Studies toward the total synthesis of popolohuanone E: enantioselective synthesis of 8-O-methylpopolohuanone E

Total Syntheses, Absolute Configurations, and Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Ugonstilbenes A, B, and C from the Rhizomes of Helminthostachys zeylanica

This study describes the first and efficient syntheses of the naturally occurring ugonstilbenes A, B, and C. The stilbene skeleton was prepared using the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction. On the basis of their specific rotations, the absolute configurations of ugonstilbenes A and C were both determined to be R, while the absolute configuration of ugonstilbene B was determined as 4aS,9aR. The synthesized compounds showed cytotoxic activities against selected human cancer cell lines.

Unexpected Racemization in the Course of the Acetalization of (+)-(S)-5-Methyl-Wieland–Miescher Ketone with 1,2-Ethanediol and TsOH under Classical Experimental Conditions

(+)-(S) and (−)-(R)-5-methyl-Wieland-Miescher ketone (+)-1 and (−)-1, are important synthons in the diastereo and enantioselective syntheses of biological and/or pharmacological interesting compounds. A key step in these syntheses is the chemoselective C(1)O acetalization to (+)-5 and (−)-5, respectively. Various procedures for this transformation have been described in the literature. Among them, the classical procedure based on the use of 1,2-ethanediol and TsOH in refluxing benzene in the presence of a Dean-Stark apparatus. Within our work on bioactive natural products, it occurred to us to observe the partial racemization of (+)-5 in the course of the acetalization of (+)-1 by means of the latter methodology. Aiming to investigate this drawback, which, to our best knowledge, has no precedents in the literature, we acetalized with 1,2-ethanediol and TsOH in refluxing benzene and in the presence of a Dean–Stark apparatus under various experimental conditions, enantiomerically pure (+)-1. It was found that the extent of racemization depends on the TsOH/(+)-1 and 1,2-ethanediol/(+)-1 ratios. Mechanism hypotheses for this partial and unexpected racemization are provided.

Total Syntheses of Clerodane Diterpenoids—A Review

Total syntheses of clerodane diterpenoids have been reviewed from the literature since 2000.

A concise synthetic approach to parvistemin A and (±)-diperezone

Concise syntheses of parvistemin A and diperezone are achieved using ring expansion of cyclobutenones and oxidative phenolic coupling under basic conditions.

FeCl3·6H2O/acetaldehyde, a versatile system for the deprotection of ketals and acetals via a transacetalization process

Mild and efficient catalytic deprotection of ketals/acetals mediated by FeCl₃·6H₂O/acetaldehyde has been described in this paper.

Enantioselective total synthesis of dysidavarone A, a novel sesquiterpenoid quinone from the marine sponge Dysidea avara

Dysidavarone A, a structurally unprecedented sesquiterpenoid quinone, was synthesized in 30 % overall yield in a longest liner sequence of 13 steps from commercially available o-vanillin. A highly strained and bridged eight-membered carbocyclic core was established by the C7-C21 carbon bond formation through a copper enolate mediated Michael addition to the internal quinone ring.

Synthetic strategies to terpene quinones/hydroquinones

The cytotoxic and antiproliferative properties of many natural sesquiterpene-quinones and -hydroquinones from sponges offer promising opportunities for the development of new drugs. A review dealing with different strategies for obtaining bioactive terpenyl quinones/hydroquinones is presented. The different synthetic approches for the preparation of the most relevant quinones/hydroquinones are described.

