Catalyst-free photoarylation of 2-aryl-2H-indazoles by carbon-iodine bond activation.

A photocatalyst-free visible-light induced arylation of 2-aryl-2H-indazoles with aryl iodides has been developed for the first time to produce 3,2-diaryl-2H-indazoles in good to moderate yields. In this transformation, potassium tert-butoxide acts as an activator of the C-I bond and also as a scavenger of in situ generated HI in the reaction. This method exhibits high functional group tolerance with a wide substrate scope and it has been successfully applied to the synthesis of liver X receptor agonists and also for fluorescent probes. This is the first report on the photoarylation of 2-arylindazoles at the C3-position with aryl iodides under catalyst-free conditions.

Total Synthesis and Determination of Absolute Configuration of Cryptorigidifoliol G.

The first asymmetric total synthesis of (1S,5R,7S)-cryptorigidifoliol G and (1S,5R,7R)-cryptorigidifoliol G of the proposed natural product was achieved. The key steps in the synthesis involved Keck-Maruoka allylation, our own developed protocol for the construction of the trans-2,6-disubstituted dihydropyran, iodolactonization, cross-metathesis, Prins cyclization, and cis-Wittig olefination reaction. A comparison of the NMR as well as analytical data and thorough analysis of the 2D NMR suggested that the absolute stereochemistry of the proposed natural product is (1S,5R,7S)-cryptorigidifoliol G.

BF3·OEt2-Catalyzed Unexpected Stereoselective Formation of 2,4-trans-Diallyl-2-methyl-6-aryltetrahydro-2H-pyrans with Quaternary Stereocenters.

The present manuscript describes a convenient, mild, and highly stereoselective method for the allylation of δ-hydroxy-α,ß-unsaturated ketones having a benzylic hydroxyl group at the δ-position using allyltrimethylsilane mediated by BF3·OEt2, leading to 2,4-diallyl-2-methyl-6-aryltetrahydro-2H-pyran ring systems with quaternary carbon stereogenic centers. This represents the first example of a tandem isomerization followed by one C-O and two C-C bond-forming reactions in one pot. The isolation of TMS-protected lactol as an intermediate from the reaction strongly supports the proposed mechanistic pathway.

[3,3]-Acyloxy Rearrangement-Triggered Regioselective Hydration of δ-Acetoxy-α,ß-Alkynoates/Halo Alkynes.

Herein, we report a simple, efficient, highly regioselective, and broad-scope hydration method that is facilitated by an unusual interception of an electrophilic intermediate by water generated via acetate group participation during [3,3]-acyloxy rearrangement. Various carboxylate-directing groups including acetate, acrylates, pivalates, benzoate or its derivatives, and those derived from bioactive natural products were successfully implemented to direct the regioselective hydration for various functionalized δ-acyloxy-ß-ketoester synthesis. The reaction pathway was further confirmed by 18O labeling experiments, and to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of hydration through an electrophilic intermediate generated during [3,3]-acyloxy rearrangement. Synthetic application includes the synthesis of a modifiable C5-carbon chain, five-, six-, and seven-membered heterocycles, and natural product diversification.

Total Synthesis of (-)-Citreoisocoumarin, (-)-Citreoisocoumarinol, (-)-12-epi-Citreoisocoumarinol, and (-)-Mucorisocoumarins A and B Using a Gold(I)-Catalyzed Cyclization Strategy.

A unified and concise first asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-citreoisocoumarin (2), (-)-citreoisocoumarinol (3), 12-epi-citreoisocoumarinol (4), and (-)-mucorisocoumarins A (5) and B (6) have been accomplished from the common intermediate (-)-6-O-methyl-citreoisocoumarin (1). Central to the synthetic approach is a regioselective gold(I)-catalyzed 6-endo-dig cyclization strategy for the construction of the isocoumarin skeleton. The other key steps in this approach included Sonogashira coupling, Tsuji-Wacker oxidation, Evans-Saksena's 1,3-anti-reduction, and Narasaka-Prasad's 1,3-syn-reduction. The synthetic results unambiguously confirmed the absolute configuration of the natural products mucorisocoumarins A and B as (-)-(10R,12S)-5 and (+)-(10S,12S)-6, respectively.

Total Synthesis and Structural Revision of Greensporone F and Dechlorogreensporone F.

The first asymmetric total syntheses of the real isolation product (2S,5R,8R)-greensporone F and (2S,5R,8R)-dechlorogreensporone F, 14-membered resorcylic acid lactones with a cis-2,5-disubstituted tetrahydrofuran ring system, was accomplished. The synthesis features a late-stage Lewis acid-catalyzed stereoselective intramolecular oxa-Michael reaction, E-selective ring-closing metathesis, De Brabander's esterification, and Jacobsen's hydrolytic kinetic resolution as the key steps. Synthesis of both real isolation and erroneously proposed structure necessitated the revision of the absolute configuration of greensporone F and dechlorogreensporone F. The erroneous representation of (2S,5S,8S)-configuration in greensporone F and dechlorogreensporone F was assigned to be (2S,5R,8R) by comparison with the NMR data and specific rotation of the synthetic compounds with that of the reported data.

