Unified Total Synthesis of Stemoamide-Type Alkaloids by Chemoselective Assembly of Five-Membered Building Blocks

Making Full Use of TMSCF3: Deoxygenative Trifluoromethylation/Silylation of Amides

As one of the most powerful trifluoromethylation reagents, (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane (TMSCF3) has been widely used for the synthesis of fluorine-containing molecules. However, to the best of our knowledge, the simultaneous incorporation of both TMS- and CF3- groups of this reagent onto the same carbon of the products has not been realized. Herein, we report an unprecedented SmI2/Sm promoted deoxygenative difunctionalization of amides with TMSCF3, in which both silyl and trifluoromethyl groups are incorporated into the final product, yielding α-silyl-α-trifluoromethyl amines with high efficiency. Notably, the silyl group could be further transformed into other functional groups, providing a new method for the synthesis of α-quaternary α-CF3-amines.

Stereodivergent synthesis of 2-oxo-oligopyrrolidines by an iterative coupling strategy

Natural linear polyamines play diverse roles in physiological processes by interacting with receptors at the cellular level. Herein, we describe the stereodivergent synthesis of oligopyrrolidines, which are conformationally constrained polyamines. We synthesized dimeric and trimeric 2-oxo-oligopyrrolidines using an iterative coupling strategy. The key to our success is an iridium-catalyzed trans/cis-selective nucleophilic addition and subsequent threo/erythro-stereoselective reduction. The synthesized pyrrolidines show varying cytotoxicities against a human cancer cell line depending on the number of rings and their stereochemistry.

Iridium-Catalyzed Reductive (3+2) Annulation of Lactams Enabling the Rapid Total Synthesis of (±)-Eburnamonine

A reductive (3+2) annulation of lactams through iridium-catalyzed hydrosilylation and photoredox coupling with α-bromoacetic acid was developed. The iridium-catalyzed hydrosilylation of the lactam carbonyl group and subsequent elimination provide a transient cyclic enamine, which undergoes iridium-catalyzed photoredox coupling with α-bromoacetic acid in a one-pot process. The developed conditions show high functional-group tolerance and provide cyclic N,O-acetals containing a quaternary carbon center. The resulting N,O-acetals undergo a variety of acid-mediated nucleophilic addition reactions via iminium ions to give substituted cyclic amines. The developed sequence including reductive (3+2) annulation and acid-mediated nucleophilic addition was successfully applied to the four-step total synthesis of (±)-eburnamonine.

Pyridine-catalyzed ring-opening reaction of cyclopropenone with bromomethyl carbonyl compounds toward furan-2(5H)-ones

We developed a pyridine-catalyzed annulation of diaryl cyclopropenone with bromomethyl carbonyl compounds leading to 5-carbonyl furan-2(5H)-ones. Pyridinium, derived from the reaction of bromomethyl carbonyl and pyridine, triggered the reaction by the inter-molecular Michael addition to cyclopropenone. This procedure was sensitive neither to air nor moisture and proceeded at room temperature with broad substrate scopes and good functional group tolerance in moderate-to-good yields. As such, it represents a facile and practical pathway leading to 5-carbonyl furan-2(5H)-one derivatives.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Arboduridine

The first asymmetric total synthesis of the monoterpenoid indole alkaloid arboduridine has been accomplished. The tricyclic A/B/D ring system was constructed by an enantioselective Michael reaction followed by intramolecular nucleophilic addition. Intramolecular α-amination of a ketone forged the piperidine ring, while a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) reaction was used to form the pyrrolidine ring. A reduction cyclization cascade led to formation of the tetrahydrofuran ring.

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)-Incargranine A Enabled by Bifunctional Iminophosphorane and Iridium Catalysis

Herein we report the first enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-incargranine A, in nine steps. The total synthesis was enabled by an enantioselective intramolecular organocatalysed desymmetrising Michael addition of a malonamate ester to a linked dienone substrate that established pivotal stereocentres with excellent enantio- and complete diastereoselectivity. Furthermore, a key hemiaminal intermediate was accessed by developing an iridium-catalysed reductive cyclisation, and the scope of this transformation was explored to produce a range of bicyclic hemiaminal motifs. Once installed, the hemiaminal motif was used to initiate a biomimetic cascade to access the natural product directly in a single step.

