Total synthesis of (+/-)-agelastatin A, a potent inhibitor of osteopontin-mediated neoplastic transformations.

A stereoselective synthesis of agelastatin A, a potent cytotoxin and inhibitor of osteopontin (OPN)-mediated neoplastic transformations, has been accomplished in 14 steps (12 operations) with an approximate overall yield of 8%. Notable features of this route include the direct manner in which the pyrroloketopiperazine A-ring of the target is generated and the efficient employment of a trichloroacetamide, introduced through Overman rearrangement, as a protecting group, pendant nucleophile, and latent urea.