On the Origin of Siphonariid Polypropionates: Total Synthesis of Caloundrin B and Its Isomerization to Siphonarin B

Enantioselective Michael Addition/Cyclization/Desymmetrization Sequence of Prochiral Cyclic Hemiacetals and Nitroolefins: Synthesis of Chiral Oxygen-Bridged Bicyclic Compounds

The organocatalytic enantioselective Michael addition of functionalized prochiral cyclic hemiacetals and nitroolefins has been developed under cooperative enamine and hydrogen bond catalysis. The obtained chiral hemiacetal intermediates could be used in the subsequent diastereocontrolled cyclization/desymmetrization divergent process to access (1) 9-oxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane or 8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane frameworks via oxocarbenium ion-mediated Friedel-Crafts cyclization, and (2) 2,9-dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane frameworks via intramolecular nucleophilic cyclization. Experimental results suggest that there is neighboring group participation controlling the diastereoselectivities of the desymmetrization process.

Synthesis of 4-Pyrones by Formal Hydration of 1,3-Diynones Promoted by 1,4-Addition of Piperidine

A new approach for the synthesis of 4-pyrones with broader substrate scope and functional group tolerance is described. The reaction proceeds via an initial 1,4-addition by piperidine, followed by nitrogen-assisted 6-endo-dig cyclization and hydrolysis. 1,3-Diynones with nonenolizable electron-withdrawing ketones and nonpropargylic H provide relatively high yields. For substrates with particular R² substituents, 1,4- or 1,6-adducts were isolated, suggesting that steric and electronic factors of the R² substituent should have a strong impact on the 6-endo-dig cyclization.

Total Synthesis of Dolabriferol C by a Highly Stereoselective One-Pot Coupling of a meso-3,7-Diketone with Two Chiral Aldehydes

Total synthesis of the noncontiguous polypropionate dolabriferol C was achieved by retro-Claisen fragmentation of its putative contiguous precursor under mild conditions, thus establishing the former as a plausible isolation artifact. The precursor was prepared by a novel one-pot three-component bisaldol coupling of a meso (Z,Z)-bisenolate (generated in situ from a 3,7-diketone) with two enantioenriched aldehydes to set the absolute configuration of seven stereocenters in one step. The first aldol reaction proceeded with enantioselective desymmetrization of the bisenolate to produce an enantiomerically pure enolate-aldolate. Quenching at this stage enabled a streamlined synthesis of dolabriferol. Addition of a racemic aldehyde to the enolate-aldolate resulted in aldol coupling with kinetic resolution of the "matched" aldehyde; overall, a sequential enantiotopic-group-selective (SEGS) bisaldol reaction. Because the desired adduct results from the "mismatched" aldol reaction, use of enantioenriched aldehyde was required.

Expeditious Asymmetric Synthesis of Polypropionates Relying on Sulfur Dioxide-Induced C–C Bond Forming Reactions

For a long time, the organic chemistry of sulfur dioxide (SO2) consisted of sulfinates that react with carbon electrophiles to generate sulfones. With alkenes and other unsaturated compounds, SO2 generates polymeric materials such as polysulfones. More recently, H-ene, sila-ene and hetero-Diels–Alder reactions of SO2 have been realized under conditions that avoid polymer formation. Sultines resulting from the hetero-Diels–Alder reactions of conjugated dienes and SO2 are formed more rapidly than the corresponding more stable sulfolenes resulting from the cheletropic additions. In the presence of a protic or Lewis acid catalyst, the sultines derived from 1-alkoxydienes are ionized into zwitterionic intermediates bearing 1-alkoxyallylic cation moieties which react with electro-rich alkenes such as enol silyl ethers and allylsilanes with high stereoselectivity. (C–C-bond formation through Umpolung induced by SO2). This produces silyl sulfinates that react with carbon electrophiles to give sulfones (one-pot four component asymmetric synthesis of sulfones), or with Cl2, generating the corresponding sulfonamides that can be reacted in situ with primary and secondary amines (one-pot four component asymmetric synthesis of sulfonamides). Alternatively, Pd-catalyzed desulfinylation generates enantiomerically pure polypropionate stereotriads in one-pot operations. The chirons so obtained are flanked by an ethyl ketone moiety on one side and by a prop-1-en-1-yl carboxylate group on the other. They are ready for two-directional chain elongations, realizing expeditious synthesis of long-chain polypropionates and polyketides. The stereotriads have also been converted into simpler polypropionates such as the cyclohexanone moiety of baconipyrone A and B, Kishi’s stereoheptad unit of rifamycin S, Nicolaou’s C1–C11-fragment and Koert’s C16–CI fragment of apoptolidin A. This has also permitted the first total synthesis of (-)-dolabriferol.

Synthesis of the Core Ring System of the Antiosteoporotic Citrofulvicin

Synthesis of the octacyclic ring system of citrofulvicin is described in nine steps from readily available starting materials. Blocking undesired intramolecular cyclization of a reactive β-diketone intermediate by transient incorporation of a dithiolane ring led to the formation of the requisite 1-hydroxy-2,4,6-trioxaadamantane ring system of citrofulvicin.

Application of chiral 2-isoxazoline for the synthesis of syn-1,3-diol analogs

The asymmetric cycloaddition of TIPS nitronate catalyzed by "Cu(II)-bisoxazoline" gave the 2-isoxazoline product in 95% yield, which was converted into tert-butyl (3S,5R)-6-hydroxy-3,5-O-isopropylidene-3,5-dihydroxyhexanoate in 14 steps through a β-hydroxy ketone.

Regiospecific construction of diverse and polyfunctionalized γ-pyrone cores by indium(iii)-catalyzed annulation of diazodicarbonyls with active methylenes, 4-hydroxycoumarins, or 4-hydroxyquinolinone

An efficient and novel annulation protocol for the construction of diverse and polyfunctionalized γ-pyrones via an InBr₃-catalyzed reaction is described.

Atom-Economic Synthesis of 4-Pyrones from Diynones and Water

Transition-metal-free synthesis of 4-pyrones via TfOH-promoted nucleophilic addition/cyclization of diynones and water has been developed. This transformation is simple, atom economical and environmentally benign, providing rapid and efficient access to substituted 4-pyrones.

Marine natural products

This review covers the literature published in 2012 for marine natural products, with 1035 citations (673 for the period January to December 2012) referring to compounds isolated from marine microorganisms and phytoplankton, green, brown and red algae, sponges, cnidarians, bryozoans, molluscs, tunicates, echinoderms, mangroves and other intertidal plants and microorganisms. The emphasis is on new compounds (1241 for 2012), together with the relevant biological activities, source organisms and country of origin. Biosynthetic studies, first syntheses, and syntheses that lead to the revision of structures or stereochemistries, have been included.

A versatile method for the synthesis of γ-pyrones

A versatile three-step procedure to annulate a γ-pyrone onto a methylene ketone was developed involving (i) aldol reaction with a dithiolane-protected β-ketoaldehyde, (ii) oxidation of the aldol adduct to a β-diketone, and (iii) treatment of the resulting dithiolane-protected 1,3,5-trione with 2-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (triflic acid; TfOH) in acetonitrile at ambient temperature to give the corresponding γ-pyrone. Cyclization proceeded with IBX alone, but significantly improved yields were obtained with added acid, particularly triflic acid. A dithiolane was more effective than a dithiane or acyclic dithioacetal protecting group. The method was amenable to the preparation of a variety of substituted γ-pyrones simply by altering the initial aldol reactants. Overall yields of 50%–60% were obtained in six examples. The method was applied to prepare a key fragment for the total synthesis of baconipyrones A and C and siphonarin B.