Monensin synthesis

The general features of the monensin synthesis conducted by Kishi et al. are outlined, in retrosynthetic format, in Scheme 1. It was decided to delay the construction of monensin s spiroketal substructure, the l,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]decane framework, to a very late stage in the synthesis (see Scheme 1). It seemed reasonable to expect that exposure of the keto triol resulting from the hydrogen-olysis of the C-5 benzyl ether in 2 to an acidic medium could, under equilibrating conditions, result in the formation of the spiroketal in 1. This proposition was based on the reasonable assumption that the configuration of the spiroketal carbon (C-9) in monensin corresponds to the thermodynamically most stable form, as is the case for most spiroketal-containing natural products.19 Spiro-ketals found in nature usually adopt conformations in which steric effects are minimized and anomeric effects are maximized. 

An important stereochemical issue presents itself here. A priori, an aldol condensation between intermediates 2 and 3 could result in the formation of a mixture of diastereomeric aldol adducts, epi-meric at C-7, with little or no preference for a particular stereoisomer. Cram s rule2,4 predicts the formation of aldol adduct 43. This intermediate possesses the correct absolute configuration at C-7, and it should be noted that Kishi et al. had demonstrated during the course of their monensin synthesis that a similar aldol condensation produced the desired C-7 epimer as the major product.12... 

Z)-2-Butenyldiethylaluminum has been generated at — 78°C by the reaction of (Z)-2-butenylpotassium and diethylaluminum chloride, but its reactions with aldehydes have not been systematically investigated1. The reaction of (Z)-2-butenyldiethylaluminum and chiral aldehyde 1, that provided 2 with 3 1 selectivity, was performed as one step in Still s monensin synthesis. 

This result in particular should warn you that the choice between a chair- and boat-like transition state is narrow. In general open-chain compounds prefer the chair and cyclic compounds the boat but do not rely on it In spite of this apparent disadvantage the Ireland version of the Claisen rearrangement is one of the most widely used ways to set up complicated molecules. Ireland himself has used it to make a catalogue of polyether antibiotics with the monensin synthesis being perhaps the most remarkable. These syntheses are beyond the scope of this book but are worth reading.36... 

Organomagnesiums frequently prove superior also in other types of reactions. They may facilitate the oxidation of a carbon-metal to a carbon-oxygen bond, secure clean monoaddition of an acetylide to an activated ester (a critical issue in a monensin synthesis X favor in the presence of a copper catalyst 1,4-addition onto a conjugated enone over 1,2-addition, reorient the attack of formaldehyde on a benzylic entitiy from the a- to the or /to-position, and provide diastereoselectivity in nucleophilic additions onto aldehydes. Furthermore organomagnesiums combine under carbon-carbon linking with a variety of organic halides, tosylates, and acetates if the process is mediated by transition elements such as palladium(O) copper(I), nickel(II) or iron(II) Organoalkalis are often less fit to enter such catalytic cycles. 

Fig. 4. Synthesis of monensin from homochiial natural products TBS = tert-butyldimethylsilyl chloride.

Individual polyethers exhibit varying specificities for cations. Some polyethers have found appHcation as components in ion-selective electrodes for use in clinical medicine or in laboratory studies involving transport studies or measurement of transmembrane electrical potential (4). The methyl ester of monensin [28636-21 -7] i2ls been incorporated into a membrane sHde assembly used for the assay of semm sodium (see Biosensors) (5). Studies directed toward the design of a lithium selective electrode resulted in the synthesis of a derivative of monensin lactone that is highly specific for lithium (6). 

Scheme 9. Synthesis of (+)-monensin sodium salt (sodium salt of 1).

From intermediate 43, the path to monensin would seemingly be straightforward. A significant task which would remain would be the construction of the l,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]decane substructure of monensin. You will note that the oxygen atoms affixed to carbons 5 and 12 in 43 reside in proximity to the ketone carbonyl at C-9. In such a favorable setting, it is conceivable that the action of acid on 43 could induce cleavage of both triethylsilyl ethers to give a keto triol which could then participate in a spontaneous, thermodynamically controlled spiroketalization reaction. Saponification of the C-l methyl ester would then complete the synthesis of monensin. 

Still s synthesis of monensin (1) is based on the assembly and union of three advanced, optically active intermediates 2, 7, and 8. It was anticipated that substrate-stereocontrolled processes could secure vicinal stereochemical relationships and that the coupling of the above intermediates would establish remote stereorelationships. Scheme 3 describes Still s synthesis of the left wing of monensin, intermediate 2. This construction commences with an aldol reaction between the (Z) magnesium bromide enolate derived from 2-methyl-2-trimethylsilyloxy-3-pentanone (21) and benzyloxymethyl-protected (/ )-/ -hydroxyisobutyraldehyde (10).2° The use of intermediate 21 in aldol reactions was first reported by Heathcock21 and, in this particular application, a 5 1 mixture of syn aldol diastereoisomers is formed in favor of the desired aldol adduct 22 (85% yield). The action of lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) and magnesium(n) bromide on 21 affords a (Z) magnesium enolate that... 

Unsaturated -lactone 34 adopts a well-defined conformation and provides a suitable platform for the introduction of the stereogenic center at C-24 (monensin numbering). Catalytic hydrogenation of the carbon-carbon double bond in 34 takes place preferentially from the less hindered side of the molecule and provides an 8 1 mixture of stereoisomers in favor of 35 (100% yield). Cleavage of -lactone 35 with concentrated hydriodic acid at 130°C, followed by treatment of the resultant iodide 36 with triphenylphosphine, completes the synthesis of intermediate 19. 

We have reached a critical stage in the synthesis. Intermediates 2 and 3 represent the left- and right-wing sectors of monensin, respectively. Taken together, these two key building blocks account for 15 of monensin s 17 stereogenic centers, and both are suitably... 

You will note that the oxygen atoms attached to carbons 5 and 12 in 43 reside in proximity to the C-9 ketone carbonyl. Under sufficiently acidic conditions, it is conceivable that removal of the triethylsilyl protecting groups would be attended by a thermodynamically controlled spiroketalization reaction.30 Indeed, after hydro-genolysis of the C-26 benzyl ether in 43, subjection of the organic residue to the action of para-toluenesulfonic acid in a mixture of methylene chloride, ether, and water accomplishes the desired processes outlined above and provides monensin methyl ester. Finally, saponification of the methyl ester with aqueous sodium hydroxide in methanol furnishes the sodium salt of (+)-monensin [(+)-1], Still s elegant synthesis of monensin is now complete.13... 

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