Catalytic enantioselective reductive alkynylation of amides enables one-pot syntheses of pyrrolidine, piperidine and indolizidine alkaloids

The primary objective in synthetic organic chemistry is to develop highly efficient, selective, and versatile synthetic methodologies, which are essential for discovering new drug candidates and agrochemicals. In this study, we present a unified strategy for a one-pot, catalytic enantioselective synthesis of α-alkyl and α,α'-dialkyl pyrrolidine, piperidine, and indolizidine alkaloids using readily available amides and alkynes. This synthesis is enabled by the identification and development of an Ir/Cu/N-PINAP catalyzed highly enantioselective and chemoselective reductive alkynylation of α-unbranched aliphatic amides, which serves as the key reaction. This reaction is combined with Pd-catalyzed tandem reactions in a one-pot approach, enabling the collective, catalytic enantioselective total syntheses of eight alkaloids and an anticancer antipode with 90-98% ee. The methodology's enantio-divergence is exemplified by the one-step access to either enantiomer of alkaloid bgugaine.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Four Stemona Alkaloids

Asymmetric total syntheses of four Stemona alkaloids were accomplished, and among them, bisdehydrostemoninine A and stemoninine A were synthesized for the first time. Notably, these four alkaloids were divergently synthesized from a common tetracyclic intermediate, which was easily obtained from a known compound. Friedel-Crafts acylation was employed to introduce the key side chain at position C3 of Stemona alkaloids.

Computer-aided key step generation in alkaloid total synthesis

Efficient chemical synthesis is critical to satisfying future demands for medicines, materials, and agrochemicals. Retrosynthetic analysis of modestly complex molecules has been automated over the course of decades, but the combinatorial explosion of route possibilities has challenged computer hardware and software until only recently. Here, we explore a computational strategy that merges computer-aided synthesis planning with molecular graph editing to minimize the number of synthetic steps required to produce alkaloids. Our study culminated in an enantioselective three-step synthesis of (-)-stemoamide by leveraging high-impact key steps, which could be identified in computer-generated retrosynthesis plans using graph edit distances.

Strategies for the synthesis of Stemona alkaloids: an update

Covering: 2009 to 2022The Stemona alkaloids, which are found in plant species from the family Stemonaceae, represent a tremendously large and structurally-diverse family of natural products. This review presents and discusses a selection of case studies, grouped by alkaloid class, that showcase the key strategies and overall progress that has been made in the synthesis of Stemona alkaloids and related compounds since 2009. Structural reassignments that have been reported over this period are also identified where necessary.

Multicatalysis protocol enables direct and versatile enantioselective reductive transformations of secondary amides

The catalytic asymmetric geminal bis-nucleophilic addition to nonreactive functional groups is a type of highly desirable yet challenging transformation in organic chemistry. Here, we report the first catalytic asymmetric reductive/deoxygenative alkynylation of secondary amides. The method is based on a multicatalysis strategy that merges iridium/copper relay catalysis with organocatalysis. A further combination with the palladium-catalyzed alkyne hydrogenation allows the one-pot enantioselective reductive alkylation of secondary amides. This versatile protocol allows the efficient synthesis of four types of α-branched chiral amines, which are prevalent structural motifs of active pharmaceutical ingredients. The protocol also features excellent enantioselectivity, chemoselectivity, and functional group tolerance to be compatible with more reactive functional groups such as ketone and aldehyde. The synthetic utility of the method was further demonstrated by the late-stage functionalization of two drug derivatives and the concise, first catalytic asymmetric approach to the κ-opioid antagonist aticaprant.

Visible-light photocatalytic radical addition-translocation-cyclization to construct sulfonyl-containing azacycles

Herein, a novel visible-light photocatalytic radical addition-translocation-cyclization (RATC) approach for the efficient synthesis of sulfonyl-containing azacycles is described. The reaction delivers a wide range of monocyclic, bicyclic and polycyclic azacycles by using easily prepared sodium sulfinates and N-homopropargylic amines as starting materials. Instead of the traditionally used toxic tin reagents and thermally hazardous azos in the RATC process, clean, renewable and sustainable visible light combined with a catalytic amount of photosensitizer is used in this process. Moreover, the successful transformation of some drug derivatives further highlights the potential application of this procedure.

Total syntheses of seven stemoamide-type Stemona alkaloids

Six Stemona alkaloids were synthesized racemically using stemoamide, obtained via a cascade cyclization or our reported transannular cyclization of parvistemoamide, as the common intermediate.

