Total syntheses of (±)-frondosin C and (±)-8-epi-frondosin C via a tandem anionic 5-exo dig cyclization–Claisen rearrangement sequence

Indanol-Based Chiral Organoiodine Catalysts for Enantioselective Hydrative Dearomatization

Rapid development in the last decade has rendered chiral organoiodine(I/III) catalysis a reliable methodology in asymmetric catalysis. However, due to the severely limited numbers of effective organoiodine catalysts, many reactions still give low to modest enantioselectivity. We report herein a solution to this issue through the introduction of a pivotal indanol scaffold to the catalyst design. Our catalyst architecture exhibits the advantage of high modularity and thereby expedites catalyst optimization. The catalyst was optimized for the challenging and highly sought-after hydrative dearomatization of 2-substituted phenols at the 4-position.

Facile Access to Cyclooctanoid Ring Systems via Microwave-Assisted Tandem 6-exo dig Cyclization-Rearrangement Sequence

Appropriately substituted 5-alkyn-1-ol systems bearing a nitrile moiety at the triple bond serve as versatile precursors to a variety of cyclooctenone derivatives via a "one-pot" base-catalyzed oxyanionic 6-exo dig cyclization/Claisen rearrangement sequence under microwave irradiation. It was found that the initially formed cyclic intermediate consists of a mixture of endo and exocyclic isomers, which appear to be in equilibrium under the reaction conditions. However, the only observed products from these reactions are α-cyano substituted cyclooctenones, derived from the exocyclic dihydrofuran intermediates.

Kinase inhibitors from marine sponges

Protein kinases play a critical role in cell regulation and their deregulation is a contributing factor in an increasing list of diseases including cancer. Marine sponges have yielded over 70 novel compounds to date that exhibit significant inhibitory activity towards a range of protein kinases. These compounds, which belong to diverse structural classes, are reviewed herein, and ordered based upon the kinase that they inhibit. Relevant synthetic studies on the marine natural product kinase inhibitors have also been included.

The organocatalytic three-step total synthesis of (+)-frondosin B

The frondosins are a family of marine sesquiterpenes isolated from the sponge Dysidea frondosa that exhibit biological activities ranging from anti-inflammatory properties to potential application in anticancer and HIV therapy. Herein, a concise enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-frondosin B is described which requires a total of three chemical steps. The enantioselective conjugate addition of a benzofuran-derived boronic acid to crotonaldehyde in the presence of an imidazolidinone organocatalyst builds the critical stereogenic center of frondosin B in the first operation, while the remaining two ring systems of this natural product are installed in the two subsequent steps. A combination of X-ray crystallographic data, deuterium labeling, and chemical correlation studies provides further evidence as to the correct absolute stereochemical assignment of (+)-frondosin B.

Asymmetric synthesis of seven-membered carbocyclic rings via a sequential oxyanionic 5-exo-dig cyclization/claisen rearrangement process. Total synthesis of (-)-frondosin B

Appropriately substituted nonracemic allyl alcohols, readily prepared from the corresponding enones by application of the CBS methodology, were converted to optically active cycloheptenone derivatives with almost complete transfer of chirality via an efficient "one-pot", cycloisomerization/Claisen rearrangement process. This methodology was directly applied to the expedient total synthesis of (-)-frondosin B.

[3,3]-Sigmatropic rearrangements: recent applications in the total synthesis of natural products

Among the fundamental chemical transformations in organic synthesis, the [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement occupies a unique position as a powerful, reliable, and well-defined method for the stereoselective construction of carbon-carbon or carbon-heteroatom bonds. While many other reactions can unite two subunits and create a new bond, the strengths of sigmatropic rearrangements derive from their ability to enable structural reorganization with unmatched build-up of complexity. Recent applications that illustrate [3,3]-sigmatropic processes as a key concept in the synthesis of complex natural products are described in this tutorial review, covering literature from about 2001 through early 2009.

A concise approach to the polycyclic scaffold of frondosin D

In a study directed at developing a concise approach to the polycyclic core of frondosin D, a Stille-Heck sequence has been identified that gives direct access to the trimethylbicyclo[5.4.0]undecane ring system common to all frondosins.

Natural sesquiterpenoids

This review covers the isolation, structural determination, synthesis and chemical and microbiological transformations of natural sesquiterpenoids. 423 references are cited.

Studies toward frondosin A and its analogues. Formal total synthesis of (+/-)-frondosin A

Two reaction sequences commencing with different starting materials were successfully employed for the synthesis of frondosin A analogues, including (+/-)-frondosin A dimethyl ether. Construction of the bicyclo[5.4.0]undecane core in each case was achieved through an expedient microwave-assisted tandem 5-exo cyclization--Claisen rearrangement process.

Intramolecular thermal allenyne [2 + 2] cycloadditions; facile construction of the 5-6-4 ring core of sterpurene

A variety of 1-allenyl-2-propargyl-substituted cyclopentanol derivatives were found to undergo facile intramolecular microwave-assisted 2+2 alleneyne cycloaddition reactions to generate tricyclic 5-6-4 ring systems present in the sterpurenes.

Total Synthesis of (±)-Frondosin B

An expeditious reaction sequence featuring a microwave-assisted tandem 5-exo cyclization-Claisen rearrangement process was used to assemble the A/B ring system of frondosin B. Completion of the target natural product was achieved in 38.2% yield over an eight-step linear sequence.