Benzyl Alcohol/Salicylaldehyde-Type Polyketide Metabolites of Fungi: Sources, Biosynthesis, Biological Activities, and Synthesis

Marine microorganisms are an important source of natural polyketides, which have become a significant reservoir of lead structures for drug design due to their diverse biological activities. In this review, we provide a summary of the resources, structures, biological activities, and proposed biosynthetic pathways of the benzyl alcohol/salicylaldehyde-type polyketides. In addition, the total syntheses of these secondary metabolites from their discoveries to the present day are presented. This review could be helpful for researchers in the total synthesis of complex natural products and the use of polyketide bioactive molecules for pharmacological purposes and applications in medicinal chemistry.

Copper-Catalyzed Direct Allenylation of Inactive Cyclic Ethers

We report here a direct allenylation reaction of inactive cyclic ethers. The reaction proceeds through a copper-catalyzed 1,4-difunctionalization of 1,3-enynes, with cyano group installed at the allenes simultaneously. This methodology shows a broad functional group compatibility to 1,3-enynes. Diversified allene-modified cyclic ether derivatives were synthesized with high regioselectivity under mild conditions.

Visible light induced 3-position-selective addition of arylpropiolic acids with ethers via C(sp3)-H functionalization

Although the 2-position-selective decarboxylative coupling or addition of arylpropiolic acids with cyclic ethers has been intensively investigated, selective functionalization of arylpropiolic acids at the 3-position is still a big challenge. Herein, an intriguing and mild method for visible light induced regioselective addition of arylpropiolic acids by attacking exclusively at the 3-position with cyclic/acyclic ethers was developed. A variety of 3,3-bis-substituted acrylic acids were successfully obtained in moderate to excellent yields. A plausible reaction mechanism involving an energy transfer induced radical addition in the presence of visible light and photocatalyst was proposed.

ZnBr2-catalyzed directC-glycosylation of glycosyl acetates with terminal alkynes

C-Alkynyl glycosides were synthesizedviaZnBr₂-catalyzed cross-coupling of glycosyl acetates with terminal alkynes.

Natural product analogues: towards a blueprint for analogue-focused synthesis

A review of approaches to natural product analogues leads to the suggestion of new methods for the generation of biologically active natural product-like scaffolds.

‘Chiron’ approach to stereoselective synthesis of sphinganine and unnatural safingol, an antineoplastic and antipsoriatic agent

Highly stereoselective total syntheses of sphinganine 1 and antineoplastic and antipsoriatic drug safingol 17 have been demonstrated.

Glycal approach to the synthesis of macrolide (−)-A26771B

A convergent synthesis of macrolide natural product (−)-A26771B starting from d-glucal is reported. Key features of this synthesis involve Ferrier rearrangement, cross metathesis of chiral fragments 3 and 4 and Yamaguchi macrolactonization.

Substrate and stereocontrolled iodocycloetherification of highly functionalized enantiomerically pure allylic alcohols: application to synthesis of cytotoxic 2-epi jaspine B and its biological evaluation

A mechanistic study on iodocycloetherification of enantiopure allylic alcohols is established. Its application to synthesis of marine cytotoxic 2-epi jaspine B has been demonstrated.

A chiron approach to aminocytitols by Petasis-Borono-Mannich reaction: formal synthesis of (+)-conduramine E and (-)-conduramine E

A chiron approach to a stereoselective route for the synthesis of aminocytitols from carbohydrates is described. The formal synthesis of (+)-conduramine E and (-)-conduramine E was achieved by utilizing this strategy. The key features of the synthetic strategy include one-pot three-component Petasis-Borono-Mannich reaction to introduce the syn-β-amino alcohol functionality of conduramine E and ring-closing metathesis to construct its carbocyclic core. The present synthetic approach paves the way for stereoselective synthesis of several conduramines starting from carbohydrates.