Macrocyclization by Ring-Closing Metathesis in the Total Synthesis of Natural Products: Reaction Conditions and Limitations

Total synthesis studies on macrocyclic pipecolic acid natural products: FK506, the antascomicins and rapamycin

This chapter derives its inspiration from the challenges presented to total synthesis chemists, by a particular group of macrocyclic pipecolic acid natural products. Although there is considerable emphasis on the completed syntheses of the main characters (FK506 (1), the antascomycins (4 and 5) and rapamycin (7)), the overall complexity of the molecular problem has stimulated a wealth of new knowledge, including the development of novel strategies and the invention of new synthetic methods. The ingenious and innovative approaches to these targets have enabled new generations of analogues, and provided material to further probe the biology of these fascinating molecules. With pharmaceutical application as an immunosuppressant, as well as potential use for the treatment of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, this family of natural products continues to inspire new and interesting science while providing solutions to healthcare problems of the world.

Total synthesis of (-)-dactylolide and formal synthesis of (-)-zampanolide via target oriented beta-C-glycoside formation

The total synthesis of (-)-dactylolide and formal synthesis of (-)-zampanolide via target oriented beta-C-glycoside formation is described. The two key reactions involved a stereoselective reduction of the appropriate oxocarbenium cation and a highly chemo- and diastereoselective ring-closing metathesis protocol for the formation of the macrocyclic core. In addition to the described chemistry, in vitro screening of the antipode of natural dactylolide against the NCI's 60 cancer cell line helped to illuminate the critical importance of the N-acyl hemiaminal side chain of natural zampanolide for its reported potent nanomolar cytotoxicities. Furthermore, by means of the in vitro screen of (-)-dactylolide, a promising cancer therapeutic lead has now emerged for a variety of carcinomas. More specifically, (-)-dactylolide exhibited GI50 values in the nanomolar (25-99 ng/mL) range against the four cell lines HL-60, K-562, HCC-2998, and SF-539, while displaying modest LC50 values.

Synthesis of novel migrastatin and dorrigocin A analogues from D-glucal

The synthesis of a range of analogues of the migrastatin macrolide core has been achieved from tri-O-acetyl-D-glucal in order to facilitate structure-activity studies. Efficient macrolactone formation was achieved in the presence of a reactive olefin, by increasing steric hindrance in the olefin environment. Acyclic analogues of migrastatin, structurally related to dorrigocin A, have also been prepared from D-glucal. The dorrigocin A analogues were prepared using the combination of the cross metathesis of ethyl 6-heptenoate with a glycal derivative and a subsequent allylic rearrangement-alkene isomerisation reaction (Perlin reaction). A synthetic route is thus provided that will enable dorrigocin A analogues to be prepared in parallel to migrastatin analogues in the search for novel anti-cancer and anti-arthritic therapeutics. Biological evaluation of one migrastatin and one dorrigocin A sugar derived analogue show that they inhibit proliferation and serum-induced migration of tumour and synovial cells at higher concentrations than evodiamine. Dorrigocin A analogues displayed similar potency to analogues of the migrastatin core.

A fluorous-tagged linker from which small molecules are released by ring-closing metathesis

A fluorous-tagged linker for the parallel synthesis of small- and medium-ring and macrocyclic nitrogen heterocycles using ring-closing metathesis is described. The linker was designed such that "cyclization-release" of the cyclic heterocyclic products was coupled with liberation of the active catalyst. The design of the linker was validated using a non-fluorous-tagged model. A wide range of unsaturated alcohols were used as reagents to functionalize a fluorous-tagged sulfonamide, (Z)-{N-[4-(2-(N'-3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,10-heptadecafluorodecyl)-4-methylsulfonamido)methylallyloxy]but-2-enyl}-2-nitrobenzenesulfonamide, using Fukuyama-Mitsunobu reactions; in each case, fluorous-solid-phase extraction (F-SPE) was used to purify the functionalized linker from the excess reagents. In general, the "cyclization-release" of cyclic products was triggered using a light-fluorous tagged derivative of the Grubbs-Hoveyda second-generation catalyst. After the metathesis step, F-SPE was used to purify released cyclic compounds from the fluorous-tagged linker and the fluorous-tagged catalyst. The scope and limitations of the approach were determined using a range of substrates which probed different aspects of the functionalization and metathesis steps. In the study as a whole, a wide range of small- and medium-ring and macrocyclic nitrogen heterocycles were prepared using polyene and polyenyne metathesis cascades.