Asymmetric Total Syntheses of Five Pyrrole-Type Stemona Alkaloids

The asymmetric total syntheses of five pyrrole-type Stemona alkaloids and two stereoisomers were accomplished, among which 3-n-butylneostemonine and bisdehydroneostemonine were synthesized for the first time, and the NMR data of...

Recent Advances in the Transformations of Different Types of Stemona Alkaloids

In recent years, researches on the total syntheses of Stemona alkaloids with different 5/7 bicyclic systems have attracted increasing attention, and the development momentum in this field has gradually changed...

Ir-Catalyzed Asymmetric Total Syntheses of Bisdehydrotuberostemonine D, Putative Bisdehydrotuberostemonine E and Structural Revision of the Latter

The first total syntheses of bisdehydrotuberostemonine D (8) and putative bisdehydrotuberostemonine E (9), two novel pyrrole Stemona alkaloids, along with the synthesis of bisdehydrotuberostemonine (3) have been completed in 12-13 steps. Our strategy harnesses the power of transition-metal-catalyzed reactions employing Ir, Ru, and Pd, in particular Ir-catalyzed asymmetric allylation of aldehydes, two distinct protocols recently developed by Carreira and Krische, respectively. The threefold use of Ir catalysis, first in the stereodivergent construction of two contiguous stereocenters at C (9,10) and then in rapid formation of the two γ-butyrolactone motifs, enabled the route's efficiency. Through this work, the originally assigned structure of bisdehydrotuberostemonine E (9) should be revised as 18α-bisdehydrotuberostemonine D (8*).

Synthesis of Pyrrolidine- and γ-Lactam-Containing Natural Products and Related Compounds from Pyrrole Scaffolds

Polycyclic alkaloid natural products featuring pyrrolidine and pyrrolidinone motifs remain enduring targets of total synthesis endeavors. Pyrrole and its derivatives have been exploited to access many such frameworks, including alkaloids belonging to the Aspidosperma, Stemona, and batzelladine families. In this article, a selection of exemplars that highlight the utility of pyrrole-based approaches to facilitate total syntheses of pyrrolidine- and pyrrolidinone-containing alkaloids and related molecules are showcased.

Late-Stage Diversification: A Motivating Force in Organic Synthesis

Interest in therapeutic discovery typically drives the preparation of natural product analogs, but these undertakings contribute significant advances for synthetic chemistry as well. The need for a highly efficient and scalable synthetic route to a complex molecular scaffold for diversification frequently inspires new methodological development or unique application of existing methods on structurally intricate systems. Additionally, synthetic planning with an aim toward late-stage diversification can provide access to otherwise unavailable compounds or facilitate preparation of complex molecules with diverse patterns of substitution around a shared carbon framework. For these reasons among others, programs dedicated to the diversification of natural product frameworks and other complex molecular scaffolds have been increasing in popularity, a trend likely to continue given their fruitfulness and breadth of impact. In this Perspective, we discuss our experience using late-stage diversification as a guiding principle for the synthesis of natural product analogs and reflect on the impact such efforts have on the future of complex molecule synthesis.

Asymmetric Deoxygenative Alkynylation of Tertiary Amides Enabled by Iridium/Copper Bimetallic Relay Catalysis

A variety of inert tertiary amides have been successfully transformed into synthetically important chiral propargylamines in high yields with good to excellent enantioselectivities via a relayed sequence of Ir catalyzed partial reduction and Cu/GARPHOS catalyzed asymmetric alkynylation with terminal alkynes. The reaction was readily extended to some drug molecules and the transformations of representative products have been demonstrated, thus attesting the practical utilities and the robust nature of the protocol.

General α-Amino 1,3,4-Oxadiazole Synthesis via Late-Stage Reductive Functionalization of Tertiary Amides and Lactams*

An iridium-catalyzed reductive three-component coupling reaction for the synthesis of medicinally relevant α-amino 1,3,4-oxadiazoles from abundant tertiary amides or lactams, carboxylic acids, and (N-isocyanimino) triphenylphosphorane, is described. Proceeding under mild conditions using (<1 mol %) Vaska's complex (IrCl(CO)(PPh3 )2 ) and tetramethyldisiloxane to access the key reactive iminium ion intermediates, a broad range of α-amino 1,3,4-oxadiazole architectures were accessed from carboxylic acid feedstock coupling partners. Extension to α-amino heterodiazole synthesis was readily achieved by exchanging the carboxylic acid coupling partner for C-, S-, or N-centered Brønsted acids, and provided rapid and modular access to these desirable, yet difficult-to-access, heterocycles. The high chemoselectivity of the catalytic reductive activation step allowed late-stage functionalization of 10 drug molecules, including the synthesis of heterodiazole-fused drug-drug conjugates.

