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Four distinct approaches to ent-oxycodone were designed and accomplished. All rely on the same starting material, the diene diol derived from phenethyl acetate by the whole-cell fermentation with E. coli JM109 (pDTG601A), a strain that overexpresses toluene dioxygenase. The key step in the first-generation approach involves the construction of the C-9/C-14 bond by a SmI2-mediated cyclization of a keto aldehyde. The second-generation design relies on the use of the Henry reaction to accomplish this task. In both of these syntheses, Parker's cyclization was employed to construct the D-ring. The third-generation synthesis provides an improvement over the second in that the nitrogen atom at C-9 is introduced by azidation of the C-9/C-10 olefin, followed by reduction and lactam formation between the C-9 amine and the Fukuyama-type lactone. Finally, the fourth generation takes advantage of the keto-nitrone reductive coupling to generate the C-9/C-14 linkage. The four generations of the total syntheses of ent-oxycodone were accomplished in 13, 18, 16, and 11 operations (19, 23, 24, and 18 steps), respectively. Experimental and spectral data are provided for all new compounds.

The stereoselective total synthesis of unnatural (+)-oxy­codone from phenethyl acetate is described. Absolute stereochemistry was established via microbial dihydroxylation of phenethyl acetate with the recombinant strain JM109 (pDTG601A) to the corresponding cis-cyclohexadienediol­ whose configuration provides for the absolute stereo­chemistry of the ring C of (+)-oxycodone. Intramolecular Heck cyclization was employed to establish the quaternary carbon at C-13, along with the dibenzodihydrofuran functionality. The C-14 hydroxyl was installed via SmI2-mediated radical cyclization. The synthesis of (+)-oxy­codone was completed in a total of 13 steps and an overall yield of 1.5%. Experimental and spectral data are provided for all new compounds.

The total synthesis of (+)-10-keto-oxycodone was attained from phenethyl acetate in a stereoselective manner. Absolute stereochemistry was established via enzymatic dihydroxylation of phenethyl acetate with the recombinant strain JM109 (pDTG601A) that furnished the corresponding cis-cyclohexadienediol whose configuration corresponds to the absolute stereochemistry of the ring C of (+)-10-keto-oxycodone. Intramolecular Heck reaction was utilized to establish the quaternary carbon at C-13, along with the dibenzodihydrofuran functionality. The C-14 hydroxyl and C-10 ketone were installed via SmI2-mediated radical cyclization, and oxidation of a benzylic alcohol (obtained from an intermediate nitrate azide), respectively. The synthesis of (+)-10-keto-oxycodone was completed in a total of 14 operations (21 steps) and an overall yield of ~2%. Experimental and spectral data are provided for key intermediates and new compounds.

Four distinct approaches to

Noroxymorphone was prepared from thebaine in seven operations. The key steps involved the successive N- and O-demethylations of an iron tricarbonyl complex of thebaine followed by the unusual ceric ammonium nitrate oxidation of the methoxydiene moiety to the corresponding enone-γ-nitrate during the decomplexation of the iron tricarbonyl functionality.

In order to investigate the relationship between the size of a substituent on the aromatic substrate and its directing effect on the dihydroxylation, a series of 2-halobenzoates was synthesized and subjected to metabolism by toluene dioxygenase in preparative-scale fermentation cultures of Escherichia coli JM109 (pDTG601A). Larger ester substituents were shown to have a greater directing effect on the dihydroxylation reaction. Furthermore, significant increases in regioselectivity were observed using propargyl substituents, relative to the use of any other ester substituent. The selectivity and the product ratios are reported for o-fluoro-, o-chloro-, o-bromo-, and o-iodobenzoate esters (methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, allyl, and propargyl). Experimental and spectral data, as well as absolute stereochemistry, are provided for all new compounds.

Formal total syntheses of ent-codeine and other morphinans were accomplished from 1-phenyl-2-acetoxyethane, which was subjected to enzymatic dihydroxylation by toluene dioxygenase overexpressed in Eschericia coli JM109 (pDTG601A). The resulting cis-dihydroarenediol was coupled with a phenol derived from bromoisovanillin and a subsequent Heck reaction was used to establish the C-13 quaternary center. Two strategies were employed to set the C-14 center: nitrone and nitrile oxide cycloadditions to the C-8/C-14 olefin and a radical cyclization of an aldehyde to C-14. Both strategies yielded tetracyclic products that were converted to known intermediates for the synthesis of ent-codeine, ent-codeinone, and ent-hydrocodone. Experimental and spectral data are provided for all new compounds.

A comparison in separation efficiency between conventional chromatographic methods and newly devised time-pulsed methods (driven by either negative or positive pressure) is made. The methods are compared in terms of adsorbent amounts, solvent volumes, separation efficiency of a binary mixture, and the total time required for separation. It is found that alternating pressure or pulsed methods are superior on all counts compared to the conventional processes. This is supported by discussion of the principles as well as by the provision of detailed parameters for all experiments.

