Total synthesis of potential antitumor agent, (-)-dictyostatin

Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Transformations for the Synthesis of Marine Drugs

Transition metal catalysis has contributed to the discovery of novel methodologies and the preparation of natural products, as well as new chances to increase the chemical space in drug discovery programs. In the case of marine drugs, this strategy has been used to achieve selective, sustainable and efficient transformations, which cannot be obtained otherwise. In this perspective, we aim to showcase how a variety of transition metals have provided fruitful couplings in a wide variety of marine drug-like scaffolds over the past few years, by accelerating the production of these valuable molecules.

Asymmetric synthesis of the sex pheromone of the apple leafminer, Lyonetia prunifoliella

Lyonetia prunifoliella is a significant pest in orchards and damages apple. The sex pheromones of this pest were prepared via a new and concise method. The central to our method were Evans' chiral auxiliaries, the addition of chiral Grignard reagent to aldehyde and Wittig coupling.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Contact Sex Pheromone of Tetropium fuscum and Its Enantiomer

Tetropium fuscum is a harmful forest pest and attacks spruces. The contact sex pheromone of this pest, (S)-11-methyl-heptacosane, and its enantiomer were synthesized via Evans' chiral auxiliaries. The key steps of this approach included acylation of carboxylic acid, diastereoselective methylation of oxazolidinone amide, and Wittig coupling of the aldehyde with chiral phosphonium salt. The synthetic pheromones would have potential utility in the control of this pest.

Highly stereoselective gram scale synthesis of all the four diastereoisomers of Boc-protected 4-methylproline carboxylates

A general and practical synthetic process for all the four diastereoisomers of Boc-protected 4-methylproline carboxylates has been developed with essentially complete stereoselectivity on the gram scale, which represents the most diastereoselective preparation of 4-methylproline derivatives to date. This synthesis features an Evans asymmetric alkylation to elegantly establish the challenging stereochemistry of the 4-methyl group, providing valuable insights for the diastereoselective preparation of 4-substituted prolines.

syn-Selective crotylation of aldehydes using bismuth-crotyl bromide-(1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide) combination: some synthetic applications

The Bi-[bmim][Br] combination has been found to offer high syn-selectivity in the crotylation of aldehydes with crotyl bromide using practically stoichiometric amounts of the reagents. The room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), [bmim][Br], activated Bi metal in the presence of oxygen to produce crotylbismuthdibromide, which reacted with the aldehydes at room temperature. The major anti-syn diastereomeric product obtained from the crotylation of (R)-cyclohexylideneglyceraldehyde was utilized for the synthesis of dictyostatin and cryptophycin segments, and (+)-cis-aerangis lactone, using standard synthetic protocols.

Dictyoceratidan poisons: Defined mark on microtubule-tubulin dynamics

Tubulin/microtubule assembly and disassembly is characterized as one of the chief processes during cell growth and division. Hence drugs those perturb these process are considered to be effective in killing fast multiplying cancer cells. There is a collection of natural compounds which disturb microtubule/tubulin dis/assemblage and there have been a lot of efforts concerted in the marine realm too, to surveying such killer molecules. Close to half the natural compounds shooting out from marine invertebrates are generally with no traceable definite mechanisms of action though may be tough anti-cancerous hits at nanogram levels, hence fatefully those discoveries conclude therein without a capacity of translation from laboratory to pharmacy. Astoundingly at least 50% of natural compounds which have definite mechanisms of action causing disorders in tubulin/microtubule kinetics have an isolation history from sponges belonging to the Phylum: Porifera. Poriferans have always been a wonder worker to treat cancers with a choice of, yet precise targets on cancerous tissues. There is a specific order: Dictyoceratida within this Phylum which has contributed to yielding at least 50% of effective compounds possessing this unique mechanism of action mentioned above. However, not much notice is driven to Dictyoceratidans alongside the order: Demospongiae thus dictating the need to know its select microtubule/tubulin irritants since the unearthing of avarol in the year 1974 till date. Hence this review selectively pinpoints all the compounds, noteworthy derivatives and analogs stemming from order: Dictyoceratida focusing on the past, present and future.

Studies towards the synthesis of tedanolide C. Construction of the C13-epi C1–C15 fragment

An advanced intermediate on route towards tedanolide C has been synthesized using highly stereoselective substrate-controlled titanium-mediated aldol reactions.

Conformation-activity relationships of polyketide natural products

Polyketides represent an important class of secondary metabolites that interact with biological targets connected to a variety of disease-associated pathways. Remarkably, nature's assembly lines, polyketide synthases, manufacture these privileged structures through a combinatorial mixture of just a few structural units. This review highlights the role of these structural elements in shaping a polyketide's conformational preferences, the use of computer-based molecular modeling and solution NMR studies in the identification of low-energy conformers, and the importance of conformational analogues in probing the bound conformation. In particular, this review covers several examples wherein conformational analysis complements classic structure-activity relationships in the design of biologically active natural product analogues.

