Total synthesis of macrodiolide ionophores aplasmomycin A and boromycin via double ring contraction.

The half structure of the symmetrical macrodiolide aplasmomycin A was synthesized by alkylation of a C3-C10 α-sulfonyl ketone subunit, prepared from (R)-pulegone and protected as a C3 ortholactone with (2R,3R)-butanediol, by a protected 15,16-dihydroxy (12E)-allylic chloride representing C11-C17. The latter was obtained from (2S,3R)-1,2-epoxy-3-butanol and propargyl alcohol. Regio- and stereoselective 5-exo-trig cyclization of the ene diol moiety in this segment, mediated by N-bromosuccinimide, led to the (2R,3S,5R)-tetrahydrofuran substructure of aplasmomycin A. Attachment of an α-acetic ester at the C3 carboxylic acid and esterification of the 3'-hydroxyl group of the tetrahydrofuran as its α-bromoacetate enabled coupling of two aplasmomycin half structures as an α-acyloxy acetate. Mukaiyama macrolactonization of this hydroxy acid afforded a symmetrical 36-membered diolide. Base-mediated double Chan rearrangement of this bis α-acyloxy dilactone caused ring contraction to the 34-membered macrocycle of desboroaplasmomycin A while generating the transannular 2-hydroxy-3-hemiketal motif of the natural product in the correct configuration. Final incorporation of boron into the tetraol core produced aplasmomycin A, isolated as its sodium borate. Extension of this route to the unsymmetrical macrodiolide boromycin was accomplished by modifications that included reversal of C12-C13 olefin geometry to (Z) for the southern half structure along with stereoselective hydride reductions of the C9 ketone that produced (9R) and (9S) alcohols for northern and southern half structures, respectively. Coupling of these half structures was made using an α-acyloxy ester linkage as for aplasmomycin A, but ring closure in this case was orchestrated via a blocked C16 alcohol that left open the C15 hydroxyl group of the southern half for Mukaiyama macrolactonization. A double Chan rearrangement of the resulting 35-membered macrocycle produced the 33-membered diolide of desborodesvalinylboromycin which had been obtained previously by degradation of natural boromycin. Insertion of boron into the tetraol core followed by esterification of the C16 alcohol with a masked d-valine and final deprotection furnished boromycin as its zwitterionic (Böeseken) complex.

Discovery of novel and potent leukotriene B4 receptor antagonists. Part 1.

The inhibition of LTB(4) binding to and activation of G-protein-coupled receptors BLT1 and BLT2 is the premise of a treatment for several inflammatory diseases. In a lead optimization effort starting with the leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) receptor antagonist (2), members of a series of 3,5-diarylphenyl ethers were found to be highly potent inhibitors of LTB(4) binding to BLT1 and BLT2 receptors, with varying levels of selectivity depending on the substitution. In addition, compounds 33 and 38 from this series have good in vitro ADME properties, good oral bioavailability, and efficacy after oral delivery in guinea pig LTB(4) and nonhuman primate allergen challenge models. Further profiling in a rat non-GLP toxicity experiment provided the rationale for differentiation and selection of one compound (33) for clinical development.

Conversion of carbamates to amidosulfones and amides. Synthesis of the [14C]-labeled antiobesity agent Ro23-7637.

[reaction: see text] Carbamates of primary and secondary amines react with the dianion of methyl phenyl sulfone to yield amidosulfones. Alylation of the amidosulfone followed by reductive removal of the sulfonyl residue gives an amide.