In pursuit of pestalotiopsin a via zirconocene-mediated ring contraction.

[reaction: see text] An asymmetric route from the epimeric beta-hydroxy esters 4 and 5 to the densely functionalized (+)-10 and (-)-10, respectively, is described. Either cyclobutanol can be made available as the predominant product. The levorotatory antipode has been transformed into the advanced intermediate 21 bearing side chains destined to become incorporated into the cyclononene ring of the title compound (1).

Probing the mechanism of Prins cyclisations and application to the synthesis of 4-hydroxytetrahydropyrans.

Trapping intermediates on the Prins cyclisation pathway with carbon-based nucleophiles has given further insight into factors affecting the acid-mediated reactions of homoallylic alcohols with aldehydes, enabling the design of efficient syntheses of 4-hydroxy-2,6-disubstituted tetrahydropyrans.

Prins cyclizations: labeling studies and application to natural product synthesis.

The first syntheses of two natural products, catechols 1 and 2, isolated from Plectranthus sylvestris (labiatae), are reported. Oxygen-18 labeling studies support the proposed intermediacy of a stabilized benzylic cation in the acid-promoted cyclization of an aldehyde and benzylic homoallylic alcohol possessing an electron-rich aromatic ring. In contrast, with an electron-deficient aromatic ring the pathway via a benzylic cation is only minor. [reaction: see text]

Oxonia-cope rearrangement and side-chain exchange in the Prins cyclization.

[reaction: see text] Evidence is presented here for the mechanism of the Prins cyclization of benzylic homoallylic alcohols, which shows that the outcome of the reaction is dependent upon the substituents on the aromatic ring. The presence of an electron-rich aromatic ring favors an oxonia-Cope rearrangement yielding a symmetrical tetrahydropyran as the major product formed via a side-chain exchange process. In contrast, with electron-deficient aromatic rings the expected 2,4,6-trisubstituted tetrahydropyran is formed.

Stereoselective synthesis of 4-hydroxy-2,3,6-trisubstituted tetrahydropyrans.

[reaction: see text] Reaction of homoallylic alcohols with aldehydes in the presence of TFA gives, after hydrolysis of the ester, 4-hydroxy-2,3,6-trisubstituted tetrahydropyrans with the creation of three new stereocenters in a single-pot process. By varying the aldehyde component, a variety of functionalized side chains are installed at C-2. The utility of this approach is extended to the enantioselective synthesis of tetrahydropyrans with >99% ee.

Pestalotiopsin a. Enantioselective construction of potential building blocks derived from antipodal cyclobutanol intermediates.

D-Glyceraldehyde acetonide has been used as the starting point for accessing the enantiomeric cyclobutanols 11 in optically pure condition. The dextrorotatory enantiomer has been transformed in five steps into the [3.2.0] bicyclic lactone 22. While the deoxygenation of 22 proved to be problematical, the uncyclized variant 25 underwent the Barton process smoothly. These findings guided the related conversion of (-)-11 into 34. Use was also made of ring-closing metathesis to bring about the conversion of (+)-11 into [4.2.0] bicyclic lactone building blocks. In general, all three pathways are efficient and offer the prospect of practical side-chain appendage for the purpose of installing the nine-membered ring of pestalotiopsin A (1).

Pestalotiopsin A. Side chain installation and exhaustive probing of olefin metathesis as a possible tool for elaborating the cyclononene ring.

A program directed toward an asymmetric synthesis of pestalotiopsin A is described. The routing begins with the dextrorotatory cyclobutanol 37, which is combined with the enantiomerically defined building blocks ent-15 and 16. These units are incorporated via stereocontrolled 1,2-nucleophilic addition and anti-aldol coupling, respectively. With these straightforward reactions accomplished, the sequel involved the introduction of terminal double bonds in anticipation of the fact that the (E)-cyclononene substructure could be realized by ring-closing metathesis. This central issue was evaluated with several diene substrates and catalysts, all to no avail. Cross-metathesis experiments involving 59 and 65 with the functionalized heptene 60 revealed a marked difference in the inability to engage interaction with the ruthenium catalyst. This awkwardness could not be skirted.