Amphotericin B (AmB) is the archetype for small molecules that form ion channels in living systems, and has recently been shown to replace a missing protein ion transporter and thereby restore physiology in yeast. Molecular modeling studies predict that AmB self-assembles in lipid membranes with the polyol region lining a channel interior that funnels to its narrowest region at the C3-hydroxyl group. This model predicts that modification of this functional group would alter conductance of the AmB ion channel. To test this hypothesis, the C3-hydroxyl group was synthetically deleted and the resulting derivative, C3deoxyAmB (C3deOAmB), was characterized using multidimensional NMR experiments and single ion channel electrophysiology recordings. C3deOAmB possesses the same macrocycle conformation as AmB and retains the capacity to form transmembrane ion channels, yet the conductance of the C3deOAmB channels is threefold lower than that of AmB channels. Thus, the C3-hydroxyl group plays an important role in AmB ion channel conductance, and synthetic modifications at this position may provide an opportunity for further tuning of channel functions.

Reported herein is the development of [3 + 3] cycloaddition reactions between oxyallyl cations and nitrones to yield 1,2-oxazinane heterocycles. Oxyallyl cation intermediates, generated in situ from α-tosyloxy ketones in the presence of hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP), a cosolvent, and a base, are found to react with a range of nitrones to afford 1,2-oxazinanes in good to high yields. The reactions are catalyzed by hydrogen-bond donors such as phenols and squaramides, and dramatically higher diastereoselectivities are observed with 4-nitrophenol.

Reported herein is the total synthesis of (+)-ambiguine G, the first member of the chlorinated pentacyclic ambiguines to yield to chemical synthesis. The synthesis is accomplished through a convergent strategy that proceeds in 10 steps from ( S )-carvone oxide. Pivotal to the concise route is the successful realization of a [4+3] cycloaddition that conjoins two easily synthesized components of the carbon framework of the natural product. Also featured in the synthesis is the efficient, diastereoselective construction of a key vinylated chloro ketone and the unprecedented, one-pot reduction–elimination–oxidation sequence that transforms an enone to an advanced hydroxylated-diene intermediate.