Synthetic studies toward the bryostatins: a substrate-controlled approach to the A-ring

Asymmetric total synthesis of prostaglandin C2 TBS ether

We disclose an asymmetric total synthesis of prostaglandin C₂ TBS ether, a derivative of an extremely sensitive natural prostaglandin C₂. The key to the synthesis is a SmI₂-mediated ketyl-enoate reaction that leads to the formation of the functionalized cyclopentane ring with high-level stereochemical control. Access to the crucial alkene system is realized late in the synthesis by the implementation of a Grignard addition/dehydration/metathesis sequence.

Prins cyclization-mediated stereoselective synthesis of tetrahydropyrans and dihydropyrans: an inspection of twenty years

Functionalized tetrahydropyran (THP) rings are important building blocks and ubiquitous scaffolds in many natural products and active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). Among various established methods, the Prins reaction has emerged as a powerful technique in the stereoselective synthesis of the tetrahydropyran skeleton with various substituents, and the strategy has further been successfully applied in the total synthesis of bioactive macrocycles and related natural products. In this context, hundreds of valuable contributions have already been made in this area, and the present review is intended to provide the systematic assortment of diverse Prins cyclization strategies, covering the literature reports of the last twenty years (from 2000 to 2019), with an aim to give an overview on exciting advancements in this area and designing new strategies for the total synthesis of related natural products.

Highly Diastereoselective Chelation-Controlled 1,3-anti-Allylation of (S)-3-(Methoxymethyl)hexanal Enabled by Hydrate of Scandium Triflate

En route to the total synthesis of (+)-Neopeltolide, we explored Lewis acid-assisted diastereoselective allylation of MOM-protected 3-hydroxylhexanal with β-(2,2-diethoxyethyl)-substituted (allyl)tributylstannane. The hydrated form of scandium triflate was found to be essential for attaining high 1,3-anti-diastereoselectivity (d.r. 94:6), while the use of anhydrous catalyst resulted in a modest diastereocontrol (d.r. 76:24). The preferred 1,3-anti-selectivity in this transformation can be rationalized in the framework of the Reetz chelate model of asymmetric induction. The 1,3-anti-configuration of the product was confirmed by its conversion into the known C7-C16 building block of (+)-Neopeltolide. We also report an improved protocol for the synthesis of β-(2,2-diethoxyethyl)-substituted (allyl)tributylstannane, which can be utilized as a cost-efficient bipolar isoprenoid-type C5-building block in the synthesis of natural compounds.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Fluorescent Bryostatin Analogues

To investigate the cellular distribution of tumor-promoting vs. non-tumor-promoting bryostatin analogues, we synthesized fluorescently labeled variants of two bryostatin derivatives that have previously shown either phorbol ester-like or bryostatin-like biological activity in U937 leukemia cells. These new fluorescent analogues both displayed high affinity for protein kinase C (PKC) binding and retained the basic properties of the parent unlabeled compounds in U937 assays. The fluorescent compounds showed similar patterns of intracellular distribution in cells, however; this argues against an existing hypothesis that various patterns of intracellular distribution are responsible for differences in biological activity. Upon further characterization, the fluorescent compounds revealed a slow rate of cellular uptake; correspondingly, they showed reduced activity for cellular responses that were only transient upon treatment with phorbol ester or bryostatin 1.

Multi-component regio- and diastereoselective cobalt-catalyzed hydrovinylation/allylboration reaction sequence

The combination of a regioselective cobalt-catalyzed 1,4-hydrovinylation and the diastereoselective allylboronation reaction leads to a wide scope of functionalized hydroxydienyl esters in a one-pot reaction in excellent yields. With catalytic amounts of base, these products are easily converted either into α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated hydroxyl esters or complex tetrasubstituted tetrahydropyrans in chemo- and diastereoselective fashions. In addition, a high-yielding four-component one-pot reaction involving an acrylate, two different and unsymmetrical 1,3-dienes, and an unsaturated aldehyde is presented.

Total synthesis of bryostatin 7 via C-C bond-forming hydrogenation

The marine macrolide bryostatin 7 is prepared in 20 steps (longest linear sequence) and 36 total steps with five C-C bonds formed using hydrogenative methods. This approach represents the most concise synthesis of any bryostatin reported, to date.

Effective analysis of rotundone at below-threshold levels in red and white wines using solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Rotundone is an oxygenated sesquiterpene belonging to the family of guaianes, giving the 'peppery' aroma to white and black pepper and to red wines. Here we describe a novel, convenient protocol for the synthesis of rotundone, starting from a commercially available compound and requiring only two reaction steps, and an improved, faster method of GC separation (30 min) with selective quantisation of rotundone using tandem mass spectrometry in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with d(5)-rotundone as internal standard. With limits of detection (LODs) of 1.5 ng/L in white wine and 2.0 ng/L in red wine, intraday repeatability CV values of 6% and 5% at 50 ng/L and 500 ng/L and interday repeatability CV values of 13% and 6% at 50 ng/L and 500 ng/L, respectively, the improved protocol provides the desired sensitivity and selectivity for routine analysis of rotundone in both white and red wines. Initial application of this method highlighted the presence of unexpectedly high concentrations of rotundone, thus explaining the origin of the distinctive peppery aroma in Schioppettino and Vespolina red wines and in Gruener Veltliner white wines.

