Development of a merged conjugate addition/oxidative coupling sequence. Application to the enantioselective total synthesis of metacycloprodigiosin and prodigiosin R1

Synthesis of Unsymmetrical 1,4-Dicarbonyl Compounds by Photocatalytic Oxidative Radical Additions

Herein we report a photocatalytic oxidative radical addition reaction for the synthesis of unsymmetrical 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds. This reaction utilizes a desulfurization process to generate electrophilic radicals, which add to α-halogenated alkenes and undergo further oxidation to deliver 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds. This mild and highly efficient method provides a valuable alternative to known strategies.

Copper-Catalyzed Three-Component Reactions of α-Ketoaldehyde, 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compound, and Organic Boronic Acid in Water: A Route to 1,4-Diketones

A novel three-component reaction of α-ketoaldehydes, 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, and organic boronic acids catalyzed by CuO in water has been developed to give a wide range of products containing 1,3/1,4-diketones. The method has some advantages such as the use of readily available starting materials, wide substrate scopes, excellent yields, gram-scale synthesis, and mild reaction conditions.

Anodic Olefin Coupling Reactions: Elucidating Radical Cation Mechanisms and the Interplay between Cyclization and Second Oxidation Steps

Anodic olefin coupling reactions generate new bonds and ring skeletons through a net two electron process that reverses the polarity of a known, electron-rich functional group. While much of the early work on the mechanism of these reactions focused on the initial oxidation and cyclization steps of the process, the second oxidation step also plays a central role in determining the success of the reaction. Evidence supporting this observation is presented, along with evidence that optimization of this second oxidation step is not enough to pull a poor cyclization to the desired product. Successful cyclization reactions require optimization of both processes.

Synthesis of pH Dependent Pyrazole, Imidazole, and Isoindolone Dipyrrinone Fluorophores using a Claisen-Schmidt Condensation Approach

Methine-bridged conjugated bicyclic aromatic compounds are common constituents of a range of biologically relevant molecules such as porphyrins, dipyrrinones, and pharmaceuticals. Additionally, restricted rotation of these systems often results in highly to moderately fluorescent systems as observed in 3H,5H-dipyrrolo[1,2-c:2',1'-f]pyrimidin-3-ones, xanthoglows, pyrroloindolizinedione analogs, BODIPY analogs, and the phenolic and imidazolinone ring systems of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP). This manuscript describes an inexpensive and operationally simple method of performing a Claisen-Schmidt condensation to generate a series of fluorescent pH dependent pyrazole/imidazole/isoindolone dipyrrinone analogs. While the methodology illustrates the synthesis of dipyrrinone analogs, it can be translated to produce a wide range of conjugated bicyclic aromatic compounds. The Claisen-Schmidt condensation reaction utilized in this method is limited in scope to nucleophiles and electrophiles that are enolizable under basic conditions (nucleophile component) and non-enolizable aldehydes (electrophile component). Additionally, both the nucleophilic and electrophilic reactants must contain functional groups that will not inadvertently react with hydroxide. Despite these limitations, this methodology offers access to completely novel systems that can be employed as biological or molecular probes.

Electrochemical and Photocatalytic Oxidative Coupling of Ketones via Silyl Bis-enol Ethers

Diastereoselective oxidative coupling of ketones through a silyl bis-enol ether intermediate by anodic and photocatalytic oxidation is reported. These methods provide several 1,4-diketones in good yields without the need for stoichiometric metal oxidants. The strategic use of a silicon tether enables the coupling of both aromatic and aliphatic ketones as well as the synthesis of quaternary centers. Cyclic voltammetry is used to gain insight into the oxidation events of the reaction.

A Practical Synthesis of Densely Functionalized Pyrroles via a Three-Component Cascade Reaction between Carbohydrates, Oxoacetonitriles, and Ammonium Acetate

A practical three-component reaction between unactivated carbohydrates, oxoacetonitriles, and ammonium acetate gave densely functionalized pyrroles in 75-96% yields. Disaccharides afforded novel pyrrolo-glycosides. This metal-free, Et₃N-catalyzed cascade reaction proceeded with exclusive chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivities and showed a wide substrate scope with high atom economy. It also proceeded successfully at a 2 g scale, demonstrating potential for large-scale synthesis. The functional groups on the pyrroles permit easy transformation to other handles for the construction of more complex structures. The reaction proceeded through a cascade mechanism involving several intermediates identified by mass spectrometric analysis. This work has great potential for the sustainable production of densely functionalized pyrroles from cheap and widely available carbohydrates and represents a key advancement in the sustainable synthesis of these ubiquitous heterocycles.

