Modular Synthesis of the Pentacyclic Core of Batrachotoxin and Select Batrachotoxin Analogue Designs

Total Synthesis of (-)-Batrachotoxin Enabled by a Pd/Ag-Promoted Suzuki-Miyaura Coupling Reaction

Batrachotoxin is an extremely potent cardio- and neurotoxic steroidal alkaloid found in certain species of frogs, birds, and beetles. The steroidal 6/6/6/5-membered carbocycle (ABCD-ring) is U-shaped and functionalized with two double bonds, a six-membered C3-hemiacetal across the AB-ring, a seven-membered oxazepane on the CD-ring, and a dimethylpyrrolecarboxy group at the D-ring carbon chain. These structural features present an unusual and formidable synthetic challenge. Herein we report a total synthesis of batrachotoxin based on a newly devised convergent strategy through a 22-step sequence. Enantiopure AB-ring and D-ring fragments were prepared and subjected to a crucial C(sp2 )-C(sp2 ) coupling reaction. Although both C(sp2 ) centers were sterically encumbered by proximal tetrasubstituted carbon atoms, Ag2 O strongly promoted the Pd(PPh3 )4 -catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction at room temperature, thereby connecting the two fragments without damaging their preexisting functionalities. Subsequent treatment with t-BuOK induced Dieckmann condensation to cyclize the C-ring. The judiciously optimized functionalizations realized oxazepane formation, carbon chain extension, and pyrrole carboxylic acid condensation to deliver batrachotoxin.

Three-Component Difunctionalization of Cyclohexenyl Triflates: Direct Access to Versatile Cyclohexenes via Cyclohexynes

Difunctionalization of strained cyclic alkynes presents a powerful strategy to build richly functionalized cyclic alkenes in an expedient fashion. Herein we disclose an efficient and flexible approach to achieve carbohalogenation, dicarbofunctionalization, aminohalogenation and aminocarbonation of readily available cyclohexenyl triflates. We have demonstrated the novel use of zincate base/nucleophile system for effective formation of key cyclohexyne intermediates and selective addition of various carbon and nitrogen nucleophiles. Importantly, leveraging the resulting organozincates enables the incorporation of a broad range of electrophilic partners to deliver structurally diverse cyclohexene motifs. The importance and utility of this method is also exemplified by the modularity of this approach and the ease in which even highly complex polycyclic scaffolds can be accessed in one step.

Aryne Precursors for Selective Generation of 3-Haloarynes: Preparation and Application to Synthetic Reactions

The synthesis and reaction of new 3-haloaryne precursors 2a-2h were studied. The ortho-(trimethylsilyl)aryl triflate precursors 2a-2h were prepared by a simple procedure involving O-trimethylsilylation and migration of a trimethylsilyl group followed by triflation. The remarkable feature of new precursors is the selective generation of 3-haloarynes by suppressing the competitive thia-Fries rearrangement, which is the problem in the reaction using the well-known 3-haloaryne precursors. The advantage of new precursor 2a over a typical precursor 1 was confirmed by the direct comparisons in several reactions. The application of precursors 2a-2h to the syntheses of heterocycles was also reported.

Total Synthesis of (-)-Batrachotoxinin A: A Local-Desymmetrization Approach

An enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-batrachotoxinin A is accomplished based on a key photoredox coupling reaction and the subsequent local-desymmetrization operation. After the expedient assembly of the highly oxidized steroid skeleton, a delicate sequence of redox manipulations was carried out to deliver a late-stage intermediate on gram scale-and ultimately (-)-batrachotoxinin A in an efficient manner.

Synthetic Approaches to Zetekitoxin AB, a Potent Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Inhibitor

Voltage-gated sodium channels (Na_Vs) are membrane proteins that are involved in the generation and propagation of action potentials in neurons. Recently, the structure of a complex made of a tetrodotoxin-sensitive (TTX-s) Na_V subtype with saxitoxin (STX), a shellfish toxin, was determined. STX potently inhibits TTX-s Na_V, and is used as a biological tool to investigate the function of Na_Vs. More than 50 analogs of STX have been isolated from nature. Among them, zetekitoxin AB (ZTX) has a distinctive chemical structure, and is the most potent inhibitor of Na_Vs, including tetrodotoxin-resistant (TTX-r) Na_V. Despite intensive synthetic studies, total synthesis of ZTX has not yet been achieved. Here, we review recent efforts directed toward the total synthesis of ZTX, including syntheses of 11-saxitoxinethanoic acid (SEA), which is considered a useful synthetic model for ZTX, since it contains a key carbon-carbon bond at the C11 position.

