Enantioselective Total Syntheses of Preussomerins: Control of Spiroacetal Stereogenicity by Photochemical Reaction of a Naphthoquinone through 1,6-Hydrogen Atom Transfer

We report the enantioselective total syntheses of preussomerins EG₁ , EG₂ , and EG₃ . The key transformation is a stereospecific photochemical reaction involving 1,6-hydrogen atom transfer to achieve retentive replacement of a C-H with a C-O bond, enabling otherwise-difficult control of the spiroacetal stereogenic center.

Total synthesis, structure revision and cytotoxic activity of Sch 53825 and its derivatives

The first total synthesis of Sch 53825 (14) was achieved in 12 steps from 5-hydroxy-1-tetralone in 16% overall yield through N-benzyl cinchoninium chloride-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation and a Mitsunobu reaction as the key steps. On this basis, the synthesis of palmarumycin B₆ was improved using the same raw material with 6 steps and 32% overall yield. Also, three new analogues with two chlorine atoms were synthesized. Their structures were characterized by ¹H, ¹³C NMR, HR-ESI-MS and X-ray diffraction data. The structure of natural Sch 53825 was revised as an epimer of compound 1 with the anti-hydroxy epoxide at C-4. Their cytotoxic activities against several tumor cell lines (HCT116, U251, BGC823, Huh-7 and PC9) showed that compound 11 exhibited excellent cytotoxicity against above mentioned cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ < 0.5 μM.

The first total synthesis of Sch 53825 (14) was achieved in 12 steps from 5-hydroxy-1-tetralone in 16% overall yield through N-benzyl cinchoninium chloride-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation and a Mitsunobu reaction as the key steps.

Applications of Norrish type I and II reactions in the total synthesis of natural products: a review

Natural products and their analogue have played a key role in the drug discovery and development process. In the laboratory, the total synthesis of secondary metabolites is very useful in ascertaining the hypothetical complex structure of molecules of natural origin. Total synthesis of natural products using Norrish type I and II reactions as a crucial step has been explored in this overview. Norrish reactions are important photo-induced transformations of carbonyl compounds in organic synthetic chemistry and are connected in numerous industrially and biologically relevant procedures and the processing of carbonyl compounds in the atmosphere. The present review tries to focus on the brilliant applications of Norrish type I and II photochemical reactions as a key step in the total synthesis of natural products and highlights on natural sources, structures, and biological activities of the promising natural products for the first time elegantly.

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (-)-Spiroxins A, C, and D

Spiroxins A, C, and D are metabolites that have been identified in the marine fungal strain LL-37H248. Their unique polycyclic structures and intriguing biological activities make them attractive targets for the synthetic community. Based on a scalable enantioselective epoxidation of 5-substituted naphthoquinone, an oxidation/spiroketalization cascade, ortho-selective chlorination of the phenol unit, and oxime-ester-directed acetoxylation, an enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-spiroxins A and C and the first total synthesis of (-)-spiroxin D have been achieved.

Controlling olefin isomerization in the heck reaction with neopentyl phosphine ligands

The use of neopentyl phosphine ligands was examined in the coupling of aryl bromides with alkenes. Di-tert-butylneopentylphosphine (DTBNpP) was found to promote Heck couplings with aryl bromides at ambient temperature. In the Heck coupling of cyclic alkenes, the degree of alkene isomerization was found to be controlled by the choice of ligand with DTBNpP promoting isomerization to a much greater extent than trineopentylphosphine (TNpP). Under optimal conditions, DTBNpP provides high selectivity for 2-aryl-2,3-dihydrofuran in the arylation of 2,3-dihydrofuran, whereas TNpP provided high selectivity for the isomeric 2-aryl-2,5-dihydrofuran. A similar complementary product selectivity is seen in the Heck coupling of cyclopentene. Heck coupling of 2-bromophenols or 2-bromoanilides with 2,3-dihydrofurans affords 2,5-epoxybenzoxepin and 2,5-epoxybenzazepins, respectively.

Enantiomeric separation and determination of absolute stereochemistry of asymmetric molecules in drug discovery—Building chiral technology toolboxes

The application of Chiral Technology, or the (extensive) use of techniques or tools for the determination of absolute stereochemistry and the enantiomeric or chiral separation of racemic small molecule potential lead compounds, has been critical to successfully discovering and developing chiral drugs in the pharmaceutical industry. This has been due to the rapid increase over the past 10-15 years in potential drug candidates containing one or more asymmetric centers. Based on the experiences of one pharmaceutical company, a summary of the establishment of a Chiral Technology toolbox, including the implementation of known tools as well as the design, development, and implementation of new Chiral Technology tools, is provided.

Synthesis of highly oxygenated dinaphthyl ethers via SNAr reactions promoted by Barton's base

[reaction: see text] Electron-rich dinaphthyl ethers were synthesized by S(N)Ar reactions between naphthols and activated fluoronaphthalenes. 2-tert-Butyl-1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine (Barton's base) was found to be an excellent, mild alternative to traditional inorganic bases for promoting the coupling reaction.