Access to α-Pyrazole and α-Triazole Derivatives of Ketones from Oxidative Heteroarylation of Silyl Enolethers

The synthesis of α-pyrazole and α-triazole derivatives of ketones by the ceric ammonium nitrate-mediated oxidative coupling of enolsilanes with heteroarenes is reported. The reaction proceeds under mild reaction conditions to provide a diversity of products, including sterically hindered fully substituted derivatives.

Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry as an Efficient Tool for Identification of Streptorubin B in Streptomyces coelicolor M145

Ion mobility spectrometry was utilized to corroborate the identity of streptorubin B (2) as the natural product produced by Streptomyces coelicolor. Natural product 2 was initially assigned as butylcycloheptylprodigiosin (3), and only relatively recently was this assignment clarified. We present additional evidence of this assignment by comparing collisional cross sections (Ω) of synthetic standards of 2, 3, and metacycloprodigiosin (4) to the cyclic prodiginine produced by S. coelicolor. Calculated theoretical Ω values demonstrate that cyclic prodiginines could be identified without standards. This work highlights ion mobility as an efficient tool for the dereplication of natural products.

Visible-light-induced consecutive C-C bond fragmentation and formation for the synthesis of elusive unsymmetric 1,8-dicarbonyl compounds

Synthesis of the valuable unsymmetric 1,8-dicarbonyl compounds remains underexplored currently. Herein, we disclose a new strategy for the synthesis of 1,8-diketones through the coupling of cyclopropanols and cyanohydrins under visible-light irradiation. The protocol features a cascade of intriguing ring opening of cyclopropanols and remote cyano migration. The unfavorable addition of an alkyl radical to an electron-rich alkene is facilitated by the intramolecular cyanohydrin interception. A variety of multiply functionalized 1,8-diketones are furnished in useful yields. The products could be further transformed into other valuable compounds, manifesting the utility of this method.

(R)-Metacycloprodigiosin-HCl: Chiroptical properties and structure

(R)-Metacycloprodigiosin can exist in three different tautomeric forms, each with hydrogens at C9' and C12 in syn or anti orientation. With the addition of HCl, this structural diversity reduces to syn-(R)-metacycloprodigiosin-HCl (1a) and anti-(R)-metacycloprodigiosin-HCl (1b), each with multiple conformers. Energetics and chiroptical properties, namely, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and specific optical rotation (SOR), of (R)-metacycloprodigiosin-HCl have been investigated at B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,2p) level. The experimental ECD spectra of (R)-metacycloprodigiosin-HCl have also been measured. Calculations indicated that the lowest energy conformer of 1b is approximately 2.7 kcal/mol lower in energy than that of 1a, and the energy barrier for anti to syn conversion is approximately 13 kcal/mol. The population weighted calculated SORs of 1a and 1b are, respectively, positive and negative. The respective calculated ECD spectra of these pseudoenantiomers show an almost mirror image relationship between them. The experimental SOR and ECD compare well with those predicted for 1b. Thus, 1b is expected to be predominant, a situation confirmed also by nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) data, with a similar conclusion reached for prodigiosin R1.

A Strategy for the Convergent and Stereoselective Assembly of Polycyclic Molecules

The stereoselective oxidative coupling of cyclic ketones via silyl bis-enol ethers followed by ring-closing metathesis is shown to be a general and powerful reaction sequence for the preparation of diverse polycyclic scaffolds from simple precursors. The modular strategy successfully constructs substructures prevalent in numerous bioactive natural product families, varying in substitution and carbocyclic composition. Several of the prepared compounds were shown to possess potent cytotoxic activity against a panel of tumor cell lines. The utility of this strategy was further demonstrated by a concise and highly convergent 17-step formal synthesis of the complex antimalarial marine diterpene, (+)-7,20-diisocyanoadociane.

Metal-free benzannulation of 1,7-diynes towards unexpected 1-aroyl-2-naphthaldehydes and their application in fused aza-heterocyclic synthesis

A novel I₂-mediated benzannulation of 1,7-diyne-involved 1,4-oxo-migration was established, providing unexpected 1-aroyl-2-naphthaldehydes. The resulting 1-aroyl-2-naphthaldehydes were successfully applied in the synthesis of polycyclic isoindoles.

Total synthesis of natural products containing benzofuran rings

In this review, various approaches for the construction of benzofurans as an important moiety in different natural products during the total synthesis of the natural of products are underscored.

Synthesis and anticancer activity of prodigiosenes bearing C-ring esters and amides

Ten novel prodigiosenes with anticancer activity.

