Synthesis of a Coumarin-Based Analogue of Schweinfurthin F

The natural schweinfurthins are stilbenes with significant antiproliferative activity and an uncertain mechanism of action. To obtain a fluorescent analogue with minimal deviation from the natural structure, a coumarin ring system was annulated to the D-ring, creating a new analogue of schweinfurthin F. This stilbene was prepared through a convergent synthesis, with a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons condensation employed to form the central stilbene olefin. After preparation of a tricyclic phosphonate via a recent and more efficient modification of the classic Arbuzov reaction, condensation was attempted with an appropriately substituted bicyclic aldehyde but the coumarin system did not survive the reaction conditions. When olefin formation preceded generation of the coumarin, the stilbene formation proceeded smoothly and ultimately allowed access to the targeted coumarin-based schweinfurthin analogue. This analogue displayed the desired fluorescence properties along with significant biological activity in the National Cancer Institute's 60-cell line bioassay, and the pattern of this biological activity mirrored that of the natural product schweinfurthin F. This approach gives facile access to new fluorescent analogues of the natural schweinfurthins and should be applicable to other natural stilbenes as well.

Total Synthesis of Gramistilbenoids A, B, and C

Stilbenes are biologically active metabolites of plants that have the potential to attenuate a broad range of human diseases. Gramistilbenoids are a class of natural products with a stilbene skeleton, isolated from the bamboo orchid ( Arundina graminifolia), and with significant cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines (NB4, A549, SHSY5Y, PC3, and MCF7). These are the first identified naturally occurring diphenylethylenes to possess a hydroxyethyl unit. However, some of these compounds are not abundant in nature, and thus, their synthesis is advantageous. This paper reports the first synthesis of gramistilbenoids A (1), B (2), and C (3), with overall yields of 10, 2, and 8% respectively. These natural products were synthesized using key reactions, such as Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination, Stille coupling, and hydroboration-oxidation.

Total synthesis of chiricanine A, arahypin-1, trans-arachidin-2, trans-arachidin-3, and arahypin-5 from peanut seeds

The first and efficient syntheses of the naturally occurring prenylated stilbenes chiricanine A (2), arahypin-1 (3), trans-arachidin-2 (4), trans-arachidin-3 (5), and arahypin-5 (6) are described. Syntheses of 2 and 3 were accomplished by either a convergent sequence or a one-step reaction starting from pinosylvin. Syntheses of 4, 5, and 6 were achieved from (E)-3,5-bis-methoxymethyl-4'-triisopropylsilyloxystilbene obtained by a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction between a benzaldehyde possessing bis-methoxymethyl ether groups and a benzyl phosphonate with a triisopropylsilyloxy group.