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Brevetoxin A is a decacyclic ladder toxin that possesses five-,six-, seven-, eight-, and nine-membered oxacycles, as well as 22 tetrahedral stereocenters. Herein, we describe a unified approach to the B, E, G, and J rings predicated upon a ring-closing metathesis strategy from the corresponding dienes. The enolate technologies developed in our laboratory allowed access to the precursor acyclic dienes for the B, E, and G medium ring ethers. The strategies developed for the syntheses of these four monocycles ultimately provided multigram quantities of each of the rings, supporting our efforts toward the convergent completion of brevetoxin A.

The C2-C11 cyclized cembranoids, which include the eunicellins (also known as the cladiellins), briarellins, asbestinins, and sarcodictyins, are secondary metabolites isolated from gorgonian octocorals and soft corals. An unusual oxatricyclic ring system containing a hydroisobenzofuran and an oxonene unit with stereogenic centers residing at C1-3, 9, 10, and 14 is common to the eunicellins, briarellins, and asbestinins. However, the location of the cyclohexyl methyl groups (C11 versus C12) and the oxidation level of the sixand nine-membered rings differ among the three classes. Faulkner has proposed that the cyclization of the cembranoid diterpene skeleton initiates a biosynthetic pathway that leads to all four subclasses of these unusual molecules (Figure 1). Beginning with the cembrane skeleton, C2-C11 cyclization provides the cladiellin framework. An intramolecular etherification of the cladiellin tricycle affords the tetracyclic framework of the briarellin subclass, and a subsequent 1,2-suprafacial methyl shift of the briarellin structure is postulated to deliver the asbestinins as the class that is furthest evolved from the cembrane skeleton. The presence of multiple structural types in a common organism provides circumstantial evidence for Faulkner’s proposed biosynthetic pathway. The isolation of a cembrane metabolite with cladiellin metabolites in Alcyonium molle and with asbestinin metabolites in Briareum steckii are specific examples. The sarcodictyins are also proposed to arise from a C2-C11 cyclization of the cembrane skeleton; however, in these systems, the cyclization results in a fused cyclohexane and oxonane in place of the hydroisobenzofuran of the cladiellins, briarellins, and asbestinins. As a result of this significant structural variation of the sarcodictyins, the synthetic approaches to these molecules are quite different than those for the other three related subclasses. This review will cover efforts toward the eunicellins, briarellins, and asbestinins but will not cover efforts toward the total synthesis of the sarcodictyins. Eunicellin was the first reported member of the C2-C11 cyclized cembranoid natural products, isolated in 1968 by Djerassi and co-workers from the soft coral Eunicella stricta found off the coast of Banyuls-sur-Mer in France. Since this discovery, over 100 unique secondary metabolites of gorgonian octocorals have been characterized, including the first asbestinin in 1980 and the first briarellin in 1995. A wide range of structural diversity is displayed by this group of marine natural products. The natural role of these cembranoids is proposed, based upon mollusk and fish lethality assays, to involve predation deterrence. Upon further investigation, several of the members of these subclasses have demonstrated significant pharmacological potential. Particularly, these diterpenes have been shown to exhibit in vitro cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines, anti-inflammatory properties, antimicrobial activities, and histamine and acetylcholine antagonism. The fascinating molecular architecture of these cembranoids, as well as their potential as therapeutic agents, has sparked much interest in the synthetic community over the past decade. A variety of approaches toward these challenging structural motifs have been investigated and several total syntheses have been accomplished. Efforts toward the total synthesis of the cladiellins, briarellins, and asbestinins are the subject of this review.

The enantioselective total syntheses of 11-acetoxy-4-deoxyasbestinin D and asbestinin-12 have been completed. A glycolate aldol reaction provided a diene useful for ring-closing metathesis to form an oxonene, which was ultimately employed as a template to execute a highly stereoselective intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition, forming the hydroisobenzofuran moiety. The absolute configuration of the asbestinin subclass was confirmed via these synthetic efforts.

The aza-Cope-Mannich reaction and ring-closing metathesis are key steps in the assembly of intermediates containing rings A−D of Daphniphyllum alkaloids of the daphnicyclidin type such as daphnipaxinin and oldhamine A.

Brevetoxin A is a decacyclic ladder toxin that possesses 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, and 9-membered oxacycles, as well as 22 tetrahedral stereocenters. Herein, we describe a unified approach to the B, E, G, and J rings based upon a ring-closing metathesis strategy from the corresponding dienes. The enolate technologies developed in our laboratory allowed access to the precursor acyclic dienes for the B, E, and G medium-ring ethers. The strategies developed for the syntheses of these four monocycles ultimately provided multigram quantities of each of the rings, supporting our efforts toward the completion of a convergent synthesis of brevetoxin A.

A highly convergent, enantioselective total synthesis of brevetoxin A is reported. The development of a [X + 2 + X] Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons/cyclodehydration/reductive etherification convergent coupling strategy allowed for a unified approach to the synthesis of two advanced tetracyclic fragments from four cyclic ether subunits. The Horner–Wittig coupling of the two tetracyclic fragments provided substrates that were explored for reductive etherification, the success of which delivered a late-stage tetraol intermediate. The tetraol was converted to the natural product through an expeditious selective oxidative process, followed by methylenation.

