Stereoselective synthesis of ( Z)-axino- and ( Z)-debromoaxinohydantoin

Abstract

( Z)-Axinohydantoin and ( Z)-debromoaxinohydantoin, two pyrrole–imidazole alkaloids isolated from different marine sponges, possess moderate activities in inhibiting the progress of the cell cycle at different phases. A stereoselective synthesis of both natural products was achieved. The key step in the synthetic pathway was the installation of the hydantoin northern ring by using 1-benzoyl-2-methylsulfanyl-1,5-dihydroimidazol-4-one.