Family Of Indole Alkaloids Research Articles

Cooperative Biocatalysis Enables Assembly of a Prenylated Indole Alkaloid

AbstractThe hapalindole‐type metabolites have garnered significant interest due to their diverse biological activities and unique chemical structures. Recently, the biosynthesis of this family of indole alkaloids has been uncovered and shown to involve a rare biocatalytic Cope rearrangement. Previously, we demonstrated cis‐indole isonitrile C‐3 normal geranylation using FamD2. Thus, we sought to explore further the reaction potential with this substrate and dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP) using prenyltransferases and cyclases from the hapalindole biosynthetic pathways. Here, we report a new compound derived from an unexpected biosynthetic Cope rearrangement, which expands further the scope of metabolites generated from cyanobacterial Stig cyclases.

A Review: Meridianins and Meridianins Derivatives.

Meridianins are a family of indole alkaloids derived from Antarctic tunicates with extensive pharmacological activities. A series of meridianin derivatives had been synthesized by drug researchers. This article reviews the extraction and purification methods, biological activities and pharmacological applications, pharmacokinetic characters and chemical synthesis of meridianins and their derivatives. And prospects on discovering new bioactivities of meridianins and optimizing their structure for the improvement of the ADMET properties are provided.

Flavoprotein StnP2 Catalyzes the β-Carboline Formation during the Streptonigrin Biosynthesis.

β-Carboline (βC) alkaloids constitute a large family of indole alkaloids that exhibit diverse pharmacological properties, such as antitumor, antiviral, antiparasitic, and antimicrobial activities. Here, we report that a flavoprotein StnP2 catalyzes the dehydrogenation at C1-N2 of a tetrahydro-β-carboline (THβC) generating a 3,4-dihydro-β-carboline (DHβC), and the DHβC subsequently undergoes a spontaneous dehydrogenation to βC formation involved in the biosynthesis of the antitumor agent streptonigrin. Biochemical characterization showed that StnP2 catalyzed the highly regio- and stereo-selective dehydrogenation, and StnP2 exhibits promiscuity toward different THβCs. This study provides an alternative kind of enzyme catalyzing the biosynthesis of βC alkaloids and enhances the importance of flavoproteins.

Syntheses of Mersicarpine, a Monoterpenoid Indole Alkaloid with an Atypical Tetracyclic Structure

AbstractThe focus review discusses the synthesis of an important member of the monoterpene indole alkaloid family, mersicarpine. Biosynthetically, mersicarpine, isolated from the Kopsia fruticosa and Kopsia arborea, is proposed to share the same biogenetic pathway as melodinine E and leuconolam, and has a fused tetracyclic [6.5.6.7] ring system characterized by an unusual tetrahydro‐2H‐azepine ring and a hemiaminal motif. As a consequence, this intriguing structural feature has attracted considerable attention from synthetic chemists. The review focuses on the synthesis of mersicarpine from its first synthesis to the most recent one, ranging from 2008–2022.

Total Syntheses of Aspidospermidine, N-Methylaspidospermidine, N-Acetylaspidospermidine, and Aspidospermine via a Tandem Cyclization of Tryptamine-Ynamide.

The total syntheses of aspidospermidine, N-methylaspidospermidine, N-acetylaspidospermidine, and aspidospermine were achieved from a common pentacyclic indoline intermediate. The common pentacyclic indoline intermediate was synthesized on a gram scale through a Stork-enamine alkylation of 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]carbazole derivatives, which were prepared through a Brønsted acid-catalyzed tandem cyclization of tryptamine-ynamide. The scalable synthesis of 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]carbazole afforded facile access and a practical approach to the Aspidosperma indole alkaloid family.

