Total synthesis of the sesquiterpene (+/-)-illudin C via an intramolecular nitrile oxide cycloaddition

Intramolecular trapping of an iminium salt: rapid construction of quindoline derivatives

Construction of the pyridine ring is a practical and streamline way to construct a variety of quindoline derivatives. We have developed a novel method for synthesis of quindoline derivatives by means of intramolecular ring-closure reactions of 3-N-methylphenylindoles via an iminium salt intermediate. This practical method has the advantages of a short reaction time, operational simplicity, and nearly quantitative yields; and it can be used for the rapid synthesis of a variety of valuable quindoline derivatives.

Regio- and diastereoselective access to densely functionalized ketones via the Boekelheide rearrangement of isoxazoline N-oxides

In this work, the classical "isoxazoline route" toward aldols involving the [3 + 2]-cycloaddition of nitrile oxide to alkenes and hydrogenolysis of the oxime group was revisited. To avoid regioselectivity issues, [4 + 1]-annulation of nitroalkenes with sulfonium ylides was used to construct the isoxazoline ring bearing an N-oxide moiety. Subsequent deoxygenative C-H functionalization using the Boekelheide rearrangement and hydrogenolysis of the isoxazoline ring afforded α'-acyloxy-substituted aldols, which are difficult to access both by the classical aldol reaction and the "isoxazoline route". The products are formed in good to high overall yields and as single diastereomers in most cases. The synthetic use of these aldols was showcased by their smooth transformation into diastereomerically pure triols and a 2,3-diaryl-4-hydroxy-substituted tetrahydrofuran derivative, which is structurally related to cinncassin B.

Synthesis of illudalic acid and analogous phosphatase inhibitors

Developing an efficient, concise synthesis of the fungal natural product illudalic acid has been a long-standing challenge, made more pressing by the recent discovery that illudalic acid and analogs are selective phosphatase inhibitors. Syntheses of illudalic acid have become progressively more efficient over the decades yet remain strategically grounded in a 17-step synthesis reported in 1977. Here we validate a two-step process-convergent [4 + 2] benzannulation and one-pot coordinated functional group manipulations-for preparing the key trifunctional pharmacophore of illudalic acid. The modular building blocks are readily available in 2-3 steps, for a longest linear sequence (LLS) of 5 steps to illudalic acid from 3,3-dimethylcyclopentanone. A small collection of analogous indanes and tetralins featuring the same pharmacophore were prepared by a similar route. These compounds potently and selectively inhibit the human leukocyte common antigen-related (LAR) subfamily of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). Evidence supporting a postulated covalent ligation mechanism is provided herein.

Cyclohumulanoid Sesquiterpenes from the Culture Broth of the Basidiomycetous Fungus Daedaleopsis tricolor

A series of cyclohumulanoids, i.e., tricocerapicanols A-C (1a-1c), tricoprotoilludenes A (2a) and B (3), tricosterpurol (4), and tricoilludins A-C (5-7) were isolated along with known violascensol (2b) and omphadiol (8) from the culture broth of Daedaleopsis tricolor, an inedible but not toxic mushroom. The structures were fully elucidated on the basis of NMR spectroscopic analysis, and the suggested relative structures were confirmed via density functional theory (DFT)-based chemical shift calculations involving a DP4 probability analysis. In the present study, the 1H chemical shifts were more informative than the 13C chemical shifts to distinguish the diastereomers at C-11. The absolute configurations of 1-5 were determined by comparing the experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. For 6 and 7, the same chirality was assigned according to their biosynthetic similarities with the other compounds. The successful assignment of some Cotton effects was achieved by utilizing DFT calculations using simple model compounds. The plausible biosynthesis of 1-7 was also discussed on the basis of the structural commonality and general cyclohumulanoid biosynthesis. Compounds 2a and 5 were found to simultaneously induce hyphal swelling and branching at 5.0 μg/mL against a test fungus Cochliobolus miyabeanus.

Design and development of FGF-23 antagonists: Definition of the pharmacophore and initial structure-activity relationships probed by synthetic analogues

Hereditary hypophosphatemic disorders, TIO, and CKD conditions are believed to be influenced by an excess of Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 (FGF-23) which activates a binary renal FGFRs / α-Klotho complex to regulate homeostatic metabolism of phosphate and vitamin D. Adaptive FGF-23 responses from CKD patients with excess FGF-23 frequently lead to increased mortality from cardiovascular disease. A reversibly binding small molecule therapeutic has yet to emerge from research and development in this area. Current outcomes described in this work highlight efforts related to lead identification and modification using organic synthesis of strategic analogues to probe structure-activity relationships and preliminarily define the pharmacophore of a computationally derived hit obtained from virtual high-throughput screening. Synthetic strategies for the initial hit and analogue preparation, as well as preliminary cellular in vitro assay results highlighting sub micromolar inhibition of the FGF-23 signaling sequence at a concentration well below cytotoxicity are reported herein.

Rapid construction of the ABD tricyclic skeleton in meliacarpinin B from carvone enabled by an INOC strategy

A highly diastereoselective synthesis of the ABD skeleton of meliacarpinin B is presented.

Novel Natural Oximes and Oxime Esters with a Vibralactone Backbone from the Basidiomycete Boreostereum vibrans

A variety of novel natural products with significant bioactivities are produced by the basidiomycete Boreostereum vibrans. In the present study, we describe 16 novel natural oximes and oxime esters with a vibralactone backbone, vibralactoximes, which were isolated from the scale-up fermentation broth of B. vibrans. Their structures were determined through extensive spectroscopic analyses. These compounds represent the first oxime esters from nature. The hypothetical biosynthetic pathway of these compounds was also proposed. Seven compounds exhibited significant pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity, while ten compounds exhibited cytotoxicities against five human cancer cell lines (HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7, and SW480), with IC50 values comparable with those of cisplatin.

Transition structures of diastereoselective 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of nitrile oxides to chiral homoallylic alcohols

Transition structures of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of substituted nitrile oxides with chiral homoallylic alcohols were explored with density functional theory (B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)+CPCM(dichloromethane)//B3LYP/6-31+G(d)). The diastereoselectivity observed in these reactions was explained. The anti product is favored in both the thermal and magnesium-mediated reactions. Selectivity is predicted to increase in the presence of magnesium, in agreement with experimental results. The energetics of the magnesium-mediated reaction are similar to those previously found for allylic alcohols. [structure: see text].

Synthesis of puraquinonic acid ethyl ester and deliquinone via a common intermediate

Both compounds were prepared via a common intermediate. The key features included the direct synthesis of the indan skeleton and the radical addition to a quinone.