Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-taxusin

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja984250f

For the total synthesis of (+)-taxusin, the AC-ring fragment 8 was prepared from an optically active 2-bromo-3-siloxycyclohexenecarbacetal 5 via 4 steps and was converted to the dienol silyl ether 13. The thus-obtained 13 underwent B-ring cyclization in the presence of Me₂AlOTf to produce the ABC endo-tricarbocycle 14 having C9α, C10β-substituents, which was converted to the cyclopropyl ketone 21a. Introduction of C19 methyl via reductive cleavage of the cyclopropane ring under Birch conditions and successive in situ treatment of the resulting enol with methanol gave the C3α-protonated ketone 24. Next, 24 was converted to the allylsilane 29, which was then oxidized with m-CPBA to produce the fully functionalized taxusin carbon skeleton. Finally, removal of the silyl protecting groups followed by acetylation completed the total synthesis of (+)-taxusin.

Full text of DOI:10.1021/ja984250f

3072
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1999, 121, 3072-3082
Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)-Taxusin
Ryoma Hara, Takashi Furukawa, Hajime Kashima, Hiroyuki Kusama,
Yoshiaki Horiguchi, and Isao Kuwajima*,†
Contribution from the Department of Chemistry, Tokyo Institute of Technology, O-okayama,
Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8551, Japan
ReceiVed December 7, 1998
Abstract: For the total synthesis of (+)-taxusin, the AC-ring fragment 8 was prepared from an optically active
2-bromo-3-siloxycyclohexenecarbacetal 5 via 4 steps and was converted to the dienol silyl ether 13. The thus-
obtained 13 underwent B-ring cyclization in the presence of Me2AlOTf to produce the ABC endo-tricarbocycle
14 having C9R, C10â-substituents, which was converted to the cyclopropyl ketone 21a. Introduction of C19
methyl via reductive cleavage of the cyclopropane ring under Birch conditions and successive in situ treatment
of the resulting enol with methanol gave the C3R-protonated ketone 24. Next, 24 was converted to the allylsilane
29, which was then oxidized with m-CPBA to produce the fully functionalized taxusin carbon skeleton. Finally,
removal of the silyl protecting groups followed by acetylation completed the total synthesis of (+)-taxusin.
The taxane diterpenes (Figure 1) isolated from yew trees have
transformation could be effected not only with C-aromatic
substrates but also with precursors containing latent cyclohex-
enone moieties as C-ring fragments II. Appropriate functional
group elaboration of I would complete the total synthesis.
The tricarbocycle containing cyclohexenone as a C-ring
appeared to furnish several synthetic advantages: (1) stereo-
control at the C1 site of II would allow us an asymmetric
a common tricarbocyclic structure containing sp2 carbon on their
bridgehead C11-site. Such a unique structural feature as well
as many oxygenated asymmetric centers has made their
syntheses extremely difficult, and these natural products still
remain as very challenging synthetic targets.1 In addition, a well-
documented taxol, one of the taxane family, exhibits promising
activity against a number of human cancers, which has prompted
its synthetic studies to lead to six successful total syntheses.2
Several other natural taxanes such as taxinine and taxuspines
were recently revealed to exhibit multidrug resistance reversing
activity.3,4
(2) (a) Holton, R. A.; Somoza, C.; Kim, H.-B.; Liang, F.; Biediger, R.
J.; Boatman, P. D.; Shindo, M.; Smith, C. C.; Kim, S.; Nadizadeh, H.;
Suzuki, Y.; Tao, C.; Vu, P.; Tang, S.; Zhang, P.; Murthi, K. K.; Gentile, L.
N.; Liu, J. H. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1994, 116, 1597. Holton, R. A.; Kim,
H.-B.; Somoza, C.; Liang, F.; Biediger, R. J.; Boatman, P. D.; Shindo, M.;
Smith, C. C.; Kim, S.; Nadizadeh, H.; Suzuki, Y.; Tao, C.; Vu, P.; Tang,
S.; Zhang, P.; Murthi, K. K.; Gentile, L. N.; Liu, J. H. J. Am. Chem. Soc.
1994, 116, 1599. (b) Nicolaou, K. C.; Nantermet, P. G.; Ueno, H.; Guy, R.
K.; Couladouros, E. A.; Sorensen, E. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1995, 117, 624.
Nicolaou, K. C.; Liu, J.-J.; Yang, Z.; Ueno, H.; Sorensen, E. J.; Claiborne,
C. F.; Guy, R. K.; Hwang, C.-K.; Nakada, M.; Nantermet, P. G. J. Am.
Chem. Soc. 1995, 117, 634. Nicolaou, K. C.; Yang, Z.; Liu, J.-J.; Nantermet,
P. G.; Claiborne, C. F.; Renaud, J.; Guy, R. K.; Shibayama, K. J. Am. Chem.
Soc. 1995, 117, 645. Nicolaou, K. C.; Ueno, H.; Liu, J.-J.; Nantermet, P.
G.; Yang, Z.; Renaud, J.; Paulvannan, K.; Chadha, R. J. Am. Chem. Soc.
1995, 117, 653. (c) Danishefsky, S. J.; Masters, J. J.; Young, W. B.; Link,
J. T.; Snyder, L. B.; Magee, T. V.; Jung, D. K.; Isaacs, R. C. A.; Bornmann,
W. G.; Alaimo, C. A.; Coburn, C. A.; Di Grandi, M. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc.
1996, 118, 2843. (d) Wender, P. A.; Badham, N. F.; Conway, S. P.;
Floreancig, P. E.; Glass, T. E.; Gra¨nicher, C.; Houze, J. B.; Ja¨nichen, J.;
Lee, D.; Marquess, D. G.; McGrane, P. L.; Meng, W.; Mucciaro, T. P.;
Mu¨hlebach, M.; Natchus, M. G.; Paulsen, H.; Rawlins, D. B.; Satkofsky,
J.; Shuker, A. J.; Sutton, J. C.; Taylor, R. E.; Tomooka, K. J. Am. Chem.
Soc. 1997, 119, 2755. Wender, P. A.; Badham, N. F.; Conway, S. P.;
Floreancig, P. E.; Glass, T. E.; Houze, J. B.; Krauss, N. E.; Lee, D.;
Marquess, D. G.; McGrane, P. L.; Meng, W.; Natchus, M. G.; Shuker, A.
J.; Sutton, J. C.; Taylor, R. E. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1997, 119, 2757. (e)
Mukaiyama, T.; Shiina, I.; Iwadare, H.; Sakoh, H.; Tani, Y.; Hasegawa,
M.; Saitoh, K. Proc. Japan. Acad. Ser. B 1997, 73, 95. Shiina, I.; Iwadare,
H.; Sakoh, H.; Hasegawa, M.; Tani, Y.; Mukaiyama, T. Chem. Lett. 1998,
1. Shiina, I.; Saitoh, K.; Fre´chard-Ortuno, I.; Mukaiyama, T. Chem. Lett.
1998, 3. Mukaiyama, T.; Shiina, I.; Iwadare, H.; Saitoh, M.; Nishimura,
T.; Ohkawa, N.; Sakoh, H.; Nishimura, K.; Tani, Y.; Hasegawa, M.;
Yamada, K.; Saitoh, K. Chem. Eur. J. 1999, 5, 121. (f) Morihira, K.; Hara,
R.; Kawahara, S.; Nishimori, T.; Nakamura, N.; Kusama, H.; Kuwajima, I.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 12980.
With a similar background, taxusin5 has also attracted much
attention from the synthetic viewpoint, and the first total
synthesis of its antipode was achieved by Holton and his
colleagues6 by deducing the carbon skeletal rearrangement of
a (-)-patchino derivative. After our achievement of the second
synthesis as a racemic form,7 Paquette et al. have recently
described the third total synthesis as a natural (+)-form starting
from D-camphor.8
We also attempted enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-
taxusin starting from an appropriate substrate containing a chiral
center corresponding to the C1 site.9 This paper fully describes
in detail of our synthetic studies of (+)-taxusin.
Synthetic Plan
For total syntheses of taxanes, the most critical problem is
how to construct the unique ABC tricarbocyclic structure. Our
basic plan for taxusin synthesis was to start from a C-ring
fragment, then to connect with an A-ring fragment, and finally
to construct an ABC tricarbocycle I (Scheme 1) via the
previously described methodology10 (step b of Scheme 1). This
* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
† Present address: The Kitasato Institute, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku,
Tokyo 108-8642, Japan.
(1) (a) Taxol: Science and Applications; Suffness, M., Ed.; CRC, Boca
Raton, FL, 1995. (b) Georg, G. I.; Chen, T. T.; Ojima, I.; Vyas, D. M.,
Eds. Taxane Anticancer Agents: Basic Science and Current Status; ACS
Symposium Series 583; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC,
1995. (c) Kingston, D. G. I.; Molinero, A. A.; Rimoldo, J. M. Prog. Chem.
Org. Nat. Prod. 1993, 61, 1. (d) Rowinsky, E. K.; Onetto, N.; Canetta, R.
M.; Arbuck, S. G. Semin. Oncol. 1992, 19, 646.
(3) Kobayashi, J.; Ogiwara, A.; Hosoyama, H.; Shigemori, H.; Yoshida,
N.; Sasaki, T.; Li, Y.; Iwasaki, S.; Naito, M.; Tsuruo, T. Tetrahedron 1994,
50, 7401.
(4) Kobayashi, J.; Hosoyama, H.; Wang, X.-x.; Shigemori, H.; Koiso,
Y.; Iwasaki, S.; Sasaki, T.; Naito, M.; Tsuruo, T. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett.
1997, 7, 393. Kobayashi, J.; Hosoyama, H.; Wang, X.-x.; Shigemori, H.;
Sudo, Y.; Tsuruo, T. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 1998, 8, 1555.
10.1021/ja984250f CCC: $18.00 © 1999 American Chemical Society
Published on Web 03/20/1999

EnantioselectiVe Total Synthesis of (+)-Taxusin
J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 121, No. 13, 1999 3073
introduction of the C19 methyl onto the C8 site was examined
by using various methyl copper as well as manganese species,
but all attempts failed: some gave back the starting material,
while the others produced a 1,2-addition product on warming
up the reaction temperature.
Figure 1.
Scheme 1. Retrosynthetic Analysis of Taxusin
Second, it was also disclosed that conjugate addition of the
lithium enolate derived from the isobutyric ester to the enone
took place with exceedingly high diastereoselectivity to form
the keto ester.
With a clue to construct an asymmetric center at the C1 site,
we examined an enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-taxusin.
Unfeasibility to introduce the C19 methyl via conjugate addition
led us to explore another strategy, which involves an initial
cyclopropanation onto the ∆3,8-double bond and a subsequent
cleavage of the cyclopropane ring under reductive conditions.
Results and Discussion
Preparation of the Cyclization Precursor. Considering the
requisite functional group manipulations at later stages, we chose
a dibenzylacetal 5 as a C-ring fragment, which was prepared
from 1,3-cyclohexanedione 1 as shown in Scheme 2. Conversion
of 1 to an i-butyl enol ether and its bromination with NBS gave
a bromide 2. 1,2-Addition of (benzyloxy)phenylthiomethyl-
lithium11 to 2 followed by acidic workup afforded an enone 3,
which underwent acetal exchange12 to give a dibenzyl acetal 4.
For introduction of an asymmetric center, 4 was subjected to
asymmetric reduction by using Corey’s procedure,13 and a
synthesis, and (2) introduction of the C19 methyl group would
occur from the sterically less-demanding convex â-face of I to
afford the desired diastereomer. For the preparation of the AC-
ring fragment II, we planned to use V as the starting material,
which may lead to the formation of II via conjugate addition
of an isobutyric ester (step e), Dieckmann-like cyclization (step
d), and alkoxymethylenation of the carbonyl group (step c).