CuBr2-catalyzed diastereoselective allylation: total synthesis of decytospolides A and B and their C6-epimers.

An efficient CuBr2-catalyzed diastereoselective allylation of a cyclic hemiacetal with allyltrimethylsilane as a nucleophile has been developed. The protocol offers a cost effective, protecting group tolerant, and operationally simple approach to 2,6-trans-disubstituted tetrahydropyran with excellent diastereoselectivity. Furthermore, the application of this methodology has been demonstrated in the total synthesis of decytospolides A and B and their C6-epimers.

Correction: A synthetic study toward the core structure of (-)-apicularen A.

Correction for 'A synthetic study toward the core structure of (-)-apicularen A' by Tapas R. Pradhan et al., Org. Biomol. Chem., 2018, 16, 8810-8818.

The Mukaiyama type aldol reaction for the synthesis of trans-2,6-disubstituted tetrahydropyrans: synthesis of diospongin A and B.

An efficient synthesis protocol for the preparation of trans-2,6-disubstituted tetrahydropyrans by the reaction of 1-phenyl-1-triemthylsiloxyethylene with six membered cyclic hemiacetals in the presence of iodine is developed. This reaction proceeds smoothly under mild conditions employing a catalytic amount of molecular iodine. The feature of this novel conversion includes milder reaction conditions, broader substrate scope, functional group tolerance and good diastereoselectivity. The efficiency and practicality of the current method were successfully displayed in the total synthesis of diospongin A and B in good yields.

Total synthesis and stereochemical revision of relgro and 10'-oxorelgro.

The first asymmetric total synthesis and stereochemical assignments of 10-membered macrolactones relgro and 10'-oxorelgro are disclosed. To this end, palladium-catalyzed Stille coupling, the Mitsunobu reaction, ring-closing metathesis, EDCI promoted coupling and the Jacobsen hydrolytic kinetic resolution are used as key steps. The total synthesis followed by thorough evaluation of the optical rotation and CD spectral data led to the revision of the absolute configuration at C-6' for both relgro and 10'-oxorelgro. Moreover, the 1H as well as 13C NMR data are reported for the first time for relgro.

A synthetic study toward the core structure of (-)-apicularen A.

A concise synthetic strategy towards the core structure of (-)-apicularen A has been described in an 11-step synthetic sequence from a known intermediate. The key steps include tandem isomerization followed by C-O and C-C bond-forming reactions and iodocyclization strategies for the synthesis of a bicyclic ether embedded in the macrolactone ring. The applied reagent-controlled Keck-Maruoka allylation, Lin Pu alkynylation and Ricket-Diels-Alder reactions were used to simplify the synthetic sequence of related natural products. An intramolecular Yamaguchi lactonization constructed the macrolactone core, while the attempt to install the C11 hydroxyl chiral centre either under catalytic hydrogenation conditions or oxidative conditions was not successful.

Asymmetric Total Syntheses of Two Possible Diastereomers of Gliomasolide E and Its Structural Elucidation.

The first total syntheses of two possible diastereomers of gliomasolide E, a 14-membered macrolides isolated from the marine sponge Phakellia fusca Thiele, which was collected from the South China Sea, is reported. Highlights of the synthesis include macrolactonization through intramolecular Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination, Yamaguchi-Hirao alkynylation, and base-induced elimination reactions for propargyl alcohol synthesis as the key reactions. Detailed comparison of their 1H and 13C NMR (1D and 2D NMR data) and specific rotation with those of the natural product revealed that the absolute stereochemistry of gliomasolide E should be (2E,5R,7R,9R,13R).

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of the Putative Structure of Diplopyrone.

The first asymmetric total synthesis of the putative structure of diplopyrone was achieved in 17 linear steps starting from cis-1,4-butene-diol. The synthetic route features iodine-catalyzed tandem isomerization followed by C-O and C-C bond formation reaction strategy developed by our own group to construct the trans-2,6-disubstituted dihydropyran ring, asymmetric α-aminoxylation reaction, and Still-Gennari (Z)-selective olefination reactions. Careful comparison of 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic data as well as investigation of the UV and circular dichroism spectrum in trifluoroethanol for compound 2 suggest that the putative structure for diplopyrone {6-[(1S)-1-hydroxyethyl]-2,4a(S),6(R),8a(S)-tetrahydropyran[3,2-b]pyran-2-one} requires revision.

First asymmetric total synthesis of aspergillide D.

