Total Synthesis of (−)‐Apratoxin A, 34‐Epimer,and Its Oxazoline Analogue

A concise and convergent total synthesis of the highly cytotoxic marine natural product apratoxin A is accomplished by an 18‐step linear sequence. The high sensitivity of the thiazoline, bearing an adjacent β‐hydroxyl group at the C35‐position, results in the assembly process requiring the inclusion of appropriate protecting groups and the careful optimization of all individual transformations. In the synthesis of 3,7‐dihydroxy‐2,5,8,8‐tetramethylnonanoic acid (Dtena), the three reagent‐controlled asymmetric reactions enables us to introduce four chiral carbon centers in a dihydroxylated fatty acid moiety. Formation of the hindered ester and sterically‐unfavorable N‐methylamide bonds were successfully demonstrated. The thiazoline in apratoxin A was constructed by Tf₂O and Ph₃PO‐mediated dehydrative cyclization, and final macrocyclization was achieved between N‐methylisoleucine and proline residues. Moreover, an oxazoline analogue and a C34 epimer of apratoxin A have also been elaborated in a similar approach. This synthetic route would enable assembly of other analogues differing in stereocenters of Dtena and their amino acids.     

Total synthesis of didmolamides A and B

The first total synthesis of didmolamides A (1) and B (2) has been accomplished by the solid phase assembly of thiazole-containing amino acids and commercially available Fmoc-protected amino acids. The synthesis of didmolamide B was also achieved in high yield using solution phase peptide synthesis. The thiazole-containing amino acid composing 1 and 2 was synthesized by a MnO₂ oxidation of a thiazoline, prepared from an Ala-Cys dipeptide using bis(triphenyl)oxodiphosphonium trifluoromethanesulfonate. The final macrolactamization was accomplished efficiently by PyBOP and DMAP in solution.     

Total Synthesis of the Cyclic Depsipeptide Vioprolide D via its (Z)‐Diastereoisomer

The first total synthesis of vioprolide D was accomplished in an overall yield of 2.0 % starting from methyl (2S)‐3‐benzyloxy‐2‐hydroxypropanoate (16 steps in the longest linear sequence). The cyclic depsipeptide was assembled from two building blocks of similar size and complexity in a modular, highly convergent approach. Peptide bond formation at the C‐terminal dehydrobutyrine amino acid of the northern fragment was possible via its (Z)‐diastereoisomer. After macrolactamization and formation of the thiazoline ring, the (Z)‐double bond of the dehydrobutyrine unit was isomerized to the (E)‐double bond of the natural product. The cytotoxicity of vioprolide D is significantly higher than that of its (Z)‐diastereoisomer.     

Total synthesis of apratoxin A

[reaction: see text]. We have achieved a total synthesis of apratoxin A in which thiazoline formation was accomplished from the moCys containing amide 4 using PPh3(O)/Tf2O. Deprotection of the Troc and allyl ester in 17, coupling with tripeptide 3, and deprotection of the allyl ester and the Fmoc, followed by macrolactamization provided apratoxin A (1).     

Quaternary β2,2‐Amino Acids: Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis and Incorporation into Peptides by Fmoc‐Based Solid‐Phase Peptide Synthesis

β‐Amino acid incorporation has emerged as a promising approach to enhance the stability of parent peptides and to improve their biological activity. Owing to the lack of reliable access to β^2,2‐amino acids in a setting suitable for peptide synthesis, most contemporary research efforts focus on the use of β³‐ and certain β^2,3‐amino acids. Herein, we report the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of β^2,2‐amino acids and their incorporation into peptides by Fmoc‐based solid‐phase peptide synthesis (Fmoc‐SPPS). A quaternary carbon center was constructed by the palladium‐catalyzed decarboxylative allylation of 4‐substituted isoxazolidin‐5‐ones. The N?O bond in the products not only acts as a traceless protecting group for β‐amino acids but also undergoes amide formation with α‐ketoacids derived from Fmoc‐protected α‐amino acids, thus providing expeditious access to α‐β^2,2‐dipeptides ready for Fmoc‐SPPS.     

