Preparation and biological evaluation of novel leucomycin analogs derived from nitroso Diels-Alder reactions.

A series of 10,13-disubstituted 16-membered macrolides was synthesized using nitroso Diels-Alder reactions of leucomycin A7. Despite the extensive constituent functionalities in leucomycin, the hetero cycloaddition reactions proceeded in a highly regio- and stereoselective fashion. Subsequent chemical modifications of the nitroso cycloadducts, including N-O bond reduction, were also conducted. Most leucomycin derivatives retained antibiotic profiles similar to leucomycin A7, and, in contrast to leucomycin itself, several exhibited moderate antiproliferative and cytotoxic activity.