The enone motif of (+)-grandifloracin is not essential for ‘anti-austerity’ antiproliferative activity

Organocatalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Bicyclo[2.2.2]octenones via Oxaziridinium Catalysed ortho ‐Hydroxylative Phenol Dearomatization**

Hydroxylative dearomatization reactions of phenols (HPD) offer an efficient way to assemble complex, biologically relevant scaffolds. Despite this, enantioselective hydroxylative phenol dearomatizations for the construction of bicyclo[2.2.2]octenones are classically limited to stoichiometric chiral reagents, and a practical, enantioselective catalytic method has remained elusive. Herein, we describe a highly enantioselective, organocatalytic tandem o‐HPD‐[4+2] reaction. Our methodology utilizes a chiral oxaziridinium organocatalyst, that is available in both enantiomeric forms, to afford dearomatized products in high enantioselectivity over a range of phenol substitution patterns. This approach was applied to the highly enantioselective synthesis of (+)‐biscarvacrol (99 : 1 e.r.) and (−)‐bis(2,6‐xylenol) (94 : 6 e.r.). The practicality of our conditions was demonstrated at gram‐scale, using an amine precatalyst, accessible in a single synthetic step.

Total Synthesis of Antiausterity Agent (±)-Uvaridacol L by Regioselective Axial Diacylation of a myo-Inositol Orthoester

The antiausterity natural product (±)-uvaridacol L was synthesized for the first time in seven steps from myo-inositol. The key reaction of this synthesis, axial selective dibenzoylation of myo-inositol orthoformate, was achieved using a catalytic amount of tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF). The preferential cytotoxicity of racemic uvaridacol L against cancer cell lines able to adapt to nutrient deprivation was also evaluated under nutrient deprived conditions. Morphological evaluation was also carried out.

Sidechain Diversification of Grandifloracin Allows Identification of Analogues with Enhanced Anti-Austerity Activity against Human PANC-1 Pancreatic Cancer Cells

The natural product (+)-grandifloracin is a potent "anti-austerity" agent, able to suppress the ability of various pancreatic cancer cell lines to tolerate conditions of nutrient deprivation. Such anti-austerity agents represent a promising approach to cancer chemotherapy. Here we report the synthesis and biological evaluation of racemic analogues of grandifloracin bearing diverse sidechains, of which two show enhanced potency in comparison with the natural product. Additionally, several unexpected by-products containing modifications of the grandifloracin core were isolated, identified and similarly evaluated for biological activity.

Evaluation of synthetic coumarins for antiausterity cytotoxicity against pancreatic cancers

A series of functionalized coumarins were synthesized and evaluated for their capacity to inhibit the resistance to starvation of pancreatic cancer cells. This form of cytotoxicity, termed 'antiausterity' activity, was evaluated using a preferential cytotoxicity assay that compared cell survival in nutrient poor and nutrient rich conditions. Six of the seventeen compounds showed weak antiausterity activity against PANC-1. Compound 34 was active against PANC-1, MIA PaCa-2, and Capan-1 cancer cell lines. All of the compounds tested were simplified structural analogs of previously reported natural product leads. Six of the compounds, including 34, contain functionalized triazoles as novel potential bioisosteres of the side chain of the natural product angelmarin. Overall, the analogs were found to have low antiausterity activity relative to the corresponding natural products.

Exceedingly Efficient Synthesis of (±)-Grandifloracin and Acylated Analogues

A highly efficient regio- and stereoselective total synthesis of (±)-grandifloracin via a tandem dearomative epoxidation/spontaneous Diels-Alder cyclodimerization from salicylic acid in only four steps is reported. The synthetic route allows for late-stage diversification of the core structure to give ready access to analogues of this promising agent against pancreatic cancer.

An approach towards expanding the scope of masked o-benzoquinone dimers to generate diverse compound libraries

In this report, a simple and rapid approach for the synthesis of masked o-benzoquinone (MOB) heterodimers is presented.