Toward the total synthesis of phorboxazole A: synthesis of an advanced C4–C32 subunit using the Jacobsen hetero Diels–Alder reaction

CuBr2-catalyzed diastereoselective allylation: total synthesis of decytospolides A and B and their C6-epimers

An efficient CuBr₂-catalyzed diastereoselective allylation of a cyclic hemiacetal with allyltrimethylsilane as a nucleophile has been developed. The protocol offers a cost effective, protecting group tolerant, and operationally simple approach to 2,6-trans-disubstituted tetrahydropyran with excellent diastereoselectivity. Furthermore, the application of this methodology has been demonstrated in the total synthesis of decytospolides A and B and their C6-epimers.

Recent applications of the hetero Diels–Alder reaction in the total synthesis of natural products

The synthetic utility and potential power of the Diels–Alder (D–A) reaction in organic chemistry is evident.

Total synthesis of the marine toxin phorboxazole A using palladium(II)-mediated intramolecular alkoxycarbonylation for tetrahydropyran synthesis

The potent antitumor agent phorboxazole A was synthesized from six subunits comprising C1-C2 (115), C3-C8 (98), C9-C19 (74), C20-C32 (52), C33-C41 (84) and C42-C46 (85). Tetrahydropyrans B and C containing cis-2,6-disubstitution were fabricated via palladium(II)-mediated intramolecular alkoxycarbonylation which, in the case of tetrahydropyran C, was carried out with catalytic palladium(II) and p-benzoquinone as the stoichiometric re-oxidant. Tetrahydropyran D was obtained by a stereoselective tin(IV)-catalyzed coupling of a C9 aldehyde with an allylsilane, and the C19-C20 connection was made using a completely stereoselective Wittig-Schlosser (E) olefination. Coupling of the oxazole C32 methyl substituent with the intact C33-C46 δ-lactone 3was accompanied by elimination of the vinyl bromide to a terminal alkyne, but the C32-C33 linkage was implemented successfully with 83 and C33-C41 lactone 84. The C42-C46 segment of the side chain was then appended via Julia-Kocienski olefination. The macrolide portion of phorboxazole A was completed by means of an Ando-Still-Gennari intramolecular (Z)-selective olefination at C2-C3 which required placement of a (dimethoxyphosphinyl)acetate moiety at C24. Final deprotection led to phorboxazole A via a route in which the longest linear sequence is 37 steps and the overall yield is 0.36%.

Synthesis and biological properties of the cytotoxic 14-membered macrolides aspergillide A and B

Total, stereoselective syntheses of the naturally occurring, cytotoxic macrolides aspergillide A and B are described. Olefin metatheses and asymmetric allylations were key steps in the synthetic sequences. Cytotoxicity assays against several tumor cell lines have been performed for the two aspergillides and some of the intermediates or side products of the synthetic sequence. One of these intermediates has been found markedly active against the human leukemia cancer cell line HL-60, with an IC(50) value comparable with that of the clinical drug fludarabine.

Status and perspective of sponge chemosystematics

In addition to their pharmaceutical applications, sponges are an important source of compounds that are used to elucidate classification patterns and phylogenetic relationships. Here we present a review and outlook on chemosystematics in sponges in seven sections: Secondary metabolites in sponges; Further applications of bioactive compound research in sponges; Sponge chemotaxonomy; Pitfalls of sponge chemotaxonomy; The chemotaxonomic suitability of sponge compounds; Potential synapomorphic markers in sponges; and The future of sponge chemotaxonomy.

Total Synthesis of Phorboxazole A. 1. Preparation of Four Subunits

[Structure: see text] Four subunits of the potent antitumor agent phorboxazole A were constructed; fragments C20-C32 and C9-C19 containing tetrahydropyrans A and B, respectively, were assembled using palladium-catalyzed intramolecular alkoxycarbonylation.

