Macrolactone macrolactonization

Erythronolide B, the biosynthetic progenitor of the erythromycin antibiotics, was synthesized for the first time, using as a key step a new method for macrolactone ring closure (double activation) which had been devised specifically for this problem. Retrosynthetic simplification included the clearance of the stereocenters at carbons 10 and 11 and the disconnection of the 9,10-bond, leading to precursors A and B. Cyclic stereocontrol and especially the Baeyer-Villiger and halolactonization transforms played a major role in the retrosynthetic simplification of B which was synthesized starting from 2,4,6-trimethylphenol. 

Sc(OTf)3, AcOH, p-nitrobenzoic anhydride or Sc(OTf)3, AC2O, 66- >95% yield. The lower yields are obtained with allylic alcohols propargylic alcohols give higher yields. Phenols are effectively acylated with this catalyst, but at a much slower rate than simple aliphatic alco-hols. The method was shown to be superior to most other methods for macrolactonization with minimum diolide formation. 

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. 

From the active site topology it seems that there is room for substrate flexibility. Indeed, experiments with the closely related P450eryF have demonstrated that some substitutions within the macrolactone ring of the substrate are possible [28] for example, reduction of the C9 oxo to the hydroxy group is well tolerated. However, any changes with impact on the overall confonnation of the substrate, thus changing the trajectory between the reactive C-H bond and the iron-bound oxy-... 

In a more recent and improved approach to cyclopropa-radicicol (228) [ 110], also outlined in Scheme 48, the synthesis was achieved via ynolide 231 which was transformed to the stable cobalt complex 232. RCM of 232 mediated by catalyst C led to cyclization product 233 as a 2 1 mixture of isomers in 57% yield. Oxidative removal of cobalt from this mixture followed by cycloaddition of the resulting cycloalkyne 234 with the cyclic diene 235 led to the benzofused macrolactone 236, which was converted to cyclopropa-radicicol (228). 

Lipases also catalyze the intramolecular transesterification (lactonization) of hydroxy esters. Macrolactonization of a racemic hydroxy ester in the presence of PSL provided the corresponding (R)-lactone (Figure 6.22). This compound is the naturally occurring enantiomer of the pheromone produced by the merchant grain beetle [70]. Chemical macrolactonizations require high dilution to minimize... 

Using FmA catalysis and protected 4-hydroxybutanal, compound (97) has been stereoselectively prepared as a synthetic equivalent to the C-3-C-9 fragment of (-F)-aspicillin, a lichen macrolactone (Figure 10.35) [160]. Similarly, FruA mediated stereoselective addition of (25) to a suitably crafted aldehyde precursor (98) served as the key step in the synthesis of the noncarbohydrate , skipped polyol C-9-C-16 chain fragment (99) of the macrolide antibiotic pentamycin [161,162]. 

Figure 10.35 Stereoselective generation of chiral precursors for the synthesis of the lichen macrolactone (+)-aspicillin and the macrolide antibiotic pentamycin using FruA catalysis.

Based on information accrued during the stereochemical elucidation, macrolactone 85 was identified as a viable synthetic intermediate (Scheme 12). The authors were cognizant of the potential challenges that could arise. First, the required formation of a trisubstituted alkene in a projected Horner-Emmons macrocyclization was without strong precedent. Also, this strategy would necessitate a stereoselective reduction of the Cl5 ketone, which was predicted to be feasible based on MM2 calculations. 

Macrolactones 77 and/or 78 can be prepared from the reductive cyclisation of ynals 76 in the presence of NHC-nickel complexes (Scheme 5.21) [21], This maaolactonisation occnrs with different selectivity depending on the ligands attached to the nickel. If carbenes snch as IMes or IPr are nsed, the exocyclic olefin 77 is preferentially obtained, however when phosphine ligands are nsed, the endocyclic adducts 78 are preferentially obtained. 

Scheme 5.21 Macrolactones prepared from the reductive cyclisation of ynals in the presence of NHC-nickel complexes...

Use of 2,4,6-trichlorobenzoyl chloride, Et3N, and DMAP, known as the Yamaguchi method,128 is frequently used to effect macrolactonization. The reaction is believed to involve formation of the mixed anhydride with the aroyl chloride, which then forms an acyl pyridinium ion on reaction with DMAP.129... 

Intramolecular lactonization can also be carried out with DCCI and DMAP. As with most other macrolactonizations, the reactions must be carried out in rather dilute solution to promote the intramolecular cyclization in competition with inter-molecular reaction, which leads to dimers or higher oligomers. A study with 15-hydroxypentadecanoic acid demonstrated that a proton source is beneficial under these conditions and found the hydrochloride of DMAP to be convenient.130... 

K. C. Nicolaou s group at Scripps Research Institute developed two synthetic routes to epothilone A. One of the syntheses involves closure of the lactone ring as a late step. Three major fragments were synthesized. The bond connection at C(6)-C(7) was made by an aldol reaction. The C(12)-C(13) bond was formed by a Wittig reaction and later epoxidized. The ring was closed by macrolactonization. 

This synthesis is shown in Scheme 13.59. Two enantiomerically pure starting materials were brought together by a Wittig reaction in Step C. The aldol addition in Step D was diastereoselective for the anti configuration, but gave a 1 1 mixture with the 6S, 1R-diastereomer. The stereoisomers were separated after Step E-2. The macrolactonization (Step E-4) was accomplished by a mixed anhydride (see Section 3.4.1). The final epoxidation was done using 3-methyl-3-trifluoromethyl dioxirane. 

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