglandins

Prostaglandins have garnered significant attention from synthetic chemists due to their exceptional biological activities. In this report, we present a concise chemoenzymatic synthesis method for several representative prostaglandins, achieved in 5 to 7 steps. Notably, the common intermediate bromohydrin, a radical equivalent of Corey lactone, is chemoenzymatically synthesized in only two steps, which allows us to complete the synthesis of prostaglandin F2α in five steps on a 10-gram scale. The chiral cyclopentane core is introduced with high enantioselectivity, while the lipid chains are sequentially incorporated through a cost-effective process involving bromohydrin formation, nickel-catalyzed cross-couplings, and Wittig reactions. This cost-efficient synthesis route for prostaglandins holds the potential to make prostaglandin-related drugs more affordable and facilitate easier access to their analogues.

Organocatalyst-mediated, pot-economical total synthesis of latanoprost

The enantioselective total synthesis of latanoprost, an antiglaucoma agent, has been accomplished with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities in a pot-economical manner using six reaction vessels. An enantioselective Krische allylation was conducted in the first pot. In the second pot, olefin metathesis, silyl protection, and hydrogenolysis proceeded efficiently. In the third pot, an organocatalyst-mediated Michael reaction proceeded with excellent diastereoselectivity. The fourth pot involved a substrate-controlled Mukaiyama intramolecular aldol reaction and elimination of HNO2 to afford a methylenecyclopentanone, also with excellent diastereoselectivity. The fifth pot involved a Michael reaction of vinyl cuprate. In the sixth pot, three reactions, a cis-selective olefin metathesis, diastereoselective reduction, and deprotection, afforded latanoprost. Nearly optically pure latanoprost was obtained, and the total yield was 24%.

De Novo Synthesis of Dihydrobenzofurans and Indolines and Its Application to a Modular, Asymmetric Synthesis of Beraprost

Dihydrobenzofurans and indolines are important constituents of pharmaceuticals. Herein, we describe a novel strategy for their construction in which the aromatic ring is created de novo through an inverse-electron demand Diels-Alder reaction and cheletropic extrusion sequence of a 2-halothiophene-1,1-dioxide with an enol ether/enamide, followed by aromatization. Unusually, the aromatization process proved to be highly challenging, but it was discovered that treatment of the halocyclohexadienes with a base effected an α-elimination-aromatization reaction. Mechanistic investigation of this step using deuterium-labeling studies indicated the intermediacy of a carbene which undergoes a 1,2-hydrogen shift and subsequent aromatization. The methodology was applied to a modular and stereoselective total synthesis of the antiplatelet drug beraprost in only 8 steps from a key enal-lactone. This lactone provided the core of beraprost to which both its sidechains could be appended through a 1,4-conjugate addition process (lower ω-sidechain), followed by de novo construction of beraprost's dihydrobenzofuran (upper α-sidechain) using our newly developed methodology. Additionally, we have demonstrated the breadth of our newly established protocol in the synthesis of functionalized indolines, which occurred with high levels of regiocontrol. According to density-functional theory (DFT) calculations, the high selectivity originates from attractive London dispersion interactions in the TS of the Diels-Alder reaction.

Development of a new approach for the synthesis of (+)-15-deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 methyl ester based on the [2+2]-cycloadduct of 5-trimethylsilylcyclopentadiene and dichloroketene

This paper described a first example of the application of the “abnormal” lactone of 3-oxabicyclo[3.3.0]oct-6-en-2-one topology in targeted prostaglandin synthesis.

Organocatalytic total synthesis of bioactive compounds based on one-pot methodologies

The combination of one-pot methodologies to asymmetric organocatalysis allow a green and direct access to many types of complex highly functionalized chiral products, including important key intermediates in total syntheses of important bioactive compounds. A series of chiral organocatalysts have already been successfully applied to such syntheses. This report collects major developments in the total synthesis of biologically active products based on the use of enantioselective organocatalytic domino/tandem reactions as key steps. It is divided into two parts dealing successively with reactions based on the use of proline-derived catalysts and other organocatalysts.

