Synlett 2008(5): 695-701  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1042813
LETTER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

A Synthesis of the Tricyclic Core Structure of FR901483 Featuring an Ugi Four-Component Coupling and a Remarkably Selective Elimination Reaction [1]

Hirofumi Seike, Erik J. Sorensen*
Frick Chemical Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544-1009, USA
Fax: +1(609)2581980; e-Mail: ejs@princeton.edu;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 8 October 2007
Publication Date:
26 February 2008 (online)

Abstract

Three key reactions, an efficient Ugi four-component coupling, a regiospecific, base-mediated elimination reaction, and an intramolecular nitrone/alkene [3+2] cycloaddition, were used to achieve an effective synthesis of the tricyclic molecular framework of the immunosuppressant FR901483. The outcome of a control experiment supports the idea that an internal deprotonation by an alkoxide ion is the origin of the site selectivity observed in the base-induced elimination of hydroxy mesylate 17.

1

This manuscript is based on Chapter 2 of the Ph.D. thesis of Hirofumi Seike, The Scripps Research Institute, 2003. Experimental procedures and characterization data for the new compounds described in this manuscript are available from the corresponding author upon request.

1

This manuscript is based on Chapter 2 of the Ph.D. thesis of Hirofumi Seike, The Scripps Research Institute, 2003. Experimental procedures and characterization data for the new compounds described in this manuscript are available from the corresponding author upon request.

19

An effort to initiate a Prins cyclization of compound 8 with phosphoric acids was also unsuccessful.