Photocatalytic Tandem Radical Cyclization Enables Expeditious Total Synthesis of Epoxyhinokiol Analogues for Anticancer Activity Evaluation

Org Lett. 2024 May 3;26(17):3481-3486. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.3c03811. Epub 2024 Jan 19.

Abstract

A photocatalytic radical cascade with an unusual endo-trig cyclization was developed, which enables the efficient assembly of divergent tricyclic diterpenoid frameworks. The first total synthesis of abietane 10-epi-epoxyhinoliol was thus achieved in six steps by a subsequent reductive coupling of i-PrBr under photoredox/nickel dual catalysis. Inhibitory tests of chiral 10-epi-epoxyhinoliol and its analogues in 4T1 cancer cells demonstrated the critical role of the C12 hydroxyl group, leading to a discovery of the simplified analogue with better activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abietanes / chemical synthesis
  • Abietanes / chemistry
  • Abietanes / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Catalysis
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cyclization
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Molecular Structure
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Abietanes