Search

A ring-closing alkene metathesis (RCM)/ oxyselenation-selenoxide elimination sequence was established to the sodium salts E- and Z-25 of the originally proposed structure for the recently isolated cytotoxin aruncin B (1), as well as to the sodium salt Z-34 of a related ethyl ether regioisomer; however, none of their corresponding free acids could be obtained. Their acid sensitivity, together with detailed analysis of the spectroscopic data indicated that profound structural revision was necessary. This led to reassignment of aruncin B as a Z-γ-alkylidenebutenolide Z-36. Although a related RCM/ oxyselenation-selenoxide elimination sequence was used to confirm the γ-alkylidenebutenolide motif, a β-iodo Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction/ Sonogashira cross-coupling-5-exo-dig lactonisation sequence was subsequently developed, due to its brevity and flexibility for diversification. Aruncin B (36), together with 14 γ-alkylidenebutenolide analogues, were generated for biological evaluation., (© 2017 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.)

The sodium salts E-15 and Z-15 of the originally proposed dihydropyran acid structure of aruncin B (1) were prepared through ring-closing alkene metathesis (RCM) and ethoxyselenation-selenoxide elimination, but acid sensitivity of these salts, together with inconsistencies in the spectral data, suggested a significant structural misassignment. A β-iodo Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction to give Z-iodo ester 24, followed by Sonogashira cross-coupling-5-exo-dig lactonization, provided concise access to a Z-γ-alkylidenebutenolide 18, which possessed data corresponding to those originally reported for aruncin B.

In the past two decades, alkene metathesis has risen in prominence to become a significant synthetic strategy for alkene formation. Many total syntheses of natural products have used this transformation. We review the use, from 2003 to 2015, of ring-closing alkene metathesis (RCM) for the generation of dihydrofurans or -pyrans in natural product synthesis. The strategies used to assemble the RCM precursors and the subsequent use of the newly formed unsaturation will also be highlighted and placed in context.