Total synthesis of (-)-tirandamycin C

Beyond the approved: target sites and inhibitors of bacterial RNA polymerase from bacteria and fungi

Covering: 2016 to 2022RNA polymerase (RNAP) is the central enzyme in bacterial gene expression representing an attractive and validated target for antibiotics. Two well-known and clinically approved classes of natural product RNAP inhibitors are the rifamycins and the fidaxomycins. Rifampicin (Rif), a semi-synthetic derivative of rifamycin, plays a crucial role as a first line antibiotic in the treatment of tuberculosis and a broad range of bacterial infections. However, more and more pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis develop resistance, not only against Rif and other RNAP inhibitors. To overcome this problem, novel RNAP inhibitors exhibiting different target sites are urgently needed. This review includes recent developments published between 2016 and today. Particular focus is placed on novel findings concerning already known bacterial RNAP inhibitors, the characterization and development of new compounds isolated from bacteria and fungi, and providing brief insights into promising new synthetic compounds.

Development of α,α-Disubstituted Crotylboronate Reagents and Stereoselective Crotylation via Brønsted or Lewis Acid Catalysis

The development of α,α-disubstituted crotylboronate reagents is reported. Chiral Brønsted acid-catalyzed asymmetric aldehyde addition with the developed E-crotylboron reagent gave (E)-anti-1,2-oxaborinan-3-enes with excellent enantioselectivities and E-selectivities. With BF₃·OEt₂ catalysis, the stereoselectivity is reversed, and (Z)-δ-boryl-anti-homoallylic alcohols are obtained with excellent Z-selectivities from the same E-crotylboron reagent. The Z-crotylboron reagent also participates in BF₃·OEt₂-catalyzed crotylation to furnish (Z)-δ-boryl-syn-homoallylic alcohols with good Z-selectivities. DFT computations establish the origins of observed enantio- and stereoselectivities of chiral Brønsted acid-catalyzed asymmetric allylation. Stereochemical models for BF₃·OEt₂-catalyzed reactions are proposed to rationalize the Z-selective allyl additions. These reactions generate highly valuable homoallylic alcohol products with a stereodefined trisubstituted alkene unit. The synthetic utility is further demonstrated by the total syntheses of salinipyrones A and B.

(Z)-α-Boryl-crotylboron reagents via Z-selective alkene isomerization and application to stereoselective syntheses of (E)-δ-boryl-syn-homoallylic alcohols

Stereoselective synthesis of (Z)-α-boryl-crotylboronate is developed. Ni-catalyzed Z-selective alkene isomerization of α-boryl substituted homoallylboronate provided the targeted (Z)-crotylboronate with high selectivity. Stereoselective addition of the novel crotylboron reagent to aldehydes gave (E)-δ-boryl-substituted syn-homoallylic alcohols with excellent diastereoselectivities. The vinyl boronate unit in the products can be directly used for a subsequent C-C bond-forming transformation as illustrated in the synthesis of the C1-7 fragment of the natural products nannocystin A and nannocystin Ax.

Synthesis of a leopolic acid-inspired tetramic acid with antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria

The increasing emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens is one of the biggest threats to human health and food security. The discovery of new antibacterials, and in particular the finding of new scaffolds, is an imperative goal to stay ahead of the evolution of antibiotic resistance. Herein we report the synthesis of a 3-decyltetramic acid analogue of the ureido dipeptide natural antibiotic leopolic acid A. The key step in the synthetic strategy is an intramolecular Lacey–Dieckmann cyclization reaction of a linear precursor to obtain the desired 3-alkyl-substituted tetramic acid core. The synthesized analogue is more effective than the parent leopolic acid A against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus pseudintermedius) and Gram-negative (E. coli) bacteria (MIC 8 µg/mL and 64 µg/mL, respectively). Interestingly, the compound shows a significant activity against Staphylococcus pseudintermedius strains expressing a multidrug-resistant phenotype (average MIC 32 µg/mL on 30 strains tested). These results suggest that this molecule can be considered a promising starting point for the development of a novel class of antibacterial agents active also against resistant strains.

Enantioselective Synthesis of (E)-δ-Boryl-Substituted anti-Homoallylic Alcohols Using Palladium and a Chiral Phosphoric Acid

(E)-δ-Boryl-substituted anti-homoallylic alcohols are synthesized in a highly diastereo- and enantioselective manner from 1,1-di(boryl)alk-3-enes and aldehydes. Mechanistically, the reaction consists of 1) palladium-catalyzed double-bond transposition of the 1,1-di(boryl)alk-3-enes to 1,1-di(boryl)alk-2-enes, 2) chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed allylation of aldehydes, and 3) palladium-catalyzed geometrical isomerization from the Z to E isomer. As a result, the configurations of two chiral centers and one double bond are all controlled with high selectivity in a single reaction vessel.

