ABSTRACT
During our efforts to synthesize the cytotoxic natural product FR182877, we discovered intramolecular reductive acylations that offer a stereocontrolled alternative to the classical Knoevenagel condensation for the formation of alpha-alkylidene beta-keto-delta-lactones. Other progress toward a synthesis of FR182877 includes a pi-allyl Stille coupling and a bromo Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction that forms a 12-membered ring. Structural relationships among FR182877, hexacyclinic acid, macquarimicin A, and cochleamycin A are also discussed. [reaction: see text]
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/chemical synthesis , Naphthalenes/chemistry , Polycyclic Compounds/chemical synthesis , Acylation , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Molecular Structure , Polycyclic Compounds/chemistryABSTRACT
[formula: see text] WS9885B promotes the assembly of microtubules in vitro and displays cytotoxicity as potent as paclitaxel against several cancer cell lines. In this Letter, we propose a biogenesis for this architecturally complex bacterial metabolite from a much simpler, polyunsaturated precursor. We also present significant progress toward a convergent, enantioselective synthesis of WS9885B. Our work features a chemoselective palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of two advanced building blocks and an uncommon Claisen-like cyclization.