title: Synthetic studies toward ecteinascidin 743.
abstract: An efficient synthesis of a fully functionalized tetracycle (A-B-C-H) 7 containing a 1,4-bridged 10-membered lactone was developed. Phenolic aldol condensation between 2-methylsesamol (15) and Garner's aldehyde provided the protected amino diol 16, which was converted to free amine 11 in excellent yield. A Pictet-Spengler reaction between 11 and ethyl glyoxylate under carefully controlled conditions (LiCl, toluene, 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol, room temperature) provided the acid-sensitive tetrahydroisoquinoline (18) in high yield, which was converted to the amino alcohol 9. Enantioselective alkylation of a glycine template in the presence of a catalytic amount of chiral cinchonidium salt was the key step for the access of enantiomerically pure amino aldehyde 10. Union of the two fragments 9 and 10 via oxazolidine intermediate afforded amino nitrile 39, which upon esterification of the primary alcohol with (R)-N-(S-4,4',4' '-trimethoxyltrityl) Cys (42) afforded 43. Cyclization of 43 (1% trifluoroacetic acid in trifluoroethanol) provided compound 44 by a domino process involving (a) unmasking of the S-trimethoxytrityl group, (b) fragmentation of dioxane assisted by an electron-rich aromatic ring, and (c) formation of a 1,4-bridged 10-membered lactone via formation of a sulfide linkage. Treatment of 7, obtained in two steps from 44b, under acidic conditions (0.5% methyl sulfonic acid in acetonitrile) afforded the pentacyclic compound 51 via fragmentation of the 10-membered cyclic sulfide followed by an intramolecular Pictet-Spengler reaction.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Xiaochuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jinchun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Paolis
authors.forename: Jieping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D000818:Animals; D004149:Dioxoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines; D000077606:Trabectedin; D014561:Urochordata / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D004149:Dioxoles; D007546:Isoquinolines; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines; D000077606:Trabectedin