The Multifaceted Roles of Proline in Cell Behavior

Herein, we review the multifaceted roles of proline in cell biology. This peculiar cyclic imino acid is: (i) A main precursor of extracellular collagens (the most abundant human proteins), antimicrobial peptides (involved in innate immunity), salivary proteins (astringency, teeth health) and cornifins (skin permeability); (ii) an energy source for pathogenic bacteria, protozoan parasites, and metastatic cancer cells, which engage in extracellular-protein degradation to invade their host; (iii) an antistress molecule (an osmolyte and chemical chaperone) helpful against various potential harms (UV radiation, drought/salinity, heavy metals, reactive oxygen species); (iv) a neural metabotoxin associated with schizophrenia; (v) a modulator of cell signaling pathways such as the amino acid stress response and extracellular signal-related kinase pathway; (vi) an epigenetic modifier able to promote DNA and histone hypermethylation; (vii) an inducer of proliferation of stem and tumor cells; and (viii) a modulator of cell morphology and migration/invasiveness. We highlight how proline metabolism impacts beneficial tissue regeneration, but also contributes to the progression of devastating pathologies such as fibrosis and metastatic cancer.

A unified strategy to prostaglandins: chemoenzymatic total synthesis of cloprostenol, bimatoprost, PGF2α, fluprostenol, and travoprost guided by biocatalytic retrosynthesis

Development of efficient and stereoselective synthesis of prostaglandins (PGs) is of utmost importance, owing to their valuable medicinal applications and unique chemical structures. We report here a unified synthesis of PGs cloprostenol, bimatoprost, PGF_2α, fluprostenol, and travoprost from the readily available dichloro-containing bicyclic ketone 6a guided by biocatalytic retrosynthesis, in 11-12 steps with 3.8-8.4% overall yields. An unprecedented Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenase (BVMO)-catalyzed stereoselective oxidation of 6a (99% ee), and a ketoreductase (KRED)-catalyzed diastereoselective reduction of enones 12 (87 : 13 to 99 : 1 dr) were utilized in combination for the first time to set the critical stereochemical configurations under mild conditions. Another key transformation was the copper(ii)-catalyzed regioselective p-phenylbenzoylation of the secondary alcohol of diol 10 (9.3 : 1 rr). This study not only provides an alternative route to the highly stereoselective synthesis of PGs, but also showcases the usefulness and great potential of biocatalysis in construction of complex molecules.

Asymmetric organocatalysis: an enabling technology for medicinal chemistry

The efficacy and synthetic versatility of asymmetric organocatalysis have contributed enormously to the field of organic synthesis since the early 2000s. As asymmetric organocatalytic methods mature, they have extended beyond the academia and undergone scale-up for the production of chiral drugs, natural products, and enantiomerically enriched bioactive molecules. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the applications of asymmetric organocatalysis in medicinal chemistry. A general picture of asymmetric organocatalytic strategies in medicinal chemistry is firstly presented, and the specific applications of these strategies in pharmaceutical synthesis are systematically described, with a focus on the preparation of antiviral, anticancer, neuroprotective, cardiovascular, antibacterial, and antiparasitic agents, as well as several miscellaneous bioactive agents. The review concludes with a discussion of the challenges, limitations and future prospects for organocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of medicinally valuable compounds.

Concise, scalable and enantioselective total synthesis of prostaglandins

Prostaglandins are among the most important natural isolates owing to their broad range of bioactivities and unique structures. However, current methods for the synthesis of prostaglandins suffer from low yields and lengthy steps. Here, we report a practicability-oriented synthetic strategy for the enantioselective and divergent synthesis of prostaglandins. In this approach, the multiply substituted five-membered rings in prostaglandins were constructed via the key enyne cycloisomerization with excellent selectivity (>20:1 d.r., 98% e.e.). The crucial chiral centre on the scaffold of the prostaglandins was installed using the asymmetric hydrogenation method (up to 98% yield and 98% e.e.). From our versatile common intermediates, a series of prostaglandins and related drugs could be produced in two steps, and fluprostenol could be prepared on a 20-gram scale.

Lactones in the Synthesis of Prostaglandins and Prostaglandin Analogs

In the total stereo-controlled synthesis of natural prostaglandins (PGs) and their structural analogs, a vast class of compounds and drugs, known as the lactones, are encountered in a few key steps to build the final molecule, as: δ-lactones, γ-lactones, and 1,9-, 1,11-, and 1,15-macrolactones. After the synthesis of 1,9-PGF2α and 1,15-PGF2α lactones, many 1,15-lactones of E2, E3, F2, F3, A2, and A3 were found in the marine mollusc Tethys fimbria and the quest for understanding their biological role stimulated the research on their synthesis. Then 1,9-, 1,11-, and 1,15-PG lactones of the drugs were synthesized as an alternative to the corresponding esters, and the first part of the paper describes the methods used for their synthesis. The efficient Corey procedure for the synthesis of prostaglandins uses the key δ-lactone and γ-lactone intermediates with three or four stereocenters on the cyclopentane fragment to link the PG side chains. The paper describes the most used procedures for the synthesis of the milestone δ-Corey-lactones and γ-Corey-lactones, their improvements, and some new promising methods, such as interesting, new stereo-controlled and catalyzed enantioselective reactions, and methods based on the chemical/enzymatic resolution of the compounds in different steps of the sequences. The many uses of δ-lactones not only for the synthesis of γ-lactones, but also for obtaining 9β-halogen-PGs and halogen-substituted cyclopentane intermediates, as synthons for new 9β-PG analogs and future applications, are also discussed.