A highly convergent, enantioselective total synthesis of brevetoxin A is reported. The development of a [X + 2 + X] Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons/cyclodehydration/reductive etherification convergent coupling strategy allowed for a unified approach to the synthesis of two advanced tetracyclic fragments from four cyclic ether subunits. The Horner–Wittig coupling of the two tetracyclic fragments provided substrates that were explored for reductive etherification, the success of which delivered a late-stage tetraol intermediate. The tetraol was converted to the natural product through an expeditious selective oxidative process, followed by methylenation.

The C2-C11 cyclized cembranoids, which include the eunicellins (also known as the cladiellins), briarellins, asbestinins, and sarcodictyins, are secondary metabolites isolated from gorgonian octocorals and soft corals. An unusual oxatricyclic ring system containing a hydroisobenzofuran and an oxonene unit with stereogenic centers residing at C1-3, 9, 10, and 14 is common to the eunicellins, briarellins, and asbestinins. However, the location of the cyclohexyl methyl groups (C11 versus C12) and the oxidation level of the sixand nine-membered rings differ among the three classes. Faulkner has proposed that the cyclization of the cembranoid diterpene skeleton initiates a biosynthetic pathway that leads to all four subclasses of these unusual molecules (Figure 1). Beginning with the cembrane skeleton, C2-C11 cyclization provides the cladiellin framework. An intramolecular etherification of the cladiellin tricycle affords the tetracyclic framework of the briarellin subclass, and a subsequent 1,2-suprafacial methyl shift of the briarellin structure is postulated to deliver the asbestinins as the class that is furthest evolved from the cembrane skeleton. The presence of multiple structural types in a common organism provides circumstantial evidence for Faulkner’s proposed biosynthetic pathway. The isolation of a cembrane metabolite with cladiellin metabolites in Alcyonium molle and with asbestinin metabolites in Briareum steckii are specific examples. The sarcodictyins are also proposed to arise from a C2-C11 cyclization of the cembrane skeleton; however, in these systems, the cyclization results in a fused cyclohexane and oxonane in place of the hydroisobenzofuran of the cladiellins, briarellins, and asbestinins. As a result of this significant structural variation of the sarcodictyins, the synthetic approaches to these molecules are quite different than those for the other three related subclasses. This review will cover efforts toward the eunicellins, briarellins, and asbestinins but will not cover efforts toward the total synthesis of the sarcodictyins. Eunicellin was the first reported member of the C2-C11 cyclized cembranoid natural products, isolated in 1968 by Djerassi and co-workers from the soft coral Eunicella stricta found off the coast of Banyuls-sur-Mer in France. Since this discovery, over 100 unique secondary metabolites of gorgonian octocorals have been characterized, including the first asbestinin in 1980 and the first briarellin in 1995. A wide range of structural diversity is displayed by this group of marine natural products. The natural role of these cembranoids is proposed, based upon mollusk and fish lethality assays, to involve predation deterrence. Upon further investigation, several of the members of these subclasses have demonstrated significant pharmacological potential. Particularly, these diterpenes have been shown to exhibit in vitro cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines, anti-inflammatory properties, antimicrobial activities, and histamine and acetylcholine antagonism. The fascinating molecular architecture of these cembranoids, as well as their potential as therapeutic agents, has sparked much interest in the synthetic community over the past decade. A variety of approaches toward these challenging structural motifs have been investigated and several total syntheses have been accomplished. Efforts toward the total synthesis of the cladiellins, briarellins, and asbestinins are the subject of this review.

A total synthesis of brevetoxin A is reported. Two tetracyclic coupling partners, prepared from previously reported advanced fragments, were effectively united via a Horner—Wittig olefination. The resulting octacycle was progressed to substrates that were explored for reductive etherification, the success of which led to a penultimate tetraol intermediate. The tetraol was converted to the natural product through an expeditious selective oxidative process, followed by methylenation.

A second-generation synthesis of the BCDE fragment of brevetoxin A is described. Novel reactions were developed that extend the utility of the asymmetric glycolate alkylation reaction and improve scale-up to provide gram quantities of the B and E subunits. Significant improvements to the convergent assembly of the tetracycle were also realized. In addition, formation of the A ring lactone was accomplished to complete the ABCDE pentacycle.

A highly stereoselective synthesis of 11-acetoxy-4-deoxyasbestinin D (1) has been completed in 26 linear steps. The synthesis hinges on a selective glycolate aldol addition to establish the C-2 stereocenter, a ring-closing metathesis reaction to complete the oxonene, and an intramolecular Diels−Alder cycloaddition to establish the relative configuration at C-1, C-10, and C-14. This initial total synthesis of an asbestinin also serves to confirm the absolute configuration of this subclass of the C-2−C-11-cyclized cembranoid natural products.