Scott S. Mitchell

Lynamicins A-E, chlorinated bisindole pyrrole antibiotics from a novel marine actinomycete.

A series of chlorinated bisindole pyrroles, lynamicins A-E (1-5), was discovered from a novel marine actinomycete, NPS12745, which was isolated from a marine sediment collected off the coast of San Diego, California. Close to full length 16S rRNA sequence analysis indicated that NPS12745 is a novel strain of a recently described marine actinomycete with the proposed genus name Marinispora. The antimicrobial spectrum of these compounds was evaluated against a panel of 11 pathogens, which demonstrated that these substances possess broad-spectrum activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms. Significantly, compounds 1-5 were active against drug-resistant pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium.

Photochemical ring-contraction of fused bicyclic 4-pyrones : a novel 2-step cyclopentannulation approach

Abstract Fused bicyclic 4-pyrones were prepared by condensation of enamines derived from cyclic ketones with diketene or substituted 1,3-dioxin-4-ones. Photolysis in a hydroxylic medium led to bicyclo[n3.0]alkenones bearing oxygenation at both angular positions. This process is occurs via regioselective nucleophilic solvent attack on the intermediate tricyclic oxyallyl zwitterion. The efficiency of the transformation was found to be dependent upon the size of the ring fused to the 4-pyrone.