Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (+)-Milbemycin D

Highly Stereoselective 2-Oxonia-Cope Rearrangement: A Platform Enabling At-Will Control of Regio-, Enantio-, and Diastereoselectivity in the Vinylogous Aldol Reactions of Aldehydes

A distinctly different approach for the vinylogous aldolation of aldehydes is described, which exploits 2-oxonia-Cope rearrangement reactions between two readily available partners, a set of rationally designed chiral homoallylic alcohol synthons and aldehydes, under simple conditions. In these processes, chirality transfer from the former to the latter is nearly perfect, giving rise to excellent enantio- and diastereoselectivity without the regioselectivity issue associated with traditional vinylogous aldol reactions.

Total synthesis and related studies of large, strained, and bioactive natural products

Our chemical syntheses and related scientific investigations of natural products with complex architectures and powerful biological activities are described, focusing on the very large 3 nm-long polycyclic ethers called the ciguatoxins, highly strained and labile chromoprotein antitumor antibiotics featuring nine-membered enediyne cores, and extremely potent anthelmintic macrolides called the avermectins.

Total synthesis of avermectin B1a revisited

Avermectins were isolated as compounds possessing anthelmintic activity from the culture broth of Streptomycesavermitilis by Ōmura and co-workers. Owing to their potent anthelmintic and insecticidal activities, as well as their unique pentacyclic architecture, the avermectin family attracted keen interest from synthetic organic chemists. We have recently completed a more efficient and straightforward total synthesis of avermectin B1a, as compared with previous syntheses.

Syntheses of precursors and reference compounds of the melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1 (MCHR1) tracers [¹¹C]SNAP-7941 and [¹⁸F]FE@SNAP for positron emission tomography

The MCH receptor has been revealed as a target of great interest in positron emission tomography imaging. The receptor's eponymous substrate melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a cyclic peptide hormone, which is located predominantly in the hypothalamus with a major influence on energy and weight regulation as well as water balance and memory. Therefore, it is thought to play an important role in the pathophysiology of adiposity, which is nowadays a big issue worldwide. Based on the selective and high-affinity MCH receptor 1 antagonist SNAP-7941, a series of novel SNAP derivatives has been developed to provide different precursors and reference compounds for the radiosyntheses of the novel PET radiotracers [(11)C]SNAP-7941 and [(18)F]FE@SNAP. Positron emission tomography promotes a better understanding of physiologic parameters on a molecular level, thus giving a deeper insight into MCHR1 related processes as adiposity.

Dienyne Ring-Closing Metathesis Approach for the Construction of Taxosteroids

A cascade dienyne ring-closing metathesis approach has been applied to the synthesis of the tetracyclic carbon framework of a new class of hybrid compounds-the taxosteroids-possessing carbon frameworks incorporating moieties characteristic of both taxanes (such as AB rings) and steroids (i.e., CD system and side chain). This tandem cyclization is highly stereoselective, allowing the one-step formation of the bicyclo[5.3.1]undecene system characteristic of taxol. In this work we describe the scope and limitations of such cyclizations.

Total synthesis of milbemycins: a synthesis of (6R)-6-hydroxy-3,4-dihydromilbemycin E

Following studies using benzyloxymethyl isopropenyl ketone 5 and ethyl 3-(3-furyl)-3-oxopropanoate 6, Robinson reactions between aryloxymethyl isopropenyl ketones 19 and 5 and ethyl 3-(2-trimethylsilyl-3-furyl)-3-oxopropanoate 20 were found to be stereoselective giving cyclohexanones 21 and 41, in which the 3-(arylmethoxy) substituents were cis to the 2-hydroxyl groups, as the major products. After reduction and protection of ketone 21, selective PMB-deprotection, oxidation and stereoselective reduction inverted the configuration at C3 to give the diol 30. Protection of the secondary 3-hydroxyl group followed by modification of the protected 4-alcohol then gave the hydroxybutenolides 36 and 37 after oxidation of the silylated furan using singlet oxygen. The 3-benzyloxycyclohexanone 41 was also converted into the hydroxybutenolide 37 via the (2-trimethylsilylethoxy)methyl (SEM) ether 35. The Wittig reaction between the ylid generated from 2-methylpropyl(triphenyl)phosphonium salt and hydroxybutenolide 36 gave predominantly the (2Z,4Z)-dienyl acid 38 which was taken through to the butenolide 40. Similarly, the racemic hydroxybutenolide 37 was condensed with the racemic ylid derived from phosphonium salt 53 to give, after SEM-deprotection and 5-membered lactone formation, a mixture of the (9Z,2'Z)-dienyl lactones 58 and 59 containing ca. 10% of the corresponding (9Z,2'E)-isomers 60 and 61. (2'Z)/(2'E)-Isomerisation of the dienes 58 and 59 using iodine followed by deprotection gave a mixture of the seco-acids 62 and 63. Selective macrocyclisation of the seco-acid 62 in which the relative configuration of the C1-C7 and C17-C19 fragments (milbemycin numbering) corresponded to that present in the natural milbemycins, gave the beta-milbemycin analogue 65 after butenolide reduction. The hydroxybutenolide 37 was also condensed with the ylid derived from the phosphonium salt 1 and the product taken through to (6R)-6-hydroxy-3,4-dihydromilbemycin E 77. Preliminary attempts to convert the beta-milbemycin analogues 65 and 77 into tetrahydrofurans corresponding to analogues of alpha-milbemycins by treatment with toluene p-sulfonyl chloride under basic conditions gave the primary allylic chlorides 78 and 79.

