Enantioselective formal total syntheses of Clavukerin A and isoclavukerin A via a ring-closing metathesis reaction

Enantioselective formal total syntheses of the marine trisnorsesquiterpenes clavukerin A and isoclavukerin A, starting from (R)-limonene employing an RCM reaction as the key step, are described.

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.

Rearrangement of homobrendane derivatives. Total syntheses of racemic copacamphor, ylangocamphor, and their homologs

Rearrangement of a homobrendane derivative 8a to perhydro-1,4-methanoindenesy stem 9a could be brought about either by p-toluenesulfonic acid or boron trifluoride etherate. Similarly, rearrangement of 8b-d led to the formation of perhydro-1,4-methanoindened erivatives 9b-d. On the basis of the location of substituents in the starting material and the product, a probable mechanistic pathway has been suggested. The appropriate modification of the peripheral functionalities in 9 led to efficient total syntheses of (f)-copacamphor (15a),(f)-ylangocamphor (16a), and their homologues 15b and 16b.

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 syntheses of the fungal metabolites (+/-)-acremines A, B and I

A concise and diversity-oriented approach, incorporating elements of regio- and stereocontrol, to the recently isolated bioactive polyoxygenated cyclohexanoid natural products acremines A. B and I. from commercially accessible building blocks, is outlined. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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.

Vinyl radical induced Michael additions: Total synthesis of (±)-seychellene

A new strategy for the total synthesis of (±)-seychellene which involves (i) a regiospecific construction of a bicyclo(2.2.2)octene moiety having a methyl group at the bridgehead and (ii) a vinyl radical induced intramolecular Michael addition is described.

Enantiospecific total synthesis of aciphyllene

Enantiospecific total synthesis of the sesquiterpene aciphyllene and its three epimers have been described starting from the readily available monoterpene (R)-limonene employing an intramolecular type II carbonyl ene reaction as the key step. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.