Asymmetric Syntheses of Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids (-)-Crinane and (+)-4a-Dehydroxycrinamabine

Stereoconvergent Approach to the Enantioselective Construction of α-Quaternary Alcohols by Radical Epoxide Allylation

We describe a highly stereoconvergent radical epoxide allylation towards diastereomerically and enantiomerically enriched α-quaternary alcohols in two steps from olefins. Our approach combines the stereospecifity and enantioselectivity of the Shi epoxidation with the unprecedented Ti(III)-promoted intramolecular radical group transfer allylation of epoxides. A directional isomerization step via configurationally labile radical intermediates enables the selective preparation of all-carbon quaternary stereocenters in a unique fashion.

Functionalized Polyhydroquinolines from Amino Acids Using a Key One-Pot Cyclization Cascade and Application to the Synthesis of (±)-Δ7-Mesembrenone

Substituted polyhydroquinolines are ubiquitous skeletal cores found in drugs and bioactive natural products. As a new route to access this motif, we successfully developed a one-pot cyclization cascade with high chemocontrol and diastereoselectivity. The sequence generates two cycles, three carbon-carbon bonds, and an all-carbon quaternary center in a highly convergent process. Functionalized polyhydroquinolines and congeners can be accessed from commercially available amino acids. This versatile and robust strategy was applied to the synthesis of (±)-Δ⁷-mesembrenone.

The Chemical Synthesis of the Crinine and Haemanthamine Alkaloids: Biologically Active and Enantiomerically-Related Systems that Serve as Vehicles for Showcasing New Methodologies for Molecular Assembly

The title alkaloids, often referred to collectively as crinines, are a prominent group of structurally distinct natural products with additional members being reported on a regular basis. As such, and because of their often notable biological properties, they have attracted attention as synthetic targets since the mid-1950s. Such efforts continue unabated and more recent studies on these alkaloids have focused on using them as vehicles for showcasing the utility of new synthetic methods. This review provides a comprehensive survey of the nearly seventy-year history of these synthetic endeavors.

Nickel-catalyzed allyl–allyl coupling reactions between 1,3-dienes and allylboronates

A nickel-hydride catalysis has been developed to facilitate the allyl–allyl cross-coupling reactions between 1,3-dienes and allyl-B(pin) in excellent regioselectivity.

Diastereoselective Synthesis of Arabino- and Ribo-like Nucleoside Analogues Bearing a Stereogenic C3' All-Carbon Quaternary Center

The synthesis of novel nucleoside analogues bearing a C3' all-carbon quaternary center and a C2'-hydroxy substituent is described. The all-carbon stereogenic center was generated through an intramolecular 7-endo attack of a silyl-tethered allyl moiety on a tertiary radical using photoredox catalysis. Subsequent allylic oxidation and diastereoselective hydride reductions provided the hydroxy substituent at C2', which then controls the stereoselective introduction of pyrimidine nucleobases on the corresponding furanose scaffold. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations provided insights into the origin of the high syn diastereoselectivity resulting from the radical cyclization. This original methodology grants access to a wide range of 1',2'-cis and 1',2'-trans arabino- and ribo-like analogues bearing an all-carbon quaternary center at C3'. These molecules are currently being tested for their antiviral and anticancer properties.

Diversity-Oriented Approach Toward the Syntheses of Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids via a Common Chiral Synthon

Functionalized hydroindole (1), a common chiral synthon, for versatile transformations to synthesize a broad range of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids (AAs) including (-)-crinine, (-)-crinane, (-)-amabiline, (+)-mesembrine, (-)-maritidine, (-)-oxomaritidine, and (+)-mesembrane is reported. Scaffold 1 is found as a prime structural motif in a wide variety of the AAs and is a novel synthon toward designing a divergent route for the synthesis of these natural products. This is established in a few steps, starting from a chiral aza-bicyclo-heptene sulfone scaffold (2) via conjugate addition and concomitant stereoselective ring opening with allylmagnesium bromide, a key step that generates a crucial quaternary stereocenter, fixing the stereochemistry of the rest of the molecule at an early stage. One carbon truncation followed by intramolecular reductive amination led to the desired core 1 in a multigram scale.

Total Synthesis of (±)-Crinane from 6,6-Dibromobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane Using a 5- exo- trig Radical Cyclization Reaction to Assemble the C3a-Arylated Perhydroindole Substructure

Crinane embodies the tetracyclic framework associated with some of the most common Amaryllidaceae alkaloids. It has now been prepared in 10 steps from 6,6-dibromobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane (2). The initial step involves the thermally induced electrocyclic ring opening of cyclopropane 3 and capture of the resulting π-allyl cation with benzylamine to give an allylic amine that is readily elaborated to the 3°-amine 10. This last compound was engaged in a 5- exo- trig free radical cyclization reaction to give the C3a-arylated perhydroindole 11. Compound 11 was then converted, over two steps, into (±)-crinane, the hydrochloride salt of which has been subjected to single-crystal X-ray analysis.

A Review on Recent Syntheses of Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids and Isocarbostyrils (Time period mid-2016 to 2017)

Alkaloids from the Amaryllidaceae have become valuable targets for synthetic organic chemists, mainly due to their wide variety of bioactivities and potential for utilization in medicinal chemistry ventures. In addition, the structural complexity of a number of these alkaloids has also been a reason for the interest in these compounds. In this review, the last 18 months of literature was perused and synthetic highlights have been presented here, with the hope to further focus attention on this interesting class of compounds and to encourage others to synthesize these compounds and their derivatives and/or analogues. The review contains examples of syntheses from most of the important alkaloid scaffold classes previously isolated from the Amaryllidaceae, namely: lycorine, crinine, galanthamine, tazettine, montanine, phenanthridone, phenanthridine, plicamine, mesembrine and some minor scaffolds (like gracilamine).

Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Desymmetrizing Aza-Wacker Reaction: Development and Application to the Total Synthesis of (-)-Mesembrane and (+)-Crinane

Reported is an unprecedented catalytic enantioselective desymmetrizing aza-Wacker reaction. In the presence of a catalytic amount of a newly developed Pd(CPA)₂ (MeCN)₂ catalyst (CPA=chiral phosphoric acid), a pyrox ligand, and molecular oxygen, cyclization of properly functionalized prochiral 3,3-disubstituted cyclohexa-1,4-dienes afforded enantioenriched cis-3a-substituted tetrahydroindoles in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities. A cooperative effect between the phosphoric acid and the pyrox ligand ensured efficient transformation. This reaction was tailor-made for Amaryllidaceae and Sceletium alkaloids as illustrated by its application in the development of the concise and divergent total synthesis of (-)-mesembrane and (+)-crinane.