Total synthesis of 2''',5'''-diepisilvestrol and its C1''' epimer: key structure activity relationships at C1''' and C2'''

J Nat Prod. 2012 Aug 24;75(8):1500-4. doi: 10.1021/np300376f. Epub 2012 Jul 20.

Abstract

The first total synthesis of the low-abundance natural product 2''',5'''-diepisilvestrol (4) is described. The key step involved a Mitsunobu coupling between cyclopenta[b]benzofuran phenol 7 and dioxane lactol 6. Deprotection then gave a 1:2.6 ratio of natural product 2''',5'''-diepisilvestrol (4) and its C1 epimer 1''',2''',5'''-triepisilvestrol (15) in 50% overall yield. An in vitro protein translation inhibition assay showed that 2''',5'''-diepisilvestrol (4) was considerably less active than episilvestrol (2), while the unnatural isomer 1''',2''',5'''-triepisilvestrol (15) was essentially inactive, showing that the configuration at C1''' and C2''' has a large effect on the biological activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Benzofurans / chemical synthesis*
  • Benzofurans / chemistry
  • Benzofurans / pharmacology
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Triterpenes / chemical synthesis*
  • Triterpenes / chemistry
  • Triterpenes / pharmacology

Substances

  • 2''',5'''-diepisilvestrol
  • Benzofurans
  • Triterpenes
  • episilvestrol