Allyl Alcohol as an Acrolein Equivalent in Enantioselective C-C Coupling: Total Synthesis of Amphidinolides R, J, and S

Marine natural products

Covering: January to the end of December 2023This review covers the literature published in 2023 for marine natural products (MNPs), with 582 citations (541 for the period January to December 2023) referring to compounds isolated from marine microorganisms and phytoplankton, green, brown and red algae, sponges, cnidarians, bryozoans, molluscs, tunicates, echinoderms, the submerged parts of mangroves and other intertidal plants. The emphasis is on new compounds (1220 in 340 papers for 2023), together with the relevant biological activities, source organisms and country of origin. Pertinent reviews, biosynthetic studies, first syntheses, and syntheses that led to the revision of structures or stereochemistries, have been included. An analysis of the progress in the study of prokaryote involvement in macro-invertebrate MNP production is discussed.

Catalytic Enantioselective C-C Coupling of Alcohols for Polyketide Total Synthesis beyond Chiral Auxiliaries and Premetalated Reagents

Catalytic enantioselective hydrogen autotransfer reactions for the direct conversion of lower alcohols to higher alcohols are catalogued and their application to the total synthesis of polyketide natural products is described. These methods exploit a redox process in which alcohol oxidation is balanced by reductive generation of organometallic nucleophiles from unsaturated hydrocarbon pronucleophiles. Unlike classical carbonyl additions, premetalated reagents, chiral auxiliaries and discrete alcohol-to-aldehyde redox reactions are not required. Additionally, chemoselective dehydrogenation of primary alcohols in the presence of secondary alcohols enables C-C coupling in the absence of protecting groups.

Yamaguchi esterification: a key step toward the synthesis of natural products and their analogs-a review

The Yamaguchi reagent, based on 2,4,6-trichlorobenzoyl chloride (TCBC) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), is an efficient tool for conducting the intermolecular (esterification) reaction between an acid and an alcohol in the presence of a suitable base (Et3N or i Pr2NEt) and solvent (THF, DCM, or toluene). The Yamaguchi protocol is renowned for its ability to efficiently produce a diverse array of functionalized esters, promoting high yields, regioselectivity, and easy handling under mild conditions with short reaction times. Here, the recent utilization of the Yamaguchi reagent was reviewed in the synthesis of various natural products such as macrolides, terpenoids, polyketides, peptides, and metabolites.

Base-mediated synthesis of aryl enol ethers from α-aryl allylic alcohols and arylsulfonium salts

A concise synthesis of aryl enol ethers from allylic alcohols and arylsulfonium salts by simply using an inorganic base as a mediator is described. The reaction enabled the facile conversion of various α-aryl allylic alcohols into the corresponding aryl enol ethers in good yields with excellent selectivity. The results demonstrated that both symmetric triarylsulfonium triflate and 10-methyl-5-aryl-5,10-dihydrophenothiazin-5-ium salts were effective arylation reagents for the base-initiated selective O-arylation and isomerization of α-aryl allylic alcohols. This reaction represents the first use of arylsulfonium salts as arylation reagents to access aryl enol ethers directly from allylic alcohols.

β-Hydroxy Esters as Malonic Semialdehyde Proelectrophiles in Enantioselective Butadiene-Mediated Crotylation: Total Synthesis of Octalactins A and B

Tractable and commercially available esters (and amides) of β-hydroxypropionic acid serve as malonic semialdehyde proelectrophiles in enantioselective ruthenium-catalyzed hydrogen autotransfer crotylations mediated by butadiene. Through iterative asymmetric butadiene-mediated crotylations of ethyl 3-hydroxypropanoate, total syntheses of the polyketide natural products octalactin A and B were achieved in fewer steps than previously possible.

Leveraging the Stereochemical Complexity of Octahedral Diastereomeric-at-Metal Catalysts to Unlock Regio-, Diastereo-, and Enantioselectivity in Alcohol-Mediated C-C Couplings via Hydrogen Transfer

Experimental and computational studies illuminating the factors that guide metal-centered stereogenicity and, therefrom, selectivity in transfer hydrogenative carbonyl additions of alcohol proelectrophiles catalyzed by chiral-at-metal-and-ligand octahedral d6 metal ions, iridium(III) and ruthenium(II), are described. To augment or invert regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivity, predominantly one from among as many as 15 diastereomeric-at-metal complexes is required. For iridium(III) catalysts, cyclometalation assists in defining the metal stereocenter, and for ruthenium(II) catalysts, iodide counterions play a key role. Whereas classical strategies to promote selectivity in metal catalysis aim for high-symmetry transition states, well-defined low-symmetry transition states can unlock selectivities that are otherwise difficult to achieve or inaccessible.

Synthesis of the C28-C41 Side Chain of (Proposed) Neaumycin B: A Contiguous Stereohextet

The C28-C41 side-chain of the proposed structure of neaumycin B, which encompasses a contiguous stereohextet, is prepared in 8 steps (longest linear sequence). Convergency is maximized via Williams' Felkin-Anh-selective triorganozincate-mediated vinylation of an α,β-stereogenic aldehyde. The relative stereochemical assignment of the C33-C35 stereotriad was accomplished via the 13C NMR analysis of the related acetonide. Relative stereochemistry of C33 carbinol and C36-C37 glycidol was determined by comparative NOE analysis of the related diastereomeric furans.

O-Acetyl 1,3-Propanediol as an Acrolein Proelectrophile in Enantioselective Iridium-Catalyzed Carbonyl Allylation

O-Acetyl 1,3-propanediol serves as an acrolein proelectrophile in π-allyliridium-C,O-benzoate-catalyzed carbonyl allylations mediated by racemic α-substituted allylic acetates. Using the iridium catalyst modified by (R)-SEGPHOS, a variety of 3-hydroxy-1,5-hexadienes are formed with uniformly high levels of regio-, anti-diastereo-, and enantioselectivity.