Strategies and Tactics for Natural Products Synthesis

Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN

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Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long-term objective of this research program is to advance the practice of complex molecule synthesis. Special emphasis is placed on natural products that contain nitrogen since an unusually large number of pharmacologically active compounds incorporate this element within their structure. Despite the many advances in organic synthesis in the past 20th century the efficient and economical synthesis of complex natural products remains a challenging endeavor. Our plan is to introduce new inexpensive building blocks to the field of organic synthesis for use in asymmetric synthesis of nitrogen heterocycles. These building blocks would expedite the chemical synthesis of the rare marine alkaloid upenamide, the stemona alkaloids and 2-substituted piperidine alkaloids. We also present a plan for the synthesis of Iomaiviticins A and B, secondary metabolites isolated from fermentation of a marine derived actinomycetes. Lomaiviticins A and B are potent antibiotics against Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium (MIC 6-25 ng/spot). An unusual structural feature of the Iomaiviticins is the incorporation of two diazo groups within their structure.