Electrophile-induced ether transfer: Stereoselective synthesis of 2,6-disubstituted-3,4-dihydropyrans

(Chemical Equation Presented) Stereoselective synthesis of trans-2,6-disubstituted-3,4-dihydropyrans has been achieved from a simple homoallylic alkoxyether via a three-step sequence: electrophile-induced ether transfer, cyclization, and functionalization, which is highlighted by a rare example of Ferrier rearrangement of allylic ether. This methodology was successfully implemented for the asymmetric synthesis of a C7-C17 fragment of swinholide A. © 2008 American Chemical Society

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 7-Deoxy-Epothilone Analogues

The synthesis of two deoxygenated analogues of potent epothilones is reported in an effort to analyze the relative importance of molecular conformation and ligand–target interactions to biological activity. 7-deoxy-epothilone D and 7-deoxy-(S)-14-methoxy-epothilone D were prepared through total synthesis and shown to maintain the conformational preferences of their biologically active parent congeners through computer modeling and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies. The significant decrease in observed potency for each compound suggests that a hydrogen bond between the C7-hydroxyl group and the tubulin binding site plays a critical role in the energetics of binding in the epothilone class of polyketides