Stereocontrolled Total Synthesis of Bastimolide B Using Iterative Homologation of Boronic Esters

Platinum-Catalyzed Regio- and Enantioselective Diboration of Unactivated Alkenes with (pin)B-B(dan)

Asymmetric diboration of terminal alkenes is well established, and subsequent selective functionalization of the less hindered primary boronic ester is commonly achieved. Conversely, selective functionalization of the sterically less accessible secondary boronic ester remains challenging. An alternative way to control chemoselective functionalization of bis(boron) compounds is by engendering different Lewis acidity to the two boryl moieties, since reactivity would then be dictated by Lewis acidity instead of sterics. We report herein the regio- and enantioselective Pt-catalyzed diboration of unactivated alkenes with (pin)B-B(dan). A broad range of terminal and cyclic alkenes undergo diboration to furnish the differentiable 1,2-bis(boron) compounds with high levels of regio- and enantiocontrol, giving access to a wide variety of novel building blocks from a common intermediate. The reaction places the less Lewis acidic B(dan) group at the less hindered position and the resulting 1,2-bisboryl alkanes undergo selective transformations of the B(pin) group located at the more hindered position. The regioselectivity of the diboration has been studied by DFT calculations and is believed to originate from the trans influence, which lowers the activation barrier for formation of the regioisomer that places the weaker electron donor [B(pin) vs B(dan)] opposite the strong electron donor (alkyl group) in the platinum complex.

Cyclization by Intramolecular Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling-A Review

Ring systems of all sizes are frequent core or substructures in natural products and they are important elements of many drug molecules, as they often confer high binding affinity to and selectivity for disease-relevant biological targets. A uniform key transformation in the synthesis of such structures is the cyclization step. Among the various approaches that have been developed for ring closure, the intramolecular Suzuki-Miyaura reaction has emerged as a powerful option for the construction of normal- and medium-sized rings as well as macrocycles, due to its stereospecificity, the mild reaction conditions, and the non-toxic nature of the boron by-products. In this review, we summarize the state-of-the-art of the application of intramolecular Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions in the construction of (macro)cyclic frameworks of natural products and bioactive molecules of synthetic origin, covering (mostly) examples that have been reported since 2015. Target molecules prepared via intramolecular Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling as a key step range from natural products/natural product analogs to synthetic drug candidates, featuring ring sizes from 4 to ≫12. We highlight the utility, scope, and limitations of the reaction for different ring sizes and arrays of functional groups. Where possible, comparisons with other methods of cyclization are provided.

Progress in the discovery and development of anticancer agents from marine cyanobacteria

Covering 2010-April 2024There have been tremendous new discoveries and developments since 2010 in anticancer research based on marine cyanobacteria. Marine cyanobacteria are prolific sources of anticancer natural products, including the tubulin agents dolastatins 10 and 15 which were originally isolated from a mollusk that feeds on cyanobacteria. Decades of research have culminated in the approval of six antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and many ongoing clinical trials. Antibody conjugation has been enabling for several natural products, particularly cyanobacterial cytotoxins. Targeting tubulin dynamics has been a major strategy, leading to the discovery of the gatorbulin scaffold, acting on a new pharmacological site. Cyanobacterial compounds with different mechanisms of action (MOA), targeting novel or validated targets in a range of organelles, also show promise as anticancer agents. Important advances include the development of compounds with novel MOA, including apratoxin and coibamide A analogues, modulating cotranslational translocation at the level of Sec61 in the endoplasmic reticulum, largazole and santacruzamate A targeting class I histone deacetylases, and proteasome inhibitors based on carmaphycins, resembling the approved drug carfilzomib. The pipeline extends with SERCA inhibitors, mitochondrial cytotoxins and membrane-targeting agents, which have not yet advanced clinically since the biology is less understood and selectivity concerns remain to be addressed. In addition, efforts have also focused on the identification of chemosensitizing and antimetastatic agents. The review covers the state of current knowledge of marine cyanobacteria as anticancer agents with a focus on the mechanism, target identification and potential for drug development. We highlight the importance of solving the supply problem through chemical synthesis as well as illuminating the biological activity and in-depth mechanistic studies to increase the value of cyanobacterial natural products to catalyze their development.

Marine Cyanobacteria: A Rich Source of Structurally Unique Anti-Infectives for Drug Development

Marine cyanobacteria represent a promising yet underexplored source of novel natural products with potent biological activities. Historically, the focus has been on isolating cytotoxic compounds from marine cyanobacteria, but a substantial number of these photosynthetic microorganisms also produce diverse specialized molecules with significant anti-infective properties. Given the global pressing need for new anti-infective lead compounds, this review provides a concise yet comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on anti-infective secondary metabolites derived from marine cyanobacteria. A majority of these molecules were isolated from free-living filamentous cyanobacteria, while several examples were derived from marine cyanobacterial symbionts. In addition, SAR studies and potent synthetic analogs based on selected molecules will be featured. With more than 200 molecules, this review presents their antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiprotozoal, and molluscicidal activities, with the chemical and biological information covered in the literature up to September 2024.

