Probing the SAR of dEpoB via chemical synthesis: a total synthesis evaluation of C26-(1,3-dioxolanyl)-12,13-desoxyepothilone B

Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of primary alkyltrifluoroborates with aryl chlorides

Parallel microscale experimentation was used to develop general conditions for the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of diversely functionalized primary alkyltrifluoroborates with a variety of aryl chlorides. These conditions were found to be amenable to coupling with aryl bromides, iodides, and triflates as well. The conditions that were previously identified through similar techniques to promote the cross-coupling of secondary alkyltrifluoroborates with aryl chlorides were not optimal for the primary alkyltrifluoroborates, thus demonstrating the value of parallel experimentation to develop novel, substrate specific results.

Epothilones as lead structures for new anticancer drugs--pharmacology, fermentation, and structure-activity-relationships

Epothilones (Epo's) A and B are naturally occurring microtubule-stabilizers, which inhibit the growth of human cancer cells in vitro at low nM or sub-nM concentrations. In contrast to taxol (paclitaxel, Taxol) epothilones are also active against different types of multidrug-resistant cancer cell lines in vitro and against multidrug-resistant tumors in vivo. Their attractive preclinical profile has made epothilones important lead structures in the search for improved cytotoxic anticancer drugs and Epo B (EPO906, patupilone) is currently undergoing Phase III clinical trials. Numerous synthetic and semisynthetic analogs have been prepared since the absolute stereochemistry of epothilones was first disclosed in mid-1996 and their in vitro biological activity has been determined. Apart from generating a wealth of SAR information, these efforts have led to the identification of at least six compounds (in addition to Epo B), which are currently at various stages of clinical evaluation in humans. The most advanced of these compounds, Epo B lactam BMS-247550 (ixabepilone), has recently obtained FDA approval for the treatment of metastatic and advanced breast cancer. This chapter will first provide a summary of the basic features of the biological profile of Epo B in vitro and in vivo. This will be followed by a review of the processes that have been developed for the fermentative production of Epo B. The main part of the chapter will focus on the most relevant aspects of the epothilone SAR with regard to effects on tubulin polymerization, in vitro antiproliferative activity, and in vivo antitumor activity. Particular emphasis will be placed on work conducted in the authors' own laboratories, but data from other groups will also be included. In a final section, the current status of those epothilone analogs undergoing clinical development will be briefly discussed.

B-alkyl suzuki-miyaura cross-coupling reactions with air-stable potassium alkyltrifluoroborates

The palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of substituted potassium alkyltrifluoroborates with aryl halides and aryl triflates proceeds readily with moderate to good yields. The potassium alkyltrifluoroborates 1, 2, and 3a-e were easily synthesized and obtained as air-stable crystalline solids that can be stored for long periods of time. All of the cross-couplings proceed under the same reaction conditions using PdCl(2)(dppf).CH(2)Cl(2) as catalyst in THF-H(2)O in the presence of 3 equiv of Cs(2)CO(3) as base.