Synthesis of FR901464 and analogs with antitumor activity

1. A compound having Formula I or a stereoisomer, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof:

wherein:

X is selected from the group consisting of O and C(R 11 ) 2 ;

Y is selected from the group consisting of C, CH, C(R 11 ) 2 and O;

Z is selected from the group consisting of C and CH;

represents a single or a double bond between Y and Z;

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of H, Pg, C 1-6 -alkyl, halo(C 1-6 -alkyl), C(O)R 11 , C(O)OR 11 , and C(O)NR 12 R 13,

wherein R 11 is H, C 1-6 -alkyl, or halo(C 1-6 -alkyl),

each Pg is independently a hydroxy protecting group, and

wherein R 12 and R 13 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C 1-6 -alkyl, and halo(C 1-6 -alkyl);

or R 12 and R 13 , together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bound, form a heterocyclic or heteroaromatic ring;

R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C 1-6 -alkyl, and halo(C 1-6 -alkyl);

R 7 is selected from the group consisting of H, C 1-6 -alkyl and halo(C 1-6 -alkyl);

R 9 and R 10 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C 1-6 -alkyl, and C 1-6 -alkyl substituted with one to three groups independently selected from halo, hydroxy, and C 1-6 -alkoxy;

or R 9 and R 10 , together with the carbon atom to which they are bound, form a carbonyl group; and

wherein R 8 , R 14 , and R 15 are defined by (A), (B), or (C):

(A) R 8 is a substituted polyethylene glycol-: moiety represented by the formula (IV′)

wherein:

R 21 is selected from the group consisting of azide, tetrazole and triazole with hydrogen, alkyl, or substituted alkyl substituents; and

n is an integer selected from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6; and

R 14 and R 15 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo(C 1-6 -alkyl), C(O)R 11 , F, Cl, NO 2 , and B(OR 11 ) 2 , wherein at least one of R 14 and R 15 is other than hydrogen when represents a single bond, and wherein R 11 is as defined above;

or R 14 and R 15 , together with the carbon atom to which they are bound, form an epoxide ring or a carbonyl group;

or R 14 and R 15 together represent a substituent selected from the group consisting of ═NHNH 2 and ═NHOH; or

(B) R 8 , R 14 , and R 15 together with the carbon atoms to which they are bound, represent the following structure:

or

(C) R 8 is H and

R 14 and R 15 , together with the carbon atom to which they are bound, form a carbonyl group; or

R 14 and R 15 together represent a substituent selected from the group consisting of ═NHNH 2 and ═NHOH.

2. The compound according to claim 1 having Formula (Ia):

wherein:

R 8 is the polyethylene glycol moiety of formula (IV′)

R 9 and R 10 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C 1-6 -alkyl, and C 1-6 -alkyl substituted with one to three groups independently selected from halo, hydroxy, and C 1-6 -alkoxy; and

R 14 and R 15 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo(C 1-6 -alkyl), C(O)R 11 , F, Cl, NO 2 , and B(OR 11 ) 2 , wherein at least one of R 14 and R 15 is other than hydrogen;

or R 14 and R 15 , together with the carbon atom to which they are bound, form an epoxide ring or a carbonyl group.

3. The compound according to claim 2 having Formula Ib:

4. The compound according to claim 3 , wherein R 1 is C(O)R 11 and R 11 is C 1-6 -alkyl or halo(C 1-6 -alkyl).

5. The compound according to claim 4 , wherein R 1 is C(O)CH 3 .

6. The compound according to claim 3 , wherein at least one of R 2 , R 3 , R 5 , and R 6 is C 1-6 -alkyl.

7. The compound according to claim 6 , wherein at least one of R 2 , R 3 , R 5 , and R 6 is CH 3 .

8. The compound according to claim 3 , wherein R 4 is hydrogen.

9. The compound according to claim 3 , wherein R 7 is CH 3 or CF 3 .

10. The compound according to claim 3 , wherein at least one of R 9 and R 10 is selected from the group consisting of C 1-6 -alkyl and C 1-6 -alkyl substituted with one to three groups independently selected from halo, hydroxy, and C 1-6 -alkoxy.

11. The compound according to claim 10 , wherein at least one of R 9 and R 10 is selected from the group consisting of CH 3 , CH 2 I, and CH 2 OH.

12. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 8 , R 14 , and R 15 together with the carbon atoms to which they are bound, represent the following structure:

13. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 1 is C(O)R 11 and R 11 is C 1-6 -alkyl or halo(C 1-6 -alkyl).

14. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of R 2 , R 3 , R 5 , and R 6 is C 1-6 -alkyl.

15. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 4 is hydrogen.

16. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein R 7 is CH 3 or CF 3 .

17. The compound according to claim 2 having Formula (Ic) or Formula (Id):

18. The compound according to claim 17 , wherein R 1 is C(O)R 11 and R 11 is C 1-6 -alkyl or halo(C 1-6 -alkyl).

19. The compound according to claim 18 , wherein R 1 is C(O)CH 3 .

20. The compound according to claim 17 , wherein at least one of R 2 , R 3 , R 5 , and R 6 is C 1-6 -alkyl.

21. The compound according to claim 20 , wherein at least one of R 2 , R 3 , R 5 , and R 6 is CH 3 .

22. The compound according to claim 17 , wherein R 4 is hydrogen.

23. The compound according to claim 17 , wherein R 7 is CH 3 or CF 3 .

24. The compound according to claim 2 selected from the group consisting of:

25. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to claim 1 , a stereoisomer, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

26. A method for treating a disorder in a subject suffering therefrom, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to claim 1 , or a stereoisomer, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof, wherein the disorder is selected from the group consisting breast adenocarcinoma, nonsmall cell lung cancer, head cancer, neck cancer, colon cancer, kidney cancer and combinations thereof.

27. A process for preparing a compound, stereoisomer, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof having Formula (Ia):

wherein:

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of H, Pg, C 1-6 -alkyl, halo(C 1-6 -alkyl), C(O)R 11 , C(O)OR 11 , and C(O) 12 R 13 ,

wherein each R 11 is independently H, C 1-6 -alkyl, or halo(C 1-6 -alkyl), and

wherein R 12 and R 13 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C 1-6 -alkyl, and halo(C 1-6 -alkyl);

or R 12 and R 13 , together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bound, form a heterocyclic or heteroaromatic ring;

R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C 1-6 -alkyl, and halo(C 1-6 -alkyl);

R 7 is selected from the group consisting of H, C 1-6 -alkyl and halo(C 1-6 -alkyl); and

R 8 is a substituted polyethylene glycol moiety, and

R 9 and R 10 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C 1-6 -alkyl, and C 1-6 -alkyl substituted with one to three groups independently selected from halo, hydroxy, C 1-6 -alkoxy, and OPg;

R 14 or R 15 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo(C 1-6 -alkyl), C(O)R 11 , F, Cl, NO 2 , and B(OR 11 ) 2 , wherein at least one of R 14 and R 15 is other than hydrogen, and wherein R 11 is as defined above; and

each Pg is independently a hydroxy protecting group;

said method comprising the steps of:

(A) contacting a compound of Formula (III):

wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , and R 7 are as defined above,

with a compound of Formula (IIa):

wherein R 16 is hydrogen and R 17 , R 18 , R 19 , and R 20 are as defined above,

in the presence of an olefin metathesis catalyst; and

(B) contacting the product of step (A) with a compound of the formula (IV)

wherein:

R 21 is selected from the group consisting of azide, tetrazole and triazole with hydrogen, alkyl, or substituted alkyl substituents;

n is an integer selected from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6; and

LG is a leaving group.