RCM macrocyclization made practical: an efficient synthesis of HCV protease inhibitor BILN 2061

We report here that dramatic improvement of the key RCM reaction in the synthesis of HCV protease inhibitor BILN2061 can be achieved by N-substitution of the diene substrate with an electron-withdrawing group. Mechanistic studies using 1H NMR spectroscopy showed an unprecedented switch of the initiation sites and the correlation between such switch and the results of RCM, from the unmodified to the modified substrates. We also provided theoretical evidence that such modification may also increase the thermodynamic preference of the macrocyclic product over the diene substrate.

Total synthesis of the cyclopeptide alkaloid paliurine E. insights into macrocyclization by ene--enamide RCM

The total synthesis of (-)-paliurine E is described in 14 steps and 11% overall yield. The first successful application of ene--enamide ring-closing metathesis for macrocyclization serves as the foundation for this synthesis and allowed for a straightforward installation of the challenging cyclic enamide together with the macrocycle. In the course of these synthetic studies, we also found that very subtle and minor structural modification of the enamide resulted in dramatic and unexpected changes of their reactivity since a primary amide or an aromatic aldehyde can be obtained after reaction with Grubbs' second-generation catalyst. Further insights on the macrocyclization by ene--enamide RCM are also discussed.

Synthetic modification of manzamine A via Grubbs metathesis. Novel structures with enhanced antibacterial and antiprotozoal properties

A strategy for the structural modification of biologically important alkene-containing natural products via ring-opening olefin metathesis is described. Exposure of manzamine A 1 to the second-generation Grubbs catalyst in the presence of ethylene leads to the formation of 2 and 4. The antibacterial activity of the novel manzamine analogue 2 (IC50=0.10 nM) against Mycobacterium intracellulare is ca. 2-fold more potent than that of ciprofloxacin (IC50=0.18 nM), a drug that is frequently used against antibiotic-resistant infections.

Development of perfluoroarene-arene interactions for macrocyclic en-yne metathesis and the total synthesis of macrocyclic natural products

Efficient direct en-yne metathesis of strained macrocyclic systems is possible using highly active Grubbs-Hoveyda second-generation catalyst and when exploiting fluoroarene-arene gearing interactions. These interactions are effective even under high reaction temperatures and in the presence of a competitive pi-rich solvent such as toluene. These results suggest that efficient pi-pi stacking or pi-lp interactions between auxiliaries containing pentafluorophenyl and 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl groups are responsible for the good yields of macrocyclization products. The 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzyl gearing elements provide higher yields and greater E-selectivity in the macrocyclic en-yne metathesis to form model paracyclophanes that could be applied toward the preparation of members of the longithorone family of natural products.

Synthesis of (+/-)-thiohalenaquinone by iterative metalations of thiophene

The synthesis of a thiophene-containing analogue of halenaquinone was realized. Key steps include an alkynyl ketone-benzocyclobutane Diels-Alder reaction to construct the C,D-ring naphthalene subunit, a Heck cyclization to form the quaternary carbon, and a ring closing metathesis to add the A-ring.

Asymmetric synthesis of delta-substituted alpha,beta-unsaturated delta-lactams by ring closing metathesis of enantiomerically pure N-acryloyl-homoallylic amines

Optically pure secondary homoallylic amines, obtained by highly diastereoselective addition of allylmetal reagents to imines derived from chiral amines, were N-dealkylated, and the primary amines were converted to N-acryloyl amides. Then, ring closing metathesis gave delta-substituted delta-lactams in good overall yields.

