On the Discorhabdins Leading to the Aleutianamine Ring System: A One‐Step in Situ Transformation Characterized Through Computational and Experimental Studies and Its Implications on Biosynthesis, Synthesis, and Pharmacology

C Cody F. Dickinson (Department of Drug Discovery & Biomedical Sciences Medical University of South Carolina Charleston South Carolina USA) A Abhay Potluri (Department of Chemistry) A Alison M. Bland (Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Medical University of South Carolina Charleston South Carolina USA) S Samuel M. Flipse (Department of Chemistry University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu Hawaii USA) G George S. Hanna (Department of Public Health Sciences Medical University of South Carolina Charleston South Carolina USA) R Ryan T. Wagner (Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota USA) K Keith D. Robertson T Thai H. Ho (Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology Hollings Cancer Center Medical University of South Carolina Charleston South Carolina USA) D Daniel J. Sprague (Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Medical University of South Carolina Charleston South Carolina USA) G Gerald R. Hoff (Resource Assessment and Conservation Division Alaska Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Seattle Washington USA) R Robert P. Stone (Auke Bay Laboratories Alaska Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Seattle Washington USA) M Marcus A. Tius (Department of Chemistry University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu Hawaii USA) D Dean J. Tantillo (Department of Chemistry, University of California Davis, One Shields Ave. Davis, Sacramento, California 95616, United States) M Mark T. Hamann (Department of Drug Discovery & Biomedical Sciences Medical University of South Carolina Charleston South Carolina USA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT We disclose an efficient transformation of the relatively common pyrroloiminoquinone discorhabdin alkaloids from Alaskan Latrunculia spp. to the complex ring system of aleutianamine by an acid catalyzed process that mimics the proposed endogenous genesis from 3‐dihydrodienyl discorhabdin precursors. The azepine ring system is formed by a concerted 1,2‐alkyl shift of a proposed thiocarbenium‐iminium dication and this mechanism is supported by extensive density functional theory (DFT) analysis. Additional in vitro biological data further supports the aleutianamines as novel and highly potent inhibitors of multidrug resistant cancer lines exemplified further with cytotoxicity toward chemotherapy resistant chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (IC 50  = 130 nM). This report provides a key transformation that allows the incorporation of either synthetic or biosynthetic starting materials leading to the generation of the aleutianamine complex ring system in just a single step from the discorhabdin ring system.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 17
Published April 20, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (14)

C

Cody F. Dickinson

Department of Drug Discovery & Biomedical Sciences Medical University of South Carolina Charleston South Carolina USA

A

Abhay Potluri

Department of Chemistry

A

Alison M. Bland

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Medical University of South Carolina Charleston South Carolina USA

S

Samuel M. Flipse

Department of Chemistry University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu Hawaii USA

G

George S. Hanna

Department of Public Health Sciences Medical University of South Carolina Charleston South Carolina USA

R

Ryan T. Wagner

Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota USA

K

Keith D. Robertson

T

Thai H. Ho

Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology Hollings Cancer Center Medical University of South Carolina Charleston South Carolina USA

D

Daniel J. Sprague

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Medical University of South Carolina Charleston South Carolina USA

G

Gerald R. Hoff

Resource Assessment and Conservation Division Alaska Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Seattle Washington USA

R

Robert P. Stone

Auke Bay Laboratories Alaska Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Seattle Washington USA

M

Marcus A. Tius

Department of Chemistry University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu Hawaii USA

D

Dean J. Tantillo

Department of Chemistry, University of California Davis, One Shields Ave. Davis, Sacramento, California 95616, United States

M

Mark T. Hamann

Department of Drug Discovery & Biomedical Sciences Medical University of South Carolina Charleston South Carolina USA