P-Methoxyphenyl isocyanide

Isocyanide-based MCR was also applied for the total synthesis studies of natural products containing piperazine substructure. For example, trabectedin (also known as ecteinascidin 743 or ET-743) is undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of breast, prostate, and pediatric sarcomas. Ecteinascidin 743 (2) is an extremely potent antitumor agent isolated from a marine tunicate, Ecteinascidia turbinate [12]. Eukuyama et al. developed the total synthesis of ecteinascidin 743 from a Ugi reaction [13]. The reaction of p-methoxyphenyl isocyanide 3 gave Ugi product 7, which was cyclized to DKP intermediate 8 (Scheme 1). 

Ecteinascidin 743 262 (Scheme 12.37) represents a powerful antitumor agent, which has been submitted to clinical trial. This complex polyazacydic, polyaromatic compound was isolated from the marine tunicate, Ecteinascidia turbinate [131]. A total synthesis of this natural product, which featured an Ugi four-component reaction as pivotal step, was recently reported by Fukuyama and co-workers [132]. The highly decorated phenylglycinol 263 was obtained via an asymmetric Mannich-type reaction [133], and was engaged in a multicomponent condensation process involving the protected amino acid 264, p-methoxyphenyl isocyanide 265 and acetaldehyde to afford dipeptide 266 in high yield. This com-... 

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