An expeditious enantiospecific total synthesis of (+)-7-epi-goniofufurone

Stereoselective synthesis of styryl lactone, (+)-7-epi-goniofufurone was achieved in high yield via simple transformations from tartaric acid. The key step involves the successive stereoselective reduction of ketones with borohydride and selectride.

A total synthesis of the epoxyquinone based antifungal natural product (±)-ambuic acid

A total synthesis of the recently isolated polyketide natural product (+/-)-ambuic acid has been accomplished from the readily available Diels-Alder adduct of cyclopentadiene and 2-allyl-p-benzoquinone through a simple sequence with sound stereocontrol. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synthetic investigations on testerone and its analogues—I *1: The total synthesis of 8-isotestosterone and its anthracene analogue

The total synthesis of 8-isotestosterone (II) and the corresponding anthracene analogue (III) following the benzohydrindane route is reported. Catalytic hydrogenation of trans-1β-acetoxy-8-methyl-4,5-(3′-methyl-4′-hydroxybenzo)-hydrindane (V) followed by oxidation has furnished two isomeric tricyclic keto acetates, viz. 1β,2α-(3′-acetoxycyclopentano)-2,5-dimethyl-6-keto-1α,2,3,4,4aα,-5α,6,7,8,8aα-decahydronaphthalene (VII) and 1β,2α-(3′-acetoxycyclopentano)-2,5-dimethyl-6-keto-1α,2,3,4,4aβ,5,6,7,8,8aβ-decahydronaphthalene (IX) which are cis-non-steroid and cis-steroid configurations of the same cyclopentano-cis-decalins. A difference in the direction of enolization of the keto acetate (VII) in alkylation reaction and enol acetylation towards the methine and the methylene carbon atoms respectively has been observed.

Enantiospecific total synthesis of ent-5-senceioyloxy-10,11-epoxythapsan-10-ol

Enantiospecific total synthesis of optical antipode of the sesquiterpene 5-senecioyloxy-10,11-epoxythapsan-10-ol has been described. (R)-Carvone has been employed as the chiral starting material and a combination of intramolecular alkyation and Criegee fragmentation are employed for intramolecular stereospecific transfer of the chirality. An intramolecular diazoketone cyclopropanation and regioselective cyclopropane ring cleavage reactions have been employed or the creation of the three requisite contiguous quaternary carbon atoms.

An enantiospecific approach to pinguisanes from (R)-carvone. Total synthesis of (+)-pinguisenol

Enantiospecific total synthesis of (+)-pinguisenol 1, a sesquiterpene containing a cis-1,2,6,7-tetramethylbicyclo[4.3.0]nonane carbon framework incorporating two vicinal quaternary carbon atoms and four cis-oriented methyl groups on four contiguous carbon atoms, isolated from a liverwort, is described. The orthoester Claisen rearrangement of the allyl alcohol 9, obtained from (R)-carvone, generates the ester 12. Intramolecular cyclopropanation of the diazo ketone 13, derived from the ester 12, furnishes the tricyclic ketone 7. Degradation of the isopropenyl group followed by regioselective reductive cyclopropane ring cleavage transforms compound 7 into the hydroxy ketone 21. Wolff–Kishner reduction of the hydroxy ketone 21 followed by oxidation and Grignard reaction furnishes pinguisenol (+)- 1.

Enantiospecific total synthesis of (+)-lentiginosine

A facile synthesis of (+)-lentiginosine is accomplished from L-(+)-tartaric acid. Key transformations in the synthesis include the elaboration of gamma-oxo amide derived from tartaric acid.

Total synthesis of (+/-)-herbertenediol

A formal total synthesis of the sesquiterpene (+/-)-herbertenediol and its dimers mastigophorenes A-D has been accomplished, starting from vanillin via 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzaldehyde. A combination of Claisen rearrangement and ring-closing metathesis reactions were employed for the generation of the two vicinal quaternary carbons on a cyclopentane ring.

The first total synthesis of (+/-)-lagopodin A

The first total synthesis of (±)-lagopodin A and a formal total synthesis of enokipodins A and B is described. The requisite precursors containing two vicinal quaternary carbon atoms were assembled employing Claisen rearrangement and an RCM reaction as key steps starting from 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylacetophenone.

Total synthesis ofdl-9(11)-dehydrotestosterone anddl-testosterone

17β-Hydroxy-des-A-androst-9-en-5-one (II, R=OH), prepared fromtrans-1β-hydroxy-8-methyl-4, 5-(3′-methyl-4′-methoxybenzo)-hydrindane (I, R=CH3)′, has been converted intodl-9(II)-dehydrotestosterone (IV, R=OH) anddl-testosterone (IX) in very short sequences of steps, albeit in poor yields.

Total synthesis of (+/-)-merrilactone A

As a consequence of the advancing age profile of the global population, particularly in developed nations,nerrodegener-ative disorders such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons diseases have emerged as a major public health concern. In this regard, neurotrophic agents, which have been implicated in the maintenance and growth of neurons as well as prevention of neuronal death, are being considered as potential leads for therapeutic development.

Total synthesis of the fungal metabolite (+/-)-acremine G: acceleration of a biomimetic Diels-Alder reaction on silica gel

A total synthesis of the bioactive tetracyclic natural product acremine G has been achieved in which a regio- and stereoselective biomimetic Diels-Alder reaction between two readily assembled building blocks, accelerated on a solid support (silica gel), forms the key step. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.