Synthesis and biological evaluation of spongistatin/altohyrtin analogues: E-ring dehydration and C46 side-chain truncation

Simplified analogues of the potent antimitotic marine macrolide spongistatin 1/altohyrtin A were synthesised and evaluated as growth inhibitory agents against a range of human tumour cell lines, including Taxol-resistant strains, revealing that E-ring dehydration leads to enhanced cytotoxicity at the low picomolar level while truncation of the side-chain at C46 results in a drastic decrease in activity.     

Synthesis of the C29-C44 portion of spongistatin 1 (altohyrtin A)

Two synthetic approaches to the C29-C44 portion of spongistatin 1 (altohyrtin A) have been developed. The key step of the first approach relies on the Claisen rearrangement of glucal 18 to provide ester 20a. This intermediate was advanced to silyl enol ether 30, which was coupled under Mukaiyama aldol conditions with aldehyde 3. Cyclization of this aldol adduct completed our first synthesis of the C29-C44 portion of spongistatin 1, requiring 25 total steps and occurring in 2.4% yield over the longest linear sequence (21 steps). We have also developed a second-generation approach based on the C-glycosidation of glucal 43. Through equilibration of the corresponding C-glycosides 49a/b and 50a/b the desired C-glycoside (50a) was obtained in good yield. Aldol condensation of this ketone provided cyclization precursor 67, which undergoes acid-catalyzed ketalization to close the E-ring of the spongistatins. An oxidation/reduction protocol was employed to set the C37 stereocenter. Protection of the C37 carbonol and selective unmasking of the C44 carbonol completed our second generation synthesis. This approach requires 27 steps and occurred in 13.2% yield over the longest linear sequence (18 steps).     

Synthesis of the C16-C28 spiroketal subunit of spongistatin 1 (altohyrtin A): the pyrone approach

The synthesis of the CD spiroketal fragment of spongistatin 1 (altohyrtin A) has been accomplished utilizing the addition of a metalated pyrone to an aldehyde and subsequent acid-catalyzed spirocyclization. A stereoselective hydrogenation and subsequent conformational inversion establish the C19 stereocenter and the axial-equatorial spiroketal center.     

Synthesis of the C(2)-C(13) fragment (the A-B spiroketal unit) of spongistatin 1 (altohyrtin A): use of a common intermediate for the synthesis of both spongistatin spiroketals

[reaction: see text] A convergent synthesis of 14 corresponding to the A-B spiroketal core of spongistatin 1 has been accomplished via an iodo-spiroketalization reaction of glycal 9, which was synthesized in three steps from a late-stage intermediate used in our synthesis of the C-D spiroketal fragment of spongistatin 1. Elaboration of 14 to the A-B spiroketal 15 was accomplished in three steps.     

Multigram synthesis of the C29-C51 subunit and completion of the total synthesis of altohyrtin C (spongistatin 2)

A multigram synthesis of the C29-C51 subunit of altohyrtin C (spongistatin 2) has been accomplished. Union of this intermediate with the C1-C28 fragment and further elaboration furnished the natural product. Completion of the C29-C51 subunit began with the aldol coupling of the boron enolate derived from methyl ketone 8 and aldehyde 9. Acid-catalyzed deprotection/cyclization of the resulting diastereomeric mixture of addition products was conducted in a single operation to afford the E-ring of altohyrtin C. The diastereomer obtained through cyclization of the unwanted aldol product was subjected to an oxidation/reduction sequence to rectify the C35 stereocenter. The C45-C48 segment of the eventual triene side chain was introduced by addition of a functionalized Grignard reagent derived from (R)-glycidol to a C44 aldehyde. Palladium-mediated deoxygenation of the resulting allylic alcohol was followed by adjustment of protecting groups to provide reactivity suitable for the later stages of the synthesis. The diene functionality comprising the remainder of the C44-C51 side chain was constructed by addition of an allylzinc reagent to the unmasked C48 aldehyde and subsequent dehydration of the resulting alcohol. Completion of the synthesis of the C29-C51 subunit was achieved through conversion of the protected C29 alcohol into a primary iodide. The synthesis of the C29-C51 iodide required 44 steps with a longest linear sequence of 33 steps. From commercially available tri-O-acetyl-d-glucal, the overall yield was 6.8%, and 2 g of the iodide was prepared. The C29-C51 primary iodide was amenable to phosphonium salt formation, and the ensuing Wittig coupling with a C1-C28 intermediate provided a fully functionalized, protected seco-acid. Selective deprotection of the required silicon groups afforded an intermediate appropriate for macrolactonization, and, finally, global deprotection furnished altohyrtin C (spongistatin 2). This synthetic approach required 113 steps with a longest linear sequence of 37 steps starting from either tri-O-acetyl-d-glucal or (S)-malic acid.     