Pot-Economical Total Synthesis of Clinprost

The pot-economical synthesis of clinprost is reported, in which the core bicyclo[3.3.0]octenone structure was synthesized by two key steps: an asymmetric domino Michael/Michael reaction catalyzed by diphenylprolinol silyl ether and an intramolecular Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction. The trisubstituted endocyclic alkene was selectively introduced by 1,4-reduction followed by trapping of the generated enolate with Tf₂NPh and subsequent utilization of the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction. Chiral, nonracemic clinprost was synthesized in seven pots with a 17% total yield and excellent enantioselectivity.

Total Synthesis of Thromboxane B2 via a Key Bicyclic Enal Intermediate

A 12-step asymmetric synthesis of thromboxane B₂ (TxB₂) from 2,5-dimethoxytetrahydrofuran is described. The synthesis employs our organocatalytic aldol reaction of succinaldehyde to give a key bicyclic enal intermediate. From here, the synthetic strategy involves a conjugate addition of an alkenyl side chain to the bicyclic enal, Baeyer-Villiger oxidation, and a highly Z-selective Wittig olefination of a hemiacetal. Key to success was minimizing redox operations and the manipulation of functional groups in the correct order.

Preparation and Chiral HPLC Separation of the Enantiomeric Forms of Natural Prostaglandins

Four enantiomeric forms of natural prostaglandins, ent-PGF2α ((−)-1), ent-PGE2 ((+)-2) ent-PGF1α ((−)-3), and ent-PGE1 ((+)-4) have been synthetized in gram scale by Corey synthesis used in the prostaglandin plants of CHINOIN, Budapest. Chiral HPLC methods have been developed to separate the enantiomeric pairs. Enantiomers of natural prostaglandins can be used as analytical standards to verify the enantiopurity of synthetic prostaglandins, or as biomarkers to study oxidation processes in vivo.

Prostaglandin Total Synthesis Enabled by the Organocatalytic Dimerization of Succinaldehyde

Prostaglandins have been attractive targets in total synthesis for over 50 years, resulting in the development of new synthetic strategies and methodologies that have served the broader chemical community. However, these molecules are not just of academic interest, a number of prostaglandin analogues are used in the clinic, and some are even on the WHO list of essential medicines. In this personal account, we describe our own approach to the family of prostaglandins, which centers around the synthesis of a key enal intermediate, formed from the l-proline catalysed dimerization of succinaldehyde. We highlight the discovery and further optimization of this key reaction, its scale up, and subsequent application to a range of prostaglandins.

Synthesis, Stability, and Biological Studies of Fluorinated Analogues of Thromboxane A2

Platelet activation results in the generation of thromboxane A₂ (TxA₂), which promotes thrombus formation by further amplifying platelet function, as well as causing vasoconstriction. Due to its role in thrombus formation and cardiovascular disease, its production is the target of antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin. However, the study of TxA₂-stimulated cellular function has been limited by its instability (t _1/2 = 32 s, pH = 7.4). Although more stable analogues such as U46619 and difluorinated 10,10-F₂-TxA₂ have been prepared, we targeted a closer mimic to TxA₂ itself, monofluorinated 10-F-TxA₂, since the number of fluorine atoms can affect function. Key steps in the synthesis of F-TxA₂ included α-fluorination of a lactone bearing a β-alkoxy group, and a novel synthesis of the strained acetal. F-TxA₂ was found to be 10⁵ more stable than TxA₂, and surprisingly was only slightly less stable than F₂-TxA₂. Preliminary biological studies showed that F-TxA₂ has similar potency as TxA₂ toward inducing platelet aggregation but was superior to F₂-TxA₂ in activating integrin α_IIbβ₃.

Domino and one-pot syntheses of biologically active compounds using diphenylprolinol silyl ether

The successful application of diphenylprolinol silyl ether, which is one of the widely used organocatalysts, to the synthesis of natural products and drugs, is described mostly focusing on the author’s results. The molecules that are explained in this paper are baclofen, telcagepant, oseltamivir, ABT-341, prostaglandins, estradiol, horsfiline and coerulescine.

