No abstract

The structure-activity relationships of epothilones indicate that major modifications are only tolerated in the western ring segment. In particular, C2 methyl of the thiazole ring appears to be most flexible. Its broad modification started from epothilone F, which was obtained from natural epothilone B by hydroxylation via the N-oxide. Some of the prepared derivatives exhibit improved esterase stability in addition to high cytotoxic activity. For these and other favorable properties, amine (BMS-310705) was recently introduced in clinical trials. In an alternative approach, modified side chains were introduced by replacement of the C12,C15 ring segment via ring-opening olefin metathesis (ROM) of epothilone C in the presence of ethylene to 12,13-seco-epothilone C, introduction of a synthetic building block followed by ring-closing olefin metathesis (RCM), and epoxidation to the 16-alkyne analog of epothilone A. The structure of the tetrapeptide tubulysin D was confirmed by total hydrolysis to N-methyl d-pipecolic acid, l-isoleucine, tubuvaline (Tuv), tubuphenylalanine (Tup), formaldehyde, and 3-methylbutyric acid. Mild acidic hydrolysis to cyclo-tubulysin andoxidative degradation to l-valine allowed the assignment of the stereocenters of Tuv, hydrazinolysis, and comparison with synthetic reference samples to that of Tup. The absolute configuration of tubulysin D is: (R)-Mep, (2,3S)-Ile, (1'R ,3'R)-Tuv, and (2S,4R)-Tup.

Keywords: Antitumor agents / Natural products / Metathesis / MacrocyclesRing-opening cross metathesis of epothilone C (4a) with ethylene, followed by silyl protection and ester hydrolysis, yielded an eastern ring segment C1−C12 as the carboxylic acid 10. Separately, a western ring segment 12 carrying a C16−C17 triple bond was synthesized and coupled with 10 to form the ester 13. Ring closure by olefin metathesis, deprotection, and then epoxidation, gave the 16,17-alkyne analogs

Abstract:The synthesis of the tetracyclic compounds 1-(4,5-dichloro-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracen-11-yl)-N-methylmethanamine (5) and 1-(1,8-dichloro-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracen-11-yl)-N-methylmethanamine (6) as a homologue of the anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs benzoctamine and maprotiline were described. The key intermediate aldehydes (3) and (4) were successfully synthesized via a [4 + 2] cycloaddition between acrolein and 1,8-dichloroanthracene. The synthesized compounds were investigated for antidepressant activity using the forced swimming test. Compounds (5), (6) and (3) showed significant reduction in the mice immobility indicating significant antidepressant effects. These compounds significantly reduced the immobility times at a dose 80 mg/kg by 84.0%, 86.7% and 71.1% respectively.