Application of the Helquist Annulation in Lycopodium Alkaloid Synthesis: Unified Total Syntheses of (−)-8-Deoxyserratinine, (+)-Fawcettimine, and (+)-Lycoflexine

Total syntheses of macleanine and lycoposerramine-S

Total syntheses of fawcettimine-class Lycopodium alkaloids having an imino bridge between C5 and C13 were accomplished. Fawcettimine was first prepared in 10 steps from a known compound, and the characteristic structures, including the imino bridge, were constructed via the formation of a bridgehead imine.

Recent Advances in the Chemistry of Saturated Annulated Nitrogen-Containing Polycyclic Compounds

This review is devoted to the analysis of works published over the past 20 years on the chemistry of saturated annulated nitrogen-containing polycyclic compounds, the molecules of which consist of four, five, six, and seven cycles, and contain from one to eight endocyclic nitrogen atoms.

Concise Unified Access to (-)-8-Deoxy-13-dehydroserratinine, (+)-Fawcettimine, (+)-Fawcettidine, and (-)-8-Deoxyserratinine Using a Direct Intramolecular Reductive Coupling

A short, scalable, and collective total synthesis of four fawcettimine-type Lycopodium alkaloids in eight or nine steps is disclosed. A dense multi-small-ring spiro-α-aminocyclopentanone successfully served as the key intermediate, which was directly accessed by a LiDBB-mediated intramolecular reductive coupling of the aliphatic imine and an ester-carbonyl. Compared to those that employ classical Heathcock intermediate(s) containing a nine-membered ring, the new strategy shows the significant improvement of the synthetic step and redox economies as well as excellent stereochemical control.

Total Synthesis of Lyconesidine B, a Lycopodium Alkaloid with an Oxygenated, Amine-Type Fawcettimine Core

This report describes the total synthesis of the complex, oxygenated tetracyclic alkaloid, lyconesidine B. The key synthetic challenge involves diastereoselective generation of a decahydroquinoline ring with a quaternary carbon at the angular position via domino cyclopropanation, ring-opening, and reduction. Another crucial step is the domino ene-yne metathesis involving a quaternary ammonium ion, leading to the construction of a decahydroazaazulen framework.

Synthetic Study toward the Total Synthesis of Lycoclavatumide

The synthetically challenging and highly functionalized azabicyclo[6.4.1] ring system, which is found in lycopodium alkaloid lycoclavatumide and some natural molecules, was synthesized for the first time. The key reaction was a diastereoselective type II [5+2] cycloaddition with excellent functional group compatibility. We tried to install the desired eight-membered ring in the final product by RCM reaction.

Proline-promoted dehydroxylation of α-ketols

A new single-step proline-potassium acetate promoted reductive dehydroxylation of α-ketols is reported. We introduce the unexplored reactivity of proline and, for the first time, reveal its ability to function as a reducing agent. The developed metal-free and open-flask operation generally results in good yields. Our protocol allows the challenging selective dehydroxylation of hydroxyketones without affecting other functional groups.

Toward a Synthesis of Fawcettimine-Type Lycopodium Alkaloids: Stereocontrolled Synthesis of a Functionalized Azaspirocycle Precursor

The stereocontrolled synthesis of a new azaspirocycle precursor of the fawcettimine-type Lycopodium alkaloids is described. Our approach provides an efficient entry to the azaspirocycle via a cascade Wacker-allylation sequence followed by a highly stereoselective Claisen rearrangement. This azaspirocycle, bearing all of the requisite functionality with pivotal stereogenic centers, is considered to be a versatile precursor useful for the fawcettimine-type Lycopodium alkaloids.

Recent advances in the intramolecular Mannich reaction in natural products total synthesis

This review focuses on selected applications of the intramolecular Mannich reaction as a key step in the total synthesis of natural products (2000–2017).

Recent advances on the total synthesis of alkaloids in mainland China

Alkaloids are a large family of natural products that mostly contain basic nitrogen atoms. Because of their intriguing structures and important functions, they have long been popular targets for synthetic organic chemists. China's chemists have made significant progress in the area of alkaloid synthesis over past decades. In this article, selected total syntheses of alkaloids from research groups in mainland China during the period 2011–16 are highlighted.

Synthetic approaches towards alkaloids bearing α-tertiary amines

Alkaloids account for some of the most beautiful and biologically active natural products. Although they are usually classified along biosynthetic criteria, they can also be categorized according to certain structural motifs. Amongst these, the α-tertiary amine (ATA), i.e. a tetrasubstituted carbon atom surrounded by three carbons and one nitrogen, is particularly interesting. A limited number of methods have been described to access this functional group and fewer still are commonly used in synthesis. Herein, we review some approaches to asymmetrically access ATAs and provide an overview of alkaloid total syntheses where those have been employed.

Collective total synthesis of tetracyclic diquinane Lycopodium alkaloids (+)-paniculatine, (-)-magellanine, (+)-magellaninone and analogues thereof

The collective total synthesis of tetracyclic diquinane Lycopodium alkaloids, (+)-paniculatine, (-)-magellanine, (+)-magellaninone, and two analogues (-)-13-epi-paniculatine and (+)-3-hydroxyl-13-dehydro-paniculatine, has been accomplished. By logic-guided addition of a strategically useful hydroxyl group at C-3 of paniculatine, the formidable tetracyclic core was rapidly synthesized utilizing a site-specific and stereoselective aldol cyclization, thus making the ABD → ABCD tetracyclic approach to diquinane Lycopodium alkaloids attainable for the first time.

