Radical oxygenation of 2-deoxy-2-iodo hexopyranosides with molecular oxygen

A photoisomerization-coupled asymmetric Stetter reaction: application to the total synthesis of three diastereomers of (-)-cephalimysin A

The total synthesis of 8-epi, 8,9-epi, and 9-epi-(-)-cephalimysin A is described. Our catalytic enantioselective synthesis takes advantage of a novel tandem photoisomerization/Stetter reaction. The approach provides rapid access to the desired spirofuranone lactam core in good yield and excellent enantioselectivity. A late stage oxidation strategy allows for flexible access to three of the four diastereomers of cephalimysin A. Access to the epimers provides further support for the correction of the initially proposed relative stereochemistry of cephalimysin A.

Can the stereochemical outcome of glycosylation reactions be controlled by the conformational preferences of the glycosyl donor?

Previous static and dynamical density functional theory studies of the 2,6-di-O-acetyl-3,4-O-isopropylidene-D-galactopyranosyl cations and their methanol adducts has led to an hypothesis that these cations exist in two families of conformers characterized as (2)S(O) and B(2,5), respectively. These families differ by ring inversion, each with its own reactivity. New calculations on the 2,6-di-O-acetyl-3,4-di-O-methyl-D-galactopyranosyl cation confirmed these trends. Removing the isopropylidene group allows more flexibility, but two families of conformers can be discerned with the monocyclic oxocarbenium ions in the E(3) conformation and the bicyclic dioxolenium ions in the (4)H(5) conformation. Attack on the beta-face of these monocyclic cations is favored by hydrogen bonding and the anomeric effect. The experimentally observed high beta-stereoselectivity of mannopyranosyl donors and high alpha-stereoselectivity of glucopyranosyl donors with the 4,6-O-benzylidene protecting groups can be rationalized assuming that the trans-fused 1,3-dioxane ring allows population of only one family of conformers. The combination of hydrogen bonding and conformational changes of the pyranose ring in response to the C-5[bond]O-5[bond]C-1[bond]C-2 torsion angle changes are identified as key factors in stereoselectivity. Based on these observations a strategy to design face discriminated glycosyl donors that exist predominantly in only one family of conformers is proposed.

Armed/Disarmed Effects and Adamantyl Expansion of Some Caged Tricyclic Acetals en Route to Tetrodotoxin(1)(,)(2)

Transformation of the previously prepared tricyclic ketone 4 into an advanced intermediate, 2a, of the Kishi-Goto synthesis of tetrodotoxin requires, among other things, cleavage of the internal acetal. In our attempts to carry this out, we were confronted by two major obstacles, one resulting from armed/disarmed effects encountered during acid-catalyzed acetolyses. Thus ester protecting groups proximal to the acetal moiety inhibited cleavage, e.g., 4 --> 8a and 7 --> 8b. Although the corresponding ether analogs 9a and 9b did undergo acetolysis, the products obtained, 10a and 10b, respectively, revealed the second obstacle, namely the proclivity of the caged systems to undergo adamantyl expansion. The latter result was found to depend upon the presence of properly positioned nucleophilic substituents. Thus 11b underwent adamantyl expansion to 12b but its C7 epimer 15 experienced facile cleavage to bicyclic product 16. As an alternative to solvolysis for cleavage of the internal acetal, reductive elimination was examined. For example, compound 28a, obtained from 4 by standard procedures, reacted with zinc to give, after protection and saponification, gamma,delta unsaturated carboxylic acid 29a, which underwent smooth iodolactonization. Replacing the iodide of this product with an hydroxyl (32a --> 32b) by a free radical process has succeeded albeit in disappointing yield. Nevertheless the resulting hydroxy lactone is a promising synthon of the advanced Kishi-Goto intermediate.