meta-Chloroperbenzoic acid (mCPBA): a versatile reagent in organic synthesis

This review aims to collect and discuss the synthetic applications of meta-chloroperbenzoic acid (mCPBA) over the past few decades.

Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of some C(19) steroids by Penicillium lanosocoeruleum

The biotransformation of androsterone (1), epiandrosterone (2), androstanedione (3) and DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) (4) by Penicillium lanosocoeruleum-a fungal species not used in biotransformations so far-were described. All the substrates were converted in high yield (70%-99%) into D ring δ-lactones. The oxidation of 1 produced 3α-hydroxy-17a-oxa-D-homo-5α-androstan-17-one (5). The oxidation of 2 led to 3β-hydroxy-17a-oxa-D-homo-5α-androstan-17-one (6). The biotransformation of 3 resulted in the formation of 3α-hydroxy-17a-oxa-D-homo-5α-androstan-17-one (5) and 17a-oxa-D-homo-5α-androstan-3,17-dione (7). An analysis of the transformation progress of the studied substrates as a function of time indicates that the Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenase of this fungus does not accept the 3β-hydroxy-5-ene functionality of steroids. In this microorganism steroidal 3β-hydroxy-dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) was active, and as a result DHEA (4) was transformed exclusively to testololactone (8). Apart from the observed oxidative transformations, a reductive pathway was revealed with the C-3 ketone being reduced to a C-3α-alcohol. It is demonstrated for the first time that the reduction of the 3-keto group of the steroid nucleus can occur in the presence of a ring-D lactone functionality.

Steroidal seven-membered A-ring epoxy lactones by oxidation of the corresponding Delta 4-3-ketosteroids

Treatment of Delta 4-3-ketosteroids with m-chloroperbenzoic acid at 0 degrees C produced the corresponding steroidal seven-membered A-ring epoxy lactones. The adopted procedure allowed for efficient recovery and separation of the products with definite stereochemistry.

Steroidal derived acids as inhibitors of human Cdc25A protein phosphatase

A group of steroidal derived acids were synthesized and found to be human Cdc25A inhibitors. Their potency ranged from 1.1 to > 100 microM; the best ones compare very favorably with that of the novel cyano-containing 5,6-seco-cholesteryl acid 1 (IC50=2.2microM) reported by us recently (Peng, H.; Zalkow, L. H.; Abraham, R. T.; Powis, G. J. Med. Chem. 1998, 41, 4677). Structure-activity relationships of these compounds revealed that a hydrophobic cholesteryl side chain and a free carboxyl group are crucial for activity. The distance between these two pharmacophores is also important for the potency of these compounds. Several of the compounds showed selective growth inhibition effects in the NCI in vitro cancer cell line panel.

Stereoselectivity in the epoxidation and cis-hydroxylation of 16-methylene-estra-1,3,5(10)-trienes

Epoxidation of 3-methoxy-16-methylene-estra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-one in the presence of alkaline hydrogen peroxide gives rise to (16R)- and (16S)-spiro[3- methoxy-17-oxoestra-1,3,5(10)-triene-16,2'-oxirane] in similar proportions. Epoxidation of the corresponding 16-methylene 17 beta-alcohol and 16-methylene-17 beta-acetate with m-chloroperbenzoic acid does not display any significant directing effects associated with allylic functionality, whereas Sharpless epoxidation of the 16-methylene 17 beta-alcohol is highly stereoselective, leading exclusively to the (16R) isomer. cis-Hydroxylation of the 16-methylene 17-ketone with osmium tetroxide/4-methylmorpholine-4-oxide proceeds stereoselectively to give mainly 16 alpha-hydroxy-16 beta-hydroxymethyl-3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-one. The isomeric addition products derived from these reactions are correlated by appropriate interconversions, and the assignments are corroborated by comparative reactivity of derived products.