Recent Advances in the Total Synthesis of Tetramic Acid-Containing Natural Products

With incredible bioactivities and fascinating structural complexities, tetramic acid- (TA-) containing natural products have attracted favorable attention among the organic chemistry community. Although the construction of the TA core is usually straightforward, the intricate C3-side chain sometimes asks for some deliberative strategy so as to fulfill an elegant total synthesis. This review mainly covers some exceptional synthetic examples for each type of natural product in recent years, showcasing the great achievements as well as unsettled obstacles in this area, in the hope of accelerating the synthetic and biological investigations for this unique type of natural product.

Stereochemical assignment of the protein-protein interaction inhibitor JBIR-22 by total synthesis

Recent reports have highlighted the biological activity associated with a subfamily of the tetramic acid class of natural products. Despite the fact that members of this subfamily act as protein-protein interaction inhibitors that are of relevance to proteasome assembly, no synthetic work has been reported. This may be due to the fact that this subfamily contains an unnatural 4,4-disubstitued glutamic acid, the synthesis of which provides a key challenge. A highly stereoselective route to a masked form of this unnatural amino acid now enabled the synthesis of two of the possible diastereomers of JBIR-22 and allowed the assignment of its relative and absolute stereochemistry.

Stereochemical Assignment of the Protein-Protein Interaction Inhibitor JBIR-22 by Total Synthesis

Recent reports have highlighted the biological activity associated with a subfamily of the tetramic acid class of natural products. Despite the fact that members of this subfamily act as protein-protein interaction inhibitors that are of relevance to proteasome assembly, no synthetic work has been reported. This may be due to the fact that this subfamily contains an unnatural 4,4-disubstitued glutamic acid, the synthesis of which provides a key challenge. A highly stereoselective route to a masked form of this unnatural amino acid now enabled the synthesis of two of the possible diastereomers of JBIR-22 and allowed the assignment of its relative and absolute stereochemistry.

Unified synthesis of tirandamycins and streptolydigins

The comprehensive approach to tirandamycin and streptolydigin antibiotics has been developed utilizing a cinchona alkaloid-catalyzed asymmetric Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction.

Aspergillines A-E, highly oxygenated hexacyclic indole-tetrahydrofuran-tetramic acid derivatives from Aspergillus versicolor

Aspergillines A-E (1-5) are highly oxygenated cyclopiazonic acid (CPA)-derived alkaloids bearing a rigid and sterically congested hexacyclic indole-tetrahydrofuran-tetramate scaffold, isolated from the endophytic fungus Aspergillus vesicolor. Apergillines A-C represent a new subclass of CPA-derived alkaloids, and aspergillines B and E possess a butanoic acid methyl ester moiety. The structures, including absolute configuration, were elucidated by interpretation of the NMR, X-ray crystallographic, and circular dichroism data. All compounds displayed anti-TMV and cytotoxic activities.

The endeavor of total synthesis and its impact on chemistry, biology and medicine

The synthesis of urea in 1828 set in motion the discipline of organic synthesis in general and of total synthesis in particular, the art and science of synthesizing natural products, the molecules of living nature. Early endeavors in total synthesis had as their main objective the proof of structure of the target molecule. Later on, the primary goal became the demonstration of the power of synthesis to construct complex molecules through appropriately devised strategies, making the endeavor an achievement whose value was measured by its elegance and efficiency. While these objectives continue to be important, contemporary endeavors in total synthesis are increasingly focused on practical aspects, including method development, efficiency, and biological and medical relevance. In this article, the emergence and evolution of total synthesis to its present state is traced, selected total syntheses from the author's laboratories are highlighted, and projections for the future of the field are discussed.

Marine natural products

This review covers the literature published in 2012 for marine natural products, with 1035 citations (673 for the period January to December 2012) referring to compounds isolated from marine microorganisms and phytoplankton, green, brown and red algae, sponges, cnidarians, bryozoans, molluscs, tunicates, echinoderms, mangroves and other intertidal plants and microorganisms. The emphasis is on new compounds (1241 for 2012), together with the relevant biological activities, source organisms and country of origin. Biosynthetic studies, first syntheses, and syntheses that lead to the revision of structures or stereochemistries, have been included.

