2. Synthesis of Indole Alkaloids
2.1. Total Synthesis of Indole Alkaloids
(±)-Conolidine (
269), a potent nonopioid analgesic, was synthesized in six steps without any nonstrategic redox manipulations. It was isolated from the stem bark of
Tabernaemontana divaricate in 2004
[20], and its first total synthesis was carried out in 2011 with a nine-step synthetic route in an 18% overall yield
[21]. The latest total synthesis attempts primarily utilized gold(I)-catalyzed Conia-ene and Pictet–Spengler reactions, producing
269 in six steps in overall 19% yield (
Figure 16). They also used DFT calculations to develop a successful scheme
[22].
Figure 16. The total synthesis of (±)-conolidine 269. (a) n-BuLi, THF, −78 °C, 5 min, then rt, 1 h, then N-tosylpyrrolidonein THF, −30 °C to −15 °C, 4 h, 48%; (b) K2CO3, 1-bromo-2-butyne, CH3CN, 80 °C, 94%; (c) TBAF, CH3CN 35 °C, 15 h, 93%; (d) TiPSOTf, 2,6-lutidine, 35 °C, 5 h, 97%, E:Z = 8:92; (e) [JohnPhosAu(CH3CN)]SbF6, H2O, toluene, 60 °C, 2 h, 15% for 266, 73% for 267; (f) Sodium naphthalenide, THF, −78 °C, 86%; (g) (CH2O)n, TFA, CH3CN, reflux, 2 h, 82%.
For the total synthesis of compound
269, compound
261 was treated with
n-butyllithium and dropwise addition to
N-tosylpyrrolidone affording
262 that underwent a nucleophilic reaction with 1-bromo-2-butyne to give compound
263. Next, compound
263 was treated with TBAF to remove the
N-1-tosyl group producing compound
264. Afterward,
264 was added to TiPSOTf in 2,6-lutidine, affording a pair of stereoisomers of
265 (E:Z = 8:92). Its gold-catalyzed reaction using [JohnPhosAu(CH
3CN)]SbF6 produced compounds
266 and
267. The latter was exposed to sodium naphthalenide to deprotect its N-2 tosyl group affording
268. Lastly, a Pictet–Spengler reaction using TFA and paraformaldehyde in acetonitrile was used to convert
268 into
269 [22].
Psammocindoles A and B (
212 and
213) significantly increased adiponectin production. Thus, to further investigate their pharmacology and assign the absolute configuration of compound
212 at C-2′, the two alkaloids and their congener, psammocindole C (
214), were synthesized. In addition, enantiomers of psammocindole D (
286), and four N-lactam analogs, isopsammocindoles A–D (
287 to
290), were produced. The synthetic scheme was four steps long, and the overall yields were 23%, 21%, and 21% for compounds
212,
213, and
214, respectively (
Figure 17). As a result, the R-configuration of compound
212 at C-2′ was assigned
[23].
Figure 17. The total synthesis of psammocindoles (A–D) 212–214, 286, and their isomers 287–290. (a) Ethyl bromoacetate, DCM, Et3N, rt, 2 h, 90–93%; (b) Propionyl chloride, Et3N, 0 °C to rt, 1.5 h, 94–95%; (c) NaH, THF, reflux, 12 h, 83–86%; (d) Indole, BF3-Et2O, 4 Å MS, PhCl, 100 °C, 1.5 h, 27–31%.
(R)-2-Methylbutan-1-amine was prepared in an 88% enantiomeric excess using a five-step synthetic scheme, while the other amines were obtained commercially. The amines (
270 to
273) were reacted with ethyl bromoacetate, affording compounds
274 to
277. Subsequently, further condensation with propionyl chloride produced compounds
278 to
281, which were used to prepare the
N-alkyl-α,β-unsaturated γ-lactams (
282 to
285) by an intramolecular Claisen condensation. Lastly, condensation between the lactams (at C-3) and the indole’s nitrogen afforded compounds
212 to
214 and
286 to
290, with approximately 30% yields for all analogs
[23].
