Chemoenzymatic Total Synthesis of Sorbicatechol Structural Analogues and Evaluation of Their Antiviral Potential

Sorbicillinoids are fungal polyketides characterized by highly complex and diverse molecular structures, with considerable stereochemical intricacy combined with a high degree of oxygenation. Many sorbicillinoids possess promising biological activities. An interesting member of this natural product family is sorbicatechol A, which is reported to have antiviral activity, particularly against influenza A virus (H1N1). Through a straightforward, one-pot chemoenzymatic approach with recently developed oxidoreductase SorbC, the characteristic bicyclo[2.2.2]octane core of sorbicatechol is structurally diversified by variation of its natural 2-methoxyphenol substituent. This facilitates the preparation of a focused library of structural analogues bearing substituted aromatic systems, alkanes, heterocycles, and ethers. Fast access to this structural diversity provides an opportunity to explore the antiviral potential of the sorbicatechol family.     

The Evolution and Impact of Total Synthesis on Chemistry,Biology and Medicine

The advent of organic synthesis in the nineteenth century sparked a revolution in chemistry that led from a serendipitous discovery to the art and science that it is today. Its creative nature turned into enabling technologies that set in motion entire new industries such as the dye and pharmaceutical enterprises and helped elucidate and confirm structures of countless natural products. It also served as the locomotive for discovery and invention of new reactions, synthetic strategies and technologies, and delivered myriad valuable compounds, more or less complex, for research and applications in our everyday lives. Today it is a partner of biology in the quest of understanding living nature and applying the gathered intelligence to discover and develop newer and more effective drugs.     

天然产物天葵碱盐酸盐的全合成

以异香草醛为起始原料,经8步反应首次全合成得到了天然产物天葵碱。其结构经过~1HNMR、~(13)CNMR和高分辨质谱鉴定,与文献报道一致,为天葵碱及其衍生物的进一步研究奠定了化学基础。     

Total Synthesis of Marine Oxylipins Solandelactones A–H

The Solandelactones A–H have been synthesized via a short convergent approach utilizing common building blocks. Based on the diastereoselectivity of the crucial final addition step and on the comparison of prominent NMR data, a structural revision was necessary.     

Terpenoid-Alkaloids: Their Biosynthetic Twist of Fate and Total Synthesis

Terpenes and alkaloids are ever-growing classes of natural products that provide new molecular structures that inspire chemists and possess a broad range of biological activity. Terpenoid-alkaloids originate from the same prenyl units that construct terpene skeletons. However, during biosynthesis, a nitrogen atom (or atoms) is introduced in the form of β-aminoethanol, ethylamine, or methylamine. Nitrogen incorporation can occur either before, during, or after the cyclase phase. The outcome of this unique biosynthesis is the formation of natural products containing unprecedented structures. These complex structural motifs expose current limitations in organic chemistry, thus providing opportunities for invention. This review focuses on total syntheses of terpenoid-alkaloids and unique issues presented by this class of natural products. More specifically, it examines how these syntheses relate to the way terpenoid-alkaloids are made in Nature. Developments in chemistry that have facilitated these syntheses are emphasized, as well as chemical technology needed to conquer those that evade synthesis.     

Total Synthesis of the Endocannabinoid Uptake Inhibitor Guineensine and SAR Studies

Guineensine ((2E,4E,12E)-13-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)-N-isobutyltrideca-2,4,12-trienamide) is a plant-derived natural product that inhibits reuptake of the endocannabinoid anandamide with sub-micromolar potency. We have established a highly efficient total synthesis of guineensine, which provided the natural product in only five steps from commercially available 3-nonyn-1-ol in 17 % overall yield, relying on the attachment of the benzodioxolyl moiety to the unsaturated fatty acid chain by means of a Suzuki coupling as the key step. Subsequent SAR studies revealed that replacement of the N-isobutyl group in the natural product by various alkyl, arylalkyl, or aryl groups is generally well tolerated, and derivatives could be identified that are slightly more potent anandamide reuptake inhibitors than guineensine itself. In contrast, modifications of the benzodioxolyl moiety led to decreased activity. Intriguingly, a change in the configuration of the C4=C5 double bond from E to Z was found to be very well tolerated, in spite of the associated change in the overall geometry of the molecule.     

Total Synthesis of Viniferifuran,Resveratrol‐Piceatannol Hybrid,Anigopreissin A and Analogues – Investigation of Demethylation Strategies

Resveratrol‐based natural products constitute a valuable source of unique compounds with diverse biological activities. In this report we investigate demethylation strategies to minimize formation of cyclized and dimerized products during the synthesis of viniferifuran and analogues. We found that boron trichloride/tetra‐n‐butylammonium iodide (BCl₃/TBAI) is typically more effective than boron tribromide (BBr₃). Based on these findings we carried out the first syntheses of dehydro‐δ‐viniferin, resveratrol‐piceatannol hybrid and anigopreissin A. In addition, we have developed a short and efficient route to viniferifuran that was obtained in 13% yield over six steps.

     

Strategies for the Discovery of New Natural Products by Genome Mining

New drugs from silent gene clusters : Analysis of genome sequence data has identified numerous “cryptic” gene clusters encoding novel natural product biosynthetic assembly lines; this suggests that many new bioactive metabolites remain to be discovered, even in extensively investigated organisms. Several related and complementary strategies for identifying the products of these clusters have emerged recently and revitalized the search for novel bioactive natural products.

     

Total Syntheses of Kapakahines E and F

This article describes the synthesis of kapakahines E and F, along with what we believe to be a general method for the total synthesis of the kapakahine family of marine natural products. The method utilizes a unique heterodimerization reaction between bromopyrroloindolines and indole nucleophiles, a novel pyrroloindoline-to-α-carboline rearrangement, and a Negishi coupling reaction of C(3)-iodoindoles.     

天然产物Calanolide A的全合成研究进展

对具有抗HIV-1活性的天然产物Calanolide A的全合成研究进展进行了综述,并分析了各种合成方法及其关键步骤.     

Convergent Total Synthesis of the Complex Non-Ribosomal Peptide Polytheonamide B

Polytheonamide B, isolated from the Japanese marine sponge Theonella swinhoei, is by far the largest non-ribosomal peptide known to date, and displays potent cytotoxicity. Its 48 amino acid residues include a variety of non-proteinogenic D - and L -amino acids, and the chiralities of these amino acids alternate in sequence. These structural features induce the formation of a stable β^6.3-helical structure in the hydrophobic environment, giving rise to an overall tubular structure of 45 Å in length. In a biological setting, this fold is believed to transport cations across the lipid bilayer through a pore with an inner diameter of 4 Å, thereby acting as an ion channel. In this account, we describe in detail our total synthetic route to polytheonamide B. The total synthesis relies on a combination of four key stages: synthesis of eight non-proteinogenic amino acids and an N-terminus moiety, a solid phase assembly of four fragments of polytheonamide B, three Ag⁺-mediated couplings of the fragments, and finally, acid-promoted global deprotection. The generality and modularity of the developed strategy will enable future studies of the chemical and biological properties of this unusual ion-channel-forming peptide and its synthetic analogues.     

The Role of a Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetase in l‐Lysine Lactamization During Capuramycin Biosynthesis

Capuramycins are one of several known classes of natural products that contain an l ‐Lys‐derived l ‐α‐amino‐?‐caprolactam (l ‐ACL) unit. The α‐amino group of l ‐ACL in a capuramycin is linked to an unsaturated hexuronic acid component through an amide bond that was previously shown to originate by an ATP‐independent enzymatic route. With the aid of a combined in vivo and in vitro approach, a predicted tridomain nonribosomal peptide synthetase CapU is functionally characterized here as the ATP‐dependent amide‐bond‐forming catalyst responsible for the biosynthesis of the remaining amide bond present in l ‐ACL. The results are consistent with the adenylation domain of CapU as the essential catalytic component for l ‐Lys activation and thioesterification of the adjacent thiolation domain. However, in contrast to expectations, lactamization does not require any additional domains or proteins and is likely a nonenzymatic event. The results set the stage for examining whether a similar NRPS‐mediated mechanism is employed in the biosynthesis of other l ‐ACL‐containing natural products and, just as intriguingly, how spontaneous lactamization is avoided in the numerous NRPS‐derived peptides that contain an unmodified l ‐Lys residue.     

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Tripartin,a Putative KDM4 Natural Product Inhibitor,and 1‐Dichloromethylinden‐1‐ol Analogues

The natural product tripartin has been reported to inhibit the N‐methyl‐lysine histone demethylase KDM4A. A synthesis of tripartin starting from 3,5‐dimethoxyphenylacrylic acid was developed, and the enantiomers were separated by chiral HPLC. We observed that both tripartin enantiomers manifested an apparent increase in H3K9me3 levels when dosed in cells, as measured by western blot analysis. Thus, there is no enantiomeric discrimination toward this natural product in terms of its effects on cellular histone methylation status. Interestingly, tripartin did not inhibit isolated KDM4A–E under our assay conditions (IC₅₀>100 μm ). Tripartin analogues with a dichloromethylcarbinol group derived from the indanone scaffold were synthesized and found to be inactive against isolated recombinant KDM4 enzymes and in cell‐based assays. Although the precise cellular mode of action of tripartin is unclear, our evidence suggests that it may affect histone methylation status via a mechanism other than direct inhibition of the KDM4 histone demethylases.     

