James S. Panek

Palladium (O) mediated β-carboline synthesis: Preparation of the CDE ring system of lavendamycin

Abstract A five-step approach to the preparation of the β-carboline CDE ring system of lavendamycin is detailed and is based on: (1) thermal cycloaddition of 3,5,6-tricarbomethoxy-1,2,4-triazine with the pyrrolidine enamine of o-bromopropiophenone followed by (2) implementation of a newly developed palladium (O) mediated β-carboline synthesis.

TOTAL SYNTHESIS OF (+)-LACTACYSTIN

A double stereodifferentiating crotylation between aldehyde 1 and silane (S)-2 to afford homoallylic alcohol 3 is the key diastereoselective step (anti:syn >30:1) in an efficient asymmetric synthesis of (+)-lactacystin. This compound is a metabolite isolated from Streptomyces sp. OM-6519 that exhibits significant neurotrophic activity. An additional important step in the synthesis is a catalytic asymmetric aminohydroxylation used as the key step in the synthesis of the (2R,3S)-hydroxyleucine synthon.

Syntheses and Biological Evaluation of (+)‐Lactacystin and Analogs

Since its isolation in 1991, (+)-lactacystin (1) has attracted considerable attention among leading synthesis laboratories due to its highly selective and potent inhibition of the 20S proteasome. The syntheses of this molecule described herein demonstrate several important strategies in the area of acyclic stereocontrol including the use of chiral metal enolate and chiral allylmetal-based bond construction methods. Several analogs of 1 and of the related β-lactone 2 are also presented, which provide insight into the structure activity relationship relative to the molecule’s inhibition of the 20S proteasome. Additionally, an analog of 2 is discussed regarding its clinical evaluation for the treatment of cerebral ischemia and stroke.

Synthesis of aromatic 1,2-diazines by inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reaction of polymer-supported 1,2,4,5-tetrazines

Abstract Inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reactions of unsymmetrically substituted 1,2,4,5-tetrazines immobilized on a solid support participate in thermally promoted cycloadditions with a wide range of electron-rich dienophiles. The reactions afford functionalized 1,2-diazines bearing a sulfur-based leaving group (-SR or -SO 2 R) at the C-6 position.

Stereocontrolled synthesis of spirooxindoles through Lewis acid-promoted [5 + 2]-annulation of chiral silyl alcohols.

The enantioselective synthesis of stereochemically and structurally diverse spirocyclic oxindoles by [5 + 2]-annulation of chiral crotylsilanes bearing a primary alcohol is described. The annulation products were further elaborated to polycyclic oxindoles by Pd(0) catalysis.

Synthesis of a 35-member stereoisomer library of bistramide A: evaluation of effects on actin state, cell cycle and tumor cell growth.

Synthesis and preliminary biological evaluation of a 35-member library of bistramide A stereoisomers are reported. All eight stereoisomers of the C1-C13 tetrahydropyran fragment of the molecule were prepared utilizing crotylsilane reagents 9 and 10 in our [4+2]-annulation methodology. In addition, the four isomers of the C14-C18 gamma-amino acid unit were accessed via a Lewis acid mediated crotylation reaction with use of both enantiomers of organosilane 11. The spiroketal subunit of bistramide A was modified at the C39-alcohol to give another point of stereochemical diversification. The fragments were coupled by using a standard peptide coupling protocol to provide 35 stereoisomers of the natural product. These stereochemical analogues were screened for their effects on cellular actin and cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines (UO-31 renal and SF-295 CNS). The results of these assays identified one analogue, 1.21, with enhanced potency relative to the natural product, bistramide A.

Total Synthesis of (−)-Kendomycin

An enantioselective synthesis of (-)-kendomycin is described and is based on the application of the organosilane-based [4 + 2]-annulation strategy for the assembly of the C1a-C10 fragment. An underutilized samarium(II) iodide-assisted cyclization (intramolecular Barbier-type reaction) is employed to afford the protected macrocycle.

Total Synthesis of (+)-Isatisine A

Total synthesis of (+)-isatisine A is described based on the application of a silyl-directed Mukaiyama-type [3 + 2]-annulation for the preparation of a fully substituted furan core. The indole branch forming the quaternary carbon center at C2 was constructed by addition to an intermediate N-acyliminium ion derived from aminal 4. In addition, the fused tetracyclic framework including furan core was built up using modified Buchwald amidation conditions.

Regioselective Intramolecular Dipolar Cycloaddition of Azides and Unsymmetrical Alkynes

Enantioenriched allenylsilanes are used in three-component propargylation reactions with aldehydes and silyl ethers to form syn-homopropargylic ethers that contain an imbedded azide. These materials then undergo thermally induced intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions, resulting in unique fused ring systems containing 1,2,3-triazoles. The ability to modify all three components of the reaction allows for expedient access to compounds containing significant structural and stereochemical variation.

Synthesis of reblastatin, autolytimycin, and non-benzoquinone analogues: potent inhibitors of heat shock protein 90.

A full account of an asymmetric synthesis of reblastatin (1) and the first total synthesis of autolytimycin (2) and related structural compounds is described. The syntheses expand the utility of a highly regio- and diastereoselective hydrometalation aldehyde addition sequence to assemble the fully functionalized ansa chain of the natural products. Also documented is an intramolecular copper-mediated amidation reaction to close the 19-membered macrolactams. The amidation reaction was also employed for the generation of structural derivatives (6-9) of phenolic ansamycins. Ansamycin natural products and selected structural analogues were evaluated in a competitive binding assay to breast cancer cell lysate and a cytotoxicity assay. Both reblastatin (1) and autolytimycin (2) were shown to bind the heat shock protein 90 with enhanced binding activity (approximately 25 nM) than 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG, 4), a geldanamycin (3) derivative currently under evaluation for treatment of cancer (approximately 100 nM).