Stereochemistry of cyclic ether formation—II

Transition-Metal-Free Access to Heteroaromatic-Fused 4-Tetralones by the Oxidative Ring Expansion of the Cyclobutanol Moiety

Advances in the transition-metal-free cyclobutanol ring expansion to 4-tetralones under N-bromosuccinimide mediation are described. We have expanded the scope of this ring expansion methodology and investigated the effect substituents on the aromatic ring, and the cyclobutanol moiety, have on the outcome of the reaction. Limitations with certain substituents on the cyclobutanol moiety are also described. Further experimental evidence to support our mechanistic understanding is disclosed, and we now preclude the suggested involvement of a primary radical for this transformation.

Total syntheses of the monoterpene indole alkaloids (±)-alstilobanine A and E and (±)-angustilodine

A synthetic strategy has been developed culminating in stereoselective total syntheses of the small class of unusual monoterpenoid indole alkaloids exemplified by alstilobanines A (3) and E (2) and angustilodine (1). A pivotal step includes a novel intermolecular Michael-type addition of an indole ester dianion to a piperidine-derived nitrosoalkene to form the C15, C16 bond of the alkaloids. In addition, an application of the Romo protocol for effecting a stereoselective intramolecular nucleophile-assisted aldol-lactonization was employed, leading to a β-lactone incorporating the requisite cis-fused 2-azadecalin moiety and also setting the C15, C19, C20 relative stereochemistry of the metabolites. It was then possible to stereoselectively effect an aldolization of a dianion derived from this indole ester β-lactone intermediate with formaldehyde to introduce the requisite C16 hydroxymethyl group. Further manipulations of the system ultimately led to the three alkaloids in racemic form.

Anomeric oxygen to carbon rearrangements of alkynyl tributylstannane derivatives of furanyl (γ)- and pyranyl (δ)-lactols

Tetrahydropyran and tetrahydrofuran containing natural products, drugs and agrochemicals often possess carbon-carbon bonds adjacent to the heteroatom. Consequently, new methods for the construction of anomeric carbon-carbon bonds are of considerable importance. We have devised a new strategy to access these systems that requires the treatment of O-glycoside alkynyl tributylstannane derivatives of furanyl and pyranyl lactols with Lewis acid to effect oxygen to carbon rearrangements. This leads to the formation of the corresponding carbon linked alkynol products that can be further manipulated to produce key structural motifs and building blocks for the assembly of complex molecules.