Enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-acylfulvene and (-)-irofulven

J Org Chem. 2009 Dec 18;74(24):9292-304. doi: 10.1021/jo901926z.

Abstract

We report our full account of the enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-acylfulvene (1) and (-)-irofulven (2), which features metathesis reactions for the rapid assembly of the molecular framework of these antitumor agents. We discuss (1) the application of an Evans Cu-catalyzed aldol addition reaction using a strained cyclopropyl ketenethioacetal, (2) an efficient enyne ring-closing metathesis cascade reaction in a challenging setting, (3) the reagent IPNBSH for a late-stage reductive allylic transposition reaction, and (4) the final RCM/dehydrogenation sequence for the formation of (-)-acylfulvene (1) and (-)-irofulven (2).

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Allyl Compounds / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Copper / chemistry
  • Hydrogen / chemistry
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Models, Chemical
  • Sesquiterpenes / chemical synthesis*
  • Sesquiterpenes / chemistry
  • Spiro Compounds / chemical synthesis
  • Spiro Compounds / chemistry
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Allyl Compounds
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • Spiro Compounds
  • acylfulvene
  • irofulven
  • Copper
  • Hydrogen