Radicals: Reactive Intermediates with Translational Potential

This Perspective illustrates the defining characteristics of free radical chemistry, beginning with its rich and storied history. Studies from our laboratory are discussed along with recent developments emanating from others in this burgeoning area. The practicality and chemoselectivity of radical reactions enable rapid access to molecules of relevance to drug discovery, agrochemistry, material science, and other disciplines. Thus, these reactive intermediates possess inherent translational potential, as they can be widely used to expedite scientific endeavors for the betterment of humankind.

Structure, Chemical Synthesis, and Biosynthesis of Prodiginine Natural Products

The prodiginine family of bacterial alkaloids is a diverse set of heterocyclic natural products that have likely been known to man since antiquity. In more recent times, these alkaloids have been discovered to span a wide range of chemical structures that possess a number of interesting biological activities. This review provides a comprehensive overview of research undertaken toward the isolation and structural elucidation of the prodiginine family of natural products. Additionally, research toward chemical synthesis of the prodiginine alkaloids over the last several decades is extensively reviewed. Finally, the current, evidence-based understanding of the various biosynthetic pathways employed by bacteria to produce prodiginine alkaloids is summarized.

A Failed Late-Stage Epimerization Thwarts an Approach to Ineleganolide

Significant efforts were made to complete a synthesis of the complex norcembranoid ineleganolide via a seemingly attractive strategy involving late-stage creation of the central seven-membered ring. While the two key enantioenriched building blocks were made via high-yielding sequences and their convergent union was efficient, the critical C4-C5 bond of this sterically congested natural product could never be forged. Several interesting examples of unexpected acid-base behavior and unanticipated proximity-induced reactivity accounted for most of the problems in the execution of the synthesis plan.

Pyrrole: An emerging scaffold for construction of valuable therapeutic agents

Pyrrole derivatives comprise a class of biologically active heterocyclic compounds which can serve as promising scaffolds for antimicrobial, antiviral, antimalarial, antitubercular, anti-inflammatory and enzyme inhibiting drugs. Due to their inimitable anticancer and anti-tubercular properties, researchers were inspired to develop novel pyrrole derivatives for the treatment of MDR pathogens. In the present review the main target is to focus on the development of pyrrole mimics, with emphasis based on their structure activity relationship (SAR). The present review is being obliging for the future development of pyrrole therapeutics.

Chiroptical properties of streptorubin B: the synergy between theory and experiment

Analysis of the calculated and measured optical rotation (OR) together with other calculated chiroptical properties such as electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) of the prodigiosin alkaloid streptorubin B shows that these are dominated by the pseudoenantiomeric atropisomers anti-(S)-streptorubin B (1A) and syn-(S)-streptorubin (1B). Atropisomerism is a dynamic phenomenon with a potentially nonequilibrium population of isomers, and accordingly the measured chiroptical responses may vary with time, concentration, temperature, and the anion of the salts used. Streptorubin also has the potential to form stacked homodimers for which the optical rotations measured at 589 nm can vary greatly due to the presence of ECD-active electronic transitions in this region.

Enantioselective synthesis of metacycloprodigiosin via the "Wasserman pyrrole"

A concise, nine-step enantioselective total synthesis of metacycloprodigiosin is reported. The synthesis provides increased step-efficiency over the previous racemic and enantioselective syntheses of this compound. Key features of the work include investigations into a convergent oxidative coupling reaction and subsequent ring-closing metathesis to deliver an advanced pyrrole intermediate we name the "Wasserman pyrrole" that can be converted to metacycloprodigiosin in one step.

Intramolecular dearomative oxidative coupling of indoles: a unified strategy for the total synthesis of indoline alkaloids

Indole alkaloids, one of the largest classes of alkaloids, serve as an important and rich source of pharmaceuticals and have inspired synthetic chemists to develop novel chemical transformations and synthetic strategies. Many biologically active natural products contain challenging indoline scaffolds, which feature a C3 all-carbon quaternary stereocenter that is often surrounded by a complicated polycyclic ring system. The creation of this quaternary stereocenter creates an inherent synthetic challenge because the substituents on the carbon center cause high steric repulsion. In addition, the presence of nitrogen atoms within the surrounding polycyclic rings can lead to synthetic difficulties. Oxidative coupling between two sp(3)-hybridized carbon anions provides a unique and powerful method for building C-C single bonds, especially for generating a C-C bond that joins one or two vicinal quaternary stereocenters. Although chemists have known of this transformation for a long time, they have only applied this reaction in total synthesis of complex natural products during the past decade. The progress of this class of reaction depends on the use of indole moieties as coupling partners. In this Account, we summarize our recent efforts to develop iodine-mediated intramolecular dearomative oxidative coupling (IDOC) reactions of indoles as part of a unified strategy for the total synthesis of three classes of indoline alkaloids. We categorized these IDOC reactions into three types based on their mode of connection to the indole moiety. In type I, the carboanion nucleophile was tethered to the indole at the C3 position. This reaction enabled the assembly of skeleton A, which features a spiro ring at the C3 position of the indole. We demonstrated the efficiency of this method by quickly assembling two classes of tetracyclic compounds and completing the total synthesis of (-)-communesins F, A, and B. For the type II IDOC reactions, the carboanion nucleophile residing at the C2 position of the indole formed a quaternary center at the C3 position of indole to produce skeleton B. We applied this IDOC reaction to synthesize two akuammiline alkaloids, vincorine and aspidophylline A. Type III IDOC reactions employed substrates with a preinstalled ring at the C2 and C3 positions of the indole. These transformations proceeded smoothly to afford polycyclic ring system C, which we used in the first enantioselective total synthesis of Kopsia alkaloid methyl N-decarbomethoxychanofruticosinate. These results further demonstrate how new chemical strategies and reactions facilitate both the first total syntheses of natural products and the discovery of more efficient synthetic routes.

