Injuries to the central nervous system are irreversible and debilitating due to the limited regrowth of damaged or severed neurons. Two small molecules, xanthofulvin and vinaxanthone, isolated from P. vinaceum and P. glabrum promote spinal cord regeneration in animal models. It is speculated that these natural products inhibit semaphorin 3A, a chemorepellent that mitigates axonal growth-cone formation. In addition to promoting axonal growth, rats treated with vinaxanthone and xanthofulvin following complete spinal cord transection experienced greater remyelination, increased angiogenesis, attenuated apoptosis, and depressed scaring of the lesion site. The only prior synthesis of vinaxanthone speculated that the xanthone core is constructed via enzyme-catalyzed intermolecular Diels-Alder reaction. We have demonstrated, however, that warming a functionalized acetoacetyl chromone in water, furnishes vinaxanthone in good yield, providing an alternative biosynthetic pathway. With a robust syntheses of both natural products, we determined the protein target of the observed regeneration: succinate receptor 1, providing a new therapeutic target to promote neuronal regeneration. Among the various methods of incorporating oxygen into aryl rings, the direct conversion of a C-H bond into a C-OH bond is ideal. The metal-free hydroxylation of arenes developed in our laboratory, utilizing phthaloyl peroxide, marks the first disclosure of this transformation using mild conditions. Computational and experimental evidence obtained thus far has supported a mechanism involving a diradical intermediate. The reactivity of phthaloyl peroxide was increased by the incorporation of two chlorine atoms onto the ring. To minimize the accumulation of large quantities of peroxide, the optimization of the preparation of the peroxide in flow has been developed. This protocol immediately consumes the peroxide as it is generated. Finally, a new dearomatization reaction has been optimized. This reaction forms two carbon-oxygen bonds and dearomatizes the ring system.

Part one of this two-part thesis describes my efforts toward the total syntheses of the complex polycyclic alkaloids himeradine A and fastigiatine, which are members of the Lycopodium family of natural products. A cascade reaction sequence featuring a biosynthesis-inspired transannular Mannich reaction was planned to construct the strained and densely functionalized pentacyclic cores of the molecules from acyclic starting materials. After difficulties were encountered in a first-generation synthesis plan toward himeradine A, a second-generation synthesis plan was eventually successful in accomplishing the first total synthesis of fastigiatine via a formal [3+3]-cycloaddition reaction and a retro-aldol tandem transannular Mannich reaction sequence. In part two of this thesis, syntheses of the hibarimicin aglycons, including HMP-Y1, atrop-HMP-Y1, hibarimicinone, atrop-hibarimicinone, and HMP-P1, are reported. These natural products are amongst the largest and most complex type-II polyketides isolated. A novel benzylic fluoride Michael-Claisen reaction sequence was developed to construct the complete carbon skeleton of HMP-Y1 and atrop-HMP-Y1 via a symmetrical bidirectional double annulation reaction. Through efforts to convert HMP-Y1 derivatives to hibarimicinone and HMP-P1, a biomimetic mono-oxidation to desymmetrize protected HMP-Y1 was realized. A bidirectional unsymmetrical double annulation and biomimetic etherification were developed to construct the polycyclic and highly-oxidized skeleton of hibarimicinone, atrop-hibarimicinone, and HMP-P1. Lastly, a pH-dependent rotational barrier about the C2-C2' bond of hibarimicinone was discovered, which provides valuable information for achieving the syntheses of the glycosylated congeners of hibarimicinone. / Chemistry and Chemical Biology

Studies directed toward the total synthesis of the cytotoxic steroidal alkaloid cortistatin A were carried out. In a model system, it was determined that a sequence of reactions involving a lithiocyclopropene addition-intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition cascade and subsequent cyclopropylcarbinyl rearrangement allowed for ready access to the BCD rings of the core steroid. Implementation of this methodology en route to the fully functionalized natural product proved an effective means for the elaboration of the A ring carbocyclic framework. / text

No description available.

This thesis describes research towards the total syntheses of two bacterial polyene natural products, inthomycin C and oxazolomycin B, as well as preliminary studies on the biological activity of inthomycin C and structural analogues against human cancer cell lines. A novel total synthesis of inthomycin C has been accomplished in 11.4% yield and 89% ee over ten linear steps from oxazole. This synthesis is the shortest and highest yielding asymmetric total synthesis of inthomycin C to date and, unlike all previous syntheses, it avoids the use of toxic organotin reagents. Main features of this synthesis include cross-metathesis as key C - C bond-forming step, methoxy group elimination to construct the triene moiety and asymmetric Mukaiyama - Kiyooka aldol addition to install the (3R) alcohol stereocenter on inthomycin C. Both NMR data and optical rotation data for the sample of inthomycin C synthesised in this work are in agreement with those previously reported. Viability and cytotoxicity assays of inthomycin C and analogues against various human cancer cell lines have been carried out for the first time. Despite all compounds tested having proved inactive against all cancer cell lines, an ester derivative of inthomycin C has been found to exhibit weak reversible proteasome inhibition activity against two cancer cell lines. On the other hand, and building on previous work in the Donohoe group, the synthesis of an advanced amide intermediate in the route towards oxazolomycin B has been achieved, which contains the complete carbon backbone of oxazolomycin B. Key features of this synthesis include a highly diastereoselective organocerium nucleophilic addition to an aldehyde precursor, a Nozaki - Hiyama - Kishi reaction and an amide coupling to access the final amide fragment.

