Synthesis of C11-Desmethoxy Soraphen A: A natural product analog that inhibits acetyl-CoA carboxylase.

A synthesis of C11-desmethoxy soraphen A is described that proceeds in just 14 steps from readily available starting materials. This natural product analog was identified as a target of interest in a program aimed at identifying novel natural product-inspired inhibitors of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) as potential anticancer therapeutics. While describing the most efficient synthesis of a soraphen A analog (total syntheses of the natural product have been reported that proceed in 25 to ≥40 linear steps), we also present data supporting the conclusion that C11-heteroatom functionality is a beneficial but unnecessary structural characteristic of soraphen A analogs for inhibiting ACC.

Synthesis of the C1-C26 hexacyclic subunit of pectenotoxin 2.

Synthesis of the C1-C26 hexacyclic subunit of pectenotoxin-2 (PTX-2) is described that features a stereoselective annulation to generate the C-ring by triple asymmetric Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi coupling followed by oxidative cyclization. Preparation of the C1-C14 AB spriroketal-containing subunit employs a recently developed metallacycle-mediated reductive cross-coupling between a TMS-alkyne and a terminal alkene.

Effects of phosphorus substituents on reactions of α-alkoxyphosphonium salts with nucleophiles.

The effects of phosphorus substituents on the reactivity of α-alkoxyphosphonium salts with nucleophiles has been explored. Reactions of α-alkoxyphosphonium salts, prepared from various acetals and tris(o-tolyl)phosphine, with a variety of nucleophiles proceeded efficiently. These processes represent the first examples of high-yielding nucleophilic substitution reactions of α-alkoxyphosphonium salts.

Preparation of THP-ester-derived pyridinium-type salts and their reactions with various nucleophiles.

Nucleophilic substitution at the anomeric positions of tetrahydropyranyl (THP) and related carbohydrate-derived esters that proceeded through pyridinium-type salt intermediates have been developed. Treatment of the 6-substituted α-acetoxy-tetrahydropyrans with TMSOTf (TMS=trimethylsilyl) and 2-substitutited pyridines, such as 2-p-tolylpyridine and 2-methoxypyridine, led to the efficient generation of cis-pyridinium-type salts. These salts reacted with various nucleophiles, such as alcohols, azides, and organozinc reagents, to form nucleophilic-substitution products.

Reaction of acetals with various carbon nucleophiles under non-acidic conditions: C-C bond formation via a pyridinium-type salt.

Mild substitution reactions of acetals with carbon nucleophiles via the pyridinium-type salts generated by the treatment of acetals with TESOTf-2,4,6-collidine or 2,2'-bipyridyl have been developed. Various carbon nucleophiles, such as organocuprates, silyl enol ethers, enamines, etc., reacted with the pyridinium-type salts to give the corresponding substituted products in good yields.

An unusual reaction of α-alkoxyphosphonium salts with Grignard reagents under an O2 atmosphere.

An unusual and novel reaction of α-alkoxyphosphonium salts, generated from O,O-acetals and Ph(3)P, with Grignard reagents under an O(2) atmosphere afforded alcohols in moderate to high yields. It was clarified by isotopic labelling experiments that the reaction proceeded via a novel radical pathway.

2,5-cis-2,3,5-Trisubstituted tetrahydrofurans from the diastereomixture of 2,4-disubstituted 1,3-dioxepins via stereomutation.

A diastereoselective ring contraction of the diastereomixture of 2,4-disubstituted 1,3-dioxepins to 2,5-cis-2,3,5-trisubstituted tetrahydrofurans was achieved using TfOH in DMF. The reaction appears to proceed via a chair-like transition state, in which stereomutation of the oxocarbenium occurred, followed by an aldol-type cyclization.

Remarkable effect of phosphine on the reactivity of O,P-acetal--efficient substitution reaction of O,P-acetal.

