Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Shizukaol J, Trichloranoid C and Trishizukaol A.

The asymmetric total synthesis of three lindenane sesquiterpenoid oligomers, shizukaol J, trichloranoid C and trishizukaol A, has been accomplished concisely in 15, 16 and 18 longest linear steps, respectively. The expeditious construction of molecular architectures was facilitated by Nelson's catalytic asymmetric ketene-aldehyde cycloaddition, a sequence of allylic alkylation/reduction/acidic cyclization to forge a lactone, and a double aldol condensation cascade to construct the 5/6 bicyclic system. Diastereoselective nucleophilic substitution promoted by a phase transfer catalyst constructed the C quaternary stereogenic center, thus prompting synthetic efficacy toward shizukaol J. The synthesis of trichloranoid C and trishizukaol A was achieved after a cascade involving furanyl diene formation and a Diels-Alder reaction, as well as a one-pot sequence involving furan oxidation and global deprotection. Furthermore, our biological evaluation revealed that two compounds exhibited unexpected toxicity against tumor cell lines.