A Triple Cascade Sequence as a Strategy for the Construction of the Erythrinane Skeleton

Biological Activity of Naturally Derived Naphthyridines

Marine and terrestrial environments are rich sources of various bioactive substances, which have been used by humans since prehistoric times. Nowadays, due to advances in chemical sciences, new substances are still discovered, and their chemical structures and biological properties are constantly explored. Drugs obtained from natural sources are used commonly in medicine, particularly in cancer and infectious diseases treatment. Naphthyridines, isolated mainly from marine organisms and terrestrial plants, represent prominent examples of naturally derived agents. They are a class of heterocyclic compounds containing a fused system of two pyridine rings, possessing six isomers depending on the nitrogen atom's location. In this review, biological activity of naphthyridines obtained from various natural sources was summarized. According to previous studies, the naphthyridine alkaloids displayed multiple activities, i.a., antiinfectious, anticancer, neurological, psychotropic, affecting cardiovascular system, and immune response. Their wide range of activity makes them a fascinating object of research with prospects for use in therapeutic purposes.

Brønsted acid and Lewis acid co-promoted cascade cyclization reaction and application to the total synthesis of Erysotramidine

A strategy for the syntheses of pyrrolo [2,1-a] isoquinolines and indolizinoindolones via a Brønsted acid and Lewis acid co-promoted cascade reaction has been developed. The strategy was exemplified in the total synthesis of Erysotramidine.

Tandem Reaction of Tertiary Enamides as a Synthetic Strategy to Construct the Fused N-Pentacyclic Skeleton of Erythrina Alkaloid Derivatives

An exquisite protocol to the synthesis of erythrina-related structural derivatives was developed, which is composed of a nucleophilic addition of tertiary enamides to ketonic carbonyls and the trapping of acyliminium by an aromatic unit. This protocol afforded a powerful method for the construction of diverse fused N-pentacyclic skeletons in high efficiency and excellent diastereoselectivity by just using different acid catalysts.

Catalyst-Free [3+2] Cycloaddition of Electron-Deficient Alkynes and o-Hydroxyaryl Azomethine Ylides in Water

A catalyst-free [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of electron-deficient alkynes and o-hydroxyaryl azomethine ylides in water was developed, affording pyrroline derivatives in moderate to high yields (up to 90%).

Efficient formal total synthesis of the erythrina alkaloid (+)-erysotramidine, using a domino process

A domino process consisting of an amidation, spirocyclization, and formation of an iminium ion and electrophilic aromatic substitution of a phenylethylamine and a ketoester leads to the spirocyclic skeleton of (+)-erysotramidine, which can be further transformed into the natural alkaloid.

Acid-promoted cyclization reactions of tetrahydroindolinones. Model studies for possible application in a synthesis of selaginoidine

The synthesis of various substituted bicyclic lactams by an acid-induced Pictet-Spengler reaction of tetrahydroindolinones bearing tethered heteroaromatic rings is presented. The outcome of the cyclization depends on the position of the furan tether, tether length, nature of the tethered heteroaromatic ring, and the substituent group present on the 5-position of the tethered heteroaryl group. A one-pot procedure was developed to efficiently prepare tetrahydroindolinones containing tethered furan rings. In a typical example, the reaction of furanyl azide 26 with n-Bu3P delivered iminophosphorane 27, which was allowed to react with a 1-alkyl-(2-oxocyclohexyl)acetic acid to provide the desired furanyl-substituted tetrahydroindolinone system 29. Treatment of 29 with trifluoroacetic acid afforded the tetracyclic lactam skeleton 30 found in the alkaloid (+/-)-selaginoidine.

Synthesis of the tetracyclic framework of the erythrina alkaloids using a [4 + 2]-cycloaddition/Rh(I)-catalyzed cascade of 2-imidofurans

Several 2-imido substituted furans were found to undergo a rapid intramolecular [4 + 2]-cycloaddition to deliver oxabicyclo adducts in good to excellent yields. By using a Rh(I)-catalyzed ring opening of the resulting oxabicyclic adduct, it was possible to prepare several highly functionalized tetrahydro-1H-indol-2(3H)-one derivatives which were then used to prepare several erythrina alkaloids. By taking advantage of the Rh(I)-catalyzed reaction, it was possible to convert tert-butyl 3-oxo-5-carbomethoxy-10-oxa-2-azatricyclo[5.2.1.0(1,5)]dec-8-ene-2-carboxylate into the ring opened boronate by reaction with phenylboronic acid. Treatment of the boronate with pinacol/acetic acid afforded the corresponding diol which was used in a successful synthesis of racemic 3-demethoxyerythratidinone. During the course of these studies, several novel rearrangement reactions were encountered while attempting to induce an acid-initiated Pictet Spengler cyclization of a key lactam intermediate. The IMDAF/Rh(I)-catalyzed ring opening cascade sequence was also applied to the total synthesis of (+/-)-erysotramidine as well as the lycorine type alkaloid (+/-)-epi-zephyranthine.

