Total synthesis of (-)-chamobtusin A.

The first asymmetric total synthesis of a structurally unique alkaloid, chamobtusin A (1), is described. The route features a novel aziridine formation from the 1,2-oxazine derivative and a palladium-mediated annulation of the vinylaziridine intermediate.

Total synthesis of (±)-chamobtusin A.

The total synthesis of chamobtusin A, the first diterpenoid alkaloid isolated from the whole Pinales, is described. Key features of the synthesis include a stereoselective intramolecular Michael addition to install a key stereocenter and an oxidative manipulation to prepare a 2H-pyrrole ring.

Toward the racemic total synthesis of hederacines A and B: construction of an advanced tricyclic intermediate.

Progress toward the total synthesis of hederacines A and B is described. Our approach involves an allylic cyanate-to-isocyanate rearrangement, eneyne ring-closing metathesis, and a transannular reaction between the C-5 amino group and the C-12 position of the perhydroazuleno[5,6-b]furanone intermediate.

DNA damage by fasicularin.

Fasicularin is a structurally novel thiocyanate-containing alkaloid isolated from the ascidian Nephteis fasicularis. Early biological experiments suggested that this compound's cytotoxic properties may stem from its ability to damage cellular DNA. Sequence gel analysis reveals that treatment of a 5'-32P-labeled DNA duplex with fasicularin in pH 7.

Total synthesis of the tricyclic marine alkaloids (-)-lepadiformine, (+)-cylindricine c, and (-)-fasicularin via a common intermediate formed by formic acid-induced intramolecular conjugate azaspirocyclization.

A very short and efficient enantioselective total synthesis of the tricyclic marine alkaloids (-)-lepadiformine (3), (+)-cylindricine C (1c), and (-)-fasicularin (4) has been developed utilizing the formyloxy 1-azaspiro[4.5]decane 5 as a common intermediate. The key strategic element for the synthesis was the formic acid-induced intramolecular conjugate azaspirocyclization, which proved to be a highly efficient and stereoselective way to rapid construction of the 1-azaspirocyclic substructure of these natural products in a single operation.

Total synthesis of (-)-incarvilline, (+)-incarvine C, and (-)-incarvillateine.

The first total syntheses of new monoterpene alkaloids (-)-incarvilline, (+)-incarvine C, and (-)-incarvillateine, corresponding to the natural enantiomers, have been accomplished. The strategy for the synthesis of these natural products utilized 6-epi-incarvilline as a common precursor, which was assembled by a three-component coupling reaction using (4S)-4-siloxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one to construct an appropriately trisubstituted cyclopentanone, followed by ring closure to the cis-perhydro-2-pyrindine skeleton by means of a reductive Heck-type reaction. Furthermore, topochemically controlled [2 + 2] photodimerization of cinnamic acid derivatives in the solid state for the stereospecific construction of a 1,2,3,4-tetrasubstituted cyclobutane ring was also investigated as a means to access (-)-incarvillateine.

A formal total synthesis of (+/-)-halichlorine and (+/-)-pinnaic acid.

[reaction: see text] A stereocontrolled approach for the preparation of the Danishefsky intermediates has been developed starting with the azaspirobicyclic ketone as a common precursor, representing a formal total synthesis of (+/-)-halichlorine and (+/-)-pinnaic acid. This approach involves the construction of the 1,7-disubstituted 6-azaspiro[4.5]decane with the proper stereochemistry established by olefin hydrogenation followed by C-methylation of the spirotricyclic lactam and the subsequent processes involving lactam ring-opening using methyl triflate and RCM to form the azaspirotricyclic quinolizidine skeleton.

Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-azimine and (+)-carpaine.

[reaction: see text] The enantioselective total syntheses of (+)-azimine and (+)-carpaine have been developed, starting with (S)-1,2,4-butanetriol as a single source of chirality. The key common feature in these syntheses involves stereoselective intramolecular hetero-Diels-Alder reaction of an acylnitroso compound. The critical macrocyclic dilactonization of the N-Cbz derivatives of azimic acid and carpamic acid was efficiently achieved by using the Yamguchi macrocyclization conditions.

Efficient synthesis of the azaspirocyclic core structure of halichlorine and pinnaic acid by intramolecular acylnitroso ene reaction.

[reaction: see text] A new efficient strategy for the construction of the 6-azaspiro[4.5]decane ring system was developed using intramolecular ene reaction of the acylnitroso compound. The spirocyclic ene product obtained as a single diastereomer was subsequently subjected to highly stereoselective ethynylation, leading to the azaspirodecane core of halichlorine and the pinnaic acids.

Convergent approach to pumiliotoxin alkaloids. Asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-pumiliotoxins A, B, and 225F.

A versatile convergent approach for preparing the pumiliotoxin alkaloids has been developed employing Pd(0)-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions between homoallylic organozincs and vinyl iodides. The (Z)-iodoalkylidene indolizidine 34, which served as a common key intermediate, was synthesized through highly stereoselective addition of the chiral silylallene 19 to (S)-acetylpyrrolidine followed by a palladium-catalyzed intramolecular carbonylation[bond]cyclization sequence. This synthetic process allowed the first total synthesis of (+)-pumiliotoxin 225F.