Stereoselective reduction of acetals. A method for reductive generation of heterocyclic ring systems

Total synthesis and structure-activity relationship study of the potent cAMP signaling agonist (-)-alotaketal A

A detailed account of the first total synthesis of alotaketal A, a tricyclic spiroketal sesterterpenoid that potently activates the cAMP signaling pathway, is provided. The synthesis employs both intra- and intermolecular reductive allylation of esters for assembling one of the fragments and their coupling. A Hg(OAc)2-mediated allylic mercuration is used to introduce the C22-hydroxyl group. The subtle influence of substituents over the course of the spiroketalization process is revealed. The synthesis confirms the relative and absolute stereochemistry of (-)-alotaketal A and allows verification of alotaketal A's effect over cAMP signaling using reporter-based FRET imaging assays with HEK 293T cells. Our studies also revealed alotaketal A's unique activity in selectively targeting nuclear PKA signaling in living cells.

Total synthesis of the potent cAMP signaling agonist (-)-alotaketal A

We have developed a convergent synthetic route to the potent cAMP signaling agonist (-)-alotaketal A that employs two stages of SmI(2)-mediated reductive allylation reactions for assembling the polycycle and fragment coupling. Also notable are a Hg(OAc)(2)-mediated selective alkene oxidation and the subtlety of the formation of the unprecedented spiroketal ring system. The probes AKAR4 and ICUE3 were used to evaluate the cAMP singaling agonistic activity of (-)-alotaketal A and elucidate its structure-activity relationship.

Studies for the enantiocontrolled preparation of substituted tetrahydropyrans: Applications for the synthesis of leucascandrolide A macrolactone

Strategies for the stereocontrolled preparations of 2,6-cis-and 2,6-trans-substituted tetrahydropyrans have been devised. These studies have explored methodology for asymmetric induction in SE' reactions using chiral 1,3,2-diazaborolidine controllers. Reactions with aldehydes at -78 °C yield nonracemic 1,5-diols for chemoselective internal backside displacements. This concept is developed as a flexible and reliable strategy in studies toward leucascandrolide A macrolactone 2 via the sequential applications of SE' reactions leading to the C1-C9 aldehyde 14, and the bis-tetrahydropyran 59, respectively.

From designer Lewis acid to designer Brønsted acid towards more reactive and selective acid catalysis

This review focuses on the development of acid catalysis for selective organic transformations conducted in our laboratories for the past 30 years. Several important concepts in designing of catalysts are described with some examples. Further, recent developments in super Brønsted acid and their applications in a one-pot procedure to construct complex molecules with high diastereoselectivities are described.(Communicated by Hitosi NOZAKI, M.J.A.).

Development of an Approach to the Synthesis of the ABC Ring System of Hemibrevetoxin B

An efficient approach for the synthesis of a model of the ABC ring system of Hemibrevetoxin B is described. Key features include a ring expansion to yield the ring C oxepane, the reduction of a 2-furyl ketone with high levels of 1,3-stereocontrol, and an Achmatowicz oxidative ring expansion to yield the ring A tetrahydropyran. All seven stereogenic centers present in the model compound were controlled with high levels (>98:<2) of diastereoselectivity.

Synthesis of a glandular secretion of the civet cat, (2S,6S)-(6-methyltetrahydropyran-2-yl)acetic acid and its enantiomer, by using the yeast-reduction product and recovered substrate from yeast reduction

A glandular secretion of the civet cat, (2S,6S)-(6-methyltetrahydropyran-2-yl)acetic acid 1 and its enantiomer, were synthesized from the yeast-reduction product and recovered substrate from yeast reduction.

Stereoisomer libraries: total synthesis of all 16 stereoisomers of the pine sawfly sex pheromone by a fluorous mixture-synthesis approach

All 16 stereoisomers of the sex pheromone of pine sawfly (3,7,11-trimethylundecanol propanoate ester) have been synthesized on a 10- to 20-mg scale by a split-parallel fluorous mixture-synthesis approach. Spectral data obtained for all 32 compounds (16 alcohols and the corresponding propionates) matched well with published data, thereby validating the fluorous-tag encoding of diastereoisomers. This fluorous-tag encoding method is recommended for the efficient synthesis of multiple stereoisomers for spectroscopic studies, biological tests, or other structure-function relationships.

