Determination of the absolute stereochemistry and asymmetric total synthesis of madindolines A and B: a practical improvement to a second-generation approach from the first-generation

In this report, we describe an efficient, highly convergent, stereocontrolled first total synthesis and a second-generation synthesis of madindolines A 1 and B 2, potent selective inhibitors of interleukin 6. The key steps include (1) asymmetric oxidative ring-closure reaction of tryptophol 3 to construct a chiral 3a-hydroxyfuroindoline 4 using the modified Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation condition, (2) highly diastereoselective acylation to build up the quaternary carbon center, and (3) intramolecular acylation of ester 32 with allylsilanes to produce the full substituted cyclopentenedione units. Our first synthetic route defines for the first time both their relative and absolute configurations. Moreover, a more efficient second-generation synthesis was designed, which is suitable for gram-scale preparation of these compounds. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.