Synthesis of epothilones A and B in solid and solution phase

From nature to the laboratory and into the clinic

Natural products possess a broad diversity of structure and function, and they provide inspiration for chemistry, biology, and medicine. In this review article, we highlight and place in context our laboratory's total syntheses of, and related studies on, complex secondary metabolites that were clinically important drugs, or have since been developed into useful medicines, namely amphotericin B (1), calicheamicin gamma(1)(I) (2), rapamycin (3), Taxol (4), the epothilones [e.g., epothilones A (5) and B (6)], and vancomycin (7). We also briefly highlight our research with other selected inspirational natural products possessing interesting biological activities [i.e., dynemicin A (8), uncialamycin (9), eleutherobin (10), sarcodictyin A (11), azaspiracid-1 (12), thiostrepton (13), abyssomicin C (14), platensimycin (15), platencin (16), and palmerolide A (17)].

Discovery of ixabepilone

The discovery of the antineoplastic agent paclitaxel and its unique activity as a microtubule-stabilizing agent resulted in dramatic improvements in the treatment of breast, ovarian, and non-small cell lung cancers. Despite the potent antitumor activity of taxanes such as paclitaxel, efficacy of these agents has been limited by development of taxane-resistant tumors in patients. This review describes, with some historical context, our successful efforts to discover a next-generation microtubule-stabilizing agent for the treatment of cancer. In collaboration with the Gesellschaft für Biotechnologische Forschung, we evaluated the epothilones, originally isolated from the myxobacterium Sorangium cellulosum, as potential anticancer agents. Experiments performed at Bristol-Myers Squibb confirmed the ability of these agents to induce tubulin polymerization, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. Epothilones A and B showed potent cytotoxic activity toward paclitaxel-sensitive and paclitaxel-resistant cells expressing P-glycoprotein or mutant tubulin. Because the parent epothilones were subject to inactivation via esterase cleavage, we used semisynthetic approaches to prepare analogues without this liability. BMS-247550 (ixabepilone), the lactam analogue of epothilone B, showed increased metabolic stability, potent tubulin polymerization activity, and retained activity against paclitaxel-resistant lines. Based on its shown efficacy in clinical trials, ixabepilone was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2007 for treatment of drug-resistant/refractory metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer.

Total synthesis of epothilones B and D: stannane equivalents for beta-keto ester dianions

Studies leading to a total synthesis of epothilones B and D are described. The overall synthetic plan was based on late-stage fragment assembly of two segments representing C(1)-C(9) and C(10)-C(21) of the structure. The C(1)-C(9) fragment was prepared by elaboration of commercially available (2R)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpropanoate at both ends of the three-carbon unit. Introduction of carbons 1-4 containing the gem-dimethyl unit was achieved in a convergent manner using a diastereoselective addition of a stannane equivalent of a beta-keto ester dianion. An enantioselective addition of such a stannane equivalent for a beta-keto ester dianion was also used to fashion one version of the C(10)-C(21) subunit; however, the fragment assembly (using bimolecular esterification followed by ring-closing metathesis) with this subunit failed. Therefore, fragment assembly was achieved using a Wittig reaction; this was followed by macrolactonization to close the macrocycle. The C(10)-C(21) subunit needed for this approach was prepared in an efficient manner using the Corey-Kim reaction as a key element. Other key reactions in the synthesis include a stereoselective SmI(2) reduction of a beta-hydroxy ketone and a critical opening of a valerolactone with aniline which required extensive investigation.

Novel microtubule-targeting agents - the epothilones

Epothilones are a new class of antimicrotubule agents currently in clinical trials. Their chemical structures are distinct from taxanes and are more amenable to synthetic modification. Six epothilones have been studied in preclinical and clinical trials: patupilone (epothilone B), ixabepilone (BMS247550), BMS 310705, sagopilone (ZK-EPO), KOS-862 (epothilone D), and KOS-1584. In vitro data have shown increased potency in taxane-sensitive and taxane-resistant cancer cell lines. This enhanced cytotoxic effect has been attributed to epothilone being a poor substrate for p-glycoprotein drug resistance protein and having high affinity to the various beta tubulin isoforms. Phase I clinical data have shown different dose-limiting toxicities for each of the epothilones. These effects are drug specific, dose specific, and schedule of administration specific. While diarrhea and myelosuppression are the dose-limiting toxicities for patupilone and BMS 310705, respectively, neurologic toxicity, as seen with taxanes, is the dose-limiting toxicity of ixabepilone, sagopilone, and KOS-862. In an effort to decrease neurologic toxicity, investigators have modified dosing schedules with limited success. Ixabepilone has the most mature clinical results with published phase II and III data, and regulatory approval for clinical use in the treatment of breast cancer. Ixabepilone has also been combined with other anticancer agents and has regulatory approval in combination with capecitabine for heavily treated breast cancer.

