Studies toward the total synthesis of clavulactone

Grob-Fragmentation-Enabled Approach to Clavulactone Analogues

The novel synthetic strategy for dolabellane skeleton was realized, which allowed the synthesis of clavulactone analogues 26 and 27 in a concise and efficient manner. Salient transformations include a diastereoselective Mukaiyama aldol reaction, an intramolecular nucleophilic addition reaction, a Grob fragmentation reaction, and an efficient Mukaiyama-Michael addition reaction.

Acetaldehyde in asymmetric organocatalytic transformations

This review summarize both the recent developments in the organocatalysed use of acetaldehyde as a substrate in various organic transformations and its application in the synthesis of bioactive molecules.

Dolabellane diterpenoids from Aglaia odorata

Dolabellane diterpenoids, (1R,3E,7E,10S,11S,12R)-dolabella-3,7-dien-10,18-diol (1), (1R,3S,7E,11S,12R)-dolabella-4(16),7-dien-3,18-diol (2), (1R,7E,11S,12R)-18-hydroxydolabella-4(16),7-dien-3-one (3), (1R,3S,4S,7E,11S,12R)-3,4-epoxydolabella-7-en-18-ol (4), and (1R,3R,7E,11S,12R)-dolabella-4(16),7,18-trien-3-ol (5), were obtained from the ornamental plant Aglaia odorata. Their structures were characterized on the basis of spectroscopic analyses and further confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Compounds 1 and 5 showed weak cytotoxicity against the human myeloid leukemia HL-60, hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721, and lung cancer A-549 cells.

Enantioselective total synthesis of clavirolide C. Applications of Cu-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate additions and Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis

The first enantioselective total synthesis of clavirolide C, a member of the dolabellane family of diterpenes isolated from Pacific soft coral Clavularia viridis, is disclosed. The total synthesis features the application of chiral amino acid based ligands in Cu-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition (ACA) reactions and a relatively rare application of catalytic ring-closing metathesis to access an 11-membered ring structure. The total synthesis effort has spawned the development of a new protocol for NHC.Cu-catalyzed ACA of alkylaluminum reagents to beta-substituted cycloalkenones. The enantioselective clavirolide C synthesis requires 17 steps (longest linear sequence), affords the target molecule in 3.5% overall yield, and confirms the stereochemical assignment for the natural product.

Studies Towards the Synthesis of Salvinorin A

Salvinorin A 1, a psychoactive neoclerodane diterpenoid from the Mexican sage S. divinorum, has gained interest as a selective κ-opioid receptor agonist. Non-racemic 3-furylamines 9a and 9b have been prepared from (+)-pseudoephedrine and (–)-ephedrine for application in the stereoselective synthesis of the ketone ring of 1. Diels–Alder reaction of 9b with methyl acrylate in aqueous media, followed by selective ether bridge cleavage, has allowed access to the cyclohexenone 17 with preservation of stereochemistry at C2. A model route to the lactone ring has also been achieved through a one-pot deconjugation/esterification procedure of 2-bromocrotonyl chloride 20 to the furyl alcohol 19 followed by Reformatski-mediated ring closure.