Grob-Fragmentation-Enabled Approach to Clavulactone Analogues.

The novel synthetic strategy for dolabellane skeleton was realized, which allowed the synthesis of clavulactone analogues 26 and 27 in a concise and efficient manner. Salient transformations include a diastereoselective Mukaiyama aldol reaction, an intramolecular nucleophilic addition reaction, a Grob fragmentation reaction, and an efficient Mukaiyama-Michael addition reaction.

Asymmetric total synthesis of hedyosumin E aglycon, 7,10-epoxyhedyosminolide and ent-zedolactone A.

The asymmetric total syntheses of hedyosumin E aglycon, 7,10-epoxyhedyosminolide and ent-zedolactone A were realized, with the first two being achieved for the first time.

Robust, active tumor-targeting and fast bioresponsive anticancer nanotherapeutics based on natural endogenous materials.

Unlabelled: The clinical success of cancer nanomedicines critically depends on availability of simple, safe and highly efficient nanocarriers. Here, we report that robust and multifunctional nanoparticles self-assembled from hyaluronic acid-g-poly(γ-benzyl-l-glutamate)-lipoic acid conjugates achieve a remarkably high loading (up to 25.8wt.

An asymmetric approach to bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-1-carboxylates via a formal [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction enabled by organocatalysis.

An organocatalytic formal [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction has been realized that permits rapid access to a wide range of bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-1-carboxylates in a highly enantioselective manner from simple starting materials under mild and operationally simple conditions.

Pharmaceutical-Oriented Selective Synthesis of Mononitriles and Dinitriles Directly from Methyl(hetero)arenes: Access to Chiral Nitriles and Citalopram.

A pharmaceutical-oriented, transition-metal-free, cyanide-free one-step direct transformation of methylarenes to aryl nitriles is described. For the dimethylarenes, the selectivity can be well-controlled to form mononitriles or dinitriles. Enantioenriched nitriles can also be synthesized by this method.

Catalytic Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Hedyosumins A, B, and C.

The first and asymmetric total synthesis of hedyosumins A, B, and C was accomplished in 13-14 steps from simple starting materials. The essential tools that allow us to access the tetracyclic skeleton include an organocatalytic [4 + 3] cycloaddition reaction, an intramolecular aldol condensation, and an intramolecular carboxymercuration/demercuration enabled lactonization. A CBS-catalyzed asymmetric reduction was employed to boost the ee of the synthetic natural products to an excellent level.

A novel synthetic approach to the bicyclo[5.3.1]undecan-11-one framework of vinigrol.

The first synthetic attempt commencing from an eight-membered ring to approach the [5.3.1] bicyclic core of vinigrol has demonstrated the feasibility of using the conformational bias of the cyclooctane-ring system to realize highly diastereoselective reactions.

Divergent total synthesis of the Lycopodium alkaloids huperzine A, huperzine B, and huperzine U.

Huperzine A, huperzine B, and huperzine U are congeners isolated from the Chinese herb Huperzia serrata (= Lycopodium serratum ) in minuscule amounts. The most efficient total synthesis of huperzine A, the first asymmetric total syntheses of huperzine B, and the first total synthesis of huperzine U have been achieved efficiently in overall yields of 17%, 10%, and 9%, respectively, each spanning 10-13 steps from (R)-pulegone. The featured steps include palladium-catalyzed Buchwald-Hartwig coupling and Heck cyclization reactions and an Ir-catalyzed olefin isomerization reaction.

Collective total synthesis of englerin A and B, orientalol E and F, and oxyphyllol: application of the organocatalytic [4+3] cycloaddition reaction.

The concise collective total synthesis of englerin A and B, orientalol E and F, and oxyphyllol has been accomplished in 10-15 steps, with the total synthesis of orientalol E and oxyphyllol being achieved for the first time. The success obtained was enabled by the realization of the [4+3] cycloaddition reaction of 9 and 10. Other features of the synthesis include 1) the intramolecular Heck reaction to access the azulene core, 2) the epoxidation-S(N)2' reduction sequence to access the allylic alcohol, 3) the efficient regioselective and stereoselective formal hydration of the bridging C=C bond in the synthesis of englerins, and 4) the late-stage chemo- and stereoselective C-H oxidation in the synthesis of orientalol E.

An efficient total synthesis of (-)-epothilone B.

An efficient total synthesis of (-)-epothilone B has been achieved in ca. 8% yield over 11 steps from 9 (or 10 steps from 7/8), which features a bissiloxane-tethered ring closing metathesis reaction to approach the trisubstituted (Z) double bond and forms a new basis for further development of an industrial process for epothilone B and ixabepilone.

An efficient total synthesis of (-)-huperzine A.

The total synthesis of Lycopodium alkaloid (-)-huperzine A has been accomplished in 10 steps with 17% overall yield from commercially abundant (R)-pulegone. The synthetic route features an efficient synthesis of 4 via a Buchwald-Hartwig coupling reaction, a dianion-mediated highly stereoselective alkylation of 4, and a rare example of an intramolecular Heck reaction of an enamine-type substrate. The stereoselective β-elimination and the accompanying Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement are of particular interest.

