University of Basel researchers have developed two complex natural products from dithiodiketopiperazines (DTPs). Their novel strategy utilized C-H bond activation and produced a shorter route with high yields. Their research has been published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, where the total synthesis of Epicoocin G and Rostratin A is outlined.
DTPs are secondary metabolites from fungi and possess promising biological activities relevant to drug development for cancer and malaria. Unfortunately, DTPs are difficult to synthesis, with only a few total syntheses reaching completion. This breakthrough in the development of an efficient and scalable synthesis of the incredibility complex, Epicoocin G and Rostratin A, demonstrates a promising for future synthesis efforts in DTPs, and other complex natural product syntheses, using their novel C-H bond activation strategy.