Total Syntheses of Natural Metallophores Staphylopine and Aspergillomarasmine A

Staphylopine was discovered and functionally evaluated as a novel type of metallophore that Staphylococcus aureus employs to acquire multiple divalent transition metals. Aspergillomarasmine A (AMA), with a similar structure to staphylopine, was recently identified as an inhibitor of metallo-β-lactamases NDM-1 and VIM-2. Herein, we report a unified approach using Mitsunobu reaction as a key step to accomplish the concise and efficient total syntheses of staphylopine and AMA. We also elucidate the similar broad-spectrum metal chelation properties between staphylopine and AMA.