Relative stereochemistry and solution conformation of the novel paclitaxel-like antimitotic agent epothilone A

A nearly complete set of 1H---1H coupling constants and NOEs were determined for the novel paclitaxel-like antimitotic agent epothilone A from phase sensitive DFQ COSY and NOESY experiments in 75% DMSO-d6/D2O. This data was employed as distance constraints for molecular modeling studies. Molecular dynamic simulations were carried out on a complete series of diastereoisomers, and the results show only two relative stereochemistries to be in agreement with the NOE data.