Stereo-Controlled Synthesis of Vicinal Tertiary Carbinols: Application in the Synthesis of a Diol Substructure of Zaragozic Acid, Pactamycin and Ryanodol.

A novel and flexible approach for the stereo-controlled synthesis of vicinal tertiary carbinols is reported. The developed strategy featured a highly diastereoselective singlet-oxygen (O2 1 ) [4+2] cycloaddition of rationally designed cyclohexadienones (derived from oxidative dearomatization of the corresponding carboxylic-acid appended phenol precursors), followed by programmed "O-O" and "C-C" bond cleavage. In doing so, a highly functionalized and versatile intermediate was identified and prepared in synthetically useful quantity as a plausible precursor to access a variety of designed and naturally occurring vicinal tertiary carbinol containing compounds. Most notably, the developed strategy was successfully applied in the stereo-controlled synthesis of advanced core structures of zaragozic acid, pactamycin and ryanodol.

Late-stage and strain-accelerated oxidation enabled synthesis of haouamine A.

Herein we report a new synthetic entry to the strained cyclophane alkaloid natural product, haouamine A. The successful strategy featured a rhodium-catalyzed diazo-insertion reaction to install the all-carbon quaternary center and a rhodium-catalyzed intramolecular aziridination reaction to establish the nitrogen-bearing stereocenter, of the target molecule. Most notably, a late-stage, site-selective and strain-accelerated oxidation of a "deoxygenated" macrocyclic intermediate was successfully implemented, and in doing so provided a novel solution to the infamous biphenol cyclophane system of haouamine A.

A Local-Desymmetrization-Based Divergent Synthesis of Quinine and Quinidine.

Herein we report a novel synthetic entry to the legendary quinuclidine natural products quinine and quinidine. The developed strategy is based on the use of a symmetrical and nonstereogenic precursor to access quinine and quinidine through a "local-desymmetrization" approach, in stark contrast conceptually to the preparation of stereodefined disubstituted piperidines (or their acyclic precursors) as featured in all past syntheses. The developed strategy also provided quinine and quinidine derivatives that could not be readily obtained through previous total syntheses or by modification of the naturally occurring substances.

A desymmetrization-based approach to morphinans: application in the total synthesis of oxycodone.

Here we report a total synthesis of the pharmacologically significant morphinan alkaloid, oxycodone. The centerpiece of the developed strategy features the first application of the Rovis desymmetrization of peroxyquinol in target-oriented total synthesis to access an optically active phenanthrene framework shared by the morphinans. A Stork-Ueno radical cyclization under photoredox conditions installed the all-carbon quaternary stereocenter, and a late-stage reductive detosylation with concomitant piperidine formation secured the core structure of the target molecule.

A Desymmetrization-Based Total Synthesis of Reserpine.

Reported herein is a desymmetrization-based synthetic approach to the fused polycyclic indole alkaloid reserpine. The centerpiece of the developed strategy features an internal desymmetrization process that enabled the use of a readily accessible and nonstereogenic reserpine E-ring precursor, in contrast to the synthesis-intensive and stereodefined E-ring intermediates employed in all past reserpine syntheses. Utilization of inexpensive reagents through an orchestrated sequence of carefully selected chemical transformations further highlight the overall effectiveness of the developed pathway.

Organocatalytic and Late-Stage CH-Functionalization Enabled Asymmetric Synthesis of Communesin F and Putative Communesins.

Herein we report the total syntheses of communesin F and putative members of the communesin family of polycyclic bis-aminal alkaloids. The successful strategy featured a novel organocatalytic reaction between two oxindole subunits to cast, after extensive optimization, the all-carbon vicinal quaternary stereocenters of the target molecule with high enantiocontrol. The resulting bis-oxindole intermediate further underwent a Ti(O iPr)4-mediated dehydrative skeletal rearrangement to furnish the communesin core structure. Consider the ready availability and low-cost of unsubstituted isatin, and the inferior organocatalytic reaction employing a bromo-substituted substrate, a Pd(OAc)2-catalyzed and oxalamide-directed aryl CH-alkenylation reaction was implemented to assemble the complete skeletal backbone of the target molecule. Collectively, the synthetic technologies disclosed herein constitute the first asymmetric organocatalytic approach to the communesins, together with a highly effective late-stage CH-functionalization in stark contrast to the bromoarene substrates employed in all of the past synthetic work.

