Enantioselective total synthesis of a potent antitumor antibiotic, fredericamycin A

Synthesis of Optically Active Spirocycles by a Sequence of Decarboxylative Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation and Heck Reaction

Optically active spirocycles were prepared in a sequence of two palladium-catalyzed reactions. In the first step, racemic α-(ortho-iodophenyl)-β-oxo allyl esters were submitted to the palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative asymmetric allylic alkylation reaction, furnishing the α-allylated products with a quaternary stereocenter with good yields and enantioselectivities. Subsequently, these intermediate products were converted in a Heck reaction yielding the spirocyclic structures as a mixture of exo- and endo-cyclic regioisomers. These mixtures could be isomerized with an acidic ion-exchange resin to give the endo-products with quantitative yield and selectivity. The target structure of this study could be further submitted to Friedel-Crafts reactions with electron-rich aromatic compounds.

Structures, biosynthesis and biological activities of benastatins, anthrabenzoxocinones and fredericamycins

The fast spread of antibiotic resistance results in the requirement for a constant introduction of new candidates. Pentangular polyphenols, a growing family of actinomycetes-derived aromatic type II polyketides, have attracted considerable attention due to their intriguing polycyclic systems and potent antimicrobial activity. Among them, benastatins, anthrabenzoxocinones (ABXs), and fredericamycins, display unique variations in their polycyclic frameworks, yet concurrently share structural commonalities within their substitutions. The present review summarizes advances in the isolation, spectroscopic characteristics, biosynthesis, and biological activities of pentangular polyphenols benastatins (1-16), ABXs (17-39), and fredericamycins (40-42) from actinomycetes. The information presented here thus prompts researchers to further explore and discover additional congeners within these three small classes of pentangular polyphenols.

CuBr2-mediated dehydrogenative [4+2] annulation of 1-naphthyl-1,3-indandiones and alkenes

Intermolecular annulation reactions of 1-naphthyl-1,3-indandiones with alkenes proceed efficiently in the presence of a copper catalyst to generate spirocarbocycle compounds. Various spirocyclic molecules bearing an all-carbon quaternary center could be obtained by this novel method with good yields, excellent regioselectivity, and good functional group tolerance. A radical mechanism is proposed based on the HRMS analysis results of control experiments.

Cp*Rh(III)-catalyzed regioselective cyclization of aromatic amides with allenes

A new Cp*Rh(III)-catalyzed regioselective cyclization reaction of aromatic amides with allenes is reported. The use of allenyl derivatives bearing a directing-group assistant as a reaction promoter was the key to the success of this protocol. In this catalytic system, N-(pivaloyloxy)benzamide substrates react with allenes via Rh-σ-alkenyl intermediates, while N-(pivaloyloxy) indol substrates react via Rh-π-allyl intermediates. These reactions were characterized by mild reaction conditions, a broad substrate scope, and high functional-group compatibility to yield several high-value isoquinolinone and pyrimido[1,6-a]indol-1(2H)-one skeleton-containing compounds. The synthetic applications and primary mechanisms were also investigated.

Stereo-Controlled Synthesis of Vicinal Tertiary Carbinols: Application in the Synthesis of a Diol Substructure of Zaragozic Acid, Pactamycin and Ryanodol

A novel and flexible approach for the stereo-controlled synthesis of vicinal tertiary carbinols is reported. The developed strategy featured a highly diastereoselective singlet-oxygen (O2 1 ) [4+2] cycloaddition of rationally designed cyclohexadienones (derived from oxidative dearomatization of the corresponding carboxylic-acid appended phenol precursors), followed by programmed "O-O" and "C-C" bond cleavage. In doing so, a highly functionalized and versatile intermediate was identified and prepared in synthetically useful quantity as a plausible precursor to access a variety of designed and naturally occurring vicinal tertiary carbinol containing compounds. Most notably, the developed strategy was successfully applied in the stereo-controlled synthesis of advanced core structures of zaragozic acid, pactamycin and ryanodol.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Annulation of Unactivated Alkynes with 3-(ortho-Boronated Aryl) Conjugated Enones: Enantioselective Synthesis of 2,3-Disubstituted Indenes

A rhodium-catalyzed tandem arylation/cyclization reaction of 3-(ortho-boronated aryl) conjugated enones with unactivated alkynes is reported. By using a rhodium(I)/chiral-diene complex as the catalyst, the protocol was processed smoothly to provide various 2,3-disubstituted indene compounds in high yields with excellent regioselectivities and enantioselectivities. The approach outlined herein is appealing, as simple diarylalkynes, diakylalkynes, and alkyl(aryl)alkynes are the starting materials.

