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A depsipeptidic analogue of FE399 was efficiently synthesized mainly through macrolactamization using 2-methyl-6-nitrobenzoic anhydride (MNBA), and a detailed investigation of the desired 16-membered macrolactam core of FE399 was performed. It was determined that the combination of MNBA and a catalytic amount of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine N-oxide exhibits much higher activity than that of conventionally used coupling reagents such as hexafluorophosphate azabenzotriazole tetramethyl uronium and benzotriazol-1-yl-oxytripyrrolidinophosphonium hexafluorophosphate.

FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) in hematopoietic cells binds to its ligand at the plasma membrane (PM), then transduces growth signals. FLT3 gene alterations that lead the kinase to assume its permanently active form, such as internal tandem duplication (ITD) and D835Y substitution, are found in 30–40% of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients. Thus, drugs for molecular targeting of FLT3 mutants have been developed for the treatment of AML. Several groups have reported that compared with wild-type FLT3 (FLT3-wt), FLT3 mutants are retained in organelles, resulting in low levels of PM localization of the receptor. However, the precise subcellular localization of mutant FLT3 remains unclear, and the relationship between oncogenic signaling and the mislocalization is not completely understood. In this study, we show that in cell lines established from leukemia patients, endogenous FLT3-ITD but not FLT3-wt clearly accumulates in the perinuclear region. Our co-immunofluorescence assays demonstrate that Golgi markers are co-localized with the perinuclear region, indicating that FLT3-ITD mainly localizes to the Golgi region in AML cells. FLT3-ITD biosynthetically traffics to the Golgi apparatus and remains there in a manner dependent on its tyrosine kinase activity. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as quizartinib (AC220) and midostaurin (PKC412), markedly decrease FLT3-ITD retention and increase PM levels of the mutant. FLT3-ITD activates downstream in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi apparatus during its biosynthetic trafficking. Results of our trafficking inhibitor treatment assays show that FLT3-ITD in the ER activates STAT5, whereas that in the Golgi can cause the activation of AKT and ERK. We provide evidence that FLT3-ITD signals from the early secretory compartments before reaching the PM in AML cells.

An efficient and practical method for the synthesis of (9R,14R,17R)-FE399, a novel antitumor bicyclic depsipeptide, was developed. A 2-methyl-6-nitrobenzoic anhydride (MNBA)-mediated dehydration condensation reaction was effectively employed for the formation of the 16-membered macrocyclic depsipeptide moiety of FE399. FE399 was found to exist as an inseparable equilibrium mixture of conformational isomers; the mixture was quantitatively transformed into the corresponding S-benzyl product and isolated as a single isomer. Thus, we could confirm that the molecular structure of FE399 obtained by this method is identical to that of the natural product.

The first total synthesis of violaceoid A, a cytotoxic agent, and the asymmetric total synthesis of (-)- and (+)-violaceoid B are reported. The precursor was accessed by desymmetrization of a substituted quinol moiety, and the racemic secondary alcohol was kinetically resolved using a chiral nucleophilic catalyst. The asymmetric synthesis of (-)- and (+)-violaceoid B elucidated the absolute configuration of the naturally occurring violaceoid B. Synthetic violaceoid A inhibited the growth of human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and Hs 578T at concentrations of less than 100 μM, while ( S)- and ( R)-violaceoid B were inactive.

An efficient acylative kinetic resolution of racemic aromatic β-hydroxy esters with cyclohexanecarboxylic anhydride was achieved using newly designed (R)-N-methylbenzoguanidine ((R)-NMBG) derivatives. A series of (R)-NMBG derivatives was synthesized by modifying the original (R)-NMBG catalyst with the introduction of branched N-substituents containing a stereogenic center, and their catalytic performance was evaluated. (R,R)-N-(1-(β-1-Naphthyl)ethyl)benzoguanidine [(R,R)-NβNpEtBG] was found to function as an efficient acyl transfer catalyst for the reaction of a broad variety of substrates, regardless of the substituent type and substitution pattern.

A novel stereoisomer of eushearilide, 23-demethyleushearilide, was synthesized, and the structure&ndash, activity relationships of this compound along with known eushearilide stereoisomers were investigated in order to design novel lead compounds for the treatment of fungal infections. It was discovered that all of these congeners, together with the natural product, exhibited a wide range of antimicrobial activity against not only fungi but also against bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE).

