The lyconadins: enantioselective total syntheses of (+)-lyconadin A and (-)-lyconadin B

The Therapeutic Effects of Seven Lycophyte Compounds on Cell Models of Alzheimer’s Disease

Background: As an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI), Huperzine-A (Hup-A) is marketed for treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD) for decades in China. However, Hup-A causes some side effects. To search for new analogs or derivatives of Hup-A, we produced five Lycophyte alkaloids and two analogues by chemical synthesis: Lyconadins A-E, H-R-NOB, and 2JY-OBZ4. Objective: To systematically evaluated the therapeutic effects of the seven compounds on AD cell models. Methods: We assessed the effects of the seven compounds on cell viability via CCK-8 kit and used HEK293-hTau cells and N2a-hAPP cells as AD cell models to evaluate their potential therapeutic effects. We examined their effects on cholinesterase activity by employing the mice primary neuron. Results: All compounds did not affect cell viability; in addition, Lyconadin A and 2JY-OBZ4 particularly increased cell viability. Lyconadin D and Lyconadin E restored tau phosphorylation at Thr231, and H-R-NOB and 2JY-OBZ4 restored tau phosphorylation at Thr231 and Ser396 in GSK-3β-transfected HEK293-hTau cells. 2JY-OBZ4 decreased the level of PP2Ac-pY307 and increased the level of PP2Ac-mL309, supporting that 2JY-OBZ4 may activate PP2A. Lyconadin B, Lyconadin D, Lyconadin E, H-R-NOB, and 2JY-OBZ4 increased sAβPPα level in N2a-hAPP cells. 2JY-OBZ4 decreased the levels of BACE1 and sAβPPβ, thereby reduced Aβ production. Seven compounds exhibited weaker AChE activity inhibition efficiency than Hup-A. Among them, 2JY-OBZ4 showed the strongest AChE inhibition activity with an inhibition rate of 17% at 10μM. Conclusion: Among the seven lycophyte compounds, 2JY-OBZ4 showed the most expected effects on promoting cell viability, downregulating tau hyperphosphorylation, and Aβ production and inhibiting AChE in AD.

The applications of catalytic asymmetric halocyclization in natural product synthesis

Catalytic asymmetric halocyclization of olefinic substrate has evolved rapidly and been well utilized as a practical strategy for constructing enantioenriched cyclic skeletons in natural product synthesis.

Synthetic Entry to the 2-Azatricyclo[4.3.2.04,9]undecane Ring System via Tropone

A synthesis of the 2-azatricyclo[4.3.2.0^4,9]undecane ring system-a hitherto unreported bridged azatricyclic ring system-beginning from tricarbonyl(tropone)iron and allylamine was accomplished in three steps: (1) aza-Michael addition of allylamine to tricarbonyl(tropone)iron; (2) Boc-protection of the resulting secondary amine; and (3) oxidative demetallation leading to a spontaneous intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction. The effect of a variety of parameters on the intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction was investigated, including diene and dienophile substitution patterns and dienophile tether length.

Total Syntheses of Lyconadins: Finding Efficiency and Diversity

Lyconadins A-C are important members of the Lycopodium alkaloid family with challenging structural features and interesting biological profile. Herein, various synthetic strategies and methods for their preparation are summarized with the focus on constructive bond formation and our efficient and divergent synthesis based on functional group pairing (FGP) strategy.

Carbamoyl radical-mediated synthesis and semipinacol rearrangement of β-lactam diols

In an approach to the biologically important 6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane ring system, the scope of the tandem 4-exo-trig carbamoyl radical cyclization-dithiocarbamate group transfer reaction to ring-fused β-lactams is evaluated. β-Lactams fused to five-, six-, and seven-membered rings are prepared in good to excellent yield, and with moderate to complete control at the newly formed dithiocarbamate stereocentre. No cyclization is observed with an additional methyl substituent on the terminus of the double bond. Elimination of the dithiocarbamate group gives α,β- or β,γ-unsaturated lactams depending on both the methodology employed (base-mediated or thermal) and the nature of the carbocycle fused to the β-lactam. Fused β-lactam diols, obtained from catalytic OsO4-mediated dihydroxylation of α,β-unsaturated β-lactams, undergo semipinacol rearrangement via the corresponding cyclic sulfite or phosphorane to give keto-bridged bicyclic amides by exclusive N-acyl group migration. A monocyclic β-lactam diol undergoes Appel reaction at a primary alcohol in preference to semipinacol rearrangement. Preliminary investigations into the chemo- and stereoselective manipulation of the two carbonyl groups present in a representative 7,8-dioxo-6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane rearrangement product are also reported.

Divergent total syntheses of lyconadins A and C

Divergent and concise total syntheses of two lycopodium alkaloids, lyconadins A and C have been developed. The synthesis of lyconadin A, having potent neurotrophic activity, features an efficient one-pot ketal removal and formal aza-[4+2] cyclization to form the cagelike core structure. A tandem ketal removal/Mannich reaction was developed to build the tricyclic structure of lyconadin C. Both lyconadins A and C were synthesized from a pivotal intermediate.