To confirm the structure of amakusamine (
233), it was synthesized by the same research group that first isolated it. Upon initial failure of a direct debromination of 5,6-methylenedioxyindole, they used an alternative reaction scheme containing three steps and obtained an overall yield of 56% (
Figure 18). The synthetic method also enabled the synthesis of 15 synthetic derivatives of compound
233 (
294 to
308) for an SAR analysis (
Figure 19)
[24]. The synthesis involved the reaction of 6-nitropiperonal (
291) with NBS in concentrated H
2SO
4, producing
292. A Henry reaction (using Al
2O
3 as a base and nitromethane) followed by dehydration using acetic anhydride transformed
292 into 293. However, since the latter was crystalline and hard to dissolve in many solvents, its crude mixture was reduced directly by an excess of iron in acetic acid, affording compound
233 [24].
Figure 18. The total synthesis of amakusamine 233. (a) NBS, conc. H2SO4, 63%; (b) (1) Al2O3, CH3NO2 and (2) Ac2O; (c) Iron in AcOH, (last two steps) 89%.
Figure 19. Amakusamine derivatives synthesized 294–308.
The first total synthesis of griseofamine B (
314) and its three stereoisomers, 16-epi-griseofamine B, ent-griseofamine B, and 11-epi-griseofamine B (
317,
321, and
323), was carried out in 2022. Compound
314 is an indole-tetramic acid alkaloid isolated from the
Penicillium griseofulvum fungus in 2018
[25]. In the total synthesis, 4-bromo tryptophan methyl ester hydrochloride was used as the starting reagent, with its l-enantiomer being used to synthesize compounds
314 and
317. d-Enantiomer 4-bromo tryptophan methyl ester hydrochloride was used to synthesize compounds
321 and
323. All four compounds were obtained in five steps with yields of 18%, 5%, 19%, and 5%, respectively (
Figure 20)
[26]. Next, compound
309 was reacted with Boc
2O, Et
3N, and DMAP under reflux conditions in DCM to afford
310 in 90% yield. A Heck–Mizoroki reaction of
310 with 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol in the presence of PdCl
2(PPh
3)
4, Ag
2CO
3, and Et
3N in 1,4-dioxane produced compound
311 in 67% yield. Afterward, refluxing
311 with PdCl
2(CH
3CN)
2 in CH
3CN generated a pair of diastereomers
312 and
315. TMSOTf and 2,6-lutidine in DCM were used to remove the Boc groups and gave compounds
313 and
316. A tandem acylation/Lacey–Dieckmann cyclization of
313 and
316 with diketene was performed to afford
314 and
317, respectively. Additionally, using the same synthetic scheme with compound
318 as the starting reagent afforded compounds
321 and
323 [26].
Figure 20. The total synthesis of griseofamine B (314) and its isomers 317, 321, and 323. (a) Boc2O, Et3N, DMAP, DCM, reflux, 2 h, 90%; (b) 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol, PdCl2(PPh3)4, Ag2CO3, Et3N, 1,4-dioxane, 100 °C, 6 h; 67% (c) PdCl2(CH3CN)2, CH3CN, reflux, 2 h; E:Z = 56–58%:15–16% (d) TMSOTf, 2,6-lutidine, DCM, rt, overnight, 87–88%; (e) diketene, Et3N, DCM, rt, overnight, 62–63%.
2.2. Synthesis of Indole Derivatives
As β-carboline derivatives generally display only moderate cytotoxicity, new synthetic derivatives were designed to contain a hydroxycinnamic acid moiety inferring HDAC-inhibitory properties that provide synergy and improve their antiproliferative effects
[27]. These derivatives (
347 to
352) differed only in the number of carbons connecting the β-carboline with the hydroxycinnamic acid motif and in the substituents on the phenyl ring in the hydroxycinnamic acid moiety (
Figure 21).
Figure 21. Synthesis of hydroxamic derivatives 347–352. (a) SOCl2, CH3OH, 0 °C, 1 h, and then 65 °C, 4 h; (b) ω-Dibromoalkane, K2CO3, CH3CN, reflux, 4 h, 66–75%; (c) 4-methoxybenzaldehyde, AcOH, reflux, 4 h; (d) Thionyl chloride, CH3OH, 0 °C, 1 h, and then 65 °C, 6 h; (e) KMnO4, DMF, rt, 5 h; (f) Hydrazine monohydrate, CH3OH, 50 °C, 6 h; (g) NaNO2, HCl; (h) AcOH, H2O, 50 °C, 6 h; (i) 328–333, K2CO3, CH3CN, reflux, 12 h; (j) NH2OK, CH3OH, rt, 8–12 h, 46–56%.
