Unified Chemical Synthesis of Cephalotaxus Diterpenoids: A Biosynthetic Reversed Strategy

Abstract

In this work, we present the details of the first unified chemical synthesis of cephalotaxus diterpenoids with three distinct carbon skeleton structures. Drawing on our previous synthesis of cephalotane-type C18 dinorditerpenoid and inspired by the proposed biosynthetic synthesis pathway, we formulated a biosynthetic reversed chemical synthetic strategy. This strategy facilitated the conversion of C18 dinorditerpenoid into troponoid-type C19 norditerpenoid and intact cephalotane-type C20 diterpenoid through pivotal one-carbon introduction and ring expansion reactions. In the synthesis of troponoid-type C19 norditerpenoid, we utilized TMSCHN2 as one-carbon unit and meticulously examined the selective regulatory effect of halogen substituents in ring expansion and rearrangement reactions. This endeavor culminated in the successful synthesis of natural product molecules within this subclass, notably including cephinoid H and fortalpinoid C, marking the first chemical total synthesis in this line of research. In the investigation of intact cephalotane-type C20 diterpenoid synthesis, while adhering to the overall synthesis strategy, we initially pursued a ring expansion before carbon introduction approach, which proved unsuccessful. Subsequently, we explored a synthetic route of introducing carbon first and then expanding the ring, leading to a successful outcome and resulting in the first chemical total synthesis of the representative molecule cephanolide E within this subclass. Various challenges such as establishing crucial quaternary carbon stereocenters, selecting appropriate one-carbon units, and controlling ring expansion reactions were effectively addressed throughout this process. Moreover, enantioselective synthesis of natural products within this family was achieved through the development of asymmetric Michael reactions.