Synthesis of Saxitoxin and Its Derivatives

Org Lett. 2020 Nov 6;22(21):8697-8701. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.0c03281. Epub 2020 Oct 26.

Abstract

The chiral synthesis of (+)-saxitoxin and its derivatives is described. Two consecutive carbon-nitrogen bonds at C-5 and C-6 in saxitoxin were effectively installed by the sequential Overman rearrangement of an allylic vicinal diol derived from d-malic acid. The bicyclic guanidine unit was constructed by the intramolecular aminal formation of an acyclic bis-guanidine derivative possessing a ketone carbonyl at C-4. From the bicyclic aminal intermediate, (+)-saxitoxin, (+)-decarbamoyl-β-saxitoxinol [(+)-dc-β-saxitoxinol], and the unnatural skeletal isomer, (-)-iso-dc-saxitoxinol, were synthesized.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't