Concise total synthesis of (+/-)-pseudotabersonine via double ring-closing metathesis strategy

Aspidosperma and Strychnos alkaloids: Chemistry and biology

Of Nature's nearly 3000 unique monoterpene indole alkaloids derived from tryptophan, those members belonging to the Aspidosperma and Strychnos families continue to impact the fields of natural products (i.e., isolation, structure determination, biosynthesis) and organic chemistry (i.e., chemical synthesis, methodology development) among others. This review covers the biological activity (Section 2), biosynthesis (Section 3), and synthesis of both classical and novel Aspidosperma (Section 4), Strychnos (Section 5), and selected bis-indole (Section 6) alkaloids. Technological advancements in genetic sequencing and bioinformatics have deepened our understanding of how Nature assembles these intriguing molecules. The proliferation of innovative synthetic strategies and tactics for the synthesis of the alkaloids covered in this review, which include contributions from over fifty research groups from around the world, are a testament to the creative power and technical skills of synthetic organic chemists. To be sure, Nature-the Supreme molecular architect and source of a dazzling array of irresistible chemical logic puzzles-continues to inspire scientists across multiple disciplines and will certainly continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (+)-Mannolide C

(+)-Mannolide C is a complex hexacyclic C₂₀ cephalotane-type diterpenoid featuring a highly strained 7/6/6/5 tetracyclic core containing eight consecutive stereocenters and two bridging lactones. The first asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-mannolide C has been accomplished by lipase-mediated resolution, Ru-complex-catalyzed double ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reactions, Ni^II -catalyzed diastereoselective Michael addition, and Mn^III -catalyzed allylic oxidation as the key transformations.

Natural Products and Their Mimics as Targets of Opportunity for Discovery

Diverse structural types of natural products and their mimics have served as targets of opportunity in our laboratory to inspire the discovery and development of new methods and strategies to assemble polyfunctional and polycyclic molecular architectures. Furthermore, our efforts toward identifying novel compounds having useful biological properties led to the creation of new targets, many of which posed synthetic challenges that required the invention of new methodology. In this Perspective, selected examples of how we have exploited a diverse range of natural products and their mimics to create, explore, and solve a variety of problems in chemistry and biology will be discussed. The journey was not without its twists and turns, but the unexpected often led to new revelations and insights. Indeed, in our recent excursion into applications of synthetic organic chemistry to neuroscience, avoiding the more-traveled paths was richly rewarding.

Stereodivergent Synthesis of Pseudotabersonine Alkaloids

An eight-step stereodivergent synthesis of enantiomerically pure (-)-14-epi-pseudotabersonine and (+)-pseudotabersonine has been developed from a common N-tert-butanesulfinyl ketimine key intermediate.

Synthesis and biological analysis of truncated calyculone H

Herein, we report for the first time the design and linear synthesis of a truncated calyculone H (7) that lacks the telltale isopropyl/isopropylene groups, whereas the 12-membered macrocycle remains intact. Key steps for the framework of target molecule include allylic oxidation using SeO2, Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation, Barbier zinc allylation, and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reactions. A second truncated "calyculone-like" analogue, 27, with a different oxidation pattern around the ring was also synthesized following a similar strategy. Screening for in vitro cytotoxicity against a panel of 60 human cancer cell lines revealed that 7 was as potent if not more so (for a few cell lines) than the natural product calyculone A (2).

Palladium-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of aniline-tethered alkylidenecyclopropanes with O2: a facile protocol to selectively synthesize 2- and 3-vinylindoles

A facile and versatile palladium catalyzed oxidative cyclization of aniline-tethered alkylidenecyclopropanes with O₂ to selectively construct important synthetic intermediates 2- and 3-vinylindoles in moderate to good yields has been developed.

Total synthesis of (±)-20S-hydroxy-1,2-dehydro-pseudoaspidospermidine via a C–H activation/transannular cyclization strategy

A total synthesis to the pseudoaspidospermidine family via a C–H activation/transannular cyclization strategy has been accomplished.

Applications of Ring Closing Metathesis. Total Synthesis of (±)-Pseudotabersonine

A novel approach to the Aspidosperma family of alkaloids was developed and applied to a concise total synthesis of (±)-pseudotabersonine that was accomplished in 11 steps. Key transformations include a stepwise variant of a Mannich-like multicomponent assembly process, a double ring-closing metathesis sequence, and a one-pot deprotection/cyclization reaction.

