A convergent, highly stereoselective total synthesis of (-)-spinosyn A (1) is described. Key features of the synthesis include the transannular Diels-Alder reaction of macrocyclic pentaene 11 and the transannular Morita-Baylis-Hillman cyclization of 12 that generates tetracycle 26. The total synthesis of (-)-spinosyn A was completed by a sequence involving the highly beta-selective glycosidatio...

An efficient synthetic approach to the tricyclic core 8 of lateriflorone is described. Essential to the synthesis was the implementation of a biomimetic tandem Claisen/Diels-Alder reaction that produced the desired tricyclic scaffold as a single isomer. A rationalization of the excellent regio and stereoselectivity of this transformation is also proposed. [reaction: see text]

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of eight-membered bicyclic compounds from the cycloisomerization of 1,2,4Z,7-tetraenes has been established. The possible intermediate for this transformation was trapped by its Diels-Alder reaction with N-ethyl maleimide. Thus the reaction may proceed via the sequential processes involving [1,5]-hydrogen migration and electrocyclization.

Herein we describe a scalable approach to the decalin moiety of maklamicin. Key to the synthesis is an intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reaction that proceeds via an endo-axial transition state to generate the desired stereochemistry. We explored the diastereoselectivity of the IMDA reaction as a function of both chiral catalysis and acyclic precursor stereochemistry.

[reaction: see text] The first stereoselective synthesis of (-)-acanthoic acid (1) has been designed and accomplished. Our synthetic plan departs from (-) Wieland-Miesher ketone (7) and calls upon a Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction for the construction of the C ring of 1. The described synthesis confirms the proposed stereochemistry of 1 and represents an efficient entry into an unexplored cl...

The synthesis of (-)-epibatidine has been accomplished utilizing a highly exo-selective asymmetric hetero Diels-Alder reaction. The key steps employed to transform the resulting bicycle into the natural product include a fluoride-promoted fragmentation and a Hofmann rearrangement. Reaction: see text.