Chapter 2 The Daphniphyllum Alkaloids

Concise Enantioselective Total Synthesis of Daphenylline Enabled by an Intramolecular Oxidative Dearomatization

Daphenylline is a structurally unique member of the triterpenoid Daphniphyllum natural alkaloids, which exhibit intriguing biological activities. Six total syntheses have been reported, five of which utilize aromatization approaches. Herein, we report a concise protecting-group-free total synthesis by means of a novel intramolecular oxidative dearomatization reaction, which concurrently generates the critical seven-membered ring and the quaternary-containing vicinal stereocenters. Other notable transformations include a tandem reductive amination/amidation double cyclization reaction, to assemble the cage-like architecture, and installation of the other two chiral stereocenters via a highly enantioselective rhodium-catalyzed challenging hydrogenation of the diene intermediate (90% e.e.) and an unprecedented remote acid-directed Mukaiyama-Michael reaction of the complex benzofused cyclohexanone (13:1 d.r.).

Recent Progress in the Chemistry of Daphniphyllum Alkaloids †

Daphniphyllum is an evergreen species known since 1826. After initial systematic investigations, more than 320 members of this family have been isolated, which comprise complex and fascinating structures. Unique azapolycyclic architectures containing one or more quaternary stereocenters render these alkaloids synthetically challenging. This review covers efforts toward the synthesis of Daphniphyllum alkaloids spanning the period from 2005 to the beginning of 2016, including reported biological activities as well as the isolation of new members of this genus.

Sterically Biased 3,3-Sigmatropic Rearrangement of Azides: Efficient Preparation of Nonracemic α-Amino Acids and Heterocycles

[reaction: see text] Homochiral alpha-amino acids, heterocycles, and carbocycles are efficiently constructed via a short sequence of reactions starting from the chiral auxiliary p-menthane-3-carboxaldehyde. The key feature of the sequence is a highly selective tandem Mitsunobu/3,3-sigmatropic rearrangement of hydrazoic acid that procures enantiomerically enriched allylic azides. The sequence is either terminated by oxidative cleavage to provide amino acids or by ring-closing metathesis to provide heterocycles or carbocycles bearing nitrogen.

New alkaloids from Daphniphyllum calycinum

Four new alkaloids, 17-hydroxyhomodaphniphyllic acid (1), daphcalycinosidine C (2, a new iridoid alkaloid), yuzurimine E (3), and yuzurimic acid B (4), were isolated from the seeds of Daphniphyllum calycinum. The structures of these Daphniphyllum alkaloids were determined by spectroscopic analysis including mass spectrometry and 2D NMR.

First Diamino Daphniphyllum Alkaloid, Daphnipaxinin, with an Unprecedented Heterohexacyclic Skeleton from Daphniphyllum paxianum

[structure: see text] The first diamino Daphniphyllum alkaloid, daphnipaxinin (1), with an unprecedented hexacyclic fused skeleton, along with a known alkaloid, daphnicyclidin A (2), was isolated from the stem of Daphniphyllum paxianum Rosenth. The structure and absolute stereochemistry of 1 were established by spectral methods, especially two-dimensional NMR techniques and CD analysis.

Two novel alkaloids with a unique fused hexacyclic skeleton from Daphniphyllum subverticillatum

Two novel major alkaloids, deoxycalyciphylline B (1) and deoxyisocalyciphylline B (2) with a unique fused hexacyclic skeleton, together with a quite recently reported alkaloid calyciphylline B (3), were isolated from the stem of Daphniphyllum subverticillatum. Their structures were established by spectral methods and chemical evidence, especially 2D NMR techniques. The structure of 1 was further confirmed by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction determination.

Daphcalycine, a novel heptacycle fused ring system alkaloid from Daphniphyllum calycinum

A novel Daphniphyllum alkaloid, daphcalycine (1), was isolated together with known daphnicyclidin D (2) from the stem bark of Daphniphyllum calycinum. The highly condensed polycyclic structure, established by spectral analysis, possessed an unusual framework: a central quinuclidine like tricycle produced by fusion of a piperidine, a tetrahydropyran, and an oxazine ring in turn condensed to surrounding three penta-, one hexa-, and one hepta-membered rings. The relative configuration of 11 carbon stereocenters of 1 was elucidated on the basis of NOESY.