Epothilones: a novel class of microtubule-stabilizing drugs for the treatment of cancer

Microtubule-targeted anticancer drugs are effective in treating various cancers but are limited in use due to development of resistance and unacceptable toxicities. The epothilones are a novel class of microtubule-stabilizing anticancer drugs and may have a role in treating taxane-resistant cancers. Revised and updated data from several clinical studies for ixabepilone were recently published and subsequently resulted in ixabepilone becoming the first epothilone approved as monotherapy or in combination for treatment of locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. BMS-310705, patupilone, KOS-862, KOS-1584 and ZK-EPO are epothilones that have been developed. Although peripheral sensory neuropathy and neutropenia are the dose-limiting toxicities for ixabepilone, these dose-limiting toxicities are ixabepilone specific. This review will discuss the current preclinical, clinical pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic, efficacy and toxicity data of the epothilones.

Patupilone-induced apoptosis is mediated by mitochondrial reactive oxygen species through Bim relocalization to mitochondria

Among the new microtubule-targeted agents, the epothilone family of molecules has shown promising anticancer potential, and clinical trials are currently underway for patupilone (epothilone B) in various cancer indications. In this study, we characterized novel aspects of patupilone's cellular action that may underlie its potent cytotoxicity in human neuroblastoma cells. Patupilone induced mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, mitochondrial morphological changes, and cytochrome c release, leading to apoptosis. Within the first 2 h, patupilone increased the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS; i.e., superoxides and hydrogen peroxide, 33+/-6 and 51+/-3% increase, respectively), specifically from mitochondria. ROS scavengers and mitochondrial DNA depletion [rho(-) cells] significantly protected cells against patupilone cytotoxicity, indicating that ROS generation is a key event in the initial phase of apoptosis. Although the Bim expression level was not modified by patupilone, this proapoptotic protein accumulated in the mitochondrial compartment (2.4-fold increase at IC70) after only a 6-h treatment. In contrast, Bax and Bcl-2 mitochondrial levels were not changed during treatment. It is noteworthy that ROS inhibition prevented Bim relocalization to mitochondria and mitochondrial membrane changes induced by patupilone. Altogether, our data reveal that patupilone-mediated ROS production by mitochondria initiates the intrinsic signaling cascade by inducing Bim accumulation in mitochondria. These results might explain the superior activity of patupilone in tumor cells compared with paclitaxel that is, until now, the clinical reference among microtubule-stabilizing agents. Furthermore, our data highlight the importance of mitochondria that simultaneously assume the role of activator and integrator of apoptotic signals triggered by patupilone.

Epothilones as lead structures for new anticancer drugs--pharmacology, fermentation, and structure-activity-relationships

Epothilones (Epo's) A and B are naturally occurring microtubule-stabilizers, which inhibit the growth of human cancer cells in vitro at low nM or sub-nM concentrations. In contrast to taxol (paclitaxel, Taxol) epothilones are also active against different types of multidrug-resistant cancer cell lines in vitro and against multidrug-resistant tumors in vivo. Their attractive preclinical profile has made epothilones important lead structures in the search for improved cytotoxic anticancer drugs and Epo B (EPO906, patupilone) is currently undergoing Phase III clinical trials. Numerous synthetic and semisynthetic analogs have been prepared since the absolute stereochemistry of epothilones was first disclosed in mid-1996 and their in vitro biological activity has been determined. Apart from generating a wealth of SAR information, these efforts have led to the identification of at least six compounds (in addition to Epo B), which are currently at various stages of clinical evaluation in humans. The most advanced of these compounds, Epo B lactam BMS-247550 (ixabepilone), has recently obtained FDA approval for the treatment of metastatic and advanced breast cancer. This chapter will first provide a summary of the basic features of the biological profile of Epo B in vitro and in vivo. This will be followed by a review of the processes that have been developed for the fermentative production of Epo B. The main part of the chapter will focus on the most relevant aspects of the epothilone SAR with regard to effects on tubulin polymerization, in vitro antiproliferative activity, and in vivo antitumor activity. Particular emphasis will be placed on work conducted in the authors' own laboratories, but data from other groups will also be included. In a final section, the current status of those epothilone analogs undergoing clinical development will be briefly discussed.

