Total synthesis of the novel tricyclic sesquiterpene sulcatine G

Article abstract of DOI:10.1039/b103472n

A synthetic approach to the tricyclic sesquiterpene sulcatine G, 2, bearing a novel tricyclo[6.2.0.0^2,6]decane framework, from commercially available 1,5-cod and leading to the first total synthesis of the natural product is described.

Full text of DOI:10.1039/b103472n

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Total synthesis of the novel tricyclic sesquiterpene sulcatine G
Goverdhan Mehta* and Katukojvala Sreenivas
Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560 012, India.
E-mail: gm@orgchem.iisc.ernet.in
Received (in Cambridge, UK) 18th April 2001, Accepted 13th August 2001
First published as an Advance Article on the web 4th September 2001
A synthetic approach to the tricyclic sesquiterpene sulcatine
G, 2, bearing a novel tricyclo[6.2.0.02,6]decane framework,
from commercially available 1,5-cod and leading to the first
total synthesis of the natural product is described.
The tricyclo[6.2.0.02,6]decane framework 1, constituted
through the linear fusion of 4-5-5-membered carbocyclic rings,
has been encountered only sporadically among the natural
products. Among the very few known examples of terpenoid
natural products based on this ring system are sulcatine G, 2,
from a Basidiomycetes fungi,1 kelsoene 3 from a tropical marine
sponge Cymbastela hooperi2a and liverwort Ptychanthus stria-
Scheme 2 Reagents: (a) i. PdCl2, Pb(OAc)4, AcOH, 70%, ii. KOH–MeOH,
tus2b and poduran 4 from the springtail Podura aquatica.3
95%; (b) i. NaH, BnBr, Bu4N+I2, THF, 85%, ii. PCC, DCM, 92%; (c)
t
K
+2OtBu, BuOH, MeI, 90%; (d) i. (CH2SH)2, toluene-p-sulfonic acid,
benzene, 96%, ii. Raney-Ni, EtOH, 90%, iii. PCC, DCM, 90%; (e) i. NaH,
(MeO)2CO, benzene, ii. NaH, PhSeCl, THF, iii. 30%H2O2, DCM, 66% (3
steps); (f) MeMgI, CuI, Et2O, 96%; (g) i. NaH, PhSeCl, THF, ii. 30%H2O2,
DCM, 50%.
C2-Symmetric diquinane diol 9 was obtained from 1,5-cod in
two steps involving Pd2+-mediated transannular cyclization and
base hydrolysis as reported previously.8 Mono-protection of the
hydroxy group and PCC oxidation in 9 led to 10. a-gem-
Dimethylation of 10 furnished 119 in which the carbonyl group
was deoxygenated via thioketal formation and Raney-Ni
desulfurization to furnish the debenzylated bicyclic alcohol in
excellent yield which was further oxidized with PCC to give
7,7,9 our main building-block for the synthesis of 2, Scheme 2.
A three step sequence from 7 involving a-carbomethoxylation,
phenylselenation–selenoxide elimination delivered the enone–
ester 12.9 1,4-Addition of methylmagnesium iodide to 12 in the
While these terpenes share the common cis, anti, cis-fused
tricarbocyclic framework, they differ in the distribution of alkyl
substitution and the level of functionalization. In an effort
directed towards the synthesis of these novel natural products,
we have recently accomplished the total synthesis of the
hydrocarbon kelsoene 3 and established its absolute configura-
tion.4,5 Continuing our efforts in the area, we have turned our
attention towards the uniquely functionalized, 4-5-5-fused
tricarbocyclic sesquiterpene sulcatine G, 2, which has also been
shown to exhibit antifungal activity on Cladosporium clado-
sporioides and C. cucumerinum.1 Herein, we report the first
total synthesis of sulcatine G, 2 which fully confirms the
stereostructure of the natural product established earlier1 on the
basis of NMR data.
presence of Cu( ) installed the third methyl group and led to a
I
diastereomeric mixture 13 (80+20)10 which was directly
transformed to the enone–ester 69 by repeating the phenyl-
selenation–selenoxide elimination sequence, Scheme 2.
