Total Synthesis of (–)-Picrotoxinin

07 August 2019, Version 1
This content is a preprint and has not undergone peer review at the time of posting.

Abstract

We report a concise, stereocontrolled synthesis of the neurotoxic sesquiterpenoid, (–)-picrotoxinin (1, PXN). The brevity of the route owes to regio- and stereoselective formation of the [4.3.0] bicyclic core by incorporation of a symmetrizing geminal dimethyl group at C5. A series of strong C–C and C–H bond oxidations convert the C5 gem-dimethyl group to the C15 lactone of PXN. This counterintuitive strategy features the first example of demethylation (C–C bond cleavage) in total synthesis.

Keywords

sesquiterpenes
GABA
neurotoxin
Ts65Dn
total synthesis

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