Preliminary experiments according to the design mentioned
above led us to important findings shown in eqs 1 and 2. First,
Scheme 2. Preparation of the Optically Active C-Ring
Fragmenta
(5) (a) Miyazaki, M.; Shimizu, K.; Mishima, H.; Kurabayashi, M. Chem.
Pharm. Bull. 1968, 16, 546. (b) Liu, C. L.; Lin, Y. C.; Lin, Y. M.; Chen,
F. C. T′ai-wan K′o Hsueh 1984, 38, 119. (c) Erdtman, H.; Tsuno, K.
Phytochemistry 1969, 8, 931. (d) Lee, C. L.; Hirose, Y. Nakatsuka, T.
Mokuzai Gakkaishi 1975, 21, 249. (e) Chan, W. R.; Halsall, T. G.; Hornby,
G. M.; Oxford, A. W.; Sabel, W.; Bjamer, K.; Ferguson, G.; Robertson, J.
M. J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. 1966, 923.
(6) Holton, R. A.; Juo, R. R.; Kim, H. B.; Williams, A. D.; Harusawa,
S.; Lowenthal, R. S.; Yogai, S. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1988, 110, 6558.
(7) Hara, R.; Furukawa, T.; Horiguchi, Y.; Kuwajima, I. J. Am. Chem.
Soc. 1996, 118, 9186.
(8) Paquette, L. A.; Zhao, M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 5203.
Paquette, L. A.; Wang, H.-L.; Su, Z.; Zhao, M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998,
120, 5213.
(9) The taxane numbering system, as illustrated in Figure 1, is used
throughout.
a (a) (1) benzene, reflux, 7 h, 97%; (2) ClCH2CH2Cl, 0 °C, 3 h,
93%. (b) THF-TMEDA, -78 °C, 1 h acidic workup, 93%. (c) CH3CN,
40 °C, 4 h, 76%. (d) (1) THF-toluene, -23 to 0 °C, 2 h; (2) DMF, rt,
overnight, 88% from 4.
(10) (a) Horiguchi, Y.; Furukawa, T.; Kuwajima, I. J. Am. Chem. Soc.
1989, 111, 8277. (b) Furukawa, T.; Morihira, K.; Horiguchi, Y.; Kuwajima,
I. Tetrahedron 1992, 48, 6975. (c) Seto, M.; Morihira, K.; Katagiri, S.;
Furukawa, T.; Horiguchi, Y.; Kuwajima, I. Chem. Lett. 1993, 133. (d)
Morihira, K.; Seto, M.; Furukawa, T.; Horiguchi, Y.; Kuwajima, I.
Tetrahedron Lett. 1993, 34, 345. (f) Nakamura, T.; Waizumi, N.; Tsuruta,
K.; Horiguchi, Y.; Kuwajima, I. Synlett 1994, 584. (g) Seto, M.; Morihira,
K.; Horiguchi, Y.; Kuwajima, I. J. Org. Chem. 1994, 59, 3165.
(11) Otera, J. Synthesis 1988, 95.
(12) Mukaiyama, T.; Narasaka, K.; Furusato, M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1972,
94, 8641.

3074 J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 121, No. 13, 1999
Scheme 3. Preparation of the AC-Ring fragmenta
Hara et al.
Scheme 4. Preparation of B Ring Cyclization Precursora
a (a) (1) Et2O, -78 °C, 1.5 h; -45 °C, 1 h; -23 °C, 2 h; (2) CH2Cl2,
MS4A, rt, 1.5 h, 66% from 5. (b) THF, -78 to 5 °C, 7 h; quant. (c)
THF, 0 °C, 1 h; then 0 °C, 4 h, 60%.
subsequent protection of the hydroxy group gave 5 (Scheme
1
2). Optical purity of the product was determined by H NMR
a (a) THF, -78 °C, 2.5 h, 86%. (b) CH2Cl2, -45 °C, 1 h, 79%; (c)
THF, rt, overnight, 83%. (d) THF, rt, 1 week, 67%. (e) THF, 0 °C, 1
h; -78 °C, 1 h, quant.
analyses of the corresponding MTPA ester14,15 as 92% ee.
A successive treatment of the resulting bromide 5 with tBuLi
and CuCN produced the corresponding cyanocuprate, which
reacted with 3,4-epoxy-1-hexene16 giving an SN2′ coupling
product. PDC oxidation17 of the crude product afforded an enone
6 (Scheme 3).
Conjugate addition of isobutyric ester enolate to 6 took place
smoothly to give an adduct in high yield as an inseparable
mixture of diastereomers. Although its diastereoselectivity was
much lower (4.5:1) than that expected from the previous result
(eq 2), the desired 7 was obtained as a major product.18 The
∆
3,8-double bond at later stages, and hence the configuration at
C4 site was inverted to C4â-OH. In the case of using benzoic
acid as a nucleophile in the Mitsunobu reaction,20 the resulting
benzoate was partially removed when the C13 carbonyl group
was reduced at a later stage. Hence, a more stable pivalate was
t
prepared as 12. Treatment with BuOK generated the thermo-
dynamically favored dienolate selectively, and a subsequent
silylation with TIPSCl afforded the cyclization precursor 13 as
a single isomer in 67% yield via two steps. The geometry of
the double bond was determined as Z based on an NOE between
the olefinic proton and the gem-dimethyl group.
t
Dieckmann-type cyclization of 7 upon treatment with BuOK
followed by in situ silylation (TIPSCl) afforded a diastereo-
merically pure â-siloxyenone 8 in 60% yield after separation
with column chromatography (Scheme 3).
Construction of the ABC Tricarbocyclic Skeleton. The
crucial eight-membered B-ring cyclization was investigated
using various Lewis acids (Table 1). In the reactions with TiCl4
or TiCl2(OiPr)2, the yield of the desired 14 (endo-9R, 10â) was
quite low, and considerable amounts of aldehydes were detected
in the crude NMR spectra (entries 1 and 2). When the reaction
was carried out using TMSOTf, the yield of 14 was still low
and, in this case, spirocyclization between the C3 and C12 atoms
proceeded to give 15 as a major product. On the contrary, the
reaction with Me2AlOTf (3 equiv, CH2Cl2, -45 °C) was found
to proceed quite nicely, giving 14 in good yield along with a
small amount of its stereoisomer 16 (exo-9â, 10â).21 The
stereochemistries of 14 and 16, namely, conformation of the
B-ring and configuration of the C9 and C10 sites, were
After several attempts for benzyloxymethylenation of the
enone 8, the following operation was found to give the most
satisfactory results (Scheme 4). Treatment of 8 with benzy-
loxymethyllithium generated from the corresponding stannyl
compound19 gave the 1,2-addition product 9, and elimination
of TIPSOH was carried out by exposure to Montmorillonite
K10 and MS4A in BnOH/CH2Cl2 mixture to afford 10. Removal
of the TBS group with TBAF furnished 11 in 56% yield (three
steps).
Separate experiments revealed that the C4R-substituent
prevented B-ring cyclization as well as methylenation on the
(13) (a) Corey, E. J.; Bakshi, R. K.; Shibasaki, S. J. Am. Chem. Soc.
1987, 109, 5551. (b) Mathre, D. J.; Jones, T. K.; Xavier, L. C.; Blacklock,
T. J.; Reamer, R. A.; Mohan, J. J.; Jones, E. T. T.; Hoogsteen, K.; Baum,
M. W.; Grabowski, E. J. J. J. Org. Chem. 1991, 56, 751. (c) Jones, T. K.;
Mohan, J. J.; Xavier, L. C.; Blacklock, T. J.; Mathre, D. J.; Sohar, P.; Jones,
E. T. T.; Reamer R. A.; Roberts, F. E.; Grabowski, E. J. J. J. Org. Chem.
1991, 56, 763. (d) For review, see Corey, E. J.; Helal, C. J. Angew. Chem.,
Int. Ed. 1998, 37, 1986.
(14) Dale, J. A.; Dull, D. L.; Mosher, H. S. J. Org. Chem. 1969, 34,
2543.
(15) Absolute stereochemistry of 5 was assumed to be S based on Corey’s
results using similar substrates13 and confirmed by the completion of the
total synthesis of (+)-taxusin.
(16) Sauleau, J.; Bouget, H.; Huet, J. C. R. Acad. Sci., Ser. C 1971, 273,
829.
1
determined by H NMR analyses. Characteristic NOEs of 14
are shown below.
Among the cyclized products (14, 15, and 16), the desired
14 was assumed to be the thermodynamically most favored
isomer. Hence, the byproducts 15 and 16 were expected to
isomerize to 14 via ring opening followed by recyclization under
the influence of Lewis acid. In fact, the reactions with TiCl3-
(OiPr) gave the expected 14 in good yield in both cases.22
(20) Mitsunobu, O. Synthesis 1981, 1.
(17) Corey, E. J.; Schmidt, G. Tetrahedron Lett. 1979, 399.
(18) The relative stereochemistry was inferred from the analogy of a
closely related compound, the stereochemistry of which was confirmed by
the X-ray analysis of its derivative, see: Takenaka, Y.; Sakai, Y.; Ohashi,
Y.; Furukawa, T.; Horiguchi, Y.; Kuwajima, I. Anal. Sci. 1993, 9, 883.
(19) Still, W. C. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1978, 100, 1481.
(21) Although the cyclization precursor 13 consisted of Z configuration
at the benzyl enol ether moiety exclusively, E/Z isomerization took place
under the cyclization reaction conditions and the thermodynamically most
stable tricarbocycle 14 with the C10â substituent was obtained as a major
product. For the proposed mechanism of the E/Z isomerization; see, ref
10d.

EnantioselectiVe Total Synthesis of (+)-Taxusin
Table 1. Construction of ABC Tricarbocyclic Structure
J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 121, No. 13, 1999 3075
Scheme 5. Preparation of Cyclopropylketonea
a (a) THF, rt, overnight. (b) CH2Cl2, -23 °C, 1 h. (c) CH2Cl2, -78
°C, 1 h, 87% from 14. (d) Et2O, rt, 6 h, quant. (e) CH2Cl2, MS4A, rt,
1.5 h, 85%.
Stereochemistry of the cyclopropanation was determined by
NOEs between one of the C19 protons, C9â, and C2â protons.
Exposure of 21a to the usual Birch conditions (excess Li,
t-BuOH, liq. NH3, THF, -78 °C) followed by quenching with
saturated aqueous NH4Cl induced cleavage of the cyclopropane
ring smoothly (eq 4). However, the desired ketone was not
detected, but a very unstable compound was obtained as a major
product (not isolable). 13C NMR analysis of this crude mixture
revealed the existence of a carbonyl group and four oxygen-
substituted sp3-carbons and absence of the olefinic carbons.
Although the structure of the major product could not be fully
identified because of its lability, treatment of the crude mixture
with dimethyl sulfide smoothly gave the stable compound,
whose structure was identified as 23. Presumably, transannular
cyclization of the intermediate enol 22 occurred in the presence
of air during workup to give the hydroperoxide, and its reduction
with Me2S afforded 23.
Introduction of C19 Methyl and Completion of the Total
Synthesis. With the desired tricyclic compound 14 in hand,
functional group manipulations toward completion of the total
synthesis were carried out. Reduction of the C13 keto group of
14 [Li(t-BuO)3AlH] followed by silylation of the resultant
hydroxyl group (TESCl) and reductive removal of the pivalate
group (DIBAL) gave an allyl alcohol 19 in 87% yield (three
steps from 14, Scheme 5). Exclusive formation of the C13R
alcohol could be attributed to the concave nature of the R
face.2b,10a,c Now the stage was set for investigation of the C19
methyl group installation according to Dauben’s protocol23 by
utilizing the C-ring allyl alcohol moiety. Application of cyclo-
propanation (Et2Zn and CH2I2)24 to 19 and a subsequent
oxidation afforded a cyclopropyl ketone 21a in good yield.
