Unified Total Synthesis of Five Bufadienolides

Synthesis of Bufadienolide Cinobufagin via Late-Stage Singlet Oxygen Oxidation/Rearrangement Approach

This manuscript describes a concise synthesis of cinobufagin, a natural steroid of the bufadienolide family, from readily available dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), as well as its α5-epimer derived from 3-epi-andosterone. This synthesis features expedient installation of the 17β-pyrone moiety with the 14β,15β-epoxide and the 16β-acetoxy group using a photochemical regioselective singlet oxygen [4 + 2] cycloaddition followed by CoTPP-promoted in situ endoperoxide rearrangement to provide a 14β,16β-bis-epoxide in 64% yield with a 1.6:1 d.r. This β,β-bis-epoxide intermediate was subsequently subjected to a regioselective scandium(III) trifluoromethanesulfonate catalyzed House-Meinwald rearrangement to establish the 17β-configuration. The synthesis of cinobufagin is achieved in 12 steps (LLS) and 7.6% overall yield, and we demonstrate that it could be used as a platform for the subsequent medicinal chemistry exploration of cinobufagin analogs such as cinobufagin 5α-epimer.

Total Syntheses of Phorbol and 11 Tigliane Diterpenoids and Their Evaluation as HIV Latency-Reversing Agents

Tigliane diterpenoids possess exceptionally complex structures comprising common 5/7/6/3-membered ABCD-rings and disparate oxygen functionalities. While tiglianes display a wide range of biological activities, compounds with HIV latency-reversing activity can eliminate viral reservoirs, thereby serving as promising leads for new anti-HIV agents. Herein, we report collective total syntheses of phorbol (13) and 11 tiglianes 14-24 with various acylation patterns and oxidation states, and their evaluation as HIV latency-reversing agents. The syntheses were strategically divided into five stages to increase the structural complexity. First, our previously established sequence enabled the expeditious preparation of ABC-tricycle 9 in 15 steps. Second, hydroxylation of 9 and ring-contractive D-ring formation furnished phorbol (13). Third, site-selective attachment of two acyl groups to 13 produced four phorbol diesters 14-17. Fourth, the oxygen functionalities were regio- and stereoselectively installed to yield five tiglianes 18-22. Fifth, further oxidation to the most densely oxygenated acerifolin A (23) and tigilanol tiglate (24) was realized through organizing a 3D shape of the B-ring. Assessment of the HIV latency-reversing activities of the 12 tiglianes revealed seven tiglianes (14-17 and 22-24) with 20- to 300-fold improved efficacy compared with prostratin (12), a representative latency-reversing agent. Therefore, the robust synthetic routes to a variety of tiglianes with promising activities devised in this study provide opportunities for advancing HIV eradication strategies.

Montmorillonite Catalyzed Synthesis of Novel Steroid Dimers

The reactions of sterols (androst-5-en-3β-ol-17-one, diosgenin, and cholesterol) and their tosylates with hydroquinone aimed at the synthesis of O,O-1,4-phenylene-linked steroid dimers were studied. The reaction course strongly depended on the conditions used. The study has shown that the major reaction products are the elimination products and unusual steroid dimers resulting from the nucleophilic attack of the hydroquinone C2 carbon atom on the steroid C3 position, followed by an intramolecular addition to the C5-C6 double bond. A different reaction course was observed when montmorillonite K10 was used as a catalyst. The reaction of androst-5-en-3β-ol-17-one under the promotion of this catalyst afforded the O,O-1,4-phenylene-linked steroid dimer in addition to the disteroidal ether. The formation of the latter compound was suppressed by using 3-tosylate as a substrate instead of the free sterol. The reactions of androst-5-en-3β-ol-17-one tosylate and cholesteryl tosylate with hydroquinone catalyzed by montmorillonite K10 carried out under optimized conditions afforded the desired dimers in 31% and 67% yield, respectively.

Total Synthesis of (-)-Batrachotoxin Enabled by a Pd/Ag-Promoted Suzuki-Miyaura Coupling Reaction

Batrachotoxin is an extremely potent cardio- and neurotoxic steroidal alkaloid found in certain species of frogs, birds, and beetles. The steroidal 6/6/6/5-membered carbocycle (ABCD-ring) is U-shaped and functionalized with two double bonds, a six-membered C3-hemiacetal across the AB-ring, a seven-membered oxazepane on the CD-ring, and a dimethylpyrrolecarboxy group at the D-ring carbon chain. These structural features present an unusual and formidable synthetic challenge. Herein we report a total synthesis of batrachotoxin based on a newly devised convergent strategy through a 22-step sequence. Enantiopure AB-ring and D-ring fragments were prepared and subjected to a crucial C(sp2 )-C(sp2 ) coupling reaction. Although both C(sp2 ) centers were sterically encumbered by proximal tetrasubstituted carbon atoms, Ag2 O strongly promoted the Pd(PPh3 )4 -catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction at room temperature, thereby connecting the two fragments without damaging their preexisting functionalities. Subsequent treatment with t-BuOK induced Dieckmann condensation to cyclize the C-ring. The judiciously optimized functionalizations realized oxazepane formation, carbon chain extension, and pyrrole carboxylic acid condensation to deliver batrachotoxin.

