Step-Economic Total Synthesis of Melosatin A from Eugenol.

An efficient and straightforward route toward the isatin-type natural product melosatin A is reported, employing a trisubstituted aniline as a key intermediate. The latter was synthesized in 4 steps and 60% overall yield from eugenol, through its regioselective nitration, sequentially followed by a Williamson methylation, an olefin cross-metathesis with 4-phenyl-1-butene and the simultaneous reduction of olefin and nitro groups. The final step, a Martinet cyclocondensation of the key aniline with diethyl 2-ketomalonate, provided the natural product with 68% yield.

Total Synthesis of Waltherione F, a Nonrutaceous 3-Methoxy-4-quinolone, Isolated from Waltheria indica L. F.

Waltherione F was totally synthesized in seven steps and 31% overall yield from 2-nitro-3-methylanisole without the use of protecting groups. Key steps in the sequence were a Suzuki-Miyaura coupling to attach the n-octyl chain and a microwave-promoted cyclization of an acetonyl anthranilate to give the heterocyclic core whose 3-OH was O-methylated.