An expedient synthesis of spiroketals: model studies for the calyculin C16–C25 fragment
Abstract A new short strategy to prepare the spiroketal fragment of calyculins is presented. A novel Seyferth–Gilbert type homologation of hindered lactols to the corresponding alkynes has been achieved for the first time. The spirocyclization was achieved efficiently via a DIHMA (double intramolecular hetero-Michael addition) process of this hindered ynone. The spirocyclization rate is not dependent on the stereochemistry of the alkoxy substituent in the oxolane ring.
TOTAL SYNTHESIS OF (+)-CALYCULIN A AND (-)-CALYCULIN B : ASYMMETRIC SYNTHESIS OF THE C(9-25) SPIROKETAL DIPROPIONATE SUBUNIT
An asymmetric synthesis of the stereochemically fully endowed C(9−25) spiroketal fragment (+)-BC of the calyculins (1−8) is described. Highlights of the synthesis include:  a highly diastereoselective IBr-induced iodocarbonate cyclization to introduce the C(21) stereocenter in epoxide (+)-18, fragment unions exploiting the reaction of acyl anion equivalents with epoxides to construct masked advanced aldols (−)-35 and (+)-71 as single diastereomers, chelation-controlled addition of the C(14−15) vinyl group to aldehyde (+)-38 to set the stereogenicity at C(16), selective reduction of the C(13) ketone via 1,3-induction, and development of an orthogonal protection scheme permitting both convenient installation of the C(17) phosphate group and flexibility in subsequent fragment couplings.
Unusual (Z)-selective palladium(II)-catalysed addition of aryl boronic acids to vinylaziridines.
The palladium(II)-catalysed addition of arylboronic acids to vinylaziridines has been developed. This reaction proceeds via an insertion/ring-opening process to provide (Z)-allylsulfonamides preferentially. This stereoselectivity is complimentary to existing methods that typically proceed via a SN2' mechanism to yield (E)-allylsulfonamides. Electron-deficient arylboronic acids were the optimum substrates for this reaction, while electron-donating groups on the aromatic ring of the boronic acids resulted in moderate yields.