Synthesis of the Proposed Structures of Parvistemoamide and Their Transformations to Stemoamide Derivatives

The proposed structures of parvistemoamide have been achieved by macrolactamization, but none of the characterization data of synthetic samples matched with those of the natural sample. The transformation of the highly strained 10-membered lactam ring in parvistemoamide into the pyrrolo[1,2-a]-azepine nucleus in stemoamide is accomplished for the first time by either transannular cyclization or Pilli's transformation. This research may promote the total synthesis of other more complex stemoamide-type or medium-sized-ring-containing Stemona alkaloids.

A General Iridium-Catalyzed Reductive Dienamine Synthesis Allows a Five-Step Synthesis of Catharanthine via the Elusive Dehydrosecodine

A new reductive strategy for the stereo- and regioselective synthesis of functionalized isoquinuclidines has been developed. Pivoting on the chemoselective iridium(I)-catalyzed reductive activation of β,γ-unsaturated δ-lactams, the efficiently produced reactive dienamine intermediates readily undergo [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions with a wide range of dienophiles, resulting in the formation of bridged bicyclic amine products. This new synthetic approach was extended to aliphatic starting materials, resulting in the efficient formation of cyclohexenamine products, and readily applied as the key step in the shortest (five-step) total synthesis of vinca alkaloid catharanthine to date, proceeding via its elusive biosynthetic precursor, dehydrosecodine.

Tailored Synthesis of Skeletally Diverse Stemona Alkaloids through Chemoselective Dyotropic Rearrangements of β-Lactones

The collective synthesis of skeletally diverse Stemona alkaloids featuring tailored dyotropic rearrangements of β-lactones as key elements is described. Specifically, three typical 5/7/5 tricyclic skeletons associated with stemoamide, tuberostemospiroline and parvistemonine were first accessed through chemoselective dyotropic rearrangements of β-lactones involving alkyl, hydrogen, and aryl migration, respectively. By the rational manipulation of substrate structures and reaction conditions, these dyotropic rearrangements proceeded with excellent efficiency, good chemoselectivity and high stereospecificity. Furthermore, several polycyclic Stemona alkaloids, including saxorumamide, isosaxorumamide, stemonine and bisdehydroneostemoninine, were obtained from the aforementioned tricyclic skeletons through late-stage derivatizations. A novel visible-light photoredox-catalyzed formal [3+2] cycloaddition was also developed, which offers a valuable tool for accessing oxaspirobutenolide and related scaffolds.

Cu-Catalyzed Arylation of Bromo-Difluoro-Acetamides by Aryl Boronic Acids, Aryl Trialkoxysilanes and Dimethyl-Aryl-Sulfonium Salts: New Entries to Aromatic Amides

We describe a mechanism-guided discovery of a synthetic methodology that enables the preparation of aromatic amides from 2-bromo-2,2-difluoroacetamides utilizing a copper-catalyzed direct arylation. Readily available and structurally simple aryl precursors such as aryl boronic acids, aryl trialkoxysilanes and dimethyl-aryl-sulfonium salts were used as the source for the aryl substituents. The scope of the reactions was tested, and the reactions were insensitive to the electronic nature of the aryl groups, as both electron-rich and electron-deficient aryls were successfully introduced. A wide range of 2-bromo-2,2-difluoroacetamides as either aliphatic or aromatic secondary or tertiary amides were also reactive under the developed conditions. The described synthetic protocols displayed excellent efficiency and were successfully utilized for the expeditious preparation of diverse aromatic amides in good-to-excellent yields. The reactions were scaled up to gram quantities.

Synthetic Studies toward Parvistemoline Using Asymmetric Ir/Amine-Catalyzed Allylation

The common, key tricyclic core of stemona alkaloids parvistemonine (1) and parvistemoline (2), whose synthetic efforts have not reported yet, was constructed through a new strategy in which three contiguous stereogenic centers were set by using Carreira's asymmetric Ir/amine-catalyzed allylation of aldehyde with α-vinylfurfuryl alcohol and Ellman's sulfinamide chiral auxiliary, respectively. The furan ring was especially designed to act as the precursor of the butyrolactone while establishing the significant chirality.

