Interaction of epothilone analogs with the paclitaxel binding site: relationship between binding affinity, microtubule stabilization, and cytotoxicity.

The interactions of epothilone analogs with the paclitaxel binding site of microtubules were studied. The influence of chemical modifications in the C15 side chain and in C12 on binding affinity and microtubule elongation was characterized. Modifications favorable for binding affinity are (1).

Biomimetically inspired total synthesis and structure activity relationships of 1-O-methyllateriflorone. 6 pi electrocyclizations in organic synthesis.

The total synthesis of 1-O-methyllateriflorone (2) is described. The construction of the cage-like domain of the molecule involved a biomimetic Claisen/Diels-Alder cascade, whereas the novel spiroxalactone framework was generated by an intramolecular Michael reaction within precursor 16a involving the carboxylate residue as the nucleophile. This finding might bear on the biosynthetic pathway by which nature forms lateriflorone.

o-Iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) as a viable reagent in the manipulation of nitrogen- and sulfur-containing substrates: scope, generality, and mechanism of IBX-mediated amine oxidations and dithiane deprotections.

o-Iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX), a highly versatile hypervalent iodine(V) reagent, was found to efficiently mediate the dehydrogenation of amines in addition to facilitating the oxidative cleavage of dithioacetals and dithioketals. Through the development of relevant IBX-based protocols, a plethora of useful synthetic intermediates, including imines, oximes, ketones, and aromatic N-heterocycles, were found to be readily accessible under notably mild conditions. Further investigation of these transformations led to the elucidation of valuable mechanistic details, resulting in the conclusion that they proceed via ionic rather than single electron transfer (SET) pathways.

Total synthesis of hamigerans and analogues thereof. Photochemical generation and Diels-Alder trapping of hydroxy-o-quinodimethanes.

A number of naturally occurring substances, including hamigerans, contain ring systems which are fused to an aromatic nucleus. A general and streamlined method for the construction of such benzannulated bi- and polycyclic carbon frameworks has been developed, and its scope and limitations were explored. On the basis of the photoenolization of substituted benzaldehydes and subsequent Diels-Alder (PEDA) trapping of the generated hydroxy-o-quinodimethanes, this method was optimized to set the stage for the total synthesis of several naturally occurring members of the hamigeran class.

Total synthesis of hybocarpone and analogues thereof. A facile dimerization of naphthazarins to pentacyclic systems.

The total synthesis of the lichen-derived antitumor agent hybocarpone (1) and related compounds is described. The successful route to hybocarpone features a novel radical-based dimerization/hydration cascade which generates the bridging hindered carbon-carbon bond of the molecule in a stereocontrolled manner, setting the relative configurations of the four contiguous stereocenters in a single step. The conjecture is made that this process may not be so dissimilar to the biosynthetic pathway leading to the formation of hybocarpone in nature.

Total synthesis and biological evaluation of (-)apicularen A and analogues thereof.

Apicularen A (1) and related benzolactone acylenamines belong to a growing class of novel natural products possessing highly cytotoxic properties. The challenging structure of 1 includes a 10-membered macrolactone ring, a tetrahydropyran system, an o,m-substituted phenol and a doubly unsaturated acyl group attached on the side chain enamine functionality. The total synthesis of apicularen A described herein involves a strategy equivalent to its proposed biosynthesis and entails a reiterative two-step procedure featuring allylation and ozonolytic cleavage to grow the molecule's chain by one acetate unit at a time.

Total synthesis of apoptolidin: completion of the synthesis and analogue synthesis and evaluation.

The total synthesis of apoptolidin (1) is reported together with the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a number of analogues. The assembly of key fragments 6 and 7 to vinyl iodide 3 via dithiane coupling technology was supplemented by a second generation route to this advanced intermediate involving a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons coupling of fragments 22 and 25. The final stages of the synthesis featured a Stille coupling between vinyl iodide 3 and vinylstannane 2, a Yamaguchi lactonization, a number of glycosidations, and final deprotection.

Total synthesis of apoptolidin: construction of enantiomerically pure fragments.

A general strategy for the total synthesis of the antitumor agent apoptolidin (1) is proposed, and the chemical synthesis of the defined key building blocks (4, 5, 6, 8, and 9) in their enantiomerically pure forms is described. The projected total synthesis calls for a dithiane coupling reaction to construct the C(20)-C(21) bond, a Stille coupling reaction to form the C(11)-C(12) bond, and a Yamaguchi macrolactonization to assemble the macrolide ring, as well as two glycosidation reactions to fuse the carbohydrate units onto the molecule. First and second generation syntheses to the required fragments for apoptolidin (1) are described.

Discovery and optimization of non-steroidal FXR agonists from natural product-like libraries.

The efficient regulation of cholesterol biosynthesis, metabolism, acquisition, and transport is an essential component of lipid homeostasis. The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a transcriptional sensor for bile acids, the primary product of cholesterol metabolism. Accordingly, the development of potent, selective, small molecule agonists, partial agonists, and antagonists of FXR would be an important step in further deconvoluting FXR physiology.

A chemical, genetic, and structural analysis of the nuclear bile acid receptor FXR.

The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) functions as a bile acid (BA) sensor coordinating cholesterol metabolism, lipid homeostasis, and absorption of dietary fats and vitamins. However, BAs are poor reagents for characterizing FXR functions due to multiple receptor independent properties. Accordingly, using combinatorial chemistry we evolved a small molecule agonist termed fexaramine with 100-fold increased affinity relative to natural compounds.

Tandem reactions, cascade sequences, and biomimetic strategies in total synthesis.

Cascade reactions and biomimetic strategies are being increasingly applied to the construction of natural and designed molecules. Such processes, in which ideally a single event triggers the conversion of a starting material to a product which then becomes a substrate for the next reaction until termination leads to a stable final product, are highly desirable not only due to their elegance, but also because of their efficiency and economy in terms of reagent consumption and purification. Often, these multistep, one-pot procedures are accompanied by dramatic increases in molecular complexity and impressive selectivity.

Novel strategies for the solid phase synthesis of substituted indolines and indoles.

Using a polymer-bound selenenyl bromide resin, o-allyl and o-prenyl anilines were cycloaded to afford a series of solid-supported indoline and indole scaffolds. These scaffolds were then functionalized and cleaved via four distinct methods, namely traceless reduction, radical cyclization, radical rearrangement, and oxidative elimination, to afford 2-methyl indolines, polycyclic indolines, 2-methyl indoles, and 2-propenyl indolines, respectively. A number of small combinatorial libraries of compounds reminiscent of certain designed ligands of biological interest were constructed demonstrating the potential utility of the developed methodology to chemical biology studies and the drug discovery process.

Protracted low-dose effects on human endothelial cell proliferation and survival in vitro reveal a selective antiangiogenic window for various chemotherapeutic drugs.

Recent preclinical studies have shown that frequent administration in vivo of low doses of chemotherapeutic drugs ("metronomic" dosing) can affect tumor endothelium and inhibit tumor angiogenesis, reducing significant side effects (e.g., myelosuppression) involving other tissues, even after chronic treatment.