Gateway synthesis of daphnane congeners and their protein kinase C affinities and cell-growth activities.

The daphnane diterpene orthoesters constitute a structurally fascinating family of natural products that exhibit a remarkable range of potent biological activities. Although partial activity information is available for some natural daphnanes, little information exists for non-natural congeners or on how changes in structure affect mode of action, function, potency or selectivity. A gateway strategy designed to provide general synthetic access to natural and non-natural daphnanes is described and utilized in the synthesis of two novel members of this class.

Apoptolidins E and F, new glycosylated macrolactones isolated from Nocardiopsis sp.

Two new glycosylated macrolactones, apoptolidins E (5) and F (6), were isolated from fermentation of the actinomycete Nocardiopsis sp. and their structures assigned. Lacking the C16 and C20 oxygens of apoptolidin A (1), these macrolides are also the first members of this family to display a 4-O-methyl-l-rhamnose at C9 rather than a 6-deoxy-4-O-methyl-l-glucose.

An approach to the site-selective diversification of apoptolidin A with peptide-based catalysts.

We report the application of peptide-based catalysts to the site-selective modification of apoptolidin A (1), an agent that displays remarkable selectivity for inducing apoptosis in E1A-transformed cell lines. Key to the approach was the development of an assay suitable for the screening of dozens of catalysts in parallel reactions that could be conducted using only microgram quantities of the starting material. Employing this assay, catalysts (e.

Isolation, structure determination, and anti-cancer activity of apoptolidin D.

The isolation, characterization, and preliminary biological activity of apoptolidin D, a new apoptolidin that exhibits anti-proliferative activity against H292 human lung carcinoma cells at nanomolar concentrations, are reported. Its equilibration with isoapoptolidin D and characterization of the latter are also described. [structure: see text].