The synthesis and reactivity of indole derivatives substituted in the benzene section was studied. Starting materials 4- and 6-iodoindole were conveniently prepared via the Batcho-Leimgruber route and purified by sublimation. Novel vicinally indolyl-substituted cyclopentanols with unexpected cis-configuration were formed by SmI2-mediated reductive dimerization of a 4-(indol-6-yl)butenone, obtai...

Epothilones are potential anticancer drugs that stabilize microtubules in a manner similar to paclitaxel (Taxol). Epothilones are produced from the myxobacterium Sorangium cellulosum, which has a 16-h doubling time and produces only milligram-per-liter amounts of epothilone A and epothilone B. Furthermore, genetic manipulation of S. cellulosum is difficult. To produce epothilones in a more gene...

Haliangicin is a beta-methoxyacrylate-type polyene antibiotic isolated from the unique marine myxobacterium Haliangium ochraceum. A further investigation of the extract of this microorganism has resulted in the isolation of haliangicin as well as its geometrical isomers. The configuration of the epoxide in haliangicin, which was unknown previously, was determined in this study. The planar struc...