Classic highlights in porphyrin and porphyrinoid total synthesis and biosynthesis.

Porphyrins feature prominently in nature, be it as enzymatic cofactors, electron and exciton shuffles, as photoactive dyes, or as signaling substances. Their involvement in the generation, storage and use of oxygen is pivotal to life, while their photochemical properties are central to the biochemical functioning of plants. When complexed to metals, porphyrins can engage in a multitude of contemporary applications ranging from solar energy generation to serving as catalysts for important chemical reactions. They are also able to function as useful theranostic agents, and as novel materials for a wide range of applications. As such, they are widely considered to be highly valuable molecules, and it almost goes without saying that synthetic organic chemistry has dramatically underpinned all the key advances made, by providing reliable access to them. In fact, strategies for the synthesis of functionalized porphyrins have now reached a state of refinement where pretty well any desired porphyrin can successfully be synthesized with the approaches that are available, including a cornucopia of related macrocycle-modified porphyrinoids. In this review, we are going to illustrate the development of this exciting field by discussing a number of classic syntheses of porphyrins. Our coverage will encompass the natural protoporphyrins and chlorophylls, while also covering general strategies for the synthesis of unsymmetrical porphyrins and chlorins. Various industrial syntheses of porphyrins will also be discussed, as will other routes of great practical importance, and avenues to key porphyrinoids with modified macrocycles. A range of selected examples of contemporary functionalization reactions will be highlighted. The various key syntheses will be described and analyzed from a traditional mechanistic organic chemistry perspective to help student readers, and those who are new to this area. The aim will be to allow readers to mechanistically appreciate and understand how many of these fascinating ring-systems are built and further functionalized.

The O-Directed Free Radical Hydrostannation of Propargyloxy Dialkyl Acetylenes with Ph3 SnH/cat. Et3 B. A Refutal of the Stannylvinyl Cation Mechanism.

In this Personal Account, we will give an overview of the room temperature O-directed free radical hydrostannation reaction of propargylically-oxygenated dialkyl acetylenes with Ph3 SnH and catalytic Et3 B/O2 in PhMe. We will show how this excellent reaction evolved, and how it has since been used to stereoselectively construct the complex trisubstituted olefin regions of three synthetically challenging natural product targets: (+)-pumiliotoxin B, (-)-(3R)-inthomycin C, and (+)-acutiphycin. Throughout this Account, we will pay special attention to highlighting important facets of the I-SnPh3 exchange processes that have so far been used in the various different steric settings that we have addressed, and we will document the range of cross coupling protocols that have critically underpinned the first successful applications of this method in complex natural product total synthesis. Last, but not least, we will comment on various aspects of the O-directed free radical hydrostannation mechanism that have been published by ourselves, and others, and we will discuss all of the factors that can contribute to the observed stereo-and regio-chemical outcomes. We will also challenge and refute the recent non-directed stannylvinyl cation mechanism put forward by Organ, Oderinde and Froese for our reaction, and we will show how it cannot be operating in these exclusively free radical hydrostannations.

Biosynthetic chlorination of the piperazate residue in kutzneride biosynthesis by KthP.

Kutznerides 2 and 8 of the cyclic hexadepsipeptide family of antifungal natural products from the soil actinomycete Kutzneria sp. 744 contain two sets of chlorinated residues, a 6,7-dichlorohexahydropyrroloindole moiety derived from dichlorotryptophan and a 5-chloropiperazate moiety, as well as a methylcyclopropylglycine residue that may arise from isoleucine via a cryptic chlorination pathway. Previous studies identified KtzD, KtzQ, and KtzR as three halogenases in the kutzneride pathway but left no candidate for installing the C5 chlorine on piperazate. On the basis of analysis of the complete genome sequence of Kutzneria, we now identify a fourth halogenase in the pathway whose gene is separated from the defined kutzneride cluster by 12 open reading frames. KthP (kutzneride halogenase for piperazate) is a mononuclear nonheme iron halogenase that acts on the piperazyl ring tethered by a thioester linkage to the holo forms of thiolation domains. MS analysis of the protein-bound product confirmed chlorination of the piperazate framework from the (3S)- but not the (3R)-piperazyl-S-pantetheinyl thiolation proteins. After thioesterase-mediated release, nuclear magnetic resonance was used to assign the free imino acid as (3S,5S)-5-chloropiperazate, distinct from the 3S,5R stereoisomer reported in the mature kutznerides. These results demonstrate that a fourth halogenase, KthP, is active in the kutzneride biosynthetic pathway and suggest further processing of the (3S,5S)-5-chloropiperazate during subsequent incorporation into the kutzneride depsipeptide frameworks.

EPR evidence for α-triphenylstannylvinyl radicals in the O-directed hydrostannation of dialkylacetylenes with Ph3SnH/cat. Et3B/O2.

