Sesquiterpenoid rearrangements

The structure of chlorosantonin (491) obtained from santonin 4,5-epoxide with hydrogen chloride gas has been solved by X-ray analysis. Undoubtedly the most remarkable sesquiterpenoid rearrangement is that observed when the dried sodio salt of (492) is heated to reflux in excess phosphorus oxychloride. The rearrangement product in question was isolated by removal of the excess POCI3, followed by neutralization with concentrated aqueous ammonia. The resultant ether extract was treated with hot 15% sodium hydroxide and the product mixture was distilled and purified by column chromatography. One of the products (about 3% yield) has been identified by X-ray analysis as (493), but as yet no mechanism has been suggested... 

Sesquiterpenoid. 203, 1071 Sex hormone, 1082-1083 Sharpless, K. Barry. 734 Sharpless epoxidation, 735 Shell (electron), 5 capacity of, 5 Shielding (NMR). 442 Si prochirality, 315-316 Sialic acid. 997 Side chain (amino acid), 1020 Sigma (cr) bond, 11 symmetry of, 11 Sigmatropic rearrangement, 1191-1195... 

A slight modification of the cyclopropyl conjunctive reagent transforms a cyclopentannulation into a cycloheptannulation. Thus, the 2-vinylcyclopropyllithium reagent 3, converted to its cuprate 4, generates a 1,2-divinylcyclopropane. Heating to only 180 °C leads to smooth Cope type rearrangement, driven by the release of the cyclopropyl strain, to create a perhydroazulene ring systerh of many sesquiterpenoids (Eq. 19) 20>. 

The structure of simularene (123), a new structurally interesting sesquiterpenoid isolated from soft coral (Simularia mayi), has been established by A-ray analysis. It has been suggested that the cyclosesquifenchene skeleton of simularene (123) is derived by rearrangement of the intermediate (122) proposed in the biosynthesis of a-and /8-copaene (124). 

Sesquiterpenoids based on the axane skeleton (354) have been reported previously as metabolites of marine sponges or algae (cf. Vol. 5, p. 77 Vol. 6, p. 89). Further investigations in this area have revealed the presence of axisonitrile-4 (355), axisothiocyanate (356), and axamide-4 (357) in the sponge Axinella cannabina. These compounds are A -derivatives of known metabolites (axisonitrile-1 etc.) of this sponge and are included in this section because their biosynthesis may involve rearrangement of a eudesmane precursor. 

Fedorov, S.N. Shubina, L.K. Kalinovsky, A.I. Lyakhova, E.G. Stonik, V.A. (2000) Structure and absolute configuration of a new rearranged chamigrane-type sesquiterpenoid from the sea hare Aplysia sp. Tetrahedron Lett., 41,1979-82. 

IPP and DMAPP lead to geranylpyrophosphate (GPP), which is an immediate precursor of monoterpenes. The formation of nerylpyrophosphate (NPP) from GPP gives rise to a wide range of acyclic, cyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic skeletons. Reactions like rearrangement, oxidation, reduction and hydration via various terpene cyclases result in the formation of numerous terpene derivatives. Condensation of GPP and IPP leads to farnesylpyrophosphate (FPP), the immediate precursor of sesquiterpenoids. Likewise, FPP and IPP are conducive to diterpenoids. 

Methylene difluorocyclopropanes are relatively rare and their rearrangement chemistry has been reviewed recently [14]. In addition, electron deficient alkenes such as sesquiterpenoid methylene lactones may be competent substrates. Two crystal structures of compounds prepared in this way were reported recently [15,16]. Other relatively recent methods use dibromodifluoromethane, a relatively inexpensive and liquid precursor. Dolbier and co-workers described a simple zinc-mediated protocol [17], while Balcerzak and Jonczyk described a useful reproducible phase transfer catalysed procedure (Eq. 6) using bromo-form and dibromodifluoromethane [18]. The only problem here appears to be in separating cyclopropane products from alkene starting material (the authors recommend titration with bromine which is not particularly amenable for small scale use). Schlosser and co-workers have also described a mild ylide-based approach using dibromodifluoromethane [19] which reacts particularly well with highly nucleophilic alkenes such as enol ethers [20], and remarkably, with alkynes [21] to afford labile difluorocyclopropenes (Eq. 7). 

Collado and co-workers made detailed studies of the chemistry of the sesquiter-penoid caryophyllene and its hydroxylated products including rearrangements in-duced by superacids. They have recently reported novel rearrangements of the sesquiterpenoid panasinsane derivatives 213 to provide three products and interpreted the transformations by the involvement of the common carbocationic intermediate 214 [Eq. (5.304)]. 

Fedorov SN, Radchenko OS, Shubina LK, Kalinovsky AI, Gerasimenko AV, Popov DY, Stonik VA (2001) Aplydactone, a New Sesquiterpenoid with an Unprecedented Carbon Skeleton from the Sea Hare Aplysia dactylomela, and Its Cargill-Like Rearrangement. J Am Chem Soc 123 504... 