Low field magnetotransport in manganites

The perovskite manganites with generic formula RE(1-x)AE(x)MnO(3) (RE = rare earth, AE = Ca, Sr, Ba and Pb) have drawn considerable attention, especially following the discovery of colossal magnetoresistance (CMR). The most fundamental property of these materials is strong correlation between structure, transport and magnetic properties. They exhibit extraordinary large magnetoresistance named CMR in the vicinity of the insulator-metal/paramagnetic-ferromagnetic transition at relatively large applied magnetic fields. However, for applied aspects, occurrence of significant CMR at low applied magnetic fields would be required. This review consists of two sections: in the first section we have extensively reviewed the salient features, e.g. structure, phase diagram, double-exchange mechanism, Jahn-Teller effect, different types of ordering and phase separation of CMR manganites. The second is devoted to an overview of experimental results on CMR and related magnetotransport characteristics at low magnetic fields for various doped manganites having natural grain boundaries such as polycrystalline, nanocrystalline bulk and films, manganite-based composites and intrinsically layered manganites, and artificial grain boundaries such as bicrystal, step-edge and laser-patterned junctions. Some other potential magnetoresistive materials, e.g. pyrochlores, chalcogenides, ruthenates, diluted magnetic semiconductors, magnetic tunnel junctions, nanocontacts etc, are also briefly dealt with. The review concludes with an overview of grain-boundary-induced low field magnetotransport behavior and prospects for possible applications.

Catalytic C-H functionalization by metal carbenoid and nitrenoid insertion

Novel reactions that can selectively functionalize carbon-hydrogen bonds are of intense interest to the chemical community because they offer new strategic approaches for synthesis. A very promising 'carbon-hydrogen functionalization' method involves the insertion of metal carbenes and nitrenes into C-H bonds. This area has experienced considerable growth in the past decade, particularly in the area of enantioselective intermolecular reactions. Here we discuss several facets of these kinds of C-H functionalization reactions and provide a perspective on how this methodology has affected the synthesis of complex natural products and potential pharmaceutical agents.

Antiangiogenic properties of metronomic chemotherapy in breast cancer

Chemotherapeutic agents cause DNA damage and disrupt DNA replication in proliferating cells. Drug regimens have been designed to kill as many tumor cells as possible with the use of the maximum-tolerated doses of these cytotoxic agents. Damage in proliferating tissues (the bone marrow, gut and skin) and healthy tissues place serious constraints on the use of chemotherapy. To balance toxicity with efficacy, cytotoxic agents are administered in a pulsed manner with breaks between cycles to allow for the recovery of normal tissues. Many chemotherapy regimens are initially efficacious, determining tumor regression or stabilization and prolonged survival. However, responses are generally short-lived, with relapses often marked by aggressive cancers that are resistant to the cytotoxic drug. Cytotoxic chemotherapy remains an important part of optimal therapy for patients in all stages of disease, but its use is limited by toxicity, nonspecificity and the inevitable development of resistance, with serious consequences on the patients quality of life. For these reasons, clinical research is moving to improve our understanding of the altered molecular events in cancer cells and find new targets to be inhibited in order to optimize cytotoxicity and overcome resistance mechanisms. This review aims to explain the rationale behind metronomic and targeted therapies in breast cancer and to examine the main preclinical and clinical (neoadjuvant, adjuvant and advanced settings) studies conducted.

Targeting the microtubules in breast cancer beyond taxanes: the epothilones

Microtubule-targeting agents such as the taxanes are highly active against breast cancer and have become a cornerstone in the treatment of patients with early and advanced breast cancer. The natural epothilones and their analogs are a novel class of microtubule-stabilizing agents that bind tubulin and result in apoptotic cell death. Among this family of compounds, patupilone, ixabepilone, BMS-310705, ZK-EPO, and KOS-862 are in clinical development. Extensive preclinical studies have shown that epothilones are working through partially nonoverlapping mechanisms of action with taxanes. In the clinic, epothilones have been found in a series of phase I and phase II studies to be active even in patients who had recently progressed to taxanes. The toxicity profile of these agents consists mostly of sensory neuropathy, sometimes reversible. Neoadjuvant studies with epothilones have been conducted and a number of phase III studies in advanced breast cancer are either under way or have been recently completed. The results of these studies are eagerly awaited and it is anticipated that epothilones may become an important treatment option in patients with breast cancer.