Polyoxometalate Clusters Integrated into Peptide Chains and as Inorganic Amino Acids: Solution‐ and Solid‐Phase Approaches

General synthetic methods for the grafting of peptide chains onto polyoxometalate clusters by the use of general activated precursors have been developed. Using a solution‐phase approach, pre‐synthesized peptides can be grafted to a metal oxide cluster to produce hybrids of unprecedented scale (up to 30 residues). An adapted solid‐phase method allows the incorporation of these clusters, which may be regarded as novel hybrid unnatural amino acids, during the peptide synthesis itself. These methods may open the way for the automated synthesis of peptides and perhaps even proteins that contain “inorganic” amino acids.     

Synthesis of Sulfotyrosine‐Containing Peptides by Incorporating Fluorosulfated Tyrosine Using an Fmoc‐Based Solid‐Phase Strategy

Tyrosine O‐sulfation is a common protein post‐translational modification that regulates many biological processes, including leukocyte adhesion and chemotaxis. Many peptides with therapeutic potential contain one or more sulfotyrosine residues. We report a one‐step synthesis for Fmoc‐fluorosulfated tyrosine. An efficient Fmoc‐based solid‐phase peptide synthetic strategy is then introduced for incorporating the fluorosulfated tyrosine residue into peptides of interest. Standard simultaneous peptide‐resin cleavage and removal of the acid‐labile side‐chain protecting groups affords the crude peptides containing fluorosulfated tyrosine. Basic ethylene glycol, serving both as solvent and reactant, transforms the fluorosulfated tyrosine peptides into sulfotyrosine peptides in high yield.     

Total synthesis of the cyclodepsipeptide apratoxin A and its analogues and assessment of their biological activities

A novel total synthesis of apratoxin A is described, with key steps including the assembly of its ketide segment through a D-proline-catalyzed direct aldol reaction and Oppolzer's anti aldol reaction and the preparation of its thiazoline unit in a biomimetic synthesis. An oxazoline analogue of apratoxin A has also been elaborated by a similar approach. This compound has a potency against HeLa cell proliferation only slightly lower than that of apratoxin A, whilst a C(40)-demethylated oxazoline analogue of apratoxin A displays a much lower cytotoxicity and the C(37)-epimer and C(37) demethylation product of this new analogue are inactive. These results suggest that the two methyl groups at C(37) and C(40) and the stereochemistry at C(37) are essential for the potent cellular activity of the oxazoline analogue of apratoxin A. Further biological analysis revealed that both synthetic apratoxin A and its oxazoline analogue inhibited cell proliferation by causing cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase.     

Efficient Synthesis of Cryptophycin‐52 and Novel para‐Alkoxymethyl Unit A Analogues

Cryptophycins are a family of highly cytotoxic, cyclic depsipeptides. They display antitumour activity that is largely maintained for multi‐drug‐resistant tumour cells. Cryptophycins are composed of four building blocks (units A–D) that correspond to the respective amino and hydroxy acids. A new synthetic route to unit A allows the selective generation of all four stereogenic centres in a short, efficient and reliable synthesis and contributes to an easier and faster synthesis of cryptophycins. The first two stereogenic centres are introduced by a catalytic asymmetric dihydroxylation, whereas the remaining two stereogenic centres are introduced with substrate control of diastereoselectivity. The stereogenic diol function also serves as the epoxide precursor. The approach was used to synthesise the native unit A building block as well as three para‐alkoxymethyl analogues from which cryptophycin‐52 and three analogous cryptophycins were prepared. Macrocyclisation of the seco‐depsipeptides was based on ring‐closing metathesis.     

Experimental and Theoretical Studies on the Rearrangement of 2‐Oxoazepane α,α‐Amino Acids into 2′‐Oxopiperidine β2,3,3‐Amino Acids: An Example of Intramolecular Catalysis

Enantiopure β‐amino acids represent interesting scaffolds for peptidomimetics, foldamers and bioactive compounds. However, the synthesis of highly substituted analogues is still a major challenge. Herein, we describe the spontaneous rearrangement of 4‐carboxy‐2‐oxoazepane α,α‐amino acids to lead to 2′‐oxopiperidine‐containing β^2,3,3‐amino acids, upon basic or acid hydrolysis of the 2‐oxoazepane α,α‐amino acid ester. Under acidic conditions, a totally stereoselective synthetic route has been developed. The reordering process involved the spontaneous breakdown of an amide bond, which typically requires strong conditions, and the formation of a new bond leading to the six‐membered heterocycle. A quantum mechanical study was carried out to obtain insight into the remarkable ease of this rearrangement, which occurs at room temperature, either in solution or upon storage of the 4‐carboxylic acid substituted 2‐oxoazepane derivatives. This theoretical study suggests that the rearrangement process occurs through a concerted mechanism, in which the energy of the transition states can be lowered by the participation of a catalytic water molecule. Interestingly, it also suggested a role for the carboxylic acid at position 4 of the 2‐oxoazepane ring, which facilitates this rearrangement, participating directly in the intramolecular catalysis.     

