Studies toward a total synthesis of Lactonamycin

Work was undertaken towards the synthesis of the promising antibiotic lactonamycin (iii). Following the work of Parsons et al. it was proposed that cyclisation of the ene-diyne (i) would give access to advanced pentacyclic intermediate (ii) and that from this a total synthesis of lactonamycin would be achieved (scheme I). Scheme I : Proposed Parsons, Board, Waters cyclisation to form the pentacycle (iii)(For image refer to pdf). A synthesis towards the cyclisation precursor (i) was carried out and a route to the key tetrasubstituted phthalide (v) established. Further chemistry was proposed to complete the synthesis of lactonamycin (scheme II). Scheme II : Formation of a fully substituted benzolactone.(For image refer to pdf). During attempts to introduce the ß-bromoallyl group of key intermediate (v) using a high temperature Claisen rearrangement it was established that the benzodioxin (vii) underwent thermolysis to generate the reactive quinone methide intermediate (viii) and that in the presence of a nucleophilic solvent the adduct (ix) was formed (scheme III). Model studies showed the reaction to be both general and high-yielding. Scheme III : Novel quinone methide methodology. (For image refer to pdf).