Biological Activity of Recently Discovered Halogenated Marine Natural Products

Organocatalyzed Decarboxylative Trichloromethylation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman Adducts in Batch and Continuous Flow

Two protocols for the organocatalyzed decarboxylative trichloromethylation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) substrates have been developed. Applying sodium trichloroacetate, as the trichloromethyl anion precursor, in combination with an organocatalyst and acetylated MBH-alcohols, the desired trichloromethylated products were obtained in good yields at room temperature in batch. The method was next extrapolated into a two-step continuous flow protocol, starting directly from the MBH alcohols, in combination with tributylamine acting both as base and catalyst. The flow process proved superior to the batch approach, reducing the reaction time from 16 hours to only 20 minutes, with increased yields for all investigated entries. Two examples were also taken to scale-up in flow producing more than 10 grams of both trichloromethylated targets. Finally, substitution of the organocatalyst to (DHQ)₂ PHAL or (DHQD)₂ PHAL induced chiral transfer to the generated stereocenter in the reaction attaining selectivities with nearly 90 % ee.

Natural products as inspiration for the development of new synthetic methods

Natural products have played an important role in shaping modern synthetic organic chemistry. In particular, their complex molecular skeletons have stimulated the development of many new synthetic methods. We highlight in this article some recent examples of synthetic design inspired by the biosynthesis of natural products.

Gold(I)-Catalyzed Synthesis of Indenes and Cyclopentadienes: Access to (±)-Laurokamurene B and the Skeletons of the Cycloaurenones and Dysiherbols

The formal (3+2) cycloaddition between terminal allenes and aryl or styryl gold(I) carbenes generated by a retro-Buchner reaction of 7-substituted 1,3,5-cycloheptatrienes led to indenes and cyclopentadienes, respectively. These cycloaddition processes have been applied to the construction of the carbon skeleton of the cycloaurenones and the dysiherbols as well as to the total synthesis of (±)-laurokamurene B.

Strategies to diversify natural products for drug discovery

Natural product libraries contain specialized metabolites derived from plants, animals, and microorganisms that play a pivotal role in drug discovery due to their immense structural diversity and wide variety of biological activities. The strategies to greatly extend natural product scaffolds through available biological and chemical approaches offer unique opportunities to access a new series of natural product analogues, enabling the construction of diverse natural product-like libraries. The affordability of these structurally diverse molecules has been a crucial step in accelerating drug discovery. This review provides an overview of various approaches to exploit the diversity of compounds for natural product-based drug development, drawing upon a series of examples to illustrate each strategy.

Ketone-catalyzed photochemical C(sp3)-H chlorination

Photoexcited arylketones catalyze the direct chlorination of C(sp3)-H groups by N-chlorosuccinimide. Acetophenone is the most effective catalyst for functionalization of unactivated C-H groups while benzophenone provides better yields for benzylic C-H functionalization. Activation of both acetophenone and benzophenone can be achieved by irradiation with a household compact fluorescent lamp. This light-dependent reaction provides a better control of the reaction as compared to the traditional chlorination methods that proceed through a free radical chain propagation mechanism.

Marine natural products

Covering: 2015. Previous review: Nat. Prod. Rep., 2016, 33, 382-431This review covers the literature published in 2015 for marine natural products (MNPs), with 1220 citations (792 for the period January to December 2015) referring to compounds isolated from marine microorganisms and phytoplankton, green, brown and red algae, sponges, cnidarians, bryozoans, molluscs, tunicates, echinoderms, mangroves and other intertidal plants and microorganisms. The emphasis is on new compounds (1340 in 429 papers for 2015), together with the relevant biological activities, source organisms and country of origin. Reviews, biosynthetic studies, first syntheses, and syntheses that lead to the revision of structures or stereochemistries, have been included.

Ultra-high resolution band-selective HSQC for nanomole-scale identification of chlorine-substituted 13 C in natural products drug discovery

Ultra-high resolution band-selective HSQC (bsHSQC) has been employed for detection of 35 Cl-37 Cl isotope shifted 13 C NMR signals for assignment of regioisomerism in bromo-chloro natural products. Optimum pulse sequence and instrumental parameters for maximization of detection of the isotope shifts were explored. The chlorine isotope shifts (Δδ) were detected within crosspeaks and were shown to vary with hybridization of 13 C, substitution of 13 C, presence of β-chloro substituents, and their relative configuration. Deconvolution of Cl-substituted CH bsHSQC crosspeaks may provide other useful information, including a potentially MS-independent method for quantitating 37 Cl/35 C isotopic fractionation during the biosynthesis of halogenated natural products. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Enantioselective Addition of Alkynes to α,α-Dichlorinated Aldehydes

Enantioselective addition of terminal alkynes to α,α-dichlorinated aldehydes employing Zn(OTf)₂/NME is disclosed. The propargylic alcohols obtained are accessed in good yields and high enantioselectivity from easily accessible α,α-dichloroaldehydes. The method opens new strategic opportunities for the synthesis of chlorinated natural products, such as the chlorosulfolipids.

