Total synthesis of laulimalide: synthesis of the northern and southern fragments.

The first stage in the development of a synthetic route for the total synthesis of laulimalide (1) is described. Our retrosynthetic analysis envisioned a novel macrocyclization route to the natural product by using a Ru-catalyzed alkene-alkyne coupling. This would be preceded by an esterification of the C19 hydroxyl group, joining together two equally sized synthons, the northern fragment 7 and the southern fragment 8. Our first generation approach to the northern fragment entailed a key sequential Ru/Pd coupling sequence to assemble the dihydropyran. The key reactions proceeded smoothly, but the inability to achieve a key olefin migration led to the development of an alternative route based on an asymmetric dinuclear Zn-catalyzed aldol reaction of a hydroxyl acylpyrrole. This key reaction led to the desired diol adduct 66 with excellent syn/anti selectivity (10:1), and allowed for the successful completion of the northern fragment 7. The key step for the synthesis of the southern fragment was a chemoselective Rh-catalyzed cycloisomerization reaction to form the dihydropyran ring from a diyne precursor. This reaction proved to be selective for the formation of a six-membered ring, over a seven. The use of an electron-deficient bidentate phosphine allowed for the reaction to proceed with a reduced catalyst loading.

Total synthesis of laulimalide: assembly of the fragments and completion of the synthesis of the natural product and a potent analogue.

Herein, we present a full account of our efforts to couple the northern and the southern building blocks, the synthesis of which were described in the preceding paper, along with the modifications required to ultimately lead to a successful synthesis of laulimalide. Key highlights include an exceptionally efficient and atom-economical intramolecular ruthenium-catalyzed alkene-alkyne coupling to build the macrocycle, followed by a highly stereoselective 1,3-allylic isomerization promoted by a rhenium complex. Interestingly, the designed synthetic route also allowed us to prepare an analogue of the natural product that possesses significant cytotoxic activity. We also report a second generation route that provides a more concise synthesis of the natural product.

Synthesis and evaluation of new polyenic compounds as potential PPARs modulators.

In order to identify new leads for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, polyenic molecules A and B derived from nipecotic acid and dienol derivatives C have been prepared and their effect on PPARs transcriptional activity evaluated and compared to that of rosiglitazone, WY14,643 and GW501516. Among the synthesized compounds, dienol 39 is the most active, increasing WY14,643 PPARα response and demonstrating partial agonist properties on rosiglitazone PPARγ.

Discovery of a Bromodomain and Extraterminal Inhibitor with a Low Predicted Human Dose through Synergistic Use of Encoded Library Technology and Fragment Screening.

The bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) family of bromodomain-containing proteins are important regulators of the epigenome through their ability to recognize N-acetyl lysine (KAc) post-translational modifications on histone tails. These interactions have been implicated in various disease states and, consequently, disruption of BET-KAc binding has emerged as an attractive therapeutic strategy with a number of small molecule inhibitors now under investigation in the clinic. However, until the utility of these advanced candidates is fully assessed by these trials, there remains scope for the discovery of inhibitors from new chemotypes with alternative physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic profiles. Herein, we describe the discovery of a candidate-quality dimethylpyridone benzimidazole compound which originated from the hybridization of a dimethylphenol benzimidazole series, identified using encoded library technology, with an N-methyl pyridone series identified through fragment screening. Optimization via structure- and property-based design led to I-BET469, which possesses favorable oral pharmacokinetic properties, displays activity in vivo, and is projected to have a low human efficacious dose.

Evaluating transition-metal-catalyzed transformations for the synthesis of laulimalide.

Laulimalide is a structurally unique 20-membered marine macrolide displaying microtubule stabilizing activity similar to that of paclitaxel and the epothilones. The use of atom-economical transformations such as a Rh-catalyzed cycloisomerization to form the endocyclic dihydropyran, a dinuclear Zn-catalyzed asymmetric glycolate aldol reaction to prepare the syn 1,2-diol, and an intramolecular Ru-catalyzed alkene-alkyne coupling to build the macrocycle enabled us to synthesize laulimalide via an efficient and convergent pathway. The designed synthetic route also allowed us to prepare an analogue of the natural product that possesses significant cytotoxic activity.

Synthesis of two bioactive natural products: FR252921 and pseudotrienic acid B.

Concise and highly convergent syntheses of the immunosuppressive agent FR252921 and the related antimicrobial natural product pseudotrienic acid B were achieved from a common intermediate by using optically active titanium complexes to control the configuration of the stereogenic centers, a highly stereo- and regioselective cross-metathesis to generate the triene moieties, and a Stille cross-coupling to install the dienic units.

Synthesis of the monomeric counterpart of marinomycin A.

An efficient and highly convergent synthesis of the monomeric counterpart of the antitumor-antibiotic marine natural product marinomycin A was achieved by using optically active titanium complexes to control the configuration of the stereogenic centers, a highly stereo- and regioselective cross-metathesis to generate the (E)-configured C20-C21 double bond, and a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination followed by a Pd-catalyzed Stille cross-coupling to construct the tetraene moiety.

An efficient and stereoselective synthesis of the monomeric counterpart of marinomycin A.

[structure: see text] The monomeric counterpart of marinomycin A, an antitumor-antibiotic marine natural product, was synthesized efficiently in 11 steps from the commercially available ethyl (R)-(-)-3-hydroxybutyrate. The strategy was highlighted by a crucial regio- and stereoselective cross-metathesis to form the C20-C21 double bond, enantioselective allyltitanations to control the configuration of the C17, C23, and C25 stereogenic centers, and a stereocontrolled construction of the tetraene moiety based on an original Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination followed by a Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling.

Synthesis of a promising immunosuppressant: FR252921.

A concise and highly convergent synthesis of the promising immunosuppressant FR252921 was achieved by using optically active titanium complexes to control the configuration of the three stereogenic centers.

Simple aza-conjugate addition methodology for the synthesis of isoindole nitrones and 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline nitrones.

Aryl-aldehydes containing ortho-substituted α,ß-unsaturated carboxylic acid derivatives react with hydroxylamine to afford reactive N-hydroxy-carbinolamine intermediates that undergo intramolecular aza-conjugate addition reactions to afford isoindole nitrones and 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline nitrones in good yield. Conditions have been developed to reduce these isoindole nitrones to their corresponding hydroxylamine, enamine, and amine derivatives. Isoindole nitrones react with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) via a [4 + 2]-cycloaddition/deamination pathway to afford substituted naphthalene derivatives, while 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline nitrones react with DMAD via a [1,3]-dipolar cycloaddition pathway to afford tricyclic heteroarenes.