Toad venom bufadienolides and bufotoxins: An updated review

Bufadienolides, naturally found in toad venoms having steroid-like structures, reveal antiproliferative effects at low doses. However, their application as anticancer drugs is strongly prevented by their Na+ /K+ -ATPase binding activities. Although several kinds of research were dedicated to moderating their Na+ /K+ -ATPase binding activity, still deeper fundamental knowledge is required to bring these findings into medical practice. In this work, we reviewed data related to anticancer activity of bufadienolides such as bufalin, arenobufagin, bufotalin, gamabufotalin, cinobufotalin, and cinobufagin and their derivatives. Bufotoxins, derivatives of bufadienolides containing polar molecules mainly belonging to argininyl residues, are reviewed as well. The established structures of bufotoxins have been compiled into a one-page figure to review their structures. We also highlighted advances in the structure-modification of the structure of compounds in this class. Drug delivery approaches to target these compounds to tumor cells were discussed in one section. The issues related to extraction, identification, and quantification are separated into another section.

Bufadienolides originated from toad source and their anti-inflammatory activity

Bufadienolide, an essential member of the C-24 steroid family, is characterized by an α-pyrone positioned at C-17. As the predominantly active constituent in traditional Chinese medicine of Chansu, bufadienolide has been prescribed in the treatment of numerous ailments. It is a specifically potent inhibitor of Na+/K+ ATPase with excellent anti-inflammatory activity. However, the severe side effects triggered by unbiased inhibition of the whole-body cells distributed α1-subtype of Na+/K+ ATPase, restrict its future applicability. Thus, researchers have paved the road for the structural alteration of desirable bufadienolide derivatives with minimal adverse effects via biotransformation. In this review, we give priority to the present evidence for structural diversity, MS fragmentation principles, anti-inflammatory efficacy, and structure modification of bufadienolides derived from toads to offer a scientific foundation for future in-depth investigations and views.

Synthesis of Cardiotonic Steroids Oleandrigenin and Rhodexin B

This article describes a concise synthesis of cardiotonic steroids oleandrigenin (7) and its subsequent elaboration into the natural product rhodexin B (2) from the readily available intermediate (8) that could be derived from the commercially available steroids testosterone or DHEA via three-step sequences. These studies feature an expedient installation of the β16-oxidation based on β14-hydroxyl-directed epoxidation and subsequent epoxide rearrangement. The following singlet oxygen oxidation of the C17 furan moiety provides access to oleandrigenin (7) in 12 steps (LLS) and a 3.1% overall yield from 8. The synthetic oleandrigenin (7) was successfully glycosylated with l-rhamnopyranoside-based donor 28 using a Pd(II)-catalyst, and the subsequent deprotection under acidic conditions provided cytotoxic natural product rhodexin B (2) in a 66% yield (two steps).

A formal [3 + 3] cycloaddition of allenyl imide and activated ketones for the synthesis of tetrasubstituted 2-pyrones

CsOH·H₂O-catalyzed formal [3 + 3] cycloadditions of allenyl imide with β-ketoesters, 1,3-diketones or β-ketonitriles for the synthesis of tetrasubstituted 2-pyrone derivatives have been demonstrated. The allenyl imide was utilized as a C3-synthon, and a ketenyl intermediate was proposed via the process of 1,4-addition of carbon anion to allene followed by elimination of the 2-oxazolidinyl group.

CsOH·H₂O-catalyzed formal [3 + 3] cycloadditions of allenyl imide with β-ketoesters, 1,3-diketones or β-ketonitriles for the synthesis of tetrasubstituted 2-pyrone derivatives were reported.

Total Synthesis of the Cardiotonic Steroid (+)-Cannogenol

The total synthesis of (+)-cannogenol, an aglycon common to various biologically important cardiotonic glycosides, has been achieved. Synthesis of the versatile intermediate involves Mizoroki-Heck and intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions from the enantiomerically pure CD-ring segment, newly prepared in a multidecagram scale this time. Total synthesis by the site-selective transformations of the versatile intermediate demonstrated the applicability of our synthetic approach.