A short asymmetric route to the bromophycolide A and D skeleton

Marine Natural Products as Leads against SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Since early 2020, disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a global pandemic, causing millions of infections and deaths worldwide. Despite rapid deployment of effective vaccines, it is apparent that the global community lacks multipronged interventions to combat viral infection and disease. A major limitation is the paucity of antiviral drug options representing diverse molecular scaffolds and mechanisms of action. Here we report the antiviral activities of three distinct marine natural products─homofascaplysin A (1), (+)-aureol (2), and bromophycolide A (3)─evidenced by their ability to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication at concentrations that are nontoxic toward human airway epithelial cells. These compounds stand as promising candidates for further exploration toward the discovery of novel drug leads against SARS-CoV-2.

Relay Cross Metathesis for the Iterative Construction of Terpenoids and Synthesis of a Diterpene-Benzoate Macrolide of Biogenetic Relevance to the Bromophycolides

We report a relay cross metathesis (ReXM) reaction for the construction of terpenoids in an iterative protocol. The protocol features the cross metathesis of a relay-actuated Δ^6,7-functionalized C₁₀-monoterpenoid alcohol with C₁₀-monoterpenoid citral to form a C₁₅-sesquiterpene. Subsequent functional group manipulation allows for the method to be repeated in an iterative fashion. The method is used for the synthesis of a diterpene-benzoate macrolide of biogenetic relevance to the bromophycolide family of natural products.

Stereoselective Synthesis of the Tricyclic Core of (-)-Callophycoic Acid A

Two stereocontrolled routes to the tricyclic core of (-)-callophycoic acid A are described. Our synthetic strategy relied on stereoselective allylboration using a new allylboronate reagent to construct the all-carbon quaternary stereocenter in the core, followed by efficient radical cyclization or palladium-catalyzed reductive cyclization to form its multisubstituted cyclohexane ring. The tetrahydrooxepin ring was constructed by intramolecular etheration. This study provides the first method for the stereoselective synthesis of the characteristic tricyclic skeleton of callophycoic acids.

Stereoselective Halogenation in Natural Product Synthesis

At last count, nearly 5000 halogenated natural products have been discovered. In approximately half of these compounds, the carbon atom to which the halogen is bound is sp(3) -hybridized; therefore, there are an enormous number of natural products for which stereocontrolled halogenation must be a critical component of any synthesis strategy. In this Review, we critically discuss the methods and strategies used for stereoselective introduction of halogen atoms in the context of natural product synthesis. Using the successes of the past, we also attempt to identify gaps in our synthesis technology that would aid the synthesis of halogenated natural products, as well as existing methods that have not yet seen application in complex molecule synthesis. The chemistry described herein demonstrates yet again how natural products continue to provide the inspiration for critical advances in chemical synthesis.

Unusual cyclic terpenoids with terminal pendant prenyl moieties: from occurrence to synthesis

The paper reviews the known examples of cyclic terpenoids produced from open chain polyenic precursors by an "unusual" biosynthetic pathway, involving selective electrophilic attack on an internal double bond followed by cyclization. The resulting compounds possess cyclic backbones with pendant terminal prenyl groups. Synthetic approaches applied for the synthesis of such specifically functionalized compounds are also discussed, as well as biological activity of reported representatives.