Feigrisolide A

Four new lactone compounds, named feigrisolides A to D (1 to 4), have been isolated from Streptomyces griseus. The chemical structures were determined by detail analysis of their spectroscopic data and chemical transformations. Structurally, the feigrisolides A (1) and B (2) are hepta-lactones, feigrisolide C (3) and D (4) are 16-membered macrodiolides. Biological studies showed that feigrisolide B (2) exhibited strong antibacterial, as well as medium cyctotoxic, and antiviral activities. Feigrisolides A (1), C (3) and D (4) are medium inhibitors of 3alpha-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase (3alpha-HSD) inhibiting activity.

[Carbohydrate structure: see text] The original macrodiolide structure proposed for feigrisolide C was incorrect. The true structure of feigrisolide C was identified as (2'S,3'S,6'R,8'R)-homononactoyl (2R,3R,6S,8S)-nonactic acid, which was confirmed by total synthesis.

The total synthesis of the proposed structure of feigrisolide A is reported. Ethyl (S)-3-hydroxybutyrate was the chiral starting material. A Brown asymmetric allylation and an Evans aldol reaction were key steps of the synthesis. The NMR data of the synthetic product are different from those of the natural product. The published structure of feigrisolide A is therefore erroneous. A subsequent comparison of spectral data strongly suggests that feigrisolides A and B are identical with (-)-nonactic acid and (+)-homononactic acid, respectively.