Tetracyclic Skeleton Research Articles

Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of the Cyclopiane Family of Diterpenoid Natural Products.

A three-stage chemoenzymatic synthesis of the cyclopiane family and related diterpenes is reported. Deoxyconidiogenol with a 6/5/5/5-fused tetracyclic cyclopiane skeleton was first produced by an engineered E. coli host harboring the corresponding terpene cyclase PchDS. Ten cyclopiane diterpenes were synthesized by late-stage functionalization of rings A, B and D of the cyclopiane skeleton through direct redox operations, directed C-H activation, and enzymatic hydroxylation, respectively. Skeletal diversification was achieved by taking advantage of the selective 1,2-alkyl migration of a cyclopiane cation generated chemically or enzymatically. Three cyclopiane-related skeletons, including the spiro 5/5/5/5-tetracyclic skeleton of spiroviolene, the angular 5/6/5/5-fused ring system of phomopsene, and the new linear 5/6/5/5-fused tetracyclic ring system of amycolatene, were produced either by chemical skeletal transformation from the cyclopiane skeleton, or by terpene cyclases discovered by genome mining.

Convergent Total Synthesis of Kalmanol.

Kalmanol (1) is the first isolated kalmane-type grayanoid featuring a highly oxidized 5/8/5/5 tetracyclic carbon skeleton and 9 contiguous stereocenters. We have accomplished the efficient and asymmetric total synthesis of 1 in 16 steps from known compounds (20 steps from commercially available starting materials) by a modular synthetic strategy. A tetracyclic intermediate was prepared in a convergent manner through a Grignard reaction and a subsequent ring-closing metathesis reaction of two enantiomerically enriched fragments. The polyhydroxyl groups were introduced by late-stage stereo- and regioselective oxidations.

Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of the Cyclopiane Family of Diterpenoid Natural Products

A three‐stage chemoenzymatic synthesis of the cyclopiane family and related diterpenes is reported. Deoxyconidiogenol with a 6/5/5/5‐fused tetracyclic cyclopiane skeleton was first produced by an engineered E. coli host harboring the corresponding terpene cyclase PchDS. Ten cyclopiane diterpenes were synthesized by late‐stage functionalization of rings A, B and D of the cyclopiane skeleton through direct redox operations, directed C‐H activation, and enzymatic hydroxylation, respectively. Skeletal diversification was achieved by taking advantage of the selective 1,2‐alkyl migration of a cyclopiane cation generated chemically or enzymatically. Three cyclopiane‐related skeletons, including the spiro 5/5/5/5‐tetracyclic skeleton of spiroviolene, the angular 5/6/5/5‐fused ring system of phomopsene, and the new linear 5/6/5/5‐fused tetracyclic ring system of amycolatene, were produced either by chemical skeletal transformation from the cyclopiane skeleton, or by terpene cyclases discovered by genome mining.

Convergent Total Synthesis of Kalmanol

Kalmanol (1) is the first isolated kalmane‐type grayanoid featuring a highly oxidized 5/8/5/5 tetracyclic carbon skeleton and 9 contiguous stereocenters. We have accomplished the efficient and asymmetric total synthesis of 1 in 16 steps from known compounds (20 steps from commercially available starting materials) by a modular synthetic strategy. A tetracyclic intermediate was prepared in a convergent manner through a Grignard reaction and a subsequent ring‐closing metathesis reaction of two enantiomerically enriched fragments. The polyhydroxyl groups were introduced by late‐stage stereo‐ and regioselective oxidations.

Total Synthesis of Berkeleyone A and Preaustinoid A through Epoxypolyene Cyclization.

A bioinspired Lewis acid-catalyzed epoxypolyene cyclization was developed to construct the tetracyclic framework containing a bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane core and seven chiral centers. The usage of this approach for assembling these natural products of 6/6/6/6 tetracyclic skeleton with bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane core is demonstrated by the total synthesis of highly oxidized berkeleyone A and preaustinoid A.

Total Synthesis of Berkeleyone A and Preaustinoid A through Epoxypolyene Cyclization

AbstractA bioinspired Lewis acid‐catalyzed epoxypolyene cyclization was developed to construct the tetracyclic framework containing a bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane core and seven chiral centers. The usage of this approach for assembling these natural products of 6/6/6/6 tetracyclic skeleton with bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane core is demonstrated by the total synthesis of highly oxidized berkeleyone A and preaustinoid A.

