Cytotoxic and antitumor peptides as novel chemotherapeutics

This highlight reviews the chemical and mechanistic basis of diverse natural cytotoxic peptides, emphasizing the importance of natural peptides as promising novel chemotherapeutic drugs.

Total Synthesis of Eleuthoside A; Application of Rh-Catalyzed Intramolecular Cyclization of Diazonaphthoquinone

The first total synthesis of (±)-eleutherol and eleuthoside A, the natural cytotoxic substances extracted from medicinal Indonesian plant, is described. First, the synthesis of (±)-eleutherol has been ­accomplished in nine steps starting from bromo methoxy aldehyde with the aid of diazo-transfer chemistry approach. Second, a metal-­catalyzed intramolecular cyclization reaction of the corresponding ­diazonaphthoquinone led to the desired eleuotherol, which served as a precursor to eleuthoside A. Then, several glycosidation routes, using different glucosyl donors, were experimented to reach effective O-glycosidation of eleutherol. The only successful strategy involved Koenigs–Knorr glycosidation using peracetyl glycosyl bromide in the presence of Ag2O and quinoline. This strategy furnished our desired acetylated glycoside of β-configuration, regioselectively. Finally, deacetylation and successive separation of diastereomers were conducted to give eleuthoside A.