Divergent Synthesis of Revised Apratoxin E, 30-epi-Apratoxin E, and 30S/30R-Oxoapratoxin E.

In this report, originally proposed apratoxin E (30S-7), revised apratoxin E (30R-7), and (30S)/(30R)-oxoapratoxin E (30S)-38/(30R)-38 were efficiently prepared by two synthetic methods. The chiral lactone 10, recycled from the degradation of saponin glycosides, was utilized to prepare the key nonpeptide fragment 9. Our alternative convergent assembly strategy was applied to the divergent synthesis of revised apratoxin E and its three analogues. Moreover, ring-closing metathesis (RCM) was for the first time found to be an efficient strategy for the macrocyclization of apratoxins.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Apratoxin E.

An efficient method for asymmetric synthesis of apratoxin E 2 is described in this report. The chiral lactone 8, recycled from the degradation of saponin glycosides, was utilized to prepare the non-peptide fragment 6. In addition to this "from nature to nature" strategy, olefin cross-metathesis (CM) was applied as an alternative approach for the formation of the double bond. Moreover, pentafluorophenyl diphenylphosphinate was found to be an efficient condensation reagent for the macrocyclization.

Divergent Method to trans-5-Hydroxy-6-alkynyl/alkenyl-2-piperidinones: Syntheses of (-)-Epiquinamide and (+)-Swainsonine.

An efficient diastereoselective approach to access trans-5-hydroxy-6-alkynyl/alkenyl-2-piperidinones has been developed through nucleophilic addition of α-chiral aldimines using alkynyl/alkenyl Grignard reagents. The diastereoselectivity of alkenyl in C-6 position of 2-piperidinone was controlled by α-alkoxy substitution, while the alkynyl was controlled by the coordination of the α-alkoxy substitution and stereochemistry of sulfinamide. The utility of this straightforward cascade process is demonstrated by the asymmetric synthesis of the (-)-epiquinamide and (+)-swainsonine.

Radical migration-addition of N-tert-butanesulfinyl imines with organozinc reagents.

A novel migration-addition sequence was discovered for the reaction of enantioenriched N-tert-butanesulfinyl iminoacetate 1a with functionalized benzylzinc bromide reagents, producing tert-leucine derivatives in excellent diastereoselectivity (dr 98:2). The absolute configurations of two new chiral centers were unambiguously assigned by chemical transformations and X-ray crystallography. In addition, the regio- and diastereoselectivities of this novel reaction were both explained through the key N-sulfinamine intermediate M6 generated by the tert-butyl radical attack on the imine. Computational analysis of this reaction process, which was performed at the B3LYP/6-311++G(3df,2p)//B3LYP/6-31G*-LANL2DZ level, also supported our proposed two-stage mechanism.

Diverse synthesis of marine cyclic depsipeptide lagunamide A and its analogues.

The asymmetric total synthesis of lagunamide A (3.0%, 20 steps longest linear sequence) and its five analogues, including the structure dehydrated at the C37 position, are detailed in this report. The key feature in this diverse synthesis includes the elaboration of four consecutive chiral centers at C37-40 and the final macrocyclization. Starting from chiral aldehyde 10, we synthesized both 1,3-anti and 1,3-syn homoallylic alcohols 20a and 20b through asymmetric aldol condensation and stereoselective allylation. The following esterification to introduce the L-N-Me-Ala unit resulted in significant epimerization. This problem was finally overcome by coupling the alcohols with the corresponding acid chloride of the L-alanine derivative. The key α,ß-unsaturated carboxylic acid unit was produced by cross-metathesis (CM) of methacrylaldehyde and related olefins. Interestingly, we found that the C7 configuration dramatically affected the ring closure. Natural lagunamide A (1a), its 39-epimer (1c), and its 2-epimer (1d) were obtained through macrolactamization between alanine and isoleucine moieties.

Highly Enantioselective Rhodium-Catalyzed Cross-Addition of Silylacetylenes to Cyclohexadienone-Tethered Internal Alkynes.

The first highly enantioselective rhodium-catalyzed cross-addition of silylacetylenes to cyclohexadienone-tethered internal alkynes has been achieved via a tandem process: regioselective alkynylation of the internal alkynes and subsequent intramolecular conjugate addition to the cyclohexadienones, affording the cis-hydrobenzofuran frameworks with good yields (up to 88% yield) and excellent enantioselectivities (90%-96% ee). This mild reaction showed perfect atom economy and broad functional group tolerance. Furthermore, a gram-scale experiment and diverse further conversions of the cyclization products were also presented.

Regio- and Stereoselective Cascades via Aldol Condensation and 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition for Construction of Functional Pyrrolizidine Derivatives.

An efficient and step-economical approach to access functionalized pyrrolizidine derivatives by a one-pot tandem sequence, including an aldol condensation and subsequent 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition process, has been developed, starting from acetone, aldehyde, and proline. A number of substituted aromatic aldehydes were amenable to this transformation, and the desired products, racemic 7a-7w and chiral 9a-9m, were obtained with excellent regioselectivities and outstanding diastereoselectivities. Moreover, in situ NMR studies revealed MgSO4 could effectively promote the aldol condensation pathway in this tandem process.

Practical Asymmetric Synthesis of Amathaspiramides B, D, and F.

The practical asymmetric synthesis of amathaspiramides B, D, and F has been accomplished by utilizing an aza-Barbier allylation as the key step to construct the common intermediate with two adjacent stereocenters. A kinetically controlled cyclization to build the challenging thermodynamically less stable 8R-hemiaminal moiety is also important in the synthesis of amathaspiramide D. The route is readily scalable, and gram quantity of the final product D has been prepared.

One-pot enantioselective construction of indoloquinolizidine derivatives bearing five contiguous stereocenters using aliphatic aldehydes, nitroethylenes, and tryptamine.

An organocatalytic cascade reaction was established for the construction of indoloquinolizidine derivatives bearing five contiguous stereocenters from readily available aliphatic aldehydes, nitroethylenes, and tryptamine. This one-pot process gave 30-55% overall yields with excellent d.r. (>20 : 1 in all cases) and ee (91-98%). Additionally, quaternary stereogenic carbon center-containing indoloquinolizidines were prepared through NBS-mediated cyclization of one of the intermediates.

Copper-catalyzed asymmetric hydroboration of α-dehydroamino acid derivatives: facile synthesis of chiral ß-hydroxy-α-amino acids.

The Cu-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate hydroboration reaction of ß-substituted α-dehydroamino acid derivatives has been established, affording enantioenriched syn- and anti-ß-boronate-α-amino acid derivatives with excellent combined yields (83-99%, dr ≈ 1:1) and excellent enantioselectivities (92-98% ee). The hydroboration products were expediently converted into valuable ß-hydroxy-α-amino acid derivatives, which were widely used in the preparation of chiral drugs and bioactive molecules.

A highly effective one-pot synthesis of quinolines from o-nitroarylcarbaldehydes.

A highly effective one-pot Friedländer quinoline synthesis using inexpensive reagents has been developed. o-Nitroarylcarbaldehydes were reduced to o-aminoarylcarbaldehydes with iron in the presence of catalytic HCl (aq.) and subsequently condensed in situ with aldehydes or ketones to form mono- or di-substituted quinolines in high yields (66-100%).