(E)-Ferulic acid (324) and p-coumaric acid (325) were esterified using SOCl2 in CH3OH, yielding compounds 326 and 327. These compounds were then treated with ω-dibromoalkanes (1,2-dibromoethane, 1,2-dibromopropane, and 1,2-dibromobutane) in the presence of K2CO3 to produce compounds 328 to 333. Using a Pictet–Spengler reaction, l-tryptophan (334) was transformed into 335 with 4-methoxybenzaldehyde. Compound 335 was then esterified using SOCl2 in CH3OH, giving compound 336, which was oxidized using KMnO4 in DMF, affording compound 337. It was then reacted with hydrazine monohydrate to give compound 338 and was converted into 339 using NaNO2. Next, compound 339 underwent a Curtis rearrangement to produce compound 340. Lastly, compounds 328 to 333 were reacted with 340, yielding residues 341 to 346, which were then treated with NH2OK to produce derivatives 347 to 352.
Neopeltolide, a marine natural product, was isolated from a sponge in the neopeltidae family. It is a highly potent antitumor agent (IC
50 < 1 nm) and strongly inhibits cytochrome bc1, an essential component of the mitochondrial respiratory chain
[28]. Compounds (
404 to
424 and
438 to
443) were synthesized, replacing its macrolactone ring with an indole having potential as a fungicide. The derivatives were synthesized in two series. The first series (
404 to
424) contained an ester linkage between the oxazole and indole heterocycles (
Figure 22). The second series (
313 to
318), guided through the bioactivities of the compounds in the first series (
Table 2) and the docking studies of leads, replaced the linkage with an amide group and contained only fluorine or methoxy substituents (
Figure 22)
[29]. The reaction of prop-2-yn-1-amine (
353) with NaHCO
3 in 1,4-dioxane affords
354. Carboxylation of
354 using
n-butyllithium in THF and a CO
2 atmosphere produced
355 that was reduced to
356 using Lindlar’s catalyst. Compound
356 reacted with l-serine methyl ester hydrochloride,
N-methylmorpholine, and isobutyl chloroformate to produce
357. Compound
357 was reacted with DAST, DBU, and BrCCl
3 at a low temperature to yield
358, and LiOH hydrolyzed it to give
359. Separately, methyl indole-4-carboxylate (
360) was treated with
N-chlorosuccinimide in acidic conditions, producing
361. It was then reacted with substituted benzyl chlorides and NaH in THF, yielding
362 to
382, which were reduced by DIBAL-H, giving
383 to
403. Lastly,
359 was reacted with each of the 21 intermediates to give derivatives
404 to
424. The second derivatives were synthesized by reacting 4-nitroindole (
425) with substituted benzyl bromides and NaH in anhydrous DMF, yielding
426 to
431. They were reduced using iron and NH
4Cl in EtOH and water, affording
432 to
437. Another time,
359 reacted with each of the six derivatives, producing derivatives of
438 to
443 [29].
Figure 22. Synthesis of neopeltolide derivatives 404 to 424 and 438 to 443. (a) NaHCO3, 1,4-dioxane, rt, 95%; (b) n-BuLi, CO2, THF, −78 °C, 84%; (c) H2, Lindlar’s catalyst, EtOAc, 91%; (d) l-Serine methyl ester hydrochloride, i-BuOCOCl, N-CH3-morpholine, THF, 75%; (e) (1) DAST, DCM, −78 °C and (2) BrCCl3, DBU, −20 °C, 62%; (f) LiOH, THF/H2O, 88%; (g) NCS, HCl, THF, 82%; (h) Substituted benzyl chlorides, NaH, DMF, rt, quantitative; (i) DIBAL-H, THF, −78 °C, 57–75%; (j) 359, EDCI, HOBt, Et3N, DMF, 43–71%; (k) substituted benzyl bromides, NaH, DMF, rt, quantitative; (l) Fe, NH4Cl, H2O, EtOH, reflux, 53–67%; (m) 359, EDCI, HOBt, DMF, 49–70%.
