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A total synthesis of cytospolide D, starting from l-glutamic acid, is described. The critical macrolactonization to the 10-membered lactone containing an (E)-configured double bond was successfully achieved by Shiina esterification. Conversion of cytospolide D to its bicyclic derivatives M, O, and Q was accomplished under mild conditions, lending support to the proposed biosynthetic hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An iterative strategy for the stereodivergent synthesis of unbranched 1,5,9,n-polyenes (and -polyynes) was investigated. Starting from a terminal alkyne the iteration cycle consists of a C3 extension (allylation), a chemoselective hydroboration, an alkyne reduction, and an oxidation of the associated alcohol with subsequent C1 homologation. Double bond geometry is controlled using stereoselective alkyne reductions, employing either the Lindlar hydrogenation protocol or an aluminum hydride reduction. In a model sequence it was demonstrated that the strategy is applicable to the synthesis of 1,5,9,n-polyenes with any possible double bond configuration accessible in equally high efficiency and selectivity. It is worth noting that our approach does not require any protecting group chemistry. Furthermore, using the same strategy, the first total synthesis of chatenaytrienin-4, the proposed unsaturated biosynthetic precursor of the bis-THF acetogenin membranacin, was examined. Thus, the all-cis 1,5,9-triene natural product was prepared in 15 steps from commercially available starting materials in 6% overall yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first total synthesisof muricadienin, the unsaturated putativeprecursor in the biosynthesis of trans- and cis-solamin is described. Key steps in the synthesis area chemoselective hydroboration, a Z-selective Wittigreaction, and a Fries rearrangement for introducing the terminal α-substitutedbutenolide. Thus, muricadienin can be synthesized in 11 steps fromcommercially available starting materials in 42% overall yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of 2-nitro-4-oligoprenyl-substituted pyrrole derivatives relevant to the heronapyrroles and related natural products was investigated. Among numerous approaches, nitration of a 3-farnesyl-substituted unprotected pyrrole using AcONO2 gave the best results, albeit still with unsatisfactory yield and regioselectivity. Therefore, the synthesis of (--)-heronapyrrole C acid, an analogue of the naturally occurring antibiotic heronapyrrole C carrying a bioisosteric carboxylate in place of the nitro group, was examined. In lieu of the unsatisfactory nitration, a regioselective acylation with Cl3CCOCl was carried out (>8:1 regioselectivity, in contrast to the 1:1.3 ratio for the nitration). The trichloromethyl ketone was converted to the desired acid in a haloform reaction at the final stage of the synthesis. Further key steps of the analogue synthesis involved a position- and stereoselective Corey-Noe-Lin dihydroxylation and an organocatalytic double Shi epoxidation. A biomimetic polyepoxide cyclization cascade established the bis-THF backbone. Thus, (--)-heronapyrrole C acid was synthesized in eight steps (14.5% overall yield) from commercially available starting materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total synthesis of (-)-aspidospermidine via an enantioselective Pd-catalyzed allylic substitution strategy is reported. This represents the first application of a Pd-catalyzed allylic substitution with a 3-substituted indole derivative in the synthesis of Aspidosperma alkaloids. In our synthetic route, the allylic substitution reaction was the stereo defining step. The pentacyclic framework was then constructed in a fully diastereoselective sequence. This culminated in the shortest enantioselective synthesis of aspidospermidine reported to date, in seven linear steps.

Oxidative cleavage of N -acetyl-neuraminic acid (Neu5Ac, 1 ) leads to the open chain octonic acid (ADOA, 2 ), which under various conditions is transformed into an acyclic acid or ester or into a six- or five-membered octonic acid lactone and lactam, respectively. All reactions proceed with high selectivity and in good yields. Strikingly, a simple switch of reaction conditions from basic to acidic catalysis leads to a complete switch in regioselectivity during a crucial cyclization step.

The use of carbohydrate thiolates for facile, high-yielding, regio- and stereoselective nucleophilic substitution reactions of complex pentafluorophenyl-substituted porphyrinoids is reported. The title reaction has successfully been applied to calix[4]phyrin, calix[6]phyrin, and [28]hexaphyrin substrates. The novel glycoporphyrinoid products with their extraordinary structures and unique photophysical properties are soluble in aqueous solutions and can serve as platforms for applications in biomedicine, catalysis, coordination, or redox chemistry.

The first synthesis of (-)-heronapyrrole C, the enantiomer of a unique farnesylated 2-nitropyrrole natural product is described. With none of the chiral centers of heronapyrrole C originally assigned, we proposed the most likely natural configuration on the basis of a putative biosynthetic pathway. The key step of the synthesis is a biomimetic polyepoxide cyclization cascade to establish the bis-THF moiety. Thus, (-)-heronapyrrole C is synthesized in eight steps from commercially available starting materials.

A new method to accomplish glycol cleavage to carboxylic (di)acids in one step using catalytic amounts of tetrapropylammonium perruthenate (TPAP) together with N-methylmorpholine N-Oxide (NMO) as the stoichiometric oxidant is presented. In addition to regenerating the active catalyst, the N-oxide stabilizes intermediary carbonyl hydrates and thereby shifts a crucial equilibrium. The mild oxidation protocol is applicable to a broad range of substrates providing the respective acids, diacids, or keto acids in high yields., (© 2011 American Chemical Society)

We present a simple, mild, and highly effective method for the direct conversion of primary alcohols to carboxylic acids. TPAP serves as the catalyst, and NMO·H(2)O plays a dual role, acting as the co-oxidant and as a reagent for aldehyde hydrate stabilization. This previously unknown stabilizing effect of geminal diols by N-oxides is the key for the efficiency of the overall transformation., (© 2011 American Chemical Society)

[structure: see text] An enantioselective total synthesis of cis-solamin has been accomplished using a highly diastereoselective ruthenium tetroxide catalyzed oxidative cyclization as a crucial transformation. Further key steps involved an enzymatic desymmetrization, a TPAP-catalyzed oxidative termini differentiation, and a ruthenium-catalyzed Alder-ene reaction. Thus, the total synthesis of cis-solamin was achieved in 11 steps with an overall yield of 7.5%.