The current utility and future potential of multiborylated alkanes

Organoboron chemistry has become a cornerstone of modern synthetic methodology. Most of these reactions use an organoboron starting material that contains just one C(sp2)-B or C(sp3)-B bond; however, there has been a recent and accelerating trend to prepare multiborylated alkanes that possess two or more C(sp3)-B bonds. This is despite a lack of general reactivity, meaning many of these compounds currently offer limited downstream synthetic value. This Review summarizes recent advances in the exploration of multiborylated alkanes, including a discussion on how these products may be elaborated in further synthetic manipulations.

Stereodivergent Construction of 1,5/1,7-Nonadjacent Tetrasubstituted Stereocenters Enabled by Pd/Cu-Cocatalyzed Asymmetric Heck Cascade Reaction

The construction of chiral motifs containing nonadjacent stereocenters in an enantio- and diastereoselective manner has long been a challenging task in synthetic chemistry, especially with respect to their stereodivergent synthesis. Herein, we describe a protocol that enables the enantio- and diastereoselective construction of 1,5/1,7-nonadjacent tetrasubstituted stereocenters through a Pd/Cu-cocatalyzed Heck cascade reaction. Notably, a C=C bond relay strategy involving the shift of the π-allyl palladium intermediate was successfully applied in the asymmetric construction of 1,7-nonadjacent stereocenters. The current method allows for the efficient preparation of chiral molecules bearing two privileged scaffolds, oxindoles and non-natural α-amino acids, with good functional group tolerance. The full complement of the four stereoisomers of products bearing 1,5/1,7-nonadjacent stereocenters could be readily accessed by a simple combination of two chiral metal catalysts with different enantiomers.

A Three-Step Catalytic Asymmetric Sequence from Alkynes to α-Silyloxyaldehydes and Its Application to a C22-C41 Fragment of Bastimolide A

1,5-Polyol structures present challenges in stereocontrol, configurational assignment, and diastereomer separation; these are all compromised by remote stereochemical relationships. A configuration-encoded approach with alcohol configurations previously established within enantiopure building blocks offers a versatile solution to these issues. The iterative construction begins with α-silyloxyaldehydes; here, we introduce an enantioselective and step-economical route from alkynes to α-silyloxyaldehydes via silyl cation-induced ring opening of enol ester epoxides. This development enables an efficient configuration-encoded synthesis of the C22-C41 fragment of the bastimolides.

The Rise of Boron-Containing Compounds: Advancements in Synthesis, Medicinal Chemistry, and Emerging Pharmacology

Boron-containing compounds (BCC) have emerged as important pharmacophores. To date, five BCC drugs (including boronic acids and boroles) have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of cancer, infections, and atopic dermatitis, while some natural BCC are included in dietary supplements. Boron's Lewis acidity facilitates a mechanism of action via formation of reversible covalent bonds within the active site of target proteins. Boron has also been employed in the development of fluorophores, such as BODIPY for imaging, and in carboranes that are potential neutron capture therapy agents as well as novel agents in diagnostics and therapy. The utility of natural and synthetic BCC has become multifaceted, and the breadth of their applications continues to expand. This review covers the many uses and targets of boron in medicinal chemistry.

Marine natural products

Covering: January to the end of December 2022This review covers the literature published in 2022 for marine natural products (MNPs), with 645 citations (633 for the period January to December 2022) referring to compounds isolated from marine microorganisms and phytoplankton, green, brown and red algae, sponges, cnidarians, bryozoans, molluscs, tunicates, echinoderms, the submerged parts of mangroves and other intertidal plants. The emphasis is on new compounds (1417 in 384 papers for 2022), together with the relevant biological activities, source organisms and country of origin. Pertinent reviews, biosynthetic studies, first syntheses, and syntheses that led to the revision of structures or stereochemistries, have been included. An analysis of NP structure class diversity in relation to biota source and biome is discussed.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Allylic Alcohols via Substrate Control on Asymmetric Lithiation

Allylic alcohols are a privileged motif in natural product synthesis and new methods that access them in a stereoselective fashion are highly sought after. Toward this goal, we found that chiral acetonide-protected polyketide fragments performing the Hoppe-Matteson-Aggarwal rearrangement in the absence of sparteine with high yields and diastereoselectivities rendering this protocol a highly valuable alternative to the Nozaki-Hiyama-Takai-Kishi reaction. Various stereodyads and -triads were investigated to determine their substrate induction. The mostly strong inherent stereoinduction was attributed to a combination of steric and electronic effects.

