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

A widely distributed metalloenzyme class enables gut microbial metabolism of host- and diet-derived catechols

Catechol dehydroxylation is a central chemical transformation in the gut microbial metabolism of plant- and host-derived small molecules. However, the molecular basis for this transformation and its distribution among gut microorganisms are poorly understood. Here, we characterize a molybdenum-dependent enzyme from the human gut bacterium Eggerthella lenta that dehydroxylates catecholamine neurotransmitters. Our findings suggest that this activity enables E. lenta to use dopamine as an electron acceptor. We also identify candidate dehydroxylases that metabolize additional host- and plant-derived catechols. These dehydroxylases belong to a distinct group of largely uncharacterized molybdenum-dependent enzymes that likely mediate primary and secondary metabolism in multiple environments. Finally, we observe catechol dehydroxylation in the gut microbiotas of diverse mammals, confirming the presence of this chemistry in habitats beyond the human gut. These results suggest that the chemical strategies that mediate metabolism and interactions in the human gut are relevant to a broad range of species and habitats.

General Methodologies Toward cis-Fused Quinone Sesquiterpenoids. Enantiospecific Synthesis of the epi-Ilimaquinone Core Featuring Sc-Catalyzed Ring Expansion

A stereocontrolled approach to the cis-decalin framework of clerodane diterpenes and biologically active quinone sesquiterpenes is reported. Starting from an inexpensive optically pure tetrahydroindanone, Birch reductive alkylation builds two new contiguous chiral centers—one of which is quaternary and all-carbon-substituted. Also featured is a highly regioselective diazoalkane—carbonyl homologation reaction to prepare the 6,6-bicyclic skeleton. Therein, the utility of Sc(OTf)₃ as a mild catalyst for formal 1C insertion in complex settings is demonstrated.

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.

Asymmetric aza-[2,3]-Wittig sigmatropic rearrangements: chiral auxiliary control and formal asymmetric synthesis of (2S, 3R, 4R)-4-hydroxy-3-methylproline and (–)-kainic acid

A survey of 16 different chiral auxiliaries and a variety of strategies found that an (-)-8-phenylmenthol ester of a glycine derived migrating group can control the absolute stereochemistry of aza-[2,3]-Wittig sigmatropic rearrangements with diastereoselectivities of ca. 3 : 1 with respect to the auxiliary. In two specific examples, ca. 50% yields of enantiomerically pure products were obtained after chromatographic purification. These were synthetically manipulated with no erosion of stereochemistry into intermediates that completed formal asymmetric syntheses of (+)-HyMePro and (-)-kainic acid.