Three approaches toward the core of halichlorine and pinnaic acid are described. The first approach entails a racemic transannular nitrone-olefin [3+2] cycloaddition from nitrone 238. Construction of the nitrone 238 began with aldehyde 241. Another key feature in this route involved a ring-closing metathesis for the formation of a 14-membered...
This dissertation is separated into two parts according to the two major distinct research projects. In Part I, the full account of synthetic studies toward C10-functionalized lycopodium alkaloids is described. In Part II, the detailed discussion on the exploration of the Pummerer cyclization methodology and its application to the total...
Aminal radical intermediates were generated by the method of radical translocation and reacted in C-C bond forming reactions with electronically deficient alkenes (Schiedler et al. Org. Lett. 2012, 14, 6092). Aminal radical intermediates can participate in inter- and intra-molecular reactions using both Bu3SnH and (TMS)₃SiH as hydride donors. Carbon–carbon bonds...
Organic compounds which contain one or more nitrogen atoms are especially important as they are disproportionately represented among biologically active molecules. As a result, significant effort has been focused on the development of methods for the synthesis of nitrogenous molecules. We identified the aminal as an under-explored functional group. Despite...
More than 30 members of the diverse amphidinolide family of biologically active macrolides have been isolated over last three decades. From this family, amphidinolides C and F stand among the most complex and densely functionalized affiliates. Recently, we have accomplished the first total synthesis of amphidinolide F. The all-carbon framework...
Pharmaceuticals, molecular catalysts, and secondary metabolites often contain nitrogen. The problems faced synthesizing compounds which contain nitrogen was because of the Lewis base reactivity of nitrogen lone pairs, and the acidic protons of some nitrogenous functional groups. We developed two methods for the synthesis of nitrogeous compounds. Additionally, we successfully...
This thesis is separated into three distinct projects. First, synthetic studies towards the furanosteroid viridin shown in part I. Second, synthetic studies towards the diperene obtusanal shown in part II. Third, the analysis, characterization, and synthesis of coronene derivatives towards their application in organic batteries shown in part III. Significant...
Natural products from both terrestrial and marine sources represent a significant source of novel drug leads, and have previously been developed into clinically-approved agents for the treatment of various human diseases. This work represents the biological characterization of the mechanistic basis for activity of several natural product structures in models...
The enantioselective total synthesis of quinolizidine-containing natural product cermizine D and formal syntheses of senepodine G and cermizine C has been achieved. These natural products are members of the lycopodium alkaloids, which have attracted significant attention due to their exciting biological activities and the diverse structural scaffolds. Key steps in...
Complex organic transformations, such as the addition of pyrrole to ketene using planar chiral organocatalyst (*PPY), the four-component anhydride- Manniach reactions, and the site-selective desymmetrization of meso-1,2-diol, are remarkable synthetic reactions that provide high yield and high selectivity. However, the exact mechanism and origins of stereocontrol for theses synthetic organic...