Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Macrosphelide Cores

Abstract

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)