Divergent Synthesis of Natural Derivatives of (+)-Saxitoxin Including 11-Saxitoxinethanoic Acid

The bis-guanidinium toxins are a collection of natural products that display nanomolar potency against select isoforms of eukaryotic voltage-gated Na+ ion channels. We describe a synthetic strategy that enables access to four of these poisons, namely 11-saxitoxinethanoic acid, C13-acetoxy saxitoxin, decarbamoyl saxitoxin, and saxitoxin. Highlights of this work include an unusual Mislow-Evans rearrangement and a late-stage Stille ketene acetal coupling. The IC50 value of 11-saxitoxinethanoic acid was measured against rat NaV 1.4, and found to be 17.0 nm, similar to those of the sulfated toxins gonyautoxin II and III.

The anionic Fries rearrangement: a convenient route to ortho-functionalized aromatics

The scope and mechanism of anionic (hetero-) Fries rearrangements are summarized for various migrating groups and arenes, including applications and computational studies.

Synthesis of Cyclic β-Silylalkenyl Triflates via an Alkenyl Cation Intermediate

Trimethylsilylalkyne derivatives are transformed into cyclic β-silylalkenyl triflates through cationic cyclization and subsequent trapping of the alkenyl cation by a triflate anion. β-Silylcyclohexenyl triflates and 3-trimethylsilyl-1,4-dihydronaphth-2-yl triflates are generated efficiently using this methodology. These products provide ready access to substituted cyclohexynes, exemplified by a concise total synthesis of β-apopicropodophyllin.

Synthesis of the Tetracyclic Structure of Batrachotoxin Enabled by Bridgehead Radical Coupling and Pd/Ni-Promoted Ullmann Reaction

The steroidal ABCD-ring system of the potent neurotoxin batrachotoxin was efficiently assembled in a convergent fashion. Bridgehead radical coupling between the simple AB-ring and D-ring fragments (3 and 4) formed the sterically congested linkage at the C9-oxygen-attached tetrasubstituted carbon. The C-ring was then cyclized by the Pd/Ni-promoted Ullmann reaction of the vinyl triflate and vinyl bromide of 19, giving rise to tetracyclic structure 1.

Synthesis of azasilacyclopentenes and silanols via Huisgen cycloaddition-initiated C-H bond insertion cascades

An unusual transition metal-free cascade reaction of alkynyl carbonazidates was discovered to form azasilacyclopentenes. Mild thermolysis afforded the products via a series of cyclizations, rearrangements, and an α-silyl C-H bond insertion (rather than the more common Wolff rearrangement, 1,2-shift, or β-silyl C-H insertion) to form silacyclopropanes. A mechanistic proposal for the sequence was informed by control experiments and the characterization of reaction intermediates. The substrate scope and post-cascade transformations were also explored.

Catalytic [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition with indium(iii)-activated formaldimines: a practical and selective access to hexahydropyrimidines and 1,3-diamines from alkenes

Catalytic [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition with three double bond systems has been developed for construction of hexahydropyrimidine and 1,3-diamine derivatives.

Catalytic [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition with imines has, for the first time, been developed as a practical and selective approach for direct construction of hexahydropyrimidine derivatives from various alkenes. With formaldimines as reagents and simple InCl₃ as the catalyst, this ionic [2 + 2 + 2] approach is applicable for a wide scope of alkenes and allenes with various electronic and steric properties, as well as substitution patterns. Through facile hydrolysis of the resulting hexahydropyrimidines, this catalytic process also provides a new synthetic strategy for the aminomethylamination of alkenes and allenes to practically access 1,3-diamine derivatives.