The diquinane enone–ester 6† had been crafted for the
annulation of a four membered ring through the olefin-enone [2
+ 2]-photocycloaddition protocol. Irradiation of a mixture of 6
and (E)-1,2-dichloroethylene furnished the [2 + 2]-addition
product 149 as a mixture (30+70) of cis- and trans-1,2-dichloro
isomers, respectively, in excellent yield. The two stereoisomers
could be separated for characterization purposes but it was not
necessary for the further transformations. The photocycloaddi-
tion to 6 proceeded exclusively from the exo-face of the
diquinane moiety to generate the requisite cis, anti, cis ring
junction stereochemistry in the natual product 2. DIBAL-H
reduction of 14 followed by eliminative dehalogenation with
sodium naphthalenide furnished an epimeric mixture of tri-
cyclic cyclobutene diols 15a,b (55+45), Scheme 3.9 The major
isomer 15a has the hydroxy group stereochemistry as in the
natural product and is derived from the vicinal coupling (J =
8.4 Hz) between the trans disposed H6–H7 protons (cf. J = 9
Hz in sulcatine G, 2).1 In the minor isomer 15b, coupling
between cis disposed H6–H7 protons was 6.3 Hz. Catalytic
hydrogenation of 15a,b readily furnished 16a,b.9 At this stage,
the two hydroxy groups in the required epimer 16a needed to be
differentiated. This was achieved through sequential protection
of the primary and secondary hydroxy groups as the tbutyldime-
thylsilyl (TBDMS) ether and acetate groups, respectively, and
Our synthetic approach to 2 was delineated through the
retrosynthetic analysis indicated in Scheme 1. Accordingly,
C15-tricyclic vinyl ketone 5 or an equivalent compound,
embodying the entire skeleton of 2 and the two adjacent
bridgehead quaternary cabon centres, emerged as the advanced
precursor in which key functional group transformations could
be effected en route to the natural product. The tricyclic ketone
5 in turn could be accessed from the diquinane 76 via the
intermediacy of the bicyclic enone–ester 6. The bicyclic ketone
7 has been prepared in a new sequence7 emanating from the
commercially available cycloocta-1,5-diene
Scheme 2.
8 (1,5-cod),
Scheme 1
1892
Chem. Commun., 2001, 1892–1893
This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2001
DOI: 10.1039/b103472n

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3 S. Schulz, C. Messer and K. Dettner, Tetrahedron Lett., 1997, 38,
2077.
4 (a) G. Mehta and K. Sreenivas, Synlett, 1999, 555; (b) G. Mehta and K.
Sreenivas, Tetrahedron Lett., 1999, 40, 4877; (c) G. Mehta and K.
Sreenivas, Tetrahedron Lett., 2001, 42, 2855.
5 Formation of the tricyclo[6.2.0.02,6]decane system has been recorded
before, see: Y. Ohfune, H. Shirahama and T. Matsumoto, Tetrahedron
Lett., 1975, 4377; G. Mehta and A. Srikrishna, Tetrahedron Lett., 1979,
3187; A. J. H. Klunder, G. J. A. Ariaans, E. A. R. M. Van de Loop and
B. Zwanenburg, Tetrahedron, 1986, 42, 1903. However, only one
synthesis of
recorded.4b,c
a natural product based on this system has been
6 For a recent review on the synthesis of polyquinane natural products,
see: G. Mehta and A. Srikrishna, Chem. Rev., 1997, 97, 671.
7 For an earlier synthesis of diquinane 7, see: J. Cossy, D. Belotti and J.-P.
Pete, Tetrahedron Lett., 1987, 28, 4547.
8 P. M. Henry, M. Davies, G. Ferguson, S. Philips and R. Restivo, Chem.
Commun., 1974, 112; G. Mehta and K. V. Rao, Indian J. Chem., Sect.
B: Org. Chem. Incl. Med. Chem., 1991, 30B, 457.