Various optically active 2-hydroxyamide derivatives are produced based on the kinetic resolution of racemic 2-hydroxyamides with a diphenylacetyl component and (R)-benzotetramisole ((R)-BTM), a chiral acyl-transfer catalyst, via asymmetric esterification and acylation. It was revealed that a tertiary amide can be used with this novel protocol to achieve high selectivity (22 examples, s-value reaching over 250). The resulting chiral compounds could be transformed into other useful structures while maintaining their chirality.

Ridaifens (RIDs), a novel series of tamoxifen derivatives, exhibit a potent growth-inhibitory effect against numerous tumor cells regardless of the expression of estrogen receptors, and are thus promising candidates as novel anti-tumor drugs. RID-B is a first generation RIDs, and inhibits the proliferation of several tumor cell lines. However, the potentially growth inhibitory effect of RID-B against hepatoma cells, and the detailed mechanism underlying RID-B-mediated tumor cell death remain to be elucidated. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the anti-proliferative effect of RID-B against hepatoma cells. The anti-proliferative effect of RID-B against human hepatoma Huh-7 cells was investigated by cell proliferation assay using WST-1 reagent, and caspase-3 activity was evaluated by using specific fluorescent substrate. In addition, DNA fragmentation in Huh-7 cells induced by RID-B was estimated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labelling assay, and binding of RID-B to double-stranded DNA was confirmed by mass spectrometry. RID-B (0.5, 1 and 2 µM) inhibited the growth of Huh-7 cells, seemingly dose-dependently, but did not inhibit the growth of normal primary rat hepatocytes in the same concentration range. Furthermore, the caspase-3 activity of Huh-7 cells was increased by RID-B (0.5 and 5 µM), and the anti-proliferative effect of RID-B (1 µM) on Huh-7 cells was partially suppressed by the addition of the caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-FMK. Additionally, RID-B (10 µM) directly bound to double-stranded DNA, and the addition of DNA suppressed RID-B-mediated cell growth inhibition and DNA fragmentation in Huh-7 cells. From these data, it may be concluded that RID-B inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis via activating caspase-3 and binding to DNA directly, leading to DNA fragmentation in hepatoma cells.

The asymmetric total synthesis of a newly proposed structure of (3S,16E,20E,23S)-(+)-eushearilide was achieved primarily through an asymmetric Mukaiyama aldol reaction, Schlosser-modified Wittig reaction and 2-methyl-6-nitrobenzoic anhydride-mediated macrolactonization. Based on detailed spectroscopic analyses, the obtained synthetic compound was found to be identical to natural eushearilide. Therefore, we were able to determine the true structure of eushearilide. Moreover, the synthetic compound was found to exhibit significant in vitro antifungal activity against various fungi and bacteria.

An asymmetric total synthesis of the proposed structure of (16Z,20E)-eushearilide, a novel 24-membered macrolide, was achieved via an enantioselective aldol reaction and 2-methyl-6-nitrobenzoic anhydride-mediated macrolactonization. The obtained synthetic compounds were not identical to the natural product. The newly proposed most likely structure of eushearilide, (±)-(16E,20E)-eushearilide, was determined on the basis of detailed NMR analysis, and (3R,16E,20E,23R)-(−)-eushearilide was successfully synthesized. A comparison of the optical rotation of (3R,16E,20E,23R)-(−)-eushearilide with that of the natural product confirmed that the true structure of naturally occurring eushearilide is the (3S,16E,20E,23S)-(+)-form.

