Atroposelective Synthesis of Isoriccardin C through a C-H Activated Heck Type Macrocyclization

Macrocyclization is typically the key step in syntheses of cyclophane-type natural products. Considering compounds with axially chiral biaryl moieties, the control of atroposelectivity is essential for biological activity and is synthetically challenging. Herein we report on atroposelective macrocyclization involving an oxidative Heck type process and enabling the first atropo-enantiopure synthesis of isoriccardin C. A chiral sulfinyl auxiliary in the ortho-position of a biaryl axis (still flexible) was used to induce a C-H activated atropodiastereoselective oxidative Heck coupling (>98 % de). The traceless character of the sulfinyl auxiliary enables the introduction of a hydroxy group to give the target molecule with >98 % ee as well.

Automated summary

This study presents an atroposelective macrocyclization process using an oxidative Heck system to achieve the first atropo-enantiopure synthesis of isoriccardin C, which demonstrates a new strategy for synthesizing biologically active optical isomers.