Divergent Total Syntheses of Illicium Sesquiterpenes through Late-Stage Skeletal Reorganization

J Am Chem Soc. 2023 Aug 23;145(33):18642-18648. doi: 10.1021/jacs.3c06442. Epub 2023 Aug 10.

Abstract

We disclose unified, protecting-group-free, bioinspired divergent total syntheses of eight allo-cedrane and seco-prezizaane Illicium sesquiterpenes and formal syntheses of five anislactone sesquiterpenes. The efficiency of our approach derives from rapid access to the 15-carbon tricyclic carboxylic acid through cationic epoxide-ene cyclization and HAT oxygenation, transformation of this intermediate into three distinct tricyclic precursors via Lewis acid-mediated skeletal reorganizations, subsequent programmed oxidation level enhancement, and a biomimetic oxidation-initiated skeletal rearrangement cascade. Consequently, we created a synthetic correlation map of the three most prevalent Illicium sesquiterpene families.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cyclization
  • Humans
  • Illicium*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Sesquiterpenes*

Substances

  • Sesquiterpenes