Skeleton Synthesis

Hendrickson (14,15] concentrated mainly on C-C bond-forming reactions because the construction of the carbon atom skeleton is the major task in the synthesis of complex organic compounds. Each carbon atom is classified according to which kind of atoms are bonded to it and what kind of bonds ([Pg.184]

The retrosynthetic analysis is performed in two steps in a first step, SYNGEN dissects the skeleton to find all fully convergent bondsets which utili2e starting material skeletons found in two successive levels of cuts. A bondset is a set of skeletal bonds that is cut during the retrosynthetic analysis or formed in any given synthesis. 

In polycyclic systems the Birch reduction of C—C double bonds is also highly stereoselective, e.g. in the synthesis of the thermodynamically favored trans-fused steroidal skeletons (see p. 104 and p. 278). 

Porphyrins and chlorophylls are the most widespread natural pigments. They are associated with the energy-converting processes of respiration and photosynthesis in living organisms, and the synthesis of specific porphyrin derivatives is often motivated by the desire to perform similar processes in the test tube. The structurally and biosynthetically related corrins (e.g. vitamin B,j) catalyze alkylations and rearrangements of carbon skeletons via organocobalt intermediates. The biosyntheses of these chromophores are also of topical interest. 

The wM-diacetate 363 can be transformed into either enantiomer of the 4-substituted 2-cyclohexen-l-ol 364 via the enzymatic hydrolysis. By changing the relative reactivity of the allylic leaving groups (acetate and the more reactive carbonate), either enantiomer of 4-substituted cyclohexenyl acetate is accessible by choice. Then the enantioselective synthesis of (7 )- and (S)-5-substituted 1,3-cyclohexadienes 365 and 367 can be achieved. The Pd(II)-cat-alyzed acetoxylactonization of the diene acids affords the lactones 366 and 368 of different stereochemistry[310]. The tropane alkaloid skeletons 370 and 371 have been constructed based on this chemoselective Pd-catalyzed reactions of 6-benzyloxy-l,3-cycloheptadiene (369)[311]. 

Synthesis of camptothecin (163) is another example[133]. The iboga alkaloid analog 164 has been synthesized smoothly by the intramolecular coupling of iodoindole and unsaturated ester to form an eight-membered ring. Af-Methyl protection of the indole is important for a smooth reaction[134]. An efficient construction of the multifunctionalized skeleton 165 of congeners of FR900482 has been achieved[135]. 

Chemoselective C-alkylation of the highly acidic and enolic triacetic acid lactone 104 (pAl, = 4.94) and tetronic acid (pA, = 3.76) is possible by use of DBU[68]. No 0-alkylation takes place. The same compound 105 is obtained by the regioslective allylation of copper-protected methyl 3,5-dioxohexano-ate[69]. It is known that base-catalyzed alkylation of nitro compounds affords 0-alkylation products, and the smooth Pd-catalyzed C-allylation of nitroalkanes[38.39], nitroacetate[70], and phenylstilfonylnitromethane[71] is possible. Chemoselective C-allylation of nitroethane (106) or the nitroacetate 107 has been applied to the synthesis of the skeleton of the ergoline alkaloid 108[70]. 

A key intermediate, 163, which possesses all but one chiral center of (+ )-brefeldin, has been prepared by the enantiocontrolled cycloaddition of the chiral fi,/3-unsaturated ester 162 to 154[107], Synthesis of phyllocladane skeleton 165 has been carried out by the Pd-catalyzed cycloaddition of the unsaturated diester 164 and cobalt-catalyzed cycloaddition of alkynes as key reactions[108]. Intramolecular cycloaddition to the vinylsulfone in 166 proceeds smoothly to give a mixture of the trans and cis isomers in a ratio of 2.4 1[109], Diastereocontrolled cycloaddition of the hindered vinylsulfone 167 affords a single stereoisomeric adduct, 168, which is used for the synthesis of the spirocarbocyclic ring of ginkgolide[l 10],... 

In a more elaborate and specific synthesis, the terpenoid indole skeleton found in haplaindole G, which is isolated from a blue-green alga, was constructed by addition of a nucleophilic formyl equivalent to enone 6.5A. Cyelization and aromatization to the indole 6.6B followed Hg -catalysed unmasking of the aldehyde group[6]. 

The reaction of methoxy-substituted 1,4-dihydroatomatic systems is a general one. Other condensed systems react ia a similar manner, for example, 3,6-dimethoxy-1,4,S,8-tetrahydronaphtha1ene and derivatives of anthracene (35) and xanthene (36) (74). The proposed method enables synthesis of the tri-and tetracarbocyanines where the whole chromophore is iategrated iato a rigidizing skeleton. Asymmetrical polymethines can also be obtained similarly. 

Tetracarbaboranes, which contain four carbon atoms in a single polyhedral skeleton, were rare until the discovery (129) of the metaHacarborane-mediated synthesis of (CH3)4C4BgHg [58815-26-2]. 

The widespread use of cinnamic derivatives has led to the pursuit of reUable methods for thek dkect synthesis. Commercial processes have focused on condensation reactions between ben2aldehyde and a number of active methylene compounds for assembly of the requisite carbon skeleton. The presence of a disubstituted carbon—carbon double bond in the sidechain of these chemicals also gives rise to the existence of two distinct stereoisomers, the cis or (Z)- and trans or (E)- isomers ... 

