Total Synthesis of (−)-Ratjadone

Asymmetric Total Synthesis and Revision of Absolute Stereochemistry for (+)-Taumycin A: An Approach that Exploits Orthogonally Protected Quasienantiomers

The first asymmetric total synthesis of C(9)-S-(+)-taumycin A is now reported using an approach that targeted both C(9) diastereomers concurrently. To facilitate this work, we called upon the symmetrical nature of a C(5)-C(13) side-chain intermediate and exploited orthogonal protecting groups as a tactic to access both stereoisomers from a single chiral, nonracemic intermediate. In addition to our successful approach, several minor detours that helped refine our strategy and a detailed analysis of ¹H NMR data will be discussed. Select compounds included in this work were screened against the NCI60 cell line panel and displayed modest growth inhibition activity.

Chemistry and Chemical Biology of Selenenyl Sulfides and Thioseleninic Acids

Significance: Selenenyl sulfides (RSeSRs) and thioseleninic acids (RSeSHs) are the monoselenium (Se) analogs of disulfides and persulfides that contain Se-S bonds. These bonds are found in several antioxidant-regenerating enzymes as derivatives of selenocysteine, making them an important player in redox biology as it pertains to sulfur redox regulation. Recent Advances: Mechanistic studies of redox-regulating selenoenzymes such as thioredoxin reductase and glutathione peroxidase suggest crucial Se-S bonds in the active sites. Peptide models and small-molecule mimics of these active sites have been prepared to study their fundamental chemistry. These advances help pave the road to better understand the functions of the Se-S bond in the body. Critical Issues: The Se-S bond is unstable at atmospheric temperatures and pressures. Therefore, studying their properties proposes a major challenge. Currently, there are no trapping reagents specific to RSeSRs or RSeSHs, making their presence, identity, and fates in biological environments difficult to track. Future Directions: Further understanding of the fundamental chemistry/biochemistry of RSeSRs and RSeSHs is needed to understand what their intracellular targets are and to what extent they impact signaling. Besides antioxidant regeneration and peroxide radical reduction, the roles of RSeSR and RSeSHs in other systems need to be further explored.

(2S,3R,6R)-2-[(R)-1-Hydroxyallyl]-4,4-dimethoxy-6-methyltetrahydro-2H-pyran-3-ol

(2S,3R,6R)-2-[(R)-1-Hydroxyallyl]-4,4-dimethoxy-6-methyltetrahydro-2H-pyran-3-ol was isolated in 18% after treating the glucose derived (5R,6S,7R)-5,6,7-tris[(triethylsilyl)oxy]nona-1,8-dien-4-one with (1S)-(+)-10-camphorsulfonic acid (CSA). The one-pot formation of the title compound involved triethylsilyl (TES) removal, alkene isomerization, intramolecular conjugate addition and ketal formation. The compound was characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, ESI mass spectrometry and IR spectroscopy. NMR spectroscopy was used to establish the product structure, including the conformation of its tetrahydropyran ring.

Cobalt-Catalyzed E-Selective Isomerization of Alkenes with a Phosphine-Amido-Oxazoline Ligand

An efficient method to access (E)-trisubstituted alkenes is reported via cobalt-catalyzed isomerization of 1,1-disubstituted alkenes using a phosphine-amido-oxazoline ligand. The reaction could also convert mono- and 1,2-disubstituted alkenes to (E)-internal alkenes with benzylic selectivity. This protocol is atom-economy and operationally simple and uses readily available starting materials with good functional tolerance. This catalytic system could be scaled up to gram scale smoothly with a catalyst loading of 0.1 mol %.

Additive-Free Conversion of Internal Alkynes by Phosphanylalumanes: Production of Phosphorus/Aluminum Frustrated Lewis Pairs

Internal and terminal alkynes react with phosphanylalumanes, i. e., P-Al single-bond species, through heating but without any additional additives. The reactions with internal alkynes afforded the corresponding adducts with cis-1,2-form in moderate yields (54-80 %). In addition, alkyne adducts thus obtained function as P/Al-based C₂ -vicinal FLPs, and the FLP addition reactions with benzaldehyde and CO₂ were demonstrated. Furthermore, in the reaction of 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl-substituted alkyne adducts with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, an unexpected C_Ar -C_Me bond cleavage characteristic of this system was demonstrated.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Bromo- and Fluorodanicalipin A

We disclose the syntheses of (+)-bromodanicalipin A as well as (±)-fluorodanicalipin A. The relative configuration and ground-state conformation in solution of both molecules was secured by J-based configuration analysis which revealed that these are identical to natural danicalipin A. Furthermore, preliminary toxicological investigations suggest that the adverse effect of danicalipin A may be due to the lipophilicity of the halogens.