Arf GTPases and their guanine nucleotide exchange factors (ArfGEFs) are major regulators of membrane traffic and organelle structure in cells. They are associated with a variety of diseases and are thus attractive therapeutic targets for inhibition by small molecules. Several inhibitors of unrelated chemical structures have been discovered, which have shown their potential in dissecting molecular pathways and blocking disease-related functions. However, their specificity across the ArfGEF family has remained elusive. Importantly, inhibitory responses in the context of membranes, which are critical determinants of Arf and ArfGEF cellular functions, have not been investigated. Here, we compare the efficiency and specificity of four structurally distinct ArfGEF inhibitors, Brefeldin A, SecinH3, M-COPA, and NAV-2729, toward six ArfGEFs (human ARNO, EFA6, BIG1, and BRAG2 and Legionella and Rickettsia RalF). Inhibition was assessed by fluorescence kinetics using pure proteins, and its modulation by membranes was determined with lipidated GTPases in the presence of liposomes. Our analysis shows that despite the intra-ArfGEF family resemblance, each inhibitor has a specific inhibitory profile. Notably, M-COPA is a potent pan-ArfGEF inhibitor, and NAV-2729 inhibits all GEFs, the strongest effects being against BRAG2 and Arf1. Furthermore, the presence of the membrane-binding domain in Legionella RalF reveals a strong inhibitory effect of BFA that is not measured on its GEF domain alone. This study demonstrates the value of family-wide assays with incorporation of membranes, and it should enable accurate dissection of Arf pathways by these inhibitors to best guide their use and development as therapeutic agents.

The originally proposed structure of astakolactin was revised, and an asymmetric total synthesis of the newly proposed structure was achieved. The key transformations in the synthesis were a Johnson–Claisen rearrangement, an asymmetric Mukaiyama aldol reaction, and a Mitsunobu-type cyclodehydration. The spectroscopic data and specific rotation of the compound obtained matched well with those reported for naturally occurring astakolactin.

The first total synthesis of the proposed structure of astakolactin, a sesterterpene metabolite isolated from the marine sponge Cacospongia scalaris, has been achieved, mainly featuring Johnson–Claisen rearrangement, asymmetric Mukaiyama aldol reaction and MNBA-mediated lactonization.

Various optically active 2-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone derivatives are produced via the kinetic resolution of racemic 2-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactones with diphenylacetic acid using pivalic anhydride and (R)-benzotetramisole ((R)-BTM), a chiral acyl-transfer catalyst. Importantly, the substrate scope of this novel protocol is fairly broad (12 examples, s-value; up to over 1000). In addition, we succeeded in disclosing the reaction mechanism to afford high enantioselectivity using theoretical calculations and expounded on the substituent effects at the C-3 positions in 2-hydroxylactones.

To overcome the heterogeneous nature of cancer, the search for potent anti-cancer drug candidates with new modes of action is essential. For that purpose, we prepared forty-eight Ridaifens (RIDs), a novel series of tamoxifen-derivatives. Then, we screened them, searching for novel candidates for a new class of anti-cancer drug using a panel of human cancer cell lines (JFCR39) and by a binding assay to estrogen receptor α (ERα). First, the growth inhibition of the forty-eight RIDs against JFCR39 was evaluated. Forty RIDs showed higher growth-inhibitory activity than that of tamoxifen. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) study revealed that the aminoalkoxyphenyl groups at the C-1 position and the common central ethylenic bond were important in retaining a high level of growth-inhibitory activity. Subsequently, the ERα binding activity of all the RIDs was measured by a competitive binding assay. The SAR study for ERα binding activity indicated that both the phenyl group and the ethyl group at the C-2 position in the ethylenic bond were essential. Based on the screenings, we identified RID-SB1 and RID-SB8, which demonstrated potent tumor growth inhibition but had completely lost ERα binding activity. Furthermore, the COMPARE analysis using JFCR39 suggested that RID-SB1 and RID-SB8 had different molecular modes of action compared to those of the current anti-cancer drugs including tamoxifen. These results indicate that RID-SB1 and RID-SB8 are interesting candidates for novel anti-cancer agents with unique modes of action.

Pyridine-3-carboxylic anhydride (3-PCA) was found to function as an efficient coupling reagent for the preparation of carboxylic esters from various carboxylic acids with alcohols under mild conditions by a simple experimental procedure. This novel condensation reagent 3-PCA was applicable not only for the synthesis of achiral carboxylic esters catalyzed by 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) but also for the production of chiral carboxylic esters by the combination of chiral nucleophilic catalyst, such as tetramisole (=2,3,5,6-tetrahydro-6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole) derivatives. An efficient kinetic resolution of racemic benzylic alcohols with achiral carboxylic acids was achieved by using 3-PCA in the presence of (R)-benzotetramisole ((R)-BTM), and a variety of optically active carboxylic esters were produced with high enantiomeric excesses by this new chiral induction system without using a tertiary amine.