Diversity-oriented synthesis of Lycopodium alkaloids inspired by the hidden functional group pairing pattern

Natural products continue to provide a rich source of inspiration for both chemists and biologists. The efficient synthesis of bioactive natural products or natural product-like molecules has offered tremendous opportunities for complex biological processes exploration and drug discovery. However, because natural products usually contain numerous stereogenic centres and polycyclic ring systems, significant synthetic challenges remain. Here we employ the build/couple/pair strategy that is frequently used in diversity-oriented synthesis to obtain skeletally diverse compounds with complexities comparable to natural products. Inspired by the functional group pairing patterns hidden in Lycopodium alkaloids, we efficiently and in parallel construct four natural products, (+)-Serratezomine A, (-)-Serratinine, (+)-8α-Hydroxyfawcettimine and (-)-Lycoposerramine-U, as well as six different unnatural scaffolds, following the advanced build/couple/pair algorithm. This newly developed strategy is expected to be applied to the efficient synthesis of other complex natural products possessing functional group pairing patterns as well as skeletally diverse natural product-like molecules.

Azabicycles construction: the transannular ring contraction with N-protected nucleophiles

Synthetic strategies are one of the most critical factors for the success of a synthetic campaign, but most importantly they are crucial for the economy and the efficiency of the sequence.

Divergent total syntheses of (-)-lycopladine D, (+)-fawcettidine, and (+)-lycoposerramine Q

Enantioselective total syntheses of (+)-fawcettidine and (+)-lycoposerramine Q as well as the first total synthesis of (-)-lycopladine D from a common intermediate have been accomplished by a divergent path. The common intermediate was derived from a Hajos-Parrish-like diketone by a stereoselective Birch reduction and a Suzuki coupling. The synthesis of (-)-lycopladine D featured an allylic oxidation and a biomimetic aminoketalization while the route to (+)-fawcettidine and (+)-lycoposerramine Q highlighted an oxidative rearrangement.

Total synthesis of the Lycopodium alkaloid serratezomine A using free radical-mediated vinyl amination to prepare a β-stannyl enamine linchpin

Serratezomine A is a member of the structurally diverse class of compounds known as the Lycopodium alkaloids. The key supporting studies and successful total synthesis of serratezomine A are described in this account. Significant features of the synthesis include the first application of free radical mediated vinyl amination and Hwu's oxidative allylation in a total synthesis and an intramolecular lactonization via a transannular S(N)i reaction. Minimal use of protecting groups and the highly diastereoselective formation of a hindered, quaternary stereocenter using an umpolung allylation are also highlights from a strategy perspective. Observation of quaternary carbon epimerization via a retro-Mannich/Mannich sequence highlights the additional challenge presented by the axial alcohol at C8 in serratezomine A.

Total synthesis of (+)-sieboldine a: evolution of a pinacol-terminated cyclization strategy

This article describes synthetic studies that culminated in the first total synthesis of the Lycopodium alkaloid sieboldine A. During this study, a number of pinacol-terminated cationic cyclizations were examined to form the cis-hydrindanone core of sieboldine A. Of these, a mild Au(I)-promoted 1,6-enyne cyclization that was terminated by a semipinacol rearrangement proved to be most efficient. Fashioning the unprecedented N-hydroxyazacyclononane ring embedded within the bicyclo[5.2.1]decane-N,O-acetal moiety of sieboldine A was a formidable challenge. Ultimately, the enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-sieboldine A was completed by forming this ring in good yield by cyclization of a protected-hydroxylamine thioglycoside precursor.

Collective synthesis of Lycopodium alkaloids and tautomer locking strategy for the total synthesis of (-)-lycojapodine A

The collective total synthesis of Lycopodium alkaloids (+)-fawcettimine (1), (+)-fawcettidine (2), (+)-alopecuridine (4), (-)-lycojapodine A (6), and (-)-8-deoxyserratinine (7) has been accomplished from a common precursor (15) based on a highly concise route inspired by the proposed biosynthesis of the fawcettimine- and serratinine-type alkaloids. An intramolecular C-alkylation enabled efficient installation of the challenging spiro quaternary carbon center and the aza-cyclononane ring. The preparation of the tricyclic skeleton as well as the establishment of the correct relative stereochemistry of the oxa-quaternary center were achieved by hydroxyl-directed SmI(2)-mediated pinacol couplings. An unprecedented tandem transannular N-alkylation and removal of a Boc group was discovered to realize a biosynthesis-inspired process to furnish the desired tetracyclic skeleton. Of particular note is the unique and crucial tautomer locking strategy employed to complete the enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-lycojapodine A (6). The central step in this synthesis is the late-stage hypervalent iodine oxidant (IBX or Dess-Martin periodinane)/TFA-mediated tandem process, which constructed the previously unknown carbinolamine lactone motif and enabled a biomimetic transformation to generate (-)-lycojapodine A (6) in a single operation.

Unified total syntheses of fawcettimine class alkaloids: fawcettimine, fawcettidine, lycoflexine, and lycoposerramine B

The total syntheses of the lycopodium alkaloids fawcettimine, fawcettidine, lycoflexine, and lycoposerramine B have been accomplished through an efficient, unified, and stereocontrolled strategy that relies on a Diels-Alder reaction to construct the cis-fused 6,5-carbocycles with one all-carbon quaternary center. Access to the enantioselective syntheses of both antipodes of those alkaloids can be achieved by kinetic resolution of the earliest intermediate via a Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation (Sharpless AD). Compared to existing approaches to these alkaloids, our synthetic route possesses superior stereocontrol over the C-4 and C-15 stereogenic centers as well as allowing for more functional variation on the 6-membered ring.