Erythronolide synthesis

As shown below, the attack of epoxide 6 with lithium dimethylcuprate is a key step of Hanessian et al. s erythronolide synthesis [23]. This methodology was also applied to the preparation of other polyketide-derived macrolides. Specific to erythronolide, introduction of the methyl group at C2 was achieved according to Scheme 11.3. 

Dehydration of tertiary alcohols 16 formed by the addition of organo-metallic species to ketones 15. An example is from Corey s erythronolide synthesis where dehydration of 18 gives only the -enyne319. 

When a stone is thrown into a pond, several waves are produced in succession, gradually spreading until they finally cover the whole pond. The stone in macrolide synthesis was the news that R.B. Woodward had started the total synthesis of erythromcyin A in 1973. Some waves are represented by Masamune s methymycin synthesis in 1975, Corey s erythronolide synthesis in 1978 and Tatsuta s carbomycin and tylosin syntheses in 1977 and 1981. One of the biggest waves is Woodward s erythromycin synthesis in 1981. 

Kinoshita s erythronolide synthesis is based on the preparation of (9S)-9-dihydroerythronolide A (76), which is constructed from the three chiral segments, Ci-Cg (69), C7-C9 (70) and C10-C13 (72). 

Kochetkov s erythronolide synthesis is based on the construction of the seco-acid from the Cj-Cg (91) and C9-C13 (93) segments, both of which are prepared from levoglucosan 88 through the C-methyl derivatives 89 and 92, respectively. 

NaN02, 1 N HCl, CH3OH, H2O, 0°, 3 h, 76% yield. In the last step of a synthesis of erythronolide A, acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of an acetonide failed because the carbonyl-containing precursor was unstable to acidic hydrolysis (3% MeOH, HCl, 0°, 30 min, conditions developed for the synthesis of erythronolide B). Consequently the carbonyl group was protected... 

The first total synthesis of erythronolide A was accomplished from iodide A and lactone B, the same intermediate which had been used for the synthesis of erythronolide B. The pronounced acid sensitivity of erythronolide A necessitated a digression of the final steps of the synthesis from those used for the earlier synthesis of erythronolide B. 

The fungus Streptomyces erythreus is the source of a number of structurally related macrolide antibiotics that are collectively known as the erythromycins. The erythromycins occupy a prominent position in medicine by virtue of their useful antibacterial properties. Their use in therapy over the course of the last three decades has been widespread, and has resulted in the saving of many human lives. In this chapter, we address the landmark total synthesis of erythronolide B (1), the biosynthetic precursor of all the erythromycins, by E.J. Corey and his coworkers which was carried out at Harvard in the 1970s.1... 

The first total synthesis of erythronolide B (1) by Corey stands as an event of great historical significance in synthetic chemistry it provides a powerful illustration of the utility of Corey s methods of macrolactonization and it demonstrates, in a particularly insightful way, the value of using readily accessible six-membered ring templates for the assembly of contiguous arrays of stereo-genic centers. 

The synthesis of key intermediate 12, in optically active form, commences with the resolution of racemic trans-2,3-epoxybutyric acid (27), a substance readily obtained by epoxidation of crotonic acid (26) (see Scheme 5). Treatment of racemic 27 with enantio-merically pure (S)-(-)-1 -a-napthylethylamine affords a 1 1 mixture of diastereomeric ammonium salts which can be resolved by recrystallization from absolute ethanol. Acidification of the resolved diastereomeric ammonium salts with methanesulfonic acid and extraction furnishes both epoxy acid enantiomers in eantiomerically pure form. Because the optical rotation and absolute configuration of one of the antipodes was known, the identity of enantiomerically pure epoxy acid, (+)-27, with the absolute configuration required for a synthesis of erythronolide B, could be confirmed. Sequential treatment of (+)-27 with ethyl chloroformate, excess sodium boro-hydride, and 2-methoxypropene with a trace of phosphorous oxychloride affords protected intermediate 28 in an overall yield of 76%. The action of ethyl chloroformate on carboxylic acid (+)-27 affords a mixed carbonic anhydride which is subsequently reduced by sodium borohydride to a primary alcohol. Protection of the primary hydroxyl group in the form of a mixed ketal is achieved easily with 2-methoxypropene and a catalytic amount of phosphorous oxychloride. 

Having retraced the efficient and elegant sequences of reactions that have led to the synthesi of key intermediates 11 and 12, we are now in a position to address their union and the completion of the total synthesis of erythronolide B. Taken together, intermediates 11 and 12 contain all of the carbon atoms of erythronolide B, and although both are available in optically active form of the required absolute configuration, racemic 11 and enantiomerically pure 12... 

Natural product total syntheses are particularly valuable when they are attended by the development of general utility methods of synthesis. In some instances, the successful completion of a natural product total synthesis requires the development and application of a new synthetic method. The total synthesis of erythronolide B by Corey et al. is one of these instances. The double activation macro-lactonization method was a fruitful innovation that was introduced in response to the challenge presented by the macrocyclic structures of the erythromycins. Several other methods to achieve the same objective, and numerous applications followed. 

Enantiomers, preferential crystallization of 59 Endo selectivity 798 Ene reactions 808, 809 Enones, synthesis of 732 Enthalpies of formation 102, 103 Enynes, synthesis of 956 Enzymatic kinetic resolution 829 Epimerization 399 Episulphides, oxidation of 237 Episulphones 650, 775 Episulphoxides, photolysis of 742 a,/J-Epoxysulphones reactions of 811, 812 rearrangement of 685 synthesis of 612 / ,y-Epoxysulphones 781 y,<5-Epoxysulphones 627, 628 Epoxysulphoxides reactions of 613 rearrangement of 744 synthesis of 327, 612 Erythronolides 831... 

A stereoselective total synthesis of erythronolide A, using two Mg/z-mediated cycloadditions of nitrile oxides has been described. Of broader significance, the strategy not only facilitates the synthesis of specific polyketide targets (i.e., natural products) but also opens up new possibilities for the preparation of nonnatural analogs (482). 

This chapter has introduced the asymmetric synthesis of several types of natural products erythronolide A, 6-deoxyerythronolide, rifamycin S, prostaglandins and baccatin III, the polycyclic part of taxol, as well as the taxol side chain. The... 

A stereoselective osmylation approach was applied to the synthesis of C(l)—C(7) and C(7)—C(13) subunits of erythronolide A41. A key synthon of the erythronolide A seco acid, 30, was prepared in an enantiomerically pure form by utilizing a stereoselective osmylation of the chiral hydroxy (Z, )-diene ester 31 and subsequent hydrogenation of the resulting butenolide 32 (equation 24). 

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