Celastrol (
444) is a friedelane-type triterpenoid isolated from
Tripterygium wilfordii and possesses immunosuppressive properties
[30]. However, it has toxic properties. Therefore, its synthetic derivatives were prepared to obtain lower cytotoxicity. Ten celastrol derivatives (
456 to
465) with indole substituents were synthesized that differed only in the substituents attached to the indole group (
Figure 23)
[31]. In the synthesis, compound
444 was converted into
445 via a nucleophilic reaction using propargyl bromide and NaHCO
3 in DMF at room temperature. Compound
445 was transformed using a Friedel–Crafts reaction using substituted indoles and FeCl
3·6H
2O in DCM, giving compounds
446 to
455. These compounds were acetylated using DMAP and Ac
2O immediately without purification, yielding derivatives
456 to
465.
Figure 23. Synthesis of celastrol derivatives 456 to 465. (a) NaHCO3, propargyl bromide, DMF, rt, 78%; (b) substituted indoles, FeCl3.6H2O, DCM; (c) Ac2O, DMAP, DCM, 37–54%.
Phidianidine A is a marine natural product isolated from
Phidiana militaris, a mollusk. The natural product and its synthetic analogs possess both cytotoxic and immunosuppressive activities. However, the antifouling properties of its derivatives were not previously explored despite its resemblance with other potent antifouling MNPs. Therefore, 10 synthetic derivatives (
479 to
488) having primary amines, guanidines, and a quaternary ammonium compound were produced (
Figure 24)
[32]. Initially, the diamines
466 to
469 (propan-1,3-diamine, butan-1,4-diamine, and pentan-1,5-diamine) and 6-aminohexanol (
474) were protected using Boc
2O. Then, compound
474 was converted into compound
475 using methane sulfonyl chloride and methylamine. Separately, 6-bromoindole (
476) was converted into derivative
477 using oxalyl chloride. It was then reduced to compound
478 using hydrazine and sodium methoxide. The derivative
478 was then reacted with the diamines
470 to
473 and
475 and deprotected using TFA, affording the primary amines
479 to
483. Additionally, compounds
479 to
481 and
483 were reacted with DIPEA and
489 to yield guanidine derivatives
484 to
487. Furthermore, compound
479 was reacted with NaBH
3CN in formaldehyde and acetic acid, producing quaternary ammonium derivative
488 [32].
Figure 24. Synthesis of phidianidine A derivatives 479 to 488. (a) Boc2O, rt, overnight, 93–95%; (b) (1) Boc2O, Et3N, rt, 2 h, (2) MsCl, Et3N, 0 °C, 5 h and (3) CH3NH2, 60 °C, 1 h, 58%; (c) oxalyl chloride, 30 min, 77%; (d) (1) Hydrazine, 80 °C, MW, 15 min and (2) NaOCH3, 80 °C, MW, 15 min, 80%; (e) (1) 470–473, 475, DIPEA, HATU, 1.5 h and (2) TFA, DCM, 4 h, 8–73%; (f) (1) 479–481, 483, 489, DIPEA, 3 h and (2) TFA, DCM, 2 h, 24–83%; (g) 479, CH2O, NaBH3CN, AcOH, 21 h and (2) CH3I, 0 °C, 53%.
2.3. Semi-Synthesis of Indole Alkaloids
Fradcarbazole A, a novel staurosporine-type indole alkaloid containing a thiazole group, was isolated from a mutant strain of
Streptomyces fradiae and semi-synthesized from staurosporine by the same group
[33][34]. To enhance its efficacy as an antitumor agent, 14 derivatives (
535 to
548) of fradcarbazole A were synthesized by variation only in the substituents on two indole units (
Figure 25)
[35]. In the synthesis, 5-fluoro/chloro/bromo/methoxy-tryptamines (
489 to
493) were protected using Boc
2O to give derivatives
494 to
498 and oxidized using DDQ, producing compounds
499 to
503. TFA-mediated Boc deprotection resulted in molecules
504 to
508. Staurosporine (
509) was protected using Boc
2O, giving
510, which was halogenated using NCS and NBS (compounds
511 and
512), and deprotected by TFA (compounds
513 and
514). These derivatives and compound
509 were converted to compounds
515 to
517 using TCDI. These compounds were alkylated by CH
3I in CH
3CN, affording compounds
518 to
520. They were then converted into compounds
521 to
534 via a nucleophilic reaction with
504 to
508. Lastly, intramolecular cyclization reactions of compounds
521 to
534 resulted in
535 to
548 [35].
