aS,7S‐absolute configuration of natural (−)‐colchicine and allocongeners

Abstract

The aS,7S-absolute configuration of (-)-colchicine (1) and (-)-N-acetylcolchinol methyl ether (3, NCME) suggested on the basis of 1H NMR data and negative Cotton effects at about 260 nm (EtOH) is firmly established by an X-ray analysis of urea 5, a compound derived from 3. Binding of these compounds to tubulin requires an aS-configuration of the biaryl system.