Total Synthesis of Dynobactin A.

The first total synthesis of the potent antimicrobial agent dynobactin A is disclosed. This synthesis enlists a singular aziridine ring opening strategy to access the two disparate ß-aryl-branched amino acids present within this complex decapeptide. Featuring a number of unique maneuvers to navigate inherently sensitive and epimerizable functional groups, this convergent approach proceeds in only 16 steps (LLS) from commercial materials and should facilitate the synthesis of numerous analogues for medicinal chemistry studies.

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (-)-Zygadenine.

The Veratrum alkaloids are highly complex steroidal alkaloids characterized by their intricate structural and stereochemical features and exhibit a diverse range of pharmacological activities. A new synthetic pathway has been developed to access this family of natural products, which enabled the first total synthesis of (-)-zygadenine. This synthetic route entails the construction of a hexacyclic carbon skeleton through a stereoselective intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction, followed by a radical cyclization. Subsequently, a meticulously designed sequence of redox manipulations was optimized to achieve the de novo synthesis of this highly oxidized Veratrum alkaloid.

Dealkenylative Ni-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Enabled by Tetrazine and Photoexcitation.

A new and general method to functionalize the C(sp3)-C(sp2) bond of alkyl and alkene linkages has been developed, leading to the dealkenylative generation of carbon-centered radicals that can be intercepted to undergo Ni-catalyzed C(sp3)-C(sp2) cross-coupling. This one-pot protocol leverages the easily procured alkene feedstocks for organic synthesis with excellent functional group compatibility without the need for a photoredox catalyst.

Total Synthesis of (-)-Batrachotoxinin A: A Local-Desymmetrization Approach.

An enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-batrachotoxinin A is accomplished based on a key photoredox coupling reaction and the subsequent local-desymmetrization operation. After the expedient assembly of the highly oxidized steroid skeleton, a delicate sequence of redox manipulations was carried out to deliver a late-stage intermediate on gram scale-and ultimately (-)-batrachotoxinin A in an efficient manner.

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)-Wortmannin.

A concise and enantioselective total synthesis of the potent PI3K inhibitor (+)-wortmannin is described. A Pd-catalyzed cascade reaction was first developed to connect a synthon derived from Hajos-Parrish ketone to a furan moiety. The subsequent Friedel-Crafts alkylation of the ß-position of a furan ring to an epoxide was optimized to establish the C10 quaternary center. (+)-Wortmannin was eventually accomplished by transformations following a late-stage oxidation of the furan allylic position. Kinome profiling and in vitro enzymatic assays were performed on 17-ß-hydroxy-wortmannin and an epoxide analogue.

Concise synthesis of the tricyclic skeleton of crotobarin and crotogoudin via a gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization reaction.

A concise synthesis of the tricyclic skeleton of crotobarin and crotogoudin via a gold-catalyzed 1,6-enyne cycloisomerization reaction is reported.