Synthesis of ciprofloxacin dimers for evaluation of bacterial permeability in atypical chemical space.

We describe the synthesis and evaluation of a library of variably-linked ciprofloxacin dimers. These structures unify and expand on the use of fluoroquinolones as probes throughout the antibiotic literature. A dimeric analog (19) showed enhanced inhibition of its intracellular target (DNA gyrase), and translation to antibacterial activity in whole cells was demonstrated.

Stereospecific cis- and trans-ring fusions arising from common intermediates.

Highly concise and stereospecific routes to cis and trans fusion, carrying various functionality at one of the bridgehead carbons, have been accomplished.

Intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of cycloalkenones: stereoselectivity, Lewis acid acceleration, and halogen substituent effects.

The intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of cycloalkenones and terminal dienes occur with high endo stereoselectivity, both thermally and under Lewis-acidic conditions. Through computations, we show that steric repulsion and tether conformation govern the selectivity of the reaction, and incorporation of either BF3 or α-halogenation increases the rate of cycloaddition. With a longer tether, isomerization from a terminal diene to the more stable internal diene results in a more facile cycloaddition.

Halocycloalkenones as Diels-Alder dienophiles. Applications to generating useful structural patterns.

Halocycloalkenones are demonstrated to function as potent dienophiles in inter- and intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloadditions. We have found 2-brominated cycloalkenone dienophiles to be both highly endo selective and significantly more reactive than their nonhalogenated parent compounds. A method for the facile conversion of brominated cyclobutanone DA adducts to synthetically useful cyclopropyl functional handles is described.

Intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of cycloalkenones: translation of high endo selectivity to trans junctions.

Intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of cyclobutenone and larger cycloalkenones are described. High levels of endo addition attained from Lewis acid catalysis translate to trans hydrindene junctions upon fragmentation of the tricyclic adducts.

Total syntheses of dalesconol A and B.

[Image: see text] : Use of a carefully designed acyclic intermediate provided the means to execute a cascade-based construction which formed the entire core of the polyketide-derived dalesconols in a single flask. A number of additional and carefully controlled synthetic operations completed an expeditious synthesis of both of these highly bioactive natural products as well as structural congenors.

Total synthesis of diverse carbogenic complexity within the resveratrol class from a common building block.

Although biomimetic approaches have proven capable of converting resveratrol (1) concurrently into many of the more complex oligomers produced by plants throughout the world (such as 2-10), methods to access single members of the family have proven far more difficult to identify. Herein is described a strategy-level solution based on the use of a common building block, one distinct from Nature's starting material, that can participate in a variety of highly selective, reagent-controlled reaction cascades. These endeavors have led to the controlled synthesis of 25 natural products and analogues, molecules whose architectures encompass nearly all the carbogenic diversity of the resveratrol family.