Synthesis of notoamide J: a potentially pivotal intermediate in the biosynthesis of several prenylated indole alkaloids

Biomimetic and Concise Total Syntheses of Prenylated and Bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane-Containing Indole Alkaloids Including Taichunamide A, Notoamide N and Versicolamide B

Total syntheses of the title prenylated indole alkaloids together with seven others are reported. Biogenetic considerations have been employed in devising the reaction sequences leading to these targets with, in the opening stages, electrochemically-derived indole-3-carboxaldehyde 15 being subject to an aldol-type condensation reaction involving diketopiperazine derivative 19. This led, after prototopic shifts, intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition and hydrolysis/deprotection steps, to the racemic forms of the bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane-containing natural product stephacidin A (2) and its C6 epimer 3. Epoxidation of the last compound afforded, following rearrangement of the primary oxidation products, a mixture of (±)-taichunamide A [(±)-4] and (±)-versicolamide B [(±)-7]. Related protocols allowed for the conversion of (±)-stephacidin A [(±)-2] into (±)-notoamide B [(±)-5]. Analogous aldol condensation, nucleophilic reduction, and epoxidation steps led to the formation of (-)-notoamide E and its conversion into notoamide C as well as the indole fragmentation product amoenamide E. A late-stage chlorination reaction applied to (±)-stephacidin A provided access to the spirocyclic oxindole (±)-notoamide N [(±)-6].

Structural and stereochemical diversity in prenylated indole alkaloids containing the bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane ring system from marine and terrestrial fungi

Covering: up to February 2017 Various fungi of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Malbranchea produce prenylated indole alkaloids possessing a bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane ring system. After the discovery of distinct enantiomers of the natural alkaloids stephacidin A and notoamide B, from A. protuberus MF297-2 and A. amoenus NRRL 35660, another fungi, A. taichungensis, was found to produce their diastereomers, 6-epi-stephacidin A and versicolamide B, as major metabolites. Distinct enantiomers of stephacidin A and 6-epi-stephacidin A may be derived from a common precursor, notoamide S, by enzymes that form a bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane core via a putative intramolecular hetero-Diels-Alder cycloaddition. This review provides our current understanding of the structural and stereochemical homologies and disparities of these alkaloids. Through the deployment of biomimetic syntheses, whole-genome sequencing, and biochemical studies, a unified biogenesis of both the dioxopiperazine and the monooxopiperazine families of prenylated indole alkaloids constituted of bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane ring systems is presented.

Catalyst-free Synthesis of 6-Hydroxy Indoles via the Condensation of Carboxymethyl Cyclohexadienones and Amines

An efficient catalyst-free synthesis of 6-hydroxy indoles from carboxymethyl cyclohexadienones and primary amines has been developed. The aza-Michael addition of the in situ formed enamine, generated through the condensation of carboxymethyl unit of the substrates with an external amine, to cyclohexadienone moiety followed by rearomatization reaction to provide such indoles. Anilines, aliphatic amines, α-chiral aliphatic amines, or even ammonia were used as amine counterpart. Some of the cyclohexadienones gave 6-amino indoles instead of 6-hydroxy indoles using the Re₂O₇ catalyst. Various post methodological transformations were performed to explore the synthetic utility of the synthesized hydroxy indoles.

Marine natural products

This review covers the literature published in 2013 for marine natural products (MNPs), with 982 citations (644 for the period January to December 2013) 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 (1163 for 2013), 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.

Marine Indole Alkaloids

Marine indole alkaloids comprise a large and steadily growing group of secondary metabolites. Their diverse biological activities make many compounds of this class attractive starting points for pharmaceutical development. Several marine-derived indoles were found to possess cytotoxic, antineoplastic, antibacterial and antimicrobial activities, in addition to the action on human enzymes and receptors. The newly isolated indole alkaloids of marine origin since the last comprehensive review in 2003 are reported, and biological aspects will be discussed.

Safety assessment of 6-hydroxyindole as used in cosmetics

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel (Panel) reviewed the safety of 6-hydroxyindole, which functions as an oxidative hair dye ingredient. The Panel considered relevant animal and human data provided in this safety assessment and concluded that 6-hydroxyindole is safe for use in oxidative hair dye formulations.

Triflic acid-promoted cycloisomerization of 2-alkynylphenyl isothiocyanates and isocyanates: a novel synthetic method for a variety of indole derivatives

A unique method for synthesis of structurally diverse types of indoles involving a triflic acid-promoted cycloisomerization and a Wagner–Meerwein-type rearrangement is described.

Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of N-tert-prenylindoles

Palladium-catalyzed N-tert-prenylations of indoles, tricarbonylchromium-activated indoles, and indolines that occur in high yields (up to 94%) with high tert-prenyl-to-n-prenyl selectivity (up to 12:1) are reported.