Discovery of undescribed anthracycline-derived polyketides with cytotoxicity from endophytic Streptomyces chartreusis M7

Endophytic actinomycetes exhibit considerable potential for the production of biologically active metabolites due to their coevolution with plant hosts. In this study, an endophytic Streptomyces chartreusis M7 was isolated from Houttuynia cordata Thunb. Bioactivity-guided investigation of the metabolites produced by this strain led to the identification of thirteen anthracycline-derived polyketides, including five unreported anthraquinones designated streptoquinones A-E (1–5) and two undescribed angular polyketides named chartins A and B (6–7) along with six knowns. Their structures were elucidated through comprehensive spectroscopic analysis and ECD calculations. Notably, chartins A (6) and B (7) feature angular tetracyclic and pentacyclic skeletons, respectively, which have undergone several oxidative rearrangements. Moreover, streptoquinone A (1) exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against A549 cells, with an IC50 value of 4.8 μM.

Ten-Step Total Synthesis of (±)-Phaeocaulisin A Enabled by Cyclopropanol Ring-Opening Carbonylation.

We report an efficient total synthesis of (±)-phaeocaulisin A, a guaianolide sesquiterpene natural product possessing a complex tetracyclic skeleton embedded with an oxaspirolactone and a fused bicyclic lactone, four oxygen-containing stereocenters, and an 8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane core. Our synthesis features a novel palladium-catalyzed cyclopropanol ring-opening carbonylation to access a key γ-ketoester, a chemo- and stereoselective aldol cyclization to form the seven-membered carbocycle, and a cascade ketalization-lactonization to construct the desired tetracyclic skeleton. With these strategically important C-C and C-O bond formation transformations, a 10-step total synthesis of (±)-phaeocaulisin A was achieved. We further developed the cyclopropanol ring-opening carbonylation chemistry to provide an alternative approach to prepare γ-ketoesters. Biologically, the penultimate intermediate with an α-methylene γ-butyrolactone moiety was identified as a promising lead compound with anticancer proliferation activity against a panel of triple-negative or HER2+ breast cancer cell lines.

Total Synthesis of (-)-Bipolarolide D.

(-)-Bipolarolide D is an ophiobolin-derived sesteterpenoid with a unique tetraquinane (5/5/5/5) tetracyclic skeleton decorated with a diverse set of functionalities. Herein we report a robust, scalable, and efficient total synthesis of this natural product in 1.8% overall yield. The developed approach features a diastereoselective Pauson-Khand reaction, a highly efficient Rautenstrauch cycloisomerization, and radical cyclization to forge the carbon backbone and the installation of the side chain via crotylation with 1-methyl-2-propenylmagnesium chloride followed by Suzuki cross-coupling.

Total Synthesis of (+)‐Kalmanol

AbstractKalmanol, the flagship member of the kalmane diterpene family, possesses a complex and highly oxidized 5/5/8/5 tetracyclic skeleton with nine contiguous stereocenters and exhibits significant analgesic effects and cardiotoxic properties. We have achieved the efficient total synthesis of (+)‐kalmanol in 22 steps with 2.3 % yield. The synthesis featured a Rh‐catalyzed [5+2+1] cycloaddition reaction to construct 5/5/8 tricyclic skeleton, and a meticulously designed sequence of stereoselective oxidations of the 5/5/8/5 tetracyclic skeleton.

A Functional Switch Between Asperfumene and Fusicoccadiene Synthase and Entrance to Asperfumene Biosynthesis through a Vicinal Deprotonation-Reprotonation Process.

The diterpene synthase AfAS was identified from Aspergillus fumigatiaffinis. Its amino acid sequence and-according to a structural model-active site architecture are highly similar to those of the fusicocca-2,10(14)-diene synthase PaFS, but AfAS produces a structurally much more complex diterpene with a novel 6-5-5-5 tetracyclic skeleton called asperfumene. The cyclisation mechanism of AfAS was elucidated through isotopic labelling experiments and DFT calculations. The reaction cascade proceeds in its initial steps through similar intermediates as for the PaFS cascade, but then diverges through an unusual vicinal deprotonation-reprotonation process that triggers a skeletal rearrangement at the entrance to the steps leading to the unique asperfumene skeleton. The structural model revealed only one major difference between the active sites: The PaFS residue F65 is substituted by I65 in AfAS. Intriguingly, site-directed mutagenesis experiments with both diterpene synthases revealed that position 65 serves as a bidirectional functional switch for the biosynthesis of tetracyclic asperfumene versus structurally less complex diterpenes.

