Unusual alpha-methylation of alkoxyaryl ketones with higher order methyl cuprate and lithium bromide

N-Heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed desymmetrization of functionalized 1,4-dienes via Stetter Reaction

The asymmetric desymmetrization of 1,4-dienes via chiral N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed Stetter-type umpolung reaction was demonstrated.

Total synthesis of the pseudopterosin aglycones

The 15 published total syntheses of the pseudopterosins are reviewed, with focus on strategic considerations and an emphasis on ring formation.

Marine diterpene glycosides

Marine diterpene glycosides (MDGs) respresent a small but highly significant group of the much larger class of marine diterpenes. The three well-studied examples of MDGs are eleutherobins, pseudopterosins and fuscosides, all of which exhibit extremely promising biological activity. The eleutherobins are potent anti-mitotic agents, and the pseudopterosins and fuscosides are potent anti-inflammatory agents. This review discusses the structures and biological activities of these compounds, as well as their biosynthesis and synthesis.

Synthetic pseudopterosin analogues: A novel class of antiinflammatory drug candidates

The synthesis and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of a series of pseudopterosin analogues are presented. Synthetic tricyclic catechol aglycons with different substitution patterns were monofucosylated or -xylosylated. Anti-inflammatory activity was conserved over a wide range of structural modifications. The most active synthetic compound 33 reduced phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced inflammation in the mouse ear by 72% at 50 μg/ear. This corresponds to 80% of the activity of natural pseudopterosin A.

A Convenient Synthesis of the Central Core of Helioporins, seco-Pseudopterosins and Pseudopterosins via BCA-Annulation Sequence

A convenient synthesis of the central core of helioporins, seco-pseudopterosins and pseudopterosins in racemic form is reported, using a Suzuki coupling (A-ring formation)-Friedel-Crafts acylation sequence, followed by synthetic elaboration of the resulting tetralone derivative. Key steps of the method are a totally diastereoselective cuprate conjugate addition and a final, spontaneous Friedel-Crafts acylation.