Short-step synthesis and structure-activity relationship of cortistatin A analogs

An improved method for synthesizing structurally simplified analogs of cortistatin A (1), a novel anti-angiogenic steroidal alkaloid from a marine sponge, was developed. In contrast to previous methods, step- and redox-economical synthesis was achieved using a known α-bromoketone as the starting material. The structure-activity relationship study revealed that the isoquinoline portion was strictly recognized by the target molecule. Surprisingly, the introduction of the acetamide moiety on the A-ring structure dramatically enhanced the selective antiproliferative activity against endothelial cells. This new method can be easily applied to gram-scale synthesis and enabled us to prepare various analogs, which were focused on the participation of the side chain and A-ring structure.     

Chemistry of renieramycins. Part 11: Total synthesis of (±)-cribrostatin 4

A 19-step synthesis of (±)-cribrostatin 4 (1) from readily available piperazine-2,5-dione derivative 6 is described. The synthesis features the concise construction of a pentacyclic framework, followed by the base-catalyzed epimerization of the C-1 stereo center of aldehyde (11). The results of cytotoxicity studies are also presented.     

Concise total synthesis of phidianidine A and B

The shortest total synthesis of cytotoxic indole alkaloids phidianidine A and B is described. Rapid assembly of the 1,2,4-oxadiazole core from a novel N-hydroxyguanidine and the corresponding indole-3-acetic acid chloride led to formal syntheses of phidianidine A and B in only three steps from known compounds. Deprotection under standard conditions provided the trifluoroacetate salts of phidianidine A and B in quantitative yield.     

First stereoselective total synthesis of Neocosmosin A: a facile approach

First stereoselective concise synthesis of Neocosmosin A, with in vitro binding affinity for human opioid and cannabinoid receptors, has been reported using readily available starting materials such as methylacetoacetate, cyclohexanone, and homoallyl alcohol involved in the key transformations. There are three fragments involved in the synthesis of target molecule, bearing acid functionality, (R)-pent-4-en-2-ol, and Weinreb amide which are synthesized in four, eight, and three steps, respectively. Then the fragments were coupled in four steps to yield the target molecule in an overall yield of 28.6%.     

Synthesis of CD-ring structure of cortistatin A, an anti-angiogenic steroidal alkaloid from marine sponge

Stereoselective synthesis of the CD-ring structure of cortistatin A (1), a novel anti-angiogenic steroidal alkaloid from Indonesian marine sponge, was achieved. The stereogenic tertiary carbon center bearing the isoquinoline moiety was constructed by 1,3-chiral transfer method using Johnson-Claisen rearrangement of the chiral allylic alcohol 5. Subsequent intramolecular Michael-aldol reaction afforded the targeted trans-hydrindane skeleton with moderate stereoselectivity.     

Efficient and versatile stereoselective synthesis of cryptophycins

The cryptophycins are a family of cyclic depsipeptides with four retrosynthetic units A to D which correspond to the respective amino acids and hydroxy acids. A new synthetic route to unit A allows the selective generation of all four stereogenic centres by introducing two of them in a catalytic asymmetric dihydroxylation, followed by substrate-controlled diastereoselective reactions. The diol also serves as the epoxide precursor. This approach provides selective access to stereoisomers of unit A (enantiomers, epimers) for structure-activity relationship studies. The unit A derivatives were incorporated into cryptophycin-1, cryptophycin-52 and a novel epimer of cryptophycin-52.     

Isolation and total synthesis of two novel metabolites from the fissurellid mollusc Scutus antipodes

There is almost no information on natural products from gastropods in the order Vetigastropoda and nothing at all for the superfamily Fissurellidae (keyhole and slit limpets), which are only partially protected from predation by their shell. Extraction of the Australian fissurellid Scutus antipodes yielded two new compounds, scutinin A [d-sorbityl hexakis(p-hydroxybenzoate)] and scutinin B [2-ethylhexane-1,3-bis(p-hydroxybenzoate)] that were identified by spectroscopic analysis and their structures confirmed by total synthesis. The compounds were found to have antimicrobial activity but no fish antifeedant activity.     

Total synthesis of (+)-spiculoic acid A

The total synthesis of natural (+)-spiculoic acid A, a new cytotoxic marine natural product of polyketide origin, has been accomplished for the first time. The key step of the total synthesis was a stereoselective and high-yielding intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of a highly functionalized (E,E,E)-2,7,9-dodecanal derivative for the construction of the core tetrahydroindan-2-one skeleton.     