Programmed serial stereochemical relay and its application in the synthesis of morphinans.

Herein we report a rationally designed, serial point-to-axial and axial-to-point stereoinduction and its integration into multi-step and target-oriented organic synthesis. In this proof-of-concept study, the configurational stability of several carefully designed atropisomeric intermediates and the fidelity of their unconventional stereoinductions were systematically investigated. The highly functionalized prepared synthetic intermediate was further applied in a novel chemical method to access the morphinans and it is potentially applicable to other structurally related alkaloids.

Total Synthesis of Strychnine.

The total synthesis of the flagship Strychnos indole alkaloid, strychnine, has been accomplished. The developed synthetic sequence features a novel vinylogous 1,4-addition, a challenging iodinium salt mediated silyl enol ether arylation, a palladium-catalyzed Heck reaction, and a streamlined late-stage conversion to strychnine. Furthermore, an application of asymmetric counterion-directed catalysis (ACDC) in the context of target-oriented organic synthesis has been rendered access to an optically active material. The synthetic sequence described herein represents the most concise entry to optically active strychnine to date.

Asymmetric Total Syntheses of Communesin F and a Putative Member of the Communesin Family.

Here we report asymmetric total syntheses of communesin F and a putative member of the communesin family of bis-aminal alkaloid natural products. The successful strategy featured the invention of an asymmetric organocatalytic reaction to unify two oxindole subunits, a Ti(Oi Pr)4 -mediated dehydrative skeletal rearrangement, and a late-stage Pd(OAc)2 -catalyzed directed CH-alkenylation reaction. Collectively, the synthetic technologies disclosed herein enabled the preparation of a late-stage polycyclic intermediate catered for the synthesis of both naturally occurring and designed communesins. More importantly, speculated and yet to be discovered member(s) of the communesin family can now be accessed to facilitate a better understanding of the communesin biosynthetic network.

Total Synthesis of Actinophyllic Acid.

Herein we report a total synthesis of the indolohydroazocine natural product actinophyllic acid. The target molecule was retrosynthetically deconvoluted to render a greatly simplified and symmetrical [4.4.1] bicyclic trienone, the desymmetrization of which was carefully examined under a variety of conditions, including oxidative, reductive, and transition-metal-catalyzed transformations. Ultimately, the successful synthetic strategy featured chemoselective catalytic dihydroxylation, desymmetrizing nitrile oxide dipolar cycloaddition, and palladium-catalyzed aminoarylation to sequentially modify the three olefins within the trienone, followed by a late-stage reductive cascade indolization and alkylation to complete the target molecule.

An Asymmetric Pathway to Dendrobine by a Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Cascade Process.

An asymmetric pathway to the caged tetracyclic pyrrolidine alkaloid, dendrobine, is reported. The successful synthetic strategy features a one-pot, sequential palladium-catalyzed enyne cycloisomerization and rhodium-catalyzed diene-assisted pyrrolidine formation by allylic CH activation. The developed transition-metal-catalyzed cascade process permits rapid access to the dendrobine core structure and circumvents the handling of labile intermediates. An intramolecular aldol condensation under carefully defined reaction conditions takes place with a concomitant detosylation, followed by reductive amine methylation, to afford a late-stage intermediate (previously identified by several prior dendrobine syntheses) in only 10 synthetic steps overall.

Synthesis of the C(18) -norditerpenoid alkaloid neofinaconitine: a lesson in convergent synthesis planning.

Hexacyclic framework: The total synthesis of the complex C18 -norditerpenoid alkaloid neofinaconitine has been achieved by a convergent approach. This remarkable synthesis featured two Diels-Alder cycloadditions and subsequent Mannich-type N-acyliminium and radical cyclizations to establish the unique hexacyclic core structure of the target molecule.

A Mast Cell Degranulation Screening Assay for the Identification of Novel Mast Cell Activating Agents.

The development and use of vaccines and their ability to prevent infection/disease is a shining example of the benefit of biomedical research. Modern vaccines often utilize subunit immunogens that exhibit minimal immunogenicity and require the use of adjuvants to maximize the induction of protective immune responses. We recently described a novel class of vaccine adjuvants, mast cell (MC) activators, that exhibit safe and effective vaccine adjuvant activity when administered by intranasal or intradermal routes. A compound library containing 580 functionalized benzopyrans, a structural motif found in a diverse array of natural and designed bioactive compounds, was screened using a MC degranulation assay to identify novel MC activating compounds for future evaluation as novel vaccine adjuvants. This approach identified 12 novel MC degranulating compounds. Therefore, MC degranulation can be used to reliably detect novel compounds for evaluation as adjuvants for use in mucosal vaccine strategies.