A general method for the kinetic resolution of racemic α-arylalkanoic acids with achiral alcohols is described. It was determined that bis(9-phenanthryl)methanol is a suitable nucleophile which reacts with the intermediary mixed anhydrides generated from aromatic anhydrides with α-arylpropanoic acids or β-substituted-α-arylpropanoic acids in the presence of (+)-benzotetramisole to produce the corresponding optically active esters with high ee’s under very mild conditions.

A Lewis acid-mediated three-component coupling reaction was successfully applied for the synthesis of lasofoxifene (1), nafoxidine (2), and their positional isomers, inv-lasofoxifene (3) and inv-nafoxidine (4). In the presence of HfCl4, the desired one-pot coupling reaction among 4-pivaloyloxybenzaldehyde (5), cinnamyltrimethylsilane (6), and anisole proceeded to afford the corresponding 3,4,4-triaryl-1-butene 7 in high yield. The iodocarbocyclization of the coupling product and the successive elimination of hydrogen iodide forming the olefin part, followed by the migration of the double-bond afforded the common synthetic intermediate of lasofoxifene (1) and nafoxidine (2) via a very concise procedure. Additionally, the syntheses of their positional isomers inv-lasofoxifene (3) and inv-nafoxidine (4) were also achieved through very convenient protocols.

A variety of optically active carboxylic esters are produced by the kinetic resolution of racemic alpha-substituted carboxylic acids using achiral alcohols, aromatic or aliphatic carboxylic anhydrides, and chiral acyl-transfer catalysts. The combination of 4-methoxybenzoic anhydride (PMBA) or pivalic anhydride with the modified benzotetramisole-type catalyst ((S)-beta-Np-BTM) is the most effective for promotion of the enantioselective coupling reaction between racemic carboxylic acids and a novel nucleophile, bis(alpha-naphthyl)methanol, to give the corresponding esters with high ee's. This protocol was successfully applied to the production of nonracemic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs from racemic compounds utilizing the transacylation process to generate the mixed anhydrides from the acid components with the suitable carboxylic anhydrides.

Various intermediates for the synthesis of erythronolide A, an aglycon of erythromycin A, are prepared from the corresponding seco-acids using 2-methyl-6-nitrobenzoic anhydride (MNBA) in the presence of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) with or without triethylamine. The efficiency of the MNBA lactonization is assessed by studying this method and comparing the results with those of the other established macrocyclization protocols. It has been finally concluded that (i) the conformationally appropriate substrate for the monomeric cyclization gave the desired lactone in excellent yield under mild reaction conditions in the presence of MNBA and DMAP, (ii) the highly-strained substrate for the cyclization also afforded the monomeric lactone in relatively good yield at 100°C in toluene, and (iii) the seco-acid having stable linear conformation, which preferred dimerizing more than forming the monomeric lactone, provided the corresponding diolide in high yield with the constant ratio of the monomer to dimeric lactone (approximately 1/5). © 2009 The Japan Chemical Journal Forum and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Chem Rec 9: 305–320; 2009: Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com) DOI 10.1002/tcr.200900017

The asymmetric aldol reaction of heteroatom-substituted ketene silyl acetals with achiral aldehydes has been developed by the promotion of tin(II) triflate coordinated with a chiral diamine to afford the corresponding aldols having chiral tertiary alcohols at the α-positions. This reaction has been successfully applied to the construction of the basic skeletons of buergerinins F and G starting from achiral materials. (+)-Buergerinin G, a potentially antiphlogistic and febrifuge agent having a unique trioxatricyclo[5.3.1.0 1,5 ]undecane skeleton, is stereoselectively prepared by means of the enantioselective aldol reactions via ten linear steps from crotonaldehyde in 18% overall yield including an effective intramolecular Wacker-type ketalization of the dihydroxy-γ-lactone as a key step. In addition to the former establishment for the synthesis of (+)-buergerinin F, effective divergent methods for the preparation of buergerinins F and G were developed through a unified optically active aldol-type intermediate, which was generated from the tetrasubstituted ketene silyl acetal with crotonaldehyde by the asymmetric Mukaiyama aldol reaction.

