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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2010 Jun 4.
Published in final edited form as: Org Lett. 2009 Mar 5;11(5):1099–1102. doi: 10.1021/ol802942j

An Efficient, Second-Generation Synthesis of the Signature Dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane Core of (+)-Sorangicin A and Elaboration of the (Z,Z,E)-Triene Acid System

Amos B Smith III 1,*, Shuzhi Dong 1
PMCID: PMC2880660  NIHMSID: NIHMS92492  PMID: 19182995

Abstract

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An efficient, second-generation synthesis of the signature dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane core of (+)-sorangicin A (1), in conjunction with an effective, stereocontrolled protocol to arrive at the requisite Z,Z,E triene acid system has been developed. Highlights of the core construction entail a three-component union, a KHMDS-promoted epoxide ring formation-ring opening cascade, a Takai olefination and a chemoselective Sharpless dihydroxylation. Assembly of the triene acid system was then achieved via Stille cross-coupling with the ethyl ester of (Z,Z)-5-tributylstannyl-2,4- pentadienoic acid, followed by mild hydrolysis preserving the triene configuration.

The sorangicins comprise a family of architecturally complex macrolide antibiotics isolated from a fermentation broth of the myxobacteria Sorangium cellulosum (strain So ce 12). 1 The most potent and prevalent congener, (+)-sorangicin A (1), was found to be highly effective against a spectrum of both Gram-positive (MIC 0.01–0.3 μg/mL) and Gram-negative bacteria (MIC 3–25 μg/mL). Subsequent studies revealed that (+)- sorangicin A (1) inhibits bacterial RNA-polymerase in both E. coli and S. aureus, while not affecting eukaryotic cells.2

The structure of (+)-sorangicin A (1),3 endowed with a highly unsaturated 31-membered macrolactone, a rare (Z,Z,E)-trienoate linkage, and the signature dioxabicyclo- [3.2.1]octane, in conjunction with the important biological properties, has engendered considerable interest within the synthetic and biomedical communities.4 Indeed, significant progress toward the total synthesis of (+)-sorangicin A has been recorded by the Schinzer5 and Crimmins6 groups, in addition to our laboratory.7

From the outset, our synthetic analysis of (+)-sorangicin A (1) called for disconnections at the macrocyclic lactone, the C(38–39) σ-bond, and both the C(15–16) and C(29–30) trans-disubstituted olefins to yield three advanced subtargets: bicyclic ether (−)-2, tetrahydropyran (−)-3 and dihydropyran 4 (Scheme 1).7 To construct the dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane core of (−)-2, our first-generation route featured an acid-promoted intramolecular cascade of epoxide openings, the first facilitated and controlled chemoselectively by a Co2(CO)6-alkyne complex of bis-epoxide (+)-5 and the second mediated by BF3•OEt2.7a Although effective, the route was not highly efficient vis-à-vis material advancement. We now report a second-generation synthesis of (−)-2, in conjunction with the development of an effective, highly stereocontrolled protocol to elaborate the C(37–43) (Z,Z,E)-triene acid unit.

Scheme 1.

Scheme 1

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Reanalysis of the structure of (−)-2 led to the observation that disconnection of the bicyclic ether fragment at the C(36)–O bond would lead to a tetrahydropyran,8 sharing the same 2,6-trans-relationship as 4, and thus potentially available via a similar substrate-controlled stereoselective conjugate addition of a Michael donor to a similar dihydropyrone as employed to construct 4.7b

Toward this end, dihydropyrone (−)-6 was readily prepared in 86% yield (33:1 dr) via a hetero Diels-Alder (HDA) reaction between the Danishefsky diene and aldehyde (−)-8, 9 catalyzed by the chromium(III)-Schiff base 9, the same Jacobsen catalyst employed for our earlier synthesis of dihydropyrone (−)-7 (Scheme 2).10

Scheme 2.

Scheme 2

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Attention next turned to the three-component union of dihydropyrone (−)-6 with MeI and a suitable Michael donor, the latter corresponding to a surrogate aldehyde. The literature however is not rich with such examples, due presumably to deactivation of the enone by the ring oxygen.11,7b In fact, dihydropyrone (−)-6 proved to be a reluctant Michael acceptor. For example, use of the cuprate derived from BnOCH2SnBu3 displayed no reactivity. This result may however be a donor problem, given the low reactivity of this type of organometallic addend towards Michael addition as observed by Fuchs et al.12

We turned next to the commercially available β-bromostyrene (10) as a prospective nucleophile progenitor, with a view to achieving olefin cleavage at a later stage to access the C(30) aldehyde. Application of the Noyori three-component prostaglandin coupling protocol,13 involving Li halogen exchange of the bromine in 10 with t-BuLi at −78 °C, 14 followed in turn by addition of Me2Zn, warming to 0 °C to furnish a mixed zincate, and then addition of dihydropyrone (−)-6 at −78 °C effectively led to conjugate addition. 15 Although forcing conditions (ca. 10 equiv. MeI and HMPA at −40 °C) were required to quench the resultant enolate (11), a single diastereomer (+)-12 was obtained in modest yield (51%), along with the formation of a significant amount of α,α′-bismethylated product (+)-13 (20%). This result is not without precedent. Alexakis et al. observed unusual reactivity of a Zn-methyl group with an enolate similar to 11 upon trapping with allyl bromide.16 We reasoned that during the slow enolate capture process, 11 possessing the Zn-methyl group, is sufficiently basic in the presence of excess HMPA to deprotonate (+)-12, and in turn lead via methylation to (+)-13. Lowering the alkylation temperature from −40 °C to −60 °C only led to longer reaction times and an increase of (+)-13 (38%). Higher temperature (−20 °C) however did have a beneficial effect on the yield of (+)-12; the same trend was observed by Alexakis et al. In the end, we discovered that the reactivity of the zinc enolate (11) could be successfully down-regulated by addition of CuI•PBu3 just prior to the addition of MeI, which led to a slower, but more selective reaction to furnish (+)-12 in 73% yield. Confirmation of the requisite 2,3,6-trans-cis-configuration was obtained by NOESY studies (Scheme 2).

