Synthesis and Structure-Activity Relationship Studies of Dioxane- and Oxathiane-Based Analogs of (–)-Zampanolide

We have prepared a series of analogs of the complex marine macrolide (–)-zampanolide, which incorporate a dioxane-, oxathiane-, or oxathiane-dioxide ring in place of the natural tetrahydropyran moiety and we have determined their microtubule-binding affinity and antiproliferative activity against human cancer cells. The synthesis of these analogs was based on a convergent strategy with a HWE-based macrocyclization and a stereoselective aza-aldol reaction as key steps. The microtubule-binding affinity and cellular potency of the dioxane- and oxathiane-based analogs with a natural (Z,E)-sorbamide-based side chain were essentially indistinguishable from those of natural (–)-zampanolide; changing the configuration of the sorbamide unit from Z,E to E,E resulted in a slight loss in activity. In contrast, the presence of an oxathiane-dioxide ring caused a steep decrease in microtubule-binding and a significant loss in growth inhibitory activity. In addition, a substantial loss in potency was observed against a multidrug-resistant, P-glycoprotein-overexpressing cell line, while no such effect was found for the dioxane- or oxathiane-based analogs. A high-resolution X-ray crystal structure of the complex between beta-tubulin and dioxane-zampanolide was obtained, which showed that this compound, like natural (–)-zampanolide, induces helical structuring of the M-loop.