EI-1941-2

[reaction: see text] The first asymmetric total synthesis of EI-1941-1, -2, and -3, inhibitors of the interleukin-1beta converting enzyme (ICE), has been accomplished, starting from a chiral epoxy iodoquinone 11, a key intermediate in our total synthesis of epoxyquinols A and B. Despite a failure to synthesize the inhibitors by our postulated biosynthetic route, we were able to diastereoselectively synthesize them via an intramolecular carboxypalladation with the key steps being a 6-endo cyclization mode followed by beta-hydride elimination. The investigation of the biological properties of EI-1941-1, -2, and -3 and their derivatives disclosed them to be potent and effective ICE inhibitors with less cytotoxicity than EI-1941-1 and -2 in a cultured cell system.

[reaction: see text] The total synthesis of the interleukin-1beta converting enzyme inhibitor EI-1941-2 was achieved utilizing tandem oxidation/oxa-electrocyclization/oxidation to access a key alpha-pyrone intermediate. Support for the tandem reaction mechanism was obtained by evaluation of a stepwise oxidation protocol.

The first asymmetric total syntheses of ent-EI-1941-2 and epi-ent-EI-1941-2 have been accomplished, starting from a chiral epoxy iodoquinone 6, a key intermediate in our total syntheses of epoxyquinols A and B. A key step in the preparation of ent-EI-1941-2 is an intramolecular carboxypalladation via a 6-endo cyclization mode, followed by beta-hydride elimination, while carboxymercuration is a key step in the synthesis of epi-ent-EI-1941-2. [reaction: see text]