A novel desymmetrization reaction of an acetogenin precursor: A formal synthesis of trilobacin and asimicin

Acetogenins from Annonaceae

In recent decades, annonaceous acetogenins have become highly studied plant secondary metabolites in terms of their isolation, structure elucidation, synthesis, biological evaluation, mechanism of action, and toxicity. The aim of the present contribution is to summarize chemical and biological reports published since 1997 on annonaceous acetogenins and synthetic acetogenin mimics. The compounds are considered biologically in terms of their cytotoxicity for cancer cell lines, neurotoxicity, pesticidal effects, and miscellaneous activities.

A Bidirectional Approach to the Synthesis of a Complete Library of Adjacent-Bis-THF Annonaceous Acetogenins

Thirty-six stereoisomers of bifunctional adjacent bis-THF (tetrahydrofuran) lactones have been synthesized, which can afford a complete library of the adjacent bis-THF Annonaceous acetogenins. The bis-THF lactones were synthesized, starting from the enantioselectively pure 8,9:12,13-(E,E and Z,E)-16-benzyloxy-5-hydroxy-hexadeca-1,4-olide, in a highly distereoselective manner using oxidative reactions, including rhenium(VII) oxides-mediated oxidative cyclization, Shi's asymmetric epoxidation, and Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation reactions. Using the nonsymmetrical bis-THF lactones, syntheses of two nonnatural acetogenins were achieved.

Total Synthesis of the Nonadjacently Linked Bis-tetrahydrofuran Acetogenin Bullatanocin (Squamostatin C)

The total synthesis of the nonadjacently linked bis-THF acetogenin bullatanocin (squamostatin C) is described. The synthetic strategy is a modular one based on three components, two mono-THF alkenes and a butenolide precursor, and the olefin cross-metathesis and Wittig olefination as the segment-coupling reactions. The synthesis confirms the structure of the natural product, and its convergent design makes it especially attractive for analogue synthesis.

Synthesis of nonadjacently linked tetrahydrofurans: an iodoetherification and olefin metathesis approach

[reaction: see text] A convergent approach to the synthesis of the bis-tetrahydrofuran (THF) components of the nonadjacently linked THF-containing acetogenins is illustrated in the synthesis of 2, a potential intermediate for the antitumor agent bullatanocin (squamostatin C). The plan centers on the olefin cross-metathesis of THF allylic alcohol derivatives 3 and 4 as the key segment coupling step and the assembly of 3 and 4 through the iodoetherification of 1,2-O-isopropylidene-5-alkene precursors.

The total synthesis of the annonaceous acetogenin, muricatetrocin C

The total synthesis of the potential antitumour agent muricatetrocin C has provided an ideal stage for the exploitation and development of new chemistry. A convergent synthetic strategy has been realised incorporating three distinct pieces of methodology, these include a highly diastereoselective hetero-Diels-Alder reaction to construct the butenolide terminus, an oxygen to carbon rearrangement to install the trans-2,5-disubstituted tetrahydrofuran ring and a spatial desymmetrisation process to afford the anti-diol unit.