Reductive Cyclizations of Hydroxysulfinyl Ketones: Enantioselective Access to Tetrahydropyran and Tetrahydrofuran Derivatives

The stereocontrolled formation of cis-2,5-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans and cis-2,6-disubstituted tetrahydropyrans is achieved from enantiopure ketosulfinyl esters by reduction, Weinreb's amide, and ketone formation, followed by the reductive cyclization (Et3SiH/TMSOTf) of the resulting hydroxysulfinyl ketones. The sulfoxide-bearing heterocycles were transformed into two natural products, (-)-centrolobine (1) and both enantiomers of cis-(6-methyltetrahydropyran-2-yl)acetic acid (2).

Studies on the synthesis of tedanolide. 2. Stereoselective synthesis of a protected C(1)-C(12) fragment

[reaction: see text] Highly diastereoselective syntheses of diketo esters 6a and 6b are described. These intermediates undergo efficient aldol reactions with protected C(13)-C(21) aldehydes 3 and 23, thereby providing advanced C(1)-C(21) tedanolide seco ester precursors 9a and 9b.

Intramolecular hydrogen abstraction reaction promoted by alkoxy radicals in carbohydrates. Synthesis of chiral 2,7-dioxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane and 6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane ring systems

The reaction of specifically protected anhydroalditols with (diacetoxyiodo)benzene or iodosylbenzene and iodine is a mild and selective procedure for the synthesis of chiral 6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane and 2,7-dioxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane ring systems under neutral conditions. This reaction can be considered to be an intramolecular glycosidation that goes through an intramolecular hydrogen abstraction promoted by an alkoxy radical followed by oxidation of the transient C-radical intermediate to an oxycarbenium ion. This methodology is useful not only for the preparation of chiral synthons but also for the selective oxidation of specific carbons of the carbohydrate skeleton, constituting a good procedure for the synthesis of protected uloses.

Studies on the synthesis of bafilomycin A(1): stereochemical aspects of the fragment assembly aldol reaction for construction of the C(13)-C25) segment

Highly stereoselective syntheses of aldols 8a-c corresponding to the C(13)-C(25) segment of bafilomycin A(1) were developed by routes involving fragment assembly aldol reactions of chiral aldehyde 6a and the chiral methyl ketones 7. A remote chelation effect plays a critical role in determining the stereoselectivity of the key aldol coupling of 6a and the lithium enolate of 7b. The protecting group for C(23)-OH of the chiral aldehyde fragment also influences the selectivity of the lithium enolate aldol reaction. In contrast, the aldol reaction of 6a and the chlorotitanium enolates of 7a,c were much less sensitive to the nature of the C(15)-hydroxyl protecting group. Studies of the reactions of chiral aldehydes with Takai's (gamma-methoxyallyl)chromium reagent 40 are also described. The stereoselectivity of these reactions is also highly dependent on the protecting groups and stereochemistry of the chiral aldehyde substrates.

Intramolecular radical cyclization-ring-closing metathesis approach to fused polycyclic ethers. Convergent synthesis and conformational analysis of the (E)FGH ring system of ciguatoxin

A convergent synthetic route to the (E)FGH ring system 4 of ciguatoxins, the causative toxins for ciguatera fish poisoning, has been developed. The synthesis features convergent coupling to form dioxane acetal, regioselective acetal cleavage by diethylaluminum phenylthiolate or diisobutylaluminum phenylselenolate followed by intramolecular radical cyclization to construct the oxepane ring G, and a ring-closing metathesis reaction to form the hexahydrooxonine ring F. The hexahydrooxonine ring F of tetracyclic model system 4 existed as a 5:1 equilibrium mixture of two conformers (UP and DOWN conformers), with the UP one predominating. This is the first illustration that reproduces the preference for the UP conformer over the DOWN one, which preference was observed for natural ciguatoxins.

