A total synthesis of sarcandralactone A: a general, concise, RCM enabled approach to lindenanolide sesquiterpenoids

Terpenoids of plants from Chloranthaceae family: chemistry, bioactivity, and synthesis

Covering: 1976 to December 2023Chloranthaceae is comprised of four extant genera (Chloranthus, Sarcandra, Hedyosmum, and Ascarina), totaling about 80 species, many of which have been widely used as herbal medicines for diverse medical purposes. Chloranthaceae plants represent a rich source of structurally interesting and diverse secondary metabolites, with sesquiterpenoids and diterpenoids being the predominant structural types. Lindenane sesquiterpenoids and their oligomers, chemotaxonomical markers of the family Chloranthaceae, have shown a wide spectrum of bioactivities, attracting significant attention from organic chemists and pharmacologists. Recent achievements also demonstrated the research value of two unique structural types in this plant family, sesquiterpenoid-monoterpenoid heterodimers and meroterpenoids. This review systematically summarizes 682 structurally characterized terpenoids from 22 Chloranthaceae plants and their key biological activities as well as the chemical synthesis of selected terpenoids.

Chemistry and bioactivity of lindenane sesquiterpenoids and their oligomers

Covering: 1925 to July 2023Among the sesquiterpenoids with rich structural diversity and potential bioactivities, lindenane sesquiterpenoids (LSs) possess a characteristic cis, trans-3,5,6-carbocyclic skeleton and mainly exist as monomers and diverse oligomers in plants from the Lindera genus and Chloranthaceae family. Since the first identification of lindeneol from Lindera strychnifolia in 1925, 354 natural LSs and their oligomers with anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and anti-infective activities have been discovered. Structurally, two-thirds of LSs exist as oligomers with interesting skeletons through diverse polymeric patterns, especially Diels-Alder [4 + 2] cycloaddition. Fascinated by their diverse bioactivities and intriguing polycyclic architectures, synthetic chemists have engaged in the total synthesis of natural LSs in recent decades. In this review, the research achievements related to LSs from 1925 to July of 2023 are systematically and comprehensively summarized, focusing on the classification of their structures, chemical synthesis, and bioactivities, which will be helpful for further research on LSs and their oligomers.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Shizukaol J, Trichloranoid C and Trishizukaol A

The asymmetric total synthesis of three lindenane sesquiterpenoid oligomers, shizukaol J, trichloranoid C and trishizukaol A, has been accomplished concisely in 15, 16 and 18 longest linear steps, respectively. The expeditious construction of molecular architectures was facilitated by Nelson's catalytic asymmetric ketene-aldehyde cycloaddition, a sequence of allylic alkylation/reduction/acidic cyclization to forge a lactone, and a double aldol condensation cascade to construct the 5/6 bicyclic system. Diastereoselective nucleophilic substitution promoted by a phase transfer catalyst constructed the C₁₁ quaternary stereogenic center, thus prompting synthetic efficacy toward shizukaol J. The synthesis of trichloranoid C and trishizukaol A was achieved after a cascade involving furanyl diene formation and a Diels-Alder reaction, as well as a one-pot sequence involving furan oxidation and global deprotection. Furthermore, our biological evaluation revealed that two compounds exhibited unexpected toxicity against tumor cell lines.

A unified strategy toward total syntheses of lindenane sesquiterpenoid [4 + 2] dimers

The dimeric lindenane sesquiterpenoids are mainly isolated from the plants of Chloranthaceae family. Structurally, they have a crowded molecular scaffold decorated with more than 11 stereogenic centers. Here we report divergent syntheses of eight dimeric lindenane sesquiterpenoids, shizukaols A, C, D, I, chlorajaponilide C, multistalide B, sarcandrolide J and sarglabolide I. In particular, we present a unified dimerization strategy utilizing a base-mediated thermal [4 + 2] cycloaddition between a common furyl diene, generated in situ, and various types of dienophiles. Accordingly, all the three types of lindenane [4 + 2] dimers with versatile biological activities are accessible, which would stimulate future probing of their pharmaceutical potential.

Total syntheses of shizukaols A and E

Shizukaols possess a common heptacyclic framework containing more than ten contiguous stereocenters and potential biological activities. Here we report that the total syntheses of shizukaols A (1) and E (2), two lindenane-type dimers from the Chloranthaceae family, are achieved via a modified biomimetic Diels–Alder reaction. The common crucial biomimetic diene 23 and ethylene species (6, 17) are obtained through either a highly Z-selective olefination of α-siloxy ketone with ynolate anions or an intramolecular Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons olefination from commercially available Wieland–Miescher ketone (7). This synthetic approach here opens up practical avenues for the total syntheses of the intriguing Chloranthaceae family members, as well as the understanding of their relevant biological action in nature.

Shizukaols, bioactive dimers naturally occurring in the Chloranthaceae family, possess a complex polycyclic framework with more than ten contiguous stereocenters. Here the authors report the total syntheses of shizukaols A and E achieved via a modified Diels–Alder reaction mimicking the biosynthetic pathway.