Pot and time economies in the total synthesis of Corey lactone

The Corey lactone is a highly versatile intermediate for the synthesis of a variety of prostaglandin hormones that natively control a multitude of important physiological processes. Starting from commercially available compounds, we herein disclose a time-economical, one-pot enantioselective preparation of the Corey lactone by virtue of a new diphenylprolinol silyl ether-mediated domino Michael/Michael reaction to afford the substituted cyclopentanone core in a formal (3 + 2) cycloadditive fashion. More broadly, this work advances the on-demand, gram-scale synthesis of high-value targets involving chemically orthogonal transformations, whereby distinct reactions of acids, bases, organometalics, reductants and oxidants can be carried out in a single reaction vessel in a sequential fashion.

Access to a Key Building Block for the Prostaglandin Family via Stereocontrolled Organocatalytic Baeyer-Villiger Oxidation

A new protocol for the construction of a crucial bicyclic lactone of prostaglandins using a stereocontrolled organocatalytic Baeyer-Villiger (B-V) oxidation was developed. The key B-V oxidation of a racemic cyclobutanone derivative with aqueous hydrogen peroxide has enabled an early-stage construction of a bicyclic lactone skeleton in high enantiomeric excess (up to 95 %). The generated bicyclic lactone is fully primed with two desired stereocenters and enabled the synthesis of the entire family of prostaglandins according to Corey's route. Furthermore, the reactivity and enantioselectivity of B-V oxidation of racemic bicyclic cyclobutanones were evaluated and 90-99 % ee was obtained, representing one of the most efficient routes to chiral lactones. This study further facilitates the synthesis of prostaglandins and chiral lactone-containing natural products to promote drug discovery.

Short Total Synthesis of Δ12-Prostaglandin J2 and Related Prostaglandins. Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Macrocyclic Δ12-Prostaglandin J2 Analogues

Comprised of a large collection of structurally diverse molecules, the prostaglandins exhibit a wide range of biological properties. Among them are Δ¹²-prostaglandin J₂ (Δ¹²-PGJ₂) and Δ¹²-prostaglandin J₃ (Δ¹²-PGJ₃), whose unusual structural motifs and potent cytotoxicities present unique opportunities for chemical and biological investigations. Herein, we report a short olefin-metathesis-based total synthesis of Δ¹²-PGJ₂ and its application to the construction of a series of designed analogues possessing monomeric, dimeric, trimeric, and tetrameric macrocyclic lactones consisting of units of this prostaglandin. Biological evaluation of these analogues led to interesting structure-activity relationships and trends and the discovery of a number of more potent antitumor agents than their parent naturally occurring molecules.

Concise Syntheses of Δ12-Prostaglandin J Natural Products via Stereoretentive Metathesis

Δ¹²-Prostaglandin J family is recently discovered and has potent anticancer activity. Concise syntheses of four Δ¹²-prostaglandin J natural products (7-8 steps in the longest linear sequences) are reported, enabled by convergent stereoretentive cross-metathesis. Exceptional control of alkene geometry was achieved through stereoretention.

Enabling strategies for step efficient syntheses

The field of natural product total synthesis has reached the point where synthetic efficiency has become more important than merely defining a viable (yet less ideal) route to the target molecule. Synthetic efficiency is best represented by the number of steps it takes to finish the target molecule from readily available starting materials, as by reducing the number of steps, all other factors of synthetic efficiency are influenced positively. By comparing several total syntheses from the recent years, the most successful strategies for step efficient syntheses will be highlighted. Each synthesis will be presented using a color-coded synthetic flowchart, in which each step is categorized by a colored box. Five categories of transformations are defined and rated according to their synthetic value. Each class will be signified by different colors so that the reader can quickly see which parts of the synthesis are productive and those that are not.

Reoptimization of the Organocatalyzed Double Aldol Domino Process to a Key Enal Intermediate and Its Application to the Total Synthesis of Δ12 -Prostaglandin J3

Re-investigation of the l-proline catalyzed double aldol cascade dimerization of succinaldehyde for the synthesis of a key bicyclic enal intermediate, pertinent in the field of stereoselective prostaglandin synthesis, is reported. The yield of this process has been more than doubled, from 14 % to a 29 % isolated yield on a multi-gram scale (32 % NMR yield), through conducting a detailed study of the reaction solvent, temperature, and concentration, as well as a catalyst screen. The synthetic utility of this enal intermediate has been further demonstrated through the total synthesis of Δ12 -prostaglandin J3 , a compound with known anti-leukemic properties.