Solid‐phase synthesis of a novel series of 2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1,4‐benzodiazepin‐2,5‐dione libraries

An efficient solid‐phase synthetic method for 2,3,4,5‐Tetrahydro‐1,4‐benzodiazepin‐2,5‐diones, having amine derivatives on the benzene ring, was developed. This method has been successfully applied to the synthesis of several spatially separated drug‐like and information‐rich small‐molecule libraries composed of 400 compounds using ACT‐496 automatic synthesizer and the IRORI radio frequency‐encoded split‐mix synthesis technology.     

Rapid Total Synthesis of Cyclic Lipodepsipeptides as a Premise to Investigate their Self‐Assembly and Biological Activity

A rapid and efficient total synthesis is reported for the cyclic lipodepsipeptide pseudodesmin A. This member of the Pseudomonas viscosin group is active against Gram‐positive bacteria and features self‐assembling properties. A conserved serine residue within the lactone macrocycle is exploited for initial immobilization on 2‐chlorotrityl chloride resin through ether formation with the side‐chain alcohol. Subsequent elongation proceeds through Fmoc solid‐phase peptide synthesis, including automated incorporation of the enantioselectively synthesized (R)‐3‐hydroxydecanoic acid lipid tail. Following esterification to generate the incipient lactone bond, the macrocycle is formed by on‐resin head‐to‐tail macrolactamization and cleaved from the resin to give the desired compound in good purity. The short and efficient synthesis route allows rapid generation of analogues by facile variation of both the peptide and lipid moieties with good control of epimerization while maximizing automation. Synthesis of the pseudodesmin A enantiomer yields identical self‐assembly and biological activity to that observed for the natural compound, showing that activity is not mediated by chiral interactions. A D ‐Asn8 analogue developed en route retains self‐assembly, but loses activity. The synthesis strategy should be generally applicable for the rapid generation of analogues from various cyclic lipodepsipeptide groups, allowing an investigation of their self‐assembling properties and structure–activity relationships.     

Differently Glycosidated 2‐Amino‐2‐deoxy‐d‐glucopyranosiduronic Acids as Building Blocks in Peptide Synthesis

Seven differently glycosidated sugar amino acids (SSAs) derived from glucosamine have been prepared. Following standard solution‐phase peptide‐coupling procedures, the glycosidated 2‐amino‐2‐deoxy‐D ‐glucopyranosiduronic acids were condensed with natural amino acids to furnish useful heterodi‐ and ‐trimeric building blocks to be used in peptide synthesis. Combinations of these building blocks yielded hetero‐oligomeric peptides with two sugar amino acid units in different distances to each other. These were prepared to evaluate the influence of glycosidic side chains on the peptide backbone. Conformations of selected examples were examined by means of ROESY spectroscopy in combination with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and circular‐dichroism (CD) studies.     

Catalytic Asymmetric 1,2‐Addition of α‐Isothiocyanato Phosphonates: Synthesis of Chiral β‐Hydroxy‐ or β‐Amino‐Substituted α‐Amino Phosphonic Acid Derivatives

α‐Amino phosphonic acid derivatives are considered to be the most important structural analogues of α‐amino acids and have a very wide range of applications. However, approaches for the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of such useful compounds are very limited. In this work, simple, efficient, and versatile organocatalytic asymmetric 1,2‐addition reactions of α‐isothiocyanato phosphonate were developed. Through these processes, derivatives of β‐hydroxy‐α‐amino phosphonic acid and α,β‐diamino phosphonic acid, as well as highly functionalized phosphonate‐substituted spirooxindole, can be efficiently constructed (up to 99 % yield, d.r. >20:1, and >99 % ee). This novel method provides a new route for the enantioselective functionalization of α‐phosphonic acid derivatives.     

