Phosphonate reagents and building blocks in the synthesis of bioactive compounds, natural products and medicines

Abstract This account outlines the results obtained in the author’s laboratory on the application of phosphonates in the synthesis of various classes of biologically active cyclopentenones and cyclopentanones. In the first place two general methods for the synthesis of mono-, 1,2- and 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds are presented. The first is based on the use of α-phosphoryl sulfides in conjunction with the Horner reaction while in the second method the oxygenation reaction of α-phosphonate carbanion is a key step. The utility of these two approaches to 1,4-diketones as precursors of cyclopentenones was exemplified by the synthesis of dihydrojasmone and ( Z )-jasmone. The use of simple phosphonates, α-phosphoryl sulfides and β- and γ-ketophosphonates as starting reagents in the synthesis of cyclopentanoid antibiotics (methylenomycin B, racemic desepoxy-4,5-didehydromethylenomycin, enantiomeric sarkomycins) is presented. The synthesis and reactivity of achiral 3-(phosphorylmethyl)cyclopent-2-enone and chiral diastereoisomeric camphor protected 3-(phosphorylmethyl)-4,5-dihydroxycyclopent-2-enones as building blocks is discussed as a platform for developing a new access to a variety of bioactive cyclopentenones. The utility and value of achiral phosphonate building block is demonstrated by the synthesis of racemic and enantiopure prostaglandin B 1 methyl esters and enantiomeric phytoprostanes B 1 type I and II. The range of biologically active compounds prepared from chiral diastereoisomeric cyclopentenone phosphonates is wider. Herein the total syntheses of the following target compounds are presented: enantiomeric isoterreins, natural (−)-neplanocin A and its unnatural (+)-enantiomer, anticancer prostaglandin analogues (enantiomers of TEI-9826, NEPP-11, iso -NEPP-11). The design and synthesis of racemic and four enantiopure stereoisomers of an antiulcer drug rosaprostol is also described.