Total synthesis

About: Total synthesis is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 25578 publications have been published within this topic receiving 489319 citations.

Total Syntheses of the Actin‐Binding Macrolides Latrunculin A, B, C, M, S and 16‐epi‐Latrunculin B

Abstract: The latrunculins are highly selective actin-binding marine natural products and as such play an important role as probe molecules for chemical biology. A short, concise and largely catalysis-based approach to this family of bioactive macrolides is presented. Specifically, the macrocyclic skeletons of the targets were forged by ring-closing alkyne metathesis (RCAM) or enyne–yne metathesis of suitable diyne or enyne–yne precursors, respectively. This transformation was best achieved with the aid of [(tBu)(Me2C6H3)N]3Mo (37) as precatalyst activated in situ with CH2Cl2, as previously described. This catalyst system is strictly chemoselective for the triple bond and does not affect the olefinic sites of the substrates. Moreover, the molybdenum-based catalyst turned out to be broader in scope than the Schrock alkylidyne complex [(tBuO)3WCCMe3] (38), which afforded cycloalkyne 35 in good yield but failed in closely related cases. The required metathesis precursors were assembled in a highly convergent fashion from three building blocks derived from acetoacetate, cysteine, and (+)-citronellene. The key fragment coupling can either be performed via a titanium aldol reaction or, preferentially, by a sequence involving a Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons olefination followed by a protonation/cyclization/diastereoselective hydration cascade. Iron-catalyzed CC-bond formations were used to prepare the basic building blocks in an efficient manner. This synthesis blueprint gave access to latrunculin B (2), its naturally occurring 16-epimer 3, as well as the even more potent actin binder latrunculin A (1) in excellent overall yields. Because of the sensitivity of the 1,3-diene motif of the latter, however, the judicious choice of protecting groups and the proper phasing of their cleavage was decisive for the success of the total synthesis. Since latrunculin A and B had previously been converted into latrunculin S, C and M, respectively, formal total syntheses of these congeners have also been achieved. Finally, a previously unknown acid-catalyzed degradation pathway of these bioactive natural products is described. The cysteine-derived ketone 18, the tetrahydropyranyl segment 31 serving as the common synthesis platform for the preparation of all naturally occurring latrunculins, as well as the somewhat strained cycloalkyne 35 formed by the RCAM reaction en route to 2 were characterized by X-ray crystallography.

Total Synthesis of (±)‐Gephyrotoxin by Amide‐Selective Reductive Nucleophilic Addition

Abstract: A chemoselective approach for the total synthesis of (±)-gephyrotoxin has been developed. The key to success was the utilization of N-methoxyamides, which enabled the direct coupling of the amide with an aldehyde and selective reductive nucleophilic addition to the amide in the presence of a variety of sensitive and electrophilic functional groups, such as a methyl ester. This chemoselective approach minimized the use of protecting-group manipulations and redox reactions, which resulted in the most concise and efficient total synthesis of (±)-gephyrotoxin described to date.

Total synthesis of (+)-roxaticin via C-C bond forming transfer hydrogenation: a departure from stoichiometric chiral reagents, auxiliaries, and premetalated nucleophiles in polyketide construction.

Abstract: A total synthesis of the oxo-polyene macrolide (+)-roxaticin is achieved in 20 steps from 1,3-propanediol. In this approach, 9 of 10 C−C bonds formed in the longest linear sequence are made via metal catalysis, including 7 C−C bonds formed by iridium catalyzed alcohol C−C coupling. Notably, the present synthesis, which represents the most concise preparation of any oxo-polyene macrolide reported to date, is achieved in the absence of chiral reagents and chiral auxiliaries with minimal use of premetalated C-nucleophiles.