A Short, Organocatalytic Formal Synthesis of (−)-Swainsonine and Related Alkaloids

Synthesis of enantioenriched α-heteroatom functionalised aldehydes by chiral organocatalysis and their synthetic applications

Asymmetric organocatalysis is a versatile method for the enantioselective α-functionalisation of aldehydes. The synthetic scope for chiral α-heteroatom substituted aldehydes is examined including their applications in synthesis.

A Chlorine-Atom-Controlled Terminal-Epoxide-Initiated Bicyclization Cascade Enables a Synthesis of the Potent Cytotoxins Haterumaimides J and K

Haterumaimide J (hatJ) is reportedly the most cytotoxic member of the lissoclimide family of labdane diterpenoids. The unusual functional group arrangement of hatJ-C18 oxygenation and C2 chlorination-resisted our efforts at synthesis until we adopted an approach based on rarely studied terminal epoxide-based cation-π bicyclizations that is described herein. Using the C2-chlorine atom as a key stereocontrol element and a furan as a nucleophilic terminator, the key structural features of hatJ were rapidly constructed. The 18-step stereoselective synthesis features applications of chiral pool starting materials, and catalyst-, substrate-, and auxiliary-based stereocontrol. Access to hatJ and its acetylated congener hatK permitted their biological evaluation against aggressive human cancer cell lines.

Metal-mediated synthesis of pyrrolines

The five-membered, nitrogen-containing pyrroline ring is a privileged structure. This ring is present in many bioactive compounds from natural sources. Pyrrolines-the dihydro derivatives of pyrroles-have three structural isomer classes, depending on the location of the double bond: 1-pyrrolines (3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrroles), 2-pyrrolines (2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrroles) and 3-pyrrolines (2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrroles). This review aims to describe the latest advances for the synthesis of pyrrolines by transition metal-catalyzed cyclizations. Only reactions in which the pyrroline ring is formed by metal promotion are described. Transformations of the pyrroline ring in other heterocycles, and the structural manipulations of the pyrroline itself are not discussed. The review is organized into three parts, each covering the metal-mediated synthesis of the three pyrroline isomers. Each part is subdivided according to the metal involved, and concludes with a brief description of notable biological activities within the class.

Mechanistic Studies on the Organocatalytic α-Chlorination of Aldehydes: The Role and Nature of Off-Cycle Intermediates

Herein we report the isolation and characterization of aminal intermediates in the organocatalytic α-chlorination of aldehydes. These species are stable covalent ternary adducts of the substrate, the catalyst and the chlorinating reagent. NMR-assisted kinetic studies and isotopic labeling experiments with the isolated intermediate did not support its involvement in downstream stereoselective processes as proposed by Blackmond. By tuning the reactivity of the chlorinating reagent, we were able to suppress the accumulation of rate-limiting off-cycle intermediates. As a result, an efficient and highly enantioselective catalytic system with a broad functional group tolerance was developed.

Application of sequential proline-catalyzed α-chlorination and aldol reactions in the total synthesis of 1-deoxygalactonojirimycin

A short enantioselective total synthesis of 1-deoxygalactonojirimycin (migalastat) has been achieved that does not rely on chiral pool starting materials or biocatalysis. Instead, this synthesis exploits a one-pot proline-catalyzed α-chlorination and aldol reaction of a commercially available aldehyde to assemble the entire carbon skeleton in a single step. The key role played by a nitrogen protecting group in the final epoxide opening reaction is highlighted as is the amenability to access structural analogues using this route.

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.

Identification of the Polyketide Biosynthetic Machinery for the Indolizidine Alkaloid Cyclizidine

The cyclizidine biosynthetic gene cluster was identified from Streptomyces NCIB 11649, which revealed the polyketide biosynthetic machinery for cyclizidine alkaloid biosynthesis. Both in vivo mutagenesis study and in vitro biochemical analysis provided insight into the timing and mechanism of the biosynthetic enzymes that produce cyclizidine-type indolizidine alkaloids.

