Synlett 2005(8): 1328-1330  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-868482
LETTER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Formal Synthesis of (+)-Anatoxin-a by Asymmetric [2+2] Cycloaddition

Mauro Neves Muniz, Alice Kanazawa*, Andrew E. Greene
Université Joseph Fourier, Chimie Recherche, LEDSS, BP 53X, 38041 Grenoble Cedex, France
Fax: +33(4)76514494; e-Mail: Alice.Kanazawa@ujf-grenoble.fr;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 10 March 2005
Publication Date:
21 April 2005 (online)

Abstract

A formal asymmetric synthesis of (+)-anatoxin-a, a neurotoxic alkaloid from Anabaena flos aquae, has been achieved through a highly diastereoselective [2+2] cycloaddition of dichloroketene with a chiral enol ether.

14

To a solution of 6 (600 mg, 1.10 mmol) in 18.0 mL of CH2Cl2 at 0 °C was added dropwise 3.2 mL of formic acid. The reaction mixture was stirred at 0 °C for 1.75 h and then quenched with a sat. solution of aq NaHCO3 and extracted with CH2Cl2. The organic phase was washed successively with H2O and brine and dried over anhyd Na2SO4. The crude product was purified by SiO2 chromatography (10-20% diethyl ether in pentane) to afford 386 mg (77%) of 7, as a 2:1 mixture of isomers. Analytical data for the major isomer of 7a: colorless oil; [α]D 25 -84.3 (c 1.0, CHCl3). IR: 3070, 1704, 1608, 1449, 1400, 1098, 1081 cm-1. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3, two rotamers): δ = 1.17-1.29 (m, 18 H), 1.44-1.53 (m, 2 H), 1.52 (d, J = 6.8 Hz, 3 H), 1.68-1.81 (m, 4 H), 1.98-2.03 (m, 1 H), 2.32 (m, 1 H), 2.67-2.89 (m, 2 H), 3.12-3.17 (m, 1 H), 3.62 (s, 3 H), 3.86 (m, 2 H), 4.09-4.32 (m, 2 H), 4.86-5.09 (m, 3 H), 5.86-6.17 (m, 1 H), 6.93 (s, 1 H), 7.03 (s, 1 H). 13C NMR (75.4 MHz, CDCl3, two rotamers): δ = 23.2, 23.4, 24.0, 24.5, 24.9, 25.0, 25.3, 27.6, 28.2, 28.4, 29.2, 31.7, 32.0, 34.1, 40.0, 40.9, 52.1, 52.4, 52.7, 52.9, 58.3, 58.7, 58.8, 66.0, 71.5, 74.1, 74.8, 112.6, 112.7, 120.6, 123.4, 133,1, 143.8, 144.2, 145.8, 145.9, 147.5, 149.0, 155.3, 155.6. MS (CI): m/z (%) = 456 (100) [MH+]. Anal. Calcd for C29H45NO3: C, 76.44; H, 9.95; N, 3.07. Found: C, 76.46; H, 10.11; N, 2.81.

15

Compound 7b (2:1 mixture of isomers): IR: 3432, 3073, 1683, 1463, 1403, 1347, 1122, 1087 cm-1. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 1.40-2.00 (m, 7 H), 2.24-2.28 (m, 1 H), 2.47-2.78 (m, 2 H), 3.60-3.70 (4 s, 3 H), 4.00-4.50 (m, 3 H), 4.70-5.10 (m, 2 H), 5.60-6.15 (m, 1 H). MS (CI): m/z (%) = 226 (100) [MH+].

16

Compound 7c (2:1 mixture of isomers): IR: 3073, 1698, 1637, 1449, 1397, 1117 cm-1. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 1.22-1.50 (m, 2 H), 1.60-1.80 (m, 4 H), 2.05-2.18 (m, 1 H), 2.38-2.53 (m, 1 H), 2.72-2.88 (m, 1 H), 3.73 (s, 3 H), 4.14-4.54 (m, 2 H), 4.60-4.78 (m, 1 H), 4.88-5.10 (m, 2 H), 5.54-6.13 (m, 1 H). HRMS (CI): m/z calcd for C12H19NO2I [M + 1]: 336.0461; found: 336.0471.

17

Compound 7d (2:1 mixture of isomers): IR: 3074, 1699, 1638, 1450, 1397, 1340, 1113 cm-1. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 1.24-1.86 (m, 8 H), 1.94-2.06 (m, 1 H), 2.14-2.27 (m, 2 H), 3.66 (br s, 3 H), 4.10-4.50 (m, 2 H), 4.85-5.10 (m, 2 H), 5.70-6.20 (m, 1 H).

19

A single isomer was obtained. The ee of 8 was estimated to be 93% based on the rotation {[α]D 25 -13.7 (c 1.0, CH3OH)] and ee (94%) of the comparison material. This purity is consistent with the observed diastereoselection (95:5) in the cycloaddition and a subsequent small enrichment.