Synthesis of an A-E gambieric acid subunit with use of a C-glycoside centered strategy

Asymmetric total synthesis of humulane sesquiterpenoids alashanoids B, C, E, and F and 2,9-humuladien-6-ol-8-one

Naturally occurring sesquiterpenes having humulane frameworks are structurally intriguing and possess significant biological profiles. Asymmetric synthesis of the alashanoids B, C, E, and F and 2,9-humuladien-6-ol-8-one is achieved for the first time through a linear synthetic strategy. Intramolecular late-stage Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi (NHK) coupling is employed to access the eleven-membered macrocyclic core present in the target molecules. The NHK precursors are accessed using the Evans and non-Evans syn and anti-aldol reaction as a key transformation. X-ray and ECD analysis reconfirmed the synthesized compounds' structures and chirotopical properties.

Carbonyl-Olefin Metathesis

This Review describes the development of strategies for carbonyl-olefin metathesis reactions relying on stepwise, stoichiometric, or catalytic approaches. A comprehensive overview of currently available methods is provided starting with Paternò-Büchi cycloadditions between carbonyls and alkenes, followed by fragmentation of the resulting oxetanes, metal alkylidene-mediated strategies, [3 + 2]-cycloaddition approaches with strained hydrazines as organocatalysts, Lewis acid-mediated and Lewis acid-catalyzed strategies relying on the formation of intermediate oxetanes, and protocols based on initial carbon-carbon bond formation between carbonyls and alkenes and subsequent Grob-fragmentations. The Review concludes with an overview of applications of these currently available methods for carbonyl-olefin metathesis in complex molecule synthesis. Over the past eight years, the field of carbonyl-olefin metathesis has grown significantly and expanded from stoichiometric reaction protocols to efficient catalytic strategies for ring-closing, ring-opening, and cross carbonyl-olefin metathesis. The aim of this Review is to capture the status quo of the field and is expected to contribute to further advancements in carbonyl-olefin metathesis in the coming years.

Synthetic efforts towards the stereoselective synthesis of NF00659B1

NF00659B₁ is a novel α-pyrone diterpenoid natural product with potent anti-colon cancer activity. A stereoselective approach to the 2,2-dimethyl oxepanol core of NF00659B₁ is described enlisting a sequence of olefinic ester ring-closing metathesis, epoxidation, and Grignard addition. This strategy paves the way to a total synthesis of NF00659B₁ for further biological studies.

Betti's base for crystallization-induced deracemization of substituted aldehydes: synthesis of enantiopure amorolfine and fenpropimorph

The acid-promoted crystallization-induced diastereoisomer transformation (CIDT) of naphthoxazines derived from racemic O-protected 2-substituted 4-hydroxybutyraldehydes and enantiopure Betti's base allows the deracemization of the starting aldehydes with ee up to 96%. As an alternative, reduction with lithium aluminum hydride of the diastereoisomerically enriched naphthoxazines leads to enantioenriched primary amines. The utility of the latter strategy was demonstrated by applying it to the synthesis of enantioenriched fenpropimorph and to the first synthesis of enantiopure amorolfine, with ee up to 99.5%.

Synthesis of the ABCDEF and FGHI ring system of yessotoxin and adriatoxin

Yessotoxin and adriatoxin are members of the polycyclic ether family of marine natural products. Outlined in this article is our synthetic approach to two subunits of these targets. Central to our strategy is a coupling sequence that employs an olefinic-ester cyclization reaction. As outlined, this sequence was used in two coupling sequences. First it was used to merge the A,B- and E,F-bicyclic precursors and in the process generate the C, D-rings. Second it was used to couple the F- and I-rings while building the eight-membered G-ring and subsequently the H-ring pyran.

Recent applications in natural product synthesis of dihydrofuran and -pyran formation by ring-closing alkene metathesis

Examples from 2003 to 2015 of ring-closing alkene metathesis (RCM) in the generation of dihydro-furans or -pyrans for natural product synthesis, are reviewed.

