A general synthetic route to the set of polyhydroxylated
agarofurans that comprise the core structures of
esters present in plants of the Celastraceae family has been
devised. The pathway is exemplified with total
syntheses
of (±)-3,4-dideoxymaytol (3), the nucleus of ever-1
(6), and (±)-euonyminol (4), the
sesquiterpenoid core of several
cathedulins including K-19 (5). A focal intermediate
19, prepared by Diels−Alder addition of 11
to 12, was identified
that permitted stereoselective introduction of an isopropenyl
substituent via chelation-controlled, conjugate Grignard
addition to give 34. Triflic acid-catalyzed cyclization
of 39 afforded the agarofuran skeleton of 3, and
subsequent
epimerization of the hydroxyl substituent at C1 via a reversible aldol
sequence gave 41. Sequential reductions
using
hydride and catalytic hydrogenation yielded 3 and
4-epi-3,4-dideoxymaytol (51). The route from
19 was extended
toward 4 via 56, prepared by directed epoxidation
of 34. A trifuoroacetic acid-catalyzed
“epoxide-cascade” cyclization
of 56 furnished 61, which was advanced to
γ-lactone 63 prior to epimerization at C1.
Introduction of the 8β hydroxyl
function of 69 was followed by an α-ketol transposition to
give 71 which was reduced and protected as
polysilyl
ether 80. Osmylation and replacement of protecting
groups produced euonyminol octaacetate 78 which
underwent
methanolysis to (±)-4.
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