Intramolecular Alkyne-de Mayo Reaction Using the Enol Methylene Acetal Linker: Experimental Implementation and Computational Simulation.

The enol-linked intramolecular alkyne-de Mayo reaction is a photochemically triggered cascade reaction suitable for the synthesis of substituted dihydrotropones by two-carbon ring expansion of enol ethers of cyclopentane-1,3-dion. We report on the implementation of the methylene acetal linker and the isolation of the initial (2 + 2) photocycloadduct in substances. We have investigated in depth the modus operandi of the ring-opening of the π-donor-π-acceptor cyclobutene derivatives by computational chemistry.

Total Synthesis and Structural Assignment of (-)-Fusaequisin A.

(-)-Fusaequisin A is an irregularly assembled polyketide isolated from the ascomycete Fusarium equiseti. Fusaequisin A shares a carbon backbone with curvicollide C from the ascomycete Podospora curvicolla but its absolute configuration remained hitherto unsettled. Herein, we document the total synthesis of (-)-fusaequisin A and its 4-O-desmethyl derivative following a central-to-lateral building block strategy. Catalytic asymmetric Claisen rearrangement, Julia-Kocienski olefination and olefin cross-metathesis served as key C/C-connecting transformations. The constitution and absolute configuration of (-)-fusaequisin A was deduced and the original structural assignment was adjusted.

(2R,4S,5S)-5-Meth-oxy-4-methyl-3-oxohept-6-en-2-yl benzoate.

The title compound, C16H20O4, was synthesized in the course of the total synthesis of fusaequisin A in order to verify and confirm the configurations of the stereogenic centers and to exclude the possibility of epimerization during the methyl-ation process. The crystal structure of the title compound at 100 K has ortho-rhom-bic (P212121) symmetry. The absolute configuration was determined by anomalous dispersion and agrees with the configuration of the allylic alcohol used in the synthesis.

Photochemical Approach to the Cyclohepta[b]indole Scaffold by Annulative Two-Carbon Ring-Expansion.

We report on the implementation of the concept of a photochemically elicited two-carbon homologation of a π-donor-π-acceptor substituted chromophore by triple-bond insertion. Implementing a phenyl connector between the slide-in module and the chromophore enabled the synthesis of cylohepta[b]indole-type building blocks by a metal-free annulative one-pot two-carbon ring expansion of the five-membered chromophore. Post-irradiative structural elaboration provided founding members of the indolo[2,3-d]tropone family of compounds. Control experiments in combination with computational chemistry on this multibond reorganization process founded the basis for a mechanistic hypothesis.

Synthesis of a Diastereomer of the Marine Macrolide Lytophilippine A.

The synthesis of a diastereomer of lytophilippine A required 22 longest linear steps using known building blocks. Cross-metathesis/asymmetric aldol addition and regioselective esterification/ring-closing metathesis served as efficient combi tools for scaffold construction. Detailed NMR investigations in different solvent (systems) provide evidence for a deep-seated configurational misassignment of the molecule named lytophilippine A.

Development of an Alkyne Analogue of the de†Mayo Reaction: Synthesis of Medium-Sized Carbacycles and Cyclohepta[b]indoles.

Embedded medium-sized carbacycles and cyclohepta[b]indoles occur frequently as scaffold elements in natural products and bioactive compounds. Described herein is a conceptionally novel photochemically triggered cascade process to these scaffolds. Key to the cascading ring-expansion process is an unprecedented intramolecular alkyne analogue of the de Mayo reaction.

Progress toward the Total Synthesis of Gukulenin A: Photochemically Triggered Two-Carbon Ring Expansion Key to α-Tropolonic Ether Synthesis.

The ex-chiral-pool synthesis of an advanced gukulenin A precursor from (-)-piperitone is revealed. Key C/C connecting maneuvers to the synthesis of a C2 dissymmetric bis(α-tropolonic) ether building block are a ring-contracting Meinwald rearrangement, a photochemically triggered two-carbon ring expansion, and a homodimerization by cross-metathesis.

Synthesis of Homoverrucosanoid-Derived Esters and Evaluation as MDR Modulators.

