Synthesis of the indeno[1,2-]indole core of janthitrem B.

The tetracyclic core structure of the majority of indole diterpenoids features a -hydrindane moiety that is fused to an indole unit. We report here a novel synthetic route that includes a photo-Nazarov cyclization of a 3-acylindole precursor initially providing the thermodynamically preferred -hydrindanone. After reduction and conversion to the cyclopentadiene, dihydroxylation and hydrogenation provided the indoline.

Biomimetic Synthesis of Cyanogramides B and C.

Marinacarboline E and cyanogramides B and C from the marine-derived bacterium have been synthesized. The key step is the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of marinacarboline E to a ketene aminal via O → N acetyl migration, followed by addition of water or MeOH. Replacing the phenylethyl by a styryl side chain afforded dehydromarinacarboline E that was oxidized to a tetracyclic aminal.

Aza-BODIPY Route to Ageladine A.

The marine natural product ageladine A was synthesized by exploiting novel aza-BODIPY-type boron complexes that allowed the regioselective dibromination of the pyrrole unit, as confirmed by quantum chemical calculation (ωB97XD/TApr-cc-pVDZ). The parent tricycle was accessed by Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling employing Buchwald's precatalyst. The boron complex of ageladine A exhibited strong fluorescence that was greater than that of the natural product by a factor of ∼30 and that disappeared in the presence of 2-azido groups.

Incorporation of -HMBC and NOE Data into Computer-Assisted Structure Elucidation with WebCocon.

Over the past decades, different software programs have been developed for the Computer-Assisted Structure Elucidation (CASE) with NMR data using with various approaches. WebCocon is one of them that has been continuously improved over the past 20 years. Here, we present the inclusion of 4J correlations (4J-HMBC) in the HMBC interpretation of Cocon and NOE data in WebCocon.

Synthesis of (-)-Dihydroraputindole D by Enantioselective Benzoylation of a 1,3-Diol Intermediate.

The enantioselective synthesis of (-)-dihydroraputindole D is reported. The key step is the desymmetrizing benzoylation of a prochiral 1,3-diol employing Trost's ProPhenol catalyst system, which has been applied for the first time to a cyclic molecule carrying geminal hydroxymethyl groups. The cyclopenta[f]indoline system was assembled by Au(I)-catalyzed cyclization of an alkynylated indoline precursor.

Insights into the Cnx1E catalyzed MPT-AMP hydrolysis.

Molybdenum insertases (Mo-insertases) catalyze the final step of molybdenum cofactor (Moco) biosynthesis, an evolutionary old and highly conserved multi-step pathway. In the first step of the pathway, GTP serves as substrate for the formation of cyclic pyranopterin monophosphate, which is subsequently converted into molybdopterin (MPT) in the second pathway step. In the following synthesis steps, MPT is adenylated yielding MPT-AMP that is subsequently used as substrate for enzyme catalyzed molybdate insertion.

Synthesis of the polyketide section of seragamide A and related cyclodepsipeptides via Negishi cross coupling.

The synthesis of the polyketide section present in the potently cytotoxic marine cyclodepsipeptide jasplakinolide and related natural products, geodiamolides and seragamides, is reported. The key step is a Negishi cross coupling of ()-(3-methoxy-2-methyl-3-oxopropyl)zinc(II) bromide and an ()-iodoalkene that was synthesized via an aluminium ester enolate attack at ()-propylene oxide. The overall synthesis comprises nine steps with an overall yield of 21%.

Tackling the Spiro Tetracyclic Skeleton of Cyanogramide: Incorporation of a Hydantoin Moiety.

Wang's enantioselective thiourea-catalyzed spiro-annulation paved the way to the first tetracyclic analog of the marine natural product cyanogramide from the actinobacterium Actinoalloteichus cyanogriseus. The synthesis comprises seven steps starting from an alkylidene indolinone. Installation of the ( E)-styryl side chain faced a regiochemistry problem, circumvented by prior conversion to the hydantoin and employing Batey's conditions.

Macrocyclic Core of Salarin C: Synthesis and Oxidation.

The synthesis of the macrocyclic core of the cytotoxic natural product salarin C from the sponge Fascaplysinopsis sp. is described, with the two epoxides being replaced by alkene moieties. In the key step, ring-closing metathesis exclusively afforded the ( E)-product.

Synthesis of eunicellane-type bicycles embedding a 1,3-cyclohexadiene moiety.

The first synthesis of diterpenoid eunicellane skeletons incorporating a 1,3-cyclohexadiene moiety is presented. Key step is a low-valent titanium-induced pinacol cyclization that proved to be perfectly diastereoselective. Determination of the relative configuration of the diol was aided by the conversion to the diastereomer by oxidation and reduction.

Diastereoselective Total Synthesis of Raputindole A.

The first diastereoselective total synthesis of the bisindole alkaloid raputindole A is reported. After Au(I)-catalyzed assembly of the cyclopenta[ f]indole tricycle, it was possible to hydrogenate the indene double bond regio- and diastereoselectively through iridium catalysis, guided by a preinstalled hydroxy function. Attempted HWE reaction led to formal elimination of formaldehyde from an α-quaternary cyclopentane carbaldehyde, which was circumvented by Takai olefination.

Total Synthesis and Absolute Configuration of Raputindole A.

The first total synthesis of the bisindole alkaloid raputindole A from the rutaceous plant Raputia simulans is reported. The key step is a Au(I)-catalyzed cyclization that assembles the cyclopenta[f]indole tricycle from a 6-alkynylated indoline precursor. The isobutenyl side chain was installed by Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling, followed by a regioselective reduction employing LiDBB.

Oxidation of the Meroterpenoid (-)-Terreumol C from the Mushroom Tricholoma terreum: Discovery of Cytotoxic Analogues.

