Computer-aided key step generation in alkaloid total synthesis

Efficient chemical synthesis is critical to satisfying future demands for medicines, materials, and agrochemicals. Retrosynthetic analysis of modestly complex molecules has been automated over the course of decades, but the combinatorial explosion of route possibilities has challenged computer hardware and software until only recently. Here, we explore a computational strategy that merges computer-aided synthesis planning with molecular graph editing to minimize the number of synthetic steps required to produce alkaloids. Our study culminated in an enantioselective three-step synthesis of (-)-stemoamide by leveraging high-impact key steps, which could be identified in computer-generated retrosynthesis plans using graph edit distances.

Highly diastereoselective cascade dearomatization of 3-(2-isocyanoethyl)indoles with nitrile imines: a facile access to unexpected polycyclic indolines

A novel cascade annulation between 2-isocyanoethylindoles and hydrazonyl chlorides has been realized to assemble a variety of unexpected polycyclic indoline derivatives with excellent diastereoselectivities under simple reaction conditions.

Skeletal remodeling of chalcone-based pyridinium salts to access isoindoline polycycles and their bridged derivatives

Simultaneous deconstructive ring-opening and skeletal reconstruction of an inert, aromatic pyridinium ring is of great importance in synthetic communities. However, research in this area is still in its infancy. Here, a skeletal re-modeling strategy was developed to transform chalcone-based pyridinium salts into structurally intriguing polycyclic isoindolines through a dearomative ring-opening/ring-closing sequence. Two distinct driving forces for the deconstruction of the pyridinium core were involved in these transformations. One was the unprecedented harnessing of the instability of in situ generated cyclic β-aminoketones, and the other was the instability of the resultant N,N-ketals. The desired isoindoline polycycles could undergo the Wittig reaction with various phosphorus ylides to achieve structural diversity and complexity. Notably, by tuning the Wittig conditions by addition of one equivalent of base, an additional bridged ring was introduced. A plausible mechanism was proposed on the basis of control experiments and theoretical calculations.

Aspidosperma and Strychnos alkaloids: Chemistry and biology

Of Nature's nearly 3000 unique monoterpene indole alkaloids derived from tryptophan, those members belonging to the Aspidosperma and Strychnos families continue to impact the fields of natural products (i.e., isolation, structure determination, biosynthesis) and organic chemistry (i.e., chemical synthesis, methodology development) among others. This review covers the biological activity (Section 2), biosynthesis (Section 3), and synthesis of both classical and novel Aspidosperma (Section 4), Strychnos (Section 5), and selected bis-indole (Section 6) alkaloids. Technological advancements in genetic sequencing and bioinformatics have deepened our understanding of how Nature assembles these intriguing molecules. The proliferation of innovative synthetic strategies and tactics for the synthesis of the alkaloids covered in this review, which include contributions from over fifty research groups from around the world, are a testament to the creative power and technical skills of synthetic organic chemists. To be sure, Nature-the Supreme molecular architect and source of a dazzling array of irresistible chemical logic puzzles-continues to inspire scientists across multiple disciplines and will certainly continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

Cascade Reaction of Tryptamine-Derived Isocyanides with Nitrile Oxides: Construction of Oxazine Fused-Spiroindoline Derivatives

A one-step cascade reaction of tryptamine-derived isocyanides with in situ generated nitrile oxides for the synthesis of fused spiroindolines was described. The desired products could be efficiently synthesized in moderate to good yields (42-87%). The protocol features mild conditions, wide substrate scope, and high efficiency.

Change the channel: CysLoop receptor antagonists from nature

Vertebrate and invertebrate ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs) exhibit significant structural homology and often share ligands. As a result, ligands with activity against one class can be brought to bear against another, including for development as insecticides. Receptor selectivity, metabolism and distribution must then be optimized using chemical synthesis. Here we review natural products (NPs) that ligate and inhibit the Cys-loop family of LGICs, which benefit from the unique physicochemical properties of natural product space but often present a high synthetic burden. Recent advances in chemical synthesis, however, have opened practical entries into these complex structures, several of which are highlighted. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

An Asymmetric Synthesis of (+)-Isostrychnine Based on Catalytic Asymmetric Tandem Double Michael Addition

Herein, a concise asymmetric synthesis of (+)-isostrychnine is achieved in nine longest-linear steps with a 16% overall yield. The key features of this synthesis include the catalytic asymmetric tandem double Michael addition of a tryptamine-derived oxindole to an alkynone to facilely forge the A/B/C ring framework, a one-pot intramolecular dehydrative condensation/lactamization reaction to efficiently establish the E/G ring system, and an allylic diazene rearrangement to introduce the pivotal olefin for the subsequent intramolecular Heck reaction.

