Xavier Ariza

Total synthesis of entecavir

Entecavir (BMS-200475) was synthesized from 4-trimethylsilyl-3-butyn-2-one and acrolein. The key features of its preparation are: (i) a stereoselective boron-aldol reaction to afford the acyclic carbon skeleton of the methylenecylopentane moiety; (ii) its cyclization by a Cp2TiCl-catalyzed intramolecular radical addition of an epoxide to an alkyne; and (iii) the coupling with a purine derivative by a Mitsunobu reaction.

Total synthesis of (-)-isoavenaciolide

An enantioselective approach to (-)-isoavenaciolide was achieved starting from 1-undecyn-3-ol. The synthesis relied upon the preparation of a chiral 4-silyloxy-2-alkenylborane by hydroboration of a protected 2,3-allenol and subsequent stereoselective addition to 2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde.

A Useful Allene for the Stereoselective Synthesis of Protected Quaternary 2-Amino-2-vinyl-1,3-diols

Treatment of readily available allene 1 with Cy2BH followed by addition of an aldehyde led to quaternary protected 2-amino-2-vinyl-1,3-diols in high yield and excellent stereochemical purity. The choice of benzoyl as N-protecting group is critical since the observed N- to O-Bz transfer during the process prevents later undesired isomerizations in the adducts and keeps all heteroatoms protected.