Synthesis and bioconversions of notoamide T: a biosynthetic precursor to stephacidin A and notoamide B

In an effort to further elucidate the biogenesis of the stephacidin and notoamide families of natural products, notoamide T has been identified as the likely precursor to stephacidin A. The total synthesis of notoamide T is described along with it is C-6-epimer, 6-epi-notoamide T. The chemical conversion of stephacidin A to notoamide T by reductive ring opening is described as well as the oxidative conversion of notoamide T to stephacidin A. Furthermore, [(13)C](2)-notoamide T was synthesized and provided to Aspergillus versicolor and Aspergillus sp. MF297-2, in which significant incorporation was observed in the advanced metabolite, notoamide B.

Biochemical characterization of NotB as an FAD-dependent oxidase in the biosynthesis of notoamide indole alkaloids

Notoamides produced by Aspergillus spp. bearing the bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane core structure with unusual structural diversity represent a compelling system to understand the biosynthesis of fungal prenylated indole alkaloids. Herein, we report the in vitro characterization of NotB, which catalyzes the indole 2,3-oxidation of notoamide E (13), leading to notoamides C (11) and D (12) through an apparent pinacol-like rearrangement. This unique enzymatic reaction with high substrate specificity, together with the information derived from precursor incorporation experiments using [(13)C](2)-[(15)N](2) quadruply labeled notoamide S (10), demonstrates 10 as a pivotal branching point in notoamide biosynthesis.

Marine natural products

Covering: 2010. Previous review: Nat. Prod. Rep., 2011, 28, 196. This review covers the literature published in 2010 for marine natural products, with 895 citations (590 for the period January to December 2010) 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 (1003 for 2010), together with the relevant biological activities, source organisms and country of origin. Biosynthetic studies, first syntheses, and syntheses that lead to the revision of structures or stereochemistries, have been included.

Lessons and revelations from biomimetic syntheses

Biomimetic synthesis describes the field of organic chemistry that aims to emulate the natural, biosynthetic processes toward natural products. As well as providing insight into how molecules are formed in nature, the benefits of this approach to total synthesis are numerous and extend beyond the gains typical of traditional synthesis. For example, using biosynthetic proposals to design a synthetic route can highlight alternative methods to the desired target. The pursuit of biomimetic syntheses also promotes the development of new reactions to prove or disprove a biosynthetic proposal or to unravel mechanistic implications of a proposed biosynthesis and can lead to the identification of new natural products. Here we look at some recent compelling examples and examine how biomimetic synthesis has led to the discovery of new procedures and principles that would not have been found by other approaches.

Studies on the biosynthesis of the notoamides: synthesis of an isotopomer of 6-hydroxydeoxybrevianamide E and biosynthetic incorporation into notoamide J

6-Hydroxydeoxybrevianamide E is proposed as a biosynthetic precursor to several advanced metabolites isolated from both marine-derived Aspergillus sp. and a terrestrial-derived Aspergillus versicolor. To verify the role of this reverse-prenylated indole alkaloid as an intermediate along the biosynthetic pathway, [(13)C](2)-[(15)N]-6-hydroxydeoxybrevianamide E was synthesized and fed to Aspergillus versicolor. Analysis of the metabolites showed incorporation of the intermediate only into the natural product notoamide J.

Studies on the Biosynthesis of the Stephacidin and Notoamide Natural Products: A Stereochemical and Genetic Conundrum

The stephacidin and notoamide natural products belong to a group of prenylated indole alkaloids containing a bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane core. Biosynthetically, this bicyclic core is believed to be the product of an intermolecular Diels- Alder (IMDA) cycloaddition of an achiral azadiene. Since all of the natural products in this family have been isolated in enantiomerically pure form to date, it is believed that an elusive Diels-Alderase enzyme mediates the IMDA reaction. Adding further intrigue to this biosynthetic puzzle is the fact that several related Aspergillus fungi produce a number of metabolites with the opposite absolute configuration, implying that these fungi have evolved enantiomerically distinct Diels-Alderases. We have undertaken a program to identify every step in the biogenesis of the stephacidins and notoamides, and by combining the techniques of chemical synthesis and biochemical analysis we have been able to identify the two prenyltransferases involved in the early stages of the stephacidin and notoamide biosyntheses. This has allowed us to propose a modified biosynthesis for stephacidin A, and has brought us closer to our goal of finding evidence for, or against, the presence of a Diels-Alderase in this biosynthetic pathway.

Indole prenylation in alkaloid synthesis

Important biologically active indole alkaloids are decorated with prenyl (3,3-dimethylallyl) and tert-prenyl (1,1-dimethylallyl) groups. Covering the literature until the end of 2010, this review article comprehensively summarises and discusses the currently available technologies of prenylation and tert-prenylation of indoles, which have been applied in natural products total syntheses or could be applied there in the near future. We focus on those procedures which introduce the C(5) units in one step, organised according to the indole position to be functionalised. Key strategies include electrophilic and nucleophilic prenylation and tert-prenylation, prenyl and tert-prenyl rearrangements, transition metal-mediated reactions and enzymatic methods.