Zunyimycins B and C, New Chloroanthrabenzoxocinones Antibiotics against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococci from Streptomyces sp. FJS31-2

This study performed an optimization of the fermentation conditions to activate the expression of the zunyimycin family biosynthesis genes of the zunyimycin-producing streptomycetes strain Streptomyces sp. FJS31-2. Bioassay-guided isolation and purification by varied chromatographic methods yielded two new compounds of the zunyimycin derivatives, namely, 31-2-7 and 31-2-8, accompanied with three known anthrabenzoxocinones family members of zunyimycin A, BE24566B, and chloroanthrabenzoxocinone. Their structures were elucidated by NMR, HRESIMS, IR, UV, and CD. Results showed that these two compounds were structurally similar to the previously reported compound zunyimycin A but differed in positions and number of chlorine atom substitution. The two novel compounds were called zunyimycins B and C. Antibacterial activity assay indicated that zunyimycin C showed a good inhibitory effect on the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococci.

Total syntheses of smenothiazoles A and B

Stereocontrolled installation of vinyl chloride and the 2,5-diene system via silastannation, Stille reaction and desilylchlorination, and the final peptide coupling reactions led to the concise total synthesis of smenothiazoles A (1) and B (2).

Chiral Alkyl Halides: Underexplored Motifs in Medicine

While alkyl halides are valuable intermediates in synthetic organic chemistry, their use as bioactive motifs in drug discovery and medicinal chemistry is rare in comparison. This is likely attributable to the common misconception that these compounds are merely non-specific alkylators in biological systems. A number of chlorinated compounds in the pharmaceutical and food industries, as well as a growing number of halogenated marine natural products showing unique bioactivity, illustrate the role that chiral alkyl halides can play in drug discovery. Through a series of case studies, we demonstrate in this review that these motifs can indeed be stable under physiological conditions, and that halogenation can enhance bioactivity through both steric and electronic effects. Our hope is that, by placing such compounds in the minds of the chemical community, they may gain more traction in drug discovery and inspire more synthetic chemists to develop methods for selective halogenation.

Stereoselective Halogenation in Natural Product Synthesis

At last count, nearly 5000 halogenated natural products have been discovered. In approximately half of these compounds, the carbon atom to which the halogen is bound is sp(3) -hybridized; therefore, there are an enormous number of natural products for which stereocontrolled halogenation must be a critical component of any synthesis strategy. In this Review, we critically discuss the methods and strategies used for stereoselective introduction of halogen atoms in the context of natural product synthesis. Using the successes of the past, we also attempt to identify gaps in our synthesis technology that would aid the synthesis of halogenated natural products, as well as existing methods that have not yet seen application in complex molecule synthesis. The chemistry described herein demonstrates yet again how natural products continue to provide the inspiration for critical advances in chemical synthesis.

Biological fluorination from the sea: discovery of a SAM-dependent nucleophilic fluorinating enzyme from the marine-derived bacterium Streptomyces xinghaiensis NRRL B24674

The first ever marine originated fluorinating enzyme, which promises to be useful in biotransformation and synthetic biology, is described.

Targeted solid phase fermentation of the soil dwelling fungus Gymnascella dankaliensis yields new brominated tyrosine-derived alkaloids

Seven new brominated alkaloids, gymnastatins T–Y (1–6) and dankastatin D (7), together with three known analogues were isolated from the soil fungus Gymnascella dankaliensis through fermentation on solid rice mediumcontaining NaBr.

Terpenoids from the Marine-Derived Fungus Aspergillus fumigatus YK-7

Two new β-bergamotane sesquiterpenoids, E-β-trans-5,8,11-trihydroxybergamot-9-ene (1) and β-trans-2β,5,15-trihydroxybergamot-10-ene (2), were isolated from the marine-derived fungus Aspergillusfumigatus YK-7, along with three known terpenoids 3–5. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods (1D and 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS). Antiproliferative effects on human leukemic monocyte lymphoma U937 and human prostate cancer PC-3 cell lines were measured in vitro. Compound 4 exhibited potent activity against the U937 cell line with an IC₅₀ value of 4.2 μM.

Mollenynes B-E from the marine sponge Spirastrella mollis. Band-selective heteronuclear single quantum coherence for discrimination of bromo-chloro regioisomerism in natural products

Four new chlorobromohydrins, mollenynes B-E, were isolated from the marine sponge Spirastrella mollis collected from Hogsty Reef, Bahamas. Their structures were elucidated by integrated analysis of NMR, MS, and computational methods. A high-resolution band-selective HSQC experiment was developed to identify (13)C NMR signals in samples at the nanomole-scale that arise from Cl-substituted (13)C by exploiting the (35)Cl/(37)Cl isotope shift.

Mycemycins A-E, New Dibenzoxazepinones Isolated from Two Different Streptomycetes

Five new dibenzoxazepinone derivatives, mycemycins A–E (1–5), were isolated from the ethanol extracts of mycelia of two different streptomycetes. 1 and 2 were isolated from an acidic red soil-derived strain, Streptomyces sp. FXJ1.235, and 3–5 from a gntR gene-disrupted deep-sea strain named Streptomyces olivaceus FXJ8.012Δ1741. The structures of mycemycins were elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic analyses, including 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques.