Photooxygenation of a Microbial Arene Oxidation Product and Regioselective Kornblum-DeLaMare Rearrangement: Total Synthesis of Zeylenols and Zeylenones

The Kornblum DeLaMare rearrangement in natural product synthesis: 25 years of innovation

Covering: 1998 up to the end of 2023Since its initial disclosure in 1951, the Kornblum DeLaMare rearrangement has proved an important synthetic transformation and has been widely adopted as a biomimetic step in natural product synthesis. Utilising the base catalysed decomposition of alkyl peroxides to yield a ketone and alcohol has found use in many syntheses as well as a key strategic step, including the unmasking of furans, as a biomimetic synthetic tool, and the use of the rearrangement to install oxygen enantioselectively. Since ca. 1998, its impact as a synthetic transformation has grown significantly, especially given the frequency of use in natural product syntheses, therefore this 25 year time period will be the focus of the review.

Dearomative logic in natural product total synthesis

Covering: 2011 to 2022The natural world is a prolific source of some of the most interesting, rare, and complex molecules known, harnessing sophisticated biosynthetic machinery evolved over billions of years for their production. Many of these natural products represent high-value targets of total synthesis, either for their desirable biological activities or for their beautiful structures outright; yet, the high sp³-character often present in nature's molecules imparts significant topological complexity that pushes the limits of contemporary synthetic technology. Dearomatization is a foundational strategy for generating such intricacy from simple materials that has undergone considerable maturation in recent years. This review highlights the recent achievements in the field of dearomative methodology, with a focus on natural product total synthesis and retrosynthetic analysis. Disconnection guidelines and a three-phase dearomative logic are described, and a spotlight is given to nature's use of dearomatization in the biosynthesis of various classes of natural products. Synthetic studies from 2011 to 2021 are reviewed, and 425 references are cited.

Concise total synthesis of (+)-Zeylenone with antitumor activity and the structure-activity relationship of its derivatives

Natural products--polyoxygenated cyclohexenes exhibited potent anti-tumor activity, such as zeylenone, which is a natural product isolated from Uvaria grandiflora Roxb. This article will attempt to establish a gram-scale synthesis method of (+)-zeylenone and explain the structure-activity relationship of this kind of compound. Total synthesis of (+)-zeylenone was completed in 13 steps with quinic acid as the starting material in 9.8% overall yield. The highlight of the route was the control of the three carbon's chirality by single step dihydroxylation. In addition, different kinds of derivatives were designed and synthesized. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assay was used for evaluating antitumor activity against three human cancer cell lines. The structure--activity relationship suggested that compounds with both absolute configurations exhibited tumor-suppressive effects. Moreover, hydroxyls at the C-1/C-2 position were crucial to the activity, and the esterification of large groups at C-1 hydroxyl eliminated the activity. Hydroxyl at the C-3 position was also important as proper ester substituent could increase the potency.

A divergent and stereoselective approach for the syntheses of (-)-zeylenol, (+)-6-O-benzoylzeylenol, (+)-uvarigranol E and (+)-uvarigranol F

A common, divergent, efficient, and stereoselective approach to the total syntheses of four carbasugars, namely, (-)-zeylenol, (+)-6-O-benzoylzeylenol, (+)-uvarigranol E and (+)-uvarigranol F from d-mannose derived key intermediate 14 is described. This intermediate was synthesized using mixed aldol condensation, Grignard reaction and ring closing metathesis as key steps by our previous method in nine steps from d-mannose. From this intermediate, we achieved the syntheses of (+)-6-O-benzoylzeylenol, (+)-uvarigranol F in three steps, (+)-uvarigranol E in four steps and improved synthesis of (-)-zeylenol.

Total Synthesis of Antiausterity Agent (±)-Uvaridacol L by Regioselective Axial Diacylation of a myo-Inositol Orthoester

The antiausterity natural product (±)-uvaridacol L was synthesized for the first time in seven steps from myo-inositol. The key reaction of this synthesis, axial selective dibenzoylation of myo-inositol orthoformate, was achieved using a catalytic amount of tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF). The preferential cytotoxicity of racemic uvaridacol L against cancer cell lines able to adapt to nutrient deprivation was also evaluated under nutrient deprived conditions. Morphological evaluation was also carried out.

Chemical Equivalent of Arene Monooxygenases: Dearomative Synthesis of Arene Oxides and Oxepines

Direct epoxidation of aromatic nuclei by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases is one of the major metabolic pathways of arenes in eukaryotes. The resulting arene oxides serve as versatile precursors to phenols, oxepines, or trans-dihydrodiol-based metabolites. Although such compounds have an important biological and chemical relevance, the lack of methods for their production has hampered access to their utility. Herein, we report a general arenophile-based strategy for the dearomative synthesis of arene oxides. The mildness of this method permits access to sensitive monocyclic arene oxides without any noticeable decomposition to phenols. Moreover, this method enables direct conversion of polycyclic arenes and heteroarenes into the corresponding oxepines. Finally, these studies provided direct connection between simple aromatic precursors and complex small organic molecules via arene oxides and oxepines.