The synthesis of the A-B-cis,B-C-trans-annulated cyclohepta[e]hydrindane core of a gagunin E analogue is reported in detail. The tricarbocyclic scaffold was assembled starting from an easily accessible A ring building block by a (4 + 2)-cycloaddition for annulation of the B ring. A ring-closing metathesis served for construction of the seven-membered C ring. The angular methyl groups were attached by electrophilic cyclopropanation-ring opening. A library based on the most active lead compound was made accessible by esterification of the terpenols with commercially available acids. A transannular etherification reaction gave access to tetracyclic derivatives of the synthetic inhibitors. The members of the compound library of non-natural homoverrucosanoid-derived esters were examined as modulators of the membrane transporter proteins ABCB1 (P-gp), ABCG2 (BCRP), and ABCC1 (MRP1), which are involved in the formation of multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer chemotherapy.

Total Synthesis and Structural Assignment of Curvicollide C.

The first total synthesis of (+)-curvicollide C has been accomplished. Cross-metathesis and Julia-Kocienski olefination were instrumental in the synthesis of 1,3-diene segments and allowed for a ternary-convergent synthetic design. A full structural assignment is proposed for (-)-curvicollide C, a uniquely structured polyketide of fungal origin.

Synthesis of the Cyclohepta[e]hydrindane Core of the Marine Homoverrucosane Diterpenoid Gagunin E.

The synthesis of the A-B-cis B-C-trans annulated cyclohepta[e]hydrindane core of gagunin E with a fully elaborated B-C ring segment has been achieved. Using an adaptable A ring building block, the B ring was annulated by (4 + 2)-cycloaddition and the C ring by ring-closing metathesis. The angular methyl groups were attached by electrophilic cyclopropanation-ring opening.

Crystal structure of rac-(3aR,4S,5aR,6S,9R,10aS,10bR)-3a,5a,9-tri-methyl-tetra-deca-hydro-6,9-ep-oxy-cyclo-hepta-[e]inden-4-ol monohydrate.

The title hydrate, C17H28O2·H2O, was synthesized in order to determine the relative configuration of the tetra-cyclic framework. The fused 5,6,7-tricarbocyclic core exhibits an entire cis-annulation, featuring a 1,4-cis-relation of the angular methyl groups in the six-membered ring. The oxa bridge of the ep-oxy-cyclo-heptane moiety is oriented towards the concave face of the boat-shaped mol-ecule, whereas the angular methyl groups are directed towards the convex face. The asymmetric unit of the crystal contains two nearly identical formula units, which are related via a pseudo-centre of symmetry. The structure could be solved in the space groups I-4 and I41/a. The refinement in the acentric space group, however, gave significantly better results and these are used in this paper. O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds are observed between the organic mol-ecules, between the organic mol-ecules and the water mol-ecules, and between the water mol-ecules, forming a chain along the c-axis direction.

Crystal structure of (E)-N'-{[(1R,3R)-3-isopropyl-1-methyl-2-oxo-cyclo-pent-yl]methyl-idene}-4-methyl-benzene-sulfono-hydrazide.

The title compound, C17H24N2O3S, was synthesized in order to determine the relative configuration of the corresponding ß-keto aldehyde. In the U-shaped mol-ecule, the five-membered ring approximates an envelope with the methyl-ene atom adjacent to the quaternary C atom being the flap. The dihedral angles between the four nearly coplanar atoms of the five-membered ring and the flap and the aromatic ring are 38.8 (4) and 22.9 (2)°, respectively. The bond angles around the S atom are in the range 104.11 (16)-119.95 (16)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked via N-H⋯O by hydrogen bonds, forming a chain along the a-axis direction.

Crystal structure of 4-(4-meth-oxy-phen-oxy)benzaldehyde.

The title compound, C14H12O3, was synthesized via the nucleophilic addition of 4-meth-oxy-phenol to 4-fluoro-benzaldehyde. The dihedral angle between the least-squares planes of the benzene rings is 71.52 (3)° and the C-O-C angle at the central O atom is 118.82 (8)°. In the crystal, weak C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the molecules to generate supra-molecular layers in the bc plane. The layers are linked by weak C-H⋯π inter-actions.

Crystal structure of N'-[(E)-(1S,3R)-(3-isopropyl-1-methyl-2-oxo-cyclo-pent-yl)methyl-idene]-4-methyl-benzene-sulfono-hydrazide.

The title compound, C17H24N2O3S, was synthesized in order to determine the relative configuration of the corresponding ß-keto aldehyde. In the U-shaped mol-ecule, the five-membered ring approximates an envelope, with the methyl-ene C atom adjacent to the quaternary C atom being the flap, and the methyl and isopropyl substituents lying to the same side of the ring. The dihedral angles between the four nearly coplanar atoms of the five-membered ring and the flap and the aromatic ring are 35.74 (15) and 55.72 (9)°, respectively. The bond angles around the S atom are in the range from 103.26 (12) to 120.65 (14)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked via N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a chain along the a axis.