Here we provide definitive EPR evidence for the existence of α-triphenylstannylvinyl radicals in the low temperature O-directed free radical hydrostannation of dialkyl propargylic alcohols with Ph3SnH/cat. Et3B and O2 in PhMe. Isotropic hyperfine splitting patterns and spectral simulations confirm the assignments made. In the case of the α-triphenylstannylvinyl radical (Z)-2, an isotopic 119/117Sn hyperfine coupling constant of 9.5 mT (95 G) was measured along with a 1Hß hyperfine coupling constant of 1.1 mT.

Agelastatin A: a novel inhibitor of osteopontin-mediated adhesion, invasion, and colony formation.

Effective inhibitors of osteopontin (OPN)-mediated neoplastic transformation and metastasis are still lacking. (-)-Agelastatin A is a naturally occurring oroidin alkaloid with powerful antitumor effects that, in many cases, are superior to cisplatin in vitro. In this regard, past comparative assaying of the two agents against a range of human tumor cell lines has revealed that typically (-)-agelastatin A is 1.5 to 16 times more potent than cisplatin at inhibiting cell growth, its effects being most pronounced against human bladder, skin, colon, and breast carcinomas. In this study, we have investigated the effects of (-)-agelastatin A on OPN-mediated malignant transformation using mammary epithelial cell lines. Treatment with (-)-agelastatin A inhibited OPN protein expression and enhanced expression of the cellular OPN inhibitor, Tcf-4. (-)-Agelastatin A treatment also reduced beta-catenin protein expression and reduced anchorage-independent growth, adhesion, and invasion in R37 OPN pBK-CMV and C9 cell lines. Similar effects were observed in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-435s human breast cancer cell lines exposed to (-)-agelastatin A. Suppression of Tcf-4 by RNA interference (short interfering RNA) induced malignant/invasive transformation in parental benign Rama 37 cells; significantly, these events were reversed by treatment with (-)-agelastatin A. Our study reveals, for the very first time, that (-)-agelastatin A down-regulates beta-catenin expression while simultaneously up-regulating Tcf-4 and that these combined effects cause repression of OPN and inhibition of OPN-mediated malignant cell invasion, adhesion, and colony formation in vitro. We have also shown that (-)-agelastatin A inhibits cancer cell proliferation by causing cells to accumulate in the G(2) phase of cell cycle.

Fast ring-opening of an intermediary α-stannyl-ß-cyclopropylvinyl radical does not support formation of an α-stannylvinyl cation in the O-directed free radical hydrostannation of dialkyl acetylenes.

O-directed hydrostannation of ß-cyclopropyl propargyl alcohol 22 with stannanes and cat. Et3B in THF/H2O or PhMe/MeOH fails to deliver any detectable products of α-stannylvinyl cation capture. Instead only α-stannyl-ß-cyclopropylvinyl radical intermediates can be detected, which undergo fast H-atom abstraction and/or cyclopropane ring-opening as a result of eliminative ß-scission.

Asymmetric total synthesis and formal total synthesis of the antitumor sesquiterpenoid (+)-eremantholide A.

[structure: see text]. A new asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-eremantholide A is reported in which a Hoveyda-Grubbs ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction is used to assemble the nine-membered oxonin ring, and an enolate alkylation between the 3(2H)-furanone 2 and O-triflate 3 is exploited for C(9)-C(10) bond construction. An Evans asymmetric aldol reaction and a Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation served to stereoselectively install the C(6), C(7), and C(8) stereocenters of the target structure.

Enantioselective formal total synthesis of the antitumor macrolide bryostatin 7.

A new enantioselective synthesis of Masamune's AB fragment (1) for bryostatin 7 is described. Key steps in the new route include a Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley reduction to set the O(7) stereocenter and an alkylative union between the dithiane 6 and iodide 5 to construct the C(9)-C(10) bond. Because we have previously published a synthesis of Masamune's C-ring phenyl sulfone 2, our new route to 1 constitutes a formal total synthesis of bryostatin 7; it also corrects the previously reported spectral data for 1 in CDCl3.

Total Synthesis of the Antitumor Macrolides, (+)-Brefeldin A and 4-Epi-Brefeldin A from d-Glucose: Use of the Padwa Anionic Allenylsulfone [3 + 2]-Cycloadditive Elimination To Construct Trans-Configured Chiral Cyclopentane Systems.

A new synthesis of (+)-brefeldin A is reported via Padwa allenylsulfone [3 + 2]-cycloadditive elimination. Cycloadduct 13 was initially elaborated into iodide 27, which, following treatment with Zn, gave aldehyde 28 whose C(9) stereocenter was epimerized. Further elaboration into enoate 38 and Julia-Kocienski olefination with 5 subsequently afforded 39, which was deprotected at C(1) and O(15). Yamaguchi macrolactonization of the seco-acid thereafter afforded a macrocycle that underwent O-desilylation and inversion at C(4) to give (+)-brefeldin A following deprotection.