Towards the Sarpagine-Ajmaline-Macroline Family of Indole Alkaloids: Enantioselective Synthesis of an N-Demethyl Alstolactone Diastereomer.

the strategy involving the use of functionalized tetrahydro-6H-cycloocta[b]indol-6-one is reported as a key intermediate for synthesis of members of the sarpagine-ajmaline-macroline family of monoterpene indole alkaloids. The desired tricycle was synthesized through the following key steps: 1) Evans' syn-selective aldolization; 2) Liebeskind-Srogl cross-coupling using the phenylthiol ester of 3-chloropropanoic acid as a surrogate of acrylic thioester for the synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted indoles; and 3) ring-closing metathesis (RCM) for the formation of the eight-membered ring. An N-allylation followed by intramolecular 1,4-addition was planned for synthesis of the vobasine class of natural products. However, attempted cyclizations under a diverse set of conditions involving anionic, radical, and organopalladium/organonickel species failed to produce the bridged ring system. On the other hand, esterification of the pendant primary alcohol function with acetoacetic acid, followed by intramolecular Michael addition, afforded the desired tetracycle with excellent diastereoselectivity. Subsequent functional group manipulation and transannular cyclization of the amino alcohol afforded the N(1)-demethyl-3,5-diepi-alstolactone. We believe that the same synthetic route would afford the alstolactone should the amino alcohol with appropriate stereochemistry be used as the starting material.

Bioinspired chemical synthesis of monomeric and dimeric stephacidin A congeners.

Stephacidin A and its congeners are a collection of secondary metabolites that possess intriguing structural motifs. They stem from unusual biosynthetic sequences that lead to the incorporation of a prenyl or reverse-prenyl group into a bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane framework, a chromene unit or the vestige thereof. To complement biosynthetic studies, which normally play a significant role in unveiling the biosynthetic pathways of natural products, here we demonstrate that chemical synthesis can provide important insights into biosynthesis. We identify a short total synthesis of congeners in the reverse-prenylated indole alkaloid family related to stephacidin A by taking advantage of a direct indole C6 halogenation of the related ketopremalbrancheamide. This novel strategic approach has now made possible the syntheses of several natural products, including malbrancheamides B and C, notoamides F, I and R, aspergamide B, and waikialoid A, which is a heterodimer of avrainvillamide and aspergamide B. Our approach to the preparation of these prenylated and reverse-prenylated indole alkaloids is bioinspired, and may also inform the as-yet undetermined biosynthesis of several congeners.

ChemInform Abstract: The Chemistry of Hapalindoles, Fischerindoles, Ambiguines, and Welwitindolinones

AbstractReview: 118 refs.

Chapter Two - The Chemistry of Hapalindoles, Fischerindoles, Ambiguines, and Welwitindolinones

Isolated from diverse cyanobacteria, the hapalindole family of indole alkaloids comprises over 80 interrelated natural products. The family is further divided into several subclasses including the hapalindoles, fischerindoles, ambiguines, and welwitindolinones, each sharing one or more of the many common structural motifs, including an indole or oxindole core, a highly functionalized cyclohexane unit fused to the indole at C-3, and the uncommon isonitrile or isothiocyanate functionalities. Reported here is a comprehensive review covering the isolation of all currently known hapalindole-type alkaloids, the biological activity for several members of the family, and the proposed biosyntheses that give rise to the intricate structural diversity within the family. Finally, the major thrust of this chapter is a comprehensive outline of decades of cutting edge synthetic chemistry toward these complex alkaloids. To date, only a small fraction of the hapalindole-type alkaloids have yielded to chemical synthesis, yet the strategies and methodologies developed showcase the state of the art in synthetic chemistry and provide access to new compounds that can be evaluated for their biological activities.

The cascade radical cyclisation approach to prenylated alkaloids: synthesis of stephacidin A and notoamide B

A strategy for the synthesis of members of the prenylated indole alkaloid family is described, which involves a radical cascade process of an appropriately substituted diketopiperazine (DKP) core structure. Several approaches to the generation of the initial radical were explored, with the most successful involving treatment of a sulfenyl substituted DKP under classical reductive conditions by heating with Bu3SnH and a radical initiator. The required, fully substituted, radical precursor DKP structures were prepared using regio- and stereocontrolled enolate chemistry of simpler proline-tryptophan derived DKPs. The new approach allowed rapid access to a key polycyclic indoline structure, which was converted into either of the natural products stephacidin A or notoamide B.

