title: Synthesis of (-)-longithorone A: using organic synthesis to probe a proposed biosynthesis.
abstract: We present a full report of our enantioselective synthesis of (-)-longithorone A (1). The synthesis was designed to test the feasibility of the biosynthetic proposal for 1 put forward by Schmitz involving intermolecular and transannular Diels-Alder reactions of two [12]-paracyclophane quinones. We have found that if the biosynthesis does involve these two Diels-Alder reactions, the intermolecular Diels-Alder reaction likely occurs before the transannular cycloaddition. The intermolecular Diels-Alder precursors, [12]-paracyclophanes 38, 49, 59, and 60, were prepared atropselectively, providing examples of ene-yne metathesis macrocyclization. The 1,3-disubstituted dienes produced from the macrocyclizations represent a previously unreported substitution pattern for intramolecular ene-yne metathesis. Protected benzylic hydroxyl stereocenters were used as removable atropisomer control elements and were installed by using a highly enantioselective vinylzinc addition to electron-rich benzaldehydes 26 and 27.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Carl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Layton
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Shair
mesh_terms: D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002625:Chemistry, Organic / Q000379:methods; D008956:Models, Chemical; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds; C451180:longithorone A