Natural Product-Derived Modulators of Cell Cycle Progression and Viral Entry by Enantioselective Oxa Diels-Alder Reactions on the Solid Phase

The underlying frameworks of natural product classes with multiple biological activities can be regarded as biologically selected and prevalidated starting points in vast chemical structure space in the development of compound collections for chemical biology and medicinal chemistry research. For the synthesis of natural product-derived and -inspired compound collections, the development of enantioselective transformations in a format amenable to library synthesis, e.g., on the solid support, is a major and largely unexplored goal. We report on the enantioselective solid-phase synthesis of a natural product-inspired alpha,beta-unsaturated delta-lactone collection and its investigation in cell-based screens monitoring cell cycle progression and viral entry into cells. The screens identified modulators of both biological processes at a high hit rate. The screen for inhibition of viral entry opens up avenues of research for the identification of compounds with antiviral activity.

Anticancer drugs from nature--natural products as a unique source of new microtubule-stabilizing agents

This review article provides an overview on the current state of research in the area of microtubule-stabilizing agents from natural sources, with a primary focus on the biochemistry, biology, and pharmacology associated with these compounds. A variety of natural products have been discovered over the last decade to inhibit human cancer cell proliferation through a taxol-like mechanism. These compounds represent a whole new range of structurally diverse lead structures for anticancer drug discovery.

Synergistic effects of peloruside A and laulimalide with taxoid site drugs, but not with each other, on tubulin assembly

Previous studies on the drug content of pelleted tubulin polymers suggest that peloruside A binds in the laulimalide site, which is distinct from the taxoid site. In a tubulin assembly system containing microtubule-associated proteins and GTP, however, peloruside A was significantly less active than laulimalide, inducing assembly in a manner that was most similar to sarcodictyins A and B. Because peloruside A thus far seems to be the only compound that mimics the action of laulimalide, we examined combinations of microtubule-stabilizing agents for synergistic effects on tubulin assembly. We found that peloruside A and laulimalide showed no synergism but that both compounds could act synergistically with a number of taxoid site agents [paclitaxel, epothilones A/B, discodermolide, dictyostatin, eleutherobin, the steroid derivative 17beta-acetoxy-2-ethoxy-6-oxo-B-homo-estra-1,3,5(10)-trien-3-ol, and cyclostreptin]. None of the taxoid site compounds showed any synergism with each other. From an initial study with peloruside A and cyclostreptin, we conclude that the synergism phenomenon derives, at least in part, from an apparent lowering of the tubulin critical concentration with drug combinations compared with single drugs. The apparent binding of peloruside A in the laulimalide site led us to attempt construction of a pharmacophore model based on superposition of an energy-minimized structure of peloruside A on the crystal structure of laulimalide. Although the different sizes of the macrocycles limited our ability to superimpose the two molecules, atom correspondences that were observed were consistent with the difficulty so far experienced in creation of fully active analogs of laulimalide.

Metathesis reactions in total synthesis

With the exception of palladium-catalyzed cross-couplings, no other group of reactions has had such a profound impact on the formation of carbon-carbon bonds and the art of total synthesis in the last quarter of a century than the metathesis reactions of olefins, enynes, and alkynes. Herein, we highlight a number of selected examples of total syntheses in which such processes played a crucial role and which imparted to these endeavors certain elements of novelty, elegance, and efficiency. Judging from their short but impressive history, the influence of these reactions in chemical synthesis is destined to increase.