Synthesis of the erythrina alkaloid 3-demethoxyerythratidinone. Novel acid-induced rearrangements of its precursors

[reaction: see text] A new strategy for the synthesis of 3-demethoxyerythratidinone has been developed and is based on an extraordinarily facile intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of a 2-imido-substituted furan. During the course of the synthesis, several novel acid-induced rearrangement reactions were encountered.

An Aza-Wittig/π-Furan Cyclization Approach Toward the Homoerythrina Alkaloid (±)-Selaginoidine

[reaction: see text] A one-pot procedure was developed to efficiently prepare hexahydroindolinones containing a tethered furan ring. Reaction of a furanyl azide with Bu3P delivered the iminophosphorane, which was allowed to react with 1-methyl-(2-oxocyclohexyl)acetic acid to give the desired hexahydroindolinone ring system. Further treatment with trifluoroacetic acid afforded the tetracyclic lactam skeleton found in the alkaloid (+/-)-selaginoidine.

Electrophilic-Induced Cyclization Reaction of Hexahydroindolinone Derivatives and Its Application toward the Synthesis of (±)-Erysotramidine

A convenient synthesis of variously substituted octahydroindolo[7a,1a]-isoquinolinones has been achieved by an acid-induced cyclization of hexahydroindolinones bearing tethered phenethyl groups. The formation of a single lactam diastereomer is the result of the stereoelectronic preference for axial attack by the aromatic ring onto the initially formed N-acyliminium ion from the least hindered side. Additional experiments showed that a variety of hexahydroindolinones containing tethered pi-bonds undergo a related acid-induced cyclization reaction. Treatment of the 3-methylbut-3-enyl-substituted hexahydroindolinone with acid furnished a 3:1 mixture of isomeric octahydropyrido[2,1-i]indolinones in near-quantitative yield. Interestingly, cyclization of the closely related 1-(3-methoxybut-3-enyl)-substituted hexahydroindolin-one afforded a pyrrolo[3,2,1-ij]quinolinone as the exclusive product. With this system, initial protonation takes place on the more nucleophilic enol ether pi-bond and the resulting carbonium ion undergoes a subsequent cyclization with the enamido pi-bond to give the observed product. The electrophilic promoted cyclizations were extended to include the related hexahydro[1]pyrindinone and 1H-quinolinone systems. An NBS-promoted intramolecular electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction of 1-[2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethyl]-1,4,5,6-tetrahydroindolinone was used to assemble the tetracyclic core of the erythrinone skeleton. The resulting cyclized product was transformed into (+/-)-erysotramidine in three additional steps.

Efficient Synthesis of (±)-Erysotramidine Using an NBS-Promoted Cyclization Reaction of a Hexahydroindolinone Derivative

An NBS-promoted intramolecular electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction of a hexahydroindolinone derivative was used to assemble the tetracyclic core of the erythrinane skeleton. The resulting cyclized product was transformed into (+/-)-erysotramidine in three additional steps. The cyclization reaction is also successful using variously substituted aryl and furanyl bicyclic lactams under acidic conditions. [reaction: see text]

A short diastereoselective synthesis of the putative alkaloid jamtine, using a tandem pummerer/mannich cyclization sequence

Treatment of 2-phenylhex-5-enal with benzylamine followed by sequential reaction with ethylthioacetyl chloride and sodium periodate oxidation afforded a E/Z mixture of alpha-sulfinylamides. As anticipated from a 4pi-conrotatory mechanism, cyclization of each olefin afforded fused isoquinoline lactams as single diastereomers epimeric at the ethylthio position without any cross contamination. Some preliminary studies were directed toward the synthesis of mesembrine using a 3,4-dimethoxy aryl group. In this case, the Z-enamide prefers to undergo electrophilic aromatic substitution to give a substituted azepinone as the preferred product in 87% yield. In contrast, the E-enamide isomer provided the desired hydroindolone. The convergency and stereochemical control associated with the tandem Pummerer /Mannich cyclization make it particularly suited for the assembly of jamtine, a tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid reputed for its therapeutic properties. The key step in the synthesis involves a domino thionium/N-acyliminium ion cyclization to provide the tricyclic ring skeleton 27a as the major diastereomer. Deprotonation of 27a with NaH gave 28a, which contains the fully assembled skeleton of jamtine. Completion of the synthesis entailed installation of the double bond and reduction of the lactam. Oxidation of a synthetic sample of jamtine with MCPBA afforded the corresponding N-oxide, which does not match the spectral data reported in the literature for this alkaloid. Our synthetic efforts raise the possibility of a revision of the earlier assignment.

