Total synthesis and structure–activity relationships of caspofungin-like macrocyclic antifungal lipopeptides

The echinocandins represent a well-known class of macrocyclic antifungal lipopeptides that can be used for treatment of invasive fungal infections. Due to their complex chemical structures and synthetic difficulties, the structure–activity relationships (SARs) of them are still limited. A total synthetic approach was developed to synthesize structurally diverse caspofungin-like antifungal cyclic lipopeptides, allowing for systemically investigating their SARs. Most of the designed cyclic lipopeptides showed potent antifungal activities with broad spectrum. In particular, several compounds (e.g., 30a, 30e–h, 31a–d, 32c, and 33a,b) were more active in vitro against Candida albicans or Aspergillus fumigatus than caspofungin. The findings in this work indicated that the ‘left’ tripeptide segment of cyclic lipopeptide scaffold might be suitable for a hydrophilic structural motif, whereas the ‘right’ lipotripeptide segment was preferred as a hydrophobic core. The alkoxy-naphthoyl was found to be optimal side chain and alkyl length could affect the SARs of alkoxy-aroyl side chains.