(22) Judging from these experimental facts, TiCl3(OiPr) was supposed
to be a suitable Lewis acid for the cyclization of 13. However, the reaction
of 13 with TiCl3(OiPr) gave considerable amounts of aldehydes (>50%)
along with a small amount of 14 (ca. 30%).
(23) For angular methyl group introduction via reductive cleavage of
cyclopropyl ketones, see: Dauben, W. G.; Deviny; E. J. J. Org. Chem.
1966, 31, 3794.
(24) Nishimura, J.; Kawabata, N.; Furukawa, J. Tetrahedron 1969, 25,
2647.
The above result indicated that protonation of an enol 22,
which was generated by reductive cleavage of the cyclopropane
ring, from the R-face of the C-ring was kinetically disfavored
due to severe steric encumbrance. In addition, a kinetically

3076 J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 121, No. 13, 1999
Hara et al.
On the basis of the results mentioned above, we finally
succeeded in gaining access to the desired C3R protonated
ketone 24 quite efficiently by Birch reduction of 21a followed
by quenching with MeOH (excess Li, t-BuOH, liq. NH3, THF,
-78 °C, then MeOH, warming up to room temperature) (eq 6).
Judging from the experimental facts, methanol or its alkoxide
certainly generates the C13-OH, which facilitates the proton-
ation from the R-face of the C-ring.
Figure 2. Comparison of relative thermodynamic stability.
The accomplishment of installing the C19 methyl group has
allowed us to move on to sequential operations for completion
of the total synthesis of taxusin paralleling the protocol
previously reported by Holton.6 Treatment of 24 with excess
amounts of LDA and TMSCl resulted in regioselective enol
Scheme 6. Conversion to (+)-Taxusin. 1a
Figure 3. Structures of ∆3,4-enol and 3R-H keto derivatives.
favored C3â-protonated ketone appeared to be thermodynami-
cally less stable due to steric repulsion between the A- and
C-rings (Figure 2).25 As a result, the enol might have decom-
posed.
a (a) (1) THF, -78 °C, 10 min, then 0 °C, 30 min; (2) CH2Cl2,
KHCO3, 0 °C, 10 min; (3) CH2Cl2, rt 1.5 h, 80% from 24. (b) benzene-
hexane, 0 °C, 1.5 h, 17% (53% based on 32% conversion).
Scheme 7. Conversion to (+)-Taxusin. 2a
Molecular modeling studies25 on the enol suggested that the
C13-OH appeared to be positioned between the A- and C-rings
(Figure 3). On the basis of this calculation, protonation on the
∆3,4-enol from the R-face can be directed by the C13-OH. Thus,
we decided to use such characteristic feature for an R-face
selective protonation.
The cyclopropyl ketone 21b possessing a free C13-OH was
prepared by desilylation of 21a with TBAF. Birch reduction of
21b followed by quenching with saturated aqueous NH4Cl gave
the desired ketone 24 as expected (ca. 10%). Furthermore,
quenching with methanol greatly improved the yield of 24 (eq
5). The stereochemistry of the C3 site was determined by NOE
experiments as well as the coupling constant of the C3 proton
(doublet, J ) 6.3 Hz).
a (a) CH2Cl2, 0 °C, 1 h; -78 °C, 1 h, 95%. (b) -45 °C, 1 h. (c)
THF, rt, 1 h. 70% from 27. (d) MeOH, rt, 30 min, 95%. (e) (1) THF-
HMPA, rt, 2 h, 93%; (2) CH2Cl2-Et3N, rt, 98%.
(25) SPARTAN ver. 4.1 (PM3) and MacroModel ver. 6.0 (MM2) were
used for calculation.

EnantioselectiVe Total Synthesis of (+)-Taxusin
J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 121, No. 13, 1999 3077
reduced pressure. Distillation (106 °C/2.0 mmHg) of the resulting
residue gave 3-isobutoxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one (145 g, 97%).
To a solution of 3-isobutoxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one (32.9 g, 195 mmol)
in 1,2-dichloroethane (100 mL) was added NBS (37.8 g, 212 mmol) at
-45 °C over 20 min. The reaction mixture was warmed to 0 °C and
stirred for 3 h. Then the mixture was diluted with hexane (100 mL)
and was filtered. The filtrate was washed with saturated aqueous
NaHCO3 and brine. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure,
and the resulting white powder was washed with hexane to give
3-isobutoxy-2-bromo-2-cyclohexen-1-one 2 (44.7 g, 93%).
1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 1.02 (d, 6H, J ) 6.7 Hz), 2.00-
2.18 (m, 3H), 2.56 (t, 2H, J ) 6.7 Hz), 2.69 (t, 2H, J ) 6.7 Hz), 3.90
(d, 2H, J ) 6.7 Hz). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ 18.9, 20.6, 27.4,
28.7, 36.8, 75.4, 103.1, 172.8, 191.2. IR (CH2Cl2): 2970, 1670, 1590,
1375, 1200 cm-1. Anal. calcd for C10H15BrO2: C, 48.60; H, 6.12.
Found: C, 48.75; H, 6.24.
Preparation of 3. To a solution of TMEDA (1.50 mL, 10.0 mmol)
in THF (10 mL) were added n-BuLi (6.20 mL, 1.61 M in hexane, 10.0
mmol) and benzyloxy(phenylthio)methane (2.00 mL, 10.0 mmol) at
-78 °C. The mixture was stirred for 2 h at that temperature. To this
was added a THF solution (5 mL) of 2 (1.24 g, 5.00 mmol), and the
mixture was stirred for 1 h. The reaction was quenched by saturated
aqueous NH4Cl. The layers were separated, and the aqueous layer was
extracted with ether. The combined organic extracts were washed with
2 M HCl and then with brine. After being dried over MgSO4, the
mixture was filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The
residue was purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 3% AcOEt/
hexane) to give 3-benzyloxy(phenylthio)methyl-2-bromo-2-cyclohexen-
1-one 3 (1.88 g, 93%).
1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3): δ 1.70-1.80 (m, 1H), 1.80-1.89 (m,
1H), 2.16 (dt, 1H J ) 18.6, 5.5 Hz), 2.46-2.60 (m, 3H), 4.58 (d, 1H,
J ) 11.8 Hz), 4.96 (d, 1H, J ) 11.8 Hz), 5.92 (s, 1H), 7.25-7.38 (m,
8H), 7.52-7.56 (m, 2H). 13C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl3): δ 21.8, 28.1,
38.1, 71.0, 90.7, 121.2, 127.9, 128.1, 128.5, 128.9, 129.1, 131.4, 135.2,
136.6, 159.0, 191.2. IR (CDCl3): 3070, 3040, 2960, 1690, 1595, 1172,
1133, 1070, 985 cm-1. Anal. calcd for C20H19BrO2S: C, 59.56; H, 4.75;
S, 7.95. Found: C, 59.81; H, 4.68; S, 8.10.
Preparation of 4. To a solution of 3 (2.00 g, 5.00 mmol) and BnOH
(1.00 mL, 10.0 mmol) in CH3CN (10 mL) were added CuO (1.60 g,
20.0 mmol) and CuCl2 (1.30 g, 10.0 mmol), and the mixture was stirred
for 4 h at 40 °C. The mixture was diluted with ether and inorganic
materials were filtered off through a short pad of Celite. Saturated
aqueous Rochelle salt was added to the filtrate, and the mixture was
vigorously stirred. The layers were separated, and the aqueous layer
was extracted with ether. The combined organic extracts were washed
with brine and dried over MgSO4. The mixture was filtered and
concentrated under reduced pressure. The resultant residue was purified
by column chromatography (silica gel, 5% AcOEt/hexane) to give
3-dibenzyloxymethyl-2-bromo-2-cyclohexen-1-one 4 (1.52 g, 76%).
1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3): δ 1.91-1.97 (m, 2H), 2.55-2.60 (m,
2H), 2.63 (t, 2H, J ) 6.0 Hz), 4.57 (d, 2H, J ) 11.9 Hz), 4.72 (d, 2H,
J ) 11.9 Hz), 5.72 (s, 1H), 7.28-7.38 (m, 10H). 13C NMR (125 MHz,
CDCl3): δ 21.7, 26.6, 38.4, 69.9, 102.5, 123.0, 127.97, 128.04, 128.5,
137.1, 157.2, 191.5. IR (CDCl3): 2960, 1690, 1450, 1340, 1170, 1130,
1045, 1030 cm-1. Anal. calcd for C21H21BrO3: C, 62.85; H, 5.28.
Found: C, 62.78; H, 5.42.
silyl ether formation at C5 accompanied with silylation of the
hydroxy groups. Oxidation of the resulting tetrasilyl ether with
m-CPBA followed by acidic workup produced a tetrol, acety-
lation of which gave a tetraacetate 25. Finally, the Wittig
methylenation of the C4 carbonyl was attempted; however, it
could not be performed so efficiently in our hands (Scheme
6).26 Hence, we attempted to utilize other methodology via an
allylsilane 292f for introduction of the ∆4,20-methylene group
as well as the C5R-OH functionality.
For such purpose, protection of three hydroxy groups of 24
was examined at first. We initially chose an acetonide group
for C9, C10-OH protection; however, its removal at the final
stage of the synthesis caused partial decomposition of the
product under acidic reaction conditions.27 On the other hand,
tri-TES ether of 24 could be prepared quite easily, but in the
formation of ∆4,5-enolate at the next step, migration of the TES
on the C13-OH to the C4-oxygen rapidly occurred to give a
∆
4,5-enol TES ether. Therefore, a much more stable TBS group
was chosen as the protecting group. Silylation of the hydroxy
groups of 24 (TBSOTf/lutidine) resulted in exclusive formation
of bis-TBS ether 26 and successive in situ protection of the
remaining C9-OH with the TMS group gave a trisilyl ether
27 in high yield (Scheme 7). The carbonyl group of 27 was
converted to an enol triflate 28 by treating with KHMDS and
PhNTf2. The cross-coupling reaction of the crude enol triflate
with TMSCH2MgCl in the presence of Pd(Ph3P)4 efficiently
proceeded to yield an allylsilane 29, oxidation of which with
m-CPBA in MeOH led to an exclusive formation of a C5R-
allylic alcohol 30. Finally, removal of the silyl groups followed
by acetylation of the resulting tetrol with Ac2O/DMAP-Et3N8
afforded (+)-taxusin, identical to natural taxusin in respect of
1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR, and TLC mobility.
In conclusion, we have achieved an enantioselective total
synthesis of (+)-taxusin (28 steps from commercially available
1,3-cyclohexanedione). The synthetic route is highlighted by
(1) remarkably effective eight-membered B-ring cyclization
leading to the C ring allyl ester-type tricyclic taxane skeleton
with the desired B-ring conformation and C9, C10 stereochem-
istry and (2) subsequent installation of the C19 methyl group
via the Birch reduction of the cyclopropyl ketone followed by
enol/keto isomerization owing to the stereoselective protonation
directed by the C13-OH.
Experimental Section
General. All reactions were carried out under a dry nitrogen
atmosphere with dry, distilled solvents under anhydrous conditions,
unless otherwise noted. Tetrahydrofuran (THF) and ethyl ether (Et2O)
were distilled from sodium-benzophenone before use. All other solvents
were distilled according to the usual procedures and stored over
molecular sieves 4A (MS4A) before use. All reagents were purchased
at highest commercial quality and used without further purification
unless otherwise noted. Yields of the crude products were determined
by 1H NMR analysis using CHBr3 or (CHCl2)2 as an internal standard.