New Synthetic Routes to (+)-Uleine and (-)-Tubifolidine: General Approach to 2-Azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane Indole Alkaloids

Novel asymmetric synthetic routes to (+)-uleine and (-)-tubifolidine are reported herein. The regioselective formation of enol triflates from 2-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane ketones followed by indolizations of the resultant ene-hydrazides allowed the efficient construction of key indole intermediates, facilitating the total synthesis of the target natural alkaloids.

Fused N-Heterocycles with Contiguous Stereogenic Centers Accessed by an Asymmetric Catalytic Cascade Reaction of Tertiary Enamides

We report in this article a cascade reaction strategy for the synthesis of complex N-heterocyclic compounds with contiguous and tetrasubstituted stereogenic carbons. Under the sequential catalysis of a chiral binol-Ti complex and BF₃ , cyclopentanone-derived tertiary enamides undergo an enantioselective enamine addition to ketone carbonyls followed by diastereoselective trapping of the resulting acyliminiums by electron-rich aryl moieties to furnish four- and five-membered ring-fused N-heterocyclic products as the sole diastereomers in high yields with up to 99 % ee.

Recent progress in the total synthesis of Strychnos alkaloids

The recent synthetic approaches toward Strychnos alkaloids are summarized, including novel synthetic methodologies and strategies.

Pd/Cu Cocatalyzed Oxidative Tandem C-H Aminocarbonylation and Dehydrogenation of Tryptamines: Synthesis of Carbolinones

The Pd/Cu cocatalyzed oxidative tandem C-H aminocarbonylation and dehydrogenation was developed, affording carbolinones with molecular oxygen as the terminal oxidant. Natural product strychnocarpine and its derivatives were prepared conveniently using this strategy.

Enabling strategies for step efficient syntheses

The field of natural product total synthesis has reached the point where synthetic efficiency has become more important than merely defining a viable (yet less ideal) route to the target molecule. Synthetic efficiency is best represented by the number of steps it takes to finish the target molecule from readily available starting materials, as by reducing the number of steps, all other factors of synthetic efficiency are influenced positively. By comparing several total syntheses from the recent years, the most successful strategies for step efficient syntheses will be highlighted. Each synthesis will be presented using a color-coded synthetic flowchart, in which each step is categorized by a colored box. Five categories of transformations are defined and rated according to their synthetic value. Each class will be signified by different colors so that the reader can quickly see which parts of the synthesis are productive and those that are not.

Diastereoselective synthesis of novel heterocyclic scaffolds through tandem Petasis 3-component/intramolecular Diels-Alder and ROM-RCM reactions

A high-yielding, stereoselective and extraordinarily complexity-generating Petasis 3-component/intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction has been developed. In combination with ROM-RCM, rapid access to complex sp³-rich heterocyclic scaffolds amenable to subsequent functionalization and library synthesis is provided.

Cycloaddition/annulation strategies for the construction of multisubstituted pyrrolidines and their applications in natural product synthesis

Pyrrolidines are privileged substructures of numerous bioactive natural products and drugs.

A Zn(OTf)2 catalyzed Ugi-type reaction of 3-(2-isocyanoethyl)indoles with indole-derived ketimines: rapid access to hexacyclic spiroindolines

A Zn(OTf)₂ catalyzed Ugi-type reaction of 3-(2-isocyanoethyl)indoles and indole-derived ketimines was developed for the synthesis of hexacyclic spiroindolines featuring three stereocenters including two quaternary stereocenters.

An Admix Approach To Determine Counter Anion Effects on Metal-Free Arylation Reactions with Diaryliodonium Salts

A method to determine the effect of counter anions in metal-free arylation reactions of diaryliodonium salts is described. This approach avoids the independent synthesis of individual diaryliodonium salts and potentially enables assessment of a large number of different counter anions, including those that are synthetically challenging to install. Diaryliodonium tosylate salts serve as a general precursor for this approach, and an azide arylation reaction was used to develop this strategy. Further optimization and representative scope of azide arylation is demonstrated in yields that range from 74-95% (89% average). The use of this method as a screening tool has also been validated with arylation reactions of three different nucleophiles employing diphenyliodonium tosylate.