Total synthesis of tumor inhibiting didemnenone analogues

We have previously described an enantioselective total synthesis of the tumor inhibiting didemnenones 1a , b and 2 . Our investigations reported here shed light on the structure–activity relationships of these natural products. The significantly lower activity found for (3aS*, 6aS*)-3 [(E)-allyliden]-2-oxo-6a-(-hydroxymethyl)-2,3,3a,6a-tetrahydro-4H-cyclo-penta[b]furan]2(3H)-one ( 4 ) supported the hypothesis that the oxonium intermediate 3 is the active species. The strategy of the synthesis of the natural products was used to prepare acceptor substituted analogues (3aS*, 6aS*) [(E)-[3-(4-oxo-pent-2-(E)-enylidene]-6a-(4-hydroxymethyl)-2-methoxy-2,3,3a, 6a-tetrahydro[4H-cyclopenta[b]furan]-4-one ( 18 ) and (3aS*, 6aS*) [(E)-[3-(4-oxo-pent-2-(E)-enylidene]-6a-(4-hydroxymethyl)-2,3,3a,6a-tetrahydro-[4H-cyclopenta[b]furan]-2-(3H)-one ( 20 ). Although there were only moderate structural changes some of the key transformations differed remarkably in yield and general performance from those employed in the former synthesis. Optimization of the synthesis rewardingly led to compounds with increased biological activity against human gastric carcinoma cell-lines.     

Biosynthetic Gene Cluster for Surugamide A Encompasses an Unrelated Decapeptide,Surugamide F

Genome mining is a powerful method for finding novel secondary metabolites. In our study on the biosynthetic gene cluster for the cyclic octapeptides surugamides A–E (inhibitors of cathepsin B), we found a putative gene cluster consisting of four successive non‐ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) genes, surA, surB, surC, and surD. Prediction of amino acid sequence based on the NRPSs and gene inactivation revealed that surugamides A–E are produced by two NRPS genes, surA and surD, which were separated by two NRPS genes, surB and surC. The latter genes are responsible for the biosynthesis of an unrelated peptide, surugamide F. The pattern of intercalation observed in the sur genes is unprecedented. The structure of surugamide F, a linear decapeptide containing one 3‐amino‐2‐methylpropionic acid (AMPA) residue, was determined by spectroscopic methods and was confirmed by solid‐phase peptide synthesis.     

Maitotoxin: An Inspiration for Synthesis

Maitotoxin holds a special place in the annals of natural products chemistry as the largest and most toxic secondary metabolite known to date. Its fascinating, ladder-like, polyether molecular structure and diverse spectrum of biological activities elicited keen interest from chemists and biologists who recognized its uniqueness and potential as a probe and inspiration for research in chemistry and biology. Synthetic studies in the area benefited from methodologies and strategies that were developed as part of chemical synthesis programs directed toward the total synthesis of some of the less complex members of the polyether marine biotoxin class, of which maitotoxin is the flagship. This account focuses on progress made in the authors' laboratories in the synthesis of large maitotoxin domains with emphasis on methodology development, strategy design, and structural comparisons of the synthesized molecules with the corresponding regions of the natural product. The article concludes with an overview of maitotoxin's biological profile and future perspectives.     

Pericyclic prenylation: peptide modification through a Claisen rearrangement

LynF prenylates, but the prenyl migrates: Schmidt and co-workers have demonstrated that LynF from Lyngbya aestuarii is a reverse O-prenyl transferase. However, a forward C-prenylated product is obtained through a non-enzymatic Claisen rearrangement. The elucidation of this unprecedented two-step process is a significant contribution to our understanding of the biosynthesis of complex macrocyclic peptides.     

Total Synthesis of Symbioramide: a Flexible Approach for the Efficient Preparation of Structural Isomers

A concise, enantioselective total synthesis of symbioramide, starting from simple achiral compounds and racemic α‐amino‐β‐keto ester derivatives is reported. This highly flexible strategy allowed the efficient preparation of seven structural isomers of the natural product as well. The synthesis relies on a convergent route that involves the efficient stereoselective reduction of a α‐keto‐β‐yne ester, and the dynamic kinetic resolution of an α‐amino‐β‐keto ester through ruthenium‐mediated asymmetric hydrogenation.