Multicomponent, Mannich-type assembly process for generating novel, biologically-active 2-arylpiperidines and derivatives

A multicomponent, Mannich-type assembly process commencing with commercially available bromobenzaldehydes was sequenced with [3+2] dipolar cycloaddition reactions involving nitrones and azomethine ylides to generate collections of fused, bicyclic scaffolds based on the 2-arylpiperidine subunit. Use of the 4-pentenoyl group, which served both as an activator in the Mannich-type reaction and a readily-cleaved amine protecting group, allowed sub-libraries to be prepared through piperidine N-functionalization and cross-coupling of the aryl bromide. A number of these derivatives displayed biological activities that had not previously been associated with this substructure. Methods were also developed that allowed rapid conversion of these scaffolds to novel, polycyclic dihydroquinazolin-2-ones, 2-imino-1,3-benzothiazinanes, dihydroisoquinolin-3-ones and bridged tetrahydroquinolines.

Synthesis of (-)-pseudotabersonine, (-)-pseudovincadifformine, and (+)-coronaridine enabled by photoredox catalysis in flow

Natural product modification with photoredox catalysis allows for mild, chemoselective access to a wide array of related structures in complex areas of chemical space, providing the possibility for novel structural motifs as well as useful quantities of less abundant congeners. While amine additives have been used extensively as stoichiometric electron donors for photocatalysis, the controlled modification of amine substrates through single-electron oxidation is ideal for the synthesis and modification of alkaloids. Here, we report the conversion of the amine (+)-catharanthine into the natural products (-)-pseudotabersonine, (-)-pseudovincadifformine, and (+)-coronaridine utilizing visible light photoredox catalysis.

Ring-closing metathesis reactions of bis(enynes): selectivity and surprises

A study of the ring-closing metathesis reactions of two bis(enynes) is presented. These substrates, which contain two alkenes and two alkynes, as well as a resident stereocenter, can potentially generate metathesis products resulting from many reaction pathways. In this contribution we present our results on these reactions, show how small changes in reaction conditions can lead to different product ratios, and attempt to provide a rationale for the outcomes.

Enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-citrinadin A and revision of its stereochemical structure

The first enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-citrinadin A has been accomplished in 20 steps from commercially available materials via an approach that minimizes refunctionalization and protection/deprotection operations. The cornerstone of this synthesis features an asymmetric vinylogous Mannich addition of a dienolate to a chiral pyridinium salt to set the initial chiral center. A sequence of substrate-controlled reactions, including a highly stereoselective epoxidation/ring-opening sequence and an oxidative rearrangement of an indole to furnish a spirooxindole, are then used to establish the remaining stereocenters in the pentacyclic core of (-)-citrinadin A. The successful synthesis of citrinadin A led to a revision of the stereochemical structure of the core substructure of the citrinadins.

Application of a sequential multicomponent assembly process/huisgen cycloaddition strategy to the preparation of libraries of 1,2,3-triazole-fused 1,4-benzodiazepines

A strategy featuring a multicomponent assembly process followed by an intramolecular azide-alkyne dipolar (Huisgen) cycloaddition was implemented for the facile synthesis of three different 1,2,3-triazolo-1,4-benzodiazepine scaffolds. A diverse library of 170 compounds derived from these scaffolds was then created through N-functionalizations, palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions, and several applications of α-aminonitrile chemistry.

Facile Syntheses of Substituted, Conformationally-Constrained Benzoxazocines and Benzazocines via Sequential Multicomponent Assembly and Cyclization

A multicomponent assembly process (MCAP) was utilized to prepare versatile intermediates that are suitably functionalized for subsequent cyclizations via Ullmann and Heck reactions to efficiently construct substituted 2,6-methanobenzo[b][1,5]oxazocines and 1,6-methanobenzo[c]azocines, respectively. The intramolecular Ullmann cyclization was conducted in tandem with an intermolecular arylation that enabled the rapid syntheses of a number of O-functionalized methanobenzoxazocines.

APPLICATIONS OF MULTICOMPONENT ASSEMBLY PROCESSES TO THE FACILE SYNTHESES OF DIVERSELY FUNCTIONALIZED NITROGEN HETEROCYCLES

Several multicomponent assembly processes have been developed for the synthesis of intermediates that may be elaborated by a variety of cyclizations to generate a diverse array of highly functionalized heterocycles from readily-available starting materials. The overall approach enables the efficient preparation of libraries of small molecules derived from fused, privileged scaffolds.