Trimanganese Complexes Bearing Bidentate Nitrogen Ligands as a Highly Efficient Catalyst Precursor in the Epoxidation of Alkenes†

A series of trinuclear manganese complexes coordinated with neutral bidentate nitrogen ligands, [Mn3L2(OAc)6], were prepared from manganese acetate and the corresponding ligands. Using peracetic acid as the oxidant, the air- and moisture-stable manganese clusters exhibited excellent catalytic activity and selectivity in the epoxidation of olefins under mild conditions. The highest activity was observed with a trinuclear complex containing a 2-pyridylimino ligand, [Mn3(ppei)2(OAc)6] (ppei = 2-pyridinal-1-phenylethylimine). With this system, the substrate scope was extremely wide to include terminal and electron-deficient double bonds of both aliphatic and aromatic alkenes. The high activity was undiminished under the reaction conditions even directly using a mixture of the pyridylimino ligands and manganese acetates, making this process more convenient. It was also observed that analogous trinuclear complexes, such as [Mn3(bipy)2(OAc)6] and [Mn3(phen)2(OAc)6], displayed excellent activities. While radical intermediacy was inferred from the product distribution, kinetic data revealed that the epoxidation is roughly first-order in manganese cluster precursor and oxidant, respectively, and zero-order in olefin. These results led us to propose that the trinuclear complexes [Mn3L2(OAc)6] serve as catalyst precursors that dissociate into monomeric species with the formulation of [MnL2(OAc)2] under the reaction conditions.

Spectroscopically encoded resins for high throughput imaging time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry

Spectroscopic barcoding was recently introduced as a new pre-encoding strategy wherein the resin beads are not just carriers for solid phase synthesis, but are, in addition, the repository of the synthetic scheme to which they were subjected. To expand the repertoire of spectroscopically barcoded resins (BCRs), here we introduce a new family of halogenated polystyrene-based polymers designed for high-throughput combinatorial analysis using not only infrared and Raman spectroscopy but also imaging time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). In particular, we have established that (a) the halogen content of these new resins can be used as an encoding element in quantitative imaging ToF-SIMS and (b) the number of styrene monomers used to generate unique vibrational fingerprints can be significantly reduced by using monomers in different molar ratios. The combination of quantitative imaging ToF-SIMS and vibrational spectroscopy is anticipated to dramatically increase the repertoire of possible BCRs from a few hundreds to several thousands.

Design, Total Synthesis, and Evaluation of Novel Open-Chain Epothilone Analogues

[structure: see text] The design, total synthesis, and biological evaluation of two open-chain analogues of epothilone incorporating the critical C1-C8 fragment and the aromatic side chain held together by a small molecular scaffold have been achieved. Biological evaluation revealed that further restraint between the flexible C1-C8 region and the molecular scaffold may be necessary for potent inhibition of cell proliferation.

Therapeutic Cure against Human Tumor Xenografts in Nude Mice by a Microtubule Stabilization Agent, Fludelone, via Parenteral or Oral Route

Epothilones, 16-membered macrolides isolated from a myxobacterium in soil, exert their antitumor effect, like Taxol, by induction of microtubule polymerization and microtubule stabilization. They are effective against tumor cells that are resistant to Taxol or vinblastine. We recently designed, via molecular editing and total synthesis, a new class of epothilones represented by 26-trifluoro-(E)-9,10-dehydro-12,13-desoxy-epothilone B (Fludelone), which has emerged as a lead candidate for clinical development. Treatment of nude mice bearing MX-1 human mammary carcinoma xenografts (as large as 3.4% body weight) with Fludelone (6-hour i.v. infusion, 25 mg/kg, q3d x 5, q3d x 4) led to complete disappearance and de facto "cure" (i.e., remission without a relapse for over 15% of the average life span of 2 years). The toxicities induced by bolus i.v. injection could be avoided through prolonged i.v. infusion, which allowed for a 10-fold increase in maximal tolerated dose. Complete remission of MX-1 xenografts was achieved with only one third of this maximal tolerated dose. Parallel studies with Taxol and Fludelone [20 mg/kg, 6-hour i.v. infusion (q2d x 4) x3] against HCT-116 human colon carcinoma xenografts revealed that both drugs achieved tumor remission; however, all Taxol-treated mice relapsed in approximately 1.3 months, whereas the Fludelone-treated mice were cured without any relapse for over 7 months. Furthermore, tumor remission was achieved by Fludelone against SK-OV-3 (ovary), PC-3 (prostate), and the Taxol-resistant CCRF-CEM/Taxol (leukemia) xenograft tumors. Most remarkably, p.o. administration of Fludelone (30 mg/kg, q2d x 7, q2d x 9, q2d x 5) against MX-1 xenografts achieved a nonrelapsing cure for as long as 8.4 months. The above results indicate that Fludelone is a highly promising compound for cancer chemotherapeutics.

