Total Synthesis of

We shall describe here one step in the total synthesis of a protected heptatetracontapep-tide ( = 47 amino acids) by K. Hofmann (H.T. Storey, 1972), and compare the techniques and the results with those of solid-phase synthesis. 

The cyclization to form very congested quaternary carbon centers involving the intramolecular insertion of di-, tri-, and tetrasubstituted alkenes is particularly useful for natural products synthesis[l36-138], In the total synthesis of gelsemine, the cyclization of 166 has been carried out, in which very severe steric hindrance is e.xpected. Interestingly, one stereoisomer 167... 

Asymmetric cyclization using chiral ligands has been studied. After early attempts[142-144], satisfactory optical yields have been obtained. The hexahy-dropyrrolo[2,3-6]indole 176 has been constructed by the intramolecular Heck reaction and hydroaryiation[145]. The asymmetric cyclization of the enamide 174 using (S j-BINAP affords predominantly (98 2) the ( )-enoxysilane stereoisomer of the oxindole product, hydrolysis of which provides the ( l-oxindole aldehyde 175 in 84% yield and 95% ec. and total synthesis of (-)-physostig-mine (176) has been achieved[146]. 

A interesting and useful reaetion is the intramolecular polycyclization reaction of polyalkenes by tandem or domino insertions of alkenes to give polycyclic compounds[l 38]. In the tandem cyclization. an intermediate in many cases is a neopentylpalladium formed by the insertion of 1,1-disubstituted alkenes, which has no possibility of /3-elimination. The key step in the total synthesis of scopadulcic acid is the Pd-catalyzed construction of the tricyclic system 202 containing the bicyclo[3.2. Ijoctane substructure. The single tricyclic product 202 was obtained in 82% yield from 201 [20,164). The benzyl chloride 203 undergoes oxidative addition and alkene insertion. Formation of the spiro compound 204 by the intramolecular double insertion of alkenes is an exam-ple[165]. 

In the total synthesis of zearaienone (451), the ester 450 was prepared by the carbonylation of the crowded aryl iodide 448. The alkyl iodide moiety in the alcohol molecule 449 is not attacked[306]. Methyl trifluoromethacrylate (453) was prepared by the carbonylation of 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-bromopropylcne (452), The carbonylation in the presence of alkylurea affords 454. which is converted into the trifluoromethyluracil 455[307],... 

Carboxylic acids are produced in water. Selection of solvents is crucial and the carbonylation of the enol triflate 480 can be carried out in aqueous DMF, and that of the aryl triflate 481 in aqueous DMSO using dppf as a ligand[328,334]. The carbonylation of the enol triflate 482 to form the a, 0. unsaturated acid 483 using dppf as a ligand in aqueous DMF has been applied in the total synthesis of multifunctionalized glycinueclepin[335]. 

In the total synthesis of the naturally occurring big molecule of palytoxin, which has numerous labile functional groups, this coupling is the most useful for the creation of E, Z-conjugated diene part 653. In this case, thallium hydroxide as a base accelerates the reaction 1000 times more than KOH[523]. Even TECOj can be used instead of a strong base in other cases[524]. 

Hydroxylysine (328) was synthesized by chemoselective reaction of (Z)-4-acet-oxy-2-butenyl methyl carbonate (325) with two different nucleophiles first with At,(9-Boc-protected hydroxylamine (326) under neutral conditions and then with methyl (diphenylmethyleneamino)acetate (327) in the presence of BSA[202]. The primary allylic amine 331 is prepared by the highly selective monoallylation of 4,4 -dimethoxybenzhydrylamine (329). Deprotection of the allylated secondary amine 330 with 80% formic acid affords the primary ally-lamine 331. The reaction was applied to the total synthesis of gabaculine 332(203]. 

The reaction can be applied to the synthesis of q, /3-unsaturated esters and lactones by treatment of the ketene silyl acetal 551 with an allyl carbonate in boiling MeCN[356]. The preparation of the q,, 3-unsaturated lactone 552 by this method has been used in the total synthesis of lauthisan[357]. 

