Tetracyclic Diterpenoid Synthesis Facilitated by ODI-Cascade Approaches to Bicyclo[3.2.1]octane Skeletons

Tetracyclic diterpenoids (C-20) mainly refer to the plant terpenoids bearing biogenetically related carbon skeletons derived from copalyl diphosphates (ent-CPP and syn-CPP). This large family contains over 1600 known members that can be categorized into 11 major structural types. Among them, more than three-quarters share a bridged bicyclo[3.2.1]octane subunit, which is also an important branching point in biosynthesis en route to the other types of bicyclic scaffolds, such as bicyclo[2.2.2]-,bicyclo[3.3.0]-, and tricyclo[3.2.1.0]octanes. Combined with the significance of its stereochemical importance in biological activity, the assembly of the bicydo[3.2.1]octane skeletons is critical to the success of the whole synthesis blueprint toward tetracyclic diterpenoids. Although a number of inspiring methodologies have been disclosed, general approaches by the incorporation of innovative cascade reactions permitting access to diverse structural types of tetracyclic diterpenoids remain limited and in urgent demand. Because of the long-standing interest in the synthesis of bridged diterpenoids, we have recently developed two complementary types of oxidative dearomatization induced (ODI) cascade approaches to the rapid and efficient construction of bicyclo[3.2.1]octane skeletons. In this Account, we summarize our original synthesis design, methodology development, and the application of these two strategies in tetracydic diterpenoid synthesis during the past few years in our laboratory. First, we detail our preliminary investigation of the ODI-[5 + 2] cydoaddition/pinacol rearrangement cascade reaction, which showed a wide scope of vinylphenol substrates and led to cyclopentane and cydohexane-fused bicydo[3.2.1]octanes in good yields with excellent dr values. Next, we describe the utilization of this ODI-[5 + 2] cascade reaction which resulted in the asymmetric total syntheses of four highly oxygenated ent-kauranoids. The strategy concerning accurate stereochemical control in the ODI-[5 + 2] cycloaddition was then successfully transplanted to the total syntheses of three stemaranoids, thus providing a straightforward and diastereoselective route to C9-ethano-bridged tetracydic diterpenoids. To access more complex diterpenoid rhodomollanol A, we exploited two additional biomimetic rearrangements, namely, the retro-Dieckmann fragmentation/vinylogous Dieckmann cyclization cascade and the photo-Nazarov cyclization/intramolecular cycloetherification cascade. Taken together with the ODI-[5 + 2] cascade, the asymmetric total synthesis of the target molecule was realized, which shed light on the biogenetic pathway of the unprecedented rhodomollane-type carbon framework. Finally, we describe an ODI-Diels-Alder/Beckwith-Dowd cascade approach as a valuable supplement to the ODI-[5 + 2] cascade for the fabrication of cydoheptane-fused bicyclo[3.2.1]octane skeletons. Its versatility was also demonstrated by the total syntheses of two challenging grayanane diterpenoids. In view of the high functional-group compatibility and scalability, we anticipate that the two novel cascade approaches will find further use in the field of complex natural product synthesis.