The N-oxide of O-acyloxymorphone, when treated with the Burgess reagent, provides the corresponding oxazolidine in a one-pot sequence and in excellent yield. The oxazolidine derived from oxymorphone, temporarily protected at O-3 and C-6, reacts with Grignard reagents to provide directly N-allyl, N-cyclopropylmethyl, and N-cyclobutylmethyl derivatives that are further converted to the title compounds, namely naltrexone, naloxone, nalbuphone, and nalbuphine in excellent yields. Each of these medicinal agents is obtained from the oxazolidine in a one-pot sequence. Complete spectral and experimental data are provided for all compounds.

The stereoselective total synthesis of unnatural (+)-galanthamine starting from phenethyl acetate is described. Chirality was introduced via microbial dihydroxylation of phenethyl acetate with the recombinant strain JM109 (pDTG601A) to the corresponding cis-cyclohexadi-enediol, configuration of which provided the absolute stereochemistry of the ring C of (+)-galanthamine. Intramolecular Heck cyclization was used to form the quaternary carbon and dibenzofuran functionality. The synthesis of (+)-galanthamine was completed in a total of ten steps and an overall yield of 5.5 %. Experimental and spectral data are provided for all new compounds.

N-Oxides derived from oxycodone and O-acyloxymorphone were treated with the Burgess reagent to provide the corresponding oxazolidines in excellent yields. Oxazolidines derived from O-acyloxymorphone were further hydrolyzed to noroxymorphone, whose alkylation furnished naltrexone, naloxone, and nalbuphone, which can be converted to nalbuphine, the mixed agonist-antagonist analgesic. The entire sequence from oxymorphone to the various antagonists was reduced to three one-pot operations, proceeding in excellent overall yields. In addition, quaternary salts of the oxazolidines with allyl or cyclopropylmethyl groups in fixed equatorial configurations were synthesized. Complete spectral and experimental data are provided for all compounds.

An improved preparation of buprenorphine via palladium-catalyzed N-demethylation/acylation is reported. Three routes were investigated and compared in overall yield. The first involved N-demethylation/acylation of an advanced intermediate obtained from thebaine followed by hydrolysis of the N-acetamide and alkylation with cyclopropylmethyl bromide and/or reduction of the N-acetyl group with the Schwartz reagent followed by N-alkylation. The second route employed cyclopropylcarboxylic acid anhydride in the N-demethylation/acylation protocol and subsequent reduction of the cyclopropylcarboxamide by either lithium aluminum hydride or under hydrosilylation conditions. Both of these routes originated in thebaine and therefore required O-demethylation as a final step. The third route employed an N-demethylation/acylation sequence starting from oripavine rather than thebaine, thus avoiding the O-demethylation. The routes are compared for overall efficiency and experimental and spectral data are provided for all new compounds.

A previously reported nonracemic iodocyclohexene carboxylate intermediate used in the asymmetric preparation of kibdelone C and its congeners was prepared in two synthetic steps from the product of microbial dihydroxylation of methyl 2-iodobenzoate.

Formal total syntheses of ent-codeine and other morphinans were accomplished from 1-phenyl-2-acetoxyethane, which was subjected to enzymatic dihydroxylation by toluene dioxygenase overexpressed in Eschericia coli JM109 (pDTG601A). The resulting cis-dihydroarenediol was coupled with a phenol derived from bromoisovanillin and a subsequent Heck reaction was used to establish the C-13 quaternary center. Two strategies were employed to set the C-14 center: nitrone and nitrile oxide cycloadditions to the C-8/C-14 olefin and a radical cyclization of an aldehyde to C-14. Both strategies yielded tetracyclic products that were converted to known intermediates for the synthesis of ent-codeine, ent-codeinone, and ent-hydrocodone. Experimental and spectral data are provided for all new compounds.

Thebaine was converted into its iron tricarbonyl complex, which underwent successive N- and O-demethylation with BrCN and BBr 3 , respectively. Decomplexation of the iron tricarbonyl moiety was accomplished with ammonium cerium(IV) nitrate (CAN) and base-catalyzed hydrolysis furnished nororipavine. When excess CAN was used the methoxydiene unit was converted into its C-14 nitrate that on hydrogenation and further hydrolysis furnished noroxymorphone. Full experimental and spectral data are provided for all key compounds.

A series of ortho-, meta-, and para- halogen-substituted methyl benzoate esters was subjected to enzymatic dihydroxylation via the whole-cell fermentation with E. coli JM109 (pDTG601A). Only ortho-substituted benzoates were metabolized. Methyl 2-fluorobenzoate yielded one diol regioselectively whereas methyl 2-chloro-, methyl 2-bromo- and methyl 2-iodobenzoates each yielded a mixture of regioisomers. Absolute stereochemistry was determined for all new metabolites. Computational analysis of these results and a possible rationale for the regioselectivity of the enzymatic dihydroxylation is advanced.