Preparation of 2. To a solution of 1,3-cyclohexanedione (100 g,
892 mmol) and isobutanol (250 mL, 2.70 mol) in benzene (1.10 L)
was added p-toluenesulfonic acid (0.770 g, 4.47 mmol). The mixture
was heated to reflux under azeotropic removal of water. After 7 h, the
mixture was cooled to room temperature. To this was added triethyl-
amine (3.00 mL, 22.4 mmol), and the mixture was concentrated under
Preparation of 5. To a solution of 4 (21.0 g, 52.2 mmol) and
oxazaborolidine13 (5.30 mL, 1.0 M in toluene, 5.30 mmol) in THF (250
mL) was added borane-dimethyl sulfide complex (3.50 mL, 36.9
mmol) at -23 °C. After 0.5 h, the reaction mixture was warmed to 0
°C and stirred for 1.5 h. Methanol (100 mL) was cautiously added to
this mixture. The mixture was warmed to room temperature and stirred
overnight. The resulting solution was treated according to Jones’
procedure13c to give a crude allyl alcohol, which was directly used in
the next step.
(26) Though Holton reported 70% yield for the olefination, we obtained
a rather lower yield (53% yield on 32% conversion) after several
examinations in small scale. As Holton stated, 26 is susceptible to
deacetylation during the olefination reaction, see Holton, R. B. In Strategies
and Tactics in Organic Synthesis; Lindberg, T., Ed.; Academic Press: San
Diego, 1991; Vol. 3, pp 165-197.
1
[R]D28: -34° (c ) 0.89, CH2Cl2, 92% ee). H NMR (500 MHz,
CDCl3): δ 1.55-1.75 (m, 2H), 1.80-1.93 (m, 2H), 2.18 (br s, 1H,
OH), 2.23 (ddd, 1H, J ) 6.5, 8.5, 17.9 Hz), 2.41 (dt, 1H, J ) 5.1, 17.8
Hz), 4.20 (br s, 1H), 4.53 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz), 4.53 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0
Hz), 4.67 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz), 4.69 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz), 5.47 (s,
1H), 7.27-7.42 (m, 10H). 13C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl3): δ 17.7, 25.9,
(27) A quite similar result has been already reported by Paquette et al.;
see ref 8.

3078 J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 121, No. 13, 1999
Hara et al.
32.1, 69.2, 69.3, 71.2, 102.6, 125.9, 127.7, 127.89, 127.94, 128.33,
128.34, 137.7, 137.8, 137.9. IR (neat): 3410, 2940, 2860, 1500, 1455,
1340, 1210, 1120, 1040 cm-1. Anal. calcd for C21H23BrO3: C, 62.54;
H, 5.75. Found: C, 62.33; H, 5.80.
5.6, 6.4, 16.0 Hz), 7.23-7.38 (m, 10H). 13C NMR (67.5 MHz,
CDCl3): δ -4.7, -4.0, 8.1, 18.0, 18.3, 24.0, 25.8, 31.9, 32.5, 32.9,
68.2, 68.4, 68.9, 98.8, 127.69, 127.73, 127.9, 128.0, 128.4, 130.3, 134.8,
135.1, 137.8, 137.9, 145.3, 200.9. IR (neat): 2940, 1675, 1630, 1460,
1360, 1255 cm-1. Anal. calcd for C33H46O4Si: C, 74.11; H, 8.67.
Found: C, 74.10; H, 8.80.
Preparation of 8. To a solution of LDA [prepared from diisopro-
pylamine (0.440 mL, 3.15 mmol) and n-BuLi (1.61 M in hexane, 1.90
mL, 3.06 mmol), 0 °C, 10 min] in THF (6 mL) was added ethyl
isobutyrate (0.410 mL, 3.07 mmol) at -78 °C, and the mixture was
stirred for 1 h. A THF solution (2.5 mL) of the enone 6 (1.35 g, 2.52
mmol) was added, and the mixture was gradually warmed to 5 °C over
7 h. The reaction was quenched by saturated aqueous NaHCO3. The
layers were separated, and the aqueous layer was extracted with hexane.
The combined extracts were washed with brine and dried over MgSO4.
The mixture was filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated under
reduced pressure to give crude Michael adducts 7 as an inseparable
mixture of diastereomers (4.5:1, quant), which was directly used in
the next step.
A solution of the crude adduct 7 in THF (12.5 mL) was treated
with t-BuOK (0.383 g, 3.41 mmol) at 0 °C for 1 h. Then, triethylamine
(0.520 mL, 3.41 mmol) and triisopropylsilyl chloride (0.650 mL, 3.04
mmol) were added dropwise. After being stirred for 4 h at 0 °C, the
reaction mixture was treated with saturated aqueous NaHCO3. The
layers were separated, and the aqueous layer was extracted with hexane.
The combined extracts were washed with brine and dried over MgSO4.
The mixture was filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated under
reduced pressure. The resultant residue was purified by column
chromatography (silica gel, 10% AcOEt/hexane) to give 8 (1.16 g, 60%
Optical purity of the allyl alcohol was determined by 1H NMR
analysis of the corresponding MTPA ester. The MTPA ester was
prepared as follows: to a CH2Cl2 solution (0.22 mL) of the allyl alcohol
(17.5 mg, 0.04 mmol) were added triethylamine (12 µL), (S)-MTPA
chloride (12 µL, 0.07 mmol), and DMAP (7.9 mg, 0.07 mmol) at room
temperature. After 18 h, the reaction was quenched with saturated
aqueous NaHCO3. The layers were separated, and the aqueous layer
was extracted with ether. The combined extracts were washed with
brine and dried over MgSO4. The mixture was filtered, and the filtrate
was concentrated under reduced pressure. The resultant residue was
purified by thin-layer chromatography (silica gel, 10% AcOEt/hexane)
1
to give the corresponding (R)-MTPA ester (29 mg, quant). H NMR
analysis of the MTPA ester derived from racemic allyl alcohol showed
a set of two singlet signals at 3.57 and 3.63 ppm. The optical purity of
the present sample was determined as 92% ee based on the integral
values of these two peaks.
(R)-MTPA ester. 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3) (major diastereo-
mer): δ 1.60-1.75 (m, 2H), 1.88-2.02 (m, 2H), 2.21 (ddd, 1H, J )
6.0, 9.9, 18.0 Hz), 2.49 (dt, 1H, J ) 4.2, 18.0 Hz), 3.57 (s, 3H), 4.45
(d, 1H, J ) 11.9 Hz), 4.51 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz), 4.58 (d, 1H, J ) 11.9
Hz), 4.69 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz), 5.46 (s, 1H), 5.69 (t, 1H, J ) 3.8 Hz),
7.23-7.63 (m, 15H).
To a solution of the allyl alcohol in DMF (100 mL) were added
imidazole (5.39 g, 79.2 mmol) and TBSCl (9.52 g, 63.2 mmol) at room
temperature, and the mixture was stirred overnight. The reaction was
quenched by saturated aqueous NaHCO3. The layers were separated,
and the aqueous layer was extracted with ether. The combined extracts
were washed with brine and dried over MgSO4. The mixture was
filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The
resultant residue was purified by column chromatography (silica gel,
10% AcOEt/hexane) to give the C-ring fragment 5 (23.6 g, 88% in
two steps).
in two steps) and its epimer (0.318 g, 17% in two steps).
21
:
-2.1° (c ) 1.28, CH2Cl2). 1H NMR (270 MHz,
(8) [R]D
CDCl3): δ 0.07 (s, 3H), 0.09 (s, 3H), 0.78 (s, 3H), 0.80 (s, 3H), 0.91
(s, 9H), 0.94-1.23 (m, 21H), 1.42-2.40 (m, 11H), 1.70 (s, 3H), 3.94
(br, 1H), 4.43 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz), 4.44 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz), 4.57
(d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz), 4.69 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz), 5.11 (s, 1H), 7.15-
7.38 (m, 10H). 13C NMR (67.5 MHz, CDCl3): δ -4.6, -4.0, 8.8, 12.3,
13.2, 17.7, 17.8, 18.0, 18.7, 22.3, 22.9, 25.8, 27.9, 32.5, 33.2, 43.3,
43.6, 68.1, 69.1, 70.7, 98.2, 115.6, 127.76, 127.79, 127.84, 128.1, 128.3,
128.5, 134.2, 136.4, 137.5, 138.0, 166.3, 203.9. IR (neat): 2940, 1740,
1650, 1630, 1480, 1375, 1350, 1320, 1250 cm-1. Anal. calcd for
C46H72O5Si2: C, 72.58; H, 9.53. Found: C, 72.77; H, 9.74.
1
[R]D18: -26° (c ) 1.83, CH2Cl2, 92% ee). H NMR (500 MHz,
CDCl3): δ 0.12 (s, 3H), 0.18 (s, 3H), 0.93 (s, 9H), 1.54-1.62 (m,
1H), 1.75-1.85 (m, 3H), 2.16-2.25 (m, 1H), 2.40 (dt, 1H, J ) 4.7,
17.5 Hz), 4.25 (br, 1H), 4.53 (d, 1H, J ) 11.9 Hz), 4.54 (d, 1H, J )
11.9 Hz), 4.64 (d, 1H, J ) 11.9 Hz), 4.69 (d, 1H, J ) 11.9 Hz), 5.54
(s, 1H), 7.26-7.37 (m, 10H). 13C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl3): δ -4.5,
-4.4, 17.5, 18.2, 25.8, 25.9, 33.9, 69.1, 69.2, 72.1, 102.8, 126.3, 127.62,
127.63, 127.87, 127.94, 128.29, 128.32, 136.8, 137.89, 137.90. IR
(neat): 2940, 1650, 1455, 1350, 1255, 1125, 1090 cm-1. Anal. calcd
for C27H37BrO3Si: C, 62.65; H, 7.21. Found: C, 62.35; H, 7.10.
Preparation of 6. To a solution of the C-ring fragment 5 (41.2 g,
79.7 mmol) in ether (200 mL) was added t-BuLi (65.0 mL, 1.56 M in
pentane, 101 mmol) at -78 °C, and the mixture was stirred for 1.5 h.
Then CuCN (8.66 g, 96.7 mmol) was added to the mixture. The reaction
mixture was warmed to -45 °C and stirred for 1 h. To this was added
3,4-epoxy-1-hexene (11.0 mL, 100 mmol), and the mixture was warmed
to -23 °C. After 2 h, the reaction was quenched by saturated aqueous
NaHCO3. The layers were separated, and the aqueous layer was
extracted with hexane. The combined extracts were washed with brine
and dried over MgSO4. The mixture was filtered, and the filtrate was
concentrated under reduced pressure to give the crude coupling product,
which was directly used in the next step.
(epimer) 1H NMR (270 MHz, CDCl3): δ 0.06 (s, 3H), 0.07 (s, 3H),
0.73 (s, 3H), 0.89 (s, 9H), 0.93-1.20 (m, 21H), 1.08 (s, 3H), 1.45-
2.45 (m, 11H), 1.70 (s, 3H), 4.05 (br, 1H), 4.42 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz),
4.49 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz), 4.51 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz), 4.75 (d, 1H, J
) 12.0 Hz), 5.26 (s, 1H), 7.10-7.40 (m, 10H). 13C NMR (67.5 MHz,
CDCl3): δ -4.4, -3.8, 8.9, 13.2, 17.5, 17.9, 18.0, 18.5, 22.6, 24.1,
25.9, 26.3, 32.4, 33.0, 39.6, 43.8, 66.1, 67.2, 68.8, 98.4, 115.5, 127.6,
127.7, 128.1, 128.3, 128.4, 133.9, 136.3, 137.9, 138.0, 167.2, 204.6.
IR (neat): 2935, 1725, 1630, 1460, 1375, 1355, 1325, 1255 cm-1
.
