Amphibian alkaloids are attractive targets for synthesis due to their biological activity. An important class of amphibian alkaloids is the 2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidine-based family of compounds. There are many synthetic approaches for the preparation of the trans-2,5- disubstituted pyrrolidines, but methods for the construction of the cis-2,5-pyrrolidines are limited. Therefore, it was desired to develop an enantioselective approach for the preparation of cis-2,5-disubsituted pyrrolidines. (+)-Tropin-2-one derived from cocaine was used as starting material to exploit the inherent stereochemistry for construction of the cis-pyrrolidine ring. This permitted the unequivocal assignment of the absolute configuration of the target pyrrolidine. The structurally simple pyrrolidine alkaloid, 225H, was selected as a target to develop a general synthetic approach. The enantioselective synthesis of 225H was achieved in nine steps and good overall yield. The search for potent cannabinoid receptor partial agonist ligands as potential marijuana addiction therapeutic agents has led to an investigation of the synthesis of diaryl ether hybrid analogues of BAY 59-3074. A series of 2-(3-alkyl-5-hydroxyphenoxy)-6- (trifluoromethyl)benzonitriles, 3-(2-cyano-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy)phenylalkanoates, and (3- (benzyloxy)phenoxy)-6-(trifluoromethyl)benzonitriles were synthesized and evaluated in vitro for CB1 affinity. The olivetol diaryl ether analogue was the most potent ligand of the alkyl series, but the diaryl ester analogues exhibited modest affinity for CB1 receptors. The most potent compound of the series was the 2-(3-(benzyloxy)phenoxy)-6- (trifluoromethyl)benzonitrile.

The pyrrolidine and piperidine ring systems are present in a variety of different classes of amphibian alkaloids. We have found the iridium catalyzed N-heterocylization reaction of diols with amines to be very useful for the construction of novel pyrrolidine, piperidine and piperazine derivatives. The scope and utility of the iridium catalyzed N-heterocyclization reaction for the construction of novel anuran scaffolds using amino diols and triols are presented. Studies directed towards the total synthesis of 4,6-disubstituted quinolizidine and (±)-epiquinamide are discussed. The second study is focused on the selective conversion of terminal dienes to primary diols. This conversion has always had problems with regioselectivity and low yields due to polymer formation with carbon chains having more than 7 carbon atoms. An improvement in the yield and regioselectivity was observed with disiamylborane prepared in situ using 2-methyl-2-butene and BH3•DMS. The scope of this method with 7, 8 and 9 carbon chains and different alcohol protecting groups for synthesis of triols is presented.