Anti-angiogenic treatment of breast cancer using metronomic low-dose chemotherapy

We have been studying the molecular and cellular basis of chronic low-dose, frequently administered, metronomic chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of cancer in a variety of preclinical models, including human breast cancer xenografts. The advantages of metronomic-maintenance-type chemotherapy regimens include significantly reduced host toxicity, potentially reduced costs, increased convenience for patients when oral chemotherapy drugs are used, and the possibility of adopting chronic combination therapies involving conventional chemotherapy drugs and cytostatic molecularly targeted therapies. However, a disadvantage is the empiricism associated with determining the optimal biologic dose (OBD). Recently, we have developed a surrogate biomarker approach involving measurement of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (CEPs) in peripheral blood to help determine the OBD of anti-angiogenic drugs or treatments, including metronomic chemotherapy. Using this approach we determined the OBD for different metronomic chemotherapy regimens and then tested the effect of such drugs for the treatment of established, advanced (high volume) and widespread human breast cancer metastases in immunodeficient mice. This treatment strategy, which was maintained for over 6 months, with no breaks, resulted in marked prolongation of survival and was devoid of overt toxicity. These results suggest the possibility of using metronomic chemotherapy regimens as an adjuvant therapy for early-stage disease, including breast cancer, as was demonstrated recently using long-term daily low-dose UFT for the treatment of early-stage resected non-small cell lung cancer or UFT in combination for early stage breast cancer combined with tamoxifen.

Activity of Novel Cytotoxic Agents in Lung Cancer: Epothilones and Topoisomerase I Inhibitors

The treatment of lung cancer--small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC)--is a significant challenge in oncology. The best reported median survival remains near 1 year in advanced NSCLC despite several decades of steady improvement and extensive research with traditional chemotherapy drugs and novel compounds targeted to different aspects of tumor cell growth and function (such as the epidermal growth factor receptor). Extensive-stage SCLC survival is only slightly better. Novel "targeted" therapeutic agents hold promise, but cytotoxic therapy remains the backbone of treatment. Many new cytotoxic agents are currently in development. In this review, we will focus on 2 classes of cytotoxins: epothilones and topoisomerase I inhibitors. Epothilones are microtubule stabilizers with a mechanism of action similar to that of the taxanes, with preclinical activity superior to that of the taxanes. Phase I trials have been completed for patupilone and ixabepilone, and there are encouraging phase II data with ixabepilone in NSCLC. A phase II trial of patupilone is ongoing. The camptothecins, which are topoisomerase I inhibitors, have a long history in the treatment of lung cancer, but the currently available drugs, topotecan and irinotecan, have limitations. Gimatecan and other novel camptothecins have superior preclinical activity and promising phase I/II data in NSCLC and SCLC.

Joys of Molecules. 1. Campaigns in Total Synthesis

Our bodies are made of molecules, and it is from molecules that we derive our strength and joys. The joys of molecules manifest themselves in many ways. These include beautiful colors, exquisite aromas, distinct tastes, psychological ups and downs, and intellectual inspirations, among other forms of stimulation, material or spiritual. In this Perspective, written on the occasion of the 2005 American Chemical Society Arthur C. Cope Award address, I recount some of the joys I have experienced and shared with my students during campaigns to synthesize some of Nature's most intriguing and complex molecules.

Solid-supported reagents and catalysts for the preparation of large ring compounds

Parallel combinatorial synthesis in solution using immobilized reagents, catalysts, and scavengers has emerged as a powerful technique for the preparation of diverse libraries of compounds. This technique has only recently been applied to the synthesis of large-ring compounds. In this comprehensive review several strategies are presented and discussed, including Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation, Stille-coupling, macrolactonization and macrolactamization using solid supported reagents and catalysts. In several cases site isolation has allowed operation, of these macrocyclization reactions in concentrated solution (pseudo-dilution effect).

