Kurasoins A and B, new protein farnesyltransferase inhibitors produced by Paecilomyces sp. FO-3684. II. Structure elucidation and total synthesis.

The structures of new protein farnesyltransferase inhibitors, kurasoins A and B, were elucidated by NMR study. Kurasoins A and B are acyloin compounds having in common a 3-hydroxy-1-phenyl-2-butanone moiety, to which p-hydroxyphenyl and 3-indolyl moieties respectively, are connected at C-4. The structures were confirmed by total synthesis.