A case study of single-pill combination therapy: the ezetimibe/simvastatin combination for treatment of hyperlipidemia.

In recent years, combination therapy has received growing popularity as a powerful therapeutic tactic for the treatment of diseases. The justifications and benefits of combination therapy are far-reaching, including but not limited to addressing unmet medical needs such as cancer, malaria, and HIV/AIDS, improved clinical efficacy and safety with reduced dosage of a single medication, understanding the underlying science of the disease, alleviating pharmaco-economic impacts, and better drug life-cycle management. Using the ezetimibe/simvastatin combination therapy as a case study, a comprehensive overview of the successful discovery and development of the single-pill combination, Vytorin, is presented in this review. A cursory introduction to combination therapy and the rationale for the ezetimibe/simvastatin combination for the treatment of hyperlipidemia provides an instructive entry point. The discovery and mode of action of simvastatin and ezetimibe monotherapies set the scene for a detailed discussion on the discovery and development of Vytorin, with emphasis on bioequivalency studies, clinical efficacy and safety profile studies, and the economic consequences of the single-pill combination therapy. Large-scale outcome clinical trials are also discussed to demonstrate the long-term effects of Vytorin.

C-H activation: a complementary tool in the total synthesis of complex natural products.

The recent advent of transition-metal mediated C-H activation is revolutionizing the synthetic field and gradually infusing a "C-H activation mind-set" in both students and practitioners of organic synthesis. As a powerful testament of this emerging synthetic tool, applications of C-H activation in the context of total synthesis of complex natural products are beginning to blossom. Herein, recently completed total syntheses showcasing creative and ingenious incorporation of C-H activation as a strategic manoeuver are compared with their "non-C-H activation" counterparts, illuminating a new paradigm in strategic synthetic design.

Recent advances in the total synthesis of cyclopropane-containing natural products.

In this tutorial review, recent advances in the synthesis of cyclopropane-containing natural products are discussed, highlighting the application of novel synthetic methodologies and innovative synthetic strategies in the construction of highly functionalized cyclopropanes. The examples showcased herein aim to inspire students and practitioners of organic synthesis to seek further advances in the chemical synthesis of cyclopropanes, both in the context of target-oriented syntheses and method developments.

The chemistry of the polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols.

With their fascinating biological profiles and stunningly complex molecular architectures, the polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs) have long provided a fertile playing field for synthetic organic chemists. In particular, the recent advent of innovative synthetic methods and strategies together with C-C bond-forming reactions and asymmetric catalysis have revitalized this field tremendously. Consequently, PPAP targets which once seemed beyond reach have now been synthesized. This Review aims to highlight the recent achievements in the total synthesis of PPAPs, as well as notable methods developed for the construction of the bicyclo[3.3.1] core of these chemically and biologically intriguing molecules.

Chemical synthesis of the englerins.

In the long lasting battle against cancer, Nature sometimes gives a helping hand to researchers to find new drugs for the treatment of diseases and improvement of patients' well-being. Englerin A has emerged as a promising anticancer candidate as well as being an exciting synthetic challenge for organic chemists. This focus review summarizes the total syntheses reported to date and the synthetic approaches toward analogues of this fascinating natural product.

Total synthesis of echinopines A and B: exploiting a bioinspired late-stage intramolecular cyclopropanation.

Total synthesis of echinopine A and B have been accomplished, based on a strategy that involved two transition-metal-mediated ene-yne cycloisomerizations. A modified Pd-catalyzed enyne cycloisomerization/intramolecular Diels-Alder cascade rendered a more streamlined synthesis of tricyclic ketone 15, and a Ru-catalyzed ene-yne cycloisomerization/cyclopropanation resembled the late-stage [5/7] → [3/5/5/7] ring-forming sequence in the proposed biosynthetic pathway.

A modular synthesis of salvileucalin B structural domains.

A modular strategy leading to the salvileucalin B core structure has been accomplished. The developed synthetic strategy featured a bioinspired intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction to construct domain "A", REDOX chemistry to functionalize domain "B", and a palladium-mediated cross-coupling to install domain "C". This flexible approach should facilitate further chemical and biological investigations of this fascinating class of compounds.