Synthesis of a 3-Amino-2,3-dihydropyrid-4-one and Related Heterocyclic Analogues as Mechanism-Based Inhibitors of BioA, a Pyridoxal Phosphate-Dependent Enzyme

Amiclenomycin (ACM) is a chemically unstable antibiotic with selective activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) due to mechanism-based inhibition of BioA, a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent aminotransferase. The first-generation ACM analogue dihydro-2-pyridone 1 maintains a similar bioactivation mechanism concluding with covalent labeling of the PLP cofactor. To improve on 1, we report the synthesis of dihydro-4-pyranone 2, dihydro-4-pyridone 3, and dihydro-4-thiopyranone 13, which were rationally designed to boost the rate of enzyme inactivation by lowering the pK_a of their α-protons. We employed a unified synthetic strategy for construction of the desired heterocycles featuring α-amino ynone generation followed by 6-endo-dig cyclization. However, competitive 5-exo-dig cyclization, β-elimination of the ynone, and dimerization of the resultant α-amino carbonyls all complicated the syntheses of the dihydro-4-pyranone and dihydro-4-pyridone scaffolds. These obstacles were overcome by Teoc protection of the β-amino group in the assembly of 3 and Boc-MOM protection of the α-amino group in the synthesis of 2, enabling the efficient construction of 2 and 3 in seven steps from commercially available starting materials. Dihydro-4-pyridone 3 possessed improved enzyme inhibition as measured by its k_inact value against BioA.

Asymmetric synthesis of batrachotoxin: Enantiomeric toxins show functional divergence against NaV

The steroidal neurotoxin (-)-batrachotoxin functions as a potent agonist of voltage-gated sodium ion channels (Na_Vs). Here we report concise asymmetric syntheses of the natural (-) and non-natural (+) antipodes of batrachotoxin, as well both enantiomers of a C-20 benzoate-modified derivative. Electrophysiological characterization of these molecules against Na_V subtypes establishes the non-natural toxin enantiomer as a reversible antagonist of channel function, markedly different in activity from (-)-batrachotoxin. Protein mutagenesis experiments implicate a shared binding side for the enantiomers in the inner pore cavity of Na_V These findings motivate and enable subsequent studies aimed at revealing how small molecules that target the channel inner pore modulate Na_V dynamics.

Generation of cycloalkynes through deprotonation of cyclic enol triflates with magnesium bisamides

Deprotonative generation of cyclohexynes, cycloheptynes, and cyclooctynes was achieved by controlling the reactivities of transient anionic species from the corresponding enol triflates with magnesium bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide) as a base. The starting enol triflates are readily obtained through triflation of the corresponding ketones, allowing direct access to the cycloalkynes.

Photochemical generation and trapping of 3-oxacyclohexyne

The strained heterocyclic alkyne, 3-oxacyclohexyne, has been generated for the first time by a photochemical route.

Inhibition of Sodium Ion Channel Function with Truncated Forms of Batrachotoxin

A novel family of small molecule inhibitors of voltage-gated sodium channels (Na_Vs) based on the structure of batrachotoxin (BTX), a well-known channel agonist, is described. Protein mutagenesis and electrophysiology experiments reveal the binding site as the inner pore region of the channel, analogous to BTX, alkaloid toxins, and local anesthetics. Homology modeling of the eukaryotic channel based on recent crystallographic analyses of bacterial Na_Vs suggests a mechanism of action for ion conduction block.

Cycloadditions of cyclohexynes and cyclopentyne

We report the strategic use of cyclohexyne and the more elusive intermediate, cyclopentyne, as a tool for the synthesis of new heterocyclic compounds. Experimental and computational studies of a 3-substituted cyclohexyne are also described. The observed regioselectivities are explained by the distortion/interaction model.

Visualizing dermal permeation of sodium channel modulators by mass spectrometric imaging

Determining permeability of a given compound through human skin is a principal challenge owing to the highly complex nature of dermal tissue. We describe the application of an ambient mass spectrometry imaging method for visualizing skin penetration of sodium channel modulators, including novel synthetic analogs of natural neurotoxic alkaloids, topically applied ex vivo to human skin. Our simple and label-free approach enables successful mapping of the transverse and lateral diffusion of small molecules having different physicochemical properties without the need for extensive sample preparation.