Structure of piericidin B and stereochemistry of piericidins

The unique chemistry and biology of the piericidins

The piericidin family of microbial metabolites features a 4-pyridinol core linked with a methylated polyketide side chain. Piericidins are exclusively produced by actinomycetes, especially members of the genus Streptomyces. The close structural similarity with coenzyme Q renders the piericidins important NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) inhibitors in the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Because of the significant activities of the piericidins, which include insecticidal, antimicrobial and antitumor effects, total syntheses of the piericidins were developed using various synthetic strategies. The biosynthetic origin of this class has also been the subject of investigation. This review covers the isolation and structure determination of the natural piericidins, their chemical modification, the total syntheses of natural and unnatural analogs, their biosynthesis, and reported biological activities together with structure-activity relationships. Given the fundamental biology of this class of metabolites, the piericidin family will likely continue to attract attention as biological probes of important biosynthetic processes.

Elucidating hydroxylation and methylation steps tailoring piericidin A1 biosynthesis

The piericidin A1 (1) gene cluster was identified from the deep-sea derived Streptomyces sp. SCSIO 03032. Our in vivo and in vitro experiments verified PieE as a 4'-hydroxylase and PieB2 as a 4'-O-methyltransferase, allowing the elucidation of the post-PKS modification steps involved in 1 biosynthesis. In addition, the shunt metabolite piericidin E1 (7) was identified as a novel analogue featuring a C-2/C-3 epoxy ring.

Total synthesis of piericidin A1 and B1 and key analogues

Full details of the total synthesis of piericidin A1 and B1 and its extension to the preparation of a series of key analogues are described including ent-piericidin A1 (ent-1), 4'-deshydroxypiericidin A1 (58), 5'-desmethylpiericidin A1 (73), 4'-deshydroxy-5'-desmethylpiericidin A1 (75), and the corresponding analogues 51, 59, 76, and 77 bearing a simplified farnesyl side chain. The evaluation of these key analogues, along with those derived from their further functionalizations, permitted a scan of the key structural features providing new insights into the role of the substituents found in both the pyridyl core as well as the side chain. A strategic late stage heterobenzylic Stille cross-coupling reaction of the pyridyl core with the fully elaborated side chain permitted ready access to the analogues in which each half of the molecule could be systematically and divergently modified. The pyridyl cores were assembled enlisting inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reactions of N-sulfonyl-1-azabutadienes, while key elements of side chain syntheses include an anti selective asymmetric aldol to install the C9 and C10 relative and absolute stereochemistry (for natural and ent-1) and a modified Julia olefination for formation of the C5-C6 trans double bond with convergent assemblage of the side chains.

Total synthesis of piericidin A1 and B1

The first total syntheses of piericidin A1 and B1 are disclosed and unambiguously establish the relative and absolute stereochemistry of the natural products by an approach that will facilitate the synthesis of a series of analogues. Central to the approach is an inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reaction of a N-sulfonyl-1-aza-1,3-butadiene with tetramethoxyethene followed by Lewis acid-promoted aromatization used to assemble the functionalized pyridine core. Additional key elements in the convergent approach include the use of an anti-aldol reaction to install the C9 and C10 relative and absolute stereochemistry, a modified Julia olefination for formation of the C5-C6 trans double bond with convergent assemblage of the side chain, and a penultimate heterobenzylic Stille cross-coupling reaction of the pyridyl core with the fully elaborated side chain.

Titanium(II)-Mediated Cyclizations of (Silyloxy)enynes: A Total Synthesis of (−)-7-Demethylpiericidin A1

A concise total synthesis of 7-demethylpiericidin A1 has been completed. The synthesis features a titanium(II)-mediated cyclization of a (silyloxy)enyne as the key step and proceeds in nine steps from tiglic aldehyde.