Enantiospecific strategy towards oxygen-bridged terpenoids: tandem transannular-cyclization and ring-contraction processes

Rearrangement-Driven Molecular Diversity: Synthesis of Functionalized Pyrones, Orthoesters, and Xanthones from Spiroketals

The reaction of tricyclic 5,5-benzannulated spiroketals with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and AlCl₃ furnished benzopyranobenzopyrans, benzofuro-orthoesters, and benzofuroxanthones. Whereas the reaction of tricyclic 5,5-benzannulated spiroketals with TFA produced the pyrones, the reaction with AlCl₃ furnished densely functionalized orthoesters and xanthones. The formation of these products was rationalized by fascinating mechanistic pathways involving semipinacol/α-ketol molecular rearrangements.

Synthesis of the 10-oxabicyclo[5.2.1]decane framework present in bioactive natural products

The present work deals with the synthesis of the 10-oxabicyclo[5.2.1]decane framework present in bioactive natural products like physalins, with potential as antitumor agents. This synthetic methodology involves several key reactions: (a) synthesis of polyfunctionalized cycloheptenones by [4 + 3] cycloaddition reactions of furan precursors with oxyallyl cations; (b) Nicholas reaction with propargyl cations stabilized as dicobalt hexacarbonyl complexes; (c) demetallation and hydration of the resulting acetylenes; (d) stereoconvergent aldol cyclization to generate a key oxatricyclic intermediate and (e) a β-fragmentation process that affords, under hypoiodite photolysis, the desired product with moderate to good yield. The final compounds are the result of a radicalary β-fragmentation at the level of C2-C6 with respect to the tertiary hydroxyl group on C6, with an unexpected contraction from a ten- to a nine-membered ring system, via a radical addition to the carbonyl group on C4. The synthetic methodology has been scaled up to multigram level with good overall yield. Further biological, biochemical and biophysical studies are being carried out in our laboratory on these 1,7-epoxycyclononane derivatives to determine the potential of this kind of oxabicyclic compound as future hits and/or leads for the development of new anticancer drugs. The preliminary evaluation of the anticancer activity of the representative synthesized compounds, against the leukaemia cancer cell lines K-562 and SR, shows a promising activity with a GI₅₀ = 0.01 μM and a LC₅₀ = 7.4 μM for a conveniently functionalized 10-oxabicyclo[5.2.1]decane.

Reaction discovery employing macrocycles: transannular cyclizations of macrocyclic bis-lactams

Macrocyclic bis-lactams have been synthesized by cyclodimerization of homoallylic amino esters employing a Zr(IV)-catalyzed ester-amide exchange protocol. Base-mediated transannular cyclizations have been identified to access both bicyclic [5-11] and tricyclic [5-8-5] frameworks in good yield and diastereoselectivity. Preliminary mechanistic studies support an olefin isomerization-intramolecular conjugate addition pathway.

A catalytic asymmetric protocol for the enantioselective synthesis of 3(2H)-furanones

3(2H)-Furanones can be prepared by a catalytic asymmetric protocol from enynones, which, if electron-rich, require only one reagent and involve two reactions in a single operation--a domino process.

Dodecamethoxy- and Hexaoxotricyclobutabenzene: Synthesis and Characterization

We report herein the syntheses of dodecamethoxytricyclobutabenzene (TCBB) 1 and hexaoxo-TCBB 2, a class of molecules with structural and theoretical interest. The preparation is based on the 3-fold [2 + 2] cycloadditions of benzyne and ketene silyl acetals (KSAs), where the selectively protected 2-iodophloroglucinol derivative served as a synthetic equivalent of benztriyne I, allowing rapid and regioselective annulation of fully functionalized four-membered rings. Structural study on the former compound showed that the C-C bond lengths in the central benzene ring were essentially the same.

Poly-Oxygenated Tricyclobutabenzenes via Repeated [2 + 2] Cycloaddition of Benzyne and Ketene Silyl Acetal

Described herein is a synthesis of highly functionalized tricyclobutabenzenes, a class of molecules of structural and theoretical interest. The preparation is based on the repeated [2 + 2] cycloadditions of benzyne and ketene silyl acetals (KSAs), where two types of regioselectivity enable discrimination of the functionalities on the four-membered rings. By these steps, we were able to prepare poly-oxygenated octamethoxytricyclobutabenzene and its hydrolyzed tetra-oxo derivatives. Structural study on the latter compound showed the interesting properties related to the strained four-membered ring.

Selective transannular ring transformations in azirino-fused eight-membered O,N- or S,N-heterocycles

The first examples of transannular ring transformations in azirino-fused eight-membered O,N- or S,N-heterocycles involving selective aziridine ring opening and medium-sized ring contraction are described, which provide an access to functionalized 1,4-benzox(thi)azines or 1,3-benzox(thi)azoles.