Diastereoselective synthesis of protected syn 1,3-diols: preparation of the C16-C24 portion of Dolabelides

E- and Z-trisubstituted macrocyclic alkenes for natural product synthesis and skeletal editing

Many therapeutic agents are macrocyclic trisubstituted alkenes but preparation of these structures is typically inefficient and non-selective. A possible solution would entail catalytic macrocyclic ring-closing metathesis, but these transformations require high catalyst loading, conformationally rigid precursors and are often low yielding and/or non-stereoselective. Here we introduce a ring-closing metathesis strategy for synthesis of trisubstituted macrocyclic olefins in either stereoisomeric form, regardless of the level of entropic assistance. The goal was achieved by addressing several unexpected difficulties, including complications arising from pre-ring-closing metathesis alkene isomerization. The power of the method is highlighted by two examples. The first is the near-complete reversal of substrate-controlled selectivity in the formation of a macrolactam related to an antifungal natural product. The other is a late-stage stereoselective generation of an E-trisubstituted alkene in a 24-membered ring, en route to the cytotoxic natural product dolabelide C.

Diastereoselective synthesis of trisubstituted olefins using a silicon-tether ring-closing metathesis strategy

The diastereoselective synthesis of trisubstituted olefins with concomitant C-C bond formation is still a difficult challenge, and olefin metathesis reactions for the formation of such alkenes are usually not high yielding or/and diastereoselective. Herein we report an efficient and diastereoselective synthesis of trisubstituted olefins flanked by an allylic alcohol, by a silicon-tether ring-closing metathesis strategy. Both E- and Z-trisubstituted alkenes were synthesised, depending on the method employed to cleave the silicon tether. Furthermore, this methodology features a novel Peterson olefination for the synthesis of allyldimethylsilanes. These versatile intermediates were also converted into the corresponding allylchlorodimethylsilanes, which are not easily accessible in high yields by other methods.

Synthesis of chiral propargyl alcohols following the base-induced elimination protocol: application in the total synthesis of natural products

Synthesis of enantiomerically pure propargyl alcohols is one of the most important tools in organic synthesis and “base-induced elimination of β-alkoxy chlorides” could offer the enantiomerically pure propargyl alcohols.

An intramolecular oxa-Michael reaction on α,β-unsaturated α-amino-δ-hydroxycarboxylic acid esters. Synthesis of functionalized 1,3-dioxanes

A highly diastereoselective intramolecular oxa-Michael reaction on α,β-unsaturated α-amino-δ-hydroxycarboxylic acid esters is presented; 1,3-dioxanes functionalized in positions 2,4 and 6 were obtained in good yields and with excellent selectivities; an experimental and computational study was carried out to understand the reaction course in terms of yields and selectivities. This reaction proceeds under mild reaction conditions using highly electrophilic aldehydes and ketones.

Novel Synthesis of Trisubstituted Olefins for the Preparation of the C16-C30 Fragment of Dolabelide C

A silicon-tether ring-closing metathesis strategy is reported for the synthesis of trisubstituted olefins flanked by allylic or homoallylic alcohols, which are difficult to obtain by classical ring-closing or cross-metathesis reactions. In addition, a novel Peterson olefination reaction has been developed for the preparation of the allyldimethylsilane precursors, which are versatile synthetic intermediates. This method was then applied to the synthesis of the C16-C30 fragment of dolabelide C.

Diastereoselective synthesis of trifluoromethylated 1,3-dioxanes by intramolecular oxa-Michael reaction

A highly diastereoselective synthesis of trifluoromethylated 1,3-dioxanes is described. The reaction proceeds by an addition/oxa-Michael sequence and works efficiently under mild reaction conditions, with a good substrate scope and acceptable to good yields.

Domino intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions to construct a 6/6/5/5 fused tetracyclic framework

Domino intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reactions towards the 6/6/5/5 fused tetracyclic natural products were developed in satisfactory yield and high stereoselectivity. Four rings, six contiguous stereocenters and four C-C bonds were formed in a single operation. 4-epi-Hydromitchellene B was also synthesised efficiently via this strategy.