Cinchona alkaloid catalyzed enantioselective amination of α,β-unsaturated ketones: an asymmetric approach to Δ-pyrazolines.

Δ-Pyrazolines are of significant medicinal and synthetic interest due to their therapeutic properties and utility in the synthesis of 1,3-diamines, yet few asymmetric methods exist to prepare them. An unprecedented highly enantioselective organocatalytic synthesis of 2-pyrazolines was achieved through an asymmetric conjugate addition catalyzed by 9--amino cinchona alkaloids followed by deprotection-cyclization, which furnished chiral 2-pyrazolines in 46-78% yield and 59-91% ee. This bifunctional catalytic methodology thus provides easy access to considerable range of optically active 3,5-dialkyl 2-pyrazolines.

Asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-plicatic acid via a highly enantioselective and diastereoselective nucleophilic epoxidation of acyclic trisubstitued olefins.

The first total synthesis of (-)-plicatic acid has been achieved by a concise and enantioselective route. In this synthesis, a conceptually new strategy featuring an asymmetric epoxidation-intramolecular epoxy-ring-opening Friedel-Crafts reaction sequence was developed for the stereoselective construction of the 2,7'-cyclolignane skeleton bearing contiguous quaternary-quaternary-tertiary stereocenters. The implementation of this strategy was enabled by the development of a modified protocol for the Seebach epoxidation with TADOOH, which affords an unprecedented, highly enantioselective and diastereoselective epoxidation with a range of alpha-carbonyl-beta-substituted acrylates 3.

Trastuzumab-functionalized nanoparticles of biodegradable copolymers for targeted delivery of docetaxel.

Aims: We synthesized a novel system of docetaxel-loaded, trastuzumab-functionalized nanoparticles (NPs) of biodegradable copolymers for targeted and synergistic chemotherapy.

Materials & Methods: NPs of two component biodegradable copolymers were prepared by a modified solvent extraction/evaporation method with D-alpha-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) as emulsifier. One component copolymer is poly(lactide)-TPGS, which is of desired hydrophobic-lipophilic balance for cellular adhesion, and another is carboxyl group-terminated TPGS, which facilitates the conjugation of trastuzumab on the NP surface for targeting.

Catalytic Enantioselective Electrophilic Aminations of Acyclic α-Alkyl β-Carbonyl Nucleophilies.

Highly enantioselective aminations of acyclic α-alkyl β-keto thioesters and trifluoroethyl α-methyl α-cyanoacetate (12) with as low as 0.05 mol % of a bifunctional cinchona alkaloid catalyst were established. This ability to afford highly enantioselectivity for the amination of α-alkyl β-carbonyl compounds renders the 6'-OH cinchona alkaloid-catalyzed amination applicable for the enantioselective synthesis of acyclic chiral compounds bearing N-substituted quaternary stereocenters.

Catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of simple alkyl thiols to alpha,beta-unsaturated N-acylated oxazolidin-2-ones with bifunctional catalysts.

In this communication, we describe an unprecedented highly enantioselective catalytic conjugate addition of simple alkyl thiols to alpha,beta-unsaturated N-acylated oxazolidin-2-ones catalyzed by acid-base bifunctional catalysis. This reaction provides a useful catalytic method for the synthesis of optically active chiral sulfur compounds that are otherwise difficult to prepare by asymmetric catalysis. The successful development of this reaction resulted from a discovery that, upon proper modification, a cinchona alkaloid bearing a thiourea functionality at 6' position can afford highly efficient catalysis for asymmetric conjugate additions.

Catalytic enantioselective peroxidation of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones.

Despite the potential of chiral peroxides as biologically interesting or even clinically important compounds, no catalytic enantioselective peroxidation has been reported. With a chiral catalyst not only to induce enantioselectivity but also to convert a well established epoxidation pathway into a peroxidation pathway, the first efficient catalytic peroxidation has been successfully developed. Employing readily available alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones and hydroperoxides and an easily accessible cinchona alkaloid catalyst, this novel reaction will open new possibilities in the asymmetric synthesis of chiral peroxides.

Multifunctional poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)/montmorillonite (PLGA/MMT) nanoparticles decorated by Trastuzumab for targeted chemotherapy of breast cancer.

This paper continued our earlier work on the poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)/montmorillonite nanoparticles (PLGA/MMT NPs), which were further decorated by human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) antibody Trastuzumab for targeted breast cancer chemotherapy with paclitaxel as a model anticancer drug. Such a NP system is multifunctional, which formulates anticancer drugs with no harmful adjuvant, reduces the side effects of the formulated anticancer drug, promotes synergistic therapeutic effects, and achieves targeted delivery of the therapy. The paclitaxel-loaded PLGA/MMT NPs were prepared by a modified solvent extraction/evaporation technique, which were then decorated with Trastuzumab.