Concise synthesis of the A/BCD-ring fragment of gambieric acid A

Gambieric acid A (GAA) and its congeners belong to the family of marine polycyclic ether natural products. Their highly complex molecular architecture and unique biological activities have been of intense interest within the synthetic community. We have previously reported the first total synthesis, stereochemical reassignment, and preliminary structure–activity relationships of GAA. Here we disclose a concise synthesis of the A/BCD-ring fragment of GAA. The synthesis started from our previously reported synthetic intermediate that represents the A/B-ring. The C-ring was synthesized via an oxiranyl anion coupling and a 6-endo cyclization, and the D-ring was forged by means of an oxidative lactonization and subsequent palladium-catalyzed functionalization of the lactone ring. In this manner, the number of linear synthetic steps required for the construction of the C- and D-rings was reduced from 22 to 11.

Total synthesis and complete structural assignment of gambieric acid A, a large polycyclic ether marine natural product

More than thirty years after the discovery of polycyclic ether marine natural products, they continue to receive intense attention from the chemical, biological, and pharmacological communities because of their potent biological activities and highly complex molecular architectures. Gambieric acids are intriguing polycyclic ethers that exhibit potent antifungal activity with minimal toxicity against mammals. Despite the recent advances in the synthesis of this class of natural products, gambieric acids remain unconquered due to their daunting structural complexity, which poses a formidable synthetic challenge to organic chemists. This paper reviews our long-term studies on the total synthesis, complete configurational reassignment, and structure-activity relationships of gambieric acid A over the last decade.

Total synthesis and biological evaluation of (+)-gambieric acid A and its analogues

In this study, we report the first total synthesis and complete stereostructure of gambieric acid A, a potent antifungal polycyclic ether metabolite, in detail. The A/B-ring exocyclic enol ether 32 was prepared through a Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of the B-ring vinyl iodide 18 and the alkylborate 33 and subsequent closure of the A-ring by using diastereoselective bromoetherification as the key transformation. Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of 32 with acetate-derived enol phosphate 49, followed by ring-closing metathesis of the derived diene, produced the D-ring. Subsequent closure of the C-ring through a mixed thioacetalization completed the synthesis of the A/BCD-ring fragment 8. The A/BCD- and F'GHIJ-ring fragments (i.e., 8 and 9) were assembled through Suzuki-Miyaura coupling. The C25 stereogenic center was elaborated by exploiting the intrinsic conformational property of the seven-membered F'-ring. After the oxidative cleavage of the F'-ring, the E-ring was formed as a cyclic mixed thioacetal (i.e., 70) and then stereoselectively allylated by using glycosylation chemistry. Ring-closing metathesis of the diene 3 thus obtained closed the F-ring and completed the polycyclic ether skeleton. Finally, the J-ring side chain was introduced by using a Julia-Kocienski olefination in the presence of CeCl3 to complete the total synthesis of gambieric acid A (1), thereby unambiguously establishing its complete stereostructure. The present total synthesis enabled us to evaluate the antifungal and antiproliferative activities of 1 and several synthetic analogues.

Total synthesis and complete stereostructure of gambieric acid A

Total synthesis of gambieric acid A, a potent antifungal polycyclic ether metabolite, has been accomplished for the first time, which firmly established the complete stereostructure of this natural product.

Divergent synthesis and chemical reactivity of bicyclic lactone fragments of complex rearranged spongian diterpenes

The synthesis and direct comparison of the chemical reactivity of the two highly oxidized bicyclic lactone fragments found in rearranged spongian diterpenes (8-substituted 6-acetoxy-2,7-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-one and 6-substituted 7-acetoxy-2,8-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octan-3-one) are reported. Details of the first synthesis of the 6-acetoxy-2,7-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-one ring system, including an examination of several possibilities for the key bridging cyclization reaction, are described. In addition, the first synthesis of 7-acetoxy-2,8-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octanones containing quaternary carbon substituents at C6 is disclosed. Aspects of the chemical reactivity and Golgi-modifying properties of these bicyclic lactone analogs of rearranged spongian diterpenes are also reported. Under both acidic and basic conditions, 8-substituted 2,7-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octanones are converted to 6-substituted-2,8-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octanones. Moreover, these dioxabicyclic lactones react with primary amines and lysine side chains of lysozyme to form substituted pyrroles, a conjugation that could be responsible for the unique biological properties of these compounds. These studies demonstrate that acetoxylation adjacent to the lactone carbonyl group, in either the bridged or fused series, is required to produce fragmented Golgi membranes in the pericentriolar region that is characteristic of macfarlandin E.