Formal total synthesis of altohyrtin C (spongistatin 2). Part 2: Construction of fully elaborated ABCD and EF fragments

Coupling of the C1C14 (AB) crotylstannane with the C15C28 (CD) aldehyde followed by stereochemical arrangements gave the C1C28 (ABCD) fragment of altohyrtin C. The C29C44 (EF) fragment was also prepared. The syntheses of these two fragments, both of which were identical with those prepared by the Smith group, constitute a formal total synthesis of altohyrtin C.     

Formal total synthesis of altohyrtin C (spongistatin 2). Part 1: Aldol approach to unite AB and CD spiroacetals

The Mukaiyama aldol coupling of the second-generation C1C14 (AB) fragment of altohyrtins (spongistatins) with the model α-methyl-β-alkoxyaldehydes revealed that the stereochemistry at the newly formed carbon centers was controlled by the β-alkoxy chiral center of the model aldehydes. The union of the AB fragment with the C15C28 (CD) fragment under the same conditions gave the fully elaborated C1C28 (ABCD) subunit in good yield.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of neopeltolide and analogs

The synthesis of neopeltolide analogues that contain variations in the oxazole-containing side chain and in the macrolide core are reported along with the GI(50) values for these compounds against MCF-7, HCT-116, and p53 knockout HCT-116 cell lines. Although biological activity is sensitive to changes in the macrocycle and the side chain, several analogues displayed GI(50) values of <25 nM. Neopeltolide and several of the more potent analogues were significantly less potent against p53 knockout cells, suggesting that p53 plays an auxiliary role in the activity of these compounds.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of SGLT2 inhibitors: gem-difluoromethylenated Dapagliflozin analogs

Dapagliflozin is currently the most advanced SGLT2 inhibitor, which has been used in Phase III clinical trials for treatment of diabetes. Here we describe the design and synthesis of Dapagliflozin analogs modified with gem-difluoromethylene group. Their biological evaluation of in vitro inhibitory activity against human SGLT2 showed that some of the analogs with CF₂ at C-4 are better SGLT2 inhibitors compared with Dapagliflozin.     

The stereocontrolled total synthesis of altohyrtin A/spongistatin 1: fragment couplings, completion of the synthesis, analogue generation and biological evaluation

The antimitotic marine macrolide altohyrtin A/spongistatin 1 has been synthesised in a highly convergent and stereocontrolled manner, thus contributing to the replenishment of the largely exhausted material from the initial isolation work. Coupling of the AB- and CD-spiroacetal subunits by a stereoselective aldol reaction was achieved by using either a lithium (67 : 33 dr) or boron enolate (90 : 10 dr). A highly (Z)-selective Wittig coupling was used to unite the northern hemisphere aldehyde with the southern hemisphere phosphonium salt . Deprotection and subsequent regioselective macrolactonisation on a triol seco-acid completed the synthesis of altohyrtin A. Two structural analogues were also prepared and evaluated as growth inhibitory agents against a range of human tumour cell lines, including Taxol-resistant strains, alongside altohyrtin A and paclitaxel (Taxol), revealing that dehydration in the E-ring is tolerated and results in enhanced cytotoxicity (at the low picomolar level), whereas the presence of the full C44-C51 side-chain appears to be crucial for biological activity.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of the C(17)-C(28) fragment (the C-D spiroketal unit) of spongistatin 1 (altohyrtin A) via a kinetically controlled iodo-spiroketalization reaction

[reaction: see text] A convergent and stereocontrolled synthesis of spiroketal 15 corresponding to the C-D fragment of spongistatin 1 has been accomplished by a sequence utilizing a kinetically controlled intramolecular iodo-spiroketalization of glycal 2, which in turn was synthesized via a ring-closing metathesis reaction.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of aziridine-containing analogs of phytosphingosine

Six new aziridine-containing analogs of phytosphingosine designed as constrained anhydrophytosphingosine were synthesized. The synthetic route developed also afforded an access to an original bicyclic analog of the natural anhydrophytosphingosine jaspine B. All these new compounds were evaluated for their capacities to affect melanoma cell viability.     

The stereocontrolled total synthesis of altohyrtin A/spongistatin 1: the CD-spiroacetal segment

Stereocontrolled syntheses of the C16-C28 CD-spiroacetal subunit of altohyrtin A/spongistatin 1 , relying on kinetic and thermodynamic control of the spiroacetal formation, are described. The kinetic control approach resulted in a slight preference (60 : 40) for the desired spiroacetal isomer. The thermodynamic approach allowed ready access to the desired spiroacetal by acid-promoted equilibration, chromatographic separation of the C23 epimers and resubjection of the undesired isomer to the equilibration conditions. This scalable synthetic sequence provided multi-gram quantities of , thus enabling the successful completion of the total synthesis of altohyrtin A/spongistatin 1, as reported in Part 4 of this series.     

