Diastereoselective synthesis of chiral 1,3-cyclohexadienals.

A novel approach to the production of chiral 1,3-cyclohexadienals has been developed. The organocatalysed asymmetric reaction of different β-disubstituted-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes with a chiral α,β-unsaturated aldehyde in the presence of a Jørgensen-Hayashi organocatalyst provides easy and stereocontrolled access to the cyclohexadienal backbone. This method allows for the synthesis of potential photoprotective chiral 1,3-cyclohexadienals and extra extended conjugation compounds in a simple manner.

Ring-closing metathesis as key step in the synthesis of Luffarin I, 16-epi-Luffarin I and Luffarin A.

Natural sesterterpenolides, luffarin I and luffarin A, from Luffariella geometrica have been synthesized, and this is the first reported synthesis of luffarin A. The Yamaguchi esterification of the nor-diterpenic fragment, obtained from 2.8-15μM, with the appropriate furane alcohols yielded the necessary diene intermediates for the synthesis of the target molecules.

Synthesis of Luffarin L and 16-epi-Luffarin L Using a Temporary Silicon-Tethered Ring-Closing Metathesis Reaction.

The first synthesis of luffarin L (1) and 16-epi-luffarin L (2) by a silicon-tethered ring closing metathesis as a key step has been achieved. The stereochemistry and absolute configuration of the natural sesterterpenolide luffarin L (1) and a new route for the stereoselective synthesis of sesterterpenolides with a luffarane skeleton have been established.

Synthesis and bioactivity of Luffarin I.

The first synthesis of Luffarin I, sesterterpenolide isolated from sponge Luffariella geometrica, has been accomplished from commercially available sclareol. The key strategy involved in this synthesis is the diastereoselective reduction of an intermediate ketone. Luffarin I against human solid tumor cell lines showed antiproliferative activities (GI50) in the range 12-17 μM.

Biomimetic synthesis of two salmahyrtisanes: salmahyrtisol A and hippospongide A.

Sesterterpenes with a salmahyrtisane skeleton have been synthesized for the first time. (-)-Sclareol has been selected as a precursor for the synthesis of two novel natural products: salmahyrtisol A (1) and hippospongide A (2). Our results represent a biomimetic approach to obtaining salmahyrtisanes from hyrtiosanes.