Total synthesis of sandresolide B and amphilectolide

The Kornblum DeLaMare rearrangement in natural product synthesis: 25 years of innovation

Covering: 1998 up to the end of 2023Since its initial disclosure in 1951, the Kornblum DeLaMare rearrangement has proved an important synthetic transformation and has been widely adopted as a biomimetic step in natural product synthesis. Utilising the base catalysed decomposition of alkyl peroxides to yield a ketone and alcohol has found use in many syntheses as well as a key strategic step, including the unmasking of furans, as a biomimetic synthetic tool, and the use of the rearrangement to install oxygen enantioselectively. Since ca. 1998, its impact as a synthetic transformation has grown significantly, especially given the frequency of use in natural product syntheses, therefore this 25 year time period will be the focus of the review.

Synthesis of Neocaesalpin A, AA, and Nominal Neocaesalpin K

The first total synthesis of heavily oxidized cassane-type diterpenoid neocaesalpin A (1) is disclosed. At the heart of the synthesis lies an intermolecular Diels-Alder reaction that rapidly assembles the target framework from commercial materials. A carefully orchestrated sequence of oxidations secured the desired oxygenation pattern. Late-stage release of the characteristic butenolide occurred through a novel mercury(II)-mediated furan oxidation. Successful extension of the route allowed preparation of neocaesalpin AA (2) as well as nominal neocaesalpin K (3) and suggested structural revision of neocaesalpin K, leading to the hypothesis that the two are likely the same natural product with correct assignment as 2.

Catalytic Enantioselective Alkylation of Prochiral Enolates

The asymmetric alkylation of enolates is a particularly versatile method for the construction of α-stereogenic carbonyl motifs, which are ubiquitous in synthetic chemistry. Over the past several decades, the focus has shifted to the development of new catalytic methods that depart from classical stoichiometric stereoinduction strategies (e.g., chiral auxiliaries, chiral alkali metal amide bases, chiral electrophiles, etc.). In this way, the enantioselective alkylation of prochiral enolates greatly improves the step- and redox-economy of this process, in addition to enhancing the scope and selectivity of these reactions. In this review, we summarize the origin and advancement of catalytic enantioselective enolate alkylation methods, with a directed emphasis on the union of prochiral nucleophiles with carbon-centered electrophiles for the construction of α-stereogenic carbonyl derivatives. Hence, the transformative developments for each distinct class of nucleophile (e.g., ketone enolates, ester enolates, amide enolates, etc.) are presented in a modular format to highlight the state-of-the-art methods and current limitations in each area.

Synthesis and sequential diastereoselective incorporation of hydroxyl groups into hexahydrofuro[3,2-f]indolizin-7(2H)-one to give mono-, di- and tetra-hydroxyfuroindolizidines

Dihydrofuro[2,3-f]indolizidinone obtained from biosourced reagents even at multigram-scale was used as an advanced building-block with up to five points of chemical diversification. This resulted in the sequential synthesis of a series of mono-, di- and tetra-hydroxyfuranoindolizidines belonging to a very scarce and elaborate tetrahydrofuran-fused indolizidine family with up to six controlled stereogenic centers. These sequences include, among others, diastereoselective olefin epoxidation, stereoselective epoxide ring opening into tetrahydrofuran trans-diols, their protection as an ester or acetonide, and lactam carbonyl reduction ultimately followed by acetate or acetonide deprotection.

Natural product syntheses via carbonylative cyclizations

This review summarizes the application of various transition metal-catalyzed/mediated carbonylative cyclization reactions in natural product total synthesis.

Applications of Friedel-Crafts reactions in total synthesis of natural products

Over the years, Friedel-Crafts (FC) reactions have been acknowledged as the most useful and powerful synthetic tools for the construction of a special kind of carbon-carbon bond involving an aromatic moiety. Its stoichiometric and, more recently, its catalytic procedures have extensively been studied. This reaction in recent years has frequently been used as a key step (steps) in the total synthesis of natural products and targeted complex bioactive molecules. In this review, we try to underscore the applications of intermolecular and intramolecular FC reactions in the total syntheses of natural products and complex molecules, exhibiting diverse biological properties.

An asymmetric vinylogous Mukaiyama–Michael reaction of α,β-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles catalyzed by chiral Sc(iii)– or Er(iii)–pybox complexes

A highly diastereo- and enantioselective vinylogous Mukaiyama–Michael reaction of silyloxyfurans with α,β-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles catalyzed by either chiral Sc(iii) or Er(iii) complexes of a pybox ligand has been reported.

Harnessing the potential diversity of resinic diterpenes through visible light-induced sensitized oxygenation coupled to Kornblum–DeLaMare and Hock reactions

A biomimetic procedure for the late functionalization of resinic acids is reported, implementing photooxygenation by singlet oxygen, using visible light and a photosensitized, combined to the Kornblum–DeLaMare reaction or the Hock rearrangement.

Rearrangements of organic peroxides and related processes

This review is the first to collate and summarize main data on named and unnamed rearrangement reactions of peroxides. It should be noted, that in the chemistry of peroxides two types of processes are considered under the term rearrangements. These are conventional rearrangements occurring with the retention of the molecular weight and transformations of one of the peroxide moieties after O-O-bond cleavage. Detailed information about the Baeyer-Villiger, Criegee, Hock, Kornblum-DeLaMare, Dakin, Elbs, Schenck, Smith, Wieland, and Story reactions is given. Unnamed rearrangements of organic peroxides and related processes are also analyzed. The rearrangements and related processes of important natural and synthetic peroxides are discussed separately.

Total Synthesis of Calophyline A

Reported herein is the total synthesis of calophyline A, an indoline natural product possessing distinct ring connectivity which has not been synthesized previously. The synthetic route features several key transformations, including an aza-pinacol rearrangement to construct the nitrogen-containing bridged [3.2.2] bicycle, a Heck cyclization to assemble the fused 6/5/6/5 ring system, and a challenging late-stage aldol reaction to generate both a neopentyl quaternary stereogenic center and an oxygen-containing bridged [3.2.1] bicycle.

Marine natural products

This review covers the literature published in 2014 for marine natural products (MNPs), with 1116 citations (753 for the period January to December 2014) 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 (1378 in 456 papers for 2014), together with the relevant biological activities, source organisms and country of origin. Reviews, biosynthetic studies, first syntheses, and syntheses that lead to the revision of structures or stereochemistries, have been included.

An efficient and green method for regio- and chemo-selective Friedel–Crafts acylations using a deep eutectic solvent ([CholineCl][ZnCl2]3)

An efficient and environmentally benign method for regio- and chemo-selective Friedel–Crafts acylation using deep eutectic solvent ([CholineCl][ZnCl₂]₃) under solvent-free microwave irradiation.

Metal-free aerobic C–H oxidation of cyclic enones

A metal-free procedure is described for the aerobic and complete C–H methylene oxidation of Hajos–Parrish enones to versatile dihydroindenediones.

Furans and singlet oxygen – why there is more to come from this powerful partnership

Using the reaction of furans with singlet oxygen as a means to rapidly access huge structural diversity in a green & sustainable way.