Molecular Architecture of Strictosidine Glucosidase: The Gateway to the Biosynthesis of the Monoterpenoid Indole Alkaloid Family

Strictosidine beta-D-glucosidase (SG) follows strictosidine synthase (STR1) in the production of the reactive intermediate required for the formation of the large family of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids in plants. This family is composed of approximately 2000 structurally diverse compounds. SG plays an important role in the plant cell by activating the glucoside strictosidine and allowing it to enter the multiple indole alkaloid pathways. Here, we report detailed three-dimensional information describing both native SG and the complex of its inactive mutant Glu207Gln with the substrate strictosidine, thus providing a structural characterization of substrate binding and identifying the amino acids that occupy the active site surface of the enzyme. Structural analysis and site-directed mutagenesis experiments demonstrate the essential role of Glu-207, Glu-416, His-161, and Trp-388 in catalysis. Comparison of the catalytic pocket of SG with that of other plant glucosidases demonstrates the structural importance of Trp-388. Compared with all other glucosidases of plant, bacterial, and archaeal origin, SG's residue Trp-388 is present in a unique structural conformation that is specific to the SG enzyme. In addition to STR1 and vinorine synthase, SG represents the third structural example of enzymes participating in the biosynthetic pathway of the Rauvolfia alkaloid ajmaline. The data presented here will contribute to deciphering the structure and reaction mechanism of other higher plant glucosidases.

The Structure of Rauvolfia serpentina Strictosidine Synthase Is a Novel Six-Bladed β-Propeller Fold in Plant Proteins

The enzyme strictosidine synthase (STR1) from the Indian medicinal plant Rauvolfia serpentina is of primary importance for the biosynthetic pathway of the indole alkaloid ajmaline. Moreover, STR1 initiates all biosynthetic pathways leading to the entire monoterpenoid indole alkaloid family representing an enormous structural variety of approximately 2000 compounds in higher plants. The crystal structures of STR1 in complex with its natural substrates tryptamine and secologanin provide structural understanding of the observed substrate preference and identify residues lining the active site surface that contact the substrates. STR1 catalyzes a Pictet-Spengler-type reaction and represents a novel six-bladed beta-propeller fold in plant proteins. Structure-based sequence alignment revealed a common repetitive sequence motif (three hydrophobic residues are followed by a small residue and a hydrophilic residue), indicating a possible evolutionary relationship between STR1 and several sequence-unrelated six-bladed beta-propeller structures. Structural analysis and site-directed mutagenesis experiments demonstrate the essential role of Glu-309 in catalysis. The data will aid in deciphering the details of the reaction mechanism of STR1 as well as other members of this enzyme family.

New Strategies for the Synthesis of Monoterpene Indole Alkaloids

The synthetic efforts of the authors research team in several areas within the monoterpene indole alkaloid family are summarized. Most of the work was accomplished in the field of the Aristotelia alkaloids, where some 25 natural products were synthesized for the first time. Systematic investigations on the oxidative rearrangement of indoles to oxindoles and pseudoindoxyl derivatives led to control over the chemoselectivity and stereoselectivity of this process, which served for enantioselective preparations of the simple alkaloids horsfiline and elacomine. In addition, recent developments in a novel approach to Iboga alkaloids containing a hydroxyl group at C(19) are presented. The key steps involved a self-immolating 1,4-chirality transfer in an Ireland-Claisen rearrangement and an intramolecular nitrone-olefin [2+3]-cycloaddition to give the aliphatic isoquinuclidine core of the target molecules. The first synthesis of (19R)- hydroxyibogamine was completed by grafting a 3-ethylindole unit onto the aliphatic nitrogen, followed by closing the 7- membered ring. Keywords: aristotelia alkaloids, aza-adamantane, indole-protected aristofruticosine, elaeagnus commutata, dreiding models, corynanthine

Direct coupling of indoles with carbonyl compounds: short, enantioselective, gram-scale synthetic entry into the hapalindole and fischerindole alkaloid families.

The invention of a method for the direct union of indoles and carbonyl compounds (ketones, amides, esters) is described. Using this new method, a short, enantioselective, gram-scale and protecting group-free synthetic entry to the fischerindole and hapalindole indole alkaloid family has been achieved from carvone and indole. Total syntheses of (+)-hapalindole Q and (-)-12-epi-fischerindole U isothiocyanate are reported. The absolute stereochemistry of the latter natural product has also been determined.