Intramolecular Hetero-Michael Addition of β-Hydroxyenones for the Preparation of Highly Substituted Tetrahydropyranones

Structurally diverse beta-hydroxyenones are shown to undergo nonoxidative 6-endo-trig ring closure to form highly substituted tetrahydropyranones. Amberlyst-15, Al(ClO(4))(3) x 9 H(2)O and [Pd(MeCN)(4)](BF(4))(2) were found to be suitable catalysts for these intramolecular conjugate additions, preventing side reactions, such as dehydration or retroaldolisation. The use of [Pd(MeCN)(4)](BF(4))(2) is particularly effective, as this palladium-mediated reaction is under kinetic control and generates tri- and tetrasubstituted tetrahydropyranones with high levels of diastereocontrol. In the presence of the Lewis acid Al(ClO(4))(3) x 9 H(2)O, the reaction proceeded with a similar level of diastereocontrol; however, in contrast to [Pd(MeCN)(4)](BF(4))(2), this catalyst can promote enolisation. The palladium-mediated reaction was also found to be compatible with an enantioenriched beta-hydroxyenone substrate, giving no loss of enantiopurity upon ring closure. The most distinctive synthetic development to emerge from this new chemistry is the possibility to access tri- and tetrasubstituted 2,6-anti-tetrahydropyranones from anti-aldol precursors. These compounds are particularly difficult to access by using alternative methodologies. Two modes of activation were envisaged for the ring closure, involving metal coordination to either the C=C or C=O functional groups. Experimental results suggest that C=O coordination was the preferred mode of activation for reactions performed in the presence of Al(ClO(4))(3) x 9 H(2)O or [Pd(MeCN)(4)](BF(4))(2).

Total Synthesis of Phorboxazole B

An efficient and highly convergent total synthesis of the potent antitumor agent phorboxazole B has been achieved. The synthetic strategy of this synthesis features: 1) a highly efficient substrate-controlled hydrogenation to construct the functionalized cis-tetrahydropyrane unit; 2) iterative crotyl addition to synthesize the segment that contains alternating hydroxyl and methyl substituents; 3) Hg(OAc)2/I2-induced cyclization to establish the cis-tetrahydropyrane moiety; 4) 1,3-asymmetric induction in the Mukaiyama aldol reaction to afford the stereogenic centers at C9 and C3; and 5) the exploration of the Still-Gennari olefination reaction to complete the macrolide ring of phorboxazoloe B.

Synthesis of the C1-C17 segment of phorboxazole B

The C1-C17 bis-oxane subunit 22 of phorboxazole B is efficiently synthesized by exploiting differential reactivities between similar substituents on the hydropyran rings in 4. Selective dihydroxylation of the equatorial vinyl group, hydroboration of the axial vinyl group, and intramolecular Mitsunobu lactonization serve to fully differentiate the similar hydropyrans.

(+)-Phorboxazole A Synthetic Studies. A Highly Convergent, Second Generation Total Synthesis of (+)-Phorboxazole A

[structure: see text] A second generation total synthesis of the potent antitumor agent (+)-phorboxazole A (1) has been achieved. The cornerstone of this approach comprises a more convergent strategy, involving late-stage Stille union of a fully elaborated C(1-28) macrocycle with a C(29-46) side chain. The second generation synthesis entails the longest linear sequence of 24 steps, with an overall yield of 4.2%.

A Catalytic Enantioselective Hetero Diels−Alder Approach to the C20−C32 Segment of the Phorboxazoles

[reaction: see text] An efficient synthesis of the C20-C32 segment of the phorboxazoles has been achieved using an enantioselective hetero Diels-Alder reaction catalyzed by Jacobsen's Cr(III) amino indanol Schiff base catalyst.

Stereocontrolled [4+2]-Annulation Accessing Dihydropyrans: Synthesis of the C1a-C10 Fragment of Kendomycin

[reaction: see text] Development of new organosilane reagents bearing C-centered chirality where the stereocenter is fully substituted, and their use in the stereocontrolled synthesis of cis- and trans-dihydropyrans containing a trisubstituted olefin is described. The reagents participate in Lewis acid promoted [4+2]-annulations providing useful levels of selectivity with both aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes. A stereoselective synthesis of the C1a-C10 fragment of kendomycin (1) is also described.

Muscarine, imidazole, oxazole and thiazole alkaloids

Novel and structurally diverse natural products containing imidazol-, oxazole-, or thiazole-unit(s) display a wide variety of biological activities. The isolation, biological activity and total synthesis of naturally occurring muscarine, imidazole, oxazole and thiazole alkaloids have been reviewed. The literature covers from January 2003 to June 2004.

