Synthesis and biological evaluation of macrosphelide cores

Abstract

The simplified 16-membered core structures of macrosphelides were synthesized in high overall yields starting from methyl (+)- or (-)-3-hydroxybutyrate as the sole chiral source. The antiproliferative activities of these macrosphelide cores against murine colon 26-L5 adenocarcinoma cells were examined, and the results suggest that the oxygen functional groups found in the natural products are essential for their bioactivities. © Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004.