First Total Synthesis of Longimicin D

Syntheses of C2'-Fluorinated Analogs of Solamin

The details of the total syntheses of C2'-fluorinated analogs of solamin, an antitumor annonaceous acetogenin, are described. Fluorine was enantioselectively introduced at the C2'-position by organocatalytic α-fluorination of the aldehyde according to a previously reported method. C2'-fluorinated solamin and its C2'-diastereomer were synthesized by the Sonogashira coupling of a tetrahydrofuran fragment and fluorine-containing γ-lactone fragments.

Synthesis of Terminal Ethynyl Aryl Selenides and Sulfides Based on the Retro-Favorskii Reaction of Hydroxypropargyl Precursors

The retro-Favorskii reaction is an excellent way to achieve terminal alkynes. Methodologies that connect the synthesis of terminal alkynes and organochalcogen motifs are important for the construction of novel compounds. Fourteen new terminal alkynes containing either C_sp -S or C_sp -Se bonds were selectively prepared through the retro-Favorskii reaction from the respective carbinol precursors. It was discovered that terminal chalcogen alkynes were stable for weeks if stored as a solution in hexanes.

Construction of Iterative Tetrahydrofuran Ring Units and Total Synthesis of (+)-Goniocin

Cytotoxic acetogenin (+)-goniocin has been synthesized in 17 steps from (R)-O-tritylglycidol. The core structure of the contiguous C22-C10 threo-trans-threo-trans-threo-trans-tris-tetrahydrofuran (THF) ring involving an iterative THF-ring unit was synthesized. An iterative THF ring unit was constructed from an alkenyl-substituted THF ring in four steps including a Pd(II)-catalyzed ring-closing reaction and cross-metathesis. This method is general and allows the preparation of both trans-threo-trans- and trans-threo-cis-THF ring units flexibly.

Acetogenins from Annonaceae

In recent decades, annonaceous acetogenins have become highly studied plant secondary metabolites in terms of their isolation, structure elucidation, synthesis, biological evaluation, mechanism of action, and toxicity. The aim of the present contribution is to summarize chemical and biological reports published since 1997 on annonaceous acetogenins and synthetic acetogenin mimics. The compounds are considered biologically in terms of their cytotoxicity for cancer cell lines, neurotoxicity, pesticidal effects, and miscellaneous activities.

Theoretical study on the gas phase reaction of propargyl alcohol with hydroxyl radical

The reaction of propargyl alcohol with hydroxyl radical has been studied extensively at CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ//MP2/cc-pVTZ level. This is the first time to gain a conclusive insight into the reaction mechanism and kinetics for this important reaction in detail. Two reaction mechanisms were revealed, namely addition/elimination and hydrogen abstraction mechanism. The reaction mechanism confirms that OH addition to C≡C triple bond forms the chemically activated adducts, IM1 (·CHCOHCH2OH) and IM2 (CHOH·CCH2OH), and the hydrogen abstraction pathways (-CH2OH bonded to the carbon atom and alcohol hydrogen) may occur via low barriers. Harmonic model of Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus theory and variational transition state theory are used to calculate the overall and individual rate constants over a wide range of temperatures and pressures. The calculated rate constants are in good agreement with the experimental data. At atmospheric pressure with Ar as bath gas, IM1 (·CHCOHCH2OH) and IM2 (CHOH·CCH2OH) formed by collisional stabilization are dominant in the low temperature range. The production of CHCCHOH + H2O via hydrogen abstraction becomes dominate at higher temperature. The fraction of IM3 (CH2COHCH2·O) is very significant over the moderate temperature range.

Critical role of a methyl group on the γ-lactone ring of annonaceous acetogenins in the potent inhibition of mitochondrial complex I

C34-epi and C34-epi-C35-trifluoro analogues of solamin, a mono-THF annonaceous acetogenin, were synthesized. Their inhibitory activity, along with previously synthesized analogues (C35-fluoro, C35-difluoro, and C35-trifluorosolamins), against bovine mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) was determined. The present study revealed that the methyl group on the γ-lactone moiety is critical to the potent inhibition of complex I by natural acetogenins.

A new and general one-pot synthesis of propargyl alcohols from esters

Intermediates easily prepared by partial reduction of various esters with LDBBA as a reducing agent smoothly react with lithium acetylides to give propargyl alcohols, without isolation of partial reduction intermediates, in good yields (73-83%).

Recent progress on the total synthesis of acetogenins from Annonaceae

An overview of recent progress on the total synthesis of acetogenins from Annonaceae during the past 12 years is provided. These include mono-tetrahydrofurans, adjacent bis-tetrahydrofurans, nonadjacent bis-tetrahydrofurans, tri-tetrahydrofurans, adjacent tetrahydrofuran-tetrahydropyrans, nonadjacent tetrahydrofuran-tetrahydropyrans, mono-tetrahydropyrans, and acetogenins containing only gamma-lactone. This review emphasizes only the first total synthesis of molecules of contemporary interest and syntheses that have helped to correct structures. In addition, some significant results on the novel synthesis and structure-activity relationship studies of annonaceous acetogenins are also introduced.

Synthesis, determination of the absolute configuration of tonkinelin, and inhibitory action with bovine heart mitochondrial complex I

The first synthesis of two possible diastereomers of tonkinelin was achieved. By comparison of the optical rotation of two candidates of tonkinelin and the natural compound, it is suggested that the absolute configuration of natural tonkinelin is likely to be (17S,18S). The inhibitory activity of these compounds was examined with bovine heart mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase. These compounds showed remarkably weak inhibitory activity compared to ordinary acetogenins such as bullatacin.