Neurotrophic natural products: chemistry and biology

Neurodegenerative diseases and spinal cord injury affect approximately 50 million people worldwide, bringing the total healthcare cost to over 600 billion dollars per year. Nervous system growth factors, that is, neurotrophins, are a potential solution to these disorders, since they could promote nerve regeneration. An average of 500 publications per year attests to the significance of neurotrophins in biomedical sciences and underlines their potential for therapeutic applications. Nonetheless, the poor pharmacokinetic profile of neurotrophins severely restricts their clinical use. On the other hand, small molecules that modulate neurotrophic activity offer a promising therapeutic approach against neurological disorders. Nature has provided an impressive array of natural products that have potent neurotrophic activities. This Review highlights the current synthetic strategies toward these compounds and summarizes their ability to induce neuronal growth and rehabilitation. It is anticipated that neurotrophic natural products could be used not only as starting points in drug design but also as tools to study the next frontier in biomedical sciences: the brain activity map project.

Exploration of an epoxidation-ring-opening strategy for the synthesis of lyconadin A and discovery of an unexpected Payne rearrangement

In the context of synthetic efforts targeting the alkaloid lyconadin A, scalemic epoxide 25 was prepared by a highly stereoselective sequence involving a Myers alkylation and a Shi epoxidation. Ring-opening of this epoxide with a vinylcopper complex afforded alcohol 26 instead of the expected product 27. An unusual Lewis acid promoted Payne rearrangement of an α-trityloxy epoxide is proposed to account for this outcome.

Total syntheses of lyconadins A-C

The total synthesis of the Lycopodium alkaloid lyconadin A was accomplished and it was applied to the total syntheses of the related congeners, lyconadins B and C. Lyconadin A has attracted attention as a challenging target for total synthesis due to the unprecedented pentacyclic skeleton. Our synthesis of lyconadin A features a facile construction of the highly fused tetracyclic skeleton through a combination of an aza-Prins reaction and an electrocyclic ring opening, followed by formation of a C-N bond. Transformation of the bromoalkene moiety of the tetracycle to a key enone intermediate was extensively investigated, and three methods via sulfide, oxime, or azide intermediates were established. A pyridone ring was constructed from the key enone intermediate to complete the synthesis of lyconadin A. A dihydropyridone ring could also be formed from the same enone intermediate, leading to a synthesis of lyconadin B. Establishment of the conditions for an electrocyclic ring opening without formation of the C-N bond resulted in completion of the total synthesis of lyconadin C.

Concise total synthesis of (+)-lyconadin A

The total synthesis of lyconadin A from (R)-5-methylcyclohex-2-enone was accomplished. Our synthesis features the facile construction of a highly fused tetracyclic compound through a combination of an aza-Prins reaction and an electrocyclic ring opening. Transformation of the bromoalkene moiety in the tetracycle could be achieved by either a vinylogous Pummerer rearrangement or the formation and subsequent isomerization of the nitrosoalkene to furnish an α,β-unsaturated ketone, from which the pyridone ring was constructed.

Proximity effects in nucleophilic addition reactions to medium-bridged twisted lactams: remarkably stable tetrahedral intermediates

The reactions of a series of strained bicyclic and tricyclic one-carbon bridged lactams with organometallic reagents have been investigated. These amides permit isolation of a number of remarkably stable hemiaminals upon nucleophilic addition to the twisted amide bonds present in the lactam precursors. The factors that affect the stability of the resulting bridged hemiaminals are presented. In some cases, the hemiaminals were found to collapse to the open-form amino ketones in a manner expected for traditional carboxylic acid derivatives. Transannular N...C=O interactions were also observed in some nine-membered amino ketones. Additionally, tricyclic bridged lactams were found to react with some nucleophiles that typically react with ketones but not with planar amides. The effect of geometry on the reactivity of amide bonds and the amide bond distortion range that marks the boundary of amide-like and ketone-like carbonyl reactivity of lactams are also discussed.

Total synthesis of the lycopodium alkaloid (+)-serratezomine A

The first total synthesis of (+)-serratezomine A is described. Key aspects of the synthesis include (a) the first deployment of free-radical-mediated vinyl amination (an intramolecular alkyne aminostannation) in a complex target synthesis, (b) the use of a beta-stannyl enamine as the lynchpin for convergent assembly of the natural product backbone, (c) the use of an oxidative allylation promoted by cerium(IV) (CAN) to establish the all-carbon quaternary chiral center with the proper configuration, and (d) an intramolecular substitution reaction to form the sensitive bridging lactone. Overall, 15 steps (longest linear sequence) are required to prepare the natural product from a commercially available aldehyde, and assembly of the contiguous array of six stereocenters is accomplished with high stereocontrol.