Apoptolidin A: total synthesis and partially glycosylated analogues

Expeditious Asymmetric Synthesis of Polypropionates Relying on Sulfur Dioxide-Induced C–C Bond Forming Reactions

For a long time, the organic chemistry of sulfur dioxide (SO2) consisted of sulfinates that react with carbon electrophiles to generate sulfones. With alkenes and other unsaturated compounds, SO2 generates polymeric materials such as polysulfones. More recently, H-ene, sila-ene and hetero-Diels–Alder reactions of SO2 have been realized under conditions that avoid polymer formation. Sultines resulting from the hetero-Diels–Alder reactions of conjugated dienes and SO2 are formed more rapidly than the corresponding more stable sulfolenes resulting from the cheletropic additions. In the presence of a protic or Lewis acid catalyst, the sultines derived from 1-alkoxydienes are ionized into zwitterionic intermediates bearing 1-alkoxyallylic cation moieties which react with electro-rich alkenes such as enol silyl ethers and allylsilanes with high stereoselectivity. (C–C-bond formation through Umpolung induced by SO2). This produces silyl sulfinates that react with carbon electrophiles to give sulfones (one-pot four component asymmetric synthesis of sulfones), or with Cl2, generating the corresponding sulfonamides that can be reacted in situ with primary and secondary amines (one-pot four component asymmetric synthesis of sulfonamides). Alternatively, Pd-catalyzed desulfinylation generates enantiomerically pure polypropionate stereotriads in one-pot operations. The chirons so obtained are flanked by an ethyl ketone moiety on one side and by a prop-1-en-1-yl carboxylate group on the other. They are ready for two-directional chain elongations, realizing expeditious synthesis of long-chain polypropionates and polyketides. The stereotriads have also been converted into simpler polypropionates such as the cyclohexanone moiety of baconipyrone A and B, Kishi’s stereoheptad unit of rifamycin S, Nicolaou’s C1–C11-fragment and Koert’s C16–CI fragment of apoptolidin A. This has also permitted the first total synthesis of (-)-dolabriferol.

Reagent-Controlled α-Selective Dehydrative Glycosylation of 2,6-Dideoxy Sugars: Construction of the Arugomycin Tetrasaccharide

The first synthesis of the tetrasaccharide fragment of the anthracycline natural product Arugomycin is described. A reagent controlled dehydrative glycosylation method involving cyclopropenium activation was utilized to synthesize the α-linkages with complete anomeric selectivity. The synthesis was completed in 20 total steps, and in 2.5% overall yield with a longest linear sequence of 15 steps.

The use of fluorescently-tagged apoptolidins in cellular uptake and response studies

The apoptolidins are glycomacrolide microbial metabolites reported to be selectively cytotoxic against tumor cells. Using fluorescently tagged active derivatives we demonstrate selective uptake of these four tagged glycomacrolides in cancer cells over healthy human blood cells. We also demonstrate the utility of these five fluorescently tagged glycomacrolides in fluorescent flow cytometry to monitor cellular uptake of the six glycomacrolides and cellular response.

A robust synthesis of N-glycolyl muramyl dipeptide via azidonitration/reduction

A novel synthetic route leading to N-glycolyl muramyl dipeptide (MDP), a bacterial glycopeptide of particular interest in studies of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (NOD2), is described. The synthetic strategy hinges on the alkylation of benzylidene-protected glucal with 2-bromopropionic acid and thus circumvents a challenging and non-reproducible SN2 step at the C-3 position of glucosamine derivatives. The subsequent sequence includes an azidonitration and an unusual azide reduction/acylation step via an aza ylide/oxaphospholidine intermediate. This approach generates a protected N-glycolyl MDP that can be either subjected to a one-step global deprotection or differentially deprotected to obtain further derivatives.