Preparation of 10. To a solution of benzyloxymethyltributylstannane
(0.125 mL 0.340 mmol) in THF (0.670 mL) was added n-BuLi (0.205
mL, 1.61 M in hexane, 0.330 mmol) at -78 °C, and the mixture was
stirred for 5 min. Then, a THF solution (0.400 mL) of the â-siloxyenone
8 (0.127 g, 0.167 mmol) was added. After the mixture was stirred for
2.5 h, it was treated with saturated aqueous NaHCO3. The layers were
separated, and the aqueous layer was extracted with hexane. The
combined extracts were washed with brine and dried over MgSO4. The
mixture was filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced
pressure to give a crude adduct 9 (86%), which was directly used in
the next step.
To a suspension of PDC (54.5 g, 115 mmol) and MS4A (36.0 g) in
CH2Cl2 (200 mL) was added a CH2Cl2 solution (200 mL) of the crude
coupling product at 0 °C. The mixture was stirred at room temperature
for 1.5 h, and then inorganic materials were filtered off through a short
pad of Celite. The filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure,
and the residue was purified by column chromatography (silica gel,
7% AcOEt/hexane) to give the enone 6 (28.0 g, 66% in two steps).
To a CH2Cl2 suspension (0.900 mL) of the crude adduct 9, MS4A
(0.309 g), and benzyl alcohol (26.0 mL, 0.251 mmol) was added
Montmorillonite K10 (0.262 g) at -45 °C. After the mixture was stirred
for 1 h, it was treated with triethylamine (0.120 mL, 0.861 mmol).
Inorganic materials were filtered off through a short pad of Celite, and
the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The resultant
residue was purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 10% AcOEt/
hexane) to give the γ-benzyloxyenone 10 (80.4 mg, 79%).
1
[R]D20: -56° (c ) 0.79, CH2Cl2). H NMR (270 MHz, CDCl3): δ
0.06 (s, 3H), 0.08 (s, 3H), 0.88 (s, 9H), 1.02 (t, 3H, J ) 7.2 Hz), 1.44-
1.85 (m, 4H), 2.08-2.36 (m, 2H), 2.39 (q, 2H, J ) 7.2 Hz), 2.84-
3.03 (m, 2H), 4.04-4.11 (m, 1H), 4.46 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz), 4.49 (d,
1H, J ) 12.0 Hz), 4.54 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz), 4.59 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0
Hz), 5.14 (s, 1H), 5.83 (br d, 1H, J ) 16.0 Hz), 6.69 (ddd, 1H, J )
[R]D21: -6.8° (c ) 0.79, CH2Cl2). 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3): δ
0.04 (s, 3H), 0.07 (s, 3H), 0.79 (s, 3H), 0.88 (s, 12H), 1.65-1.85 (m,

EnantioselectiVe Total Synthesis of (+)-Taxusin
J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 121, No. 13, 1999 3079
1
6H), 1.80 (s, 3H), 2.04-2.13 (m, 1H), 2.12 (dd, 1H, J ) 11.6, 16.9
Hz), 2.23-2.35 (m, 2H), 2.36 (dd, 1H, J ) 4.2, 16.9 Hz), 3.91-3.95
(m, 1H), 4.03 (s, 2H), 4.47 (d, 1H, J ) 12.2 Hz), 4.50 (d, 1H, J )
12.2 Hz), 4.50 (s, 2H), 4.58 (d, 1H, J ) 12.2 Hz), 4.67 (d, 1H, J )
12.2 Hz), 5.12 (s, 1H), 7.14-7.38 (m, 15H). 13C NMR (125 MHz,
CDCl3): δ -4.5, -3.9, 11.6, 17.3, 18.0, 20.2, 23.0, 24.8, 25.8, 28.8,
32.2, 38.4, 39.0, 44.7, 67.1, 67.9, 68.7, 70.6, 73.2, 98.3, 127.6, 127.7,
127.81, 127.83, 127.9, 128.3, 128.40, 128.41, 133.89, 133.93, 137.0,
137.86, 137.90, 138.3, 158.0, 199.0. IR (neat): 2925, 1670, 1625, 1450,
1360, 1325, 1250, 1070 cm-1. Anal. calcd for C45H60O5Si: C, 76.22;
H, 8.53. Found: C, 76.27; H, 8.77.
[R]D24: +21° (c ) 0.44, CH2Cl2). H NMR (270 MHz, CDCl3): δ
0.87 (s, 3H), 0.95-1.05 (m, 24H), 1.20 (s, 9H), 1.50-2.25 (m, 10H),
2.04 (s, 3H), 2.41 (br d, 1H, J ) 18.0 Hz), 4.44 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz),
4.50 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz), 4.51 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz), 4.64 (d, 1H, J
) 12.0 Hz), 4.67 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz), 4.72 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz),
5.26 (br, 1H), 5.34 (s, 1H), 5.88 (s, 1H), 7.10-7.40 (m, 15H). 13C
NMR (67.5 MHz, CDCl3): δ 13.1, 14.9, 18.0, 18.1, 18.1, 24.0, 27.2,
27.4, 27.5, 28.8, 32.0, 36.1, 38.8, 40.3, 67.4, 68.0, 69.7, 74.1, 100.1,
110.9, 122.8, 127.1, 127.3, 127.3, 127.4, 127.8, 128.1, 128.2, 128.3,
133.0, 137.6, 137.9, 138.3, 138.4, 139.8, 144.3, 178.0. IR (neat): 2950,
1725, 1615, 1460, 1385, 1365, 1285, 1210, 1150, 1120, 1050 cm-1
.
Preparation of 11. The γ-benzyloxyenone 10 (80.4 mg, 0.113
mmol) was treated with TBAF (0.170 mL, 1.0 M in THF, 0.170 mmol)
at room temperature. After being stirred overnight, the mixture was
poured into saturated aqueous NaHCO3. The layers were separated,
and the aqueous layer was extracted with ether. The combined extracts
were washed with brine and dried over MgSO4. The mixture was
filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The
resultant residue was purified by column chromatography (silica gel,
30% AcOEt/hexane) to give the allyl alcohol 11 (55.9 mg, 83%).
[R]D21: -6.2° (c ) 0.52, CH2Cl2). 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3): δ
0.92 (s, 3H), 0.93 (s, 3H), 1.40-1.51 (m, 1H), 1.54-1.67 (m, 2H),
1.67-1.77 (m, 2H), 1.81-1.89 (m, 1H), 1.82 (s, 3H), 1.91-1.99 (m,
1H), 2.07-2.17 (m, 2H), 2.28-2.42 (m, 3H), 3.87 (br s, 1H), 4.06 (s,
2H), 4.49-4.56 (m, 2H), 4.53 (s, 2H), 4.61 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz), 4.62
(d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz), 5.15 (s, 1H), 7.15-7.42 (m, 15H). 13C NMR
(125 MHz, CDCl3): δ 11.5, 16.9, 20.0, 23.0, 24.7, 29.5, 31.5, 38.4,
39.0, 44.3, 67.0, 68.5, 68.6, 69.7, 73.2, 98.4, 127.6, 127.7, 127.78,
127.80, 127.84, 128.32, 128.33, 128.35, 133.9, 135.2, 135.9, 137.6,
137.7, 138.1, 157.9, 199.0. IR (neat): 3445, 2925, 1660, 1450, 1370,
1325, 1240, 1065 cm-1. Anal. calcd for C39H46O5: C, 78.75; H, 7.80.
Found: C, 78.56; H, 8.10.
Preparation of 12. To a solution of triphenylphosphine (3.61 g,
13.8 mmol) in THF (27.0 mL) was added DEAD (2.10 mL, 13.3 mmol)
at -23 °C. After the mixture was stirred for 10 min, it was treated
with a THF solution (26 mL) of the allyl alcohol 11 (3.16 g, 5.31 mmol)
and stirred for additional 10 min. Then, pivalic acid (1.37 g, 13.4 mmol)
was added, and the solution was warmed to room temperature. After
the mixture was stirred for a week, it was treated with iodomethane
(3.30 mL, 53.0 mmol) and again stirred overnight. The reaction was
quenched by saturated aqueous NaHCO3. The layers were separated,
and the aqueous layer was extracted with hexane. The combined extracts
were washed with brine and dried over MgSO4. The mixture was
filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The
resultant residue was purified by column chromatography (silica gel,
5-15% AcOEt/hexane) to give the pivalate 12 (2.42 g, 67%).
[R]D20: +7.9° (c ) 0.33, CH2Cl2). 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3): δ
0.84 (s, 3H), 1.10 (s, 3H), 1.20 (s, 9H), 1.56-1.70 (m, 3H), 1.72-
1.80 (m, 1H), 1.78 (s, 3H), 1.82-1.95 (m, 2H), 1.96-2.05 (m, 2H),
2.11-2.20 (m, 1H), 2.31 (dd, 1H, J ) 3.2, 16.3 Hz), 2.41 (br d, 1H,
J ) 18.5 Hz), 4.07 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz), 4.09 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz),
4.50 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz), 4.52 (s, 2H), 4.54 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz),
4.55 (d, 1H, J ) 11.6 Hz), 4.66 (d, 1H, J ) 11.6 Hz), 5.16 (s, 1H),
5.28 (br, 1H), 7.24-7.39 (m, 15H). 13C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl3): δ
11.6, 17.7, 20.2, 23.8, 25.2, 27.2, 27.8, 28.8, 38.0, 38.8, 38.9, 41.0,
67.0, 67.1, 67.7, 69.0, 73.3, 98.2, 127.7, 127.8, 127.86, 127.91, 128.0,
128.2, 128.39, 128.41, 128.43, 131.8, 134.1, 137.7, 137.8, 138.0, 157.8,
177.8, 198.8. IR (neat): 2940, 1725, 1670, 1455, 1370, 1325, 1280,
1245, 1150, 1060 cm-1. Anal. calcd for C44H54O6: C, 77.84; H, 8.01.
Found: C, 77.55; H, 7.92.
Anal. calcd for C53H74O6Si: C, 76.21; H, 8.93. Found: C, 76.51; H,
9.20.
Cyclization Reaction of 13 Using Me2AlOTf. A solution of the
dienol silyl ether 13 (4.10 g, 4.91 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (160 mL) was
treated with Me2AlOTf [15.9 mL, 0.936 M in hexane, 14.9 mmol,
prepared from Me3Al (29.4 mL, 1.02 M in hexane, 30.0 mmol) and
TfOH (2.65 mL, 30.0 mmol)] at -78 °C for 10 min. The mixture was
warmed to -45 °C and stirred for 1.5 h. Pyridine (1.98 mL, 24.5 mmol)
was added, and the solution was cooled to -78 °C. The mixture was
poured into vigorously stirring mixture of saturated aqueous NaHCO3
(200 mL) and hexane (200 mL) at 0 °C. The layers were separated,
and the aqueous layer was extracted with ether. The combined extracts
were washed with brine and dried over MgSO4. The mixture was
filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The
resultant residue was purified by column chromatography (silica gel,
15% AcOEt/hexane) to give the tricarbocycles 14 (1.76 g, 62%) and
16 (20%).
