Natural products stereoselective synthesis

Enantiomerically pure cyclopropanes are a frequent motif in the structure of natural products. Their synthesis is often demanding and many approaches have been made [50, 51]. Porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL) was used for the stereoselective desymmetrization of a cyclopropane dibutanoate (Fig. 2). The asymmetric hydrolysis of the meso compound yielded the corresponding enantiopure alcohol almost quantitatively. The intermediate obtained was successfully applied in the total synthesis of dictyopterenes A and C, sexual pheromones of brown algae [52], and constanolactones (see below) [53]. 

Abstract This chapter provides an overview of emerging strategies for the selective introduction of functionality at oxindole C3. Specific emphasis has been devoted toward asymmetric methods for the introduction of C3 quaternary centers and spirocyclic ring systems. The chapter has been divided into two sections oti general methodology for the stereoselective synthesis of oxindoles and spirooxin-doles, respectively. A third section is devoted toward efforts in natural product total synthesis involving oxindole or spirocyclic variants as targets or key intermediates. 

Intramolecular reactions of carbenes with alkenes have been exploited in synthesis. The sesquiterpene cycloeudesmol was prepared using, as a key step, the intramolecular cyclopropanation of the diazoketone 122 (4.97). The cyclopropana-tion reaction occurs stereoselectively to give the tricyclic product 123, which was subsequently converted into the natural product. A synthesis of sesquicarene was achieved using the copper(I)-catalysed decomposition of the diazo compound 125, itself prepared by oxidation of the hydrazone 124 (4.98). 

Dipolar qrcloaddition of nitrones is a fascinating field with a multitude of biological implications. Not less important is the role of isoxazoUdines in preparative organic chemistry, especially for the synthesis of y-amino-alcohols. 1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition between alkenes and nitrones is probably the best method for the preparation of isoxazohdines, useful precursors in the total synthesis of complex natural products. Stereoselective cycloaddition, transformation of isoxazolidine followed by reduction of the N - O bond to produce both an amino and a hydroxy fimction, allows the synthesis of tailor-made products of possible biological interest [1-5]. 

The synthesis of carbocycles via a two-component cascade reaction in an asymmetric fashion has attracted much attention from the chemical community. Due to his importance in natural products, the synthesis of cyclopropanes, cyclopentanes, and cyclohexanes has been one of the common goals for organocatalytic methodologies. The high stereoselectivity achieved, green procedures, and soft conditions make this organocatalytic approximation one of the most attractive ones to build complex cyclic scaffolds. 

Asymmetric phase-transfer catalysis is a method that has for almost three decades proven its high utility. Although its typical application is for (non-natural) amino acid synthesis, over the years other types of applications have been reported. The unique capability of quaternary ammonium salts to form chiral ion pairs with anionic intermediates gives access to stereoselective transformations that are otherwise very difficult to conduct using metal catalysts or other organocatalysts. Thus, this catalytic principle has created its own very powerful niche within the field of asymmetric catalysis. As can be seen in Table 5 below, the privileged catalyst structures are mostly Cinchona alkaloid-based, whereas the highly potent Maruoka-type catalysts have so far not been applied routinely to complex natural product total synthesis. 

The intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction is most frequently used in natural product total synthesis, and numerous examples will be described in the synthetic utility section. As with the intermolecular variant, intramolecular reactions are highly regioselective and stereoselective and participate in hetero, inverse electron demand, and asymmetric Diels-Alder reactions. One report from 2008 describes the investigation of an intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction in ionic liquids. ... 

Perkins, M.V. and Sampson, R.A. (2001) Stereoselective synthesis of dihydropyrone-containing marine natural products. Total synthesis and structural elucidation of (—)-membrenone-C. Org. Lett., 3, 123— 126. 

The stereochemical outcome of the reaction is determined by the geometry of the transition state for the Claisen rearrangement a chairlike conformation is preferred,and it proceeds strictly by an intramolecular pathway. It is therefore possible to predict the stereochemical course of the reaction, and thus the configuration of the stereogenic centers to be generated. This potential can be used for the planning of stereoselective syntheses e.g the synthesis of natural products. 