Cyclopentanoids by uncatalyzed intramolecular carbonyl ene (ICE) reaction of α-keto esters.

The uncatalyzed intramolecular carbonyl ene (ICE) reaction of substituted ε,ζ-unsaturated α-keto esters to terpenoid-related building blocks has been studied. We found a beneficial effect of a silyl substituent at the ene segment on the kinetics of the ICE reaction. A generalizable and scalable synthesis of ε,ζ-unsaturated α-keto esters from allylic alcohols was developed.

Catalytic asymmetric Claisen rearrangement of Gosteli-type allyl vinyl ethers: total synthesis of (-)-9,10-dihydroecklonialactone B.

The enantioselective synthesis of (-)-9,10-dihydroecklonialactone B is described. The catalytic asymmetric Claisen rearrangement of a Gosteli-type allyl vinyl ether was utilized to afford an acyclic α-keto ester building block endowed with functionality amenable to the preparation of the carbocyclic target molecule by suitable postrearrangement transformations: A highly diastereoselective Corey-Bakshi-Shibata reduction of a ß-chiral α-keto ester and a reductive homologation of an α-hydroxy ester. A transprotection tactic by a chemoselective intramolecular 6-exo-trig iodoetherification enabled regioselective ring-closing alkene metatheses to afford the 5- as well as the 14-membered ring, however, with mixed success in terms of E/Z selectivity.

Total synthesis of (-)-ecklonialactone B.

The total synthesis of (-)-ecklonialactone B as well as the 9,10-dihydro derivative by two different strategies is reported. The catalytic asymmetric Claisen rearrangement of Gosteli-type allyl vinyl ethers delivered elaborated α-keto ester building blocks. Ring-closing metatheses, including a notable diastereotopos-differentiating variant, a B-alkyl Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction and a regio- and diastereoselective last-step epoxidation are key contributors.

{1,6}-Transannular catalytic asymmetric Gosteli-Claisen rearrangement.

The first uncatalyzed and [Cu(R-box)L(2)](SbF(6))(2)-catalyzed {1,6}-transannular Gosteli-Claisen rearrangement of cyclic 2-alkoxycarbonyl-substituted allyl vinyl ethers to afford medium- and large-sized carbacycles is disclosed.

Palladium(II)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of substituted 1,5-hexadienes: a combined experimental and computational study on an open and an interrupted hydropalladation/carbopalladation/ß-hydride elimination (HCHe) catalytic cycle.

The Pd(II)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of 3-alkoxycarbonyl-3-hydroxy-substituted 1,5-hexadienes has been studied experimentally and computationally. Experimentally, the reaction is characterized by a rapid room temperature formation of monomeric as well as dimeric cycloisomerization products using the commercially available precatalyst [(CH(3)CN)(4)Pd](BF(4))(2). In situ NMR measurements indicate the initial kinetic advantage of the desired cycloisomerization pathway to methylene cyclopentanes; however, double bond isomerization, elimination, and dimer formation are competitive undesired pathways. Evaluation of the obtained product structures by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography indicates that the sole determinant for the monomer/dimer ratio is the regioselectivity of the initial hydropalladation in favor of the allylic (monomer formation) or the homoallylic double bond (dimer formation). In order to account for the experimental results, we propose the coexistence of two product-forming catalytic cycles, an open, monomer generating, as well as an interrupted and redirected, dimer generating, hydropalladation/carbopalladation/ß-hydride elimination (HCHe) process. Results from computational studies of the proposed competing catalytic cycles are supportive to our mechanistic hypothesis and pinpoint the pivotal importance of Pd(II)-hydroxo-chelate complexes for the reactivity-stability interplay of on- and off-pathway intermediates.

Triphen-yl(prop-2-yn-1-yl)silane.

In the title compound, C(21)H(18)Si, the coordination geometry around the Si atom is a slightly distorted tetra-hedron with C-Si-C angles in the range 106.05 (11) to 110.58 (10) ° and Si-C bond lengths in the range 1.855 (2) to 1.883 (3) Å. The alkyne C-C bond length is 1.167 (4) Å. The dihedral angles between the three phenyl rings are 63.89 (7), 86.38 (7) and 70.51 (8)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules inter-act only by van der Waals forces.