Biomimetic Entry to the Sarpagan Family of Indole Alkaloids: Total Synthesis of (+)-Geissoschizine and (+)-N-Methylvellosimine.

For Abstract see ChemInform Abstract in Full Text.

Biomimetic entry to the sarpagan family of indole alkaloids: total synthesis of +-geissoschizine and +-N-methylvellosimine.

A concise synthesis of (+)-geissoschizine (1), a biosynthetic precursor of a variety of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, from d-tryptophan (19) was performed as a critical prelude to achieving the first biomimetic, enantioselective synthesis of the sarpagine alkaloid (+)-N(a)-methylvellosimine (5). The approach to (+)-geissoschizine was designed to address the dual problems of stereocontrolled formation of the E-ethylidene moiety and the correct relative configuration at C(3) and C(15). Key steps in the synthesis involve a vinylogous Mannich reaction to prepare the carboline 22, which has the absolute stereochemistry at C(3) corresponding to that in 1 and 5, and an intramolecular Michael addition that leads to the tetracyclic corynantheane derivative 24, which possesses the correct stereochemical relationship between C(3) and C(15). Compound 24 was then transformed into 27, the pivotal intermediate in the syntheses of 1 and 5, by a sequence that allowed the stereospecific introduction of the E-ethylidene moiety. Selective reduction of the lactam in 27 followed by removal of the C(5) carboxyl group by radical decarbonylation gave deformylgeissoschizine (2) that was converted into (+)-geissoschizine (1) by formylation. The common intermediate 27 was then converted via a straightforward sequence of reactions into the alpha-amino nitrile 39. The derived silyl enol ether 40 underwent ionization upon exposure to BF(3).OEt(2) to give the intermediate iminium ion 41 that then cyclized in a biomimetically inspired intramolecular Mannich reaction to deliver (+)-N(a)-methylvellosimine (5). This transformation provides experimental support for the involvement of such a cyclization as one of the key steps in the biosynthesis of the sarpagine and ajmaline alkaloids.

An efficient approach to Aspidosperma alkaloids via [4 + 2] cycloadditions of aminosiloxydienes: stereocontrolled total synthesis of (+/-)-tabersonine. Gram-scale catalytic asymmetric syntheses of (+)-tabersonine and (+)-16-methoxytabersonine. Asymmetric syntheses of (+)-aspidospermidine and (-)-quebrachamine.

Described is a concise, highly stereocontrolled strategy to the Aspidosperma family of indole alkaloids, one that is readily adapted to the asymmetric synthesis of these compounds. The strategy is demonstrated by the total synthesis of (+/-)-tabersonine (rac-1), proceeding through a 12-step sequence. The basis for this approach was provided by a highly regio- and stereoselective [4 + 2] cycloaddition of 2-ethylacrolein with 1-amino-3-siloxydiene developed in our laboratory. Subsequent elaboration of the initial adduct into the hexahydroquinoline DE ring system was accomplished efficiently by a ring-closing olefin metathesis reaction. A novel ortho nitrophenylation of an enol silyl ether with (o-nitrophenyl)phenyliodonium fluoride was developed to achieve an efficient, regioselective introduction of the requisite indole moiety. The final high-yielding conversion of the ABDE tetracycle into pentacyclic target rac-1 relied on intramolecular indole alkylation and regioselective C-carbomethoxylation. Our approach differs strategically from previous routes and contains built-in flexibility necessary to access many other members of the Aspidosperma family of indole alkaloids. The versatility of the synthetic strategy was illustrated through the asymmetric syntheses of the following Aspidosperma alkaloids: (+)-aspidospermidine, (-)-quebrachamine, (-)-dehydroquebrachamine, (+)-tabersonine, and (+)-16-methoxytabersonine. Of these, (+)-tabersonine and (+)-16-methoxytabersonine were synthesized in greater than 1-g quantities and in enantiomerically enriched form ( approximately 95% ee). The pivotal asymmetry-introducing step was a catalyzed enantioselective Diels-Alder reaction, which proceeded to afford the cycloadducts in up to 95% ee. Significantly, the synthetic sequence was easy to execute and required only four purifications over the 12-step synthetic route.

Biosynthesis of the indole and Colchicum alkaloids.

Abstract