Fragment Coupling Approach to Diaporthein B

Pimarane diterpenes are produced by a diverse array of plants, fungi, and bacteria. Many members of this family possess antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities. The pimarane diterpenes are characterized by a tricyclic carbon scaffold comprising three fused six-membered rings and at least three quaternary centers. Here, we describe two convergent, fragment-based strategies toward the synthesis of diaporthein B (3), one of the most highly oxidized pimarane diterpenes. The first approach provided access to the tricyclic carbon scaffold of the target and featured a highly diastereoselective fragment coupling, a novel carbonylative Stille cross-coupling to directly access an α-hydroxyketone from a vinyl iodide, and a tandem aldol cyclization–deprotection cascade. The second route utilized a diastereoselective 1,4-addition of a silyloxyfuran to an unsaturated ketone, followed by an epoxidation–ring opening sequence, to access a highly oxidized intermediate containing two elaborated cyclohexane rings. The chemistry developed herein may ultimately be useful in an eventual synthesis of this class of natural products.