Concise Synthesis of a Pateamine A Analogue with In Vivo Anticancer Activity Based on an Iron-Catalyzed Pyrone Ring Opening/Cross-Coupling

The marine macrolide pateamine A and its non-natural sibling DMDA-Pat A are potent translation inhibitors targeting the eukaryotic initiation factor 4A (eIF4A), an enzyme with RNA helicase activity. Although essential for every living cell, this protein target seems “drugable” since DMDA-Pat A has previously been shown to exhibit remarkable in vivo activity against two different melanoma mouse models. The novel entry into this promising compound presented herein is shorter and significantly more productive than the literature route. Key to success was the masking of the signature Z,E-configured dienoate subunit of DMDA-Pat A in the form of a 2-pyrone ring, which was best crafted by a gold-catalyzed cyclization. While the robustness of the heterocycle facilitated the entire assembly stage, the highly isomerization-prone seco-Z,E-dienoic acid could be unlocked in due time for macrolactonization by an unconventional iron-catalyzed ring opening/cross coupling. Moreover, the crystal structure analysis of an advanced intermediate gave first insights into the conformation of the macrodilactone framework of the pateamine family, which is thought to be critical for eliciting the desired biological response