Evolution of a Cycloaddition–Rearrangement Approach to the Squalestatins: A Quarter-Century Odyssey

The highs, lows, and diversions of a journey leading to two syntheses of 6,7-dideoxysqualestatin H5 is described. Both syntheses relied on highly diastereoselective n-alkylations of a tartrate acetonide enolate and subsequent oxidation–hydrolysis to provide an asymmetric entry to β-hydroxy-α-ketoester motifs. The latter were differentially elaborated to diazoketones which underwent stereo- and regioselective Rh(II)-catalysed cyclic carbonyl ylide formation–cycloaddition and then acid-catalysed transketalisation to generate the 2,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane core of the squalestatins/zaragozic acids at the correct tricarboxylate oxidation level. The unsaturated side chain was either protected with a bromide substituent during the transketalisation or introduced afterwards by a stereoretentive Ni-catalyzed Csp3–Csp2 cross-electrophile coupling.1 Introduction 2 Racemic Model Studies to the Squalestatin/Zaragozic Acid Core3 Asymmetric Model Studies to a Keto α-Diazoester3.1 Dialkyl Squarate Desymmetrisation3.2 Tartrate Alkylation3.2.1 Further Studies on Seebach’s Alkylation Chemistry 4 Failure at the Penultimate Step to DDSQ 5 Second-Generation Approach to DDSQ: A Bromide Substituent Strategy 5.1 Stereoselective Routes to E-Alkenyl Halides via β-Oxido Phosphonium Ylides 5.2 Back to DDSQ Synthesis6 An Alternative Strategy to DDSQ: By Cross-Electrophile Coupling7 Alkene Ozonolysis in the Presence of Diazo Functionality: Accessing α-Ketoester Intermediates8 Summary

Alkylation of lithiated dimethyl tartrate acetonide with unactivated alkyl halides and application to an asymmetric synthesis of the 2,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane core of squalestatins/zaragozic acids

(R,R)-Dimethyl tartrate acetonide 7 in THF/HMPA undergoes deprotonation with LDA and reaction at −78 °C during 12–72 h with a range of alkyl halides, including non-activated substrates, to give single diastereomers (at the acetonide) of monoalkylated tartrates 17, 24, 33a–f, 38a,b, 41 of R,R-configuration, i.e., a stereoretentive process (13–78% yields). Separable trans-dialkylated tartrates 34a–f can be co-produced in small amounts (9–14%) under these conditions, and likely arise from the achiral dienolate 36 of tartrate 7. Enolate oxidation and acetonide removal from γ-silyloxyalkyl iodide-derived alkylated tartrates 17 and 24 give ketones 21 and 26 and then Bamford–Stevens-derived diazoesters 23 and 27, respectively. Only triethylsilyl-protected diazoester 27 proved viable to deliver a diazoketone 28. The latter underwent stereoselective carbonyl ylide formation–cycloaddition with methyl glyoxylate and acid-catalysed rearrangement of the resulting cycloadduct 29, to give the 3,4,5-tricarboxylate-2,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane core 31 of squalestatins/zaragozic acids. Furthermore, monoalkylated tartrates 33a,d,f, and 38a on reaction with NaOMe in MeOH at reflux favour (≈75:25) the cis-diester epimers epi- 33a,d,f and epi- 38a (54–67% isolated yields), possessing the R,S-configuration found in several monoalkylated tartaric acid motif-containing natural products.

The Johnson Synthesis of Zaragozic Acid C

The zaragozic acids, exemplified by Zaragozic Acid C 3, are picomolar inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis. Jeffrey S. Johnson of the University of North Carolina developed (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 17281) an audacious silyl glyoxylate cascade approach to the oxygenated backbone fragment 1. Intramolecular aldol cyclization converted 1 to 2, setting the stage for the construction of 3. The lactone 2 includes five stereogenic centers, two of which are quaternary. The authors were pleased to observe that exposure of 4 to vinyl magnesium bromide 5 led, via condensation, silyl transfer, condensation, and again silyl transfer, to a species that was trapped with t-butyl glyoxylate 6 to give 7 as a single diastereomer. This one step assembled three of the stereogenic centers of 2, including both of the quaternary centers. The alcohol 7 so prepared was racemic, so the wrong enantiomer was separated by selective oxidation. Intramolecular aldol condensation of the derived α-benzyloxy acetate 1 then completed the construction of 2. Addition of the alkyl lithium 8, again as a single enantiomerically-pure diasteromer, to 2 gave the hemiketal 9. Exposure of 9 to acid initially gave a mixture of products, but this could be induced to converge to the tricyclic ester 10. To convert 10 to 11 , the diastereomer that was needed for the synthesis, two of the stereogenic centers had to be inverted. This was accomplished by exposure to t-BuOK/t-amyl alcohol, followed by re-esterification. The inversion of the secondary hydroxyl group was thought to proceed by retro-aldol/re-aldol condensation. Debenzylation of 11 followed by acetylation delivered 12, an intermediate in the Carreira synthesis of the zaragozic acids. Following that precedent, the ring acetates of 12 were selectively removed, leaving the acetate on the side chain. Boc protection was selective for the endo ring secondary hydroxyl, leaving the exo ring secondary hydroxyl available for condensation with the enantiomerically-pure acid 13. Global deprotection then completed the synthesis of Zaragozic Acid C 3. The key to the success of this synthesis of the complex spiroketal 3 was the assembly of 7 in one step as a single diastereomer from the readily-available building blocks 4, 5, and 6.