Sidechain Diversification of Grandifloracin Allows Identification of Analogues with Enhanced Anti-Austerity Activity against Human PANC-1 Pancreatic Cancer Cells

The natural product (+)-grandifloracin is a potent "anti-austerity" agent, able to suppress the ability of various pancreatic cancer cell lines to tolerate conditions of nutrient deprivation. Such anti-austerity agents represent a promising approach to cancer chemotherapy. Here we report the synthesis and biological evaluation of racemic analogues of grandifloracin bearing diverse sidechains, of which two show enhanced potency in comparison with the natural product. Additionally, several unexpected by-products containing modifications of the grandifloracin core were isolated, identified and similarly evaluated for biological activity.

Isolation and Synthesis of Novel Meroterpenoids from Rhodomyrtus tomentosa: Investigation of a Reactive Enetrione Intermediate

Rhodomyrtusials A-C, the first examples of triketone-sesquiterpene meroterpenoids featuring a unique 6/5/5/9/4 fused pentacyclic ring system were isolated from Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, along with several biogenetically-related dihydropyran isomers. Two bis-furans and one dihydropyran isomer showed acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity. Structures of the isolates were unambiguously established by a combination of spectroscopic data, ECD analysis, and total synthesis. Bioinspired total syntheses of six isolates were achieved in six steps utilizing a reactive enetrione intermediate generated in situ from a readily available hydroxy-endoperoxide precursor.

Benefits of Unconventional Methods in the Total Synthesis of Natural Products

This article provides a survey of four "unconventional" methods employed in the synthesis of natural products in the Hudlicky group. The utility of flash vacuum pyrolysis is highlighted by examples of many natural products attained via vinylcyclopropane-cyclopentene rearrangement and its heterocyclic variants. Preparative organic electrochemistry was used in oxidations and reductions with levels of selectivity unattainable by conventional methods. Yeast reduction of ketoesters was featured in the total synthesis of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Finally, the use of toluene dioxygenase-mediated dihydroxylations in enantioselective synthesis of natural products concludes this presentation. Recently, synthesized targets in the period 2010-2019 are listed in the accompanying table. The results of research from the Hudlicky group are placed in appropriate context with the work of others, and a detailed guide to the current literature is provided.

Potent α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of compounds isolated from the leaf extracts of Uvaria hamiltonii

The phytochemical investigation of the leaf extracts of Uvaria hamiltonii (Annonaceae) led to the isolation and identification of ten compounds including a new seco-cyclohexene (1) together with nine known compounds (2-10). Their structures were elucidated by intensive analysis by spectroscopic methods and comparisons of their spectroscopic data with those of compounds reported in the literature. Compounds 2, 8, and 9 showed potent α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with the IC₅₀ values ranging from 2.6-7.1 µM.

A biosynthetically inspired route to substituted furans using the Appel reaction: total synthesis of the furan fatty acid F5

Appel reaction conditions have been harnessed to affect a mild biosynthetically inspired dehydration of endoperoxides to deliver multi-substituted electron rich furans. Unlike traditional dehydrative procedures, this method is metal and acid free, and can be achieved under redox neutral conditions. It is general for a range of aryl and alkyl substituted endoperoxides, and is functional group tolerant. Furthermore, this procedure has been used to deliver an effective total synthesis of the furan fatty acid (FFA) F₅.

Rearrangements of organic peroxides and related processes

This review is the first to collate and summarize main data on named and unnamed rearrangement reactions of peroxides. It should be noted, that in the chemistry of peroxides two types of processes are considered under the term rearrangements. These are conventional rearrangements occurring with the retention of the molecular weight and transformations of one of the peroxide moieties after O-O-bond cleavage. Detailed information about the Baeyer-Villiger, Criegee, Hock, Kornblum-DeLaMare, Dakin, Elbs, Schenck, Smith, Wieland, and Story reactions is given. Unnamed rearrangements of organic peroxides and related processes are also analyzed. The rearrangements and related processes of important natural and synthetic peroxides are discussed separately.

Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Pleiogenone A: An Antiproliferative Trihydroxyalkylcyclohexenone Isolated from Pleiogynium timorense

The first total synthesis of polyhydroxylated cyclohexenone 1, isolated from Pleiogynium timorense and named pleiogenone A, is reported that also serves as a proof of structure and absolute configuration. Enzymatic dihydroxylation of benzoic acid with R. eutrophus B9 provided enantiomerically pure diene diol 6. Elaboration of the carboxylate moiety to the alkyl side chain was followed by singlet oxygen cycloaddition to furnish an endoperoxide whose reduction with thiourea led to cyclitol 19. Several protective operations were required before oxidation and the final extension of the side chain by a Wittig reaction. After final deprotection of the acetonide functionality the desired pleiogenone A (1) was obtained in 14 operations from benzoic acid.