Toward the Asymmetric de Novo Synthesis of Lanostanes: Construction of 7,11-Dideoxy-Δ5-lucidadone H

Efforts to establish an asymmetric entry to hexanorlanostanes has resulted in a concise synthesis of 7,11-dideoxy-Δ5-lucidadone H from epichlorohydrin. By exploiting metallacycle-mediated annulative cross-coupling (to establish a functionalized hydrindane) and stereoselective formation of the steroidal C9-C10 bond to establish a stereodefined 9-alkyl estrane, 14 subsequent steps have been established to generate a hexanorlanostane system. Key transformations include formal inversion of the C13 quaternary center, oxidative dearomatization/group-selective Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement, and Lewis acid mediated semi-Pinacol rearrangement.

Concise Synthesis of Spirocyclic Dihydrophthalazines through Spiroannulation Reactions of Aryl Azomethine Imines with Cyclic Diazo Compounds

Spiroannulation reactions are fundamental and invaluable for the synthesis of spirocyclic compounds. Presented herein are novel cascade reactions of aryl azomethine imines with cyclic diazo compounds leading to the formation of spirocyclic dihydrophthalazine derivatives. Based on experimental mechanistic studies, the formation of the title products is believed to go through azomethine imine-assisted cylcometalation, Rh-carbene formation through dediazonization, and migratory insertion followed by reductive elimination and azomethine imine ring opening. Control experiments revealed that air acts as an effective and sustainable co-oxidant to facilitate the cascade reaction. In general, this concise synthesis of the unprecedented spirocyclic dihydrophthalazine derivatives has advantages such as easily accessible substrates, good functional group compatibility, mild reaction conditions, high efficiency and selectivity, and excellent atom-economy. In addition, the value of this protocol is underlined by its ready scalability and divergent derivation of products.

Cu-Catalyzed synthesis of spiroimidazole derivatives via an indolyl mediated cyclization–rearrangement reaction

A novel Cu-catalyzed synthesis of structurally valuable spiroimidazole derivatives from 2-(indol-3-yl)cyclohexanones and amidines via an indolyl mediated cyclization–rearrangement reaction is described.

Selective synthesis of multifunctionalized cyclopent-3-ene-1-carboxamides and 2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane derivatives

Triethylamine promoted cycloaddition reaction of phenacylmalononitrile with o-hydroxychalcones or chalcone o-enolates to selectively give cyclopent-3-ene-1-carboxamides and 2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes.

Recent advances in the asymmetric phosphoric acid-catalyzed synthesis of axially chiral compounds

In recent years, the synthesis of axially chiral compounds has received considerable attention due to their extensive application as biologically active compounds in medicinal chemistry and as chiral ligands in asymmetric catalysis. Chiral phosphoric acids are recognized as efficient organocatalysts for a variety of enantioselective transformations. In this review, we summarize the recent development of chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed synthesis of a wide range of axially chiral biaryls, heterobiaryls, vinylarenes, N-arylamines, spiranes, and allenes with high efficiency and excellent stereoselectivity.

Assembly of multicyclic isoquinoline scaffolds from pyridines: formal total synthesis of fredericamycin A

The construction of an isoquinoline skeleton typically starts with benzene derivatives as substrates with the assistance of acids or transition metals. Disclosed here is a concise approach to prepare isoquinoline analogues by starting with pyridines to react with β-ethoxy α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds under basic conditions. Multiple substitution patterns and a relatively large number of functional groups (including those sensitive to acidic conditions) can be tolerated in our method. In particular, our protocol allows for efficient access to tricyclic isoquinolines found in hundreds of natural products with interesting bioactivities. The efficiency and operational simplicity of introducing structural complexity into the isoquinoline frameworks can likely enable the collective synthesis of a large set of natural products. Here we show that fredericamycin A could be obtained via a short route by using our isoquinoline synthesis as a key step.

A concise approach for rapid assembly of multicyclic isoquinoline scaffolds from pyridines and β-ethoxy α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds was developed, which enabled the formal total synthesis of fredericamycin A.

Development of New Innovative Synthetic Organic Chemistry Using Lone Pairs of Oxygen Atoms

Oxygen atoms have a lone pair of electrons, so they have high chelation ability, high nucleophilic ability, stabilizing ability of adjacent cations, and take a chelate or oxocarbenium ion structure with Lewis acids and metals. I took advantage of these properties to develop three new reactions, 1) asymmetric synthesis of chiral quaternary carbon centers, 2) asymmetric synthesis using acetal functions, and 3) organic chemistry using acetal-type reactive salt chemical species, and applied them to biologically active natural products synthesis. New reactions described here are all innovative and useful for natural products synthesis. In particular, the first asymmetric synthesis of fredericamycin A, and concise asymmetric synthesis of anthracycline antibiotics, scyphostatin, (+)-Sch 642305, (-)-stenine, clavolonine, (+)-rubrenolide, (+)-rubrynolide, (+)-centrolobine, and decytospolide A and B, etc., are noteworthy. Furthermore, since reactions using acetal-type reactive salt chemical species allow the coexistence of functional groups that normally cannot coexist, the reactions using reactive salts have potential to change the retrosynthesis planned based on conventional reactions.