Naturally occurring tetramic acid products: isolation, structure elucidation and biological activity

Natural products containing the tetramic acid core scaffold have been isolated from an assortment of terrestrial and marine species and often display wide ranging and potent biological activities including antibacterial, antiviral and antitumoral activities.

Enantiodivergent Hydroboration Reactions of a Racemic Allenylsilane with Diisopinocampheylborane and Curtin-Hammett Controlled Double Asymmetric Crotylboration Reactions of (S)-E-α-phenyldimethylsilyl( d diisopinocampheyl)-crotylborane

The enantiodivergent hydroboration reactions of racemic allenylsilane (±)-4 with ( ^d Ipc)₂BH and subsequent crotylboration of achiral aldehydes with the product crotylborane (S)-E-5 at -78 °C provide (E)-δ-silyl-anti-homoallylic alcohols 6 in 71-89% yield and with 93-96% ee. Intriguingly, mismatched double asymmetric crotylboration reactions of enantioenriched chiral aldehydes 20 with (S)-E-5 proceed under Curtin-Hammett control to give anti-3-hydroxylcrotylsilanes 24 as the only products.

Enantioselective synthesis of (Z)- and (E)-2-methyl-1,5-anti-pentenediols via an allene hydroboration-double-allylboration reaction sequence

Kinetically controlled hydroboration of allenylboronate 5 followed by double allylboration with the resulting allylborane (Z)-7 gave (Z)-2-methyl-1,5-anti-pentenediols 6 in good yield and high enantioselectivity in the presence of 10% BF3·OEt2 as the catalyst in the second allylboration step. Under thermodynamically controlled isomerization conditions, (Z)-7 can readily isomerize to (E)-7. Double allylboration of representative aldehydes with allylborane (E)-7 gave (E)-2-methyl-1,5-anti-pentenediols 4 in good yield and high enantioselectivity without requiring use of the BF3·OEt2 catalyst. Thus, 2-methyl-1,5-anti-pentenediols with either olefin geometry can be synthesized from the same allenylboronate precursor 5. Furthermore, 1,5-pentenediols 4 and 6 can be easily converted to 1,3,5-triols with excellent diastereoselectivity in one step.

Chiral Brønsted acid catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of anti-homopropargyl alcohols via kinetic resolution-aldehyde allenylboration using racemic allenylboronates

A chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed kinetic resolution/allenylboration of racemic allenylboronates with aldehydes is described. Allenylboration of aldehydes with 2.8 equiv of allenylboronate (±)-1 in the presence of 10 mol % of catalyst (R)-2 provided anti-homopropargyl alcohols 3 in 83-95% yield with 9:1 to 20:1 diastereoselectivity and 73-95% ee. The catalyst enables the kinetic resolution of the racemic allenylboronate (±)-1 to set the methyl stereocenter and biases the facial attack of the aldehyde to set the stereochemistry of the hydroxyl group in 3.

Enantioselective synthesis of (E)-δ-silyl-anti-homoallylic alcohols via an enantiodivergent hydroboration-crotylboration reaction of a racemic allenylsilane

The enantioselective hydroboration of racemic allenylsilane (±)-4 with ((d)Ipc)2BH proceeds via enantiodivergent pathways to give vinylborane 11 and crotylborane intermediate (S)-E-5. Subsequent crotylboration of aldehyde substrates with (S)-E-5 at -78 °C provides (E)-δ-silyl-anti-homoallylic alcohols in 71-89% yield and with 93-96% ee.

Crotylboron-based synthesis of the polypropionate units of chaxamycins A/D, salinisporamycin, and rifamycin S

Syntheses of the C(15)-C(27) fragments of chaxamycins A/D, rifamycin S, and the C(12)-C(24) fragment of salinisporamycin have been accomplished in 10 steps from commercially available starting materials. Three crotylboron reagents were utilized to construct the seven contiguous stereocenters in these fragments with excellent stereoselectivity.

