Synthesis of 14-membered enediyne-embedded macrocycles.

A concise and practical strategy towards a novel class of 14-membered macrocycles containing an enediyne ( Z -3-ene-1,5-diyne) structural unit is described. A highly modular assembly of various precursors via sequential Ugi/Sonogashira reactions allowed the preparation of hybrid enediyne-peptide macrocycles in most cases as single diastereoisomers. Selected macrocyclic compounds showed moderate antiproliferative activity, and can be considered as templates suitable for further diversification in terms of ring size, shape, and stereochemistry.