Highly demanding cross-metathesis in the synthesis of the C16-C30 fragment of dolabelide C

A highly demanding cross-metathesis (CM) reaction for the formation of the C24-C25 trisubstituted olefin of dolabelide C has been optimized. A difference in reactivity between the E and Z enone isomers in this reaction was uncovered, and the selection of the Z isomer of the starting enone was critical for the success of the cross-metathesis. Application to the synthesis of the C16-C30 fragment of dolabelide C is reported.

Total synthesis of dolabelide C: a phosphate-mediated approach

The first synthesis of dolabelide C (1), a cytotoxic marine macrolide, is reported utilizing a phosphate tether-mediated approach. Bicyclic phosphates (S,S,S(P))-5 and (R,R,R(P))-5 serve as the central building blocks for the construction of two major 1,3-anti-diol subunits in 1 through selective cleavage pathways, regioselective olefin reduction, and cross-metathesis. Overall, phosphate-mediated processes provided copious amounts of both major subunits allowing for a detailed RCM macrocyclization study to the 24-membered macrolactone 1.

A multifaceted phosphate tether: application to the C15-C30 subunit of dolabelides A-D

Construction of the C15-C30 subunit of dolabelide utilizing a temporary phosphate tether is described. Two routes are reported that make use of the orthogonal protecting- and leaving-group properties innate to phosphate esters. One route relies on a selective terminal oxidation, while a second utilizes a CM/selective hydrogenation sequence. Both routes depend on a highly regio- and diastereoselective cuprate addition to set the requisite stereochemistry at C22.

A multifaceted phosphate tether: application to the C1-C14 subunit of dolabelides A-D

A phosphate tether approach to the C1-14 subunit of dolabelide is described. The phosphate tether serves a multifaceted role mediating several processes, including (i) diastereotopic differentiation via RCM, (ii) selective CM by imparting Type III behavior to the exocyclic olefin, (iii) regioselective hydrogenation, and (iv) regioselective Pd(0)-catalyzed reductive opening of the bicyclic phosphate. Overall, this strategy uses orthogonal protecting- and leaving-group properties innate to phosphate esters to rapidly assembly the titled subunit.

Tandem Conjugate Addition−Elimination for the Diastereoselective Synthesis of 4E-Alkenyl syn-1,3-Diols

We have developed a tandem conjugate addition-elimination sequence for the diastereoselective synthesis of protected allylic syn-1,3-diols, starting from vinyl sulfones. The sulfonyl group was then reduced with sodium amalgam to furnish the E-olefin as the major isomer. This method was applied to the synthesis of a trisubstituted alkene modeling the C21-C25 fragment of Dolabelide C.

Total synthesis of dolabelide D

The first total synthesis of dolabelide D (or of any of the closely related dolabelides) has been achieved with a longest linear sequence of 17 steps. Key features of the synthesis include an application of the catalytic asymmetric silane alcoholysis, the tandem silylformylation-crotylsilylation, and a Brook-like 1,4-carbon to oxygen silyl migration.

Stereoselective synthesis of the C(1)-C(13) segment of dolabelide B

The efficient construction of the C(1)-C(13) segment of dolabelide B is described. A key element of the synthesis entails BITIP catalyzed asymmetric methallylation to establish the C(7) stereocenter, which was then used to direct the stereoselective installation of the C(9) and C(11) centers through Evans reduction and 1,5-anti aldol condensation, respectively.

A new, simple, and selective palladium-catalyzed cleavage of triethylsilyl ethers

[reaction: see text] A simple procedure for the cleavage of triethylsilyl (TES) ethers in the presence of 10 wt % Pd/C in methanol or 95% ethanol is reported. This method allows selective removal of alkyl TES ethers in the presence of aromatic TES ethers or tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBS) protecting groups.