TL;DR: The first total synthesis of roseophilin was reported in this paper by means of a new palladium-catalyzed manifold for the formation of ansa-bridged pyrroles which proceeds via vinyl oxirane 8 and allyl lactone 11 as key intermediates.
Abstract: The first total synthesis of the antitumor agent roseophilin 1 is reported. Its intricate macrotricyclic core 2 is obtained by means of a new palladium-catalyzed manifold for the formation of ansa-bridged pyrroles which proceeds via vinyl oxirane 8 and allyl lactone 11 as key intermediates. After conversion of the latter into pyrrolophane 14, a base-induced elimination of the sulfone group followed by the Michael addition of a zincate onto the resulting enone 18 installs the isopropyl substituent in a stereoselective manner. The pyrrolylfuran side chain 3 of roseophilin is prepared from 4-methoxy-2(5H)-furanone (24) and methyl 4-chloropyrrole-2-carboxylate (26) as the starting materials. The appropriate building blocks 25a and 28 derived thereof are combined via a sequence comprising a directed metal−halogen exchange reaction, transmetalation of the resulting lithiopyrrole to the corresponding organozinc compound, a palladium-catalyzed cross coupling of the latter, and a subsequent acid-catalyzed closure ...
TL;DR: A formal synthesis of roseophilin, a pentacyclic structure possessing significant antitumor activity, starting from 3-cycloundecenylcarboxylic acid has been completed as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: A formal synthesis of roseophilin, a novel pentacyclic structure possessing significant antitumor activity, starting from 3-cycloundecenylcarboxylic acid has been completed. The acid was converted diastereoselectively to the corresponding menthol ester via the ketene which, in turn, provided (S)-3-cycloundecenylcarboxaldehyde. Diastereoselective propargylation with propargyltriphenylstannane promoted by an asymmetric boron reagent prepared in situ from boron tribromide and the bis-p-toluenesulfonamide of (S,S)-stilbenediamine gave (1S,1‘R)-1-cycloundec-2‘-enylbut-3-yn-1-ol which set the stage for the key metathesis reaction. Platinum-catalyzed enyne metathesis via a formal [2 + 2] cycloaddition to a cyclobutene followed by conrotatory ring opening created the corresponding bicyclo[10.2.1]pentadeca-1(15),2-diene. Regioselective epoxidation of the less reactive double bond of the 1,3-diene was accomplished by 1,4-bromohydrin formation followed by base. Cuprate opening regio- and stereospecifically installed...
TL;DR: Surprisingly, ent-(-)-1 was found to be 2-10-fold more potent than natural (+)-1 in cytotoxic assays, providing an unusually rewarding culmination to synthetic efforts that provided the unnatural enantiomer.
Abstract: An asymmetric total synthesis of ent-(-)-roseophilin (1), the unnatural enantiomer of a novel naturally occurring antitumor antibiotic, is described. The approach enlists a room temperature heterocyclic azadiene inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reaction of dimethyl 1,2,4,5-tetrazine-3,6-dicarboxylate (7) with the optically active enol ether 6 bearing the C23 chiral center followed by a reductive ring contraction reaction for formation of an appropriately functionalized pyrrole ring in a key 1,2,4,5-tetrazine --> 1,2-diazine --> pyrrole reaction sequence. A Grubbs' ring closing metathesis reaction was utilized to close the unusual 13-membered macrocycle prior to a subsequent 5-exo-trig acyl radical-alkene cyclization that was used to introduce the fused cyclopentanone and complete the preparation of the tricylic ansa-bridged azafulvene core 32. Condensation of 32 with 33 under the modified conditions of Tius and Harrington followed by final deprotection provided (22S,23S)-1. Comparison of synthetic (22S,23S)-1 ([alpha](25)(D), CD) with natural 1 established that they were enantiomers and enabled the assignment of the absolute stereochemistry of the natural product as 22R,23R. Surprisingly, ent-(-)-1 was found to be 2-10-fold more potent than natural (+)-1 in cytotoxic assays, providing an unusually rewarding culmination to synthetic efforts that provided the unnatural enantiomer.
TL;DR: The enantiospecific total synthesis of natural roseophilin has been completed in 7.0% overall yield over 15 steps by means of an asymmetric cyclopentannelation by establishing the absolute configuration of the natural product as 22R,23R.
Abstract: The enantiospecific total synthesis of natural roseophilin has been completed in 7.0% overall yield over 15 steps by means of an asymmetric cyclopentannelation. This establishes the absolute configuration of the natural product as 22R,23R. Cyclopentenone (+)-12 was prepared in 78% yield and 86% ee in the key step.
TL;DR: A formal synthesis of (+/-)-roseophilin is described in this paper, where a Scandium(III)-catalyzed Nazarov cyclization of 2,5-disubstituted N-tosylpyrrole 19 gives a 5,5'-fused ketopyrrole, and ansa-bridge formation via pi-allyl palladium macrocyclization gives 21.