Construction of 4-hydroxy-2-pyridinones. Total synthesis of (+)-sambutoxin

Antitumor potential of tricyclic pyridone analogues from an entomopathogenic fungus, Fusarium avenaceum SYKC02-P-1

Two new tricyclic pyridone analogues, fusapyridons C (1) and D (2), were isolated along with structurally related known compounds 3 - 5 from the entomopathogenic fungus, F. avenaceum SYKC02-P-1. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were elucidated by analyzing the spectral data of UV, 1 D and 2 D NMR as well as HRESIMS. The absolute configurations of fusapyridons C and D were established by means of single crystal X-ray diffraction and electronic circular dichroism calculation. And antitumor testing of all the isolates showed that compounds 4 and 5 exhibited significant inhibitory activity against the human prostate cancer cells (PC-3 cell lines) with IC₅₀ values of 2.76 and 1.86 μM, respectively.

Biosynthesis of the Fusarium Mycotoxin (-)-Sambutoxin

4-Hydroxy-2-pyridone alkaloids have attracted attention for synthetic and biosynthetic studies due to their broad biological activities and structural diversity. Here, we elucidated the pathway and chemical logic of (-)-sambutoxin (1) biosynthesis. In particular, we uncovered the enzymatic origin of the tetrahydropyran moiety and showed that the p-hydroxyphenyl group is installed via a late-stage, P450-catalyzed oxidation of the phenylalanine-derived side chain rather than via a direct incorporation of tyrosine.

Secondary Metabolites with α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity from Mangrove Endophytic Fungus Talaromyces sp. CY-3

Eight new compounds, including two sambutoxin derivatives (1-2), two highly oxygenated cyclopentenones (7-8), four highly oxygenated cyclohexenones (9-12), together with four known sambutoxin derivatives (3-6), were isolated from semimangrove endophytic fungus Talaromyces sp. CY-3, under the guidance of molecular networking. The structures of new isolates were elucidated by analysis of detailed spectroscopic data, ECD spectra, chemical hydrolysis, ¹³C NMR calculation, and DP4+ analysis. In bioassays, compounds 1-5 displayed better α-glucosidase inhibitory activity than the positive control 1-deoxynojirimycin (IC₅₀ = 80.8 ± 0.3 μM), and the IC₅₀ value was in the range of 12.6 ± 0.9 to 57.3 ± 1.3 μM.

Synthetic Studies on FNC-RED and Its Analogues Containing an All syn-Cyclopentanetetrol Moiety

FNC-RED exhibits innate immune receptor Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor-2 (MD2) stimulatory activity. We have developed a divergent synthetic route to FNC-RED derivatives containing various alkyl side chains. Key features of the synthetic study include stepwise palladium catalyzed cross-coupling reactions and the construction of an all syn-cyclopentanetetrol moiety.

Cucurbitacin D Is a Disruptor of the HSP90 Chaperone Machinery

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) facilitates the maturation of many newly synthesized and unfolded proteins (clients) via the Hsp90 chaperone cycle, in which Hsp90 forms a heteroprotein complex and relies upon cochaperones, immunophilins, etc., for assistance in client folding. Hsp90 inhibition has emerged as a strategy for anticancer therapies due to the involvement of clients in many oncogenic pathways. Inhibition of chaperone function results in client ubiquitinylation and degradation via the proteasome, ultimately leading to tumor digression. Small molecule inhibitors perturb ATPase activity at the N-terminus and include derivatives of the natural product geldanamycin. However, N-terminal inhibition also leads to induction of the pro-survival heat shock response (HSR), in which displacement of the Hsp90-bound transcription factor, heat shock factor-1, translocates to the nucleus and induces transcription of heat shock proteins, including Hsp90. An alternative strategy for Hsp90 inhibition is disruption of the Hsp90 heteroprotein complex. Disruption of the Hsp90 heteroprotein complex is an effective strategy to prevent client maturation without induction of the HSR. Cucurbitacin D, isolated from Cucurbita texana, and 3-epi-isocucurbitacin D prevented client maturation without induction of the HSR. Cucurbitacin D also disrupted interactions between Hsp90 and two cochaperones, Cdc37 and p23.

Synthesis and biological activity of kalkitoxin and its analogues

Total syntheses of kalkitoxin, isolated from the Caribbean Lyngbya majuscula, and its analogues, 3-epi-, 7-epi-, 8-epi-, 10-epi-, 10-nor-, and 16-nor-kalkitoxin, were achieved via oxazolidinone-based diastereoselective 1,4-addition reaction of a methyl group and efficient TiCl(4)-mediated thiazoline ring formation as the key steps. The biological activities of synthetic kalkitoxin and its analogues were evaluated with brine shrimp.