Total Synthesis of Amphidinolide E and Amphidinolide E Stereoisomers

Four amphidinolide E stereoisomers, amphidinolide E (1), 2-epi-amphidinolide E (2), 19-epi-amphidinolide E (3), and 2-epi-19-epi-amphidinolide E (4), have been synthesized via the judicious union of aldehyde 5, allylsilanes 7 or 8, acids 9 or 10, and vinylstannane 6. The C19 stereocenters of the C19 epimeric allylsilanes 7 and 8 were introduced via crotylboration reactions early in the synthesis. [3+2]-Annulation reactions of aldehyde 5 with allylsilanes 7 and 8 were employed to set the core tetrahydrofuran units of 1-4. Finally, the C2 stereocenter was installed by esterification using acid 9, without incident, or with acid 10, in which case an unexpected and completely stereoselective inversion of C2 occurs.

Synthesis of 2-epi-amphidinolide E: an unexpected and highly selective C(2)inversion during an esterification reaction

A synthesis of 2-epi-amphidinolide E (1) has been accomplished via an unexpected and highly diastereoselective C(2) stereochemical inversion during the modified Yamaguchi esterification of alcohol 4b and Fe(CO)3-complexed dienoic acid 7. [reaction: see text].

Synthesis of Macrolide−Saccharide Hybrids by Ring-Closing Metathesis of Precursors Derived from Glycitols and Benzoic Acids

The benzomacrolactone structural motif is a privileged or evolutionarily selected scaffold that codes properties required for binding to proteins and novel analogues thereof may provide a source of new bioactive compounds. Saccharides are also privileged structures, with (amino)sugars, iminosugars, and sugar amino acids being applied as scaffolds for the development of nonpeptidal peptidomimetics. The syntheses of novel polyhydroxylated oxamacrolides, structural analogues of natural polyketide derived macrolides, are described herein, providing a basis for their development as scaffolds. The syntheses were carried out from benzoic acids and appropriately protected D-mannitol or D-sorbitol (D-glucitol). Ring-closing metathesis was applied in the macrocyclization step with high E-alkene selectivities being observed. X-ray crystal structures, for two polyhydroxylated derivatives, show that the macrocyclic rings display similar conformations. In addition, intermolecular hydrogen-bonding networks are observed in the lattices.

Total Synthesis and Evaluation of the Actin-Binding Properties of Microcarpalide and a Focused Library of Analogues

A comparative investigation shows that hydroxylated 10-membered lactones modeled around the fungal metabolites microcarpalide (1) and pinolidoxin (2) are endowed with selective actin-binding properties. Although less potent than the marine natural product latrunculin A, which represents the standard in the field, nonenolides of this type are significantly less toxic and accommodate substantial structural editing. Most notable is the fact that even an intramolecular transesterification with formation of a hydroxylated butanolide skeleton does not annihilate their microfilament disrupting capacity. This finding calls for a reinvestigation of the biological profile of other fungal metabolites that embody a similar motif. Microcarpalide (1) serving as the calibration point for this comparative study was prepared by total synthesis based on ring-closing metathesis (RCM) as the key step. The chosen route favorably compares to previous approaches to this target and provides further support for the notion that the (E,Z)-configuration of a medium-sized cycloalkene can be controlled by proper choice of the catalyst as previously outlined by our group. 9-epi-Microcarpalide 26 and furanone 27 as representative examples of the "natural productlike" compounds investigated herein have been characterized by crystal structure analysis.

Synthetic ansamycins prepared by a ring-expanding Claisen rearrangement. Synthesis and biological evaluation of ring and conformational analogues of the Hsp90 molecular chaperone inhibitor geldanamycin

A series of ansa-quinones has been prepared by chemical synthesis, and evaluated by biological techniques. Thus, 19-membered ansa-lactams, simplified analogues of the naturally occurring Hsp90 molecular chaperone inhibitor geldanamycin, were obtained by concise routes, the key steps being the combination of a ring-closing metathesis to give a 17-membered ring followed by Claisen rearrangement to effect ring expansion. The methodology was also used to prepare an "unnatural" 18-membered ring analogue. In ATPase enzyme assays, the synthetic ansa-quinones were weak inhibitors of Hsp90.