A highly stereoselective approach to the synthesis of functionalized pyran derivatives by Lewis acid assisted ketal reduction and allylation

Reduction of bicyclic ketal 1 gave functionalized pyran derivatives 7a or 7b in a highly stereoselective manner, depending upon the reduction conditions utilized. For example, treatment of ketal 1 with TiCl4/Et3SiH produced exclusively diol 7b with the 2,5-syn relationship in good yield. Alternatively, reduction of ketal 1 by DIBALH gave 2,5-anti-diol 7a stereoselectively. Alane reductions of ketal 1 were highly stereoselective also; however, the syn/anti selectivity observed was strongly dependent on the ratio of reagents employed for in situ generation of the alane. Lewis acid catalyzed allylation of ketal 1 gave pyran 10 in a stereospecific alkylation reaction.

Stereospecific Synthesis of 1,6-Dioxadecalins and 2,2'-Linked Ditetrahydrofurans by Rearrangement of Steroidal Spiroacetals

The reduction of steroidal spiroacetal methanesulfonate derivatives, containing the 1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]decan-10-yl ring system, with DIBALH promotes a new rearrangement to give steroidal 1,6-dioxadecalin (octahydropyrano[3,2-b]pyran) or 2,2'-linked ditetrahydrofuran (octahydro[2,2']bifuranyl) derivatives. To study the scope and selectivity of the reaction, several steroidal spiroacetals such as (23R,25R)-3beta-methoxy-5alpha-spirostan-23-yl methanesulfonate (2) and its 23S-isomer (5) and (22R,23R,25R)-3beta-acetoxy-16beta,23:23,26-diepoxycholest-5-en-22-yl methanesulfonate (15) and its 22S-isomer (19) have been synthesized. Compound 2 was rearranged with absolute regio- and stereoselectivity to give (22S,23S,25R)-3beta-methoxy-16beta,23:22,26-diepoxy-5alpha-cholestane (3) which possesses a cis-fused 1,6-dioxadecalin ring system. The reaction of compound 5 gave exclusively (22S,23R,25R)-3beta-methoxy-23,26-epoxy-5alpha-furostane (6) in which the spiroacetal was converted into a ditetrahydrofuran subunit. The two other isomeric spiroacetals 15 and 19 were also mainly transformed into (22S,23S,25R)-3beta-acetoxy-16beta,23:22,26-diepoxycholest-5-ene (16) and (22R,23R,25R)-3beta-acetoxy-23,26-epoxyfurost-5-ene (20), respectively. A mechanism is proposed to explain the regio- and sterospecificity observed in the rearrangement.

A Remarkable Effect of C-O-C Bond Angle Strain on the Regioselective Double Nucleophilic Substitution of the Acetal Group of Tetraacetal Tetraoxa-Cages and a Novel Hydride Rearrangement of Tetraoxa-Cages

A remarkable effect of C-O-C bond angle strain on the regioselective double nucleophilic substitution of the acetal group of tetraacetal tetraoxa-cages and a novel regioselective and stereoselective hydride rearrangement of tetraoxa-cages are reported. Reaction of the tetraacetal tetraoxa-cages 1 with 3 equiv of triethylsilane (at -78 degrees C), cyanotrimethylsilane (at 25 degrees C), and allyltrimethylsilane (at -78 degrees C) in dichloromethane in the presence of TiCl(4) gave the double nucleophilic substitution products 2, 6, and 7 in 85-90% yields, respectively. No detectable amount of other regioisomers was obtained. Reaction of 1a with (methylthio)trimethylsilane and (phenylthio)trimethylsilane in dichloromethane in the presence of TiCl(4) at -78 degrees C gave the symmetric products 10a,b and the unsymmetric products 11a,b in ratios of 8-10:1. The stereochemistry of the symmetric substitution products was proven by X-ray analysis of the crystalline compound 10a. The mechanism of the double nucleophilic substitution of the tetraoxa-cages 1 are discussed. Treatment of the tetraoxa-cages 1a,c and 22a-c with 2 equiv of TiCl(4) or MeSO(3)H in dichloromethane at 25 degrees C for 3 h regioselectively and stereoselectively gave the novel hydride rearrangement products 16a,b and 23a-c respectively. No detectable amount of other regioisomers was observed. The stereochemistry of the hydride rearrangement was proven by DIBAL-H reduction of 16 and 23 and X-ray analysis of the reduction product 24a. We attribute the high regioselectivity of the double nucleophilic substitution and the hydride rearrangement of the tetraoxa-cages 1 to the bond angle strain of the unusually large bond angle of C(3)-O(4)-C(5) of the tetraoxa-cages.