The structure and electronic nature of the phosphine have a significant influence on not only the formation, but also the subsequent transformation of O,P-acetals. The O,P-acetals generated from tris(o-tolyl)phosphine [(o-tol)(3)P] underwent efficient substitution reactions with various nucleophiles.

Mild deprotection of methylene acetals in combination with trimethylsilyl triflate-2,2'-bipyridyl.

The facile deprotection of methylene acetal protection of diols under mild conditions is established. The combination of trimethylsilyl triflate (TMSOTf) and 2,2'-bipyridyl followed by a weakly acidic hydrolysis was effective and the substrates having acid sensitive functional groups can be tolerated under the stated conditions. The selective deprotection between methylene acetal and benzophenone ketal was achieved.

Novel regiocontrolled protection of 1,2- and 1,3-diols via mild cleavage of methylene acetals.

The regiocontrolled protection of unsymmetrical 1,2- and 1,3-diols has been developed. Different types of protected diols are available from the methylene acetal in a one-pot procedure. Highly regioselective protection of diols with a silyl group at the less hindered hydroxy group as well as with a MOM group at the more hindered one were achieved.

Remarkable effect of 2,2'-bipyridyl: mild and highly chemoselective deprotection of methoxymethyl (MOM) ethers in combination with TMSOTf (TESOTf)-2,2'-bipyridyl.

The remarkable effect of 2,2'-bipyridyl led to the successful development of the mild and highly chemoselective deprotection method of methoxymethyl (MOM) ethers using the combination of TMSOTf (or TESOTf) and 2,2'-bipyridyl; this method can be applied to the direct conversion of the MOM group to other ethereal protective groups (e.g. benzyloxymethyl) with the corresponding alcohols.

Concise total synthesis of (-)-spongotine A.

The first asymmetric total synthesis of spongotine A is described. The oxidative synthesis of the imidazoline/ketone unit from keto aldehyde and diamine is a key step in this synthesis. The absolute stereochemistry of the asymmetric center of natural spongotine A is revealed as the (S)-configuration.

Concise asymmetric total synthesis of scyphostatin, a potent inhibitor of neutral sphingomyelinase.

The concise asymmetric total synthesis of scyphostatin has been achieved by condensation of the optically active cyclohexane unit, prepared from the commercially available 1,4-cyclohexadiene by our own method, and the side chain, prepared by the method developed by Hoye and Tennakoon (T. R. Hoye, M.

Organic chemistry using weakly electrophilic salts: efficient formation of O,O-mixed, O,S- and N,O-acetals.

A mild and efficient method for the preparation of O,O-mixed, O,S- and N,O-acetals from symmetrical O,O-acetals has been developed. Thus, the treatment of symmetrical O,O-acetals with TESOTf and 2,4,6-collidine formed weakly electrophilic collidinium salts. The addition of nucleophiles, such as an alcohol, lithium thioxide, and sodium azide, to the salts afforded the corresponding O,O-mixed, O,S- and N,O-acetals in good yields.

New three-component reaction: novel formation of a seven-membered ring by the unexpected reaction at the gamma-position of the beta-keto ester.

[reaction: see text] The novel three-component reaction of aromatic aldehydes, ethylenediamine, and beta-keto esters is described. In this reaction, beta-keto esters react at the gamma-position which is generally unreactive to produce the seven-membered ring compounds. Products have secondary amines and beta-enamino esters, which can serve in further functionalizations to produce molecular diversity.

Unexpected highly chemoselective deprotection of the acetals from aldehydes and not ketones: TESOTf-2,6-lutidine combination.

Acetal functions are recognized as good protecting groups of carbonyl groups. Although many deprotecting methods of acetals to carbonyl functions have already been developed, there is no methodology which can deprotect acetals in the presence of ketals because the usual acidic or radical reactions occur more easily via the more stable cationic or radical intermediates from the ketals. On the other hand, this new method can proceed in a reverse manner to that described in previous reports.