Ein funktioneller Wechsel zwischen Asperfumen‐ und Fusicoccadien‐Synthase und Eintritt in die Asperfumen‐Biosynthese durch einen vicinalen Deprotonierungs‐Reprotonierungsprozess

AbstractDie Diterpensynthase AfAS wurde aus Aspergillus fumigatiaffinis identifiziert. Ihre Aminosäuresequenz und – einem Strukturmodell zufolge – die Architektur des aktiven Zentrums sind denen der Fusicocca‐2,10(14)‐dien‐Synthase PaFS sehr ähnlich, AfAS produziert jedoch ein strukturell viel komplexeres Diterpen mit einem neuartigen 6–5–5–5 tetracyclischen Gerüst namens Asperfumen. Der Cyclisierungsmechanismus von AfAS wurde durch Isotopenmarkierungsexperimente und DFT‐Rechnungen aufgeklärt. Die Reaktionskaskade verläuft in ihren ersten Schritten über ähnliche Intermediate wie die PaFS‐Kaskade, divergiert dann aber durch einen ungewöhnlichen vicinalen Deprotonierungs‐Reprotonierungsprozess, der eine Skelettumlagerung am Startpunkt der Stufen auslöst, die zum einzigartigen Asperfumen‐Gerüst führen. Das Strukturmodell zeigte nur einen wesentlichen Unterschied zwischen den aktiven Zentren: Der PaFS‐Rest F65 ist in AfAS durch I65 ersetzt. Interessanterweise zeigten ortsspezifische Mutageneseexperimente mit beiden Diterpensynthasen, dass Position 65 als bidirektionaler funktioneller Schalter für die Biosynthese von tetracyclischem Asperfumen im Vergleich zu strukturell weniger komplexen Diterpenen dient.

Total Synthesis of (+)-Kalmanol.

Kalmanol, the flagship member of the kalmane diterpene family, possesses a complex and highly oxidized 5/5/8/5 tetracyclic skeleton with nine contiguous stereocenters and exhibits significant analgesic effects and cardiotoxic properties. We have achieved the efficient total synthesis of (+)-kalmanol in 22 steps with 2.3 % yield. The synthesis featured a Rh-catalyzed [5+2+1] cycloaddition reaction to construct 5/5/8 tricyclic skeleton, and a meticulously designed sequence of stereoselective oxidations of the 5/5/8/5 tetracyclic skeleton.

Concise Total Syntheses of (-)-Crinipellins A and B Enabled by a Controlled Cargill Rearrangement.

Herein, we report concise total syntheses of diterpene natural products (-)-crinipellins A and B with a tetraquinane skeleton, three adjacent all-carbon quaternary centers, and multiple oxygenated and labile functional groups. Our synthesis features a convergent Kozikowski β-alkylation to unite two readily available building blocks with all the required carbon atoms, an intramolecular photochemical [2 + 2] cycloaddition to install three challenging and adjacent all-carbon quaternary centers and a 5-6-4-5 tetracyclic skeleton, and a controlled Cargill rearrangement to rearrange the 5-6-4-5 tetracyclic skeleton to the desired tetraquinane skeleton. These strategically enabling transformations allowed us to complete total syntheses of (-)-crinipellins A and B in 12 and 13 steps, respectively. The results of quantum chemical computations revealed that the Bronsted acid-catalyzed Cargill rearrangements likely involve stepwise paths to products and the AlR3-catalyzed Cargill rearrangements likely involve a concerted path with asynchronous alkyl shifting events to form the desired product.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of 4-Hydroxy-8-O-methyltetrangomycin, 4-Hydroxytetrangomycin, and 4-Keto-8-O-methyltetrangomycin.

