Asymmetric total syntheses of (-)-jorumycin, (-)-renieramycin G, 3-epi-jorumycin, and 3-epi-renieramycin G.

The total synthesis of (-)-jorumycin (1) and (-)-renieramycin G (2) has been accomplished in 25 and 23 steps, respectively, from 5-benzyloxy-2,4-dimethoxy-3-methyl-benzyl alcohol. The synthesis features a substrate-tunable stereoselective intramolecular Pictet-Spengler-type reaction for the construction of the key pentacyclic core of both targets, bearing either the natural configuration or the epimeric configuration at C-3. With access to a C-3 epi-pentacyclic framework, 3-epi-jorumycin (32) and 3-epi-renieramycin G (34) were also successfully synthesized. Furthermore, preliminary biological evaluation of 3-epi-jorumycin (32), in addition to relevant synthetic intermediates, revealed that significant cytotoxicity had been retained in these compounds. Therefore, these early studies constitute the basis for a new structure activity relationship (SAR) investigation for this class of antitumor antibiotics.