Fluorescent probes of the apoptolidins and their utility in cellular localization studies

Apoptolidin A has been described among the top 0.1% most-cell-selective cytotoxic agents to be evaluated in the NCI 60 cell line panel. The molecular structure of apoptolidin A consists of a 20-membered macrolide with mono- and disaccharide moieties. In contrast to apoptolidin A, the aglycone (apoptolidinone) shows no cytotoxicity (>10 μM) when evaluated against several tumor cell lines. Apoptolidin H, the C27 deglycosylated analogue of apoptolidin A, displayed sub-micromolar activity against H292 lung carcinoma cells. Selective esterification of apoptolidins A and H with 5-azidopentanoic acid afforded azido-functionalized derivatives of potency equal to that of the parent macrolide. They also underwent strain-promoted alkyne-azido cycloaddition reactions to provide access to fluorescent and biotin-functionalized probes. Microscopy studies demonstrate apoptolidins A and H localize in the mitochondria of H292 human lung carcinoma cells.

Constructing molecular complexity and diversity: total synthesis of natural products of biological and medicinal importance

The advent of organic synthesis and the understanding of the molecule as they occurred in the nineteenth century and were refined in the twentieth century constitute two of the most profound scientific developments of all time. These discoveries set in motion a revolution that shaped the landscape of the molecular sciences and changed the world. Organic synthesis played a major role in this revolution through its ability to construct the molecules of the living world and others like them whose primary element is carbon. Although the early beginnings of organic synthesis came about serendipitously, organic chemists quickly recognized its potential and moved decisively to advance and exploit it in myriad ways for the benefit of mankind. Indeed, from the early days of the synthesis of urea and the construction of the first carbon-carbon bond, the art of organic synthesis improved to impressively high levels of sophistication. Through its practice, today chemists can synthesize organic molecules--natural and designed--of all types of structural motifs and for all intents and purposes. The endeavor of constructing natural products--the organic molecules of nature--is justly called both a creative art and an exact science. Often called simply total synthesis, the replication of nature's molecules in the laboratory reflects and symbolizes the state of the art of synthesis in general. In the last few decades a surge in total synthesis endeavors around the world led to a remarkable collection of achievements that covers a wide ranging landscape of molecular complexity and diversity. In this article, we present highlights of some of our contributions in the field of total synthesis of natural products of biological and medicinal importance. For perspective, we also provide a listing of selected examples of additional natural products synthesized in other laboratories around the world over the last few years.

Biosynthesis of the Apoptolidins in Nocardiopsis sp. FU 40

The apoptolidins are 20/21-membered macrolides produced by Nocardiopsis sp. FU40. Several members of this family are potent and remarkably selective inducers of apoptosis in cancer cell lines, likely via a distinct mitochondria associated target. To investigate the biosynthesis of this natural product, the complete genome of the apoptolidin producer Nocardiopsis sp. FU40 was sequenced and a 116 Kb region was identified containing a putative apoptolidin biosynthetic gene cluster. The apoptolidin gene cluster comprises a type I polyketide synthase, with 13 homologating modules, apparently initiated in an unprecedented fashion via transfer from a methoxymalonyl-acyl carrier protein loading module. Spanning approximately 39 open reading frames, the gene cluster was cloned into a series of overlapping cosmids and functionally validated by targeted gene disruption experiments in the producing organism. Disruption of putative PKS and P(450) genes delineated the roles of these genes in apoptolidin biosynthesis and chemical complementation studies demonstrated intact biosynthesis peripheral to the disrupted genes. This work provides insight into details of the biosynthesis of this biologically significant natural product and provides a basis for future mutasynthetic methods for the generation of non-natural apopotolidins.

Natural glycoconjugates with antitumor activity

Cancer is one of the major causes of death worldwide. As a consequence, many different therapeutic approaches, including the use of glycosides as anticancer agents, have been developed. Various glycosylated natural products exhibit high activity against a variety of microbes and human tumors. In this review we classify glycosides according to the nature of their aglycone (non-saccharidic) part. Among them, we describe anthracyclines, aureolic acids, enediyne antibiotics, macrolide and glycopeptides presenting different strengths and mechanisms of action against human cancers. In some cases, the glycosidic residue is crucial for their activity, such as in anthracycline, aureolic acid and enediyne antibiotics; in other cases, Nature has exploited glycosylation to improve solubility or pharmacokinetic properties, as in the glycopeptides. In this review we focus our attention on natural glycoconjugates with anticancer properties. The structure of several of the carbohydrate moieties found in these conjugates and their role are described. The structure–activity relationship of some of these compounds, together with the structural features of their interaction with the biological targets, are also reported. Taken together, all this information is useful for the design of new potential anti-tumor drugs.

