# Antitumor Agents:  Structure and Synthesis

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2021 · $293,969

## Abstract

Project Summary
 This research program (CA-19033), now in the fortieth year, embodies our long-term
commitment to complete structural characterization and efficient enantiomeric synthesis of
architecturally challenging agents, possessing bio-regulatory properties related to cancer
chemotherapy. Specifically, we will demonstrate that Anion Relay Chemistry (ARC), a tactic
introduced by our laboratory, and now Radical Relay Chemistry (RRC), holds great promise for
the rapid, efficient construction of multi-gram quantities of stereo-defined, structurally complex
synthetic intermediates and natural products having cancer cell growth inhibitory activities.
 Anion Relay Chemistry (ARC), the early principal chemical innovation of this program,
originated from a three-component union protocol, that comprises a [1,4]-Brook rearrangement
to assemble complex arrays, employed initially for the total synthesis of the spongistatins 1 and
2, and in turn the synthesis of the frog alkaloid 205B and indolizidine 223AB. Subsequently, we
generalized this concept to what we now term Anion Relay Chemistry (ARC). More recently we
added the tactic of Radical Relay Chemistry. This five-year renewal application will significantly
augment, demonstrate and showcase the utility of both ARC and RRC tactics for the rapid, and
now in a potentially multi-iteration format, access to complex molecular fragments (vide infra),
readily available from enantiomerically pure starting materials.
 With this introduction, the Specific Aims for years 41-45 will be: (A) apply our highly
flexible ARC multi-component fragment union protocols to achieve rapid access to polyol-
containing anticancer products, including neaumycin B, bastimolide A, penniciketal A and (-)-
pterocidin; (B) exploit our innovative ARC [3+2] annulation for the syntheses of euphornin L;
(C) showcase our “Through-Bond/Through-Space” ARC tactic for the construction the cytotoxic
agents pyxipyrrolones A and B; (D) demonstrate the innovative use of Radical Relay Chemistry
(RRC) to construct the complex spiroketallactone structures for the synthesis of the cytotoxic
agents, the sequoiamonascins; (E) demonstrate diversity-oriented synthesis for the rare
members of the nahuoic acid family of SETD8 inhibitors; and (F) continue our active
collaborations to evaluate the cancer biology of these anticancer agents.
 Beyond these synthetic objectives, a general, long-range goal of this program is the
identification of molecular receptors responsible for biological activity. Thus, as we develop an
approach to each target structure, we will also prepare model compounds designed to permit
elucidation of structure-activity relationships to be defined by our biological collaborators.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10104447
- **Project number:** 5R01CA019033-42
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Amos B Smith
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $293,969
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1976-06-30 → 2025-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10104447

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10104447, Antitumor Agents:  Structure and Synthesis (5R01CA019033-42). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10104447. Licensed CC0.

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