The medicinal potential of promising marine macrolides with anticancer activity

Marine natural products have become a major source of new chemical entities in the discovery of potential anticancer agents that potently suppress various molecular targets. In particular, the marine macrolides, which include an array of novel biomolecules endowed with outstanding cytotoxic and/or antiproliferative activities, are a prominent class of marine natural products that offer continued promise for breakthroughs in anticancer research. Herein we highlight some recent studies of promising marine macrolides, paying particular attention to their discovery, anticancer activities, mechanisms of action, chemical synthesis, and representative analogues.

Synthesis of molluscicidal agent cyanolide a macrolactone from D-(-)-pantolactone

An efficient synthesis of potent molluscicidal agent cyanolide A, a glycosidic 16-membered macrolide, starting from D-(-)-pantolactone is reported. Highly stereoselective aldol, oxa-Michael addition, and Yamaguchi macrolactonization are the key steps in the present synthesis.

Concise synthesis of the bryostatin A-ring via consecutive C-C bond forming transfer hydrogenations

Under the conditions of C-C bond forming transfer hydrogenation, 1,3-propanediol 1 engages in double asymmetric carbonyl allylation to furnish the C(2)-symmetric diol 2. Double ozonolysis of 2 followed by TBS protection delivers aldehyde 3, which is subject to catalyst directed carbonyl reverse prenylation via transfer hydrogenation to deliver neopentyl alcohol 4 and, ultimately, the bryostatin A-ring 7. Through use of two consecutive C-C bond forming transfer hydrogenations, the Evans' bryostatin A-ring 7 is prepared in less than half the manipulations previously reported.

Substitution on the A-ring confers to bryopyran analogues the unique biological activity characteristic of bryostatins and distinct from that of the phorbol esters

A close structural analogue of bryostatin 1, which differs from bryostatin 1 only by the absence of the C(30) carbomethoxy group (on the C(13) enoate of the B-ring), has been prepared by total synthesis. Biological assays reveal a crucial role for substitution in the bryostatin 1 A-ring in conferring those responses which are characteristic of bryostatin 1 and distinct from those observed with PMA.

Total synthesis of epothilones B and D: stannane equivalents for beta-keto ester dianions

Studies leading to a total synthesis of epothilones B and D are described. The overall synthetic plan was based on late-stage fragment assembly of two segments representing C(1)-C(9) and C(10)-C(21) of the structure. The C(1)-C(9) fragment was prepared by elaboration of commercially available (2R)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpropanoate at both ends of the three-carbon unit. Introduction of carbons 1-4 containing the gem-dimethyl unit was achieved in a convergent manner using a diastereoselective addition of a stannane equivalent of a beta-keto ester dianion. An enantioselective addition of such a stannane equivalent for a beta-keto ester dianion was also used to fashion one version of the C(10)-C(21) subunit; however, the fragment assembly (using bimolecular esterification followed by ring-closing metathesis) with this subunit failed. Therefore, fragment assembly was achieved using a Wittig reaction; this was followed by macrolactonization to close the macrocycle. The C(10)-C(21) subunit needed for this approach was prepared in an efficient manner using the Corey-Kim reaction as a key element. Other key reactions in the synthesis include a stereoselective SmI(2) reduction of a beta-hydroxy ketone and a critical opening of a valerolactone with aniline which required extensive investigation.

Convergent assembly of highly potent analogues of bryostatin 1 via pyran annulation: bryostatin look-alikes that mimic phorbol ester function

Highly potent bryostatin analogues which contain the complete bryostatin core structure have been synthesized using a pyran annulation approach as a key strategic element. The A ring pyran was assembled using a pyran annulation reaction between a C1-C8 hydroxy allylsilane and an aldehyde comprising C9-C13. This pyran was transformed to a new hydroxy allylsilane and then coupled with a preformed C ring aldehyde subunit in a second pyran annulation, with concomitant formation of the B ring. This tricyclic intermediate was elaborated to bryostatin analogues which displayed nanomolar to subnanomolar affinity for PKC, but displayed properties indistinguishable from a phorbol ester in a proliferation/attachment assay.

Asymmetric synthesis of (-)-incarvillateine employing an intramolecular alkylation via Rh-catalyzed olefinic C-H bond activation

An asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-incarvillateine, a natural product having potent analgesic properties, has been achieved in 11 steps and 15.4% overall yield. The key step is a rhodium-catalyzed intramolecular alkylation of an olefinic C-H bond to set two stereocenters. Additionally, this transformation produces an exocyclic, tetrasubstituted alkene through which the bicyclic piperidine moiety can readily be accessed.

A new construction of 2-alkoxypyrans by an acylation-reductive cyclization sequence

A new convergent synthetic approach to a pyran motif common to many naturally occurring structures is described. In this approach, two fragments are joined by esterification, and a subsequent intramolecular reductive cyclization affords the 2-hydroxypyran.

Synthetic Studies Toward Bryostatin 1: Preparation of a C(1)-C(16) Fragment by Pyran Annulation

An expeditious assembly of a C(1)-C(16) subunit of bryostatin 1 is described. A pyran annulation reaction was utilized to form the B-ring by reaction of a hydroxy-allylsilane with a fully elaborated A-ring subunit. This annulation process proceeded with complete diastereoselectivity and in excellent isolated yield despite the presence of potentially sensitive functionality in the A-ring segment.