9 All new compounds reported here were duly characterized on the basis
of spectral (IR, 1H and 13C NMR) and analytical data. J values are
measured in Hz. Selected spectral data: 15a: IR (neat) nmax 3313, 3047,
1652 cm21; 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): d 6.26 (d, J 2.7, 1H), 6.19 (d,
J 3.0, 1H) 3.84 (d, J 8.4, 1H), 3.81 (br s, 2H), 2.48–2.23 (m, 2H), 1.93
(m, 2H), 1.76 (dd, J1 13.5, J2 8.1, 1H), 1.60 (d, J 13.5, 1H), 1.40–1.30
(m, 1H), 1.13 (s, 3H), 1.06 (s, 3H), 0.97 (s, 3H); 13C NMR (75.0 MHz,
CDCl3): d 146.1, 133.7, 82.8, 66.2, 62.9, 55.8, 49.3, 46.9, 44.0, 43.9,
40.8, 31.5, 30.6, 16.1; EIMS (20 eV) m/z 204 (M+ 2 18); 15b: IR (neat)
nmax 3365, 3032, cm21; 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): d 6.10 (d, J 3.0,
Scheme 3 Reagents: (a) (E)-1,2-dichloroethylene, C6H12, hn, pyrex, 94%;
(b) i. DIBAL-H, DCM, ii. sodium naphthalenide, DME, (15a+15b
=
t
55+45), 63% (2 steps); (c) H2, 10% Pd/C, EtOAc, 92%; (d) i. BDMS-Cl,
imidazole, DMAP, DCM, 91%; ii. Ac2O, DMAP, DCM, 100%; iii. 2N
H2SO4, MeOH–H2O, 87%; (e) i. PCC, DCM, 90%, ii. MePPh3I, KOtBu,
THF, 92%; (f) i. OsO4, N-methylmorpholine oxide Me2CO–H2O, 85%; ii.
Ac2O, DMAP, 100%; iii. PCC, DCM, 75%; (g) Sc(OTf)3, MeOH–H2O,
80%; (h) KOH–MeOH, 70%.
1
1
1H), 5.92 (d, J 3.0, 1H), 3.97 (3 ABq, J 11.7, 1H), 3.92 (2 ABq, J 11.7,
1H), 3.97 (d, J 6.3, 1H), 2.85–2.75 (m, 1H), 2.47–2.38 (m, 1H),
1.67–1.22 (series of m, 4H), 1.18 (s, 3H), 1.09 (s, 3H), 1.00 (s, 3H); 13
C
further deprotection of the TBDMS group delivered the
hydroxy–acetate 17.9 Oxidation of the primary hydroxy group
in 17 with PCC to the aldehyde functionality and Wittig
methylenation delivered 18, Scheme 3. Although 18 could be
readily elaborated to the targeted advanced precursor 59
(Scheme 1) of sulcatine G, 2, tactical considerations at this stage
required further processing through 18. Consequently, 18 was
dihydroxylated and the primary hydroxy group in the resulting
diol was selectively protected as the acetate. Further oxidation
of the secondary hydroxy group delivered sulcatine G diacetate
19, spectroscopically identical with the diacetate reported from
the natural product 2.1,9 Transformation of 19 to the natural
product presented some problems but could be accomplished in
two steps involving Sc(OTf)3 mediated hydrolysis of the a-
ketoacetoxy group11 to monoacetate 20 and further exposure to
base furnished sulcatine G, 2, Scheme 3.9 Our synthetic 2 was
found to be exactly identical with the natural product spec-
troscopically (IR, 1H and 13C NMR).1
NMR (75.0 MHz, CDCl3): d 145.9, 135.8, 77.3, 65.1, 64.9, 57.3, 50.7,
48.2, 43.8, 40.7, 38.4, 30.9, 29.5, 16.4; EIMS (20 eV) m/z 204 (M+
18); 16a: IR (neat) nmax 3326 cm21 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): d
2
;
1
1
3.94 (d, J 9.3, 1H), 3.81 (2 ABq, J 10.2, 1H), 3.73 (2 ABq, J 10.8, 1H),
2.61–2.52 (m, 1H), 2.23–2.00 (series of m, 2H), 1.90–1.52 (series of m,