Marine natural products: synthetic aspects

An overview of marine natural products synthesis during 2003 is provided. The emphasis on total syntheses of molecules of contemporary interest, new total syntheses, and syntheses that have resulted in structure conformation or stereochemical assignments.

Toward the Total Synthesis of Phorboxazole B: An Efficient Synthesis of the C20−C46 Segment

An efficient synthesis of the C20-C46 segment of phorboxazole B is described. The key steps involved Hg(OAc)(2)/I(2)-induced cyclization to construct the cis-tetrahydropyran moiety, the coupling of the metalated 2-methyloxazole 7 with lactone 6, and Julia olefination to furnish the conjugated diene moiety.

Asymmetric catalysis in complex target synthesis

This article describes three distinct strategies by which stereochemically complex molecules are synthesized and the ways asymmetric catalysis can impact on all three. The development of general methods to prepare synthetically useful building blocks leads to an expanded "chiral pool" of potential starting materials for asymmetric synthesis. The possibility of discovering new reactions to access new types of building blocks is particularly attractive and serves to help define the frontiers of the field. Asymmetric catalysis can also be applied to diastereoselective synthesis such that the stereochemistry of the catalyst, and not that of the substrate, determines the relative configuration of the product. Finally, in reactions where multiple stereocenters are generated simultaneously or in tandem, catalyst and substrate control can operate in a complementary manner to achieve one of many possible stereochemical outcomes selectively.

Phorboxazole B synthetic studies: construction of C(1–32) and C(33–46) subtargets

The convergent syntheses of the C(1-32) and C(33-46) domains of phorboxazole B are described. An iterative cyclocondensation strategy exploited the Jacobsen hetero-Diels-Alder (HDA) reaction as a platform for the synthesis of both the C(5-9) and C(11-15) tetrahydropyran rings. The use of 2-silyloxydiene coupling partners bearing an increasing resemblance to the phorboxazole skeleton was found to lead to a reduction in diastereoselectivity, however, in the case of the C(11-15) ring. The coupling of aldehyde and 2-silyloxydiene by this route provided a C(1-32) fragment which was elaborated to the macrolide core of phorboxazole B. The synthesis of the C(33-46) domain involved a Nozaki-Kishi coupling of aldehyde 31 and vinyl iodide 39. The syntheses of 31 and 39 were highly diastereoselective: an Evans [Cu(Ph-pybox)](SbF6)2-catalysed Mukaiyama aldol reaction formed the cornerstone of the synthesis of 31 whilst a Nagao-Fujita acetate aldol reaction provided a convenient means of installing the sole stereogenic centre of 39.

Palladium(0)-Mediated Desymmetrization of Meso Tetraols: An Approach to the C3−C17 Bis-oxane Segment of Phorboxazoles A and B

[reaction: see text] meso-Tetraol bis(allylic acetates) 2 and 5 were synthesized via two-directional chain elongation. A palladium-mediated, ligand-controlled desymmetrization provided the desired bis-oxanes in greater than 98% ee. Bis-oxanes 1 and 4 represent potential synthetic intermediates for the C3-C17 subunits of phorboxazoles A and B.

Total synthesis of (+)-phorboxazole A, a potent cytostatic agent from the sponge Phorbas sp

A convergent total synthesis of phorboxazole A (1a), from the C(3-19), C(20-27) and C(33-46) fragments 5, 4 and 91, respectively, concentrating on stereocontrolled formation of the bonds at C(2-3), C(19-20) and C(27-28), is described. Although a coupling reaction between a macrolide ketone and the side chain substituted sulfone, at C(27-28) was not successful, a Wadsworth-Emmons olefination involving the oxane methyl ketone 4 and an oxazole produced the oxane 90 which was next coupled to 91 leading to the C(20-46) unit 100. A further coupling of 100 to 71c at C(19-20) then led to 105, ultimately, and the synthesis was completed by a macrocyclisation reaction from 105, at the C(2-3) alkene bond, followed by deprotection of 106.