Stereoselective Synthesis of Deuterium-Labeled (2S)-Cyclohexenyl Alanines, Biosynthetic Intermediates of Cinnabaramide

Prephenate decarboxylase: An unexplored branchpoint to unusual natural products

Prephenate decarboxylases are a small family of enzymes which initiate a specialized divergence from the shikimate pathway, where prephenate (2) is decarboxylated without aromatization. In addition to effecting a challenging chemical transformation, prephenate decarboxylases have been implicated in the production of rare specialized metabolites, sometimes directly constructing bioactive warheads. Many of the biosynthetic steps to natural products derived from prephenate decarboxylases remain elusive. Here, we review prephenate decarboxylase research thus far and highlight natural products that may be derived from biosynthetic pathways involving prephenate decarboxylases. We also highlight commonly encountered challenges in the structure elucidation of these natural products. Prephenate decarboxylases are a gateway into understudied biosynthetic pathways which present a high potential for the discovery of novel and bioactive natural products, as well as new biosynthetic enzymes.

Copper-catalysed, diboron-mediated cis-dideuterated semihydrogenation of alkynes with heavy water

Methods to incorporate deuterium atoms into organic molecules are valuable for the pharmaceutical industry. Here, we found that diboron reagents can efficiently mediate the transfer of two D atoms from heavy water directly onto alkynes through copper-catalysed cis-selective semihydrogenation. Avoiding the use of costly and flammable D2 gas, this safe and practical process can proceed with excellent chemoselectivity and stereoselectivity. Utilizing the present method as the key step, the formal asymmetric total synthesis of d2-deuterium-labeled cis-combretastatin A4 is demonstrated. Mechanistic studies suggest that monoborylation of alkynes is the key step for this semihydrogenation process.

Total synthesis of desoxycyclomarin C and the cyclomarazines A and B

Removing the β-hydroxy group from the prenylated tryptophan moiety of cyclomarins simplifies the synthesis of these interesting natural products significantly, without having a noteworthy effect on the anti-tuberculosis activity of the cyclomarins.

Synthesis and pharmacology of proteasome inhibitors

Shortly after the discovery of the proteasome it was proposed that inhibitors could stabilize proteins which ultimately would trigger apoptosis in tumor cells. The essential questions were whether small molecules would be able to inhibit the proteasome without generating prohibitive side effects and how one would derive these compounds. Fortunately, "Mother Nature" has generated a wide variety of natural products that provide distinct selectivities and specificities. The chemical synthesis of these natural products finally provided access to analogues and optimized drugs of which two different classes have been approved for the treatment of malignancies. Despite these achievements, additional lead structures derived from nature are under investigation and will be discussed with regard to their biological potential and chemical challenges.