A Sequential Cycloaddition Strategy for the Synthesis of Alsmaphorazine B Traces a Path Through a Family of Alstonia Alkaloids

Driven by a new biogenetic hypothesis, the first total synthesis of alsmaphorazine B and several related indole alkaloids has been achieved. Numerous early approaches proved unsuccessful owing to unproductive side reactivity; nevertheless, they provided important clues that guided the evolution of our strategy. Critical to our success was a major improvement in our Zincke aldehyde cycloaddition strategy, which permitted the efficient gram-scale synthesis of akuammicine. The sequential chemoselective oxidations of akuammicine leading up to the key oxidative rearrangement also yielded several biogenetically related indole alkaloids en route to alsmaphorazine B.

Molecular Complexity and Retrosynthesis

An atom-environment complexity measure, C_A, to assess local changes in complexity during synthetic transformations is described. The complexity measure is based on applying Shannon's equation to the number and diversity of paths up to two bonds in length emanating from an atom node. The method requires no explicit accounting for bond type, stereochemistry, ring membership, symmetry, or molecular size. C_A varies with expectation across a number of basic reaction examples and may identify the key disconnections to guide retrosynthesis.

Total Synthesis of (±)-Strictamine

The total synthesis of strictamine has been achieved in nine steps from a known enol triflate. Characteristic features of our approach included: a) creation of a C7 all-carbon quaternary stereocenter at an early synthetic stage; b) use of an N,N-dimethyl tertiary amine as a surrogate of the primary amine for the rapid build-up of a functionalized 2-azabicyclo[3,3,1]nonan-9-one skeleton (achieved by using a reaction sequence of α-bromination of the ketone, followed by a stereoconvergent intramolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction); and c) a late-stage construction of the indolenine unit.

Highly enantioselective construction of carbazole derivatives via [4+2] cycloaddition of silyloxyvinylindoles and β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters

A highly enantioselective [4+2] cycloaddition between silyloxyvinylindoles and β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters was realized by an avaliable chiral N,N′-dioxide/yttrium triflate complex.

Strychnine as Target, Samarium Diiodide as Tool: A Personal Story

Strychnine stands out from the group of classical natural products as one of the first complex compounds to be isolated in pure form and an extreme challenge to be structurally characterized. It has played a central role in natural product total syntheses and the surge in the development of innovative synthetic methods for many decades. Recently, we have accomplished one of the shortest formal total syntheses of strychnine (in ten steps and 14% overall yield or even shorter in eight steps and 10% overall yield). The evolution of a productive synthetic strategy, as well as the synthetic challenges tackled, are described here in detail, including examples of related transformations. The successful synthetic strategy was inspired by the premise that the core structure could be derived from simple aromatic indole precursors by a reductive SmI2 -induced ketyl-aryl coupling. Other key reactions included a diastereoselective reduction and a regioselective elimination protocol. Altogether one of the shortest syntheses of iso-strychnine and hence of strychnine was established.

A synthesis of alsmaphorazine B demonstrates the chemical feasibility of a new biogenetic hypothesis

An N-oxide fragmentation/hydroxylamine oxidation/intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition cascade efficiently converted an oxidized congener of akuammicine into the complex, hexacyclic architecture of the alsmaphorazine alkaloids. This dramatic structural change shows the chemical feasibility of our novel proposal for alsmaphorazine biogenesis. Critical to these endeavors was a marked improvement in our previously reported Zincke aldehyde cycloaddition approach to indole alkaloids, which permitted the gram-scale synthesis of akuammicine. The chemoselective oxidations of akuammicine leading up to the key rearrangement also generated several biogenetically related alkaloids of the alstolucine and alpneumine families.

Current complexity: a tool for assessing the complexity of organic molecules

Molecular complexity for a synthetic organic chemist is difficult to define, though intuitively known. Despite the importance of this concept, the quantitative assessment of complexity within organic chemistry has remained a challenge. We report here on the development of an approach for generating a unique complexity index, which is reflective of both intrinsic molecular complexity and extrinsic synthetic complexity. This index is based on a community's perception of complexity, within the context of current technology, calculating a molecule's current complexity. Our approach allows for a direct comparison between molecules, the analysis of trends within research programs, it enables an assessment (and comparison) of new synthetic approaches to known molecules and is capable of following a molecule's apparent complexity as it changes over time.