Catalytic asymmetric dearomatizing redox cross coupling of ketones with aryl hydrazines giving 1,4-diketones

An asymmetric Brønsted acid catalyzed dearomatizing redox cross coupling reaction has been realized, in which aryl hydrazines react with ketones to deliver 1,4-diketones, bearing an all-carbon quarternary stereocenter in high enantiopurity.

Prodigiosin alkaloids: recent advancements in total synthesis and their biological potential

The present review article is focused on the medicinal potential and total synthesis of prodigiosins witnessed in the last decade. The aim will be to provide an inspiration to the marvels and pit falls of constructing the polypyrrole heterocycles with in the complex systems.

Synthetic prodigiosenes and the influence of C-ring substitution on DNA cleavage, transmembrane chloride transport and basicity

Analogues of the tripyrrolic natural product prodigiosin bearing an additional methyl and a carbonyl group at the C-ring were synthesised and evaluated. In vitro anticancer activity screening (NCI) and the study of modes of action (copper-mediated cleavage of double-stranded DNA and transmembrane transport of chloride anions) showed that the presence of the methyl group is not detrimental to activity. Furthermore, although the presence of an ester conjugated to the prodigiosene C-ring seems to decrease both pK(a) and chloride transport efficiency compared to the natural product, these analogues still exhibit a high rate of chloride transport. All analogues exhibit good in vitro anticancer activity and reduced toxicity compared to the natural product: compare an acute systemic toxicity of 100 mg kg(-1) in mice vs. 4 mg kg(-1) for prodigiosin, pointing towards a larger therapeutic window than for the natural product.

Total Synthesis of Propolisbenzofuran B

The first total synthesis of propolisbenzofuran B, a bioactive natural product isolated from honeybee propolis resin, is reported. The convergent synthesis makes use of a silicon-tether controlled oxidative ketone-ketone cross-coupling and a novel benzofuran-generating cascade reaction to deliver the core structure of the natural product from readily prepared precursors.

Elimination of butylcycloheptylprodigiosin as a known natural product inspired by an evolutionary hypothesis for cyclic prodigiosin biosynthesis

The cyclic prodigiosins are an important family of bioactive natural products that continue to be the subject of numerous structural, synthetic, and biosynthetic studies. In particular, the structural assignments of the isomeric cyclic prodigiosins butylcycloheptylprodigiosin (BCHP) and streptorubin B have been the cause of significant confusion. Herein, we report detailed studies regarding the electron impact (EI) mass spectra of synthetic BCHP and streptorubin B that have allowed us to distinguish the two compounds in the absence of quality historical isolation NMR data. On the basis of these fragmentation differences, the status of BCHP as a natural product is challenged. The proposed mechanism of fragmentation is supported by the EI mass spectra of synthetic pentyl-chain analogues of BCHP and streptorubin B, X-ray crystallography, and DFT calculations. Elimination of BCHP from the prodigiosin family supports a proposed evolutionary hypothesis for the surprising biosynthesis of cyclic prodigiosins.

Oxidative Coupling of Enolates, Enol Silanes and Enamines: Methods and Natural Product Synthesis

The oxidative coupling of enolates, enol silanes, and enamines provides a direct method for the construction of useful 1,4-dicarbonyl synthons. Despite being first reported in 1935, with subsequent important advances beginning in the 1970's, the development of this powerful reaction into a reliable methodology was somewhat limited. In recent years, there have been a number of reports from several research groups demonstrating advances in several neglected areas of oxidative coupling. This microreview summarizes these new advances in methodology and provides an overview of recent natural product syntheses that showcase the power of these transformations.