Epoxides biomimetic cyclization

Competition of the biomimetic cyclization of epoxides, either with an aromatic ring or with a double bond, has been studied. Evidence for an early transition state has been provided and the biosynthetic implications discussed403. 

Another possibility is based on a biomimetic approach, a stereoselective S-endo-epoxide-indole cyclization. Using this methodology, the Kerr group has reported the synthesis of (—) or (+)-balasubramide using ytterbium triflate as the catalyst [15], while the Zhang group used p-toluenesulfonic acid (p-TSA) [16] (Scheme 4.3). 

Thus, a synthetic source of promising allelochemicals is essential if we are to comprehensively study the agent s mode of activity and establish its basic structure-activity profile. The proposed work addresses this need. We will synthesize alleopathic natural products isolated from the sunflower (the heliannuols), and structurally related compounds, in optically pure form based on biomimetic phenol-epoxide cyclizations. The bioactivity of the targets and intermediates will be evaluated through laboratory tests on plant germination and growth. Bioassays will be performed on the synthetic intermediates to allow for the development of a preliminary structure-activity profile for these novel natural herbicides. 

P4 Heliannuols A, D, and K. Our preliminary results show that the biomimetic phenol epoxide cyclization route is valid for the exo cyclization products such as heliannuol D (4), and we are hopeful that... 

Epoxides can also serve as effective carbocyclization promotors, either through a polyene cyclization, as in the biomimetic epoxy-olefin cyclization of 100 in the presence of boron trifluoride etherate <99CC325>, or by a Friedel-Crafts approach, as exemplified by the cycli-alkylation of arylalkyl epoxides 102 under the influence of solid acid catalysts <99EJOC837>. 

In another attempt to mimic the in vivo cyclization of humulene, Mlotkiewicz et have shown that treatment of humulene 4,5-epoxide (272) with boron trifluoride etherate leads to the formation of the two tricyclic alcohols (273) and (274) in 70% yield. The carbon skeleton of these two compounds is exactly that found in africanol (276) and the more recently isolated keto-angelate (275). Further elaboration of the alcohol (273) has in fact resulted in a biomimetic synthesis of the keto-alcohol corresponding to (275). This work constitutes the first example of the direct conversion of a humulene derivative into a naturally occurring compound. 

Stereospecific 2,3-epoxidation of squalene, followed by a nonconcerted carbocationic cyclization and a series of carbocationic rearrangements, forms lanosterol [79-65-0] (77) in the first steps dedicated solely toward steroid synthesis (109,110). Several biomimetic, cationic cydizations to form steroids or steroidlike nuclei have been observed in the laboratory (111), and the total synthesis of lanosterol has been accomplished by a carbocation—olefin cydization route (112). Through a complex series of enzyme-catalyzed reactions, lanosterol is converted to cholesterol (2). Cholesterol is the principal starting material for steroid hormone biosynthesis in animals. The cholesterol biosynthetic pathway is composed of at least 30 enzymatic reactions. Lanosterol and squalene appear to be normal constituents, in trace amounts, in tissues that are actively synthesizing cholesterol. 

A biomimetic synthesis of ( )-pallescensin A (107 R = H) has been achieved through the concerted Bp3 Et20-induced cyclization of epoxide (106) to yield crystalline (107 R = OH) (25%), followed by subsequent deoxygenation. The cyclization of the parent diene with BF3-Et20 gave (107 R == H) directly (84%) as an almost pure oil. 

For the synthesis of sarcinaxanthin (441) in racemic form a biomimetic, acid-promoted prenylation reaction has been described. The key step was the alkylation-cyclization of geranyl acetate (214) with the isoprene epoxide 215 to give, in a mixture, 216 with the desired 2,6-cw-stereochemistry. The primary alcohol group was transformed to the corresponding mesylate which was dehydrated and subsequent hydrolysis gave 217. Conversion of 217 into the sulphone 218 was achieved by preparation of the corresponding mesylate, followed by... 

Many naturally occurring polyethers such as brevitoxin B (123) have been proposed to biosynthetically derive from the polyepoxidation of polyenes and subsequent cyclization of the resulting polyepoxides (Scheme 3.40) [79, 80]. Such a biomimetic polyene-polyepoxide-polycyclization approach would provide a potentially powerfid and versatile strategy for the synthesis of polyethers, with quick assembly of stereochemically complex molecules from relatively simple achiral polyalkene precursors. The epoxidation with ketone 42 should provide a valuable method to investigate this biosynthetic hypothesis and possible application of the proposed pathway in the synthesis of polyethers. 

The synthesis in Scheme 13.38 combines elements of a biomimetic-type polyene cyclization with a rearrangement similar to that just described in Scheme 13.37. The early stages of the synthesis culminate in the construction of the allylic alcohol in step B. In step C, it is epoxidized using the stereoselective VO(t-BuOOH) method (Section 12.2.1). This epoxidation provides the key intermediate for the polyene cyclization. The mild Lewis acid FeCla is used to promote the cyclization, which terminates in an electrophilic substitution of the methoxyphenyl substituent. Steps E and F convert the methoxyphenyl ring to a diene. This diene undergoes a Diels-Alder reaction in step G. After catalytic reduction of the double bond, the anhydride is subjected to an oxidative bis-decarboxylation (see Section 12.4.2 for discussion of this reaction). The resulting alkene is epoxidized, and the epoxide is reduced. A rearrangement is done at this point. The reaction is similar to that used in Scheme 13.37, except that it involves a saturated, rather than allylic, system. The final steps in the synthesis are those used in Schemes 13.33 and 13.34. 

The chemical simulation of this biosynthetic process has been developed as an important methodology in organic synthesis. Van Tamelen reported the add-catalyzed cyclization of chiral terminal epoxides of polyprenoids [11]. In contrast, Johnson adopted the acid-catalyzed cyclization of poly-prenic acetals derived from chiral diols [12]. In addition to these pioneering studies, the biomimetic polyene cycliza-tions of polyprenoids, which are induced by a variety of electrophiles such as proton, oxonium ion, halonium ion [13], or metal ion [14], have also been developed. Despite extensive studies on these diastereoselective olefin cyclizations, enantioselective processes using synthetic chiral catalysts had not been developed for a long time. In 1999, Yamamoto s... 

Biosynlbetic, Biomimetic, and Related Epoxide Cyclizations Tavlor. S.K. Org. Prep. Proceed. Int., 1992, 24, 247. 

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