Light-induced isomerization of apoptolidin a leads to inversion of C2-C3 double bond geometry

The isolation, characterization, and cytotoxicity against H292 cells of apoptolidin G are reported. Apoptolidin G is shown to be derived by a light-induced isomerization of the C2-C3 carbon-carbon double bond of apoptolidin A.

Apoptolidins E and F, new glycosylated macrolactones isolated from Nocardiopsis sp

Two new glycosylated macrolactones, apoptolidins E (5) and F (6), were isolated from fermentation of the actinomycete Nocardiopsis sp. and their structures assigned. Lacking the C16 and C20 oxygens of apoptolidin A (1), these macrolides are also the first members of this family to display a 4-O-methyl-l-rhamnose at C9 rather than a 6-deoxy-4-O-methyl-l-glucose.

An approach to the site-selective diversification of apoptolidin A with peptide-based catalysts

We report the application of peptide-based catalysts to the site-selective modification of apoptolidin A (1), an agent that displays remarkable selectivity for inducing apoptosis in E1A-transformed cell lines. Key to the approach was the development of an assay suitable for the screening of dozens of catalysts in parallel reactions that could be conducted using only microgram quantities of the starting material. Employing this assay, catalysts (e.g., 11 and ent-11) were identified that afforded unique product distributions, distinct from the product mixtures produced when a simple catalyst (N,N-dimethyl-4-aminopyridine (10)) was employed. Preparative reactions were then carried out with the preferred catalysts so that unique, homogeneous apoptolidin analogues could be isolated and characterized. From these studies, three new apoptolidin analogues were obtained (12-14), each differing from the other in either the location of acyl group substituents or the number of acetate groups appended to the natural product scaffold. Biological evaluation of the new apoptolidin analogues was then conducted using growth inhibition assays based on the H292 human lung carcinoma cell line. The new analogues exhibited activities comparable to apoptolidin A.

Combined chemical and biosynthetic route to access a new apoptolidin congener

Glycosylation of a synthetic aglycone using precursor-directed biosynthesis is facilitated by a chemical ketosynthase "knockdown" of the apoptolidin producer Nocardiopsis sp. This synthetic approach facilitated the preparation of an unnatural disaccharide derivative of apoptolidin D that substantially restores cytotoxicity against H292 cells and deconvolutes the role of the decorating sugars in apoptolidin bioactivity.

2,3-Anhydrosugars in glycoside bond synthesis. Application to 2,6-dideoxypyranosides

We describe here the first use of 2,3-anhydrosugars as glycosylating agents for the preparation of 2-deoxypyranosides. In particular, the methodology was used to assemble 2,6-dideoxysugar glycosides. Glycosylation of a panel of alcohols with one of two 6-deoxy-2,3-anhydrosugar thioglycosides (8 and 9) in the presence of a Lewis acid afforded 2,6-dideoxy-2-thiotolyl glycoside products in generally excellent yields with an exclusively syn relationship between the aglycon and the C-3 hydroxyl group. Removal of the 2-thiotolyl group can be achieved upon reaction with tri-n-butyltin hydride and AIBN to give the corresponding 2,6-dideoxy pyranosides. Once developed, the method was applied to the synthesis of oligosaccharide moieties in the natural products apoptolidin and olivomycin A.

Total synthesis of apoptolidin A

A highly convergent, enantioselective total synthesis of the potent antitumor agent apoptolidin A has been completed. The key transformations include highly selective glycosylations to attach the C27 disaccharide and the C9 6'-deoxy-l-glucose, a cross-metathesis to incorporate the C1-C10 trienoate unit, and a Yamaguchi macrolactonization to complete the macrocycle. Twelve stereocenters in the polypropionate segments and sugar units were established through diastereoselective chlorotitanium enolate aldol reactions.