A general approach to chiral building blocks via direct amino acid-catalyzed cascade three-component reductive alkylations: formal total synthesis of HIV-1 protease inhibitors, antibiotic agglomerins, brefeldin A, and (R)-gamma-hexanolide

Multicatalysis cascade (MCC) process for the synthesis of highly substituted chiral building blocks (2-alkyl-CH-acids, 2-alkylcyclohexane-1,3-diones, 2-alkylcyclopentane-1,3-diones, and H-P ketone analogues) is presented based on the cascade three-component reductive alkylation's (TCRA) platform. Herein, we developed the high-yielding alkylation of a variety of CH-acids with (R)-glyceraldehyde acetonide/(S)-Garner aldehyde and Hantzsch ester through amino acid-catalyzed TCRA reaction without racemization at the alpha-position to carbonyl. Direct sequential combination of the L-proline-catalyzed TCRA reaction with other reactions like cascade alkylation/ketenization/esterification (A/K/E), alkylation/ketenization/esterification/alkylation (A/K/E/A), Brønsted acid-catalyzed cascade hydrolysis/lactonization/esterification (H/L/E), hydrolysis/esterification (H/E), hydrolysis/oxy-Michael/dehydration (H/OM/DH), and Robinson annulation (RA) of CH-acids, chiral aldehydes, Hantzsch ester, diazomethane, methyl vinyl ketone, various active olefins, and acetylenes furnished the highly functionalized chiral building blocks in good to high yields with excellent diastereoselectivities. In this context, many of the pharmaceutically applicable chiral building blocks were prepared via MCC reactions.

Enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-candelalides A, B and C: potential Kv1.3 blocking immunosuppressive agents

Novel Kv1.3 blocking immunosuppressants, (-)-candelalides A, B and C, were efficiently synthesized for the first time in a convergent and unified manner starting from (+)-5-methyl-Wieland-Miescher ketone. The synthetic method involved the following key steps: i) a strategic [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement of a stannylmethyl ether to install the stereogenic center at C9 and the exo-methylene function at C8 present in the decalin portion; ii) a straightforward coupling of a trans-decalin portion (BC ring) and a gamma-pyrone moiety through the C16-C3' bond to assemble the requisite carbon framework; and iii) a construction of a characteristic di or tetrahydropyran ring (A ring) by internal nucleophilic ring closure of a hydroxy aldehyde or a hydroxy epoxide. The present total synthesis has fully established the absolute configuration of these natural products.

Highly efficient total synthesis of the marine natural products (+)-avarone, (+)-avarol, (-)-neoavarone, (-)-neoavarol and (+)-aureol

Biologically important and structurally unique marine natural products avarone (1), avarol (2), neoavarone (3), neoavarol (4) and aureol (5), were efficiently synthesized in a unified manner starting from (+)-5-methyl-Wieland-Miescher ketone 10. The synthesis involved the following crucial steps: i) Sequential BF(3)Et(2)O-induced rearrangement/cyclization reaction of 2 and 4 to produce 5 with complete stereoselectivity in high yield (2 --> 5 and 4 --> 5); ii) strategic salcomine oxidation of the phenolic compounds 6 and 8 to derive the corresponding quinones 1 and 3 (6 --> 1 and 8 --> 3); and iii) Birch reductive alkylation of 10 with bromide 11 to construct the requisite carbon framework 12 (10 + 11 --> 12). An in vitro cytotoxicity assay of compounds 1-5 against human histiocytic lymphoma cells U937 determined the order of cytotoxic potency (3 > 1 > 5 > 2 > 4) and some novel aspects of structure-activity relationships.

A Novel Construction of Dibenzofuran-1,4-diones by Oxidative Cyclization of Quinone-arenols

A novel oxidative cyclization of quinone-arenols 5 leading to products 6 with a dibenzofuran-1,4-dione structure, which forms the core of several natural products, has been developed and applied to the synthesis of violet-quinone (4).

