(-)-Isoscopariusin A, a Naturally Occurring Immunosuppressive Meroditerpenoid: Structure Elucidation and Scalable Chemical Synthesis

(-)-Isoscopariusin A was isolated from the aerial parts of Isodon scoparius. Chemical synthesis and spectroscopic analysis established its structure as an unsymmetrical meroditerpenoid bearing a sterically congested 6/6/4 tricyclic carbon skeleton with seven continuous stereocenters. A gram-scale synthesis was achieved in 12 steps from commercially available (+)-sclareolide. A cobalt catalyzed, hydrogen atom transfer-based olefin isomerization was used to prepare a trisubstituted alkene, which underwent stereoselective [2+2] cycloaddition with a substituted keteniminium ion generated in situ from the corresponding amide. The cyclobutanone product was further elaborated into the fully substituted cyclobutane core through face-selective homologation, and the two side chains were installed by using nickel-catalyzed cross-electrophile coupling and carbodiimide-mediated esterification, respectively. (-)-Isoscopariusin A displayed selective inhibition of T-cell proliferation.

Automated summary

Isoscopariusin A, isolated from Isodon scoparius, was identified as an unsymmetrical meroditerpenoid with a sterically congested carbon skeleton. Gram-scale synthesis was achieved in 12 steps, with selective inhibition of T-cell proliferation as a significant biological activity.