Total syntheses of the squalene-derived halogenated polyethers ent-dioxepandehydrothyrsiferol and armatol A via bromonium- and Lewis acid-initiated epoxide-opening cascades.

Herein we describe in full our investigations leading to the first total syntheses of ent-dioxepandehydrothyrsiferol and armatol A. Discovery of a bromonium-initiated epoxide-opening cascade enabled novel tactics for constructing key fragments found in both natural products and have led us to revise the proposed biogeneses. Other common features found in the routes include convergent fragment coupling strategies to assemble the natural products' backbones and the use of epoxide-opening cascades for rapid constructions of the fused polyether subunits. Through de novo synthesis of armatol A, we elucidate the absolute and relative configuration of this natural product.

Total synthesis of ent-dioxepandehydrothyrsiferol via a bromonium-initiated epoxide-opening cascade.

In the first total synthesis of ent-dioxepandehydrothyrsiferol, the signature trans-anti-trans 7,7,6-fused tricyclic polyether framework was constructed in a single bromonium-initiated epoxide-opening cascade that incorporates both endo- and exo-selective epoxide openings, each directed by the substitution pattern of the epoxide (methyl groups). This study thus demonstrates the feasibility of a possible biogenesis.

One-pot asymmetric synthesis of either diastereomer of tert-butanesulfinyl-protected amines from ketones.

A one-pot method for the asymmetric synthesis of tert-butanesulfinyl-protected amines is described. Condensation of aryl alkyl and dialkyl ketones with tert-butanesulfinamide followed by in situ reduction with the appropriate reagent provides either diastereomer of the sulfinamide products in good yields and with diastereomeric ratios of up to 99:1.