A modular approach to marine macrolide construction. 4. Assembly of C36-C51 and C29-C44 building blocks and evaluation of key coupling reactions targeting spongistatin 1 (altohyrtin A)

Routes have been developed for the stereocontrolled elaboration of two highly functionalized sectors of spongistatin 1. The approach to ring F takes advantage of B-alkyl Suzuki-Miyaura coupling to install the C44-C45 bond. The E-ring pyran moiety was generated by acylation of an alpha-sulfonyl carbanion, the stereogenic centers of which were incorporated by sequential asymmetric aldol reactions. [structure: see text].     

A modular approach to marine macrolide construction. 3. Enantioselective synthesis of the C1-C28 sector of spongistatin 1 (altohyrtin A)

[structure: see text] A completely stereocontrolled approach to assembly of the major C1-C28 subunit of spongistatin 1 (altohyrtin A) is described. Key steps included the control of two asymmetric aldols by means of Fujita-Nagao (chiral N-acyl-1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione auxiliary) and Mukaiyama (BF3 x OEt2-promoted enolsilane coupling) protocols in complex settings.     

The stereocontrolled total synthesis of altohyrtin A/spongistatin 1: the AB-spiroacetal segment

The convergent synthesis of the C1-C15 AB-spiroacetal subunit of altohyrtin A/spongistatin 1 is described. This highly stereocontrolled synthesis relies on matched boron aldol reactions of chiral methyl ketones, under Ipc(2)BCl mediation, to establish the C5, C9 and C11 stereocentres, and formation of the desired thermodynamic spiroacetal under acidic conditions. The scalable synthetic sequence developed provided access to multi-gram quantities of , thus enabling the successful completion of the total synthesis of altohyrtin A/spongistatin 1, as reported in Part 4.     

Synthesis of the C(29)-C(45) bis-pyran subunit (E-F) of spongistatin 1 (Altohyrtin A)

A synthesis of the C(29)-C(45) bis-pyran subunit 2 of spongistatin 1 (1a) is described. The synthesis proceeds in 19 steps from the chiral aldehyde ent-7, and features highly diastereoselective alpha-alkoxyallylation reactions using the gamma-alkoxy substituted allylstannanes 17 and 19, as well as a thermodynamically controlled intramolecular Michael addition to close the F-ring pyran. The E ring was assembled via the Mukaiyama aldol reaction of F-ring methyl ketone 3 and the 2,3-syn aldehyde 4.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of peptidyl organotrifluoroborates and their corresponding boron analogs

Six peptidyl organotrifluoroborates and their corresponding boronate esters and/or boronic acid analogs were designed and synthesized. Their anti-proliferative activity against hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) and human metastatic breast cancer cells (MDA-MB231) were evaluated by use of an MTT assay. Potassium {4-[(3S,6S,9S)-3,6-dibenzyl-9-isopropyl-4,7,10-trioxo-11-oxa-2,5,8-triazadodecyl]phenyl}trifluoroborate (B6) was potent (IC₅₀ = 29.9 μM) against MDA-MB231, and {4-[(3S,6S,9S)-6-benzyl-3-((benzyloxy)methyl)-9-isopropyl-4,7,10-trioxo-11-oxa-2,5,8-triazadodecyl]phenyl}boronic acid (B9) and Potassium {4-[(3S,6S,9S)-6-benzyl-3-((benzyloxy)methyl)-9-isopropyl-4,7,10-trioxo-11-oxa-2,5,8-triazadodecyl]phenyl}trifluoroborate (B10) had broad anti-proliferative activity against HepG2 (IC₅₀ = 24.7 and 21.8 μM, respectively) and MDA-MB231 (IC₅₀ = 24.5 and 18.9 μM, respectively).     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel tert-azido or tert-amino substituted penciclovir analogs

tert-Azido or amino substituted penciclovir analogs, 1-3 were synthesized for the purpose of improving the efficacy and bioavailability of penciclovir and searching for novel antiviral agents. Among several methods attempted to insert an azido group into the alpha,beta-unsaturated ester 6, only Bronsted acid-catalysed 1,4-conjugate addition conditions (NaN3, 75% acetic acid, 80 degrees C) gave the desired tert-azido product 7. The synthesized final penciclovir analogs 1-3 were evaluated in vitro against several viruses such as HIV-1, HSV-1 and 2, poliovirus, VZV, and VSV. Compound 2 only showed weak antiviral activity against HSV-1 without cytotoxicity. Although the synthesized compounds did not exhibit an excellent antiviral activity, the successful method used in introducing the tert-azido group is expected to be generally utilized for the synthesis of nucleoside analogs with a tert-azido substituent.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of (-)-laulimalide analogues

[reaction: see text] The syntheses of five laulimalide analogues are described, incorporating modifications at the C(16)-C(17)-epoxide, the C(20)-alcohol, as well as the C(1)-C(3)-enoate of the parent natural product. The resultant analogues are active in drug-sensitive HeLa and MDA-MB-435 cell lines. Significantly, like laulimalide, these analogues are poor substrates for the drug transport protein P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and are thus effective against Taxol-resistant cell lines.