The first asymmetric total synthesis of a 16-membered macrolide, aspergillide D, is described. The chiral centers of the acid are derived from d-ribose and the alcohol subunit from 1,8-octane diol through Sharpless kinetic resolution, respectively. The other key reactions include Yamaguchi esterification, ring-closing metathesis reaction, and Shiina macrolactonization to construct the fully functionalized macrocycle.

Gold-catalyzed Hosomi-Sakurai type reaction for the total synthesis of herboxidiene.

Total synthesis of herboxidiene/GEX1A/TAN-1609 has been accomplished in the 22 longest linear sequences starting from 2-butyne-1,4-diol following our recently developed gold-catalyzed Hosomi-Sakurai type of reaction on lactols with allyltrimethyl silane and Stille cross coupling to assemble the advanced fragment. The synthesis of the C10-C19 fragment was accomplished by means of Sharpless epoxidation and asymmetric alkylation reactions starting from (R)-methyl lactate.

Total Synthesis of Tetraketide and Cryptorigidifoliol I via a Sequential Allylation Strategy.

A unified and efficient synthetic route for both tetraketide (1) and cryptorigidifoliol I (2) has been devised successfully from commercially available starting materials in 11 and 17 steps, with 16% and 11% overall yields, respectively. Highlights of the syntheses involved sequential Lewis acid-catalyzed highly regio- and diastereoselective allylations and intramolecular Mitsunobu lactonization.

Synthesis of γ-Acetoxy ß-Keto Esters Through Regioselective Hydration of γ-Acetoxy-α,ß-alkynoates.

The Au(I)-catalyzed regioselective hydration of γ-acetoxy-α,ß-acetylinic ester by the assistance of a neighboring carbonyl group has been developed. Varieties of simple primary, secondary, and tertiary γ-acetoxy-α,ß-acetylinic esters, even those bearing sensitive functional group in the remote reaction sites, are selectively hydrated to the corresponding ß-keto esters. The reaction tolerates a wide variety of other carboxylates, such as benzoates, propionates, acrylates, and pivalates, including chiral carboxylates with retention of the configuration. The broad substrate scope, including the derivatization of complex natural products and neutral and open air conditions, makes this atom economical approach very practical. (18)O labeling experiments disclose that the oxygen transposition occurs from the carboxylate group to the triple bond, not from water.

Highly stereocontrolled synthesis of trans-2,6-disubstituted-5-methyl-3,6-dihydropyrans: stereoselective synthesis of the bicyclic core of penostatin B.

An efficient, mild, and highly diastereoselective strategy for the synthesis of trans-2,6-disubstituted-5-methyl-3,6-dihydropyran ring systems has been developed starting from δ-hydroxy α-methyl α,ß-unsaturated aldehydes and allyltrimethylsilane in the presence of a catalytic amount of ZnBr2 in a highly diastereoselective manner with excellent yield. The versatility of the above method was also demonstrated for the construction of the bicyclic core present in penostatin B in a concise and highly stereoselective manner.

Rugulactone derivatives act as inhibitors of NF-κB activation and modulates the transcription of NF-κB dependent genes in MDA-MB-231cells.

Rugulactone and its analogues were synthesized following Horners-Wadsworth-Emmons and ring-closing metathesis as the key reactions. A library of new rugulactone analogues were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their anticancer activity in breast cancer cells. All analogues have shown anti-proliferative activity, while some of them exhibited significant cytotoxicity. In assays related to cell-cycle distribution, these conjugates induced G1 cell-cycle arrest in MDA-MB-231 cells. The cell cycle arrest nature was further confirmed by examining the effect on Cyclin E and Cdk2 proteins that acts at G1-S phase transition. Immunocytochemistry assay revealed that these compounds inhibited nuclear translocation of NF-κB protein, thereby activation of NF-κB was inhibited. The expression of NF-κB target genes such as Cyclin D1 and Bcl-xL were severely affected. Apart from acting on NF-κB, these compounds also regulate class I Histone deacetylase proteins such as (HDAC-3 and 8) that have a crucial and regulatory role in cell-proliferation. Simultaneously, the apoptotic inducing nature of these compounds was confirmed by activation of PARP protein, a protein that plays a key role in DNA damage and repair pathways. Among all compounds of this series 3g is the most potent compound and can be used for further studies.

The protecting-group directed diastereoselective Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi (NHK) reaction: total synthesis and biological evaluation of zeaenol, 7-epi-zeaenol and its analogues.

The stereoselective total synthesis of zeaenol and 7-epi-zeaenol is achieved in a convergent manner using Julia-Kocienski olefination, protecting group-directed intermolecular diastereoselective Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi (NHK) reaction, De Brabander's lactonization reaction and CBS reduction as the key steps. In this article, we have observed the most suitable protecting groups with respect to selectivity during the protecting group directed intermolecular asymmetric Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi reaction. The zeaenol, 7-epi-zeaenol and its derivatives were analyzed for their biological activity and screened in four cancer cell lines.