A total synthesis of milbemycin G: approaches to the C(1)–C(10)-fragment and completion of the synthesis

A synthesis of the hydroxybutenolide (-)-6 required for synthesis of alpha-milbemycins and the completion of a total synthesis of milbemycin G 7 is reported. Following preliminary studies, an optimised synthesis of the hydroxybutenolide (-)-6 from the hydroxyketone 38 was developed which involved the resolution of 38 by separation of the 3-(O-chloroacetyl)-(S)-mandelates 80 and 83. Ester 80, which corresponded to the required enantiomer of the hydroxyketone 38, crystallized from the mixture of the diastereoisomeric esters 80 and 83 giving the (-)-hydroxyketone (-)-38 in an overall yield of 47%(based on racemic 38) after ethanolysis. Hydroxyketone (-)-38 was oxidised to the enolic diketone (-)-39 and phenylselenation and stereoselective reduction gave the trihydroxycyclohexyl selenide (-)-43. The regioselective introduction of the non-conjugated double-bond into the six-membered ring was then achieved by esterification of the 4-hydroxyl group using trichloroacetic acid to give the trichloroacetate (-)-69. Oxidative elimination from the trichloroacetate using tert-butyl hydroperoxide was highly regioselective and gave the endo- and exocyclic alkenes (-)-44 and (-)-46 in a ratio of 95 : 5 after ethanolysis of the trichloroacetates. Selective O-methylation of the 4-hydroxyl group via the cyclic stannylene 55 and protection of the 3-hydroxyl group as its 2-trimethylsilylethoxymethyl (SEM) ether gave the ester (-)-57. Following saponification of the ethyl ester, re-esterification using 2-trimethylsilylethanol and oxidation of the 2-trimethylsilylfuryl fragment using singlet oxygen gave the required hydroxybutenolide (-)-6. The Wittig reaction between the phosphonium salt 2 and the hydroxybutenolide (-)-6 gave a ca. 2 : 1 mixture of the (4Z)- and (4E)-isomers of the ester 84 which on treatment with a catalytic amount of iodine was converted into the (4E)-isomer (4E)-84. Deprotection gave the seco-acid 85 but attempts to macrocyclise this were unsuccessful, the elimination product 86 being the only product isolated. The Wittig product 84 was taken through to the butenolide (2'E)-91 by removal of the SEM group, cyclisation to form the butenolide ring and diene isomerization, but this could not be converted into the corresponding seco-acid 92. However, removal of the SEM group from the seco-acid 85 gave the trihydroxy-acid 93 which was cyclized under modified Yamaguchi conditions to give the macrolide 94 together with a small amount of the macrocyclic butenolide 95. Reduction of this mixture using diisobutylaluminium hydride gave (6R)-6-hydroxymilbemycin E 96 which was converted to milbemycin G 7 by cyclisation of the primary chloride 97. The synthetic milbemycin G 7 was identical to a sample prepared by methylation of a commercial sample of milbemycin D 98, 7-O-methylmilbemycin G 99 being a side-product of this methylation.

Stereochemistry of the reaction of Si–phenyl silenes with butadienes: elaboration of the silacycloadducts to provide a novel route to substituted lactones

Silenes generated through a silyl-modified Peterson olefination procedure can be trapped with a range of alkyl butadienes via a [4 + 2] cycloaddition pathway to afford silacycles accompanied by variable amounts of competing ene, [2 + 2] and silene dimer by-products. The silacycles are formed with good chemo- and stereo-selectivity and provide access to diols and lactones via a phenyl-triggered Fleming-Tamao oxidation.

