Studies on the Stereoselective Synthesis of Sacubitril via a Chiral Amine Transfer Approach.

We present a comprehensive account of our efforts directed towards the synthesis of sacubitril, a neprilysin inhibitor used in combination with valsartan and marketed as Entresto™. Our initial approach to the formal synthesis of sacubitril employed a chiral pool strategy, utilizing (S)-pyroglutamic acid as a key building block and Cu(I)-mediated Csp-Csp cross-coupling as a key transformation. Further investigations led to the development of chiral amine transfer (CAT) reagents-based stereoselective synthesis.

Regioselective Synthesis of Benzannulated [5,6]-Oxaspirolactones via Cu(II)-Catalyzed Cycloisomerization of 2-(5-Hydroxyalkynyl)benzoates.

Spiroketals and oxaspirolactones are widely found in biologically active natural products, serving as important structural motifs. In this study, we present a Cu(II)-catalyzed cascade cycloisomerization of 2-(5-hydroxyalkynyl)benzoates, enabling the regioselective synthesis of benzannulated [5,6]-oxaspirolactones containing an isochromen-1-one moiety. This strategy offers a rapid and efficient approach to access a diverse array of benzannulated [5,6]-oxaspirolactones.

Ready Access to Benzannulated [5,5]-Oxaspirolactones Using Au(III)-Catalyzed Cascade Cyclizations.

This work showcases an unprecedented Au(III)-catalyzed cascade cyclization of 2-(4-hydroxyalkynyl)benzoates to access benzannulated [5,5]-oxaspirolactones related to biologically active natural products. This reaction proceeds through an initial 5--dig mode of hydroalkoxylation of the alkynol segment to give the oxocarbenium species (via cyclic enol-ether) followed by the addition of carboxylate onto the oxocarbenium that delivers the oxaspirolactone scaffold. While testing this method's scope, we found that the steric and electronic environment of the hydroxyl group could alter the reaction pathway that delivers isochromenone through a competitive 6--dig mode of attack of the carboxylate onto the tethered alkyne.

Stereoselective Total Synthesis of (±)-Pleurospiroketals A and B.

A full account of our efforts toward the stereoselective total synthesis of sesquiterpenoid-derived natural products (±)-pleurospiroketals A and B is described. Commercially available 3-methyl-2-cyclohexenone and 2,2-dimethyloxirane were used as key building blocks, and the substrate-controlled stereoselection was exploited to access the entire stereochemistry of these natural products. Initially, a planned synthetic route involving a [6,5]-bicyclic lactone intermediate was found to be insurmountable, and the later strategy comprising OsO-NMO-mediated dihydroxylation of 3-methyl-2-cyclohexenone, followed by Luche reduction, Eschenmoser methylenation, and Brønsted acid-induced spiroketalization steps, was ultimately identified as the reliable strategy.

Recent advances in the synthesis of oxaspirolactones and their application in the total synthesis of related natural products.

Oxaspirolactones are ubiquitous structural motifs found in natural products and synthetic molecules with a diverse biochemical and physicochemical profile, and represent a valuable target in natural product chemistry and medicinal chemistry. Since the 1970s, numerous innovative synthetic methodologies have been reported for these scaffolds in the context of expanding the range of potential building blocks, catalysts, and modes of transformations (racemic or asymmetric protocols). This review focuses on a broad spectrum of approaches toward the synthesis of oxaspirolactones and their potential application in the total synthesis of biologically relevant natural products starting from the first disclosure to the latest report.

Four-Step Total Synthesis of (+)-Yaoshanenolides A and B.

A highly concise bioinspired four-step total synthesis of yaoshanenolides A and B possessing tricyclic spirolactone with an unusual 5'-spiro-[bicyclo[2.2.2]-oct[2]ene-7,2'-furan]-5'-one scaffold is reported.

Synthesis of Furo[2,3-b]pyran-2-ones through Ag(I)- or Ag(I)-Au(I)-Catalyzed Cascade Annulation of Alkynols and α-Ketoesters.

Ag(I)- or Ag(I)-Au(I)-catalyzed cascade annulation of alkynols (5-hexyn-1-ol systems) with α-ketoesters involving a dual activation process (π and σ) has been developed for the first time. This reaction proceeds through cycloisomerization of alkynol to give the 6-endo-enol ether followed by annulation with an α-ketoester to furnish furo[2,3-b]pyran-2-ones in good yields. Chemical structures of all products were rigorously confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis and analogy.

Lewis acid catalyzed cascade annulation of alkynols with α-ketoesters: a facile access to γ-spiroketal-γ-lactones.

A novel Lewis acid catalyzed intermolecular cascade annulation of alkynols with α-ketoesters has been developed. This simple and efficient cascade annulation proceeds through a 5-exo-dig cyclization of alkynols followed by annulation with α-ketoester to provide a wide variety of unsaturated γ-spiroketal-γ-lactones (1,6-dioxaspiro[4.4]non-3-en-2-ones) related to many natural products.