Synthesis 2003(12): 1753-1783
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-41005
REVIEW
© Georg ThiemeVerlag Stuttgart · New York

Synthesis of the Pyrrole-ImidazoleAlkaloids

Holger Hoffmanna, Thomas Lindel*b
a Aventis Pharma Deutschland GmbH, Natural Products Research, 65926 Frankfurt,Germany
b Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Department of Chemistry, 81377 Munich,Germany
Fax: +49(89)218077734; e-Mail: thomas.lindel@cup.uni-muenchen.de;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 12 February 2003
Publication Date:
07 August 2003 (online)

Abstract

This review article gives a detailed account on the chemistryof the pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids from marine sponges. The pyrrole-imidazolealkaloids share a key building block, oroidin being the underlyingstructural motif of a diverse range of exclusively marine alkaloids.After outlining the reactivity of 2-amino-4(5)-vinylimidazoles,biomimetic and non-biomimetic total syntheses of the non-cyclized,cyclized, and ‘dimerized’ pyrrole-imidazole alkaloidsdeveloped over the past 30 years are discussed in a comprehensivemanner. Beyond the identified pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids the theoreticalcyclization map based on oroidin contains many white spots and therebyopportunities to assemble novel pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids notobserved in nature before.

  • 1 Introduction

  • 1.1 Alkaloid Economy

  • 1.2 Biosynthesis

  • 1.3 Biological Activity

  • 2 Reactivity of Partial Structures

  • 2.1 2-Aminoimidazole

  • 2.2 Pyrrole-2-carboxamide

  • 3 Non-Cyclized Pyrrole-Imidazole Alkaloids

  • 3.1 Starting from Imidazole

  • 3.2 Assembly of the Imidazole Portion

  • 4 Biomimetic Syntheses

  • 4.1 Cyclized Monomers

  • 4.2 Dimeric Pyrrole-Imidazole Alkaloids

  • 5 Non-Biomimetic Approaches

  • 5.1 Completed Syntheses

  • 5.2 Under Construction

  • 6 Cyclization Map

  • 7 Conclusion

32

Friedel, M.; Lindel, T. 2002, unpublished.

85

Breckle, G.; Polborn, K.; Lindel,T. Z. Naturforsch. B.: Chem. Sci. 2003, 58, 451.

126

Jacquot, D. E. N.; Lindel, T. 2002, unpublished.

127

Jacquot, D. E. N.; Lindel, T. 2002, in preparation.

132

Meyer, A.; Lindel, T. 2002,unpublished.