Syntheses of cystothiazole A and its stereoisomers: importance of stereochemistry for antifungal activity

The enantiocontrolled total syntheses of all the stereoisomers of a myxobacterial antibiotic, cystothiazole A, are described. The natural syn stereochemistry at the C4–C5 position was controlled by the asymmetric Evans aldol process, whereas the anti relationship was introduced by a modified Evans aldol methodology. Starting with a known aldehyde, the common substrate of the aldol reactions, cystothiazole A and its three stereoisomers were synthesized in 9 steps. All three stereoisomers did not show antifungal activity even at a dosage 2500-fold that of cystothiazole A.