Structure-Activity Relationship Study of Biselyngbyolide B Reveals Mitochondrial Fission-Induced Cytotoxicity in Cancer.

A systematic structure-activity relationship study of the potent anticancer marine macrolide biselyngbyolide B has been accomplished. A total of 11 structural variants of the parent natural product, of which 2 are natural analogues, have been studied against a human colorectal carcinoma cell line. The requisite functional units of the parent molecule responsible for the cytotoxic activities have been disclosed. Biselyngbyolide C, one of the natural analogues of biselyngbyolide B, has been studied in depth to explore its molecular mechanism. Interestingly, the in vitro data demonstrated an induction of dynamin-related protein 1-mediated mitochondrial fission and reactive oxygen species production which led to activation of ASK1/P38/JNK-mediated apoptosis in colon cancer cells as an important pathway for biselyngbyolide B-mediated cytotoxicity. Notably, this study revealed that a macrolide participated in mitochondrial fission to promote apoptosis of cancer cells, providing new insight.

The Development of a Sulfamate-Tethered Aza-Michael Cyclization Allows for the Preparation of (-)-Negamycin tert-Butyl Ester.

We present the first examples of intramolecular aza-Michael cyclizations of sulfamates and sulfamides onto pendant α,ß-unsaturated esters, thioesters, amides, and nitriles. Stirring the substrate with catalytic quantities of the appropriate base delivers the product in good yield and excellent diastereoselectivity. The reactions are operationally simple, can be performed open to air, and are tolerant of a variety of important functional groups. We highlight the utility of this technology by using it in the preparation of a (-)-negamycin derivative.

Total Synthesis of Antibacterial Macrolide Sorangiolide A.

A convergent route for the asymmetric total synthesis of antibacterial macrolide sorangiolide A has been developed for the first time. The key feature of this synthesis includes Krische iridium-catalyzed anti-diastereoselective carbonyl crotylation, Crimmins acetate aldol, Yamaguchi esterification, Julia-Kocienski olefination, Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination, and ring-closing metathesis. The origin of the low intensity of the 13C{1H} NMR signals of the C1 and C2 centers of the natural product has been investigated, disclosing possible forms of existence for the natural product in the solution phase.

Oxidations of Alcohols, Aldehydes, and Diols Using NaBr and Selectfluor.

We present protocols for the oxidation of alcohols and aldehydes and for the oxidative cyclization of diols which use a combination of Selectfluor and NaBr. For most substrates, the optimal solvent system is a 1:1 mixture of CH3CN/H2O, but, in select cases, biphasic 1:1 mixtures of EtOAc/H2O or CH2Cl2/H2O are superior. This procedure is operationally simple, uses inexpensive and readily available reagents, and tolerates a variety of functional groups. Mechanistic studies suggest that the active oxidant is hypobromous acid, generated by the almost instantaneous oxidation of Br- by Selectfluor in an aqueous milieu.

Sulfamate-Tethered Aza-Wacker Cyclization Strategy for the Syntheses of 2-Amino-2-deoxyhexoses: Preparation of Orthogonally Protected d-Galactosamines.

We present a new strategy for the assembly of protected d-galactosamine synthons. Our route uses a sulfamate-tethered aza-Wacker cyclization as a key step and commences from d-erythrono-1,4-lactone. This stands in contrast to most literature syntheses of 2-amino-2-deoxyhexose derivatives, as these generally employ glycals or hexoses as starting materials. This strategy may serve as a template for the assembly of many other 2-amino-2-deoxyhexoses with protection patterns difficult to access by conventional methods.

Ring Opening of Aziridines by Pendant Silanols Allows for Preparations of (±)-Clavaminol H, (±)-Des-Acetyl-Clavaminol H, (±)-Dihydrosphingosine, and (±)-N-Hexanoyldihydrosphingosine.

We present a unique strategy for the synthesis of vicinal amino alcohols. Ring opening of aziridines with pendant silanols is compatible with a range of substrates. To engage productively in ring opening, the aziridine must be at least mildly activated, and a variety of such N-substituents are tolerated. The utility of this methodology is highlighted in facile preparations of the natural products (±)-Clavaminol H, (±)-dihydrosphingosine, and (±)-N-hexanoyldihydrosphingosine as well as a natural product analogue (±)-des-acetyl-Clavaminol H.

Total synthesis: the structural confirmation of natural products.

This feature article highlights total synthesis as one of the reliable tools for the structural confirmation of natural products. Even though there has been substantial improvement in spectroscopic techniques that has opened an important avenue up to the synthetic community for discoveries, the structural misassignment of natural products remains a common occurrence. Herein, we have included a few case studies, along with some selected examples of natural products associated with our current research interests, where structures were revised in recent years using the art of chemical synthesis.

Biselyngbyolides A & C: their total synthesis and anticancer activities.

Convergent strategies for the first total synthesis of biselyngbyolide C and an alternative route for the total synthesis of biselyngbyolide A have been developed. The key strategic feature in this study is Heck macrocyclization. The use of intramolecular Heck coupling for biselyngbyolide B was demonstrated by us earlier; however such a strategy has not been explored further for the other members of this family of natural products, in particular, where sensitive skipped olefins are involved. The other highlights of this synthetic study include iterative Crimmins acetate aldol and Wittig olefination processes, followed by the less explored cobalt-hydride-based reduction of an activated olefin and Shiina esterification. Our synthetic study enabled us to amend the reported NMR data of biselyngbyolides A and C. An evaluation of the anticancer activities of both biselyngbyolides A and C revealed that the apoptosis generated in cancer cells followed an intrinsic pathway.

Cyclodepsipeptide alveolaride C: total synthesis and structural assignment.

First stereoselective total synthesis of naturally occurring bioactive cyclodepsipeptide alveolaride C has been achieved using a convergent approach. This synthetic study enabled us to establish unambiguously the stereochemistry of three unassigned chiral centres embedded in the nonpeptidic segment as well as revised the stereochemistry of the proposed ß-phenylalanine counterpart of the molecule. The key strategic features of this synthesis include Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation for installing the vicinal diol moiety, Julia-Kocienski olefination for constructing the aliphatic side chain, the Shiina protocol for intermolecular esterification, amide coupling and macrolactamization for the ring formation.

Total Synthesis of Pestalotioprolide E and Structural Revision of Pestalotioprolide F.

A short and convergent strategy for the first asymmetric total synthesis of cytotoxic macrolides pestalotioprolides E and F has been developed. The key features of this synthesis include Takai olefination, Sonogashira coupling, Ni-assisted partial hydrogenation of alkyne, modified Steglich reaction to generate the ester moiety, and intramolecular Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) olefination to complete the macrocycle. This synthetic study revised the proposed structure of pesralotioprolide F.

Total Synthesis of Pestalotioprolide G and Putative Structure of Pestalotioprolide H.

A concise and convergent route for the stereoselective total synthesis of cytotoxic macrolides pestalotioprolides G and H has been developed for the first time. Intramolecular Heck coupling has been chosen to cyclize the 14-membered macrocycle. This synthetic study strongly suggests that the proposed structure of pestalotioprolide H may need to be corrected as the spectroscopic data on the synthesized molecule deviate from the values reported for the isolated natural product.

Stereoselective Total Synthesis of Bioactive Marine Natural Product Biselyngbyolide B.

A convergent strategy for the stereoselective total synthesis of biologically active marine natural product biselyngbyolide B has been developed. Key strategies of this synthesis include Jamison protocol of trans-hydroalumination/allylation for installation of C18-C23 olefin moiety and intramolecular Heck coupling for macrocyclization.