The DPM rearrangement has provided a simple route for the construction of the carbon skeleton present in the sesquiterpenoid taylorione, isolated from Mylia taylori [46]. Thus, direct irradiation of the i>cyclopentenone 62 results in efficient, regiospecific DPM reaction affording the r[Pg.177]

Sesquiterpenoids (Sq) are Cj5 compounds formed by the assembly of three isoprenoid units. They are found in many living systems but particularly in higher plants. There are a large number of sesquiterpenoid carbon skeletons, which arise from the common precursor, farnesyl diphosphate, by various modes cyclization followed, in many cases, by skeletal rearrangement. 

A number of rearranged monocyclofarnesyl sesquiterpenoids have been isolated from the sea hare Aplysia dactylomela. These include dactyloxene-A (23), -B (24), and -C (25) and dactylenol (26) together with its acetate.These compounds are related to other marine metabolites isolated from red algae. Aplysistatin (27), a metabolite of the sea hare Aplysia angasi, has been synthesized by a route which involves Hg -mediated brominative cyclization and a novel oxidative debenzylation step (Scheme 6). ... 

Formolysis of (264) produces the formate ester of (259) and (265) in 66% and 20% yield respectively the latter hydrocarbon is related to the pentalane class of sesquiterpenoids (see below). A study of this rearrangement, again using a deuteriated substrate, provided evidence for the pathway outlined in Scheme 38. Matsumoto et have also studied the mechanism of formation of the two tricyclic ethers (257) and (260) [with Hg(OAc)2] and the three tricyclic ethers [with Hg(N03)2] derived from humulene after NaBD4 work-up. Under these conditions the five deuteriated products are (266)—(270) respectively. The... 

The cytotoxic sesquiterpenoid (-)-quadrone, isolated from the fungus Aspergillus terreus, possesses the constitution and absolute stereochemistry shown in (218). The tricyclic carbon skeleton of this interesting natural product is the same as that found in compound (198), which, as described above (Scheme 28), is readily prepared by thermolysis of the tricyclic diene (197). Thus, it appeared that the Cope rearrangement of a suitably substituted and functionalized derivative of (197) might serve effectively as a key intermediate in a total synthesis of ( )-quadione (218) that is, successful Cope rearrangement of a substrate, such as (219), would provide, stereoselectively, the tricyclic substance (220). Presumably, the intermediate (220) could then be converted into the keto aldehyde (221), which had already been transformed into ( )-quadrone (218). ... 

In their synthesis of fukinone, Marshall and Cohen converted the known ene-ol (340) into (341) by acetylation, allylic oxidation, and conjugate methylation with dimethylcopperlithium. A Wolff-Kishner reduction of (341) followed by oxidation of the resultant alcohol and enol-acetylation yielded (342). The epoxide of (342) was thermolysed to give (343) which, on reaction with iso-propenyl-lithium and selective oxidation, gave the ketol (344) which was converted in two steps into fukinone (335). A number of sesquiterpenoids, e.g. fukinanolide (345), with the rearranged eremophilane skeleton viz. fukinane (346 R = Me) are known. Nay a and Kobayashi have now prepared this parent hydrocarbon by Raney nickel reduction of the thioacetal of fukinan-8-al (346 R = CHO). 

The biogenesis of many cyclic terpenoids requires a cts-double bond in the acyclic precursor. A cis-double bond is frequently incorporated into the terminal isoprenoid unit via an allylic rearrangement mechanism. Alternatively, a cis unit could be incorporated directly (as rubber). Two results this year highlight some features of this problem. Both geraniol (22) and nerol (23) are derived from all-trans units (i.e. retention of the 4i -proton of mevalonate) so that the cis-double bond of nerol is derived by isomerization. The sesquiterpenoid gossypol (34) is derived from c/s,cis-farnesyl pyrophosphate. Hence in its biosynthesis either... 

Piers and Ruediger have smartly used this basic reaction (equation 168) for a synthesis of the sesquiterpenoid -himachalene ". However, loading the systems to be rearranged with alkyl groups can considerably decelerate the Cope process with the result of competing homo[l, 5]-sigmatropic hydrogen shift in the trans compounds (equation... 

Prezizaene (119) and the related tricyclic sesquiterpenoids (120)—(122) have been isolated from Eremophila georgii. The absolute stereochemistry of these compounds is antipodal to that of the zizaene sesquiterpenoids found in vetiver oil cf. Vol. 3, p. 123 Vol. 4, pp. 94—96) and their biosynthesis probably involves cyclization of 8-acoradiene (115) and rearrangement of the intermediate allocedryl (116) or cedryl (117) carbonium ions or their biological equivalents cf. Scheme 14). ... 

Several new sesquiterpenoids having normal (168) and rearranged (169—172) cadinane structures have been isolated from the aerial parts of the plant Heterotheca... 

In sesquiterpenoids of the germacrane type a furan ring is often a structural feature that can have a subtle influence on the stereochemistry of Cope rearrangements within the large ring even though its own double bonds are not implicated.233 Thus, the ,Z-double bond geometry in 118 should... 

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