Efficient stereoselective synthesis of 2-acetamido-1,2-dideoxyallonojirimycin (DAJNAc) and sp(2)-iminosugar conjugates: Novel hexosaminidase inhibitors with discrimination capabilities between the mature and precursor forms of the enzyme

Due to their capacity to inhibit hexosaminidases, 2-acetamido-1,2-dideoxy-iminosugars have been widely studied as potential therapeutic agents for various diseases. An efficient stereoselective synthesis of 2-acetamido-1,2-dideoxyallonojirimycin (DAJNAc), the most potent inhibitor of human placenta β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (β-hexosaminidase) among the epimeric series, is here described. This novel procedure can be easily scaled up, providing enough material for structural modifications and further biological tests. Thus, two series of sp(2)-iminosugar conjugates derived from DAJNAc have been prepared, namely monocyclic DAJNAc-thioureas and bicyclic 2-iminothiazolidines, and their glycosidase inhibitory activity evaluated. The data evidence the utmost importance of developing diversity-oriented synthetic strategies allowing optimization of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions to achieve high inhibitory potencies and selectivities among isoenzymes. Notably, strong differences in the inhibition potency of the compounds towards β-hexosaminidase from human placenta (mature) or cultured fibroblasts (precursor form) were encountered. The ensemble of data suggests that the ratio between them, and not the inhibition potency towards the placenta enzyme, is a good indication of the chaperoning potential of TaySachs disease-associated mutant hexosaminidase.

Direct synthesis of imino-C-nucleoside analogues and other biologically active iminosugars

Iminosugars have attracted increasing attention as chemical probes, chaperones and leads for drug discovery. Despite several clinical successes, their de novo synthesis remains a significant challenge that also limits their integration with modern high-throughput screening technologies. Herein, we describe a unique synthetic strategy that converts a wide range of acetaldehyde derivatives into iminosugars and imino-C-nucleoside analogues in two or three straightforward transformations. We also show that this strategy can be readily applied to the rapid production of indolizidine and pyrrolizidine iminosugars. The high levels of enantio- and diastereoselectivity, excellent overall yields, convenience and broad substrate scope make this an appealing process for diversity-oriented synthesis, and should enable drug discovery efforts.

Iminosugars are biologically and medicinally important compounds but methods for their synthesis are often laborious. Here, the authors report a simple, rapid route for the enantioselective synthesis of multiple biologically active iminosugars and C-nucleoside analogues.

Simple Indolizidine and Quinolizidine Alkaloids

This review of simple indolizidine and quinolizidine alkaloids (i.e., those in which the parent bicyclic systems are in general not embedded in polycyclic arrays) is an update of the previous coverage in Volume 55 of this series (2001). The present survey covers the literature from mid-1999 to the end of 2013; and in addition to aspects of the isolation, characterization, and biological activity of the alkaloids, much emphasis is placed on their total synthesis. A brief introduction to the topic is followed by an overview of relevant alkaloids from fungal and microbial sources, among them slaframine, cyclizidine, Steptomyces metabolites, and the pantocins. The important iminosugar alkaloids lentiginosine, steviamine, swainsonine, castanospermine, and related hydroxyindolizidines are dealt with in the subsequent section. The fourth and fifth sections cover metabolites from terrestrial plants. Pertinent plant alkaloids bearing alkyl, functionalized alkyl or alkenyl substituents include dendroprimine, anibamine, simple alkaloids belonging to the genera Prosopis, Elaeocarpus, Lycopodium, and Poranthera, and bicyclic alkaloids of the lupin family. Plant alkaloids bearing aryl or heteroaryl substituents include ipalbidine and analogs, secophenanthroindolizidine and secophenanthroquinolizidine alkaloids (among them septicine, julandine, and analogs), ficuseptine, lasubines, and other simple quinolizidines of the Lythraceae, the simple furyl-substituted Nuphar alkaloids, and a mixed quinolizidine-quinazoline alkaloid. The penultimate section of the review deals with the sizable group of simple indolizidine and quinolizidine alkaloids isolated from, or detected in, ants, mites, and terrestrial amphibians, and includes an overview of the "dietary hypothesis" for the origin of the amphibian metabolites. The final section surveys relevant alkaloids from marine sources, and includes clathryimines and analogs, stellettamides, the clavepictines and pictamine, and bis(quinolizidine) alkaloids.

Enantioselective syntheses of (R)-pipecolic acid, (2R,3R)-3-hydroxypipecolic acid, β-(+)-conhydrine and (−)-swainsonine using an aziridine derived common chiral synthon

Concise total syntheses of (R)-pipecolic acid, (2R,3R)-3-hydroxypipecolic acid and formal syntheses of β-(+)-conhydrine, (−)-lentiginosine, (−)-swainsonine and -1,2-di-epi-swainsonine have been accomplished starting from a common chiral synthon.

Total synthesis of (+)-swainsonine and (+)-8-epi-swainsonine

Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-swaisonine that hinges on a combination of organocatalyzed aldolization and reductive amination, affords the title compound in 9 steps, with 24% overall yield.