A scalable synthesis of 2S-hydroxymutilin via a modified Rubottom oxidation

Asymmetric Oxidation of Enol Derivatives to α-Alkoxy Carbonyls Using Iminium Salt Catalysts: A Synthetic and Computational Study

We report herein the first examples of asymmetric oxidation of enol ether and ester substrates using iminium salt organocatalysis, affording moderate to excellent enantioselectivities of up to 98% ee for tetralone-derived substrates in the α-hydroxyketone products. A comprehensive density functional theory study was undertaken to interpret the competing diastereoisomeric transition states in this example in order to identify the origins of enantioselectivity. The calculations, performed at the B3LYP/6-31G(D) level of theory, gave good agreement with the experimental results, in terms of the magnitude of the effects under the specified reaction conditions, and in terms of the preferential formation of the ( R)-enantiomer. Just one of the 30 characterized transition states dominates the enantioselectivity, which is attributed to the adoption of an orientation relative to stereochemical features of the chiral controlling element that combines a CH-π interaction between a CH₂ group in the substrate and one of the aromatic rings of the biaryl section of the chiral auxiliary with a good alignment of the acetoxy group with the other biaryl ring, and places the smallest substituent on the alkene (a hydrogen atom) in the most sterically hindered position.

Pleuromutilins: Potent Drugs for Resistant Bugs-Mode of Action and Resistance

Pleuromutilins are antibiotics that selectively inhibit bacterial translation and are semisynthetic derivatives of the naturally occurring tricyclic diterpenoid pleuromutilin, which received its name from the pleuromutilin-producing fungus Pleurotus mutilus Tiamulin and valnemulin are two established derivatives in veterinary medicine for oral and intramuscular administration. As these early pleuromutilin drugs were developed at a time when companies focused on major antibacterial classes, such as the β-lactams, and resistance was not regarded as an issue, interest in antibiotic research including pleuromutilins was limited. Over the last decade or so, there has been a resurgence in interest to develop this class for human use. This has resulted in a topical derivative, retapamulin, and additional derivatives in clinical development. The most advanced compound is lefamulin, which is in late-stage development for the intravenous and oral treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia and acute bacterial skin infections. Overall, pleuromutilins and, in particular, lefamulin are characterized by potent activity against Gram-positive and fastidious Gram-negative pathogens as well as against mycoplasmas and intracellular organisms, such as Chlamydia spp. and Legionella pneumophila Pleuromutilins are unaffected by resistance to other major antibiotic classes, such as macrolides, fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, β-lactam antibiotics, and others. Furthermore, pleuromutilins display very low spontaneous mutation frequencies and slow, stepwise resistance development at sub-MIC in vitro. The potential for resistance development in clinic is predicted to be slow as confirmed by extremely low resistance rates to this class despite the use of pleuromutilins in veterinary medicine for >30 years. Although rare, resistant strains have been identified in human- and livestock-associated environments and as with any antibiotic class, require close monitoring as well as prudent use in veterinary medicine. This review focuses on the structural characteristics, mode of action, antibacterial activity, and resistance development of this potent and novel antibacterial class for systemic use in humans.

Developing new antibacterials through natural product research

INTRODUCTION

Natural products have long been instrumental for discovering antibiotics, but many pharmaceutical companies abandoned this field and new antibiotics declined. In contrast, microbial resistance to current antibiotics has approached critical levels.

AREAS COVERED

This article gives historical perspectives by providing background about present-day economic realities and medical needs for antibiotic research, whose pipeline is mostly focused toward older known agents and newer semi-synthetic derivatives. Future research trends and projected technological developments open many innovative opportunities to discover novel antibacterials and find ways to control pathogenic bacteria without conventional antibiotics that provoke resistance.

EXPERT OPINION

The successful registration of daptomycin, retapamulin and fidaxomicin indicate the re-emergence of natural products has already begun. Semi-synthetic derivatives from other under-explored classes are progressing. More effort is being put into approaches such as total synthesis, discovery of new structural scaffolds for synthesis, alterations of biosynthetic pathways, combinatorial biosynthesis, new screening targets and new resources from which to isolate natural products. A return to successful screening of actinomycetes depends on solving the rate-limiting dereplication obstacle. Long-term solutions need to come from greater exploration of the massive numbers of uncultured microbes. An ultimate solution to the antibiotic-promoted microbial resistance cycle may lie in finding ways to control bacteria by non-lethal means.