A variety of optically active carboxylic esters were produced by kinetic resolution of racemic carboxylic acids by using achiral alcohols, benzoic anhydrides, and Birman's tetramisole-type catalysts. Bis(α-naphthyl)methanol is a very effective reagent for producing the corresponding esters with high ee values in the presence of 4-methoxybenzoic anhydride (PMBA) as the coupling reagent by promotion of benzotetramisole derivatives (BTM, α-Np-BTM, and β-Np-BTM). This protocol directly provides chiral carboxylic esters from free carboxylic acids and achiral alcohols by utilizing a transacylation process to generate the mixed anhydrides from the acid components with benzoic anhydride derivatives in the presence of chiral catalysts.(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)

We have developed effective methods for the total synthesis of 2-hydroxytetracosanolide and 2-hydroxy-24-oxooctacosanolide, the defensive salivary secretions of termites. The former natural product isolated from Armitermes neotenicus, a species of termite that inhabits Guyana, contains a 25-membered lactone backbone, and the latter, extracted from Pseudacanthoterme springer, an African termite, includes a 29-membered lactone moiety. The key cyclization to produce the 25- or 29-membered lactone core is performed by using 2-methyl-6-nitrobenzoic anhydride (MNBA) with a stoichiometric amount of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) or a catalytic amount of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine N-oxide (DMAPO).

A variety of optically active carboxylic esters are produced by the kinetic resolution of racemic secondary benzylic alcohols using free carboxylic acids with benzoic anhydride and tetramisole derivatives. 4-Methoxybenzoic anhydride (PMBA) is the best reagent to use in producing the corresponding esters in high ee when the reaction is catalyzed by (+)-benzotetramisole (BTM); by contrast, when non-substituted benzoic anhydride is used as a coupling reagent, the resulting optically active alcohols are obtained with high selectivities. This protocol directly produces chiral carboxylic esters from free carboxylic acids and racemic secondary alcohols by utilizing the trans-acylation process to generate mixed anhydrides from acid components and benzoic anhydride derivatives under the influence of chiral catalysts.

This protocol describes a procedure for the synthesis of a 29-membered macrolactone. The facile mixed-anhydride method is very effective for the preparation of carboxylic esters and lactones using substituted benzoic anhydrides by the promotion of Lewis acid or basic catalysts under mild reaction conditions. Owing to the reaction rapidly proceeding to produce the monomeric compounds with high chemoselectivity, the protocol is quite powerful for the synthesis of not only the giant-sized lactones but also the highly strained cyclic compounds such as medium-sized lactones. The remarkable efficiency of the lactonizations promoted by the substituted benzoic anhydrides has been already shown in the synthesis of many natural complex molecules. It takes approximately 19 h to complete the protocol: 0.5 h to set up the reaction, 13.5 h for the reaction and 5 h for isolation and purification.

Two alternative methods for the synthesis of (9E)-isoambrettolide are established via the rapid lactonization of the free threo-aleuritic acid or its protected seco-acid using substituted benzoic anhydrides with basic catalysts. The most efficient lactonization of the threo-aleuritic acid is performed using 2-methyl-6-nitrobenzoic anhydride (MNBA) with a catalytic amount of 4-dimethylaminopyridine N-oxide (DMAPO).

A short-step route for the preparation of droloxifene has been established via the novel three-component coupling reaction among 3-pivaloyloxybenzaldehyde, cinnamyltrimethylsilane, and β-chlorophenetole, the successive installation of the side-chain part, and the base-induced migration of the double bond. The present synthesis of tetra-substituted ethylene moieties is a widely applicable strategy for producing a variety of SERMs (selective estrogen receptor modulators) and SARMs (selective androgen receptor modulators), such as tamoxifen, raloxifene, and other compounds that can lead to new drugs.

[reaction: see text] The first asymmetric total synthesis of EI-1941-1, -2, and -3, inhibitors of the interleukin-1beta converting enzyme (ICE), has been accomplished, starting from a chiral epoxy iodoquinone 11, a key intermediate in our total synthesis of epoxyquinols A and B. Despite a failure to synthesize the inhibitors by our postulated biosynthetic route, we were able to diastereoselectively synthesize them via an intramolecular carboxypalladation with the key steps being a 6-endo cyclization mode followed by beta-hydride elimination. The investigation of the biological properties of EI-1941-1, -2, and -3 and their derivatives disclosed them to be potent and effective ICE inhibitors with less cytotoxicity than EI-1941-1 and -2 in a cultured cell system.

