Alkali Metal- and Acid-Catalyzed Interconversion of Goniodomin A with Congeners B and C

Goniodomin A (GDA, 1) is a phycotoxin produced by at least four species of Alexandrium dinoflagellates that are found globally in brackish estuaries and lagoons. It is a linear polyketide with six oxygen heterocyclic rings that is cyclized into a macrocyclic structure via lactone formation. Two of the oxygen heterocycles in 1 comprise a spiro-bis-pyran, whereas goniodomin B (GDB) contains a 2,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane ring system fused to a pyran. When H₂O is present, 1 undergoes facile conversion to isomer GDB and to an α,β-unsaturated ketone, goniodomin C (GDC, 7). GDB and GDC can be formed from GDA by cleavage of the spiro-bis-pyran ring system. GDA, but not GDB or GDC, forms a crown ether-type complex with K⁺. Equilibration of GDA with GDB and GDC is observed in the presence of H⁺ and of Na⁺, but the equilibrated mixtures revert to GDA upon addition of K⁺. Structural differences have been found between the K⁺ and Na⁺ complexes. The association of GDA with K⁺ is strong, while that with Na⁺ is weak. The K⁺ complex has a compact, well-defined structure, whereas Na⁺ complexes are an ill-defined mixture of species. Analyses of in vitro A. monilatum and A. hiranoi cultures indicate that only GDA is present in the cells; GDB and GDC appear to be postharvest transformation products.