Organocatalytic sequential one-pot double cascade asymmetric synthesis of Wieland-Miescher ketone analogues from a Knoevenagel/hydrogenation/Robinson annulation sequence: scope and applications of organocatalytic biomimetic reductions

A practical and novel organocatalytic chemo- and enantioselective process for the cascade synthesis of highly substituted 2-alkyl-cyclohexane-1,3-diones and Wieland-Miescher (W-M) ketone analogs is presented via reductive alkylation as a key step. First time, we developed the one-step alkylation of dimedone and 1,3-cyclohexanedione with aldehydes and Hantzsch ester through an organocatalytic reductive alkylation strategy. Direct combination of l-proline-catalyzed cascade Knoevenagel/hydrogenation and cascade Robinson annulation of CH acids (dimedone and 1,3-cyclohexanedione), aldehydes, Hantzsch ester, and methyl vinyl ketone furnished the highly functionalized W-M ketone analogues in good to high yields and with excellent enantioselectivities. Many of the reductive alkylation products show a direct application in pharmaceutical chemistry.

Amino Acid Mediated Intramolecular Asymmetric Aldol Reaction to Construct a New Chiral Bicyclic Enedione Containing a Seven-Membered Ring: Remarkable Inversion of Enantioselectivity Compared to the Six-Membered Ring Example

A detailed study to assess the enantioselectivity of the amino acid mediated intramolecular asymmetric aldol reaction of 1,3-cycloheptanedione bearing a C-2 methyl substituent has been undertaken. The cyclizations were mediated by a series of l-amino acids in the presence of an acid cocatalyst. Strikingly, the process is characterized by an inversion of enantioselectivity when compared to a similar reaction involving the 1,3-cyclohexanedione counterpart.

Reactions of 1-Naphthols with .PI.-Acceptor p-Benzoquinones: Oxidative Aryl Coupling vs. Non-Oxidative Electrophilic Arylation

We investigated the reactions of various 1-naphthols (NPOHs; 1) with p-benzoquinones (Qs), such as 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ) and p-chloranil (CA), as pi-electron acceptors. With electron-rich NPOHs 1a-c, oxidative biaryl coupling and subsequent dehydrogenation reaction took place selectively to give the corresponding 2,2'-binapthyl-1,1'-quinones 3a-c in excellent yield. In the case of electron-deficient NPOHs 1e, f, two different types of reactions occurred in the presence of SnCl4 and ZrO2 under similar conditions: SnCl4 mediated oxidative dimerization and trimerization of NPOH, while ZrO2 promoted electrophilic arylation of Qs with NPOH. The resulting products 3 would be useful synthetic intermediates for naturally occurring diosindigo B, biramentaceone and violet-quinone.

Diastereoselectivities Realized in the Amino Acid Catalyzed Aldol Cyclizations of Triketo Acetonides of Differing Ring Size

A study designed to assess the diastereoselectivity of the intramolecular aldol reaction of two differently sized monocyclic 1,3-diketones bearing a chiral, oxygenated side chain has been undertaken. The cyclizations were brought about under catalysis by pyrrolidine, a series of D- and L-amino acids including proline, and several proline derivatives. The levels of selectivity were found to be consistently higher with the six-membered ring system than its cycloheptane counterpart.

A Biomimetic Strategy for the Synthesis of the Tricyclic Dibenzofuran-1,4-dione Core of Popolohuanone E

A concise synthesis of the complete tricyclic dibenzofuran-1,4-dione aromatic core of popolohuanone E has been demonstrated by mild base treatment of a biquinone intermediate, thus establishing a biomimetic route to this family of heterocyclic ring systems and the total synthesis of popolohuanone E.

A new strategy toward the total synthesis of stachyflin, a potent anti-influenza A virus agent: concise route to the tetracyclic core structure

[reaction: see text] A new strategy directed toward the total synthesis of stachyflin, a potent and novel anti-influenza A virus agent isolated from a microorganism, has been presented through the enantioselective synthesis of the tetracyclic core structure. The synthetic method features a BF(3) x Et(2)O-induced domino epoxide-opening/rearrangement/cyclization reaction as the key step.

A short and efficient route to novel scyphostatin analogues

[structure: see text]. Several novel scyphostatin analogues have been prepared in up to 18% yield over five steps from commercially available 4-bromoguaiacol, utilizing an organometallic addition to afford the desired syn-hydroxy-epoxides.