Flexible, polymer-supported synthesis of sphingosine derivatives provides ceramides with enhanced biological activity
Authors
- A. El-Dahshan
- S.I. Al-Gharabli
- S. Radetzki
- T.H. Al-Tel
- P. Kumar
- J. Rademann
Journal
- Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry
Citation
- Bioorg Med Chem 22 (19): 5506-5512
Abstract
A polymer-supported route for the synthesis of sphingosine derivatives is presented based on the C-acylation of polymeric phosphoranylidene acetates with an Fmoc-protected amino acid. The approach enables the flexible variation of the sphingosine tail through a deprotection-decarboxylation sequence followed by E-selective Wittig olefination cleavage. d-Erythro-sphingosine analogs have been synthesized by diastereoselective reduction of the keto group employing LiAlH(O-tBu)3 as reducing agent. The effect of ceramides and keto-ceramides on the proliferation of three cancer cell lines HEP G-2, PC-12 and HL-60 was investigated and a ceramide containing an aromatic sphingosine tail was identified as being most active.