Final elaboration to (−)-2 began with L-Selectride reduction of (+)-12 to furnish (−)-14 as a single diastereomer (Scheme 3); confirmation of the requisite configuration at C(33) was again achieved by NOESY correlations. The acetonide moiety was then removed with aqueous acetic acid to furnish triol (−)-15.

Scheme 3.

Scheme 3

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With (−)-15 in hand, we turned to the critical task of generating the two atom bridge. Triol (−)-15 was treated with KHMDS (1 equiv.), followed by slow addition of the bulky N-triisopropylbenzenesulfonylimidazole (Trisyl- Imid; 1 equiv.) to effect regioselective sulfonylation of the least hindered hydroxyl. In analogy with the work of Crimmins et al,6 treatment of the resultant trisylate (16) with an additional 2 equivalents of KHMDS then promoted a reaction cascade involving epoxide ring formation, followed by ring opening to generate the bridged bicycle. 17 Although this “one-pot” protocol delivered the desired product (−)-18, the yield was disappointing (ca. 33%), due to over-sulfonylation to form (−)-19 (ca. 36%). Lower reaction temperatures or the use of potassium tert-butoxide did not improve the situation. A less elegant, two-step protocol was thus explored. The primary hydroxyl of (−)-15 was first selectively sulfonylated with triisopropylbenzenesulfonyl chloride (TrisylCl) employing pyridine/CH2Cl2 (2:3) as solvent at room temperature.18 Under these conditions, sulfonylation of the secondary hydroxyl was suppressed; in addition the resultant sulfonate (−)-20 proved stable to purification and handling. The primary sulfonate was then treated with one equivalent of KHMDS to furnish bicyclic ether (−)-18 in high yield, possessing spectral data in complete accord with the data reported by the Crimmins laboratory.6 Bicycle (−)-18, comprising the signature dioxabicyclo- [3.2.1]octane core of (+)-sorangicin A (1), was thus available in 6 steps and 35% overall yield from (−)-8.

To arrive at (−)-2 (Scheme 4), (−)-18 was oxidized employing Parikh-Doering conditions,19 and the resultant sensitive aldehyde 21 immediately subjected to Takai olefination without purification. 20 Initial experiments on small scale employing THF as solvent afforded an E/Z diastereomeric mixture (3.2:1); the olefin configurations were assigned respectively based on 1H NMR coupling constants (15.8 Hz vs. 8 Hz). 21 The observed low E/Z selectivity was unexpected given that α-alkoxy-aldehydes in general exhibit near complete (E)-selectivity.22 Larger-scale reactions also proved problematic, furnishing the vinyl iodides in significantly lower yield. Recourse to a mixture of dioxane/THF (4:1; v/v) as solvent system,23 although not significantly improving the selectivity, did improve the scale-up issue to furnish (−)-22 and (−)-23 in 52 and 16% respectively, on half gram reaction scale.

Scheme 4.

Scheme 4

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Required at this stage was differentiation of the two olefins present in (−)-22 to access aldehyde (−)-2. We reasoned that the electron withdrawing and donating biases respectively of the iodide and phenyl substituents would permit chemoselective functionalization of the more electron rich olefin. Gratifyingly, Sharpless dihydroxylation of (−)-22 at room temperature proceeded only at the styrene moiety to generate the corresponding diol, 24 which upon reaction with NaIO4 employing buffered conditions, furnished (−)-2 identical in all respects to material prepared previously in our laboratory.7a

Having achieved an effective, second-generation synthesis of (−)-2, we turned next to explore possible tactics to construct the sensitive (Z,Z,E)-triene acid fragment. Vinyl iodide (−)-22 was selected as a model system. Stille cross-coupling with known (Z,Z)-dienoate 24 led to (+)-25 (Scheme 5).25 Best results were obtained using bis(benzonitrile)-dichloropalladium(II) as catalyst in DMF, along with excess Ph2PO2NBu4 (6 equiv.) as a tin scavenger 26 to suppress Z/E isomerization. Under these conditions, (+)-25 was produced in 96% yield as a single isomer (>20:1). Correlations derived from NOESY studies, as well as coupling constants confirmed the desired (Z,Z,E)-configuration of (+)-25 (Scheme 5). Hydrolysis of trienoate (+)-25 was then achieved with LiOH in aqueous THF to furnish acid (+)-26 in 81% yield, with complete preservation of the olefin configuration.

Scheme 5.

Scheme 5

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In summary, an effective, scalable route to (−)-2 possessing the C(30–38) signature core of (+)-sorangicin A (1) has been achieved in 10 steps from (−)-8. In addition, an effective protocol has been developed for prospective elaboration of the C(37–43) (Z,Z,E)-triene acid functionality, required for any successful (+)- sorangicin A (1) endgame. Progress towards the total synthesis of (+)-sorangicin A (1) will be reported in due course.

Supplementary Material

1_si_001

Acknowledgments

Support was provided by the National Institutes of Health through Grant No. GM- 29028. We thank Drs. George Furst (University of Pennsylvania) and Rakesh Kohli (University of Pennsylvania) for assistance in obtaining NMR spectra and high-resolution mass spectra, respectively, and Dr. Kallol Basu (Schering-Plough Corporation) for the insightful discussions.

Footnotes

Supporting Information Available: Experimental procedures and full spectroscopic data are available free of charge via the Internet at http://pubs.acs.org.

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