A bicycle built for tubulin: The total synthesis of (+)-chamaecypanone C has been achieved by using a tandem retro-Diels-Alder/Diels-Alder cascade reaction (see scheme). Initial biological studies demonstrate that (+)-chamaecypanone C is an inhibitor of tubulin assembly and binds at the colchicine site.
Department of Chemistry, Center for Chemical Methodology and Library Development (CMLD-BU), Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