A convergent approach to cryptophycin 52 analogues: synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel series of fragment a epoxides and chlorohydrins

Cryptophycin 52 is a synthetic derivative of Cryptophycin 1, a potent antimicrotubule agent isolated from cyanobacteria. In an effort to increase the potency and water solubility of the molecule, a structure-activity relationship study (SAR) was initiated around the phenyl ring of fragment A. These Cryptophycin 52 analogues were accessed using a Wittig olefination reaction between various triphenylphosphonium salts and a key intermediate aldehyde prepared from Cryptophycin 53. Substitution on the phenyl ring of fragment A was well tolerated, and several of these analogues were equally or more potent than Cryptophycin 52 when evaluated in vitro in the CCRF-CEM leukemia cell line and in vivo against a murine pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Development of an effective chiral auxiliary for hydroxyalkyl radicals

The development of an effective chiral auxiliary for hydroxyalkyl radicals is delineated. Both the 2-tetrahydropyranyl (THP) and tri-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl (GLU) auxiliaries resulted in diastereoselective radical additions to methyl acrylate at -78 degrees C (ds = 6/1 and 11/1, respectively). The developing stereochemistry at the radical center was completely under auxiliary control. Correlation experiments showed that the D-GLU auxiliary led to attack on the radical Si-face. The selectivity of these radical additions dropped-off considerably when the more reactive 2-nitropropene trap was employed. Computational studies suggested that the observed facial selectivity was due primarily to entropic factors in the transition state but that a smaller temperature-dependent enthalpic contribution was also involved. It was hypothesized that incorporation of a quaternary center at C-6 (THP numbering) would restore the facial selectivity with more reactive radical traps by restricting the orientations available to the incoming alkene. In the event, the trans-6-tert-butyltetrahydropyranyl (tBu-THP) auxiliary resulted in very good diastereoselection with 2-nitropropene (ds = 35/1 at -78 degrees C, 15/1 at 0 degrees C, and 8/1 at RT) as did the tri-O-benzyl-6,6-dimethyl-2-alpha-D-deoxyglucopyranosyl (diMe-GLU) auxiliary during additions to ethyl alpha-trifluoroacetoxyacrylate (ds = 10/1 at 0 degrees C). A protocol for recovery of the sugar-derived chiral auxiliaries was also established. This work sets the stage for the development of a novel approach to 1, 3, 5.(2n + 1) polyols based on iterative radical homologation as well as the application of these pyranosidic auxiliaries to other synthetically important reactions.

Asymmetric total synthesis of spongistatins 1 and 2

The total synthesis of spongistatin 1 (1) and spongistatin 2 (2) has been achieved through an advanced-stage intermediate. The synthesis is highlighted by a highly convergent assembly of the four key fragments (the C1-C15 AB fragment 2, the C16-C28 CD fragment 3, the C29-C43 EF fragment 4, and the C44-C51 side chain 5) at a very advanced stage of the synthesis with minimal functional group interconversion. The CD fragment 3 functions as the central building block to which the other fragments are attached. The synthesis of the AB and CD spiroketal fragments is accomplished through the addition of a metalated gamma-pyrone to a beta-alkoxy aldehyde followed by spiroketalization. The EF subunit was assembled with high diastereoselectivity relying on asymmetric aldol reactions of chlorotitanium enolates of N-propionyl oxazolidinethiones and a double diastereoselective boron aldol to join the E and F fragments. Wittig coupling of the CD and EF fragments followed by a diastereoselective aldol reaction between the CDEF ketone and an AB aldehyde set the stage for attachment of the C44-C51 side chains and final macrolactonization and deprotection.

An aldol approach to the synthesis of the EF fragment of spongistatin 1

A synthesis of the C29-C51 fragment of spongistatin 1, containing the E and F rings, has been completed. The approach relies on four diastereoselective aldol additions and an asymmetric glycolate alkylation to establish eight of the eleven stereogenic centers. The intact chlorodiene side chain was appended by a Lewis acid catalyzed addition of an allylstannane to an epoxy enol ether.

Total synthesis of the ansamycin antibiotic (+)-thiazinotrienomycin E

The first total synthesis of (+)-thiazinotrienomycin E (1), member of a novel class of cytotoxic ansamycin antibiotics, has been achieved. Key features of the synthetic strategy include (a) the efficient construction of sulfone 7 incorporating TBS protection of the aniline, (b) an improved synthesis of allyl chloride (-)-6, the advanced intermediate employed in our trienomycins A and F total syntheses, (c) application of the Kocienski modified Julia protocol to elaborate the E,E,E-triene subunit in a stereo-controlled fashion, (d) an efficient union of sulfone 7 with advanced iodide 62, and (e) Mukaiyama macrolactamization to access the thiazinotrienomycin macrocyclic ring.

Total synthesis of (+)-thiazinotrienomycin E

[formula: see text] The first total synthesis of (+)-thiazinotrienomycin E (1), member of a novel class of cytotoxic ansamycin antibiotics, has been achieved. The synthesis features a highly efficient construction of the aromatic fragment 3 incorporating TBS protection of the aniline, a significantly improved synthesis of (-)-19, an intermediate employed in our trienomycins A and F total syntheses, application of the Kocienski modified Julia protocol to elaborate the E,E,E-triene subunit, an efficient union of 3 and (+)-4, and Mukaiyama macrolactamization to access the thiazinotrienomycin macrolide.