Structural Basis of Targeting the Exportin CRM1 in Cancer

Recent studies have demonstrated the interference of nucleocytoplasmic trafficking with the establishment and maintenance of various cancers. Nucleocytoplasmic transport is highly regulated and coordinated, involving different nuclear transport factors or receptors, importins and exportins, that mediate cargo transport from the cytoplasm into the nucleus or the other way round, respectively. The exportin CRM1 (Chromosome region maintenance 1) exports a plethora of different protein cargoes and ribonucleoprotein complexes. Structural and biochemical analyses have enabled the deduction of individual steps of the CRM1 transport cycle. In addition, CRM1 turned out to be a valid target for anticancer drugs as it exports numerous proto-oncoproteins and tumor suppressors. Clearly, detailed understanding of the flexibility, regulatory features and cooperative binding properties of CRM1 for Ran and cargo is a prerequisite for the design of highly effective drugs. The first compound found to inhibit CRM1-dependent nuclear export was the natural drug Leptomycin B (LMB), which blocks export by competitively interacting with a highly conserved cleft on CRM1 required for nuclear export signal recognition. Clinical studies revealed serious side effects of LMB, leading to a search for alternative natural and synthetic drugs and hence a multitude of novel therapeutics. The present review examines recent progress in understanding the binding mode of natural and synthetic compounds and their inhibitory effects.

Intramolecular Hetero-Michael Addition of β-Hydroxyenones for the Preparation of Highly Substituted Tetrahydropyranones

Structurally diverse beta-hydroxyenones are shown to undergo nonoxidative 6-endo-trig ring closure to form highly substituted tetrahydropyranones. Amberlyst-15, Al(ClO(4))(3) x 9 H(2)O and [Pd(MeCN)(4)](BF(4))(2) were found to be suitable catalysts for these intramolecular conjugate additions, preventing side reactions, such as dehydration or retroaldolisation. The use of [Pd(MeCN)(4)](BF(4))(2) is particularly effective, as this palladium-mediated reaction is under kinetic control and generates tri- and tetrasubstituted tetrahydropyranones with high levels of diastereocontrol. In the presence of the Lewis acid Al(ClO(4))(3) x 9 H(2)O, the reaction proceeded with a similar level of diastereocontrol; however, in contrast to [Pd(MeCN)(4)](BF(4))(2), this catalyst can promote enolisation. The palladium-mediated reaction was also found to be compatible with an enantioenriched beta-hydroxyenone substrate, giving no loss of enantiopurity upon ring closure. The most distinctive synthetic development to emerge from this new chemistry is the possibility to access tri- and tetrasubstituted 2,6-anti-tetrahydropyranones from anti-aldol precursors. These compounds are particularly difficult to access by using alternative methodologies. Two modes of activation were envisaged for the ring closure, involving metal coordination to either the C=C or C=O functional groups. Experimental results suggest that C=O coordination was the preferred mode of activation for reactions performed in the presence of Al(ClO(4))(3) x 9 H(2)O or [Pd(MeCN)(4)](BF(4))(2).

Leptostatin: A synthetic hybrid of the cytotoxic polyketides callystatin A and leptomycin B

Four stereoisomeric hybrids of the polyketide natural products callystatin A and leptomycin B have been prepared by parallel synthetic routes involving chiral allenylstannane methodology. Like their natural counterparts, these hybrids exhibit nanomolar levels of cytotoxicity toward HCT-116 human colon cancer cells.

Diastereoselective synthesis of 2,3,6-trisubstituted tetrahydropyran-4-ones via Prins cyclizations of enecarbamates: a formal synthesis of (+)-ratjadone A

Enecarbamates are shown to be excellent terminating groups for Prins cyclizations. A noteworthy feature of this methodology is the easy, stereoselective construction of the cyclization precursors by alkylation of metalated (E)-enecarbamates with epoxides. The stereochemistry of the resultant trisubstituted (E)-enecarbamates is then transferred with high fidelity to afford the frequently observed and biologically significant all-cis-2,3,6-trisubstituted tetrahydropyran substructures of naturally occurring compounds. Other substituted tetrahydropyrans, including 2,3,5,6-tetrasubstituted, cis-2,3-disubstituted, and cis-2,6-disubstituted, are also accessible. This methodology facilitated an exceptionally concise formal total synthesis of the nuclear export inhibitor (+)-ratjadone A.

Clean Inversion of Configuration in the Pd-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of 2-Bromo-1,3-dienes

The Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of 2-bromo-1,3-dienes derived from alkyl aldehydes, especially with Cl2Pd(DPEphos) as a catalyst, proceeds with clean stereoinversion of the Br-bearing C=C bond to produce in high yields and in high stereoselectivity (>/=97-98%) conjugated Z,E dienes of potentially high utility in the synthesis of complex natural products. The observed stereoinversion cannot be readily accommodated by the widely accepted pi-sigma-pi rearrangement mechanism for isomerization of ordinary allylpalladium derivatives.

Ratjadones inhibit nuclear export by blocking CRM1/exportin 1

In addition to previously isolated ratjadone A we describe three new members of this family, ratjadones B, C, and D, from another strain of the myxobacterium Sorangium cellulosum. We have investigated the properties of these ratjadones with respect to their activity on mammalian cell lines. We found IC(50) values in the picomolar range and a significant increase in the size of nuclei. A further examination showed that they inhibit the export of the leucine-rich nuclear export signal (LR-NES) containing proteins in different cell lines. Ratjadones are able to inhibit the formation of the nuclear export complex composed of the CRM1, RanGTP, and the cargo protein, as shown by two different in vitro assays. Finally, the binding of ratjadone C to CRM1 was demonstrated. These ratjadone activities are in the same concentration range as described for the polyketide leptomycin B (LMB) from Streptomyces sp. Like LMB, it seems that the ratjadones covalently bind to CRM1, inhibit cargo protein binding via LR-NES, and thereby block nuclear export. Thus, the ratjadones represent a new class of natural compounds which inhibit proliferation in eukaryotes by blocking nuclear export.