Figure 25. Synthesis of fradcarbazole A derivatives 535 to 548. (a) Boc2O, Et3N, THF, 10 °C, 83–99%; (b) DDQ, THF/H2O 0 °C, 58–81%; (c) TFA, 10 °C, 72–94%; (d) Boc2O, Et3N, THF, 0 °C, 76%; (e) NBS, CH3OH, DCM, 0 °C, 94%, or NCS, CH3OH, DCM, rt, 48%; (f) TFA, DCM, 0 °C, 50–93%; (g) TCDI, Et3N, DCM, rt, 71–88%; (h) TCDI, Et3N, DCM, rt, 82%; (i) CH3I, CH3CN, rt, 68–74%; (j) 504–508, Et3N, DMF, rt, 38–56%; (k) (CF3CO)2O, DCM, EtOH, 0 °C, 47–81%.
(−)-Melodinine K (
556), a complex bisindole alkaloid, was semi-synthesized, using (−)-tabersonine as the starting reagent. The aspidosperma–aspidosperma-type alkaloid was isolated from the
Melodinus tenuicaudatus plant in 2010. Its cytotoxicity was tested by the same group and was reported to be more potent than cisplatin and vinorelbine in four of the five cancer cell lines
[36]. The synthetic route adopted had six steps in its most extended linear sequence (eight steps overall) and afforded compound
556 with a 4% yield (
Figure 26)
[37]. While planning its synthesis,
556 was divided into two fragments, both of which could be synthesized from (−)-tabersonine (
549). The total synthesis of
549 was accomplished by the same group in 2013
[38]. However, this precursor was mainly isolated from the seeds of
Voacanga africana (a small tree). It was bio-transformed into compound
550 using T16H yeast and allylated by allyl bromide and K
2CO
3 in DMF, resulting in
551, the northern fragment of compound
556. Separately, compound
549 was protected using TrocCl, affording
552, which was further converted to
553 by TFA and
m-CPBA. Compound
553 was reacted with
m-CPBA in DCM, producing its
N-oxide analog
554. Compound
554 was treated with TFAA in DCM and coupled with
551 in a Polonovski–Potier reaction, which resulted in
555. Compound
555 was deprotected by treating with Pd(PPh
3)
4, affording
556 [37].
Figure 26. The semi-synthesis of (−)-melodinine K 556. (a) T16H yeast, 64%; (b) Allyl bromide, K2CO3, DMF, 68%; (c) NaH, TrocCl, THF/DMF 0 °C, 92%; (d) TFA then m-CPBA, DCM, −10 °C then rt, 38%; (e) m-CPBA, DCM, 0 °C, 36%; (f) (1) TFAA, DCM, 0 °C to rt and (2) 551, DCM, 78%; (g) (1) Pd(PPh3)4, pyrrolidine, DCM, rt and (2) Zn, KH2PO4, THF, 60 °C, 40%.
5-Methylpsilocybin (
561), a novel analog of the psychedelic psilocybin, was produced by enzymatically phosphorylating its synthetic precursor, 5-methylpsilocin (
560). The 4-hydroxytryptamine kinase (PsiK) enzyme was purified from the
Psilocybe cubensis fungus. On the basis of the amount of
561 isolated, the overall yield was 28% (
Figure 27)
[39]. 5-Methyl-1
H-indol-4-ol (
557) was acetylated with acetic anhydride and NaHCO
3 in toluene into compound
558. It was then treated with oxalyl chloride, followed by dimethylamine in THF, to result in
559, which, on reduction by LiAlH
4, resulted in
560. Compound
560 was incubated with PsiK and ATP for 16 h; the analysis of the mixture by HPLC indicated that 90% of it was successfully converted into 5-methylpsilocybin (
561) with an overall isolated yield of only 40%
[39].
Table 2. Bioactivities of all novel indole alkaloids discussed in the article. (a) Tested as a mixture; (b) KB/VJ300 cells grown with vincristine (0.1 μM), which did not affect their growth; (c) methicillin-resistant strain; (d) IC90; (e) IC40.
Figure 27. The semi-synthesis of 5-methylpsilocybin 561. (a) Ac2O, NaHCO3, toluene, 97%; (b) (1) oxalyl chloride and (2) (CH3)2NH, THF, 77%; (c) LiAlH4, THF, 84%; (d) PsiK, ATP, MgCl2, H2O, 16 h, 44%.