An efficient, optimized, and scalable process for the synthesis of C-ring ester-functionalized prodigiosenes has been developed by (i) exploiting a silylative Mukaiyama aldol strategy for the condensation of alkyl 5-formyl-2,4-dimethylpyrrole-3-carboxylate and 4-methoxy-3-pyrrolin-2-one to form the corresponding ester-functionalized dipyrrinone analogues, and (ii) developing a facile synthesis of stable bromodipyrrin analogues for the use in formal Suzuki coupling reactions. The process was applied to the synthesis of three C-ring ester-functionalized prodigiosenes in multigram scales (up to 6.5 g prodigiosene free-base) with useful yields (35-56% overall yields over three steps starting from the 2-formyl pyrroles).
Prodigiosin is the parent member of the 4-methoxypyrrolyldipyrromethene family of natural products and is known for its anti-cancer activity. A new series of analogues was synthesized, incorporating pendent functional esters and beta-carbonyl substituents on the C-ring. The beta-carbonyl group allowed for the facile isolation of the prodigiosenes, and the pendent esters allow for further derivatization