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Brigham Young University - Provo

Total Syntheses of (+)-Geldanamycin, (-)-Ragaglitazar, and (+)-Kurasoin A and Phase-Transfer-Catalyzed Asymmetric Alkylation

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>Geldanamycin possesses various biological activities as seen in the NCI 60 cell line panel (13 nM avg., 70 nM SKBr-3 cells). The predominant mode of action providing these unique results arises from the ability of geldanamycin (GA) to bind to the chaperone heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90). Despite its complicated functionality, the first total synthesis of GA was accomplished, which included two new reactions developed specifically to address the stereochemical features. The final step in the synthesis of GA was a demethylation-oxidation sequence to generate the desired <em>para</em>-quinone. This step could only be accomplished with HNO3/AcOH, producing GA in 5% yield. A GA model study, which closely resembled the aromatic core, was extensively investigated to solve this critical oxidation issue. A protected hydroquinone model compound was determined to be the optimum choice. Using Pd in the presence of air with a 1,4-hydroquinone provided the desired <em>para</em>-quinone quickly and nearly quantitatively in 98% yield. This study formulated the recipe of success for <em>para</em>-quinone formation of GA and future synthetic analogs. Asymmetric glycolate alkylation has been developed using phase-transfer-catalysis (PTC). Diphenylmethoxy-2,5-dimethoxyacetophenone with trifluorobenzyl cinchonidinium catalyst and cesium hydroxide provided alkylation products at —35 °C in high yield (80-99%) and with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 90% ee). Useful α-hydroxy products were obtained using bis-TMS peroxide Baeyer—Villiger conditions and selective transesterification. The intermediate aryl esters can be obtained with >99% ee after a single recrystallization. The newly developed PTC glycolate alkylation was applied to the asymmetric syntheses of ragaglitazar and kurasoin A. Ragaglitazar is a potent antihyperglycemic and lipid modulator, currently in phase II clinical trials. Kurasoin A is a relatively potent protein farnesyltransferase (PFTase) inhibitor with an IC50 value of 59.0 micromolar. PTC glycolate alkylation was optimized to provide 4-benzyloxy glycolate intermediates in excellent overall yield and with 96% ee after recrystallization. Ragaglitazar was then synthesized after considerable experimentation to provide the potent lipid modulator with yields and enantiopurity rivaling the best-known routes produced by industry standards. Kurasoin A was produced through an α-triethylsiloxy Weinreb amide to provide the highest overall yielding route to this PFTase inhibitor currently disclosed.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
PhD
Grantor dc:publisher
Brigham Young University - Provo

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Hicken, Erik J.

Subjects

dc:subject × 11

Rights

Language dc:language
English

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/801
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:scholarsarchive.byu.edu:etd-1800

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Brigham Young University
Base URL
scholarsarchive.byu.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Hicken, Erik J.. Total Syntheses of (+)-Geldanamycin, (-)-Ragaglitazar, and (+)-Kurasoin A and Phase-Transfer-Catalyzed Asymmetric Alkylation. Brigham Young University - Provo, https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/801