Directed, DDQ-Promoted Benzylic Oxygenations of Tetrahydronaphthalenes

Total Syntheses of (±)-Dracocephalone A and (±)-Dracocequinones A and B

Described herein are the first total syntheses of (±)-dracocephalone A (1) and (±)-dracocequinones A (4) and B (5). The synthesis was initially envisioned as proceeding through an intramolecular isobenzofuran Diels-Alder reaction, a strategy that eventually evolved into a Lewis acid-promoted spirocyclization. This highly diastereoselective transformation set the stage for trans-decalin formation and a late-stage Suárez oxidation that produced a [3.2.1] oxabicycle suited for conversion to 1. Brønsted acid-mediated aromatization, followed by a series of carefully choreographed oxidations, allowed for rearrangement to a [2.2.2] oxabicycle poised for conversion to 4 and 5.

Asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-ovafolinins A and B

(+)-Ovafolinins A and B are two homologous lignans containing unique polycyclic skeletons. Benefiting from a highly diastereoselective alkylation of (S)-Taniguchi lactone, a double Friedel-Crafts reaction, a global debenzylation and a Cu(OAc)₂-enabled benzylic oxidative cyclization, we present herein an efficient synthetic approach to (+)-ovafolinins A and B.

Computational and Experimental Studies of Phthaloyl Peroxide-Mediated Hydroxylation of Arenes Yield a More Reactive Derivative, 4,5-Dichlorophthaloyl Peroxide

The oxidation of arenes by the reagent phthaloyl peroxide provides a new method for the synthesis of phenols. A new, more reactive arene oxidizing reagent, 4,5-dichlorophthaloyl peroxide, computationally predicted and experimentally determined to possess enhanced reactivity, has expanded the scope of the reaction while maintaining a high level of tolerance for diverse functional groups. The reaction proceeds through a novel "reverse-rebound" mechanism with diradical intermediates. Mechanistic insight was achieved through isolation and characterization of minor byproducts, determination of linear free energy correlations, and computational analysis of substituent effects of arenes, each of which provided additional support for the reaction proceeding through the diradical pathway.

Synthesis of 2-(3'-Indolyl)tetrahydrofurans by oxidative cycloetherification

A series of 2-(3'-indolyl)tetrahydrofurans have been prepared by a DDQ-mediated oxidative cycloetherification process. Performing the reaction under biphasic conditions prevents reductive cleavage of the products by the spent oxidant (DDQH2).

Modes of methyleneoxy bridging and their effect on tetrahydronaphthalene lignan cytotoxicity

Dioxatricyclodecane, oxabicyclooctane, and benzodihydropyran derivatives of alpha-conidendrin (ACON), podophyllotoxin (PT), and sikkimotoxin (SK) were prepared to learn which methyleneoxy bridging modes and arene and aryl substituents coincided with high cytotoxicity. PT-derived dioxatricyclodecane 14 showed in vitro activity at 10(-8) M. SK analogue 12 was less active, and ACON analogue 11 was inactive at 10(-4) M. In vivo intraperitoneal and subcutaneous activities of 14 were observed. In vitro cytotoxicities were higher for oxabicyclooctanes when hydroxymethyl group and methyleneoxy bridge were cis, as in deoxypicropodophyllin analog20, rather than trans, as in PT analogue 5. Acetylation of the hydroxymethyl group of 20 lowered activities, whereas acetylation of 5 increased or lowered activities. Reduction of the hydroxymethyl group of 5 to a methyl group increased cytotoxicities. Molecular dynamics indicated the THN scaffold of benzodihydropyrans was conformationally mobile, but scaffolds of oxabicyclooctanes and dioxatricyclodecanes were immobile. Each of three PT-benzodihydropyrans was less active than its oxabicyclooctane counterpart.

Cytotoxic responses to aromatic ring and configurational variations in alpha-conidendrin, podophyllotoxin, and sikkimotoxin derivatives

Derivatives of alpha-conidendrin, podophyllotoxin, and sikkimotoxin were prepared to evaluate the cytotoxic contributions of C-4 configuration and pendant and fused arene substitutions. Dimethyl-alpha-conidendryl alcohol (5), 9-deoxypodophyllol (6), and 9-deoxysikkimol (17) were dehydrated to their respective oxolane derivatives 4, 3, and 9. Diols 5 and 6 were converted via oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octanols 10 and 14 to target oxolanes 8 and 7 where C-4 had been inverted relative to that in 3 and 4. Cytotoxicities of the five oxolanes were determined in two drug-sensitive human leukemia and two multidrug-resistant cell lines expressing P-glycoprotein or multidrug-resistance associated protein (MRP). Changing the pendant arene configuration or replacing a m-methoxy by hydrogen resulted in a 100-fold cytotoxicity loss. Replacing a methylenedioxy group in the fused arene by two methoxy substituents reduced cytotoxicity by 10-fold. Drug-resistant cell lines were equally resistant to compounds 3, 4, 8, and 9 indicating that these four compounds do not serve as substrates of the transport proteins P-glycoprotein and MRP.