First total synthesis of paecilodepsipeptide A

The first total synthesis of paecilodepsipeptide A is reported.A convergent,flexible strategy employing peptide chemistry and culminating in macrolactamisation is described.The previously reported structure of compound is confirmed.     

First total synthesis of natural products cajanolactone A and cajanonic acid A

First total synthesis of cajanolactone A and cajanonic acid A has been achieved through steps of anion–anion condensations,cyclization,Williams etherification,selective demethylation,1 3-sigmatropic rearrangement and hydrolysis.This work provides an efficient method for future cajanonic acid A derivatives synthesis.     

Formal total synthesis of (±)-cortistatin A

A second-generation synthesis of the pentacyclic core of the cortistatins, a family of rearranged steroidal alkaloids that have recently attracted much attention, is reported. The improved sequence provides access to significant quantities of this key compound, which enabled a formal total synthesis of (±)-cortistatin A by conversion to the key Nicolaou/Hirama dienone. It is anticipated that this new, robust route to the pentacyclic core will facilitate the total synthesis of a range of natural products in the cortistatin family, as well as the construction of key structural analogs to probe the promising biological activity of these important compounds.     

A concise formal stereoselective total synthesis of （-）-swainsonine

A short formal stereoselective synthesis of （-）-swainsonine （1） is described. Our synthesis started with the versatile building block （R）-3-benzyloxyglutarimide 5. Through controlled regioselective reduction, Ley＇s-sulfone chemistry （N-α-sulfonylation and ZnCl2-catalyzed N-α-amidovinylation）, an RCM reaction, and an amide reduction, the synthesis of unsaturated indolizidine （8R,8aS）-3 has been achieved in five steps. The indolizidine （8R,8aS）-3 is an advanced intermediate toward the synthesis of （-）-swainsonine （1）.     

A novel and efficient total synthesis of shikonin

A novel and efficient synthesis of shikonin was accomplished with excellent enantiomeric excess (99.3% ee) and high overall yield (47%) in only six steps. The synthetic strategy involved an efficient Ru(II)-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation employing C₂-symmetric planar chiral ruthenocene phosphinooxazoline ligand (L-3), followed by the subsequent removal of the methyl protecting groups. Meanwhile, it could be preliminarily confirmed that the chiral side chain of shikonin was difficult to be constructed in one step with both stereoselectivity and α-regioselectivity.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of cochliomycin A

A convergent and stereoselective synthesis of cochliomycin A, a 14-membered resorcyclic acid lactone, based on chiron approach is described. The key reactions involved olefin cross-metathesis and sodium hydride promoted one-pot intramolecular lactonization. l-Arabinose was used as a chiral pool material for the construction of the key fragment.     

Total synthesis and biological evaluation of marinopyrrole A and analogues

A five-step total synthesis of the antibiotic marinopyrrole A (1) is described. The developed synthetic technology enabled the synthesis of several marinopyrrole A analogs whose antibacterial properties against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus TCH1516 were evaluated.     

Efficient total synthesis of bastadin 6, an anti-angiogenic brominated tyrosine-derived metabolite from marine sponge

An efficient total synthesis of bastadin 6 (1), a cyclic tetramer of brominated tyrosine derivatives from the marine sponge, Ianthella basta, with selective anti-angiogenic activity, was accomplished. We developed a novel Ce(IV)-mediated oxidative coupling reaction of 2,6-dibromophenols to give the diaryl ether derivatives, the characteristic segment of 1. Condensation of two segments and subsequent intramolecular macrocyclization gave bastadin 6 (1) in nine steps, 26% overall yield.     

Formal total synthesis of enigmazole A

A stereoselective formal total synthesis of enigmazole A, a marine macrolide isolated from Cinachyrella enigmatica, is described. Lewis acid mediated intramolecular allylation of an α-acetoxy ether, prepared from alcohol and carboxylic acid fragments was carried out to construct the methylene THP ring with high stereoselectivity. The late-stage macrolactonization of the corresponding seco-acid provided a known synthetic intermediate of enigmazole A.     

Efficient total synthesis of (+)-curcuphenol via asymmetric organocatalysis

The catalytic enantioselective synthesis of (+)-curcuphenol is described herein. This approach involves the use of an organocatalytic alkylation of m-anisidine, a diazotation/Sandmeyer reaction of the amine and a Negishi-type coupling with dimethylzinc. This versatile strategy allows for the rapid synthesis of other members of this class of natural products.