Total Synthesis of Potent Antitumor Agent (−)‐Lasonolide A: A Cycloaddition‐Based Strategy

A detailed account of the enantioselective total synthesis of (?)‐lasonolide A is described. Our initial synthetic route to the top tetrahydropyran ring involved Evans asymmetric alkylation as the key step. Initially, we relied on the diastereoselective alkylation of an α‐alkoxyacetimide derivative containing an α′ stereogenic center and investigated such an asymmetric alkylation reaction. Although alkylation proceeded in good yield, the lack of diastereoselectivity prompted us to explore alternative routes. Our subsequent successful synthetic strategies involved highly diastereoselective cycloaddition routes to both tetrahydropyran rings of lasonolide A. The top tetrahydropyran ring was constructed stereoselectively by an intramolecular 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction. The overall process constructed a bicyclic isoxazoline, which was later unravelled to a functionalized tetrahydropyran ring as well as a quaternary stereocenter present in the molecule. The lower tetrahydropyran ring was assembled by a Jacobsen catalytic asymmetric hetero‐Diels–Alder reaction as the key step. The synthesis also features a Lewis acid catalyzed epoxide opening to form a substituted ether stereoselectively.     

Poly(styrene‐co‐glycerol dimethacrylate): Synthesis,characterization, and application as a resin for gel‐phase peptide synthesis

An efficient cross‐linked polymer support for solid‐phase synthesis was prepared by introducing glycerol dimethacrylate cross‐linker to polystyrene network using free radical aqueous suspension polymerization. The support was characterized by various spectroscopic methods. Morphological feature of the resin was analyzed by microscopy. The polymerization reaction was investigated with respect to the effect of amount of cross‐linking agent, which in turn vary the swelling, loading, and the mechanical stability of the resin. The solvent uptake of the polymer was studied in relation to cross‐linking and compared with Merrifield resin. The stability of the resin was tested in different synthetic conditions used for solid‐phase peptide synthesis. Hydroxy group of the support was derivatized to chloro and then amino groups using different reagents and reaction conditions. Efficiency of the support was tested and compared with TentaGel? resin by following different steps involved in the synthesis of the 65–74 fragment of acyl carrier protein. The results showed that the poly(styrene‐co‐glycerol dimethacrylate) (GDMA‐PS) is equally efficient as TentaGel resin in peptide synthesis. The purity of the peptides was analyzed by HPLC and identities were determined by mass spectroscopy and amino acid analysis. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4382–4392, 2005     

Traceless Preparation of C‐Terminal α‐Ketoacids for Chemical Protein Synthesis by α‐Ketoacid–Hydroxylamine Ligation: Synthesis of SUMO2/3

A novel protecting group for enantiopure α‐ketoacids delivers C‐terminal peptide α‐ketoacids directly upon resin cleavage and allows the inclusion of all canonical amino acids, including cysteine and methionine. By using this approach, SUMO2 and SUMO3 proteins were prepared by KAHA ligation with 5‐oxaproline. The synthetic proteins containing homoserine residues were recognized by and conjugated to RanGAP1 by SUMOylation enzymes.     

Towards the synthesis of [15]-membered stevastelins through the 2,3-epoxy analogues

A synthetic approach to the [15]-membered stevastelins, a novel class of immunosuppressant agents, is reported based on a macrolactamization route to the 2,3-epoxy derivative 6. The synthesis of this compound was achieved via a stereoselective epoxidation of the allylic alcohol 13, followed by a coupling reaction with a variety of peptide derivatives to give the epoxy peptides 7-10. After an extensive study of cyclizations with these precursors, the best result was achieved with the macrolactamization of 8 in the presence of DEPC, to obtain the epoxy cyclic depsipeptide 6 in 42% yield. From this product, an epoxy analogue of stevastelin B, compound 27, was prepared. Finally, the synthesis of the natural product was attempted through the opening of the oxirane ring contained in 6 and 26, with a variety of methyl cuprate reagents, but without success.     

Synthesis of Fragment Derivatives of Delta Sleep-inducing Peptide （1-4） Catalyzed by Enzymes in Organic Solvents

Synthesis of two fragment derivatives of delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP) (1-4), Boc-Trp-Ala-Gly-GlyNHNHPh (1) and Boc-Trp-Ala-Gly-GlyOEt (2), catalyzed by proteases via 2 2 or 1 3 synthetic routes with different protecting groups at C-terminal in organic solvents was reported. The yield of N-Boc tetrapeptide with phenylhydrazinyl protecting carboxyl group at C-terminal (1) was higher than that of N-Boc tetrapeptide ethyl ester (2) by 2 2 route. The factors influencing the synthetic yield of the fragments of DSIP (1-4) were discussed.