Preparation of renieramycin left-half model compounds

Model compounds of the left-half of renieramycins, which are anticancer marine natural products having an α-aminonitrile functionality, were prepared from phenylalanine derivatives. The key step of the transformation is the stereospecific construction of 1,3-cis stereochemistry via an exomethylene intermediate. The stereoselective α-aminonitrile formation under kinetically controlled conditions is also discussed. The initial cytotoxicity profiles are presented.