Total Synthesis of Microcystin-LF and Derivatives Thereof

Microcystins (MCs) are highly toxic natural products which are produced by cyanobacteria. They can be released to the water during harmful algal blooms and are a serious threat to animals and humans. Described is the total synthesis of the cyanotoxin microcystin-LF (MC-LF, 1a) and two derivatives thereof. Deuterated derivative 1b is of interest as an internal standard during MC quantification in biological samples by mass spectrometry and alkyne-labeled 1c can be employed for toxin derivatization by click chemistry with an azide-containing reporter molecule or as an activity-based probe to identify interaction partners. Application of tert-butyl ester protecting groups for erythro-β-d-methylaspartic acid and γ-d-glutamic acid were key for an isomerization-free synthesis. The analytical data of synthetic MC-LF were identical to those of an authentic sample of the natural product. All derivatives 1a-c were determined to be potent inhibitors of protein phosphatase-1 with similar activity.