Some recent advances in the synthesis of polycyclic imidazole-containing marine natural products

Designing 2-aminoimidazole alkaloids analogs with anti-biofilm activities: structure-activities relationships of polysubstituted triazoles

In order to discover novel probes that may help in the investigation and the control of bacterial biofilms, we have designed a library of triazole-based analogs of 2-aminoimidazole marine alkaloids: naamine A and isonaamine A. Twenty-two compounds were screened for their biofilm inhibitory activity against two strains of Gram-negative bacteria. Four compounds were shown to act as non-toxic inhibitors of biofilm development without effect on bacterial growth even at high concentrations (100 μM).

Asymmetric synthesis of ageliferin

We describe herein an asymmetric synthesis of ageliferin. A Mn(III)-mediated oxidative radical cyclization reaction was used as the key step to construct the core skeleton of this pyrrole-imidazole dimer. This approach resembles the biogenic [4 + 2] dimerization in an intramolecular fashion.

Biosynthesis, asymmetric synthesis, and pharmacology, including cellular targets, of the pyrrole-2-aminoimidazole marine alkaloids

The pyrrole-2-aminoimidazole (P-2-AI) alkaloids are a growing family of marine alkaloids, now numbering well over 150 members, with high topographical and biological information content. Their intriguing structural complexity, rich and compact stereochemical content, high N to C ratio (~1 : 2), and increasingly studied biological activities are attracting a growing number of researchers from numerous disciplines world-wide. This review surveys advances in this area with a focus on the structural diversity, biosynthetic hypotheses with increasing, but still rare, verifying experimental studies, asymmetric syntheses, and biological studies, including cellular target receptor isolation studies, of this stimulating and exciting alkaloid family.

Palladium-catalyzed dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformations of vinyl aziridines with nitrogen heterocycles: rapid access to biologically active pyrroles and indoles

We report that nitrogen heterocycles can serve as competent nucleophiles in the palladium-catalyzed dynamic kinetic asymmetric alkylation of vinyl aziridines. The resulting alkylated products were obtained with high regio-, chemo-, and enantioselectivity. Both substituted 1H-pyrroles and 1H-indoles were successfully employed to give exclusively the branched N-alkylated products. The synthetic utility of this process was demonstrated by applying this method to the preparation of several medicinal chemistry lead compounds and bromopyrrole alkaloids including longamide B, longamide B methyl ester, hanishin, agesamides A and B, and cyclooroidin.

Diversity-oriented approach to pyrrole-imidazole alkaloid frameworks

An exploration of imidazolylpropargyl amides as linchpin synthons for the construction of a diverse array of heterocyclic frameworks, many of which are related to those found in the oroidin derived alkaloids, is described. One such intermediate has been used in a formal total synthesis of cyclooroidin.

Asymmetric total synthesis of ent-cyclooroidin

An enantiospecific total synthesis of the pyrrole-imidazole natural product cyclooroidin from histidine is described. The key N1-C9 bond is constructed through an intramolecular SN2-type of reaction of a chloro ester. Subsequent imidazole azidation at the 2-position, pyrrole bromination, azide reduction, and deprotection leads to the completion of the synthesis.

Synthesis of 7-(15)N-Oroidin and evaluation of utility for biosynthetic studies of pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids by microscale (1)H-(15)N HSQC and FTMS

Numerous marine-derived pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids (PIAs), ostensibly derived from the simple precursor oroidin, 1a, have been reported and have garnered intense synthetic interest due to their complex structures and in some cases biological activity; however very little is known regarding their biosynthesis. We describe a concise synthesis of 7-(15)N-oroidin (1d) from urocanic acid and a direct method for measurement of (15)N incorporation by pulse labeling and analysis by 1D (1)H-(15)N HSQC NMR and FTMS. Using a mock pulse labeling experiment, we estimate the limit of detection (LOD) for incorporation of newly biosynthesized PIA by 1D (1)H-(15)N HSQC to be 0.96 microg equivalent of (15)N-oroidin (2.4 nmole) in a background of 1500 microg of unlabeled oroidin (about 1 part per 1600). 7-(15)N-Oroidin will find utility in biosynthetic feeding experiments with live sponges to provide direct information to clarify the pathways leading to more complex pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids.

A submarine journey: the pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids

In his most celebrated tale "The Picture of Dorian Gray", Oscar Wilde stated that "those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril". This sentence could be a prophetical warning for the practitioner who voluntarily challenges himself with trying to synthesize marine sponge-deriving pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids. This now nearly triple-digit membered community has been growing exponentially in the last 20 years, both in terms of new representatives and topological complexity--from simple, achiral oroidin to the breathtaking 12-ring stylissadines A and B, each possessing 16 stereocenters. While the biosynthesis and the role in the sponge economy of most of these alkaloids still lies in the realm of speculations, significant biological activities for some of them have clearly emerged. This review will account for the progress in achieving the total synthesis of the more biologically enticing members of this class of natural products.

