Endiandric acid

The molecular frameworks of the endiandric acids were unprecedented at the time of their discovery. Intrigued by these unique structures and Black s hypothesis for their biogenetic origin, the... 

Although the above-mentioned electrocyclization reactions were well studied prior to the discovery of the endiandric acids, their utilization in the total synthesis of complex molecules had not been demonstrated. The endiandric acids, therefore, offered an irresistible opportunity to explore the utility of electrocyclization reactions in synthesis. The successful studies disclosed below demonstrate that these reactions can provide concise solutions to the challenge presented by complex polycyclic frameworks. 

Stepwise, Stereocontrolled Total Synthesis of Endiandric Acids A-D (and E-G)... 

The key intermediate 25 was prepared efficiently from aldehyde 23, obtained by reduction of nitrile 22 with Dibal-H. Treatment of 23 with the lithium salt of frans-diethyl cinnamylphosphonate furnishes compound 24 in 75 % yield and with a 20 1 ratio of E Z olefin stereoisomers. The stage is now set for the final and crucial operations to complete the molecular skeletons of endiandric acids A and B. 

Gratifyingly, when compound 24 is refluxed in a solution of toluene at 110°C, it undergoes quantitative [4+2] cycloaddition to polycyclic system 25. The indicated stereochemistry of 25 was anticipated on the basis of the trans,trans geometry of the phenyl-diene system in precursor 24 and the presumed preference for an exo transition state geometry. These assumptions were vindicated by the eventual conversion of 25 to endiandric acids A (1) and B (2). 

Although the biosynthetic cascade hypothesis predicts the co-occurrence of endiandric acids D (4) and A (1) in nature, the former compound was not isolated until after its total synthesis was completed in the laboratory (see Scheme 6). Our journey to endiandric acid D (4) commences with the desilylation of key intermediate 22 to give alcohol 31 in 95% yield. The endo side chain is then converted to a methyl ester by hydrolysis of the nitrile to the corresponding acid with basic hydrogen peroxide, followed by esterification with diazomethane to afford intermediate 32 in 92% overall yield. The exo side chain is then constructed by sequential bromination, cyanide displacement, ester hydrolysis (33), reduction, and olefination (4) in a straight-... 

The biogenetic scheme for endiandric acids also predicts the plausible existence in nature of endiandric acids E (5), F (6), and G (7). Even though they are still undiscovered, their synthesis has been achieved (Scheme 6). For endiandric acids E and F, key intermediate 24 is converted, by conventional means, to aldehyde 35 via intermediate 34. Oxidation of 35 with silver oxide in the presence of sodium hydroxide results in the formation of endiandric acid E (5) in 90 % yield, whereas elaboration of the exo side chain by standard olefination (85 % yield) and alkaline hydrolysis (90 % yield) furnishes endiandric acid F (6). The construction of the remaining compound, endiandric acid G (7), commences with the methyl ester of endiandric acid D (36) and proceeds by partial reduction to the corresponding aldehyde, followed by olefination and hydrolysis with aqueous base as shown in Scheme 6. 

Through a display of a series of electrocyclization reactions, the Nicolaou group demonstrated the biomimetic , one-step synthesis of the endiandric acids involving the cascade of reactions proposed by Black. The polyunsaturated compounds 37 and 38 (Scheme 7) were designed for their relative stability and potential to serve as... 

With the demonstration of the pathways described above it became abundantly clear that the formation of endiandric acids in nature from polyunsaturated achiral precursors is quite feasible without the participation of enzymes, as Black had so insightfully suggested in 1980. 

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