Bioinspired synthesis and biological evaluation of ent-protulactones A and B

The bioinspired and stereoselective synthesis of the furo[3,2-b] furan lactone (-)-protulactone A and the dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane lactone (+)-protulactone B has been achieved based on the chiron approach. The synthesis features the utilization of a number of one-pot, sequential transformations, including a cascade reaction of reductive elimination and nucleophilic addition in a one-pot process and a one-pot sequence via cross-metathesis/acetonide deprotection/O-Michael addition/lactonization to streamline the synthesis route and avoid the tedious work of product purification. Synthetic protulactones and their analogues were evaluated for their in vitro antiproliferative activity against selected tumor cell lines (MCF-7 and Capan 2) and showed minor cytotoxicity.