Phosphate-tether-mediated ring-closing metathesis for the preparation of complex 1,3-anti-diol-containing subunits

An array of examples of diastereoselective, phosphate-tether-mediated ring-closing metathesis reactions, which highlight the importance of product ring size and substrate stereochemical compatibility, as well as complexity, is reported. Studies focus primarily on the formation of bicyclo[n.3.1]phosphates, involving the coupling of C₂-symmetric dienediol subunits with a variety of simple, as well as complex, alcohol partners.

Macrolide-based microtubule-stabilizing agents - chemistry and structure-activity relationships

This article provides an overview on the chemistry and structure-activity relationships of macrolide-based microtubule-stabilizing agents. The primary focus will be on the total synthesis or examples thereof, but a brief summary of the current state of knowledge on the structure-activity relationships of epothilones, laulimalide, dictyostatin, and peloruside A will also be given. This macrolide class of compounds, over the last decade, has become the subject of growing interest due to their ability to inhibit human cancer cell proliferation through a taxol-like mechanism of action.

Crotylboron-based synthesis of the polypropionate units of chaxamycins A/D, salinisporamycin, and rifamycin S

Syntheses of the C(15)-C(27) fragments of chaxamycins A/D, rifamycin S, and the C(12)-C(24) fragment of salinisporamycin have been accomplished in 10 steps from commercially available starting materials. Three crotylboron reagents were utilized to construct the seven contiguous stereocenters in these fragments with excellent stereoselectivity.

Microtubule stabilizing agents as potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease and related neurodegenerative tauopathies

The microtubule (MT) associated protein tau, which is highly expressed in the axons of neurons, is an endogenous MT-stabilizing agent that plays an important role in axonal transport. Loss of MT-stabilizing tau function, caused by misfolding, hyperphosphorylation, and sequestration of tau into insoluble aggregates, leads to axonal transport deficits with neuropathological consequences. Several in vitro and preclinical in vivo studies have shown that MT-stabilizing drugs can be utilized to compensate for the loss of tau function and to maintain/restore effective axonal transport. These findings indicate that MT-stabilizing compounds hold considerable promise for the treatment of Alzheimer disease and related tauopathies. The present article provides a synopsis of the key findings demonstrating the therapeutic potential of MT-stabilizing drugs in the context of neurodegenerative tauopathies, as well as an overview of the different classes of MT-stabilizing compounds.

Natural products from the Lithistida: a review of the literature since 2000

Lithistid sponges are known to produce a diverse array of compounds ranging from polyketides, cyclic and linear peptides, alkaloids, pigments, lipids, and sterols. A majority of these structurally complex compounds have very potent and interesting biological activities. It has been a decade since a thorough review has been published that summarizes the literature on the natural products reported from this amazing sponge order. This review provides an update on the current taxonomic classification of the Lithistida, describes structures and biological activities of 131 new natural products, and discusses highlights from the total syntheses of 16 compounds from marine sponges of the Order Lithistida providing a compilation of the literature since the last review published in 2002.

Efficient syntheses of 25,26-dihydrodictyostatin and 25,26-dihydro-6-epi-dictyostatin, two potent new microtubule-stabilizing agents

The dictyostatins are powerful microtubule-stabilizing agents that have shown antiproliferative activity against a variety of human cancer cell lines. Two highly active analogs of dictyostatin, 25,26-dihydrodictyostatin and 25,26-dihydro-6-epi-dictyostatin, were prepared by a new streamlined total synthesis route. Three complete carbon fragments were prepared to achieve maximum convergency. These were coupled by a Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction sequence and an esterification. A late stage Nozaki–Hiyama–Kishi reaction was then used to form the 22-membered macrolide. The stereoselectivity of this reaction depended on the configurations of the nearby stereocenter at C6.

Stereoselective synthesis of the C15-C26 fragment of the antitumor agent (-)-dictyostatin

The synthesis of the C15-C26 fragment of (-)-dictyostatin is reported in 10 steps and 28% overall yield. The key steps are the two stereoselective sulfoxide-directed processes: a Reformatsky-type reaction and a β-keto sulfoxide reduction.

Streamlined syntheses of (-)-dictyostatin, 16-desmethyl-25,26-dihydrodictyostatin, and 6-epi-16-desmethyl-25,26-dihydrodictyostatin

The dictyostatins are a promising class of potential anti-cancer drugs because they are powerful microtubule-stabilizing agents, but the complexity of their chemical structures is a severe impediment to their further development. On the basis of both synthetic and medicinal chemistry analyses, 16-desmethyl-25,26-dihydrodictyostatin and its C6 epimer were chosen as potentially potent yet accessible dictyostatin analogues, and three new syntheses were developed. A relatively classical synthesis involving vinyllithium addition and macrocyclization gave way to a newer and more practical approach based on esterification and ring-closing metathesis reaction. Finally, aspects of these two approaches were combined to provide a third new synthesis based on esterification and Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi reaction. This was used to prepare the target dihydro analogues and the natural product. All of the syntheses are streamlined because of their high convergency. The work provided several new analogues of dictyostatin, including a truncated macrolactone and a C10 E-alkene, which were 400- and 50-fold less active than (-)-dictyostatin, respectively. In contrast, the targeted 16-desmethyl-25,26-dihydrodictyostatin analogues retained almost complete activity in preliminary biological assays.

