Scalable Total Syntheses and Structure–Activity Relationships of Haouamines A,B, and Their Derivatives as Stable Formate Salts

Haouamines A, B, and their derivatives were synthesized via Suzuki–Miyaura coupling and three key cyclization reactions as follows: the newly developed palladium(0)-catalyzed arylative cyclization of phenylalanine-derived alkyne–aldehydes with 2-bromoarylboronic acid (an “anti-Wacker”-type cyclization); BF₃ ⋅ OEt₂-promoted Friedel–Crafts-type cyclization of symmetrical electron-rich aromatic rings adjacent to a tertiary allylic alcohol leading to the indeno-tetrahydropyridine skeleton; and (cyanomethyl)trimethylphosphonium iodide-mediated macrocyclization of amino alcohols to afford aza-paracyclophane precursors. The palladium-catalyzed reduction of mono- and di-triflate intermediates in the later stages enabled the alteration of both the position and number of hydroxyl groups on the C-ring. The instability of haouamine B was dramatically improved by salt formation with formic acid. An unambiguous evaluation of the cytotoxicity of the prepared haouamine derivative formates with and without hydroxyl groups at different positions on the C-ring indicated that the catechol structure in haouamine B produced weak cytotoxicity.     

Total Synthesis of Belizentrin Methyl Ester: Report on a Likely Conquest

The assigned structure of the dinoflagellate‐derived toxin belizentrin was prepared by total synthesis in form of the corresponding methyl ester for stability reasons. The successful route features an unusual solution for the preparation of a recalcitrant ylide on a C‐glycosidic segment; moreover, it involves an asymmetric hetero‐Diels–Alder reaction en route to the tertiary hemiacetal substructure, a Negishi cross‐coupling of two elaborate building blocks, and a macrocyclization based on an intramolecular aminolysis of a spirolactone. A modified Kocienski olefination ultimately allowed the polyol side chain to be attached to the macrocycle although this transformation faced the exceptional base sensitivity of this polyunsaturated target compound.     

Total Synthesis of the Nonribosomal Peptide Surugamide B and Identification of a New Offloading Cyclase Family

The cathepsin B inhibitor surugamide B ( 2 ), along with structurally related derivatives (A and C–E), has previously been isolated from the marine actinomycete Streptomyces sp. JAMM992. The biosynthetic genes are unexpectedly part of a cluster of four non‐ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) genes, two of which are responsible for the biosynthesis of the additional linear decapeptide surugamide F. However, the thioesterase domain required for the later stage of the biosynthesis of the cyclic peptides surugamides A–E is not present in any module architecture of the surugamide NRPSs. Herein, we report the first total synthesis of surugamide B ( 2 ) through the macrocyclization at the biomimetic position, which not only alleviated the Cα epimerization in the macrolactamization process, but also efficiently provided 2 in 34 % yield for 18 steps. Furthermore, both the chemical and enzymatic studies with the biosynthetic precursor mimics revealed that the stand‐alone enzyme SurE, which belongs to the penicillin‐binding protein family, is responsible for macrocyclization of the tethered octapeptidyl intermediate.     

Front Cover: Katritzky Salts for the Synthesis of Unnatural Amino Acids and Late-Stage Functionalization of Peptides (Eur. J. Org. Chem. 12/2023)

Peptide drug discovery often benefits from the large structural diversity permitted by unnatural amino acids (UAAs). Indeed, numerous approved peptide drugs include UAAs in their sequences. Therefore, innovative chemical approaches either to synthesize UAAs or to allow late-stage functionalization of peptides are emerging themes in peptide drug discovery. Thanks to the recent advances in deaminative strategies using alkylpyridiniums salts, often referred to as Katritzky salts, a variety of radical alkylation methods have been developed. In recent years the use of Katritzky salts have become popular in peptide chemistry due to their ease of preparation from a primary amine, which is a predominant functional group in amino acids. This review highlights the progress that has been made by using Katritzky salts in the synthesis of UAAs, late-stage peptide functionalization, and peptide macrocyclization.     

Interplay of Interactions Governing the Dynamic Conversions of Acyclic and Macrocyclic Helicates

Systemic change : A system of transformations between helical structures was observed to be governed by interactions mediated by the electronic effects of substituents, entropic effects, the conformational preferences of organic building blocks, and the coordinative preferences of the metal ion. All of these effects were important, but all must be considered together to allow the prediction of the product observed (see scheme).

     

Mechanistic studies of carbonate macrocyclization

The kinetics of phenylchloroformate (PCF) reactions have been used to model some of the key chemical events in carbonate macrocyclization. Three reactions have been studied using stopped-flow FT-IR spectroscopy: formation of acyl ammonium salt from PCF and three different trialkylamines, the conversion of acyl ammonium salt to urethane, and the condensation reaction between acyl ammonium salt and 4-isopropylphenol. The rate dependence was studied for triethylamine (TEA), diethylmethylamine (DEMA) and tri-n-butylamine (TBA) at 0°C in anhydrous CH₂Cl₂. The reactivity order for acyl ammonium salt formation for TBA: TEA: DEMA is 1 : 2.7 : >444. By contrast, condensation and urethane formation are not sensitive to the structure of the amine. The rate of condensation is comparable to the rate of acyl ammonium salt formation for TEA and TBA, while the rate of urethane formation is the slowest process for all three amines. These results are consistent with the view that the yield of macrocyclic polycarbonates is related to the concentration of the acyl ammonium salt. The optimum amine concentration for obtaining high yields of cyclics varies with the amine structure and parallels the difference in the rates of acyl ammonium salt formation. © 1994 John & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis of porphyrazine-octaamine, hexamine and diamine derivatives

The syntheses of a variety of substituted diaminomaleonitriles, with variable nitrogen substituents, were undertaken. Linstead macrocyclization of the resulting diaminomaleonitriles gave access to a wide range of functionalized porphyrazine-octaamines and hexamines and norphthalocyaninediamines. Conversion of these macrocycles into metallic derivatives and studies of their electronic absorption, solubility and electrochemistry are described. These flexible tetraazaporphyrins show potential in a range of applications including biomedical agents, novel charge-transfer complexes, chemical sensors, novel electronic materials and non-linear optics.     

Synthesis of nitroxide-functionalized phthalocyanines

A nitroxide-functionalized phthalonitrile and a diimino-isoindoline were prepared via Pd(0)-catalyzed cyanation from the corresponding dibromide and subsequent addition of ammonia, without interference from the radical moieties. The structures of these radicals were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray structure determinations. Metal-templated macrocyclization of these species under standard Linstead conditions or in 2-(dimethylamino)ethanol at reflux gave the corresponding metallated and free-base phthalocyanines, which were characterized using UV-vis, FTIR and EPR spectroscopy as well as mass spectrometry.