Chemoselective Reactions of Isocyanates with Secondary Amides: One-Pot Construction of 2,3-Dialkyl-Substituted Quinazolinones

A facile method for the preparation of 2,3-dialkyl-substituted quinazolinones from readily available N-arylamides and commercial isocyanates was developed. This one-pot procedure involves the chemoselective activation of the secondary amide with Tf₂O/2-Br-Pyr, the sequential addition of isocyanate, and cyclization. The mild reaction is general for a wide range of substrates and can be run on a gram scale.

Enantioselective total syntheses of (+)-stemofoline and three congeners based on a biogenetic hypothesis

The powerful insecticidal and multi-drug-resistance-reversing activities displayed by the stemofoline group of alkaloids render them promising lead structures for further development as commercial agents in agriculture and medicine. However, concise, enantioselective total syntheses of stemofoline alkaloids remain a formidable challenge due to their structural complexity. We disclose herein the enantioselective total syntheses of four stemofoline alkaloids, including (+)-stemofoline, (+)-isostemofoline, (+)-stemoburkilline, and (+)-(11S,12R)-dihydrostemofoline, in just 19 steps. Our strategy relies on a biogenetic hypothesis, which postulates that stemoburkilline and dihydrostemofolines are biogenetic precursors of stemofoline and isostemofoline. Other highlights of our approach are the use of Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction to connect the two segments of the molecule, an improved protocol allowing gram-scale access to the tetracyclic cage-type core, and a Cu-catalyzed direct and versatile nucleophilic alkylation reaction on an anti-Bredt iminium ion. The synthetic techniques that we developed could also be extended to the preparation of other Stemona alkaloids.

Stemofoline alkaloids are promising lead structures for further development in the fields of agriculture and medicine. Here, the authors report the enantioselective total syntheses of four stemofoline alkaloids in 19 steps based on a biogenetic hypothesis.

C-H/C-C Functionalization Approach to N-Fused Heterocycles from Saturated Azacycles

Herein we report the synthesis of substituted indolizidines and related N-fused bicycles from simple saturated cyclic amines through sequential C-H and C-C bond functionalizations. Inspired by the Norrish-Yang Type II reaction, C-H functionalization of azacycles is achieved by forming α-hydroxy-β-lactams from precursor α-ketoamide derivatives under mild, visible light conditions. Selective cleavage of the distal C(sp2)-C(sp3) bond in α-hydroxy-β-lactams using a Rh-complex leads to α-acyl intermediates which undergo sequential Rh-catalyzed decarbonylation, 1,4-addition to an electrophile, and aldol cyclization, to afford N-fused bicycles including indolizidines. Computational studies provide mechanistic insight into the observed positional selectivity of C-C cleavage, which depends strongly on the groups bound to Rh trans to the phosphine ligand.

Transition-Metal-Free Reductive Functionalization of Tertiary Carboxamides and Lactams for α-Branched Amine Synthesis

A new method for the synthesis of α-branched amines by reductive functionalization of tertiary carboxamides and lactams is described. The process relies on the efficient and controlled reduction of tertiary amides by a sodium hydride/sodium iodide composite, in situ treatment of the resulting anionic hemiaminal with trimethylsilyl chloride and subsequent coupling with nucleophilic reagents including Grignard reagents and tetrabutylammonium cyanide. The new method exhibits broad functional-group compatibility, operates under transition-metal-free reaction conditions, and is suitable for various synthetic applications on both sub-millimole and on multigram scales.

Pyrrole Strategy for the γ-Lactam-Containing Stemona Alkaloids: (±)Stemoamide, (±)Tuberostemoamide, and (±)Sessilifoliamide A

Stemona alkaloids contain family members with diverse structural scaffolds. Many of them feature a γ-lactam ring embedded in their characteristic 5-7-5 fused tricyclic core. Herein a pyrrole strategy was developed to enable the total syntheses of three Stemona alkaloids: (±)stemoamide, (±)tuberostemoamide, and (±)sessilifoliamide A. In these cases, a substituted pyrrole was used as the γ-lactam precursor. A sequential pyrrole oxidation and enamide reduction were realized to convert the pyrrole to the corresponding γ-lactam in those three natural products. The use of a pyrrole in an early stage of the synthesis offers the advantage of rapid construction of the key intermediates by exploiting its nucleophilicity.