Martin G. Banwell

The Au(I)-catalyzed intramolecular hydroarylation of terminal alkynes under mild conditions: Application to the synthesis of 2H-chromenes, coumarins, benzofurans, and dihydroquinolines

Operationally simple Au(I)-catalyzed intramolecular hydroarylation (IMHA) reactions of terminal alkynes that proceed in high yield and under very mild conditions are described. These processes involve low catalyst loadings, mild reaction temperatures, and short reaction times, require no cocatalysts or additives, and allow for the generation of a number of important heterocyclic motifs from readily accessible starting materials.

Trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride–4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine as a reagent combination for effecting Bischler–Napieraiski cyclisation under mild conditions: application to total syntheses of the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids N-methylcrinasiadine, anhydrolycorinone, hippadine and oxoassoanine

A combination of triflic anhydride and 4-(N,N-dimethylamnino)pyridine effects Bischler–Napieraiski cyclisation of β-phenethytearbamates and β-phenethylamides under very mild conditions.

Chemoenzymatic methods for the enantioselective preparation of sesquiterpenoid natural products from aromatic precursors

The enantiomerically pure cis-1,2-dihydrocatechols 2, which are generated by enzymatic dihydroxylation of the corresponding aromatic, engage in regio- and stereo-controlled Diels-Alder cycloaddition reactions to give a range of synthetically useful bicyclo[2.2.2]octenes. Certain examples of the latter type of compound have been used as starting materials in the synthesis of the sesquiterpenoids (−)-patchoulenone and (−)-hirsutene.

Analogues of SB-203207 as Inhibitors of tRNA Synthetases

SB-203207 and 10 analogues have been prepared, by elaboration of altemicidin, and evaluated as inhibitors of isoleucyl, leucyl and valyl tRNA synthetases (IRS, LRS, and VRS, respectively). Substituting the isoleucine residue of SB-203207 with leucine and valine increased the potency of inhibition of LRS and VRS, respectively. The leucine derivative showed low level antibacterial activity, while several of the compounds inhibited IRS from Staphylococcus aureus WCUH29 more strongly than rat liver IRS.

A formal total synthesis of platencin

The readily available and enantiomerically pure trienes 12 undergo a thermally induced intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction to give the corresponding mixture of compounds 13 and 14. This mixture has been elaborated to an advanced intermediate associated with Nicolaous recently reported total synthesis of the natural enantiomeric form of the antibiotic platencin (2).

Chemoenzymatic access to versatile epoxyquinol synthons.

The enantiomerically pure and readily available metabolites 10-12 have been converted over four simple steps into the epoxyquinol derivatives 22-24, respectively. Compounds 23 and 24 or their immediate precursors have been exploited in efficient total syntheses of (-)-bromoxone (ent-1), (-)-epiepoformin (ent-2), (-)-harveynone (4), (+)-panepophenanthrin (6), and (+)-hexacyclinol (9).

Application of a Raney-Cobalt-Mediated Tandem Reductive Cyclization Protocol to Total Syntheses of the Aspidosperma Alkaloids (±)-Limaspermidine and (±)-1-Acetylaspidoalbidine

The racemic modification of the Aspidosperma alkaloid limaspermidine (1) has been prepared in ten steps including one involving a Raney-cobalt-mediated tandem reductive cyclization of nitrile 8 to give the tetracyclic system 9b. Compound (±)-1 has been converted over two steps into (±)-1-acetylaspidoalbidine [(±)-13].

Consecutive Gold(I)-Catalyzed Cyclization Reactions of o-(Buta-1,3-diyn-1-yl-)-Substituted N-Aryl Ureas: A One-Pot Synthesis of Pyrimido[1,6-a]indol-1(2H)-ones and Related Systems

Treatment of readily available o-(buta-1,3-diyn-1-yl-)-substituted N-aryl ureas such as 1 with the Au(I)-catalyst 11 affords, via a twofold cyclization process, the isomeric pyrimido[1,6-a]indol-1(2H)-one 3 in good yield.

A Chemoenzymatic Total Synthesis of (+)-Amabiline

The readily available and enzymatically derived cis-1,2-dihydrocatechol 3 has been converted, over 15 steps, into (+)-amabiline, the non-natural enantiomeric form of a crinine-type alkaloid.

Application of the Palladium(0)-Catalyzed Ullmann Cross-Coupling Reaction in a Total Synthesis of (±)-Aspidospermidine and thus Representing an Approach to the Lower Hemisphere of the Binary Indole–Indoline Alkaloid Vinblastine

As part of ongoing studies directed towards the construction of the anti-cancer agent vinblastine (1), the related but structurally less complex natural product aspidospermidine (3) has been synthesized. Two approaches to target 3 were pursued. In the first, which was unsuccessful, the amine-tethered enone 6 was prepared but this failed to engage in the pivotal intramolecular conjugate addition reaction to give the bicyclic system 5. In contrast, the related compound 46, incorporating tethered enone and azide moieties, engaged in an intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction to give, presumably via an intermediate triazoline, the isolable and ring-fused aziridine 47. This was then converted, over two steps, into the previously reported tetrahydrocarbazole 4. Application of established protocols to this last compound allowed for the installation of the E-ring of the title alkaloid 3 and completion of the total synthesis.