Synthesis and evaluation of the cytotoxicity of apoptolidinones A and D

Apoptolidins A-D are microbial secondary metabolites shown to be selectively cytotoxic against several cancer cell lines and noncytotoxic against normal cells. Total syntheses of apoptolidinones A and D are reported. The efficient synthetic strategy leading to the apoptolidinones features construction of the common 20-membered macrolactone by an intramolecular Suzuki reaction and stereocontrolled aldol reactions establishing the C19/C20 and C22/C23 stereocenters. In contrast to apoptolidin A, the aglycones apoptolidinone A and D were shown to be noncytotoxic when evaluated against human lung cancer cells (H292).

Use of sultines in the asymmetric synthesis of polypropionate antibiotics

At low temperature and in the presence of an acid catalyst, SO2 adds to 1,3-dienes equilibrating with the corresponding 3,6-dihydro-1,2-oxathiin-2-oxides (sultines). These compounds are unstable above -60 °C and equilibrate with the more stable 2,5-dihydrothiophene 1,1-dioxides (sulfolenes). The hetero-Diels-Alder additions of SO2 are suprafacial and follow the Alder endo rule. The sultines derived from 1-oxy-substituted and 1,3-dioxy-disubstituted 1,3-dienes cannot be observed at -100 °C but are believed to be formed faster than the corresponding sulfolenes. In the presence of acid catalysts, the 6-oxy-substituted sultines equilibrate with zwitterionic species that react with electron-rich alkenes such as enoxysilanes and allylsilanes, generating β,γ-unsaturated silyl sulfinates that can be desilylated and desulfinylated to generate polypropionate fragments containing up to three contiguous stereogenic centers and an (E)-alkene unit. Alternatively, the silyl sulfinates can be reacted with electrophiles to generate polyfunctional sulfones (one-pot, four-component synthesis of sulfones), or oxidized into sulfonyl chlorides and reacted with amines, then realizing a one-pot, four-component synthesis of polyfunctional sulfonamides. Using enantiomerically enriched dienes such as 1-[(R)- or 1-(S)-phenylethyloxy]-2-methyl-(E,E)-penta-1,3-dien-3-yl isobutyrate, derived from inexpensive (R)- or (S)-1-phenylethanol, enantiomerically enriched stereotriads are obtained in one-pot operations. The latter are ready for further chain elongation. This has permitted the development of expeditious total asymmetric syntheses of important natural products of biological interest such as the baconipyrones, rifamycin S, and apoptolidin A.

Studies on the synthesis of apoptolidin A. 2. Synthesis of the disaccharide unit

Disaccharide 3 correspoinding to the disaccharide unit of apoptolidin A has been synthesized via the regio- and stereoselective TBS-OTf-promoted beta-glycosidation reaction of 2,6-dideoxy-2-iodo-beta-glucopyranosyl acetate (5) and p-methoxybenzyl 2,6-dideoxy-2-iodo-3-C-methyl-alpha-mannopyranoside (11).

Short synthesis of the C16-C28 polyketide fragment of apoptolidin A aglycone

Starting from (E,E)-1-[(1R)-(phenylethyl)oxy]-2-methylpenta-1,3-diene and triethylsilyl enol ether of butanone rapid access to Koert's advanced C10-C28 polyketide fragment of apoptolidin A is now possible.

Apoptolidinone A: Synthesis of the Apoptolidin A Aglycone

An efficient stereocontrolled synthesis of apoptolidinone A, the aglycone of apoptolidin A is described. The synthetic strategy relies on a cross coupling between C11/C12 of a northern half (C1-C11) and a southern part (C12-C28) followed by a ring-size selective macrolactonization. Key steps for the introduction of the southern half stereocenters are a stereoselective aldol reaction, a substrate controlled dihydroxylation and a chelation-controlled Grignard/aldehyde addition. The conjugated triene of the northern half was built up successively by E-selective Wittig reactions. L-Malic acid was chosen as the chiral pool source for the C8/C9 stereocenters. The final cleavage of the silyl ethers and the conversion of the C21 methyl ketal into the hemiketal was achieved by HF.pyridine.