Thermal cycloreversion of 2,2-dimethyl-6 (.omega.-hydroxyalkyl)-4H-1,3-dioxin-4-ones: mono-, di-, and trimeric macrocyclic .beta.-keto lactones by intramolecular trapping of (.omega.-hydroxy)acylketenes

The taumycin A macrocycle: asymmetric total synthesis and revision of relative stereochemistry

The first asymmetric total synthesis and revision of the relative configuration of the 12-membered taumycin A macrocycle is described. Key to the success of this work was a novel α-keto ketene macrocyclization that provided an efficient means by which to access two diastereomers of the desired macrolide without the need to employ additional coupling agents or unnecessary oxidation state adjustments.

Multicomponent macrocyclization reactions (MCMRs) employing highly reactive acyl ketene and nitrile oxide intermediates

An efficient synthesis of spiro-fused macrolactams by a multicomponent macrocyclization reaction (MCMR) is reported. The use of highly reactive, transient intermediates in this MCMR permits short reaction times, even at high dilution. The methods employed for this MCMR were first developed as a four-component strategy for the synthesis of β-ketoamide isoxazolines and a new macrocyclization reaction is reported.

5-Aminooxazole as an Internal Traceless Activator of C-Terminal Carboxylic Acid: Rapid Access to Diversely Functionalized Cyclodepsipeptides

A conceptually novel macrolactonization protocol has been developed. It is a domino process involving a sequence of: 1) protonation of 5-aminooxazole leading to the electrophilic iminium salt; 2) trapping of the iminium species by the neighboring C-terminal carboxylic acid leading to a putative spirolactone; and 3) intramolecular nucleophilic addition of the tethered alcohol to the spirolactone followed by fragmentation. The strategically incorporated 5-aminooxazole serves as an internal traceless activator of the neighboring C-terminal carboxylic acid, since it became an integral part of the peptide backbone after cyclization. No coupling reagent is required and the entire sequence is triggered by just a few equivalents of trifluoroacetic acid under very mild conditions (MeCN as the solvent at room temperature). The spirolactone as an activated form of the carboxylic acid has been evidenced by a sulfur-migration experiment. By combining with a three-component synthesis of 5-aminooxazole, a two-step synthesis of structurally complex cyclodepsipeptides from readily accessible starting materials was developed.

Ru-catalyzed alkene-alkyne coupling. Total synthesis of amphidinolide P

A coordinatively unsaturated ruthenium complex catalyzed the formation of a carbon-carbon bond between two judiciously chosen alkene and alkyne partners in good yield, and in a chemo- and regioselective fashion, despite the significant degree of unsaturation of the substrates. The resulting 1,4-diene forms the backbone of the cytotoxic marine natural product amphidinolide P. The alkene partner was rapidly assembled from (R)-glycidyl tosylate, which served as a linchpin in a one-flask, sequential three-components coupling process using vinyllithium and a vinyl cyanocuprate. The synthesis of the alkyne partner made use of an unusual anti-selective addition under chelation-control conditions of an allyltin reagent derived from tiglic acid. In addition, a remarkably E-selective E2 process using the azodicarboxylate-triphenylphosphine system is featured. Also featured is the first example of the use of a beta-lactone as a thermodynamic spring to effect macrolactonization. The oxetanone ring was thus used as a productive protecting group that increased the overall efficiency of this total synthesis. This work was also an opportunity to further probe the scope of the ruthenium-catalyzed alkene-alkyne coupling, in particular using enynes, and studies using various functionalized substrates are described.

Callipeltoside a: total synthesis, assignment of the absolute and relative configuration, and evaluation of synthetic analogues

The total synthesis of the novel antitumor agent callipeltoside A, as well as several analogues, is accomplished and allows assignment of the stereochemistry not previously established. A convergent strategy is employed wherein the target is dissected into three units-the core macrolactone, the sugar callipeltose, and a cyclopropyl bearing chain. The strategy for the synthesis of the macrolactone derives from employment of diastereoselective aldol reactions that emanate from an 11 carbon piece. The stereochemistry of the latter derives from the chiral pool and two asymmetric reactions-a ketone reduction using CBS-oxazaborolidine and a Pd catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation (AAA). The novelty of the latter protocol is its control of regioselectivity as well as absolute configuration. The trisubstituted olefin is generated using an alkene-alkyne coupling to create a trisubustituted olefin with complete control of geometry. The excellent chemo- and regioselectivity highlights the synthetic potential of this new ruthenium catalyzed process. The macrolactonization employs in situ formation of an acylketene generated by the thermolysis of a m-dioxolenone. Two strategies evolved for attachment of the side chain-one based upon olefination and a second upon olefin metathesis. The higher efficiency of the latter makes it the method of choice. A novel one pot olefin metathesis-Takai olefination protocol that should be broadly applicable is developed. The sugar is attached by a glycosylation by employing the O-trichloroacetimidate. This route provided both C-13 epimers of the macrolactone by using either enantiomeric ligand in the Pd AAA reaction. It also provided both trans-chlorocyclopropane diastereomers of callipeltoside A which allows the C-20 and C-21 configuration to be established as S and R, respectively. The convergent nature of the synthesis in which the largest piece, the macrolatone, require only 16 linear steps imparts utility to this strategy for the establishment of the structure-activity relationship. Initial biological testing demonstrates the irrelevance of the chloro substituent and the necessity of the sugar.

Type-Two intramolecular diels-alder reactions of pyrazolo-o-quinodimethanes

Two isomeric series of homologous N-(acryloyloxy)alkylated pyrazolo-3-sulfolenes 10a-c and 18a-c have been efficiently synthesized from a common starting material, 4,6-dihydro-1H-thieno[3, 4-c]pyrazole (5). Thermolysis of these fused 3-sulfolenes provides the corresponding o-quinodimethanes which simultaneously undergo "type-two" intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions to form two- and three-atom-bridged tricyclic pyrazoles which are otherwise difficult to prepare. It was also demostrated that, depending on the N-substitution position of the pyrazolo-fused 3-sulfolenes, the temperature required for the thermal extrusion of SO(2) and the regioselectivity of the T2-IMDA reactions were influenced substantially.