Gold was considered for a long time to be an inert metal and was only in 1986 that the first homogeneous gold-catalyzed transformation was reported. In our laboratory, we isolated a surprisingly stable vinyl complex that resulted from an unexpected 1,2-silyl migration while working on a gold(I)-catalyzed reaction for the synthesis of polyprenylated polycyclic acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs). We herein report the isolation of a variety of organogold species where we could control the silyl migration based on the nature of the silyl group installed on the terminal alkyne. Silyl groups bearing an aromatic ring inhibited the silyl migration while the aliphatic silyl group afforded the 1,2-silyl migrated adduct. After mechanistic investigation of this intriguing migration, we believe that this process goes through a relatively rare gold vinylidene intermediate. More than 15 organogold complexes were isolated in good yield and characterized by x-ray crystallography. Investigation of their reactivity led to the formation of C(sp3)-C(sp2) bonds using electrophilic reagents without the use of Pd-based catalysts. We have also developed a new gold(I)-catalyzed dehydro Diels-Alder reaction using a simple monocyclic silyl enol ether. This methodology proceeds effectively with a wide scope by the use of [JackiephosAu(NCMe)]SbF6 in toluene. This methodology was then applied to the synthesis of magellanine, an architecturally complexed angular natural product isolated in 1976 from the club moss Lycopodium Magellanicum. The key step precursor was rapidly constructed via a Mitsunobu/Diels-Alder reaction that generated the requisite carboxaldehyde. The dehydro Diels-Alder reaction afforded the molecular skeleton of magellanine diastereoselectively in 91% yield. The synthesis was successfully accomplished in 11 steps demonstrating the ability of the gold(I) salt to rapidly construct complex molecules. Since the discovery of salvinorin A, a lot of efforts were exerted in order to optimize the biological activity for treatment of central nervous system disorders. Development of a new synthetic routes to salvinorins are essential to afford novel functionalized analogues. The decalin framework of salvinorin A was assembled with a Diels-Alder reaction with Et2AlCl followed by a gold(I)-catalyzed 6-endo-dig carbocyclization with [JohnphosAu(NCMe)]SbF6. Further functionalization afforded an elaborated intermediate which possesses the correct stereochemistry of the natural product. Following these promising results, efforts are currently in progress for the completion of the total synthesis.

The patellazoles are a family of marine polyketide natural products first isolated from Lissoclinum patella in 1988 by both the Moore and Ireland groups. They exhibit significant cytotoxicity against the HCT 116 human colon tumour cells. To date however, their full 3D stereostructure have yet to be elucidated, which has hindered their development as potential drugs, and hampered full investigation into their biological mechanism of action and has deterred total synthesis efforts. This thesis describes synthetic efforts towards Patellazole B, which exhibits the highest potency of the three main congeners. To fully elucidate the structure and renew interest in the patellazoles as anticancer compounds, we have developed a flexible and modular synthesis that aims to define the unknown stereocentres within the pertinent region and allow for rapid fragment union. Compound 36 has been chosen as an initial target for NMR comparison studies. The synthesis of all eight diastereomers of this macrocycle should aid determination of the four unknown stereocentres. Chapter 2 describes the synthesis of the C1–C12 fragment, focusing on the configuring of the C5 methyl stereocentre and the construction of the C7-C10 stereotetrad via a boron-mediated anti aldol with an in-situ reduction. In the third chapter, the synthesis of the C13-C19 fragment is outlined. A boron-mediated glycolate aldol has been used to install the C16-C17 anti stereochemistry and a substrate-controlled reduction at C15 delivered the hydroxyl with high diastereoselectivity. Studies into the C¬17¬ methylation are also described. Chapter 4 describes the synthesis of one possible diastereomer of the C20-C25 fragment, as a template for the preparation of the other 7 possible diastereomers. The route therefore employs only catalyst based control methods to install the three stereocentres, utilising a Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation and Evans aldol to construct the stereotriad. The 22R, 23S, 24S diastereomer has been initially chosen to investigate the later chemistry. Chapter 5 contains discussion of the ongoing work investigating fragment union and formation of the macrocycle. A Heck coupling reaction has been employed to construct the C19-C20 bond and a Suzuki coupling reaction has been developed to facilitate the C12-C13 bond formation. These two cross couplings have delivered the C1 - C25 fragment, 360, the final compound reported in this thesis, which is three steps away from the completed macrocycle and six from compound 36. The experimental procedures and spectroscopic characterisation of the synthesised intermediates can be found in Chapter 6 and the Appendix.