Total Synthesis of the GRP78-Downregulatory Macrolide (+)-Prunustatin A, the Immunosuppressant (+)-SW-163A, and a JBIR-04 Diastereoisomer That Confirms JBIR-04 Has Nonidentical Stereochemistry to (+)-Prunustatin A.

A unified total synthesis of the GRP78-downregulator (+)-prunustatin A and the immunosuppressant (+)-SW-163A based upon [1 + 1 + 1 + 1]-fragment condensation and macrolactonization between O(4) and C(5) is herein described. Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation was used to set the C(2) stereocenter present in both targets. In like fashion, coupling of the (+)-prunustatin A macrolide amine with benzoic acid furnished a JBIR-04 diastereoisomer whose NMR spectra did not match those of JBIR-04, thus confirming that it has different stereochemistry than (+)-prunustatin A.

On the stereospecific conversion of proximally-oxygenated trisubstituted vinyltriphenylstannanes into stereodefined trisubstituted alkenes.

[reaction: see text] Allylically oxygenated vinyl alpha-triphenylstannanes such as 22 can be readily converted into vinyl iodides and thereafter stereodefined trisubstituted alkenes with retention of configuration.

Mechanistic studies on the O-directed free-radical hydrostannation of disubstituted acetylenes with Ph3SnH and Et3B and on the iodination of allylically oxygenated alpha-triphenylstannylalkenes.

[reaction: see text] The free-radical hydrostannation of 1 with Ph(3)SnH and catalytic Et(3)B in PhMe has been mechanistically probed. At high Ph(3)SnH concentrations, the O-directed hydrostannation pathway dominates, and 2 is formed with good selectivity (ca. 11.1:1). Substantially lower stannane/substrate concentrations increase the amount of tandem 5-exo-trig cyclization product 3 that is observed.

O-Directed free-radical hydrostannations of propargyl ethers, acetals, and alcohols with Ph3SnH and Et3B.

[reaction: see text] The O-directed hydrostannation of various propargyloxy substrates is reported with Ph(3)SnH/Et(3)B.

Total Synthesis of the Potent HIF-1 Inhibitory Antitumor Natural Product, (8R)-Mycothiazole, via Baldwin-Lee CsF/CuI sp(3)-sp(2)-Stille Cross-Coupling. Confirmation of the Crews Reassignment.

A convenient asymmetric total synthesis of the potent HIF-1 inhibitory antitumor natural product, (-)- or (+)-(8R)-mycothiazole (1), is described. Not only does our synthesis confirm the 2006 structural reassignment made by Crews ( Crews , P. , et al. J. Nat. Prod. 2006 , 69 , 145 ), it revises the [α]D data previously reported for this molecule in MeOH from -13.7° to +42.3°. The newly developed route to (8R)-1 sets the C(8)-OH stereocenter via Sharpless AE/2,3-epoxy alcohol reductive ring opening and utilizes two Baldwin-Lee CsF/cat. CuI Stille cross-coupling reactions with vinylstannanes 8 and 3 to efficiently elaborate the C(1)-C(4) and C(14)-C(18) sectors.

Carreira alkynylations with paraformaldehyde. a mild and convenient protocol for the hydroxymethylation of complex base-sensitive terminal acetylenes via alkynylzinc triflates.

A new synthetic protocol for the hydroxymethylation of terminal acetylenes is described that involves stoichiometric Carreira alkynylation with solid paraformaldehyde (HO[CH2O]nH) in PhMe at 60 °C. Significantly, the method can be successfully applied on acetylenes that possess base-sensitive ester functionality and heterocyclic rings that readily undergo metalation. While N-methylephedrine (NME) is generally the best Zn(OTf)2-coordinating ligand for promoting hydroxymethylation, TMEDA can serve as a replacement.

Rules and stereoelectronic guidelines for the anionic nucleophilic displacement of furanoside and furanose O-sulfonates.

Rules for predicting anionic SN2 displacement viability in furanose and furanoside sulfonates are presented.

Synthetic route to the GE3 cyclodepsipeptide.

[reaction: see text] A reasonably efficient [2 + 2 + 2] fragment condensation strategy has been developed for assembling the cyclodepsipeptide sector of GE3 that involves 5-7. A Carpino HATU-mediated macrolactamization was used to close the 19-membered cyclodepsipeptide ring.

New, abridged pathway to Masamune's "southern hemisphere" intermediate for the total synthesis of bryostatin 7.

[reaction: see text] The "Southern Hemisphere" intermediate 2, used by Masamune and co-workers for their asymmetric total synthesis of bryostatin 7 (1), has been synthesized from (E)-1,4-hexadiene (11) by a 24-step pathway that has a longest linear sequence of only 20 steps. This is the shortest synthesis of 2 so far recorded, and moreover, it is fully stereocontrolled.