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Rice University

Studies on complex pyridine alkaloids: Total synthesis of cystodytin J, diplamine, shermilamine B and of Micrococcin P1

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Concise, efficient total syntheses of cystodytin J, diplamine and shermilamine B have been accomplished. These cytotoxic marine alkaloids display a novel pyridoacridine architecture that was readily assembled by a combination of two new processes developed in our laboratory: a pyridine-forming reaction and a photochemical insertion of a triplet nitrene into a C-H bond. The overall yield of diplamine is 12% over 7 steps. The synthesis of shermilamine B involves 11 steps with the overall yield of 8%. The first total synthesis of the antitumor agent, Micrococcin P1, a member of the biologically important family of thiostrepton antibiotics, is also described. Central to the success of this endeavor was the development of a greatly improved Hantzsch-type pyridine forming reaction. Additional chemical technologies featured in this synthesis include the use of transformations that remove the need for extensive purification of the various intermediates, the use of specially protected threonine units as precursors to the dehydroaminoacid components of micrococcin, extensive use of chemoselective thionation reactions in the presence of multiple reactive functionality, minimal protection, and closure of a 26 member ring. The longest linear sequence involves 23 steps and the overall yield along this pathway is 5.7%

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Doctor of Philosophy
Level thesis:degree_level
Doctoral
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Natural Sciences
Grantor
Rice University
Year dc:date.issued
1998

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Shen, Yongchun
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Ciufolini, Marco A.

Subjects

dc:subject × 2

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.
Language dc:language.iso
eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
https://hdl.handle.net/1911/19311
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:repository.rice.edu:1911/19311

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Rice University
Base URL
repository.rice.edu/server/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Shen, Yongchun. Studies on complex pyridine alkaloids: Total synthesis of cystodytin J, diplamine, shermilamine B and of Micrococcin P1. Doctoral thesis, Rice University, 1998. https://hdl.handle.net/1911/19311