Diastereoselective intramolecular carbamoylketene/alkene [2 + 2] cycloaddition: enantioselective access to pyrrolidinoindoline alkaloids

A novel and highly diastereoselective intramolecular carbamoylketene/alkene [2 + 2] cycloaddition has been developed, and the methodology was successfully applied to the enantioselective syntheses of (-)-esermethole and Takayama's intermediate for (+)-psychotrimine.

Synthesis of Marine Indole Alkaloids from Flustra foliacea

Brominated natural indoles are frequently reported metabolites of marine seaweeds. The bryozoan Flustra foliacea has been a rich source of brominated indole alkaloids bearing prenyl or isoprenyl substituents at various positions. Because interest in the chemistry of these marine alkaloids is steadily growing and shows unique promise in the discovery of new important medicinal drugs, the methods which have been employed towards their total synthesis are reviewed in detail.

Enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-flustramines A, B and (-)-flustramides A, B via domino olefination/isomerization/Claisen rearrangement sequence

The concise total synthesis of marine alkaloids, (-)-flustramines A and B, and (-)-flustramides A and B has been achieved through the domino olefination/isomerization/Claisen rearrangement (OIC) for highly enantioselective construction of the asymmetric quaternary carbon center and the chemoselective reduction-cyclization (RC) for pyrrolidine formation as key steps.

Synthesis of Diversely Functionalized Hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indoles Using Domino Reactions, Olefination, Isomerization and Claisen Rearrangement Followed by Reductive Cyclization

Hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-b]indoles 6 were synthesized in five steps from indolin-3-one 8 by a general and efficient method, in which elements of molecular diversity were readily added onto the 3a-position of the pyrrolo[2,3-b]indole ring system. Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction of 2-allyloxyindolin-3-ones 7, derived from indolin-3-one 8 and a variety of allylic alcohols, smoothly proceeded with successive Claisen rearrangement to give the corresponding 3-allyl-3-cyanomethylindolin-2-ones 15. Indolin-2-ones 15 were converted into pyrrolo[2,3-b]indoles 6 using partial hydrolysis followed by reductive cyclization with LiAlH(4). Synthesis of N-methylated pyrrolo[2,3-b]indole derivatives 23 and 26 is also described.

Total synthesis of spirotryprostatin B via asymmetric nitroolefination

[reaction: see text] A total synthesis of spirotryprostatin B was accomplished via asymmetric nitroolefination as a key step.

[Development of new methods in asymmetric reactions and their applications]

Several novel methods using chiral reagents and biocatalysts for asymmetric reactions are described. Among those reactions, asymmetric reduction via a novel tandem Michael addition/Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley reduction of acyclic alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones using a chiral mercapto alcohol, asymmetric synthesis of allene-1,3-dicarboxylate via crystallization induced asymmetric transformation, and improved asymmetric nitroolefination of lactones and lactames at alpha-carbon using new chiral reagents were developed. In the reactions using biocatalysts, asymmetric dealkoxycarbonylation of bicyclic beta-keto diesters having sigma-symmetry with lipase or esterase to give optically active beta-keto esters, the asymmetric reduction of bicyclic 1,3-diketones having sigma-symmetry with Baker's yeast to give optically active keto alcohols, and the asymmetric aldol reaction of glycine with threonine aldolase were also developed. The above mentioned products were effectively utilized as chiral building blocks for the asymmetric synthesis of natural products and drugs.