Chemoenzymatic Total Syntheses of the Enantiomers of the Protoilludanes 8-Deoxydihydrotsugicoline and Radudiol

Chemoenzymatic and stereoselective total syntheses of the non-natural enantiomeric forms of the recently isolated protoilludane natural products 8-deoxydihydrotsugicoline (1) and radudiol (2) (viz. ent-1 and ent-2, respectively) are reported. The key steps involve the Diels-Alder cycloaddition of cyclopent-2-en-1-one to the acetonide derived from enantiomerically pure and enzymatically derived cis-1,2-dihydrocatechol 3, elaboration of the resulting adduct to the tricyclic ketone 12, and a photochemically promoted rearrangement of this last compound to the octahydro-1H-cyclobuta[e]indenone 13.

Total syntheses of five uvacalols: structural validation of uvacalol A, uvacalol B and uvacalol C and disproval of the structures of uvacalol E and uvacalol G

Uvacalols are novel carbasugars belonging to the family of C7-cyclitols, and are isolated from the roots of the medicinal plant, Uvaria calamistrata. In this study, we report the first syntheses of five uvacalols starting from a cheap and easily available chiral pool starting material, D-mannitol, in their optically pure form. D-Mannitol was converted to the alkene 2 through a series of regioselective and chemoselective transformations by following our previously reported strategies. Alkene 2 was converted to the enal 5 through a series of protective group manipulations. Enal 5 was converted to the diene 6 by the addition of vinyl magnesium bromide. Ring closing metathesis of the diene 6 using Grubbs’ second generation catalyst installed the core cyclohexenyl unit. Through several iterative and selective manipulations of various hydroxyl groups, uvacalol A, uvacalol B, uvacalol C, uvacalol E and uvacalol G were synthesized. A comparison of the (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR data of these synthesized molecules with the reported data, revealed that the reported structures of uvacalols A–C are correct and those of uvacalols E and G are wrong.

Antiproliferative Trihydroxyalkylcyclohexenones from Pleiogynium timoriense

Investigation of a DCM extract of the bark of Pleiogynium timoriense from the former Merck collection of natural product extracts for antiproliferative activity indicated that it was active with an IC50 value of 1.3 μg/mL against the A2780 ovarian cancer cell line. Bioassay-directed fractionation of this extract yielded the three new bioactive trihydroxyalkylcyclohexenones 1-3. Their structures were determined by a combination of spectroscopic and chemical methods. Compounds 1-3 exhibited submicromolar antiproliferative activity against the A2780 human ovarian cancer cell line, with IC50 values of 0.8, 0.7, and 0.8 μM, respectively.

Combination of fluoroalkylation and Kornblum–DeLaMare reaction: a new strategy for the construction of (Z)-β-perfluoroalkyl enaminones

A novel strategy has been developed for the highly chemo- and stereo-selective synthesis of (Z)-β-perfluoroalkyl enaminones via a multicomponent radical reaction involving sequential fluoroalkylation and Kornblum–DeLaMare reaction.

Reactions of enantiopure cyclic diols with sulfuryl chloride

Monocyclic allylic cis-1,2-diols reacted with sulfuryl chloride at 0 °C in a regio- and stereo-selective manner to give 2-chloro-1-sulfochloridates, which were hydrolysed to yield the corresponding trans-1,2-chlorohydrins. At -78 °C, with very slow addition of sulfuryl chloride, cyclic sulfates were formed in good yields, proved to be very reactive with nucleophiles and rapidly decomposed on attempted storage. Reaction of a cyclic sulfate with sodium azide yielded a trans-azidohydrin without evidence of allylic rearrangement occurring. An enantiopure bicyclic cis-1,2-diol reacted with sulfuryl chloride to give, exclusively, a trans-1,2-dichloride enantiomer with retention of configuration at the benzylic centre and inversion at the non-benzylic centre; a mechanism is presented to rationalise the observation.

Applications of biocatalytic arene ipso,ortho cis-dihydroxylation in synthesis

The dearomatising dihydroxylation of aromatic molecules mediated by arene dioxygenase enzymes can provide cyclohexadiene-diols that are versatile starting materials for organic synthesis. Whereas oxidation of a substituted arene to give its ortho,meta-dihydrodiol has been demonstrated for numerous substrates and dioxygenases, formation of ipso,ortho-dihydrodiols has historically been underutilised in comparison. This feature article presents a chronological account of reported uses of such diols.

Benzoate dioxygenase fromRalstonia eutrophaB9 – unusual regiochemistry of dihydroxylation permits rapid access to novel chirons

Oxidation of benzoic acid by a microorganism expressing benzoate dioxygenase leads to the formation of an unusualipso,orthoarenecis-diol in sufficient quantities to be useful for synthesis.