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Novel second-generation taxoids with systematic modifications at the C2, C10, and C3'N positions were synthesized and their structure-activity relationships studied. A number of these taxoids exhibited exceptionally high potency against multidrug-resistant cell lines, and several taxoids exhibited virtually no difference in potency against the drug-sensitive and drug-resistant cell lines. These exceptionally potent taxoids were termed "third-generation taxoids". 19 (SB-T-1214), 14g (SB-T-121303), and 14i (SB-T-1213031) exhibited excellent activity against paclitaxel-resistant ovarian cancer cell lines with mutations in beta-tubulin as well, wherein the drug resistance is mediated by the beta-tubulin mutation. These taxoids were found to possess exceptional activity in promoting tubulin assembly, forming numerous very short microtubules similar to those formed by discodermolide. Taxoids 19 and 14g also showed excellent cytotoxicity against four pancreatic cancer cell lines, expressing three to four multidrug-resistant genes. Moreover, taxoid 19 exhibited excellent in vivo efficacy against highly drug-resistant CFPAC-1 pancreatic as well as DLD-1 human colon tumor xenografts in mice.

[reaction: see text] The first total synthesis of resorcinylic macrolide aigialomycin D was described. The resorcinylic moiety was constructed by a highly efficient Diels-Alder reaction using a disiloxydiene and a 14-membered "ynolide" as the dienophile synthesized by ring-forming olefin metathesis.

[reaction: see text] Novel C2-C3'N-linked macrocyclic taxoids are synthesized using intramolecular Heck reaction in the key step. Macrocyclization proceeds with high regioselectivity in good yield. Taxoids bearing an olefin moiety at C2 and an iodide at C3'N give exo-products exclusively. However, the endo-products are formed with up to 100% regioselectivity just by switching the positions of the olefin and the iodide moieties. Some of these macrocyclic taxoids are significantly cytotoxic.

A series of novel macrocyclic taxoids 6 and 6‘ bearing 16-, 17-, and 18-membered rings connecting the substituents at the C-2 and C-3‘ positions were designed and synthesized. The syntheses of these macrocycles 6 and 6‘ were accomplished using the highly efficient ruthenium-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis (RCM) of taxoid-ω,ω‘-dienes 7 in the key step. Taxoid-ω,ω‘-dienes 7 were obtained through the ring-opening coupling of 4-alkenyl-β-lactams 9 with 2-alkenoylbaccatins 8 in good to high yields. Although various novel pentacyclic macrocycles 6 and 6‘ were successfully synthesized, there were cases in which the desired RCM did not proceed. The scope and limitation of RCM in its application to highly functionalized complex substrates are discussed. All macrocyclic taxoids 6 and 6‘ were found to be cytotoxic, with some of them exhibiting submicromolar IC50 values against a human breast cancer cell line.