First total synthesis of (+/-)-Linderol A, a tricyclic hexahydrodibenzofuran constituent of Lindera umbellata bark, with potent inhibitory activity on melanin biosynthesis of cultured B-16 melanoma cells

Recent advances in the synthesis of natural products containing the phloroglucinol motif

Covering: June 2009 to 2021Natural products containing a phloroglucinol motif include simple and oligomeric phloroglucinols, polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols, phloroglucinol-terpenes, xanthones, flavonoids, and coumarins. These compounds represent a major class of secondary metabolites which exhibit a wide range of biological activities such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and hypoglycaemic properties. A number of these compounds have been authorized for therapeutic use or are currently being studied in clinical trials. Their structural diversity and utility in both traditional and conventional medicine have made them popular synthetic targets over the years. In this review, we compile and summarise the recent synthetic approaches to the natural products bearing a phloroglucinol motif. Focus has been given on ingenious strategies to functionalize the phloroglucinol moiety at multiple positions. The isolation and bioactivities of the compounds are also provided.

Catalytic Asymmetric Homologation of Ketones with α-Alkyl α-Diazo Esters

The homologation of ketones with diazo compounds is a useful strategy to synthesize one-carbon chain-extended acyclic ketones or ring-expanded cyclic ketones. However, the asymmetric homologation of acyclic ketones with α-diazo esters remains a challenge due to the lower reactivity and complicated selectivity. Herein, we report the enantioselective catalytic homologation of acetophenone and related derivatives with α-alkyl α-diazo esters utilizing a chiral scandium(III) N,N'-dioxide as the Lewis acid catalyst. This reaction supplies a highly chemo-, regio-, and enantioselective pathway for the synthesis of optically active β-keto esters with an all-carbon quaternary center through highly selective alkyl-group migration of the ketones. Moreover, the ring expansion of cyclic ketones was accomplished under slightly modified conditions, affording a series of enantioenriched cyclic β-keto esters. Density functional theory calculations have been carried out to elucidate the reaction pathway and possible working models that can explain the observed regio- and enantioselectivity.

Beyond the Corey-Chaykovsky Reaction: Synthesis of Unusual Cyclopropanoids via Desymmetrization and Thereof

Desymmetrization-based protocols for the synthesis of highly functionalized indeno-spirocyclopropanes and cyclopropa-fused indanes have been established through unexpected reactions triggered by the Corey-Chaykovsky reagent. These structures were further elaborated in one step to privileged scaffolds such as fluorenones, indenones, and naphthaphenones. For instance, an acid-catalyzed transformation of indeno-spirocyclopropanes provided fluorenones via a homo-Nazarov-type cyclization, and naphthaphenones were obtained via an acid-catalyzed cyclopropane ring-opening/retro-Michael sequence.

Synthesis of Cyclopropanoids via Substrate-Based Cyclization Pathways

A series of unexpected reactions triggered by the dimethyloxosulfonium methylide led to the discovery of unconventional approaches for the synthesis of cyclopropa-fused tetralones and indeno-spirocyclopropanes. These highly functionalized structures were further elaborated in one step to privileged scaffolds such as tetralones, indenones, and fluorenones. As a whole, the results presented herein establish new diversity-oriented folding pathways.

Synthetic approaches to natural products containing 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran skeleton

This review describes the synthetic approaches to natural products containing the 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran (2,3-DHB) skeleton.

Reaction of 2a,8b-Dihydrobenzo[b]cyclobute[d]pyran-3-ones with Dimethylsulfoxonium Methylide

Using dimethylsulfoxonium methylide as the methylene transfer reagent, 2a,8b-dihydrobenzo[b]cyclobute[d]pyran-3-ones were converted into 2,2'-biphenol derivatives as major products and dihydrodibenzofurans as minor products. The reaction mechanism was extrapolated from a deuteration experiment with CD2=S(O)(CD3)2.

Total synthesis of the akuammiline alkaloid picrinine

We report the first total synthesis of the complex akuammiline alkaloid picrinine, which was first isolated nearly five decades ago. Our synthetic approach features a concise assembly of the [3.3.1]-azabicyclic core, a key Fischer indolization reaction to forge the natural product's carbon framework, and a series of delicate late-stage transformations to complete the synthesis. Our synthesis of picrinine also constitutes a formal synthesis of the related polycyclic alkaloid strictamine.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (−)-Linderol A

The first asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-Linderol A, a potent inhibitor of melanin biosynthesis of cultured B-16 melanoma cells, has been achieved via two key reactions: a diastereoselective [2+2] photocycloaddition of a coumarin-3-carboxylate bearing a chiral auxiliary with 3-methyl-1-butene and a subsequent stereoconvergent transformation of the photoadducts with use of dimethylsulfoxonium methylide to afford a tetrahydrodibenzofuran derivative.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Hydrobenzofuranones Using an Asymmetric Desymmetrizing Intramolecular Stetter Reaction of Cyclohexadienones

A series of cyclohexadienones were synthesized by dearomatization of phenols followed by Dess-Martin oxidation. Asymmetric intramolecular Stetter reactions of these substrates provide hydrobenzofuranones in good to excellent yields and excellent stereoselectivities. Up to three stereocenters as well as quaternary stereocenter are formed from polysubstituted substrates. A scale up experiment demonstrates the utility of this transformation.

Asymmetric synthesis of hydrobenzofuranones via desymmetrization of cyclohexadienones using the intramolecular Stetter reaction

Dearomatization of phenols followed by oxidation affords cyclohexadienyloxyacetaldehydes, which produce hydrobenzofuranones via asymmetric intramolecular Stetter reaction in good to excellent yield. Quaternary as well as up to three contiguous stereocenters may be formed in good to excellent enantioselectivities and high diastereoselectivities.

Novel stereoconvergent transformation of 1,2a-disubstituted 1,2,2a,8b-tetrahydro-3H-benzo[b]cyclobuta[d]pyran-3-ones to 1,3-disubstituted 1,2,4a,9b-tetrahydrodibenzofuran-4-ols and its application to the second-generation synthesis of (+/-)-linderol A

1,2a-Disubstituted 1,2,2a,8b-tetrahydro-3H-benzo[b]cyclobuta[d]pyran-3-ones bearing an electron-withdrawing group at the 2a-position were treated with two equivalents of dimethylsulfoxonium methylide to give r-1,t-4a,t-9b-1,3-disubstituted 1,2,4a,9b-tetrahydrodibenzofuran-4-ols stereoconvergently regardless of the stereochemistry of the 1-position on the benzocyclobutapyran ring. This methodology was applied to the second-generation synthesis of (+/-)-linderol A, a melanin biosynthesis inhibitory natural product.