Tandem Pummerer/Mannich cyclization cascade of alpha-sulfinylamides as a method to prepare aza-heterocycles

A series of alpha-sulfinylenamides was conveniently prepared by the condensation of a primary amine with a ketone, followed by reaction of the resulting imine with ethylsulfenylacetyl chloride and subsequent oxidation with sodium periodate. When treated with p-TsOH, cyclization occurred to produce fused isoquinoline lactams by a mechanism that involves an initial Pummerer reaction followed by a subsequent cyclization of the resulting N-acyliminium ion onto the tethered aromatic ring. The isolation of a single diastereomer was rationalized in terms of a Nazarov-type 4pi-electrocyclic reaction followed by pi-cyclization onto the least hindered side of the N-acyliminium ion. Another method that was used to generate the alpha-acylthionium ion intermediate involved the reaction of bis(ethylsulfenylacetyl)acetamides with dimethyl(methyl)thiosulfonium tetrafluoroborate (DMTSF). Treatment of several bis-ethylsulfenylenamides with DMTSF delivered novel spiro-heterocycles as single diastereomers in good yield by a related process. The convergency and stereochemical control associated with this cascade sequence make it particularly suited for the assembly of natural product scaffolds. Some preliminary studies were directed toward both mesembrine and deethylibophyllidine. When the model Z-enamido sulfoxide 33 was heated with p-TsOH, a 80% yield of tosylate 34 was obtained as a single diastereomer. In this case, the carbocation intermediate derived from cyclization onto the terminal pi-bond was trapped with p-TsOH from the least hindered face, opposite the angular carbomethoxy and methyl groups. Related cyclization cascades were also found to occur with systems containing tethered indole rings.

Regioselective reduction of 3-sulfonyl glutarimides to 3,4-dihydro-5-sulfonylpyridin-2-ones. Formal synthesis of the indolizidine 8a-epi-dendroprimine

Sodium borohydride regioselectively reduced various 3-sulfonyl glutarimides 1 to hydroxy piperidones 2, which were further dehydrated to 3,4-dihydro-5-sulfonylpyridin-2-ones 3 in the presence of boron trifluoride. Formal synthesis of 8a-epi-dendroprimine (4) possessing an indolizidine ring system has been accomplished via intramolecular radical cyclization of cyclic vinyl sulfone 5.

A new method for the preparation of 2-thio substituted furans by methylsulfanylation of gamma-dithiane carbonyl compounds

Several related methods for the preparation of differentially substituted 2-thiofurans are described. The general procedure involves the formation of a thionium ion from a gamma-dithianyl substituted carbonyl compound followed by cyclization of this reactive intermediate onto the tethered carbonyl group. Two methods for thionium ion generation were explored. One of these involved an acid-catalyzed reaction of beta-ketenedithioacetals, prepared from the condensation of 2,2-bis(methylsulfanyl)acetaldehyde with a variety of ketones. Cyclization followed by loss of methane thiol gave 2-thiofurans 17, 18 and 23, 24 in 70-90% yield. Attempts to prepare 5-heteroatom substituted 2-thiofurans from the corresponding beta-ketenedithioacetal amides or esters were unsuccessful, leading to 1,2-thio rearranged products. A more successful route involved the reaction of beta-acetoxy-gamma-thianyl carbonyl compounds with dimethyl(methylthio)sulfonium tetrafluoroborate (DMTSF). Treatment of the dithiane with this reagent resulted in the smooth generation of a thionium ion. Cyclization followed by loss of acetic acid afforded thiofurans 17, 18, 23, 47-49, 51, and 61-64 in 40-100% yield. The N-butenyl substituted thioamido furan furnished a rearranged hexahydropyrroloquinolin-2-one in high yield when heated at 110 degrees C.

Total synthesis of (+/-)-jamtine using a thionium/N-acyliminium ion cascade

[reaction: see text] The first total synthesis of (+/-)-jamtine (4), a tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid reputed for its therapeutic properties, is described. The key step involves a tandem thionium/N-acyliminium ion cyclization from enamido sulfoxide 13. The cascade process takes place with high diastereoselectivity and in excellent yield.