A Pyridine Dearomatization Approach for the Gram Scale Synthesis of (±)-Sparteine

Both enantiomers of sparteine have suffered from pricing and supply chain variability, which has inspired efforts toward efficient chemical synthesis. Here, we build upon our reported synthesis of the matrine-type lupin alkaloids in order to synthesize (±)-sparteine. Specifically, selective quenching of the cyclization between glutaryl chloride and pyridine with methanol provides a functionalized quinolizidine core that was elaborated to (±)-sparteine in six additional steps on gram scale. This synthesis provides a scalable route to sparteine from inexpensive commodity chemicals utilizing a dearomative cyclization. In addition, this route provides concise access to (±)-lupinine.

Sparteine-Free, Highly Stereoselective Construction of Complex Allylic Alcohols Using 1,2-Metallate Rearrangements

Stereotriads bearing allylic alcohols are privileged structures in natural products, and new methods accessing these in a stereoselective fashion are highly sought after. Toward this goal, we found that the use of chiral polyketide fragments allows for performing the Hoppe-Matteson-Aggarwal rearrangement in the absence of sparteine with high yields and diastereoselectivities, rendering this protocol a highly valuable alternative to the Nozaki-Hiyama-Takai-Kishi reaction. The switch of directing groups in most cases resulted in the reversed stereochemical outcome, which could be explained by conformational analysis on density functional theory level and a Felkin-like model.

Selective Formal Carbene Insertion into Carbon-Boron Bonds of Diboronates by N-Trisylhydrazones

Bisborylalkanes play important roles in organic synthesis as versatile bifunctional reagents. The two boron moieties in these compounds can be selectively converted into other functional groups through cross-coupling, oxidation or radical reactions. Thus, the development of efficient methods for synthesizing bisborylalkanes is highly demanded. Herein we report a new strategy to access bisborylalkanes through the reaction of N-trisylhydrazones with diboronate, in which the bis(boryl) methane is transformed into 1,2-bis(boronates) via formal carbene insertion. Since the N-trisylhydrazones can be readily derived from the corresponding aldehydes, this strategy represents a practical synthesis of 1,2-diboronates with broad substrate scope. Mechanistic studies reveal an unusual neighboring group effect of 1,1-bis(boronates), which accounts for the observed regioselectivity when unsymmetric 1,1-diboronates are applied.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Remote Borylation of Alkynes and Vinylboronates

Remote functionalization involving a fascinating chain-walking process has emerged as a powerful strategy for the rapid access to value-added functional molecules from readily available feedstocks. However, the scope of current methods is predominantly limited to mono- and di-substituted alkenes. The remote functionalization of multi- and heteroatom-substituted alkenes is challenging, and the use of alkynes in the chain walking is unexplored. We herein report a rhodium catalyzed remote borylation of internal alkynes, offering an unprecedented reaction mode of alkynes for the preparation of synthetically valuable 1,n-diboronates. The regioselective distal migratory hydroboration of sterically hindered tri- and tetra-substituted vinylboronates is also demonstrated to furnish various multi-boronic esters. Synthetic utilities are highlighted through the selective manipulation of the two boryl groups in products such as the regioselective cross coupling, oxidation, and amination.

Dual Nickel/Photoredox-Catalyzed Site-Selective Cross-Coupling of 1,2-Bis-Boronic Esters Enabled by 1,2-Boron Shifts

Site-selective transition-metal-catalyzed mono-deboronative cross-couplings of 1,2-bis-boronic esters are valuable methods for the synthesis of functionalized organoboron compounds. However, such cross-couplings are limited to reaction of the sterically less hindered primary boronic ester. Herein, we report a nickel/photoredox-catalyzed mono-deboronative arylation of 1,2-bis-boronic esters that is selective for coupling of the more sterically hindered secondary/tertiary position. This is achieved by taking advantage of a 1,2-boron shift of primary β-boryl radicals to the thermodynamically favored secondary/tertiary radicals, which are subsequently intercepted by the nickel catalyst to enable arylation. The mild conditions are amenable to a broad range of aryl halides to give β-aryl boronic ester products in good yields and with high regioselectivity. This method also allows stereodivergent coupling of cyclic cis-1,2-bis-boronic esters to give trans-substituted products.

Total Synthesis of (-)-Bastimolide A: A Showcase for Type I Anion Relay Chemistry

A highly convergent total synthesis of (-)-bastimolide A (1), a polyhydroxy antimalarial macrolide, has been achieved via a longest linear sequence of twenty steps from commercially available glycidyl ethers. Type I Anion Relay Chemistry (ARC) coupling tactics enable rapid construction of the molecule's 1,5-polylol backbone. A late-stage B-alkyl Suzuki-Miyaura union and an Evans-modified Mukaiyama macrolactonization generate the forty-membered Z-α,β-unsaturated macrocyclic lactone.