Biomimetic conversion of (-)-fusoxypyridone and (-)-oxysporidinone to (-)-sambutoxin: further evidence for the structure of the tricyclic pyridone alkaloid, (-)-fusoxypyridone

Biomimetic-type reactions of the tricyclic pyridone alkaloid, (-)-fusoxypyridone [(-)-4,6'-anhydrooxysporidinone] (1), recently encountered in an endophytic strain of Fusarium oxysporum, and (-)-oxysporidinone (2) afforded (-)-sambutoxin (3) and an analogue of 1, identified as (-)-1'(6')-dehydro-4,6'-anhydrooxysporidinone (4), thus confirming the structure previously proposed for 1 and suggesting that 1-3 bear the same relative stereochemistry. Oxidation of 4 with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) yielded a hitherto unknown sambutoxin analogue, (-)-4,2'-anhydrosambutoxin (5).

Asymmetric Conjugate Addition for the Preparation of syn-1,3-Dimethyl Arrays: Synthesis and Structure Elucidation of Capensifuranone

The synthesis of capensifuranone (1) has been achieved by the application of developments for asymmetric conjugate addition reactions of organocopper reagents with nonracemic N-enoyl-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidinones for the preparation of 1,3-syn-dimethyl arrays. The assignment of relative and absolute stereochemistry of 1 has been made following the high-field NMR characterizations of synthetic diol derivatives. The previously unassigned C4 stereochemistry of 1 was determined to be of the (S)-configuration. The thermodynamic equilibration of capensifuranone and its C4 diastereomer has been examined.

An efficient and general route to reduced polypropionates via Zr-catalyzed asymmetric CC bond formation

An efficient and general method for the synthesis of reduced polypropionates has been developed through the application of asymmetric carboalumination of alkenes catalyzed by dichlorobis(1-neomenthylindenyl)zirconium [(NMI)(2)ZrCl(2)]. In this investigation, attention has been focused on those reduced polypropionates that are alpha-monoheterofunctional and either omega-ethyl or omega-n-propyl. The reaction of 3-buten-1-ol with triethylaluminum (Et(3)Al) or tripropylaluminum ((n)Pr(3)Al) in the presence of (NMI)(2)ZrCl(2) and isobutylaluminoxane gave, after protonolysis, (R)-3-methyl-1-pentanol as well as (R)- and (S)-3-methyl-1-hexanols in 88-92% yield in 90-92% enantiomeric excess in one step. These 3-monomethyl-1-alkanols were then converted to two stereoisomers each of 2,4-dimethyl-1-hexanols and 2,4-dimethyl-1-heptanols via methylalumination catalyzed by (NMI)(2)ZrCl(2) and methylaluminoxane followed by oxidation with O(2). The four-step (or three-isolation-step) protocol provided syn-2,4-dimethyl-1-alkanols of >/=98% stereoisomeric purity in approximately 50% overall yields, whereas (2S,4R)-2,4-dimethyl-1-hexanol of comparable purity was obtained in 40% overall yield. Commercial availability of (S)-2-methyl-1-butanol as a relatively inexpensive material suggested its use in the synthesis of (2S,4S)- and (2R,4S)-2,4-dimethyl-1-hexanols via a three-step protocol consisting of (i) iodination, (ii) zincation followed by Pd-catalyzed vinylation, and (iii) Zr-catalyzed methylalumination followed by oxidation with O(2). This three-step protocol is iterative and applicable to the synthesis of reduced polypropionates containing three or more branching methyl groups, rendering this method for the synthesis of reduced polypropionates generally applicable. Its synthetic utility has been demonstrated by preparing the side chain of zaragozic acid A and the C11-C20 fragment of antibiotics TMC-151 A-F.

Efficient and Selective Synthesis of Siphonarienolone and Related Reduced Polypropionates via Zr-Catalyzed Asymmetric Carboalumination

[reaction: see text] Siphonarienolone (1) has been synthesized from siphonarienal (3) in 66% over four steps. Synthesis of 3, in turn, has been achieved in two steps (85% combined yield) from 4, prepared from 3-buten-1-ol in seven steps (23% combined yield). Also, a two-step conversion of 3 into siphonarienone (2) is reported.

Total synthesis of (-)-stemospironine

[structure: see text]. A stereocontrolled total synthesis of the polycyclic Stemona alkaloid, (-)-stemospironine (1) has been achieved. Key transformations include the use of a Staudinger reaction leading to the aza-Wittig ring closure of the perhydroazepine system. Formation of the vicinal pyrrolidine butyrolactone is described via the stereoselective intramolecular capture of an intermediate aziridinium salt.