Synthesis of spirotetramates via a Diels-Alder approach

A study toward the unusual spirotetramate core of the pyrroindomycin antibiotics employing an intermolecular Diels-Alder reaction of an exo-methylene tetramic acid dienophile is described. The exo-methylene tetramate is readily synthesized from S-methylcysteine, and its reactivity as a dienophile is compared with that of related dehydroalanine derivatives. An alternative approach to spirotetramates using a nitroalkene dienophile is also reported.

Cyclobutane amino acid analogues of furanomycin obtained by a formal [2 + 2] cycloaddition strategy promoted by methylaluminoxane

The synthesis and conformational analysis of a new type of conformationally restricted alpha-amino acid analogue of the amino acid antibiotic furanomycin is presented. The restriction involves the cis-fused cyclobutane and tetrahydrofuran units, generating the unusual 2-oxabicyclo[3.2.0]heptane core, which is found in a great number of biologically active natural products. The synthetic strategy is based on a formal [2 + 2] cycloaddition between 2-(acylamino)acrylates as acceptor alkenes and 2,3-dihydrofuran as a donor alkene, promoted by bulky aluminum-derived Lewis acids, particularly by methylaluminoxane (MAO). Additionally, following the same strategy, the synthesis of furanomycin analogues incorporating the 2-oxabicyclo[4.2.0]octane is reported.