Synthesis of a Constitutional Isomer of Armeniaspirol A, Pseudoarmeniaspirol A, via Lewis Acid-Mediated Rearrangement

The natural product armeniaspirol possesses a unique spirocyclic N,O-ketal in an α,β-dichloro-α,β-unsaturated lactam scaffold that has proved challenging to synthesize. Herein, we characterize the oxidative chlorination of pyrrole-2-carboxylate derivatives that rapidly generates this scaffold. The scope of this oxidation was extended to a series of esters and amides. Pyrrole-2-ketones could not be converted into the lactam due to an oxidative fragmentation. This result was unexpected since chloro-armeniaspirol has been synthesized via oxidative chlorination of a pyrrole-2-ketone. Examination of this successful oxidation showed that the desired scaffold was accessed due to intramolecular trapping from the neighboring free phenol, preventing fragmentation. Using the product of methyl N-methyl pyrrole-2-carboxylate oxidation 7b, we attempted to access the natural product armeniaspirol 2; however, an unanticipated Lewis acid-mediated rearrangement led to formation of a constitutional isomer, pseudoarmeniaspirol A 1. A small panel of pseudoarmeniaspirol analogues was synthesized and evaluated for antibiotic activity, inhibition of the targets of armeniaspirol, ClpXP and ClpYQ, and protonophore activity. While pseudoarmeniaspirol shows antibiotic activity, it does not target ClpXP or ClpYQ and has less protonophore activity than the natural product.