Herein, we report the first asymmetric total synthesis of 4-hydroxy-8-O-methyltetrangomycin (1), 4-hydroxytetrangomycin (2), and 4-keto-8-O-methyltetrangomycin (3), angucyclinones featuring a highly oxidized nonaromatic A ring. A sequential enyne metathesis/Diels-Alder approach was utilized successfully to construct the tetracyclic skeleton of the angucyclinones. Late-stage acetonide deprotection challenges were overcome by A ring functional group manipulation, yielding a dihydroxy intermediate prior to the benzylic photo-oxidation, facilitating the total syntheses of angucyclinones 1-3. The key stereocenter was established through a known Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation/regioselective epoxide opening reaction.

Regioselective metal-free synthesis of sulfostyril-quinoline hybrid framework: Experimental and computational mechanistic insights

Polycyclic sultams are widely encountered in both natural products and bioactive drug candidates. In cognizance to their synthetic and medicinal chemistry applications, the exploration of facile approaches remains at high demand. In the present work, a straightforward, efficient and operationally simple methodology has been developed. The coupling of β-chloroaldehyde with a diverse range of anilines as bis-nucleophile containing NCC fragment was achieved to deliver a sulfostyril-quinoline hybrid framework. The formation of target scaffolds bearing various substituents avoiding the need of column chromatographic purification represents one of the key advantages associated with this transformation. The exclusive regioselectivity achieved for the formation of linear tetracyclic products over angular products was corroborated with density functional theory (DFT) calculations as well as single crystal X-ray analysis. Furthermore, the density functional theory calculations allowed us to understand the formation of tetracyclic sulfostyril-quinoline hybrid skeleton, and are in fair agreement with the observed regioselectivity of this reaction.

Synthesis of Bridged Bicyclic Systems peri‐Annulated to the Indole Ring: Tropane‐Fused Indoles

AbstractYtterbium triflate catalysed domino reaction of (3‐formyl‐4‐indolyl)‐derived donor‐acceptor cyclopropane with primary amines provides a simple approach to an unprecedented tetracyclic skeleton in which tropane system is peri‐annulated with an indole core. This process involves the formation of an imine and its (3+2)‐cross‐cycloaddition with donor‐acceptor cyclopropane moiety, yielding tropane‐fused indole core under mild reaction conditions. These products are of significant interest for pharmacology as potential hybrid molecules with a dual mode of action.

Advances and Strategies towards Synthesis of Aspidosperma Indole Alkaloids Goniomitine.

Goniomitine is of the aspidosperma alkaloid family, with an angularly fused tetracyclic skeleton housing an all-carbon quaternary carbon chiral center alongside an aminal functional group. This natural product has garnered attention as a synthetic target due to its intriguing molecular architecture and anti-proliferative activity in recent years. Following the first synthesis of (-)-goniomitine by Takano in 1991, synthetic chemists have developed various methods. This review provides an overview of the methodologies used in the synthesis of goniomitine in racemic and enantiopure forms via divergent construction indole framework, indole functionalization, and the integrated oxidation/reduction/cyclization (iORC) sequence from 1991 to 2023.

Lewis Acid-Catalyzed Tandem Reaction Strategy for the Synthesis of Dihydrophenalene-Fused Lactones.

A Lewis acid-catalyzed tandem reaction strategy for the construction of a dihydrophenalene-lactone tetracyclic skeleton has been disclosed. Starting with 2-naphthol-tethered ketones and active methylene esters, the tandem reaction catalyzed by Sc(OTf)3 proceeded well to afford an array of dihydrophenalene-fused lactones with moderate to high efficiency and diastereoselectivity. Moreover, the synthetic utility of this protocol was demonstrated by easy gram-scale preparation and diverse product transformations.

Total Synthesis of Pallamolides A-E.

We have achieved the first total synthesis of pallamolides A-E. Of these compounds, pallamolides B-E possess intriguing tetracyclic skeletons with novel intramolecular transesterifications. Key transformations include highly diastereoselective sequential Michael addition reactions to construct the bicyclo[2.2.2]octane core with the simultaneous generation of two quaternary carbon centers, a one-pot SmI2-mediated intramolecular ketyl-enoate cyclization/ketone reduction to generate the key oxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane moiety, and an acid-mediated deprotection/oxa-Michael addition/β-hydroxy elimination cascade sequence to assemble the tetracyclic pallamolide skeleton. Kinetic resolution of ketone 14 through Corey-Bakshi-Shibata reduction enabled the asymmetric synthesis of pallamolides A-E.