Enantioselective Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Sanglifehrin A and B and Analogs

Sanglifehrin A and B are immunosuppressive macrocyclic natural products endowed with and differentiated by a unique spirocyclic lactam. Herein, we report an enantioselective total synthesis and biological evaluation of sanglifehrin A and B and analogs. Access to the spirocyclic lactam was achieved through convergent assembly of a key pyranone intermediate followed by a stereo‐controlled spirocyclization. The 22‐membered macrocyclic core was synthesized by ring‐closing metathesis in the presence of 2,6‐bis(trifluoromethyl) benzeneboronic acid (BFBB). The spirocyclic lactam and macrocycle fragments were united by a Stille coupling to furnish sanglifehrin A and B. Additional sanglifehrin B analogs with variation at the C40 position were additionally prepared. Biological evaluation revealed that the 2‐CF 3 analog of sanglifehrin B exhibited higher anti‐proliferative activity than the natural products sanglifehrin A and B in Jurkat cells. Both natural products induced higher‐order homodimerization of cyclophilin A (CypA), but only sanglifehrin A promoted CypA complexation with inosine‐5′‐monophosphate dehydrogenase 2 (IMPDH2). The synthesis reported herein will enable further evaluation of the spirolactam and its contribution to sanglifehrin‐dependent immunosuppressive activity.