In the proline-mediated Mannich and aldol reactions of propanal as a nucleophile, the aldimine prepared from benzaldehyde and p-anisidine is about 7 times more reactive than the corresponding alde- hyde, benzaldehyde, as an electrophile. This higher reactivity of aldimine over aldehyde is attributed to the carboxylic acid of proline protonating the basic ni- trogen atom of the aldimine more effectively than the oxygen atom of the aldehyde, an explanation which has been both experimentally and theoretically veri- fied.

[Chemical reaction: See text] The asymmetric aldol reaction of a tetra-substituted ketene silyl acetal including an alkylseleno group with aldehydes has been developed by the promotion of Sn(OTf)2 coordinated with a chiral diamine to afford the corresponding aldols having chiral quaternary centers at the alpha-positions. The facile oxidative deselenization of these aldol compounds produces optically active alpha-methylene-beta-hydroxy esters which correspond to adducts prepared by the asymmetric Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction.

Efficient methods for the synthesis of carboxylic esters and lactones using benzoic anhydrides by the promotion of Lewis acid or basic catalyst is accounted in this paper. Various carboxylic esters are prepared in high yields through the formation of the corresponding mixed anhydrides from 4-(trifluoromethyl) benzoic anhydride (TFBA) and carboxylic acids in the presence of Lewis acid catalyst. Several macrolactones and medium-sized lactones are also prepared from the corresponding hydroxycarboxylic acids by the combined use of TFBA and an acidic species under the mild reaction conditions. Furthermore, a variety of carboxylic esters or lactones are obtained at room temperature in excellent yields with high chemoselectivities from nearly equimolar amounts of carboxylic acids and alcohols, or hydroxycarboxylic acids using 2-methyl-6-nitrobenzoic anhydride (MNBA) with basic promoters. These methods are successfully applied to the synthesis of 8-membered ring lactone moieties of cephalosporolide D, and octalactins A and B.

Various carboxamides are synthesized from the corresponding carboxylic acids and amines with high product-selectivities using 2-methyl-6-nitrobenzoic or 2,4,6-trichlorobenzoic anhydride in the presence of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine.

During screening for mammalian DNA polymerase inhibitors, we found and succeeded in isolating a potent inhibitor from a higher plant, Taxus cuspidate. The compound was unexpectedly determined to be taxinine, an intermediate of paclitaxel (taxol) metabolism. Taxinine was found to selectively inhibit DNA polymerase alpha (pol.alpha) and beta (pol.beta). We therefore, tested taxol and other derivatives and found that taxol itself had no such inhibitory effect, and only taxinine could inhibit both pol.alpha and beta. The other compounds used, one derivative, cephalomannine, and five intermediates synthesized chemically inhibited only the pol.alpha activity in vitro. None of the compounds, including taxinine, influenced the activities of the other DNA polymerases, which are reportedly targeted by many pol.beta inhibitors. With both pol.alpha and beta, all of the compounds tested noncompetitively inhibited with respect to both the DNA template-primer and the dNTP substrate.

A method for the synthesis of octalactin B is established via a new and quite effective mixed-anhydride lactonization for the synthesis of an eight-membered ring moiety using 2-methyl-6-nitrobenzoic anhydride with DMAP. Both an optically active linear precursor of the lactone and a side chain of octalactins are prepared by the enantioselective aldol reaction of ketene silyl acetals with aldehydes.

The Friedel–Crafts alkylation reaction of various aromatic compounds with benzyl or allyl silyl ethers is effectively promoted under mild reaction conditions using Lewis acid catalysts. A mixture of the desired phenyltolylmethanes is obtained in 80% yield from toluene with benzyl dimethylsilyl or trimethylsilyl ether at 50°C in the presence of a catalytic amount of Cl 2 Si(OTf) 2 or Hf(OTf) 4 .

A novel [1,3] sigmatropic rearrangement of ketene silyl acetals derived from benzyl α-substituted propanoates is developed. The reaction of ketene silyl acetal derived from optically active 1-phenylethyl 2-methylpropanoate mainly proceeds with the retention of chirality at the benzyl position to give the corresponding optically active silyl ester under thermodynamic conditions.