27
(14) [R]D
:
+177° (c ) 0.47, CH2Cl2,). 1H NMR (500 MHz,
CDCl3): δ 1.18 (s, 3H), 1.19 (s, 9H), 1.40-1.48 (m, 1H), 1.48-1.62
(m, 3H), 1.51 (s, 3H), 1.63 (s, 3H), 1.79-1.88 (m, 1H), 1.90 (dd, 1H,
J ) 5.5, 15.0 Hz), 1.95-2.00 (m, 1H), 2.39 (d, 1H, J ) 15.0 Hz),
2.39-2.46 (m, 1H), 2.44 (d, 1H, J ) 19.9 Hz), 2.87 (dd, 1H, J ) 6.6,
19.9 Hz), 4.62 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz), 4.68 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz), 4.71
(s, 2H), 4.75 (d, 1H, J ) 10.0 Hz), 4.77 (d, 1H, J ) 10.0 Hz), 5.14 (br
t, 1H, J ) 3.8 Hz), 7.26-7.42 (m, 10H). 13C NMR (125 MHz,
CDCl3): δ 14.0, 17.6, 25.0, 25.9, 27.1, 28.6, 30.5, 36.0, 38.8, 38.9,
40.5, 43.8, 71.5, 72.9, 73.4, 80.9, 85.2, 127.46, 127.56, 127.61, 127.7,
128.3, 128.4, 131.6, 135.7, 138.37, 138.38, 140.3, 156.0, 178.2, 199.2.
IR (neat): 2940, 1720, 1665, 1450, 1280, 1150, 1070 cm-1. Anal. calcd
for C37H46O5: C, 77.86; H, 8.12. Found: C, 77.56; H, 8.40.
1
(16) H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3): δ 1.15 (s, 3H), 1.24 (s, 9H),
1.51 (s, 3H), 1.52 (s, 3H), 1.63-1.80 (m, 4H), 1.82 (d, 1H, J ) 18.9
Hz), 1.84-1.90 (m, 1H), 1.98 (dd, 1H, J ) 5.8, 14.2 Hz), 2.10-2.20
(m, 1H), 2.25-2.37 (m, 1H), 2.59 (brd, 1H, J ) 18.8 Hz), 2.76 (dd,
1H, J ) 4.9, 18.9 Hz), 3.86 (s, 1H), 4.25 (d, 1H, J ) 12.3 Hz), 4.48
(d, 1H, J ) 12.5 Hz), 4.55 (d, 1H, J ) 12.3 Hz), 4.65 (d, 1H, J ) 12.5
Hz), 5.12 (s, 1H), 5.31 (br s, 1H), 7.22-7.40 (m, 10H). 13C NMR (125
MHz, CDCl3): δ 12.3, 18.4, 27.38, 27.43, 28.1, 29.4, 36.6, 38.8, 39.3,
40.6, 42.1, 44.0, 71.3, 72.6, 73.9, 81.1, 86.4, 127.2, 127.46, 127.54,
127.8, 128.3, 128.4, 130.3, 131.6, 137.9, 138.0, 140.4, 158.9, 178.5,
200.6. IR (neat): 2935, 2865, 1720, 1670, 1480, 1455, 1280, 1150,
1060, 1030 cm-1. HRFAB (NBA/NaI) Calcd for C37H46O5Na
(MNa+): 593.3243; Found: 593.3271.
Preparation of 19. The tricarbocycle 14 in THF was treated with
lithium tri(t-butoxy)aluminum hydride (6.10 mL, 1.0 M in THF, 6.10
mmol) at room temperature. After being stirred overnight, the mixture
was poured into saturated aqueous NaHCO3. The layers were separated,
and the aqueous layer was extracted with ether. The combined extracts
were washed with brine and dried over MgSO4. The mixture was
filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to
give a crude alcohol 17, which was directly used in the next step.
Preparation of 13. A solution of the pivalate 12 (0.809 g, 1.19
mmol) in THF (6.00 mL) was treated with t-BuOK (0.207 g, 1.84
mmol) at 0 °C for 1 h. Then, the mixture was cooled to -78 °C and
triisopropylsilyl chloride (0.306 mL, 1.43 mmol) was added. After being
stirred for 1 h, the mixture was poured into saturated aqueous NaHCO3.
The layers were separated, and the aqueous layer was extracted with
ether. The combined extracts were washed with brine and dried over
MgSO4. The mixture was filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated
under reduced pressure. The resultant residue was purified by column
chromatography (FL100DX, 3% AcOEt/hexane) to give the cyclization
precursor 13 (0.992 g, quant).
To a solution of the crude alcohol 17 in CH2Cl2 (16 mL) were added
2,6-lutidine (0.850 mL, 7.30 mmol) and TESOTf (0.830 mL, 3.67
mmol) at -23 °C. After being stirred for 1 h, the mixture was poured
into saturated aqueous NaHCO3. The layers were separated, and the
aqueous layer was extracted with hexane. The combined extracts were
washed with brine and dried over MgSO4. The mixture was filtered,
and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to give a crude
silyl ether 18, which was directly used in the next step.

3080 J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 121, No. 13, 1999
Hara et al.
A solution of the crude silyl ether 18 in CH2Cl2 (30 mL) was treated
with DIBAL (11.4 mL, 0.93 M in hexane, 10.6 mmol) at -78 °C, and
the mixture was stirred for 1 h. To this were added Na2SO4‚10H2O
(4.91 g, 15.3 mmol) and ether (30 mL), and the mixture was warmed
to room temperature. After being stirred for 1 h, the mixture was filtered
through a pad of Celite. The filtrate was concentrated under reduced
pressure, and the resultant residue was purified by column chroma-
tography (silica gel, 10% AcOEt/hexane) to give the allyl alcohol 19
(0.991 g, 87%).
homogeneous solution was allowed to warm to ambient temperature
with evaporation of ammonia. After 1 h, water and hexane were added.
The layers were separated, and the aqueous layer was extracted with
AcOEt. The combined extracts were dried over MgSO4 and concen-
trated under reduced pressure. The resultant residue was purified by
column chromatography (silica gel, 50% AcOEt/hexane) to give the
desired ketone 24 (quant).
[R]D30: + 78° (c ) 0.95, CH2Cl2). 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3): δ
0.88 (s, 3H), 1.00 (s, 3H, C17), 1.07 (dd, 1H, J ) 4.4, 15.2 Hz, C14R),
1.45 (s, 3H), 1.45 (ddd, 1H, J ) 2.1, 6.3, 15.9 Hz, C2â), 1.57 (d, 1H,
J ) 4.2 Hz, C13-OH), 1.63 (dt, 1H, J ) 4.7, 13.2 Hz, C7R), 1.69-
1.73 (m, 1H, C1), 1.80 (tq, 1H, J ) 5.1, 13.2 Hz, C6), 1.94-2.02 (m,
1H, C6), 2.03 (d, 3H, J ) 1.3 Hz, C18), 2.06-2.12 (m, 1H, C7â),
2.18-2.26 (m, 1H, C5R), 2.21 (d, 1H, J ) 2.8 Hz, C10-OH), 2.29-
2.35 (m, 1H, C5â), 2.36 (ddd, 1H, J ) 1.5, 5.1, 15.9 Hz, C2R), 2.52
(d, 1H, J ) 3.8 Hz, C9-OH), 2.75 (dt, 1H, J ) 9.6, 15.2 Hz, C14â),
3.06 (d, 1H, J ) 6.3 Hz, C3), 3.99 (dd, 1H, J ) 3.8, 9.6 Hz, C9),
4.47-4.52 (m, 1H, C13), 4.86 (dd, 1H, J ) 2.8, 9.6 Hz, C10). 13C
NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3): δ 16.5, 19.5, 21.7, 23.4, 26.2, 29.9, 32.6,
35.7, 39.1, 39.2, 41.1, 45.4, 52.0, 67.7, 72.6, 78.2, 137.6, 138.8, 212.4.
IR (CDCl3): 3620, 2950, 1710, 1460, 1390, 1270, 1250, 1125, 1045,
1020, 990 cm-1. Anal. calcd for C19H30O4: C, 70.77; H, 9.34. Found:
C, 70.57; H, 9.44.
Preparation of 25. To a mixture of the triol 24 in THF (5.6 mL),
triethylamine (77.5 mL, 0.556 mmol), and trimethylsilyl chloride (0.845
mL, 6.66 mmol) was added lithium diisopropylamide [9.30 mL, 0.718
M in THF, 6.68 mmol; prepared from BuLi (6.20 mL, 1.61 M in
hexane, 10.0 mmol) and a solution of diisopropylamine (1.50 mL, 10.7
mmol) in THF (6.2 mL), 0 °C, 10 min] at -78 °C. The mixture was
stirred at -78 °C for 10 min and then at 0 °C for 30 min. The reaction
was quenched by saturated aqueous NaHCO3. The layers were
separated, and the aqueous layer was extracted with hexane. The
combined extracts were washed with brine and dried over MgSO4. The
mixture was filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced
pressure to give a crude tetrasilyl ether, which was directly used in the
next step.
To a mixture of the crude tetrasilyl ether and KHCO3 (0.279 g, 2.78
mmol) in CH2Cl2 (5.6 mL) was added a CH2Cl2 solution (10 mL) of
m-CPBA (0.289 g, 1.67 mmol) at 0 °C. After being stirred for 10 min,
the reaction mixture was poured into saturated aqueous Na2S2O3. The
layers were separated, and the aqueous layer was extracted with ether.
The combined extracts were concentrated under reduced pressure. The
residue was dissolved in THF (17 mL) and acidified by 0.25 N HCl to
ca. pH 3. After 1 h, saturated aqueous NaHCO3 was added to this
mixture. The layers were separated, and the aqueous layer was extracted
with AcOEt. The combined extracts were washed with brine and dried
over MgSO4. The mixture was filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated
under reduced pressure to give a crude tetrol, which was directly used
in the next step.
1
[R]D21: + 111 ° (c ) 0.67, CH2Cl2). H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3):
δ 0.64 (q, 6H, J ) 7.9 Hz), 0.96 (s, 3H), 1.00 (t, 9H, J ) 7.9 Hz), 1.44
(s, 3H), 1.50-1.70 (m, 5H), 1.61 (s, 3H), 1.72-1.81 (m, 1H), 1.84-
1.93 (m, 1H), 2.27-2.40 (m, 3H), 2.63 (dt, 1H, J ) 9.4, 15.0 Hz),
4.22 (br s, 1H), 4.43 (br d, 1H, J ) 8.5 Hz), 4.54 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0
Hz), 4.63 (d, 1H, J ) 9.4 Hz), 4.66 (s, 2H), 4.66 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz),
4.73 (d, 1H, J ) 9.4 Hz), 7.25-7.45 (m, 10H). 13C NMR (125 MHz,
CDCl3): δ 5.0, 6.9, 16.8, 17.3, 25.1, 26.6, 31.0, 31.2, 31.8, 36.2, 39.3,
42.4, 67.5, 69.8, 71.6, 73.0, 82.1, 84.5, 127.0, 127.26, 127.27, 127.7,
128.13, 128.15, 133.7, 136.3, 137.4, 138.9, 139.33, 139.34. IR (neat):
3380, 2925, 1450, 1350, 1235, 1160, 1065, 1020 cm-1. Anal. calcd
for C38H54O4Si: C, 75.70; H, 9.03. Found: C, 75.42; H, 9.23.
Preparation of 21a. To a solution of the allyl alcohol 19 (0.952 g,
1.58 mmol) in ether (16 mL) were added diethylzinc (3.16 mL, 1.0 M
in hexane, 3.16 mmol) and diiodomethane (0.255 mL, 3.17 mmol) at
room temperature. After 6 h, the reaction was quenched by saturated
aqueous NH4Cl. The layers were separated, and the aqueous layer was
extracted with ether. The combined extracts were washed with brine
and dried over MgSO4. The mixture was filtered, and the filtrate was
concentrated under reduced pressure to give the crude cyclopropyl
alcohol 20 (quant), which was used in the next step without purification.
