acetogenins and butenolide

The high potency of the tetrahydrofuran-containing acetogenins (THF-ACGs) against a broad range of human cancer cell lines has stimulated interest in structurally simpler mimetics. In this context, we have previously reported THF-ACG mimetics in which the THF and butenolide moieties of a mono-THF-ACG were replaced with carbohydrate and thiophene residues, respectively. In the present study, towards the targeting of these carbohydrate analogues to prostate cancer (PCa), we synthesized prodrugs in which a parent thiophene or butenolide congener was conjugated through a self-immolative linker to 2-[3-(1,3-dicarboxypropyl)ureido] pentanedioic acid (DUPA), a highly specific ligand for prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), which is overexpressed on prostate tumors. Both prodrugs were found to be more active against receptor positive LNCaP than receptor-negative PC-3 cells, with 2.5 and 12 times greater selectivity for the more potent thiophene analog and the less active butenolide congener, respectively. This selectivity for LNCaP over PC-3 contrasted with the behavior of the parent drugs, which showed similar or significantly higher activity for PC-3 compared to LNCaP. These data support the notion that higher activity of these DUPA-derived prodrugs against LNCaP cells is connected to their binding to PSMA and suggest that the conjugation of PSMA ligands to this family of cytotoxic agents may be effective for targeting them to PCa.

Topics: Acetogenins; Antigens, Surface; Carbohydrates; Cell Line, Tumor; Furans; Humans; Male; Prodrugs; Prostatic Neoplasms; Thiophenes

The THF containing acetogenin 4-deoxyannonmontacin (4-DAN) has attracted interest for its potent cytotoxicity against a broad range of human tumor cell lines, and relatively simple structure. Herein is described the synthesis and cytotoxicity of C-10 epimers of 4-DAN and analogues thereof comprising carbohydrate and thiophene substitutes for the THF and butenolide moieties respectively. The key synthetic ploy was the union of THF and butenolide segments or their substitutes, via an alkene cross metathesis. The different analogues showed cytotoxicity in the low micromolar to nanomolar range against the human prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP and PC3. A relatively simple mannose-linked thiophene analog was found to be similar in activity to 4-DAN.

Topics: 4-Butyrolactone; Acetogenins; Alkenes; Antineoplastic Agents; Carbohydrates; Cell Line, Tumor; Humans; Male; Mannose; Prostatic Neoplasms; Thiophenes; Trichothecenes

The first total synthesis of muricadienin, the unsaturated putative precursor in the biosynthesis of trans- and cis-solamin is described. Key steps in the synthesis are a chemoselective hydroboration, a Z-selective Wittig reaction, and a Fries rearrangement for introducing the terminal α-substituted butenolide. Thus, muricadienin can be synthesized in 11 steps from commercially available starting materials in 42% overall yield.

Topics: 4-Butyrolactone; Acetogenins; Cyclization; Furans; Molecular Structure; Stereoisomerism

Syntheses of the nonclassical annonaceous acetogenins, pyranicin, and pyragonicin from common late-stage intermediates are presented. The construction of key elements relies on asymmetric HWE reactions, including the desymmetrization of a meso-dialdehyde and a parallel kinetic resolution of a racemic aldehyde. A stereoconvergent Pd-catalyzed substitution serves to install the C4 stereocenter in protected form with different orthogonal protective groups. A divergent strategy to form 1,4- and 1,6-diols, employing stereoselective Zn-mediated alkynylations, is used for completion of the core structures. Notably, the stereoselective coupling reaction toward pyragonicin proceeds with highly functionalized fragments. The methodology is further expanded by a divergent synthesis of all stereoisomers of the 2,3,6-trisubstituted tetrahydropyran subunit.

Topics: 4-Butyrolactone; Acetogenins; Catalysis; Cyclization; Fatty Alcohols; Furans; Lactones; Platinum; Pyrans; Stereoisomerism

The principles of the oligoethylene glycol (OEG) mixture synthesis are illustrated with the synthesis of all four possible stereoisomers of a hydroxybutenolide fragment common to murisolin and many other acetogenins. Modified dimethoxybenzyl groups with varying numbers of OEG units (-CH2CH2O-) are used to protect alcohols and serve as codes for configurations at two stereocenters. The encoded isomers are carried through several steps in a sequence of mixing prior to the reaction and then demixing during the separation to give individual pure products. A new tagging scheme is introduced in which a stereocenter bearing a hydroxy group is given two different tags. These initially redundant tags then serve to encode the configuration of another (untagged) stereocenter by appropriate pairwise reactions of the tagged precursors. The experimental features (reaction, analysis, separation, and characterization) of OEG mixture synthesis are detailed and are compared to and contrasted with those of fluorous mixture synthesis.

Topics: 4-Butyrolactone; Acetogenins; Ethylene Glycols; Fatty Alcohols; Furans; Lactones; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Stereoisomerism