Numerous examples of intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions have been repor-ted especially from application in the synthesis of natural products, where stereoselectivity is of particular importance e.g. syntheses of steroids. " ... 

With the use of chiral reagents a differentiation of enantiotopic faces is possible, leading to an enantioselective reaction. The stereoselective version of the Michael addition reaction can be a useful tool in organic synthesis, for instance in the synthesis of natural products. 

The intramolecular Sakurai reaction allows for the synthesis of functionalized bicyclic systems. By proper choice of the reaction conditions, especially of the Lewis acid or fluoride reagent used, high stereoselectivity can be achieved, which is an important aspect for its applicability in natural products synthesis. 

In addition to the synthetic applications related to the stereoselective or stereospecific syntheses of various systems, especially natural products, described in the previous subsection, a number of general synthetic uses of the reversible [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of allylic sulfoxides are presented below. Several investigators110-113 have employed the allylic sulfenate-to-sulfoxide equilibrium in combination with the syn elimination of the latter as a method for the synthesis of conjugated dienes. For example, Reich and coworkers110,111 have reported a detailed study on the conversion of allylic alcohols to 1,3-dienes by sequential sulfenate sulfoxide rearrangement and syn elimination of the sulfoxide. This method of mild and efficient 1,4-dehydration of allylic alcohols has also been shown to proceed with overall cis stereochemistry in cyclic systems, as illustrated by equation 25. The reaction of trans-46 proceeds almost instantaneously at room temperature, while that of the cis-alcohol is much slower. This method has been subsequently applied for the synthesis of several natural products, such as the stereoselective transformation of the allylic alcohol 48 into the sex pheromone of the Red Bollworm Moth (49)112 and the conversion of isocodeine (50) into 6-demethoxythebaine (51)113. 

Abstract Since its discovery the chromium-mediated benzannulation reaction has been developed into a unique and useful tool in organic synthesis. In this review, topical aspects of this reaction concerning its mechanism and the chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity are summerised and discussed in detail. Special attention is paid to the asymmetric benzannulation reaction and, finally, the importance of this reaction as a key step in the total synthesis of natural products is outlined. 

Stereoselective inverse-demand hetero (4 + 2) cycloadditions. A Chiral Template for C-Aryl Glycoside Synthesis. Chiral allenamides2 4 had been used in highly stereoselective inverse-demand hetero (4 + 2) cycloaddition reactions with heterodienes.5 These reactions lead to stereoselective synthesis of highly functionalized pyranyl heterocycles. Further elaboration of these cycloadducts provides a unique entry to C-aryl-glycosides and pyranyl structures that are common in other natural products (Scheme 1). 

The 2-azadiene system of the pyrazinone scaffold undergoes inter- and intramolecular cycloaddition reactions with a variety of (functionalized) alkenes forming bicyclic adducts, leading to the stereoselective generation of a variety of natural product analogues as well as peptidomimetics [58]. These bicyclic compounds could serve as key intermediates in the synthesis... 

Enzymatic desymmetrization of prochiral or meso-alcohols to yield enantiopure building blocks is a powerful tool in the synthesis of natural products. For example, a synthesis ofconagenin, an immunomodulator isolated from a Streptomyces, involved two enzymatic desymmetrizations [149]. The syn-syn triad of the add moiety was prepared via a stereoselective acylation of a meso-diol, whereas the amine fragment was obtained by the PLE-catalyzed hydrolysis of a prochiral malonate (Figure 6.56). 

Biocatalytic access to both antipodal sulfoxides was exploited in total syntheses of bioactive compounds, which is outlined in some representative examples. Biooxidation of functionalized dialkyl sulfides was utilized in the direct synthesis of both enantiomers of sulforaphane and some analogs in low to good yields and stereoselectivities (Scheme 9.27) [206]. This natural product originates from broccoli and represents a potent inducer of detoxification enzymes in mammalian metabolism it might be related to anticarcinogenic properties of plants from the cruciform family. All four possible stereoisomers of methionine (R = Me) and ethionine sulfoxides... 

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