Aiming at the discovery of new cytotoxic meroterpenoids, the chemical reactivity of the natural product (-)-terreumol C from the edible mushroom Tricholoma terreum was investigated. A series of high-yielding oxygenations and brominations at the 10-membered ring were discovered. The regioselectivity of hydroxylation could be guided by installing protecting groups at the hydroquinone section.

Total Synthesis of the Marine Natural Product Hemiasterlin by Organocatalyzed α-Hydrazination.

An efficient synthesis of the potently cytotoxic marine peptide hemiasterlin is presented. The tetramethyltryptophan moiety is assembled by tert-prenylation of indole, followed by the high-yielding organocatalyzed α-hydrazination of a sterically congested aldehyde with excellent enantioselectivity. 2-Bromo-N-ethylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate (BEP)-mediated peptide coupling completes the synthesis, being the first approach that does not employ chiral auxiliaries.

Aminopyrazine Pathway to the Moco Metabolite Dephospho Form A.

An efficient synthesis of the molybdopterin/molybdenum cofactor (Moco) oxidation product dephospho Form A is described that assembles the pteridinone system starting from an iodinated aminopyrazine. The sodium salt of dephospho Form A could be purified by precipitation from methanol, which paved the way to the title compound in the 100 mg range. By HPLC, the synthetic material was compared with a sample isolated from a recombinant Moco containing protein.

Synthesis and Photooxidation of the Trisubstituted Oxazole Fragment of the Marine Natural Product Salarin C.

The eastern section of the macrocyclic marine natural product salarin C from the sponge Fascaplysinopsis sp. was synthesized employing a halogen dance reaction to assemble the trisubstituted oxazole moiety. The synthesis was inspired by Kashman's hypothesis on the biomimetic oxidation of salarin C to salarin A.

Chemistry and Biology of the Pyrrole-Imidazole Alkaloids.

More than a decade after our last review on the chemistry of the pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids, it was time to analyze once more the developments in that field. The comprehensive article focusses on the total syntheses of pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids that have appeared since 2005. The classic monomeric pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids have all been synthesized, sometimes primarily to demonstrate the usefulness of a new method, as in the case of the related molecules agelastatin A and cyclooroidin with more than 15 syntheses altogether.

Study on the synthesis of the cyclopenta[f]indole core of raputindole A.

The raputindoles from the rutaceous tree Raputia simulans share a cyclopenta[f]indole partial structure the synthesis of which is subject of this investigation. An efficient route to a series of 1,5-di(indol-6-yl)pentenones was developed via Mo/Au-catalyzed Meyer-Schuster rearrangement of tertiary propargylic alcohol precursors. However, none of the enones underwent the desired Nazarov cyclization to a cyclopenta[f]indole.

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of Terreumols A and C from the Mushroom Tricholoma terreum.

The cytotoxic meroterpenoids terreumol A and C from the grey knight mushroom Tricholoma terreum were synthesized for the first time. The key step of the enantioselective total synthesis of terreumol C is a ring-closing metathesis to form a trisubstituted Z double bond embedded in the 10-membered ring of the [8.4.

SmI2-mediated dimerization of indolylbutenones and synthesis of the myxobacterial natural product indiacen B.

The synthesis and reactivity of indole derivatives substituted in the benzene section was studied. Starting materials 4- and 6-iodoindole were conveniently prepared via the Batcho-Leimgruber route and purified by sublimation. Novel vicinally indolyl-substituted cyclopentanols with unexpected cis-configuration were formed by SmI2-mediated reductive dimerization of a 4-(indol-6-yl)butenone, obtained by Heck reaction.

Synthesis of Hydroxypyrrolone Carboxamides Employing Selectfluor.

Reaction of pyrrole-2-carboxamides with Selectfluor in MeCN/water (4:1) affords 2-hydroxy-5-oxopyrrole-2-carboxamides in yields of up to 80 %. A variety of sensitive functional groups is tolerated, among them aldehydes and alkynes. The new method also works in the presence of allyl groups and appears to be superior to the use of singlet oxygen.

Water compatible photoarylation of amino acids and peptides.

A novel photoarylation of amino acids and peptides is described, which tolerates the presence of water. Irradiation of Boc-protected amino acids in the presence of N-protected 2-azidobenzimidazoles leads to selective arylation of carboxy termini or side chains. The new reaction also works for peptides.

Total synthesis and cytotoxicity of the marine natural product malevamide D and a photoreactive analog.

The marine natural product malevamide D from the cyanobacterium Symploca hydnoides was synthesized for the first time. The final peptide coupling linked the dolaisoleuine and dolaproine subunits. The phenyl group of malevamide D was also functionalized with a photoreactive diazirine moiety, which was carried through seven reaction steps.

Doubly prenylated tryptamines: cytotoxicity, antimicrobial activity and cyclisation to the marine natural product flustramine A.

The marine natural product flustramine A was synthesised via oxidative cyclisation of Nb-methylated 1-prenyl-2-tert-prenyl-6-bromotryptamine and subsequent reduction of the resulting amidinium salt. Only the tert-prenyl group migrated, whereas the 1-prenyl group remained in place. Interestingly, the 2-tert-prenylated precursor revealed to be the biologically most active of our entire series of 21 compounds.

Photoactivation of (p-methoxyphenyl)(trifluoromethyl)diazirine in the presence of phenolic reaction partners.

Shine light on your chemistry! Irradiating 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)-3H-diazirine in the presence of equimolar solutions of phenol and tyrosine derivatives leads to Friedel-Crafts alkylations (see scheme), which suggests a strategy for the development of "cleaner" diazirines for chemical biology.