A stereodivergent strategy to both product enantiomers from the same enantiomer of a stereoinducing catalyst: agelastatin A

In this article, we report a full account of our recent development of pyrroles and N-alkoxyamides as new classes of nucleophiles for palladium-catalyzed AAA reactions, along with application of these methodologies in the total synthesis of agelastatin A, a marine natural product with exceptional anticancer activity and other biological properties. Our method allows for access to either regioisomer of the pyrrolopiperazinones (6 and 19) with high efficiency and enantioselectivity. Note that isomer 19 was obtained via a cascade reaction through a double allylic alkylation pathway. From regioisomer 6, the total synthesis of (+)-agelastatin A was completed in a very short fashion (four steps from 6), during the course of which we developed a new copper catalyst for aziridination and an In(OTf)(3)/DMSO system to oxidatively open an N-tosyl aziridine. Starting with the other pyrrolopiperazinone 19, a five-step sequence has been developed to furnish a formal total synthesis of (-)-agelastatin A. A unique feature of our syntheses is the use of two rather different strategies for the total syntheses of both enantiomers of agelastatin A using the same enantiomer of a chiral palladium catalyst.

Total synthesis of (-)-agelastatin A: the application of a sequential sigmatropic rearrangement

An enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-agelastatin A from (-)-2,3-O-isopropylidene-d-threitol is described. The sequential Overman/Mislow-Evans rearrangement of the allylic bistrichloroimidate is the key step, which efficiently installed a diaminohydroxy group.

A stereoselective synthesis of the bromopyrrole natural product (-)-agelastatin A

Weaving an intricate web: A stereoselective synthesis of (-)-agelastatin A has been developed, which requires 11 steps from commercially available starting material. The application of a Rh-catalyzed intramolecular olefin aziridination reaction and the subsequent manipulation of the resulting tricyclic intermediate (see scheme) punctuate this study.

Imidazolium 3-nitrobenzoate

In the title compound, C₃H₅N₂⁺·C₇H₄NO₄⁻, the benzene ring forms a dihedral angle of 40.60 (5)° with the imidizolium ring. The nitro­benzoate anion is approximately planar: the benzene ring makes dihedral angles of 3.8 (3) and 3.2 (1)° with the nitro and carboxyl­ate groups, respectively. In the crystal structure, the cations and anions are linked by inter­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a zigzag chain along the b axis.

Total synthesis of (+/-)-agelastatin A, a potent inhibitor of osteopontin-mediated neoplastic transformations

A stereoselective synthesis of agelastatin A, a potent cytotoxin and inhibitor of osteopontin (OPN)-mediated neoplastic transformations, has been accomplished in 14 steps (12 operations) with an approximate overall yield of 8%. Notable features of this route include the direct manner in which the pyrroloketopiperazine A-ring of the target is generated and the efficient employment of a trichloroacetamide, introduced through Overman rearrangement, as a protecting group, pendant nucleophile, and latent urea.

Marine natural products: synthetic aspects

An overview of marine natural products synthesis during 2007 is provided. As with earlier installments in this series, the emphasis is on total syntheses of molecules of contemporary interest, new total syntheses, and syntheses that have resulted in structure confirmation or stereochemical assignments.1 Introduction, 2 Review articles, 3 Azaspiracid, 4 Polyethers, 5 Guanidinium alkaloids, 6 Amphidinolides, 7 Total syntheses of other compounds, 8 Acknowledgements, 9 References.

1,3-Bis(4-chlorophenyl)-4,5-diethoxyimidazolidine

In the mol­ecule of the title compound, C₁₉H₂₂Cl₂N₂O₂, the two benzene rings are oriented at a dihedral angle of 3.70 (3)°. The five-membered ring adopts an envelope conformation.

Total synthesis of (+/-)-calcaridine A and (+/-)-epi-calcaridine A

The first total synthesis of the Leucetta alkaloid calcaridine A is described based on a biosynthetic postulate. Application of an oxidative rearrangement of a 4,5-disubstituted imidazole leads to the formation of both calcaridine A and epi-calcaridine A. An X-ray crystal structure determination on the latter has allowed the assignment of the relative configuration of the epimeric natural product and calcaridine A by extrapolation.

Extending pummerer reaction chemistry. Application to the total synthesis of (+/-)-dibromoagelaspongin

The sponge metabolite dibromoagelaspongin was synthesized in 16 steps from imidazole. The route features two successive oxidative cyclizations with complete control of regiochemistry to deliver the unusual triaminomethane core of the target. These oxidative cyclizations likely resulted from Pummerer-like processes on the imidazole-2-sulfoxide (sulfide) precursors.

The Pursuit of Palau'amine

Since its discovery in 1993, the marine natural product palau'amine has intrigued natural product chemists. Its exotic molecular architecture and purported bioactivity made it an ideal target for synthesis. However, as the years went by and related marine alkaloids were isolated, a skeptical eye was cast on the structure of palau'amine; recently these suspicions were confirmed and the structure of palau'amine revised. This Minireview gives a careful overview of the structural revision and its ramifications to both its biogenesis and total synthesis.