Semisynthesis and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of stemofoline alkaloids and analogues

Semisynthesis of the known Stemona alkaloids oxystemofoline (7) and methoxystemofoline (8) has been achieved starting from (11Z)-1',2'-didehydrostemofoline (6), which confirmed their structures and absolute configurations. The synthesis of (1'R)-hydroxystemofoline (9) helped establish this compound as a natural product from Stemona aphylla. (1'S)-Hydroxystemofoline (10) and a number of related analogues were also prepared. In a TLC bioautographic assay, 9 was found to be the most active acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, but it was not as active as galanthamine.

Asymmetric aldol reaction with diisopinocampheyl enolborinates of propionates

A convenient and general, reagent-controlled, diastereo- and enantioselective aldol reaction of diisopinocampheylboron enolates of esters, followed by reduction, has been developed as an alternative to crotylboration-ozonolysis. This protocol was then exploited for the double diastereoselective synthesis of the C11-C17 subunit of (-)-dictyostatin.

Improved synthesis of 6-epi-dictyostatin and antitumor efficacy in mice bearing MDA-MB231 human breast cancer xenografts

Structure-activity studies centered on the naturally occurring antitumor agent dictyostatin have recently identified several highly active epimers and analogues. From these compounds, 6- epi-dictyostatin was selected for scaleup preparation and evaluation in animals. Here we describe a new total synthesis that produced more than 30 mg of 6- epi-dictyostatin. The compound was found to have potent antitumor activity in SCID mice bearing MDA-MB231 human breast cancer xenografts.

A highly stereoselective synthesis of the C10-C23 fragment of (-)-dictyostatin

A highly stereoselective synthesis of the C10-C23 fragment of (-)-dictyostatin has been achieved using a Carreira alkynylation and a Marshall-Tamaru allenylzinc addition as key steps.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 10,11-dihydrodictyostatin, a potent analogue of the marine anticancer agent dictyostatin

By employing a diverted total synthesis strategy with late-stage intermediates, 10,11-dihydrodictyostatin ( 5) was prepared and evaluated in vitro for growth inhibition against a range of human cancer cell lines, including the NCI/ADR Taxol-resistant cell line. This novel dictyostatin analogue was found to retain potent antimitotic activity, with a comparable profile to discodermolide and Taxol, functioning by microtubule stabilization and G2/M arrest. These SAR studies provide further insight into the interaction between dictyostatin ( 1) and its tubulin target.

Development of practical syntheses of the marine anticancer agents discodermolide and dictyostatin

Initially isolated in trace quantities from deep-sea sponges, the structurally related polyketides discodermolide and dictyostatin share the same microtubule-stabilizing antimitotic mechanism as Taxol. Discodermolide has been the focus of intense research activity in order to develop a practical supply route, and these efforts ultimately allowed its large-scale synthesis and the initiation of clinical trials as a novel anticancer drug. Similarly, the re-isolation and synthesis of dictyostatin continues to stimulate the biological and chemical communities in their quest for the development of new chemotherapeutic agents. This comprehensive review chronicles the synthetic endeavours undertaken over the last 15 years towards the development and realization of practical chemical syntheses of discodermolide and, more recently, dictyostatin, focusing on the methods and strategies employed for achieving overall stereocontrol and key fragment unions, as well as the design and synthesis of novel hybrid structures.

A multifaceted phosphate tether: application to the C1-C14 subunit of dolabelides A-D

A phosphate tether approach to the C1-14 subunit of dolabelide is described. The phosphate tether serves a multifaceted role mediating several processes, including (i) diastereotopic differentiation via RCM, (ii) selective CM by imparting Type III behavior to the exocyclic olefin, (iii) regioselective hydrogenation, and (iv) regioselective Pd(0)-catalyzed reductive opening of the bicyclic phosphate. Overall, this strategy uses orthogonal protecting- and leaving-group properties innate to phosphate esters to rapidly assembly the titled subunit.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of (-)-dictyostatin and stereoisomers

Total syntheses of (-)-dictyostatin, 6,16-bis-epi-dictyostatin, 6,14,19-tris-epi-dictyostatin and a number of other isomers and analogs are reported. Three main fragments-top, middle and bottom-were first assembled and then joined by olefination or anionic addition reactions. After appending the two dienes at either end of the molecule, macrolactonization and deprotection completed the syntheses. The work proves both the relative and absolute configurations of (-)-dictyostatin. The compounds were evaluated by cell-based measurements of increased microtubule mass and antiproliferative activity, and in vitro tubulin polymerization assays as well as competitive assays with paclitaxel for its binding site on microtubules. These assays showed dictyostatin to be the most potent of the agents and further showed that the structural alterations caused from 20- to >1000-fold decreases in activity.