Total Synthesis of Aflastatin A

J Am Chem Soc. 2022 Nov 2;144(43):19953-19972. doi: 10.1021/jacs.2c08244. Epub 2022 Oct 21.

Abstract

The total syntheses of aflastatin A and its C3-C48 degradation fragment (6a, R = H) have been accomplished. The syntheses feature several complex diastereoselective fragment couplings, including a Felkin-selective trityl-catalyzed Mukaiyama aldol reaction, a chelate-controlled aldol reaction involving soft enolization with magnesium, and an anti-Felkin-selective boron-mediated oxygenated aldol reaction. Careful comparison of the spectroscopic data for the synthetic C3-C48 degradation fragment to that reported by the isolation group revealed a structural misassignment in the lactol region of the naturally derived degradation product. Ultimately, the data reported for the naturally derived aflastatin A C3-C48 degradation lactol (6a, R = H) were attributed to its derivative lactol trideuteriomethyl ether (6c, R = CD3). Additionally, the revised absolute configurations of six stereogenic centers (C8, C9, and C28-C31) were confirmed.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Aldehydes*
  • Boron
  • Molecular Structure
  • Pyrrolidinones*
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • aflastatin A
  • 3-hydroxybutanal
  • Pyrrolidinones
  • Aldehydes
  • Boron