4'''-N-demethylspiramycin derivatives: synthesis and evaluation of effectiveness against drug-resistant bacteria.

18-amino-4''-O-benzoyl-4'''-N-demethyl-18-deoxospiramycins were designed and synthesized. Synthetic strategy involved selective demethylation of the dimethylamino group in forosamine, benzoylation of the hydroxyl group at the C4'' position and reductive N-amination of the formyl group. Antibacterial characteristics of spiramycin derivatives were tested.

Three-dimensional solution structure of EM703 with potent promoting activity of monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation.

EM703, which is an erythromycin derivative synthesized by our group, has a potent promoting activity of monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation in vitro. Its activity is approximately 300 times higher than that of erythromycin A (EM-A). In this study, we determined three-dimensional (3D) solution structures of EM703 and EM-A, and compared them using a superposition method, in order to investigate the 3D structure-activity relationship.

Synthesis of linear tripeptides for right-hand segments of complestatin.

This paper concerns a synthetic study of the right-hand segment of complestatin, an inhibitor of gp120-CD4 receptor. The effective synthesis of four important precursors for the right-hand segment of complestatin is described. Two of them are the precursor tripeptides for macrolactamization to the right-hand segment of complestatin at the last step and the other two are the precursor tripeptides for ring-closing reaction using Suzuki and Stille coupling, respectively, to the right-hand segment of complestatin at the last step.

Total synthesis and adjuvant activity of all stereoisomers of pinellic acid.

Pinellic acid is a novel and potentially useful oral adjuvant when used in conjunction with intranasal inoculation of influenza HA vaccines. All stereoisomers of pinellic acid have been synthesized via regioselective asymmetric dihydroxylation, regioselective inversion, and stereoselective reduction, and their adjuvant activities were characterized. Among this series of isomers, 9S, 12S, 13S compound has the most potent adjuvant activity.