The intramolecular styryl Diels – Alder (ISDA) reaction is a rare and unique [4+2] cycloaddition with potential in the syntheses of polycycles. Its utility is based on the formation of two rings and one stereocenter in a single step, making it an efficient method for the construction of lignan-type natural product targets. Detailed mechanistic studies with complex esters and the application to natural product synthesis has been limited due to drawbacks including the loss of aromaticity, producing slow reactivity, a potentially problematic thermal [1,3]-hydrogen shift, and electronic mismatch related to the substituents on the aryl functional groups. In this research, we found conditions that led to the successful application of the ISDA reaction on the total synthesis of the anticancer deoxypodophyllotoxin and the antiviral agent F4-4. Deoxypodophyllotoxin was synthesized in seven steps, which is a very concise synthesis for a complex lignan. Density functional theory was used to analyze the two components of the ISDA reaction, the [4+2] cycloaddition and the [1,3]-hydrogen shift. Several pathways were analyzed, and the rate determining step was determined to be the [4+2] cycloaddition. We also found that the [1,3]-hydrogen shift is assisted by di-tert-butylhydroxytoluene and is lower in energy than the [4+2] cycloaddition.The two targets chosen for this research have important biological activities. Deoxypodophyllotoxin is known as a potent anticancer agent related to podophyllotoxin. Podophyllotoxin is a more abundant lignan which is the precursor of the FDA approved drugs etoposide and teniposide, used for the treatment of lung and testicular cancer. Other biological activities of deoxypodophyllotoxin have been found including antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflamatory activity. Also, it was recently discovered that F4-4 possesses antiviral activities against Herpes simplex viruses 1 (HSV-1), 2(HSV-2), and H. zoster. Since both deoxypodophyllotoxin and F4-4 are not available in large quantities from natural sources, chemical synthesis is important for continuing research and drug development of these compounds.

Through a continuing search for anticancer compounds as part of an International Cooperative Biodiversity Grant program, the extracts of two plants were selected for study on the basis of their cytotoxic activity. These extracts were further fractionated to yield four compounds. The structures of these compounds were elucidated with mass spectrometry and 1-D and 2-D NMR spectroscopy. The ethyl acetate extract of the twigs of Garcinia macrophylla from Suriname was weakly cytotoxic in the A2780 human ovarian cancer cell bioassay. The known benzophenone guttiferone A and a new guttiferone analog, named guttiferone G, were isolated from the extract and found to be responsible for the bioactivity. A known triterpene, friedelin, was also isolated from the extract and found to be inactive. The structure of guttiferone A was determined by comparison of its NMR data to those found in the literature. The structure of guttiferone G was determined by comparison to guttiferone A and through careful examination of both 1D and 2D NMR data. An extract of Bridelia tulasneana from Madagascar yielded one compound. It was identified as the known lignan deoxypodophyllotoxin and was responsible for the bioactivity. It was identified by a comparison of its spectral data to those found in the literature and those of an authentic sample. / Master of Science