Synthesis of epoxyquinol A and related molecules: probing chemical reactivity of epoxyquinol dimers and 2H-pyran precursors

J Org Chem. 2005 Jul 22;70(15):6053-65. doi: 10.1021/jo050897o.

Abstract

Total syntheses of the epoxyquinoid dimers, epoxyquinols A, B, and epoxytwinol A (RKB-3564 D), have been accomplished employing [4 + 2] and [4 + 4] dimerization of 2H-pyran epoxyquinol monomers. Modifications of 2H-pyran precursors have been explored, including alteration of epoxy alcohol and diene stereochemistry. A stable 2H-pyran prepared by alteration of the epoxyquinol 2H-pyran nucleus was evaluated as a diene in Diels-Alder cycloaddition with reactive dienophiles. Extensive studies for improving the [4 + 4] dimerization of selectively protected 2H-pyran monomers to afford the novel epoxyquinoid dimer epoxytwinol A were carried out, and valuable insight regarding competitive [4 + 2] and [4 + 4] dimerization processes has been obtained. In addition, chemical reactivities and structural modifications of epoxyquinol dimers have been evaluated, including [2 + 2] photocycloaddition and [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement, indicating the possibility for production of novel structural diversity from dimeric epoxyquinoid natural product frameworks.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alcohols / chemistry
  • Alkadienes / chemistry
  • Biomimetic Materials / chemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Cyclization
  • Dimerization
  • Epoxy Compounds / chemical synthesis*
  • Hydroquinones / chemical synthesis*
  • Models, Chemical
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Pyrans / chemistry*
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Alcohols
  • Alkadienes
  • Epoxy Compounds
  • Hydroquinones
  • Pyrans
  • epoxyquinol A
  • epoxyquinol B
  • epoxytwinol A