The key step in the total synthesis of rhizobitoxine is the Pd-catalyzed exchange reaction of the methyl alkenyl ether moiety in 4 with the functionalized alcohol, although the yield is low[3]. The enol pyruvate 6 (a-ethoxyacrylic acid) is prepared by the reaction of methyl a-methoxyacrylate or a-methoxy-acrylic acid (5) with ethanol catalyzed by PdCl2(PhCN)2 at room temperature in the presence of CuCli and NaH2P04[4],... 

Polymerization of a noncyclic monomer leading to a total synthesis of the ring or the polymerization of a substituent on the thiazole ring, for example, a vinyl group. 

Covalent synthesis of complex molecules involves the reactive assembly of many atoms into subunits with aid of reagents and estabUshed as well as innovative reaction pathways. These subunits are then subjected to various reactions that will assemble the target molecule. These reaction schemes involve the protection of certain sensitive parts of the molecule while other parts are being reacted. Very complex molecules can be synthesized in this manner. A prime example of the success of this approach is the total synthesis of palytoxin, a poisonous substance found in marine soft corals (35). Other complex molecules synthesized by sequential addition of atoms and blocks of atoms include vitamin potentially anticancer KH-1 adenocarcinoma antigen,... 

Many notable examples of the synthesis of complex natural products from optically pure starting materials have been reported (70). One synthesis of considerable interest is that of taxol [33069-62-4] (74), a potent antitumor agent used clinically. The starting material (73) used ia the first total synthesis of taxol is produced ia enantiomericaHy pure form from inexpensive and readily available /-camphor [464-48-2] (72) (73). 

Cinnamyl—sesamol ethers, eg (35), are useful as insect chemosterilants (111). 3,4-Methylenedioxyphenyl-3-halo-2-propynyl ethers (36, X = halogen) are synergists for carbamate insecticides (112). HaloaLkyl or haloalkenyl ethers, eg (37), show acaricidal and insect juvenile hormone activity (113). The first total synthesis of gibbereUic acid was from 2-methoxy-6-aLkoxyethyl-l,4-benzoquinone, a derivative of hydroxyhydroquinone (114). 

Although many sterols and bile acids were isolated in the nineteenth century, it was not until the twentieth century that the stmcture of the steroid nucleus was first elucidated (5). X-ray crystallographic data first suggested that the steroid nucleus was a thin, lath-shaped stmcture (6). This perhydro-l,2-cyclopentenophenanthrene ring system was eventually confirmed by the identification of the Diels hydrocarbon [549-88-2] (4) and by the total synthesis of equilenin [517-09-9] (5) (7). 

Estranes. Investigations into the total synthesis of steroids began in the 1930s shordy after the precise formula for cholesterol was estabUshed. The eadiest studies focused on equilenin (5) because of its relative stereochemical simplicity when compared to other steroid nuclei Initially, equilenin was synthesi2ed in 20 chemical steps with an overall yield of 2.7%. This synthesis helped to confirm the perhydro-l,2-cyclopentenophenanthrene ring system of... 

Fig. 23. Asyimnetiic total synthesis of estrogens, where TBS = tert — butyldimethylsilane.

Catalytic hydrogenation of the 14—15 double bond from the face opposite to the C18 substituent yields (196). Compound (196) contains the natural steroid stereochemistry around the D-ring. A metal-ammonia reduction of (196) forms the most stable product (197) thermodynamically. When R is equal to methyl, this process comprises an efficient total synthesis of estradiol methyl ester. Birch reduction of the A-ring of (197) followed by acid hydrolysis of the resultant enol ether allows access into the 19-norsteroids (198) (204). 

A more recent ring annulation strategy for the total synthesis of steroids from the Stork group is shown in the following equation (210 — 211 — ... 

A third variation of this strategy has been appHed to an enantioselective total synthesis of cortisone. From an appropriately functionalized, scalemic hydrindan that possessed an 11-oxo-group and a masked corticoid side-chain, (+)-cortisol was produced in an 11-step total synthesis (213). 

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