Studies toward the synthesis of pinnatoxins: the spiroimine fragment

Applications of oxazolidinones as chiral auxiliaries in the asymmetric alkylation reaction applied to total synthesis

In this review, a number of applications of chiral oxazolidinones in the asymmetric alkylation reaction applied to total synthesis are described.

Synthesis of the C10-C24-bis-spiroacetal core of 13-desmethyl spirolide C based on a sila-Stetter-acetalization process

Synthesis of the bis-spiroacetal core of 13-desmethyl spirolide C has been completed based on a sila-Stetter-acetalization process. The acylsilane and enone partners in the Stetter reaction were prepared in 7 and 11 steps, respectively, from (S) and (R)-aspartic acid. The quaternary center at C19 in the enone moiety was controlled by relying on the Seebach's chiral self-reproduction method using an enantiopure (S)-lactic acid based dioxolanone. The final acid-catalyzed spiroacetalization provided the desired spiroacetal as a mixture of diastereoisomers in 13 linear steps. Whatever the conditions used, the non-natural transoid isomer was formed preferentially. However, both cisoid and transoid isomers were isolated pure and their structure assigned unambiguously through NMR spectroscopic studies.

An efficient synthesis of the fully elaborated isoindolinone unit of muironolide A

An efficient stereocontrolled construction of the fully substituted isoindolone subunit of muironolide A is described. The approach is centered on the intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction between the enol form of the β-keto amide and an α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated ester, followed by the installation of the cyclohexene double bond.

Total synthesis of pinnatoxins A and G and revision of the mode of action of pinnatoxin A

Pinnatoxins belong to an emerging class of potent marine toxins of the cyclic imine group. Detailed studies of their biological effects have been impeded by unavailability of the complex natural product from natural sources. This work describes the development of a robust, scalable synthetic sequence relying on a convergent strategy that delivered a sufficient amount of the toxin for detailed biological studies and its commercialization for use by other research groups and regulatory agencies. A central transformation in the synthesis is the highly diastereoselective Ireland-Claisen rearrangement of a complex α,α-disubstituted allylic ester based on a unique mode for stereoselective enolization through a chirality match between the substrate and the lithium amide base. With synthetic pinnatoxin A, a detailed study has been performed that provides conclusive evidence for its mode of action as a potent inhibitor of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors selective for the human neuronal α7 subtype. The comprehensive electrophysiological, biochemical, and computational studies support the view that the spiroimine subunit of pinnatoxins is critical for blocking nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes, as evidenced by analyzing the effect of a synthetic analogue of pinnatoxin A containing an open form of the imine ring. Our studies have paved the way for the production of certified standards to be used for mass-spectrometric determination of these toxins in marine matrices and for the development of tests to detect these toxins in contaminated shellfish.

Marine Toxins with Spiroimine Rings: Total Synthesis of Pinnatoxin A

This microreview provides a compilation of synthetic approaches and total syntheses of pinnatoxin A in a survey of the literature up to early 2010. Pinnatoxin A is the first discovered and representative member of a fascinating group of potent marine toxins that share a spiroimine subunit as a unifying structural element.

Studies toward the synthesis of spirolides: assembly of the elaborated E-ring fragment

A stereoselective synthesis of the spiroimine fragment of spirolide C is described. The congested C7 and C29 tertiary and quaternary centers are constructed by a diastereoselective Ireland-Claisen rearrangement. The E ring is completed by means of an aldol cyclocondensation. Additional studies were preformed on the advanced intermediate to probe a future coupling strategy.