1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3): δ -0.04 (d, 1H, J ) 4.6 Hz), 0.66 (q,
6H, J ) 7.9 Hz), 0.82 (d, 1H, J ) 4.6 Hz), 0.97-1.05 (m, 1H), 1.00
(t, 9H, J ) 7.9 Hz), 1.01 (s, 3H), 1.22-1.34 (m, 3H), 1.32 (s, 3H),
1.46-1.52 (m, 1H), 1.55-1.72 (m, 3H), 1.84 (s, 3H), 1.92 (dd, 1H, J
) 3.3, 15.4 Hz), 2.59 (dd, 1H, J ) 5.2, 16.1 Hz), 2.71 (dt, 1H, J )
10.0, 15.4 Hz), 3.64 (d, 1H, J ) 9.3 Hz), 4.36-4.41 (m, 1H), 4.45 (br
d, 1H, J ) 10.0 Hz), 4.53 (d, 1H, J ) 12.1 Hz), 4.65 (d, 1H, J ) 12.1
Hz), 4.78 (d, 1H, J ) 12.1 Hz), 4.83 (d, 1H, J ) 12.1 Hz), 4.84 (d,
1H, J ) 9.3 Hz), 7.23-7.35 (m, 6H), 7.39-7.44 (m, 4H). 13C NMR
(125 MHz, CDCl3): δ 5.1, 6.9, 17.0, 18.1, 23.6, 24.4, 26.6, 30.4, 30.6,
31.28, 31.29, 36.0, 36.2, 38.6, 43.3, 67.86, 67.87, 70.9, 72.5, 81.4, 87.3,
127.0, 127.2, 127.3, 127.8, 128.1, 128.2, 136.9, 137.8, 139.50, 139.53.
To a suspension of PDC (0.895 g, 2.38 mmol) and MS4A (0.914 g)
in CH2Cl2 (6 mL) was added a CH2Cl2 solution (10 mL) of the crude
cyclopropyl alcohol 20 at room temperature. After the reaction mixture
was stirred for 1.5 h, it was filtered through a pad of Celite, and the
filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was
purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 15% AcOEt/hexane)
to give the cyclopropyl ketone 21a (0.826 g, 85%).
[R]D21: +72 ° (c ) 0.31, CH2Cl2). 1H NMR (270 MHz, CDCl3): δ
0.35 (d, 1H, J ) 5.0 Hz), 0.61 (q, 6H, J ) 8.0 Hz), 0.97 (t, 9H, J )
8.0 Hz), 0.99 (s, 3H), 1.09 (brd, 1H, J ) 16.0 Hz), 1.19 (d, 1H, J )
5.0 Hz), 1.30 (s, 3H), 1.26-1.47 (m, 1H), 1.47-1.54 (m, 1H), 1.56-
1.74 (m, 3H), 1.82 (dt, 1H, J ) 5.0, 13.0 Hz), 1.92 (s, 3H), 2.11-2.35
(m, 2H), 2.43 (dt, 1H, J ) 10.0, 15.6 Hz), 3.25 (dd, 1H, J ) 6.0, 16.0
Hz), 3.70 (d, 1H, J ) 9.6 Hz), 4.34-4.43 (m, 1H), 4.51 (d, 1H, J )
12.0 Hz), 4.66 (d, 1H, J ) 12.0 Hz), 4.81 (s, 2H), 4.96 (d, 1H, J ) 9.6
Hz), 7.22-7.46 (m, 10H). 13C NMR (67.5 MHz, CDCl3): δ 4.9, 6.9,
17.2, 18.5, 21.0, 24.4, 26.7, 31.1, 31.6, 32.9, 33.9, 35.7, 38.0, 38.6,
42.9, 67.9, 70.7, 72.8, 81.2, 85.1, 127.1, 127.3, 127.4, 127.9, 128.2,
136.7, 138.0, 139.0, 139.2, 208.6. IR (neat): 2950, 1680, 1460, 1380,
1335, 1250, 1215, 1090, 990 cm-1. Anal. calcd for C39H54O4Si: C,
76.17; H, 8.85. Found: C, 76.13; H, 9.15.
To a solution of the crude tetrol in CH2Cl2 (5.60 mL) were added
DMAP (70.2 mg, 0.574 mmol), triethylamine (1.10 mL, 7.86 mmol),
and Ac2O (0.483 mL, 5.11 mmol) at 0 °C. After 1.5 h, saturated aqueous
NaHCO3 was added. The layers were separated, and the aqueous layer
was extracted with AcOEt. The combined extracts were washed with
brine and dried over MgSO4. The mixture was filtered, and the filtrate
was concentrated under reduced pressure. The resultant residue was
purified by column chromatography (silica gel, 30-60% AcOEt/hexane)
to give the tetraacetate 25 (0.205 g, 80%).
1
[R]D21: +65° (c ) 0.12, CH2Cl2). H NMR (270 MHz, CDCl3): δ
0.76 (s, 3H), 0.95 (dd, 1H, J ) 4.0, 15.2 Hz), 1.09 (s, 3H), 1.55-1.70
(m, 1H), 1.59 (s, 3H), 1.81-2.16 (m, 5H), 2.02 (s, 3H), 2.06 (s, 6H),
2.12 (s, 3H), 2.20 (s, 3H), 2.27 (dd, 1H, J ) 5.0, 16.0 Hz), 2.75 (dt,
1H, J ) 9.6, 15.2 Hz), 3.42 (d, 1H, J ) 6.0 Hz), 5.00 (br s, 1H),
5.76-5.86 (m, 1H), 5.80 (d, 1H, J ) 11.0 Hz), 6.13 (d, 1H, J ) 11.0
Hz). 13C NMR (67.5 MHz, CDCl3): δ 15.01, 19.84, 20.94, 21.28, 24.23,
26.60, 26.88, 31.09, 32.15, 39.16, 45.00, 48.12, 70.26, 72.36, 75.49,
76.37, 135.81, 137.13, 169.15, 169.83, 170.10, 170.19, 206.07. IR
(CDCl3): 1735, 1370, 1240, 1020 cm-1. Anal. calcd for C27H38O9: C,
64.01; H, 7.56. Found: C, 64.23; H, 7.52.
Birch Reduction of 21a: Preparation of 24. Under an argon
atmosphere, a solution of the cyclopropyl ketone 21a (0.341 g, 0.555
mmol) and t-BuOH (0.525 mL, 5.57 mmol) in THF (2.8 mL) was
cooled to -78 °C. To the solution were added liquid NH3 (6.0 mL,
distilled from lithium) and several pieces of lithium wire (39.2 mg,
5.65 mmol). After 1 h, methanol (2.8 mL) was added until the dark
blue color of the reaction mixture disappeared. Then, the colorless
Conversion of 25 to (+)-Taxusin. To a suspension of methyltri-
phenylphosphonium bromide (5.9 mg, 0.017 mmol) in toluene (0.166

EnantioselectiVe Total Synthesis of (+)-Taxusin
J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 121, No. 13, 1999 3081
28
1
mL) was added n-BuLi (9.2 mL, 1.69 M in hexane, 0.016 mmol) at 0
°C. After 1.5 h, a toluene solution (0.150 mL) of the tetraacetate 25
(3.3 mg, 0.0065 mmol) was added to the mixture. The solution was
warmed to room temperature and stirred overnight. Water was added,
and the aqueous layer was extracted with ether. The combined extracts
were dried over MgSO4 and concentrated under reduced pressure. The
resultant residue was purified by preparative TLC (20% AcOEt/hexane)
to give (+)-taxusin 1 (0.6 mg, 17%) and the recovered starting material
25 (2.2 mg, 68%). The spectral data of the synthesized (+)-taxusin
were given in the last part of this section.
[R]D +68° (c ) 1.43, CH2Cl2). H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3): δ
-0.02 (s, 9H), 0.00 (s, 3H), 0.07 (s, 3H), 0.07 (s, 3H), 0.11 (s, 3H),
0.18 (s, 9H), 0.88 (s, 9H), 0.95 (s, 9H), 0.95 (s, 3H), 1.01 (s, 3H),
1.18-1.28 (m, 1H), 1.45-1.65 (m, 6H), 1.50 (s, 3H), 1.79 (d, 3H, J )
1.1 Hz), 1.90-2.05 (m, 3H), 2.63 (dt, 1H, J ) 9.0, 14.7 Hz), 2.90 (br
s, 1H), 4.14 (d, 1H, J ) 9.1 Hz), 4.36 (br d, 1H, J ) 10.0 Hz), 4.58
(d, 1H, J ) 9.1 Hz), 5.03-5.09 (m, 1H). 13C NMR (125 MHz,
CDCl3): δ -5.1, -4.2, -4.1, -3.1, -0.6, 2.0, 17.2, 18.0, 18.5, 20.1,
23.6, 25.1, 25.8, 26.6, 26.9, 27.4, 28.3, 32.3, 36.4, 38.9, 40.4, 40.9,
42.6, 68.5, 74.2, 81.6, 118.9, 135.7, 138.3, 138.9. IR (neat): 2960,
2860, 1460, 1360, 1248, 1120, 1080 cm-1. Anal. calcd for C38H76O3-
Si4: C, 65.83; H, 11.05. Found: C, 65.66; H, 11.24.
Preparation of 27. To a solution of the ketone 24 (7.1 mg, 0.022
mmol) in CH2Cl2 (0.3 mL) were added 2,6-lutidine (21 µL, 0.18 mmol)
and TBSOTf (20 µL, 0.088 mmol) at 0 °C. After 0.5 h, the mixture
was cooled to -23 °C and was treated with 2,6-lutidine (10 µL, 0.086
mmol) and TMSOTf (12 µL, 0.066 mmol). After being stirred for 1 h
at that temperature, the mixture was poured into saturated aqueous
NaHCO3. The layers were separated, and the aqueous layer was
extracted with hexane. The combined extracts were washed with brine
and dried over MgSO4. The mixture was filtered, and the filtrate was
concentrated under reduced pressure. The resultant residue was purified
by preparative TLC (7% AcOEt/hexane) to give the trisilyl ether 27
(13.0 mg, 95%).
Preparation of 30. To a solution of the allylsilane 29 (31.8 mg,
0.046 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (0.46 mL) and MeOH (1.40 mL) was added
m-CPBA (15.8 mg, 0.092 mmol) at room temperature, and the mixture
was stirred for 1.5 h. m-CPBA (12.3 mg, 0.072 mmol) was added to
the reaction mixture. After the mixture was stirred for 30 min, it was
poured into a mixture of saturated aqueous Na2S2O3 and saturated
aqueous NaHCO3. The layers were separated, and the aqueous layer
was extracted with AcOEt. The combined extracts were washed with
brine and dried over MgSO4. The mixture was filtered, and the filtrate
was concentrated under reduced pressure. The resultant residue was
purified by preparative TLC (2% AcOEt/hexane) to give the ally alcohol
30 (27.7 mg, 95%).
[R]D28 +70° (c 1.37, CH2Cl2). 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3): δ 0.03
(s, 3H), 0.08 (s, 3H), 0.11 (s, 3H), 0.13 (s, 3H), 0.17 (s, 9H), 0.78 (s,
3H), 0.90 (s, 9H), 0.95 (s, 9H), 1.00 (s, 3H), 1.21 (dd, 1H, J ) 4.5,
15.0 Hz), 1.49 (s, 3H), 1.44-1.55 (m, 1H), 1.56-1.60 (m, 1H), 1.58-
1.65 (m, 2H), 1.69-1.81 (m, 3H), 1.92 (br s, 1H, OH), 2.02 (d, 3H, J
) 1.5 Hz), 2.64 (dt, 1H, J ) 9.0, 15.0 Hz), 3.38 (br s, 1H), 4.04 (d,
1H, J ) 9.0 Hz), 4.19-4.23 (m, 1H), 4.43 (br d, 1H, J ) 10.0 Hz),
4.67 (s, 1H), 4.78 (d, 1H, J ) 9.0 Hz), 5.05 (s, 1H). 13C NMR (125
MHz, CDCl3): δ -4.9, -4.4, -4.2, -3.1, 1.9, 17.5, 18.3, 18.5, 19.5,
25.8, 26.0, 26.5, 26.9, 27.5, 29.6, 32.2, 36.5, 37.0, 38.8, 40.3, 44.5,
69.6, 74.3, 74.7, 81.6, 110.0, 135.9, 139.1, 155.1. IR (neat): 3450,
2950, 2860, 1475, 1258, 1075, 1010 cm-1. Anal. calcd for C35H68O4-
Si3: C, 65.98; H, 10.76. Found: C, 66.05; H, 10.79.