First isolated from the myxobacterium Sorangium cellulosm So Ce12 in 1994, the chivosazoles have been reported to possess antiproliferative activity against human cancer cell lines, as well as antifungal activity. This thesis focuses on studies towards the total synthesis of chivosazole F. Some developments towards the total synthesis of chivosazole A are also discussed. Chapter 1 discusses the isolation, characterisation and biological activity of the chivosazoles, as well as the first total synthesis of chivosazole F reported by the Kalesse group and the previous work towards synthesising chivosazole F in our group. Chapter 2 describes the synthesis of the three key fragments A, B and C, their coupling reactions and subsequent modifications for assembling the backbone of chivosazole F. Paterson boron aldol methodology and Evans-Tishchenko reduction were utilised to construct the 1,4-syn and 1,3-anti stereochemical relationships within both fragment A and fragment B. Di-tert-butyl silyl group was used for the efficient and precise protection of the terminal diol of B. The key stereochemistry of fragment C was defined with a vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction. Site-selective Stille cross-coupling reactions of the three fragments, via a one-pot process, rapidly installed the requisite stereodefined polyene motifs within chivosazole F. Optimised Still-Gennari-type HWE olefination conditions were applied to install the (2Z,4E)-dienoate in D. MnO2-mediated double oxidation of D turned the terminal alcohol into an aldehyde and the oxazoline into an oxazole, followed by a Stork-Zhao olefination transforming the aldehyde to a Z-vinyl iodide for a macro-Stille coupling reaction, which achieved the ring closure to afford macrocycle E. Chapter 3 discusses the developments towards the synthesis of the southern fragment F of chivosazole A. Sugar I was prepared first and conditions were screened for the glycosylation of H and I to afford G. Chapter 4 outlines the achievements of this research and points out some future issues that need to be tackled.

Thesis advisor: James P. Morken / This dissertation describes the development of a method for the stereoselective synthesis of organoboronates and the applications of these products to target-oriented synthesis. The first chapter discusses an investigation of the palladium-catalyzed conjunctive cross-coupling reaction by kinetic analysis. This reaction enables the asymmetric synthesis of organoboronates by utilizing the 1,2-metallate rearrangement of borates as a mechanistic step in a cross-coupling reaction. The second chapter describes the application of the conjunctive cross-coupling reaction to the asymmetric synthesis of tertiary boronic esters. In chapter three, the conjunctive cross-coupling reaction of 1,2-disubstituted alkenyl boronates is presented. Such a substrate class is susceptible to the undesired Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction, and this challenge led to the development of a novel diol ligand for boron as an effective solution. The final chapter details the progress toward the total synthesis of the sarcodictyin natural products, which display promising anti-cancer activity. The synthetic route utilizes reactions of organoboronates for powerful C–C bond formations; the construction of a fully-cyclyzed advanced intermediate is achieved in eight steps. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2020. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.

Cuban and Brazilian red bee propolis (CRP and BRP), a waxy red substance made by bees and found on the outside of beehives, has been used for thousands of years in folk medicine to treat a wide range of ailments. Hundreds of compounds have been isolated from CRP and BRP, however, very little is known about the individual components and their contributions to the biological activity of the propolis as a whole. Of the compounds isolated, many are simple isoflavans, complex isoflavanoids, or dimeric isoflavanoids. Herein, we report the total syntheses of isoflavanoid natural products isolated from Cuban and Brazilian red bee propolis: neovestitol, retusapurpurin A, and retusapurpurin B, as well efforts towards the total synthesis of the dimeric isoflavanoid propolone B. The synthetic strategies described will allow for biological testing on these natural products, as well unnatural analogs. Neovestitol, a simple isoflavan, has displayed interesting anti-inflammatory activity in mice. However, to the best of our knowledge, no syntheses of the natural product have been reported. Herein, we report the development of a [4 + 2] cycloaddition to access the neovestitol core. Furthermore, we developed a dynamic acylative kinetic resolution that led to the synthesis of enantiopure (S)-neovestitol. The asymmetric synthesis allowed for confirmation of the absolute stereochemistry of the isolated natural product, which had previously only been assigned based on analogy with related isoflavans. Retusapurpurins A and B are complex isoflavanoids that are often attributed with giving red bee propolis a red color. Additionally, these compounds contain a neovestitol subunit. In this thesis, we describe the development of a novel annulation promoted by bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide that enabled us to construct the retusapurpurin core. This methodology was used to synthesize a small library of unnatural retusapurpurin analogs. More recently, a new class of dimeric isoflavanoids were reported, propolones A-D, propolonones A-C, and propolol A. Of the eight compounds, propolones A-C and propolonones A and B contain a neovestitol subunit. Herein, we describe our efforts towards using a platinum(II)-catalyzed migratory cycloisomerization that would allow for access to these eight natural products, as well as unnatural analogs. / 2025-09-18T00:00:00Z