Studies toward the total synthesis of gambieric acids: stereocontrolled synthesis of a DEFG-ring model compound

A stereocontrolled convergent synthesis of a DEFG-ring model compound of gambieric acids, highly potent antifungal marine polycyclic ether natural products, has been achieved based on Suzuki-Miyaura coupling. Conformational analysis of the model compound revealed that the nine-membered F-ring exists exclusively as a single stable conformer, as opposed to that of ciguatoxins.

Indium-mediated allylation of aldehydes, ketones and sulfonimines with 2-(alkoxy)allyl bromides

2-(Alkoxy)propenyl bromides are readily prepared from 1,3-dibromo-2-propanol in a two-step sequence involving hydroxyl protection and sodium hydride-induced dehydrobromination. Indium-mediated allylation of aldehydes, ketones, and sulfonimines with 2-(alkoxy)propenyl bromides furnishes the corresponding homoallylic alcohols and sulfonamines in good yields. The products can be easily transformed into β-hydroxy ketones and esters, as well as substituted dihydropyrans and protected β-amino acids. Chiral 2-(alkoxy)propenyl halides, derived from (-)-menthol and D-glucal, furnish diastereomerically enriched products.

Golgi-modifying properties of macfarlandin E and the synthesis and evaluation of its 2,7-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-one core

Golgi-modifying properties of the spongian diterpene macfarlandin E (MacE) and a synthetic analog, t-Bu-MacE, containing its 2,7-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-one moiety are reported. Natural product screening efforts identified MacE as inducing a novel morphological change in Golgi structure defined by ribbon fragmentation with maintenance of the resulting Golgi fragments in the pericentriolar region. t-Bu-MacE, which possesses the substituted 2,7-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-one but contains a tert-butyl group in place of the hydroazulene subunit of MacE, was prepared by chemical synthesis. Examination of the Golgi-modifying properties of MacE, t-Bu-MacE, and several related structures revealed that the entire oxygen-rich bridged-bicyclic fragment is required for induction of this unique Golgi organization phenotype. Further characterization of MacE-induced Golgi modification showed that protein secretion is inhibited, with no effect on the actin or microtubule cytoskeleton being observed. The conversion of t-Bu-MacE and a structurally related des-acetoxy congener to substituted pyrroles in the presence of primary amines in protic solvent at ambient temperatures suggests that covalent modification might be involved in the Golgi-altering activity of MacE.

Synthetic studies on gambieric acids, potent antifungal polycyclic ether natural products: reassignment of the absolute configuration of the nonacyclic polyether core by NMR analysis of model compounds

A highly stereocontrolled, convergent synthesis of the A/B-ring fragment of gambieric acids (GAs) has been developed on the basis of (i) a Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of the C1-C6 alkylborate and the C7-C17 vinyl iodide and (ii) a diastereoselective haloetherification for the construction of the A-ring tetrahydrofuran as key steps. Inspection of the (1)H and (13)C NMR chemical shifts of the synthesized A/B-ring model compounds led to a stereochemical reassignment of the absolute configuration of the polycyclic ether core of GAs. This structure revision was further supported by a synthesis of the A/BC-ring model compound of gambieric acid B and a comparison of its (1)H and (13)C NMR data with those of the natural product.

Stereocontrolled synthesis of the A/B-ring fragment of gambieric acid B: reassignment of the absolute configuration of the polycyclic ether region

Stereocontrolled synthesis of the A/B-ring fragment of the originally assigned structure of gambieric acid B and its possible diastereomers has been accomplished. Detailed comparison of their 1H and 13C NMR data with those of the corresponding moiety of the natural product culminated in a stereochemical reassignment of the absolute configuration of the polycyclic ether region of gambieric acid B.

Convergent strategies for the total synthesis of polycyclic ether marine metabolites

Marine polycyclic ether natural products continue to fascinate chemists and biologists due to their exceptionally large and complex molecular architectures and potent and diverse biological activities. Tremendous progress has been made over the past decade toward the total synthesis of marine polycyclic ether natural products. In this area, a convergent strategy for assembling small fragments into an entire molecule always plays a key role in successful total synthesis. This review describes our efforts to develop convergent strategies for the synthesis of polycyclic ethers and their application to the total synthesis of gambierol, gymnocin-A, and brevenal, and to the partial synthesis of the central part of ciguatoxins and the nonacyclic polyether skeleton of gambieric acids.