The Formosalides: Structure Determination by Total Synthesis.

Total synthesis allowed the constitution of the cytotoxic marine macrolides of the formosalide family to be confirmed and their previously unknown stereostructure to be assigned with confidence. The underlying blueprint was inherently modular to ensure that each conceivable isomer could be reached. This flexibility derived from the use of strictly catalyst controlled transformations to set the stereocenters, except for the anomeric position, which is under thermodynamic control; as an extra safety measure, all stereogenic centers were set prior to ring closure to preclude any interference of the conformation adopted by the macrolactone rings of the different diastereomers. Late-stage macrocyclization by ring-closing alkyne metathesis was followed by a platinum-catalyzed transannular 6-exo-dig hydroalkoxylation/ketalization to craft the polycyclic frame. The side chain featuring a very labile unsaturation pattern was finally attached to the core by Stille coupling.

Enantio- and Diastereoselective Spiroketalization Catalyzed by Chiral Iridium Complex.

Iridium-(P,olefin) complex-catalyzed enantio- and diastereoselective formation of substituted spiroketals from racemic, allylic carbonates is reported, which enables the installation of multiple stereogenic centers in a single operation. The protocol was effective for the preparation of a collection of spiroketals of various ring sizes and substituents, including heteroatoms with high enantio- and diastereoselectivity. Furthermore, cascade reactions that couple this enantio- and diastereoselective transformation to additional reversible processes have been achieved to exert concomitant stereocontrol over additional stereogenic centers.

A Method for the Late-Stage Formation of Ketones, Acyloins, and Aldols from Alkenylstannanes: Application to the Total Synthesis of Paecilonic Acid†A.

Treatment of alkenylstannanes with Cu(OAc)2 /Et3 N affords the corresponding enol esters or ketones under conditions that proved compatible with many common functionalities; these include groups that would neither survive under the standard Tamao-Fleming conditions for the oxidation of Csp2 -SiR3 bonds nor under the conditions commonly used to oxidize C-B bonds. Chiral centers adjacent to the unveiled carbonyls are not racemized and competing protodestannation is marginal, even if the substrate carries unprotected -OH groups as internal proton sources. Therefore, the procedure is well suited for the preparation of acyloin and aldol derivatives. These enabling virtues are illustrated by a concise approach to the bicyclic lipid paecilonic acid A.

Iridium-catalyzed enantioselective allylic alkylation with functionalized organozinc bromides.

Iridium-catalyzed enantioselective allylic alkylation of branched racemic carbonates with functionalized alkylzinc bromide reagents is described. Enabled by a chiral Ir/(P,olefin) complex, the method described allows allylic substitution with various primary and secondary alkyl nucleophiles with excellent regio- and enantioselectivities. The developed reaction was showcased in a concise, asymmetric synthesis of (-)-preclamol.

Iridium-catalyzed enantioselective allyl-alkene coupling.

The direct Ir-catalyzed cross-coupling between branched, racemic allylic alcohols and simple olefins is described. This transformation is catalyzed by an Ir-(P,olefin) complex and proceeds with high site selectivity and excellent enantioselectivity. The method allows rapid access to various 1,5-dienes or trienes and was used in the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of the γ-secretase modulator JNJ-40418677.

Iridium-catalyzed enantioselective allyl-allylsilane cross-coupling.

An enantioselective allyl-allylsilane cross-coupling involving racemic branched allylic alcohols and allylsilanes is reported. An iridium-(P,olefin) phosphoramidite complex enables the transformation with high regio- and stereoselectivity under operationally simple conditions. The utility of the coupling is demonstrated in a concise catalytic, enantioselective synthesis of a pyrethroid insecticide protrifenbute.

Iridium-catalyzed enantioselective allylic vinylation.

The first example of Ir-catalyzed asymmetric substitution reaction with vinyl trifluoroborates is described. The direct reaction between branched, racemic allylic alcohols and potassium alkenyltrifluoroborates proceeded with high site selectivity and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99%) mediated by an Ir-(P,olefin) complex. This method allows rapid access to various 1,4-dienes or trienes including the biologically active natural products (-)-nyasol and (-)-hinokiresinol.

Iridium-catalyzed enantioselective allylic alkynylation.

No leaving group needed: With an Ir(P,olefin) complex as catalyst, the direct enantioselective allylic alkynylation of secondary allylic alcohols with potassium alkynyltrifluoroborates as alkynylating reagents has been achieved. High levels of enantioselectivity and high yields were achieved with this operationally easy and robust protocol, the use of which was demonstrated in the synthesis of GPR40 receptor agonist AMG 837. cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene.

Total Synthesis and Stereochemical Assignment of (+)-Broussonetine H.

Herein, the first total synthesis and stereochemical assignment of (+)-broussonetine H are reported. The ambiguous stereocenters within different fragments were independently installed through asymmetric methods, namely a diastereo- and enantioselective, iridium-catalyzed spiroketalization and Brown allylation. Finally, convergent merging of the fragments enabled the synthesis of all potential diastereomers, allowing stereochemical assignment of (+)-broussonetine H.