1
[R]D26: +60° (c ) 0.73, CH2Cl2). H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3): δ
0.02 (s, 3H), 0.03 (s, 3H), 0.07 (s, 3H), 0.14 (s, 3H), 0.17 (s, 9H), 0.77
(s, 3H), 0.85 (s, 9H), 0.95 (s, 9H), 0.99 (s, 3H), 1.09 (dd, 1H, J ) 4.0,
15.0 Hz), 1.40 (br dd, 1H, J ) 6.5, 15.5 Hz), 1.46 (s, 3H), 1.56-1.65
(m, 2H), 1.72 (tq, 1H, J ) 5.0, 12.5 Hz), 1.94 (d, 3H, J ) 1.0 Hz),
1.88-1.95 (m, 1H), 2.11 (brd, 1H, J ) 13.0 Hz), 2.17 (dt, 1H, J )
7.0, 13.5 Hz), 2.24-2.34 (m, 2H), 2.62 (dt, 1H, J ) 9.5, 15.0 Hz),
3.14 (d, 1H, J ) 6.5 Hz), 3.99 (d, 1H, J ) 9.0 Hz), 4.33 (dd, 1H, J )
4.0, 9.5 Hz), 4.77 (d, 1H, J ) 9.0 Hz). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3):
δ -5.1, -4.21, -4.20, -3.1, 1.8, 17.9, 18.0, 18.4, 21.56, 21.60, 23.7,
25.8, 26.3, 26.8, 30.4, 32.3, 36.9, 38.9, 39.7, 41.0, 46.5, 52.7, 68.4,
74.2, 80.9, 135.8, 139.5, 212.6. IR (neat): 2925, 2855, 1710, 1470,
1255, 1085, 1065 cm-1. Anal. calcd for C34H66O4Si3: C, 65.53; H,
10.68. Found: C, 65.26; H, 10.47.
Preparation of 29. To a solution of the trisilyl ether 27 (10.5 mg,
0.017 mmol) in THF (0.6 mL) was added KHMDS (1.0 M in THF, 84
µL, 0.084 mmol) at -78 °C, and the mixture was immediately warmed
to -45 °C. After being stirred for 1 h, the mixture was again cooled to
-78 °C and was treated with a THF solution (0.12 mL) of PhNTf2
(42.1 mg, 0.12 mmol). After 10 min, the reaction was quenched with
phosphate buffer (pH 6.88). The layers were separated, and the aqueous
layer was extracted with ether. The combined extracts were washed
with brine and dried over MgSO4. The mixture was filtered, and the
filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to give a crude enol
triflate 28, which was directly used in the next step.
Conversion of 30 to (+)-Taxusin. To a solution of the allyl alcohol
30 (4.5 mg, 0.0071 mmol) in THF (0.2 mL) were added HMPA (50
µL) and TBAF (1.0 M in THF, 71 µL, 0.071 mmol) at room
temperature. The mixture was warmed to ca. 40 °C and stirred for 1.5
h. After being cooled to room temperature, the mixture was poured
into phosphate buffer (pH 7.2). The layers were separated, and the
aqueous layer was extracted with AcOEt. The combined extracts were
washed with water and dried over MgSO4. The mixture was filtered,
and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The resultant
residue was purified by preparative TLC (90% AcOEt/hexane) to give
a tetrol (2.2 mg, 93%), whose spectral data were in good agreement
with those of the literature.8
1
[R]D29: +43° (c ) 0.65, CH2Cl2). H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3): δ
0.01 (s, 3H), 0.07 (s, 3H), 0.08 (s, 3H), 0.11 (s, 3H), 0.20 (s, 9H), 0.88
(s, 9H), 0.95 (s, 9H), 1.02 (s, 3H), 1.04 (s, 3H), 1.15-1.28 (m, 1H),
1.46 (dd, 1H, J ) 11.1, 15.1 Hz), 1.49 (s, 3H), 1.58-1.65 (m, 1H),
1.69 (ddd, 1H, J ) 2.1, 4.8, 15.9 Hz), 1.76 (ddd, 1H, J ) 1.8, 5.9,
15.9 Hz), 1.81 (d, 3H, J ) 1.0 Hz), 2.05-2.21 (m, 3H), 2.67 (dt, 1H,
J ) 9.4, 15.1 Hz), 3.51 (br s, 1H), 4.18 (d, 1H, J ) 9.0 Hz), 4.33-
4.38 (m, 1H), 4.59 (d, 1H, J ) 9.0 Hz), 5.55-5.61 (m, 1H). 13C NMR
(125 MHz, CDCl3): δ -5.1, -4.2, -4.2, -3.1, -1.8, 17.3, 17.9, 18.4,
19.8, 21.4, 25.5, 25.7, 26.3, 26.8, 27.5, 32.6, 36.1, 38.8, 38.9, 39.8,
43.6, 68.2, 74.2, 81.1, 115.0, 136.6, 139.0, 152.7. IR (neat): 2930,
2860, 1460, 1415, 1250, 1210, 1145, 1080, 1020 cm-1. Anal. calcd
for C35H65F3O6SSi3: C, 55.66; H, 8.68; S, 4.25. Found: C, 55.80; H,
8.96; S, 4.32.
To a solution of the crude 28 in ether (0.3 mL) were added tetrakis-
(triphenylphosphine)palladium (4.0 mg, 0.005 mmol) and TMSCH2-
MgCl (0.98 M in THF, 0.15 mL, 0.15 mmol) at room temperature,
and the mixture was stirred for 0.5 h. The reaction was quenched with
saturated aqueous NaHCO3. The layers were separated, and the aqueous
layer was extracted with ether. The combined extracts were washed
with brine and dried over MgSO4. The mixture was filtered, and the
filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The resultant residue
was purified by preparative TLC (3% AcOEt/hexane) to give the
allylsilane 29 (8.2 mg, 70% from 27).
[R]D31: +99.° (c ) 0.41, MeOH). H NMR (500 MHz, CD3OD):8
1
δ 0.85 (s, 3H), 0.99 (s, 3H), 1.22 (dd, 1H, J ) 4.5, 15.0 Hz), 1.46 (s,
3H), 1.53-1.80 (m, 7H), 2.04 (d, 3H, J ) 1.0 Hz), 2.76 (dt, 1H, J )
9.0, 15.0 Hz), 3.95 (d, 1H, J ) 9.5 Hz), 4.20 (br, 1H), 4.34 (br d, 1H,
J ) 10.5 Hz), 4.67 (s, 1H), 4.79 (d, 1H, J ) 9.5 Hz), 5.02 (s, 1H), the
1
C-3 proton was overlapped with the solvent signal (ca. 3.3 ppm). H
NMR (500 MHz, C5D5N): δ 1.14 (s, 3H), 1.22 (s, 3H), 1.64 (dd, 1H,
J ) 3.9, 15.2 Hz), 1.66-1.71 (m, 1H), 1.74 (s, 3H), 1.71-1.90 (m,
3H), 1.95-2.04 (m, 1H), 2.18-2.32 (m, 2H), 2.37 (d, 1H, J ) 0.9
Hz), 2.94 (dt, 1H, J ) 9.3, 15.5 Hz), 3.86 (d, 1H, J ) 4.0 Hz), 4.37 (d,
1H, J ) 9.3 Hz), 4.53 (br s, 1H), 4.63 (m, 1H), 4.78 (s, 1H), 5.10 (d,
1H, J ) 10.3 Hz, OH), 5.14 (s, 1H), 5.34 (d, 1H, J ) 9.3 Hz), 5.78 (br
s, 1H, OH), 6.15 (br s, 1H, OH), 6.54 (br s, 1H, OH). 13C NMR (125
MHz, CD3OD):8 δ 16.8, 18.0, 26.7, 26.7, 28.5, 31.5, 33.2, 36.8, 37.7,
40.0, 41.5, 44.8, 69.5, 73.5, 75.6, 80.0, 110.1, 138.8, 140.4, 155.8. 13
C
NMR (125 MHz, C5D5N): δ 17.3, 18.2, 26.5, 26.5, 28.0, 31.7, 33.5,
37.2, 37.3, 39.4, 40.7, 44.3, 68.6, 73.0, 74.6, 79.1, 108.6, 137.7, 140.6,
156.2. IR (neat): 3420, 2930, 1640, 1125, 1070, 1010 cm-1. HRFAB
(NBA/NaI) calcd for C20H32O4Na (MNa+): 359.2198. Found: 359.2203.
To a solution of the tetrol (3.8 mg, 0.011 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (1.2
mL) were added DMAP (4.2 mg, 0.034 mmol), triethylamine (50 µL,
0.36 mmol), and acetic anhydride (23 µL, 0.24 mmol) at 0 °C. The

3082 J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 121, No. 13, 1999
Hara et al.
mixture was warmed to room temperature and stirred overnight. After
25 h, the mixture was treated with additional triethylamine (50 µL,
0.36 mmol) and acetic anhydride (23 µL, 0.24 mmol) and was stirred
overnight. The reaction was quenched with saturated aqueous NaHCO3.
The layers were separated, and the aqueous layer was extracted with
AcOEt. The combined extracts were washed with brine and dried over
MgSO4. The mixture was filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated
under reduced pressure. The resultant residue was purified by prepara-
tive TLC (50% AcOEt/hexane) to give (+)-taxusin (5.6 mg, 98%).
[R]D29: +93° (c ) 0.22, CH2Cl2, 92% ee), [natural (+)-taxusin,
21.8, 27.3, 27.3, 27.4, 28.3, 31.1, 31.9, 38.0, 39.3, 40.4, 42.9, 70.8,
72.6, 76.3, 77.5, 114.1, 134.9, 137.0, 148.8, 169.9, 169.9, 170.4, 170.4.
IR (neat): 2920, 1740, 1370, 1240, 1020 cm-1
.
Acknowledgment. This work was financially supported by
Grant-in-Aids from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports,
and Culture of the Japanese Government. We also thank
Professor Fa-Ching Chen, National Taiwan University, for
providing a sample and spectral data of natural taxusin.
[R]D21, +105° (c ) 0.34, CH2Cl2)]. H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3): δ
1
0.75 (s, 3H), 1.07 (dd, 1H, J ) 7.8, 14.4 Hz), 1.11 (s, 3H), 1.62 (s,
3H), 1.65-1.88 (m, 7H), 2.01 (s, 3H), 2.05 (s, 3H), 2.07 (s, 3H), 2.11
(d, 3H, J ) 1.3 Hz), 2.16 (s, 3H), 2.69 (dt, 1H, J ) 9.9, 14.4 Hz), 3.00
(d, 1H, J ) 5.7 Hz), 4.85 (s, 1H), 5.21 (s, 1H), 5.36 (t, 1H, J ) 2.8
Hz), 5.87 (d, 1H, J ) 10.7 Hz), 5.83-5.90 (m, 1H), 6.08 (d, 1H, J )
10.7 Hz). 13C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl3): δ 14.8, 17.7, 20.8, 21.0, 21.4,
Supporting Information Available: Spectroscopic data and
experimental procedures for the compounds 15, 21b, and 23
(PDF). This material is available free of charge via the Internet
at http://pubs.acs.org.
JA984250F