Electron paramagnetic resonance study of ZnAl(2)S(4) spinel

Single crystals of ZnAl(2)S(4) spinel doped by paramagnetic Cr(3+) and Mn(2+) ions have been studied by the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique. The crystal field symmetry around the impurity ions has been determined from the angular behaviour of X-band EPR spectra. The anisotropic EPR signal of the Cr(3+) ions shows splitting into 31 narrow lines due to the super-hyperfine interaction between unpaired electron spins of the chromium centres and nuclear spins of six neighbouring Al(27) (I = 5/2) ions. It has been established that the Cr(3+) ions are located at the octahedral sites in the spinel structure, and the super-hyperfine interaction results from a weak covalent bounding with the Al atoms. The EPR signals of the Cr(3+) paramagnetic centres show no fine-structure splitting due to a perfectly cubic symmetry of the local crystal field in the octahedral sites of the ZnAl(2)S(4) spinel structure. A weak EPR signal consisting of six components has been ascribed to the transitions between hyperfine levels of the Mn(2+) (I = 5/2,S = 5/2) ions located at tetrahedral sites, while the fine-structure splitting of each component could be resolved only for special orientations of the sample in the external magnetic field. The parameters of the EPR signal of both chromium and manganese centres indicate that there is an essential covalence in the ZnAl(2)S(4) spinel crystal. Very narrow linewidths (∼2 Oe) of the Cr(3+) EPR signal components point to very high homogeneity and quality of the ZnAl(2)S(4) crystals.

Total synthesis of 12,13-desoxyepothilone B (Epothilone D)

A highly convergent total synthesis of 12,13-desoxyepothilone B (4, Epothilone D) is described involving the coupling of vinyl iodide (5) and olefin (6). Key steps in the synthesis are the introduction of chirality at C15 via highly enantioselective lipase-mediated enzymatic resolution, diastereoselective alkylation at C8, highly diastereoselective Evans aldol reaction to establish C6-C7, and Mukaiyama aldol reaction to introduce chiral center C3. Palladium catalyzed Suzuki coupling of (5) and (6) provided the methyl ester (27), which was converted to 12,13-desoxyepothilone B (4).

Patupilone (epothilone B) inhibits growth and survival of multiple myeloma cells in vitro and in vivo

In this study, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of patupilone (epothilone B, EPO906), a novel nontaxane microtubule stabilizing agent, in treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). Patupilone directly inhibited growth and survival of MM cells, including those resistant to conventional chemotherapies, such as the taxane paclitaxel. Patupilone induced G2M arrest of MM cells, with subsequent apoptosis. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), 2 known growth and survival factors for MM, did not protect MM.1S cells against patupilone-induced cell death. Proliferation of MM cells induced by adherence to bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) was also inhibited by patupilone and was paralleled by down-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion. Importantly, stimulation of cells from patients with MM, either with IL-6 or by adherence to BMSCs, enhanced the anti-proliferative and proapoptotic effects of patupilone. Moreover, patupilone was effective against MM cell lines that overexpress the MDR1/P-glycoprotein multidrug efflux pump. In addition, patupilone was effective in slowing tumor growth and prolonging median survival of mice that received orthotopical transplants with MM tumor cells. Taken together, these preclinical findings suggest that patupilone may be a safe and effective drug in the treatment of MM, providing the framework for clinical studies to improve patient outcome in MM. (Blood. 2005;105:350-357)

A Phase I clinical trial of ixabepilone (BMS-247550), an epothilone B analog, administered intravenously on a daily schedule for 3 days

BACKGROUND

The epothilones are a novel class of microtubule-stabilizing agents. Ixabepilone (BMS-247550; NSC 710428) is a semisynthetic analog of the natural product epothilone B. The authors conducted a Phase I study by administering ixabepilone to patients as a 1-hour intravenous infusion daily for 3 consecutive days every 21 days.

METHODS

Twenty-six patients were enrolled and received ixabepilone at a starting dose of 8 or 10 mg/m(2) per day for 3 consecutive days.

RESULTS

One hundred and nineteen cycles were administered to 26 patients. The maximum-tolerated dose was 8 mg/m(2) per day of ixabepilone administered as a 1-hour intravenous infusion daily for 3 consecutive days every 21 days. The dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was neutropenia. Other nonhematologic Grade 3 toxicities included fatigue (3 cycles), hyponatremia (1 cycle), anorexia (1 cycle), ileus (1 cycle), stomatitis (1 cycle), and emesis (1 cycle). Prolonged disease stabilization was observed in patients with mesothelioma, ovarian carcinoma, and renal cell carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

The recommended Phase II dose of ixabepilone on the daily schedule for 3 days was 8-10 mg/m(2) per day. Neutropenia was the DLT. Peripheral neuropathy was mild, even after multiple cycles of therapy, and was not dose limiting.