Carboxylative Cyclization of 2-Butenoates with Carbon Dioxide: Access to Glutaconic Anhydrides

Cyclic anhydrides are versatile synthons and functional comonomers. Herein, we reported an organic base-promoted carboxylative cyclization of 2-butenoates with carbon dioxide to produce important glutaconic anhydrides in good yields. This metal-free reaction showed broad substrate scopes and proceeded under mild reaction conditions.

Concise Total Synthesis of (+)-Atlanticone C

The first enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-atlanticone C is described. The complex tricyclic protoilludane core was rapidly assembled by a photochemical reaction cascade starting from an easily accessible indanone precursor (3 steps). Optimization of an enantioselective Corey–Bakshi–Shibata reduction permitted a catalytic chiral reso­lution of the racemic photoproduct (45% over two steps; up to 98% ee). The enantiomerically enriched photoproduct was efficiently transformed into the (+)-enantiomer of atlanticone C (10 steps; 18% yield), and the absolute configuration of naturally occurring (–)-atlanticone C was thereby determined.

Development of a Cross-Conjugated Vinylogous [4+2] Anionic Annulation and Application to the Total Synthesis of Natural Antibiotic (±)-ABX

The cross‐conjugated vinylogous [4+2] anionic annulation has been newly developed, the cascade process of which has a high preference for regiochemical control and chemoselectivity, giving rise to exclusively Michael‐type adducts in moderate to high yields (up to 94 %, 35 examples). By making use of this approach as a key operation, the first total synthesis of natural antibiotic ABX, in racemic form, has been successfully achieved in a concise 7‐step sequence with an overall yield of about 20 %.

The first example of the stereoselective synthesis and crystal structure of a spirobicycloquinazolinone based on (-)-fenchone and anthranilamide

The possibility of a single-stage solvent-free stereoselective synthesis of a spirocyclic compound from the natural bicyclic monoterpenoid (-)-fenchone and anthranilamide has been shown for the first time. The molecular and crystal structure of (1R,2S,4S)-1,3,3-trimethyl-1'H-spiro[bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2,2'-quinazolin]-4'(3'H)-one, C₁₇H₂₂N₂O, was established by X-ray diffraction though the chirality was assumed via the known reactant connectivity and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. It has shown that in the molecule, for steric reasons, there is an elongation of the Me₂C-C(N)N bond to 1.603 (5) Å. The formation of dimers via N-H...O=C hydrogen bonds with an interaction energy of 93.30 kJ mol^-1 and through cavities (33.7% of the unit-cell volume) was established in the packing of the molecules. There are no π-stacking interactions in the structure.

Transition-metal-free C–C σ-bond activation of α-aryl ketones and subsequent Zn-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization: synthesis of tetrasubstituted furans

Atom-economical synthesis of tetrasubstituted furans from α-aryl ketones and alkynones through base-promoted cleavage of unstrained C–C single bonds of ketones and subsequent Zn-catalyzed cyclization.

Visible-Light-Induced Intermolecular Dearomative Cyclization of 2-Bromo-1,3-dicarbonyl Compounds and Alkynes: Synthesis of Spiro[4.5]deca-1,6,9-trien-8-ones

A visible-light-induced photocatalytic intermolecular dearomative cyclization of 2-bromo-1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and alkynes afforded biologically important spirocarbocycle structures in moderate to good yields via a 5-exo-dig radical cyclization under mild reaction conditions. A 5.0 mmol scale dearomatization reaction proceeded smoothly with 95% yield even when the catalyst loading was reduced to 0.1 mol %, suggesting that this method was suitable for large-scale synthesis.

The crystal structure of 3-((phenylamino)methylene)-1,5-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecane-2,4-dione, C16H17N1O4

C16H17N1O4, triclinic, P1̅ (no. 2), a = 7.0971(3) Å, b = 7.6638(4) Å, c = 13.2375(6) Å, α = 92.116(10)°, β = 99.690(10)°, γ = 95.196(10)° V = 705.81(6) Å3, Z = 2, R gt(F) = 0.0529, wR ref(F 2) = 0.1489, T = 296(2) K.

Aryne-based strategy in the total synthesis of naturally occurring polycyclic compounds

This review has outlined the strategies and tactics of using arynes in the total syntheses of polycyclic natural products.

Enantioselective Phosphine-Catalyzed Allylic Alkylations of mix-Indene with MBH Carbonates

The first enantioenriched synthesis of 1,1,3-trisubstituted (trifluoromethyl)indene derivatives, bearing a quaternary stereogenic carbon center, is reported using a simple chiral sulfinamide phosphine-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of a mixture of indenes with Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates. The resulting derivatives can serve as a valuable synthetic building block for some drugs and natural products. Broad substrate scope and high regio- and enantioselectivity of this reaction were particularly remarkable.

