Bisabosqual A

The synthesis of the novel squalene synthase inhibitor, bisabosqual A, was completed in 14 steps (longest linear sequence) from commercially available starting materials. The doubly convergent route employs a tandem 5-exo, 6-exo radical cyclization as the key step. This reaction assembles the fully functionalized tetracyclic core and introduces three stereogenic centers. Other effective transformations are the regioselective deoxygenation of an advanced enone intermediate and the chemo- and diastereoselective addition of trimethylaluminum to a ketone in the presence of esters.

Covering: 2000 to 2018 Natural products containing the 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran (2,3-DHB) skeleton have been the focus of a substantial number of synthetic studies since 2000. Herein, we review the total syntheses of decursivine, serotobenine, lithospermic acid, linderol A, bisabosqual A, pterocarpans, conocarpan, heliannuols, and some resveratrol oligomers, with emphasis on the synthetic strategies employed.

HCl-catalyzed deprotection and cyclization of benzylic alcohol 15 cleanly provided tricycle 16 by a cis-selective intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction. Acetylation of the phenol, bis epoxidation, and base-catalyzed hydrolysis and cyclization afforded tetracycle 19 with the bisabosqual skeleton, but the wrong stereochemistry at the tertiary alcohol. Selective dehydration of the tertiary alcohol to form the exocyclic alkene, ozonolysis, reductive deoxygenation of the side chain epoxide, and addition of MeMgBr to the ketone from the less hindered face gave tertiary alcohol 24 with the tetracyclic core of bisabosqual A (1).