6H), 1.35 (dd, J1 12.6, J2 7.2, 1H), 1.12 (s, 3H), 1.00 (s, 3H), 0.97 (s,
3H); 13C NMR (75.0 MHz, CDCl3): d 85.4, 68.5, 54.7, 52.6, 49.4, 45.4,
45.0, 44.0, 40.5, 31.8, 31.6, 30.6, 19.2, 17.0; EIMS (20 eV) m/z 206 (M+
2 18); 16b: IR (neat) nmax 3366 cm21; 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): d
1
1
3.93 (2 ABq, J 11.4, 1H), 3.85 (2 ABq, J 11.4, 1H), 3.82 (d, J 5.7, 1H),
2.99–2.90 (m, 1H), 2.42–2.32 (m, 1H), 1.81–1.17 (series of m, 8H), 1.12
(s, 3H), 1.07 (s, 3H), 1.01 (s, 3H); 13C NMR (75.0 MHz, CDCl3): d 83.1,
66.1, 58.0, 55.0, 48.1, 46.1, 44.1, 40.2, 38.7, 31.1, 30.4, 29.1, 23.1, 20.1;
EIMS (20 eV) m/z 206 (M+ 2 18); 18: IR (neat) nmax 3082, 1738, 1635
cm21; 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): d 5.88 (ABX, J1 17.2, J2 10.8, 1H),
5.16 (d, J 9.3, 1H), 5.10 (ABX, J1 10.8, J2 1.5, 1H), 4.98 (ABX, J1 17.1,
J2 1.2, 1H), 2.86–2.76 (m, 1H), 2.33–2.23 (m, 1H), 2.10–1.66 (series of
m, 6H), 2.01 (s, 3H), 1.39 (dd, J1 12.3, J2 7, 1H), 1.20–1.10 (m, 1H),
1.14 (s, 3H), 0.96 (s, 3H), 0.93 (s, 3H); 13C NMR (75.0 MHz, CDCl3):
d 170.9, 141.9, 113.5, 86.2, 55.3, 54.5, 49.0, 48.5, 44.8, 43.8, 40.5, 31.7,
31.5, 30.6, 21.2, 20.4, 17.1; EIMS (20 eV) m/z 262 (M+); 19: IR (neat)
nmax 1736, 1715; 1H NMR (300 MHz, acetone-d6): d 5.23 (d, J 16.8,
1H), 4.97 (d, J 8.7, 1H), 4.66 (d, J 16.8, 1H), 3.03–2.94 (m, 1H),
2.50–2.39 (m, 1H), 2.34–2.25 (m, 1H), 2.08 (s, 3H), 2.02 (s, 3H),
2.01–1.78 (series of m, 4H), 1.65 (dd, J1 13.8, J2 2.4, 1H), 1.53 (t, J 12.6,
1H), 1.40–1.31 (m, 1H), 1.15 (s, 3H), 1.03 (s, 3H), 0.99 (s, 3H); 13C
NMR (75.0 MHz, acetone-d6): d 203.8, 171.5, 170.3, 88.2, 68.3, 63.0,
55.4, 53.9, 50.3, 45.5, 44.0, 41.0, 31.8, 31.3, 30.8, 21.0, 20.6, 20.4,
14.5.
In summary, we have outlined a stereocontrolled synthesis of
the sesquiterpene sulcatine G, 2, from a readily available
starting material (1,5-cod), which also unambiguously secures
the stereostructure of the natural product.
We thank JNCASR for the financial support. One of us
(K. S.) thanks UGC for the award of a research fellowship.
Notes and references
† The IUPAC name for diquinane is bicyclo[3.3.0]octane.
10 The major isomer in 13 is expected to have b-methyl and a-
carbomethoxy groups in trans disposition through sequential addition
and protonation from the convex face. However, the stereochemistry of
13 is inconsequential in the context of the further steps in the
synthesis.
1 A. Arnone, G. Nasini and O. Vajna de Pava, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin
Trans. 1, 1993, 2723.
2 (a) G. Konig and A. D. Wright, J. Org. Chem., 1997, 62, 3837; (b) K.
Nabeta, K. Yamamoto, M. Hashimoto, H. Koshino, K. Funatsuki and K.
Katoh, J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 1998, 1485.
11 H. Kajiro, S. Mitamura, A. Mori and T. Hiyama, Tetrahedron Lett.,
1999, 40, 1689.
Chem. Commun., 2001, 1892–1893
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