Concise Total Synthesis of Dihydrocorynanthenol, Protoemetinol, Protoemetine, 3-epi-Protoemetinol and Emetine

Structurally diverse isoquinoline alkaloids from the barks of Alangium salviifolium (L. f.) Wangerin and their cytotoxicity

Eleven undescribed isoquinoline alkaloids (1-8, 14, 15, and 24), along with 19 analogues (9-13, 16-23, and 25-30) were isolated from the barks of Alangium salviifolium. The structures of the undescribed compounds were elucidated through the analysis of their HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR, IR, UV, and X-ray diffraction. The absolute configuration of 8 was established via the ECD calculation. Notably, compounds 1/2 and 3/4 were two pairs of C-14 epimers. The isolated alkaloids were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines, including SGC-7901, HeLa, K562, A549, BEL-7402, HepG2, and B16, β-carboline-benzoquinolizidine (14-22) and cepheline-type (24-28) alkaloids exhibited remarkable cytotoxicity, with IC50 values ranging from 0.01 to 48.12 μM. Remarkably, compounds 17 and 21 demonstrated greater cytotoxicity than the positive control doxorubicin hydrochloride. Furthermore, a significant proportion of these bioactive alkaloids possess a C-1' epimer configuration. The exploration of their structure-activity relationship holds promise for directing future investigations into alkaloids derived from Alangium, potentially leading to novel insights and therapeutic advancements.

Saegusa Oxidation of Enol Ethers at Extremely Low Pd-Catalyst Loadings under Ligand-free and Aqueous Conditions: Insight into the Pd(II)/Cu(II)-Catalyst System

A highly efficient and practical Pd(II)/Cu(OAc)₂-catalyst system of Saegusa oxidation, which converts enol ethers to the corresponding enals with a number of diverse substrates at extremely low catalyst loadings (500 mol ppm) under ligand-free and aqueous conditions, is described. Its synthetic utility was demonstrated by large-scale applications of the catalyst system to important nature molecules. This work allows Saegusa oxidation to become a highly practical approach to preparing enals and also suggests new insight into the Pd(II)/Cu(II)-catalyst system for dehydrogenation of carbonyl compounds and decreasing Pd-catalyst loadings.

Recent applications of the Wittig reaction in alkaloid synthesis

The Wittig reaction is the chemical reaction of an aldehyde or ketone with a triphenyl phosphonium ylide (the Wittig reagent) to afford an alkene and triphenylphosphine oxide. Noteworthy, this reaction results in the synthesis of alkenes in a selective and predictable fashion. Thus, it became as one of the keystone of synthetic organic chemistry, especially in the total synthesis of natural products, where the selectivity of a reaction is paramount of importance. A literature survey disclosed the existence of vast numbers of related reports and comprehensive reviews on the applications of this important name reaction in the total synthesis of natural products. However, the aim of this chapter is to underscore, the applications of the Wittig reaction in the total synthesis of one the most important and prevalent classes of natural products, the alkaloids, especially those showing important and diverse biological activities.

Nine-step total synthesis of (−)-strychnofoline

The asymmetric synthesis of an anti-cancer spirooxindole alkaloid, (−)-strychnofoline, has, for the first time, been accomplished in only nine steps.

Redox-Annulation of Cyclic Amines and β-Ketoaldehydes

Benzo[a]quinolizine-2-one derivatives are readily assembled from 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline and β-ketoaldehydes by means of a new intramolecular redox-Mannich process. These reactions are promoted by simple acetic acid and are thought to involve azomethine ylides as reactive intermediates.

Asymmetric Redox-Annulation of Cyclic Amines

Cyclic amines such as 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline undergo regiodivergent annulation reactions with 4-nitrobutyraldehydes. These redox-neutral transformations enable the asymmetric synthesis of highly substituted polycyclic ring systems in just two steps from commercial materials. The utility of this process is illustrated in a rapid synthesis of (−)-protoemetinol. Computational studies provide mechanistic insights and implicate the elimination of acetic acid from an ammonium nitronate intermediate as the rate-determining step.

Combined heterogeneous metal/organic catalysts for eco-friendly synthesis

The interplay and synergistic cooperation between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalyst systems is of utmost importance in nature. It is also applied in chemical synthesis. Here, it can allow for new reactivity, which is not possible by the employment of a single catalyst, and promote the catalysis of multiple transformations in a one-pot sequence. This could overall lead to novel reactions and the development of sustainable chemistry. In this context, a versatile and broad synergistic strategy for the selective synthesis of valuable molecules with variable complexity and under eco-friendly conditions is disclosed. It is based on integrated heterogeneous metal/organo multiple relay catalysis, which is performed in a single reaction vessel, and allows for the assembly of complex molecules (e.g., heterocycles and carbocycles) with up to three quaternary stereocenters in a highly enantioselective fashion from simple alcohols and air/O2.

Efficient Organocatalytic Construction of C4-Alkyl Substituted Piperidines and Their Application to the Synthesis of (+)-α-Skytanthine

Chiral piperidines which contain an alkyl group at C4 positions are one of the important architectures because it is appeared in several natural products. An efficient protocol for the preparation of C4-alkyl substituted chiral piperidines using secondary amine catalyzed formal aza [3+3] cycloaddition reaction with aliphatic α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and thiomalonamate derivatives is reported. In our reaction system, thiomalonamate is an excellent nucleophile and the addition of suitable acid and its amount is an important factor for the acceleration effect in organocatalytic reaction. Furthermore, water and MeOH also have an acceleration effect. These efforts lead to only 0.1 mol % catalyst loading in multigram scale synthesis for suitable reaction time. In addition, the efficient enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-α-skytanthine by using our developed reaction as key step was achieved in total 15 % yield. All carbon and nitrogen units were introduced by one step with high enantioselectivity.

Simple indole alkaloids and those with a nonrearranged monoterpenoid unit

This review summarizes the isolation, structure determination, total syntheses and biological activities of simple indole alkaloids and those with a nonrearranged monoterpenoid unit, with literature coverage from 2012 to 2013.

A highly efficient asymmetric synthesis of quaternary stereocenter-containing indolizidine and quinolizidine alkaloids using aldehydes, nitroalkenes, and unactivated cyclic ketimines

A highly efficient approach to the construction of indolizidines and quinolizidines bearing a bridged quaternary stereocenter has been established in a one-pot fashion using aldehydes, nitroalkenes, and cyclic ketimines.

Enantioselective synthesis of indoloquinolizidines via asymmetric catalytic hydrogenation/lactamization of imino diesters

We have developed a highly efficient cascade sequence for asymmetric synthesis of indoloquinolizidines with absolute control of cis-H2/H12b relative geometry in good to excellent yields and excellent enantioselectivities. This cascade was triggered by the Ru(II)-TsDPEN-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of imino diesters, with subsequent spontaneous lactamization with discrimination between the two diastereotopic 2-alkoxy-2-oxoethyl groups. The synthetic utility of this strategy was demonstrated by the asymmetric preparation of dihydrocorynantheol, geissoschizol, and isogeissoschizol.