Rugulotrosin A

Recently identified natural atropisomeric compounds with potential medicinal applications are presented. The ability of natural receptors to possess differential binding between atropisomers is an important factor when considering active and inactive atropisomeric drugs, and has required the development of new techniques for atropselective synthesis of desired targets. Advances in this field therefore have significant relevance to modern pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry. The atropisomeric natural products discussed include hibarimicinone, flavomannins, talaromannins, viriditoxin, rugulotrosin A, abyssomicin C, marinopyrroles, dixiamycins, streptorubin B, ustiloxins A-F, haouamine A, bisnicalaterines, and tedarene B, all of which show significant potential as leads in antibiotic, antiviral and anticancer studies. The importance for the development of common practices regarding atropisomer recognition and classification is also emphasized.

Chiral, dimeric natural products containing complex structures and interesting biological properties have inspired chemists and biologists for decades. A seven-step total synthesis of the axially chiral, dimeric tetrahydroxanthone natural product rugulotrosin A is described. The synthesis employs a one-pot Suzuki coupling/dimerization to generate the requisite 2,2'-biaryl linkage. Highly selective point-to-axial chirality transfer was achieved using palladium catalysis with achiral phosphine ligands. Single X-ray crystal diffraction data were obtained to confirm both the atropisomeric configuration and absolute stereochemistry of rugulotrosin A. Computational studies are described to rationalize the atropselectivity observed in the key dimerization step. Comparison of the crude fungal extract with synthetic rugulotrosin A and its atropisomer verified that nature generates a single atropisomer of the natural product.

A new approach was developed to construct the tetrahydroxanthone by a Knoevenagel condensation/6π-electronic cyclization/aromatization cascade starting from readily available cyclohexane-1,3-diones and unsaturated aldehydes. This strategy provides a new solution for the preparation of monomeric tetrahydroxanthones bearing different functional groups at C-12. As a synthetic application, the asymmetric formal synthesis of rugulotrosin A was achieved.