Synthesis and biological study of the phomopsolide and phomopsolidone natural products.

The complete history of the syntheses and biological activities of the phomopsolide and phomopsolidone classes of natural products is reviewed. These efforts include the successful synthesis of four of the five phomopsolide natural products, two of the four phomopsolidone natural products and two analogues of phomopsolide E, including the 7-oxa and 7-aza analogues. In addition, the utility of these synthetic efforts to enable the initial structure activity relationship studies for these classes of natural products is also covered.

Synthesis and direct comparison of the anticancer activities of phomopsolides D and E and two 7-oxa-/7-aza-analogues.

The synthesis of two stable phomopsolide natural products (D and E) and two analogues is presented. The cytotoxicities of these four compounds are surveyed and compared across a panel of NCI-cancer cell lines. This analysis found moderate cytotoxicities (2-50 μM) for the majority of the cell lines with phomopsolide D being more active than phomopsolide E and the 7-oxa analogue being commensurately more active than the 7-aza analogue.

Correction: The asymmetric syntheses of cryptocaryols A and B.

Correction for 'The asymmetric syntheses of cryptocaryols A and B' by Alhanouf Zakaria Aljahdali et al., Chem. Commun.

The asymmetric syntheses of cryptocaryols A and B.

The recent total syntheses of cryptocaryols A and B are reviewed. These efforts include the correction of the initially assigned absolute and relative stereochemistry of this class of natural products. In addition to enabling the initial structure activity relationships for this class of natural products, these syntheses demonstrated the practical utility of several novel synthetic approaches.

De novo asymmetric synthesis of the pyranoses: from monosaccharides to oligosaccharides.

The various methods for the de novo asymmetric synthesis of the pyranose sugars are surveyed. The presentation begins with the work of Masamune and Sharpless with the use of the Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation for the synthesis of all eight l-hexoses. The development of other asymmetric reactions and their application for the synthesis of specific hexopyranoses are further discussed.