In 1989, the asymmetric Mukaiyama aldol reaction mediated by a Lewis acid consisting of a chiral diamine and Sn(II) triflate was reported. The asymmetric Mukaiyama aldol reaction is now widely used as a versatile tool for the construction of highly advanced, multifunctionalized molecules. In this Personal Account, the history of the development of this powerful methodology and the application of the asymmetric Mukaiyama aldol reaction in the synthesis of natural products are reviewed.

A new method for the synthesis of optically active anti-vic-hydroxymethyl units that correspond to anti-aldol derivatives is developed by way of successive enantioselective aldol and diastereoselective desulfurization reactions.

An effective method for the preparation of 8-membered ring enone, (4S,5R,7R,8R)-4,8-bis(benzyloxy)-7-(t-butyldimethylsiloxy)-5-(4-methoxybenzyloxy)-2,6,6-trimethylcyclooct-2-enone (1), in sufficien...

Preparations of carboxamides and peptides are performed in high yields from free carboxylic acids and amines by dehydration condensation using di(2-pyridyl) carbonate (DPC) or O,O′-di(2-pyridyl) thiocarbonate (DPTC) in the presence of a catalytic amount of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP). The formation of 2-pyridyl esters, key intermediates of the reaction, from carboxylic acids by using DPC proceeded faster than by using DPTC; therefore, the former carbonate is more efficiently employed in the above condensation reactions.

Highly diastereoselective aldol reactions of α-bromo ketones with several aldehydes were successfully carried out by using a combination of titanium(II) chloride and copper or sodium iodide in dichloromethane-pivalonitrile at low temperature. Similarly, Reformatsky reactions of α-bromo thioester with aliphatic aldehydes proceeded to afford β-hydroxy thioesters in good yields under mild conditions.

Carboxamides are prepared in high yields by dehydration condensation between nearly equimolar amounts of free carboxylic acids and amines both of which involve secondary or tertiary alkyl substituted ones with O,O'-di(2-pyridyl) thiocarbonate, a coupling reagent, in the presence of a catalytic amount of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine.

A new method for the total asymmetric synthesis of antitumor agent Taxol is described. Baccatin III, a complex carbon framework, is synthesized by way of B to BC to ABC ring construction. Further, a method of forming Taxol from baccatin III and a β-amino acid is also demonstrated.

Asymmetric total syntheses of Taxol and of 8-demethyltaxoids 24-27 from the 8-membered ring compounds 29 and 12 respectively were completed via successive formation of the BC ring system by intramolecular aldol reaction, then the ABC ring system utilizing an intramolecular pinacol cyclization. The conversion of the tricyclic compound 43 to 7-TES baccatin III (49) was carried out by way of a newly devised method of constructing the oxetane ring. The dehydration condensation between a derivative of N- benzoylphenylisoserine and 49, followed by deprotection afforded the antitumor agent Taxol.

The anti-tumor agent, tamoxifen, is easily synthesized by the successive allylation of benzaldehyde and the Friedel–Crafts alkylation reaction of anisole with the intermediary homoallyl silyl ethers, followed by the migration of the double bond to form the desired tetra-substituted ethylenes. Several derivatives of tamoxifen are also produced according to a similar synthetic strategy.

Of the 16 possible modes of the oxidation-6π-electrocylization-Diels–Alder reaction cascade for an epoxyquinone, and eight for a 2-alkenyl-3-hydroxymethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one, only the endo - anti (epoxide) -anti (Me)-hetero and endo - anti (Me)-hetero are respectively observed, while both the endo - anti (epoxide) -anti (Me)-hetero and exo - anti (epoxide) -anti (Me)-homo reaction modes occur with epoxy-4-hydroxycyclohexenones owing to a hydrogen-bonding interaction.

An efficient method for the synthesis of macrolides directly from ω-hydroxycarboxylic acids is established by using 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic anhydride and a catalytic amount of active titanium(IV) salts together with chlorotrimethylsilane under mild conditions.

Various carboxylic esters are prepared in excellent yields from nearly equimolar amounts of free carboxylic acids and alcohols at room temperature by combined use of 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic anhydride and a catalytic amount of active titanium(IV) salt together with chlorotrimethylsilane.