Proposal for the Enantioselective Total Synthesis of N-Methylwelwitindolinone C I

Colorado State University, Fort Collins CO

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Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Multiple drug resistant (MDR) carcinomas represent an urgent and growing problem in the field of human health. Because these cancer phenotypes respond poorly to treatment with known chemotherapeutic agents, there exists a need for novel cytotoxic reagents to combat them. The marine alkaloid N-methylwelwitindolinone C isothiocyanate is well poised to address this situation. Not only has this natural product displayed potent cytotoxic activity against MDR breast cancer cells (MCF-7, IC50=130 nM), but it has also been shown to reverse the drug resistant capacity of these cell lines, making them up to one-hundred fold more susceptible to conventional cancer drugs such as taxol. Because its isolation from natural sources is a painstaking process that affords little material, the total synthesis of N-methylwelwitindolinone C isothiocyanate is poised as an effective technique to access additional quantities of this potent bioactive compound. The research proposed herein describes a novel, concise approach toward the preparation of N- methylwelwitindolinone C isothiocyanate. The project will involve the development of an enantioselective oxidative dearomatization reaction for the coupling of aryl halides with ortho-carboxy phenols. This new method will provide access to enantioenriched cyclohexadienone products bearing all-carbon 1-quaternary stereocenters. By applying this technique to the synthesis of the N-methylwelwitindolinone C isothiocyanate it will be possible to rapidly construct the complex tetracyclic carbon scaffold of the natural product, which will in turn allow expedient preparation of this marine alkaloid.