The synthesis of dextromethorphan is an outgrowth of early efforts to synthesize the morphine skeleton. /V-Methy1morphinan(40) was synthesized in 1946 (58,59). The 3-hydroxyl and the 3-methoxy analogues were prepared by the same method. Whereas the natural alkaloids of opium are optically active, ie, only one optical isomer can be isolated, synthetic routes to the morphine skeleton provide racemic mixtures, ie, both optical isomers, which can be separated, tested, and compared pharmacologically. In the case of 3-methoxy-/V-methylmorphinan, the levorotatory isomer levorphanol [77-07-6] (levorphan) was found to possess both analgesic and antitussive activity whereas the dextrorotatory isomer, dextromethorphan (39), possessed only antitussive activity. Dextromethorphan, unlike most narcotics, does not depress ciUary activity, secretion of respiratory tract fluid, or respiration. 

Deuterium labeling of certain positions in the steroid nucleus can be a serious problem if suitably functionalized starting materials are not available or if a particular part of the molecule to be labeled is unsuitable for the various reactions described previously in this chapter. In these cases, the only practical solution to this problem is to incorporate the appropriately labeled carbon fragment by synthesis of the desired skeleton. 

This chapter will deal exclusively with three-membered rings containing the hetero atoms O, S and N, and fused to the steroid skeleton. Because of the conformational requirements in steroids, not all of the usual methods of synthesis of three-membered rings are applicable to the fused ring system. For the synthesis of steroids to which an aziridine, oxirane or thiirane is attached either in the side chain or at a ring position but not directly fused to the nucleus, the methods discussed in this chapter, as well as others, are applicable. 

Alkylation of enamines with epoxides or acetoxybromoalkanes provided intermediates for cyclic enol ethers (668) and branched chain sugars were obtained by enamine alkylation (669). Sodium enolates of vinylogous amides underwent carbon and nitrogen methylation (570), while vicinal endiamines formed bis-quaternary amonium salts (647). Reactions of enamines with a cyclopropenyl cation gave alkylated imonium products (57/), and 2-benzylidene-3-methylbenzothiazoline was shown to undergo enamine alkylation and acylation (572). A cyclic enamine was alkylated with methylbromoacetate and the product reduced with sodium borohydride to the key intermediate in a synthesis of the quebrachamine skeleton (57i). 

Snyder has conducted similar chemistry but with the goal of generating carbon skeletons for the total synthesis of alkaloids. Using indole 84 as a dienophile, the canthine alkaloid skeleton 85 was produced. Access to aspidosperma alkaloids was obtained when 86 was transformed into 87. 

Synthesis of cyclopenta[d]pyran skeleton of natural lactones 97T14507. 

Cacchi and Palmier (83T3373) investigated a new entry into the quinoline skeleton by palladium-catalyzed Michael-type reactions. They found that phenyl mercurial 134 was a useful intermediate for the synthesis of quinoline derivatives, and that by selecting the reaction conditions the oxidation level of the heterocyclic ring in the quinoline skeleton can be varied. On such example is shown in Scheme 16. PdCla-catalyzed coupling between organomercurial reagent 134 and enone 135 delivered adduct 136 which was subsequently cyclized to quinoline 137 under acidic conditions. 

The chiral copper reagent 24 is an effective catalyst not only for intermolecular, hut also for intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions, as shown in the following schemes (Scheme 1.41, 1,42, 1.43). Synthetically useful octalin and decalin skeletons were synthesized in high enantio- and diastereoselectivity. The synthetic utility of this intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction has been demonstrated hy a short total synthesis of isopulo upone [23, 33d]. 

With cyclic a-halo ketones, e.g. 2-chloro cyclohexanone 6, the Favorskii rearrangement leads to a ring contraction by one carbon atom. This type of reaction has for example found application as a key step in the synthesis of cubane by Eaton and Cole for the construction of the cubic carbon skeleton ... 

Methods for the synthesis of pyrroles are of importance, since the pyrrole unit is found in natural products widespread in nature. For example a pyrrole unit is the building block of the porphyrin skeleton, which in turn is the essential structural subunit of chlorophyll and hemoglobin. 

The overall process is the addition of a CH-acidic compound to the carbon-carbon double bond of an o ,/3-unsaturated carbonyl compound. The Michael reaction is of particular importance in organic synthesis for the construction of the carbon skeleton. The above CH-acidic compounds usually do not add to ordinary carbon-carbon double bonds. Another and even more versatile method for carbon-carbon bond formation that employs enolates as reactive species is the aldol reaction. 

By reaction of a primary aromatic amine—e.g. aniline 1—with glycerol 2, and a subsequent oxidation of the intermediate product 4, quinoline 5 or a quinoline derivative can be obtained.As in the case of the related Friedlander quinoline synthesis, there are also some variants known for the Skraup synthesis, where the quinoline skeleton is constructed in similar ways using different starting materials. ... 

An illustrative example for the usefulness of the Weiss reaction for the construction of complex cyclopentanoid carbon skeletons is the synthesis of the all -cis [5.5.5.5]fenestrane 7 after Cook et al., starting from the a-diketone ... 

In order to obtain good yields from a Weiss reaction sequence, the H+-concentration has to be adjusted properly in the reaction mixture. The reaction is usually carried out in a buffered, weakly acidic or weakly basic solution. By the Weiss reaction simple starting materials are converted into a complex product of defined stereochemistry. There is no simpler procedure for the synthesis of the l,5-c -disubstituted bicyclo[3.3.0]octane skeleton it has for example found application in the synthesis of polyquinanes. ... 

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