Base-mediated insertion reaction of alkynes into carbon–carbon σ-bonds of ethanones: synthesis of hydroxydienone and chromone derivatives

Base-promoted C–C σ-bond insertion with methylene compounds bearing only one EWG (C–C σ-bond insertion/cyclization).

Palladium-catalyzed arene C–H activation/ketone C–H functionalization reaction: route to spirodihydroindenones

A novel palladium and norbornene catalyzed arene C–H activation method to synthesize various spirodihydroindenone derivatives is developed.

Conformation analysis of 1″,4″-Dispirocyclohexane-6,6'-bis(benzothiazoline): Combined IR, Raman, XRD and DFT approach

The subject of the study is the structure and conformation of 1″,4″-Dispiro-cyclohexane-6,6'-bis(benzothiazoline), a dispiro compound that has a cyclohexyl ring flanked by two benzothiazoline rings on either side. Using single crystal X-ray diffraction measurements, Infra-red absorption, and Raman spectroscopy techniques, it is found that the central cyclohexyl ring assumes the chair conformation and the sulfur, nitrogen atoms in both the benzothiazole rings are in the trans configurations. The experimental findings are further corroborated by geometry optimization and frequency calculations at B3LYP/6-311++G** level of theory using Gaussian 09 suite of program.

An air-stable half-sandwich RuIIcomplex as an efficient catalyst for [3+2] annulation of 2-arylcyclo-2-enones with alkynes

An air-stable half-sandwich Ru^IIcomplex, [Ru(p-cymene)(MeCN)₃](SbF6)₂, catalyzed a [3+2] annulation reaction of 2-arylcyclo-2-enones with alkynesviaC(sp²)–H/alkene functionalization to construct synthetically challenging spiro carbocyclic indenes bearing a quaternary carbon.

Chiral ion-pair organocatalyst promotes highly enantioselective 3-exo iodo-cycloetherification of allyl alcohols

By designing a novel chiral ion-pair organocatalyst composed of chiral phosphate and DABCO-derived quaternary ammonium, highly enantioselective 3-exo iodo-cycloetherification of allyl alcohols was achieved using NIS as a halogen source. Based on this reaction, one-pot asymmetric 3-exo iodo-cycloetherification/Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement of allyl alcohols en route to enantioenriched 2-iodomethyl-2-aryl cycloalkanones was subsequently developed. Due to the participation of adjacent iodine, the Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement of 2-iodomethyl-2-aryl epoxide proceeds with unusual retention of stereoconfiguration.

Deciphering the Origin of Stereoinduction in Cooperative Asymmetric Catalysis Involving Pd(II) and a Chiral Brønsted Acid

The density functional (M06) computations on a cooperative multicatalytic reaction involving palladium acetate and a chiral Brønsted acid in the conversion of an indenyl cyclobutanol to spirocyclic indene bearing a quaternary carbon ring junction are reported. A chiral Pd-bis-phosphate is identified as the active catalyst in the enantioselective ring expansion as compared to alternative possibilities wherein the chiral phosphate/phosphoric acid is in the outer sphere of palladium. The enantiocontrolling transition state exhibited more effective C-H···π interactions, lower distortion of the catalyst, and an orthogonal orientation of the bulky phosphate ligands.

Cycloaddition of Arynes and Cyclic Enol Ethers as a Platform for Access to Stereochemically Defined 1,2-Disubstituted Benzocyclobutenes

Benzocyclobutenes (BCBs) are important entities in a multitude of areas, such as complex organic synthesis, materials and polymer chemistry, and electronics. Whereas reactions between arynes and ketene acetals have been well studied, reactions with cyclic enol ethers are unknown. A cis olefin geometry in cyclic enol ethers makes them well suited for formal [2 + 2] cycloaddition with arynes than for competing ene reactions, making them effective reactants. Reactions of 2,3-dihydrofuran, 2,3-dihydro-3H-pyran, 5-butyl-2,3-dihydrofuran, (S)-2-((benzyloxy)methyl)-2,3-dihydrofuran, and 1,4-dioxene with various arynes were successful. An advantage of the use of cyclic enol ethers is that despite the plausible intermediacy of zwitterionic intermediates, the products are limited to a cis ring junction. This can be exploited for potential access to stereochemically-defined 1,2-disubstituted BCBs. As a demonstration, ether ring cleavage with BBr3 provided trans-functionalized BCBs and displacement with azide then provided cis derivatives. DFT computations have been utilized to understand the structures of three arynes in relation to the cycloadditions and for a predictive evaluation of product ratios in two cases. A comparative evaluation of the HOMO energies of a related series of cyclic olefins has also been performed by DFT computations.