Constructing molecular complexity and diversity: total synthesis of natural products of biological and medicinal importance

The advent of organic synthesis and the understanding of the molecule as they occurred in the nineteenth century and were refined in the twentieth century constitute two of the most profound scientific developments of all time. These discoveries set in motion a revolution that shaped the landscape of the molecular sciences and changed the world. Organic synthesis played a major role in this revolution through its ability to construct the molecules of the living world and others like them whose primary element is carbon. Although the early beginnings of organic synthesis came about serendipitously, organic chemists quickly recognized its potential and moved decisively to advance and exploit it in myriad ways for the benefit of mankind. Indeed, from the early days of the synthesis of urea and the construction of the first carbon-carbon bond, the art of organic synthesis improved to impressively high levels of sophistication. Through its practice, today chemists can synthesize organic molecules--natural and designed--of all types of structural motifs and for all intents and purposes. The endeavor of constructing natural products--the organic molecules of nature--is justly called both a creative art and an exact science. Often called simply total synthesis, the replication of nature's molecules in the laboratory reflects and symbolizes the state of the art of synthesis in general. In the last few decades a surge in total synthesis endeavors around the world led to a remarkable collection of achievements that covers a wide ranging landscape of molecular complexity and diversity. In this article, we present highlights of some of our contributions in the field of total synthesis of natural products of biological and medicinal importance. For perspective, we also provide a listing of selected examples of additional natural products synthesized in other laboratories around the world over the last few years.

Enantioselective synthesis of anti- and syn-homopropargyl alcohols via chiral Brønsted acid catalyzed asymmetric allenylboration reactions

Chiral Brønsted acid catalyzed asymmetric allenylboration reactions are described. Under optimized conditions, anti-homopropargyl alcohols 2 are obtained in high yields with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities from stereochemically matched aldehyde allenylboration reactions with (M)-1 catalyzed by the chiral phosphoric acid (S)-4. The syn-isomers 3 can also be obtained in good diastereoselectivities and excellent enantioselectivities from the mismatched allenylboration reactions of aromatic aldehydes using (M)-1 in the presence of the enantiomeric phosphoric acid (R)-4. The stereochemistry of the methyl group introduced into 2 and 3 is controlled by the chirality of the allenylboronate (M)-1, whereas the configuration of the new hydroxyl stereocenter is controlled by the enantioselectivity of the chiral phosphoric acid catalyst used in these reactions. The synthetic utility of this methodology was further demonstrated in highly diastereoselective syntheses of a variety of anti, anti-stereotriads, the direct synthesis of which has constituted a significant challenge using previous generations of aldol and crotylmetal reagents.

Diastereo- and enantioselective synthesis of (E)-2-Methyl-1,2-syn- and (E)-2-Methyl-1,2-anti-3-pentenediols via allenylboronate kinetic resolution with ((d)Ipc)2BH and aldehyde allylboration

Enantioselective hydroboration of racemic allenylboronate (±)-1 with 0.48 equiv of ((d)Ipc)(2)BH at -25 °C proceeds with efficient kinetic resolution and provides allylborane (R)-Z-4. When heated to 95 °C, allylborane (R)-Z-4 isomerizes to the thermodynamically more stable allylborane isomer (S)-E-7. Subsequent allylboration of aldehydes with (R)-Z-4 or (S)-E-7 at -78 °C followed by oxidative workup provides 1,2-syn- or 1,2-anti-diols, 2 or 3, respectively, in 87-94% ee.

Enantioselective synthesis of (+)-crocacin C. An example of a highly challenging mismatched double asymmetric δ-stannylcrotylboration reaction

A concise, enantioselective synthesis of (+)-crocacin C is described, featuring a highly diastereoselective mismatched double asymmetric δ-stannylcrotylboration of the stereochemically demanding chiral aldehyde 9 with the bifunctional crotylborane reagent (S)-E-10. The total synthesis of (+)-crocacin C was accomplished in seven steps (longest linear sequence) starting from commercially available precursors.

Highly stereoselective synthesis of anti,anti-dipropionate stereotriads: a solution to the long-standing problem of challenging mismatched double asymmetric crotylboration reactions

The stereocontrolled synthesis of the β-branched anti,anti-dipropionate stereotriad 4 via aldol or crotylmetal chemistry represents a historical challenge to the organic synthesis community. Here we describe a general solution to the long-standing problem associated with the synthesis of 4 by utilizing mismatched double asymmetric crotylboration reactions of enantioenriched α-methyl substituted aldehydes with the chiral, nonracemic crotylborane reagent (S)-(E)-22 (or its enantiomer). This method not only provides direct access to anti,anti-dipropionate stereotriads 24 [a synthetic equivalent of 4] with very good (5-8:1) if not excellent (≥15:1) diastereoselectivity from β-branched chiral aldehydes with ≤50:1 intrinsic diastereofacial selectivity preferences but also provides a vinylstannane unit in the products that is properly functionalized for use in subsequent C-C bond-forming events. We anticipate that this method will be widely applicable and will lead to substantial simplification of strategies for synthesis of polyketide natural products.