Total Syntheses and Preliminary Biological Evaluation of Brominated Fascaplysin and Reticulatine Alkaloids and Their Analogues

Abstract

A simple approach toward the synthesis of the marine sponge derived pigment fascaplysin was used to obtain the marine alkaloids 3-bromofascaplysin and 3,10-dibromofascaplysin. These compounds were used for first syntheses of the alkaloids 14-bromoreticulatate and 14-bromoreticulatine. Preliminary bioassays showed that 14-bromoreticulatine has a selective antibiotic (to Pseudomonas aeruginosa) activity and reveals cytotoxicity toward human melanoma, colon, and prostate cancer cells. 3,10-Dibromofascaplysin was able to target metabolic activity of the prostate cancer cells, without disrupting cell membrane’s integrity and had a wide therapeutic window amongst the fascaplysin alkaloids.

Full text

Mar. Drugs 2019, 17, 496; doi:10.3390/md17090496 www.mdpi.com/journal/marinedrugs
Communication
Total Syntheses and Preliminary Biological
Evaluation of Brominated Fascaplysin and
Reticulatine Alkaloids and Their Analogues
Maxim E. Zhidkov 1,*, Polina A. Smirnova 1, Oleg A. Tryapkin 1, Alexey V. Kantemirov 1, Yuliya
V. Khudyakova 2, Olesya S. Malyarenko 2, Svetlana P. Ermakova 2, Valeria P. Grigorchuk 3,
Moritz Kaune 4, Gunhild von Amsberg 4,5 and Sergey A. Dyshlovoy 1,2,4,5
1 Department of organic chemistry and Laboratory of biologically active compounds, School of Natural
Sciences, Far Eastern Federal University, 8 Sukhanov Str., Vladivostok 690950, Russia
2 G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, 159 Prospekt 100 Let Vladivostoku, Vladivostok
690022, Russia
3 Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity (Institute of Biology and Soil Science), Far
Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 159 Prospect 100-Let Vladivostoku, Vladivostok
690022, Russia
4 Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation with Section Pneumology,
Hubertus Wald-Tumorzentrum, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg,
Germany
5 Martini-Klinik Prostate Cancer Center, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg,
Germany
* Correspondence: mzhidkov@rambler.ru; Tel.: +7-423-265-24-24 (423)
Received: 13 July 2019; Accepted: 22 August 2019; Published: 25 August 2019
Abstract: A simple approach toward the synthesis of the marine sponge derived pigment
fascaplysin was used to obtain the marine alkaloids 3-bromofascaplysin and 3,10-
dibromofascaplysin. These compounds were used for first syntheses of the alkaloids 14-
bromoreticulatate and 14-bromoreticulatine. Preliminary bioassays showed that 14-
bromoreticulatine has a selective antibiotic (to Pseudomonas aeruginosa) activity and reveals
cytotoxicity toward human melanoma, colon, and prostate cancer cells. 3,10-Dibromofascaplysin
was able to target metabolic activity of the prostate cancer cells, without disrupting cell membrane’s
integrity and had a wide therapeutic window amongst the fascaplysin alkaloids.
Keywords: total synthesis; 14-bromoreticulatine; 3,10-dibromofascaplysin; bioactivity
1. Introduction
Fascaplysin, homofascaplysins A–C, and their brominated analogues form the group of marine
alkaloids based on the 12H-pyrido [1–2-a:3,4-b’] diindole ring system [1]. The red pigment fascaplysin
(1, Figure 1) is the first isolated compound among these alkaloids and at the present time is the most
investigated one [2]. This compound could be used in the field of medicinal chemistry due to a broad
range of bioactivities including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antimalarial properties. In
addition, it is able to inhibit the proliferation of numerous cancer cell lines and reveals anti-
angiogenesis properties on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) [3–9]. Fascaplysin
suppresses the growth of S180 cell-implanted tumors in vivo [10]. Remarkably, it effectively decreases
the growth of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) spheroids derived from circulating tumor cells. In fact,
high numbers of circulating tumor cells are linked to the dismal prognosis of SCLC [11]. Its
mechanisms of action include the selective inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 4, which regulates

Mar. Drugs 2019, 17, 496 2 of 12
the G0–G1/S checkpoint of the cell cycle, the intercalation of DNA, and the induction of apoptosis,
partially, as a result of the activation of the TRAIL signaling pathway by the upregulation of DR5
expression [12–15]. It was also found that fascaplysin induced autophagy as a cytoprotective response
via ROS and p8 in vascular endothelial cells (VECs) [16]. A cooperative interaction between apoptotic
and autophagic pathways is exhibited by fascaplysin through the inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR
signaling cascade in human leukemia HL-60 cells [17]. It also causes the downregulation of survivin
and HIF-1α and inhibition of VEGFR2 and TRKA, and sensitizes anti-cancer effects of drugs targeting
AKT and AMPK [18,19]. Fascaplysin could be used as a P-gp inducer for the development of anti-
Alzheimer agents [20]. It may also serve as a “balanced agonist” of the µ-opioid receptor with a
signaling profile that resembles endorphins [21].
Cl Cl
N
H
N+
O
N+
R
N
H
6: X1 = H, X2 = H, R = COOMe
7: X1 = H, X2 = Br, R = COOMe
8: X1 = Br, X2 = Br, R = COOMe
9: X1 = X2 = H, R = COO-
10: X1 =H, X2 = Br, R = COO-
11: X1 = X2 = H, R = OH
12: X1 = H, X2 = Br, R = OH
14
7
3
10
1: X1 =X2 = H
2: X1 = H, X2 = Cl
3: X1 = H, X2 = Br
4: X1 = Br, X2= H
5: X1 = X2 = Br
X1 X1
X2 X2
Figure 1. Structures of fascaplysin (1) and its derivatives (2–5); reticulatine (6), 14-bromoreticulatine
(7), 7,14-dibromoreticulatine (8), reticulatate (9), 14-bromoreticulatate (10), reticulatol (11), 14–
bromoreticulatol (12).
Remarkably, some derivatives of fascaplysin were found to have an increased therapeutic
potential compared to the parental alkaloid. Thus, methylation of fascaplysin at C-9 results in the
more potent Aβ aggregation inhibitor than alkaloid 1 [22]. The synthetic chloro derivative of
fascaplysin (2) inhibited the VEGF-mediated microvessel sprouting with blood vessel formation in
the matrigel plug of C57/BL6J mice and the tumor growth in ET (solid) mouse tumor model [23]. In
addition, natural 3- and 10-bromofascaplysins (3,4) showed anti-cancer activity at submicromolar
concentrations. This was, at least in part, mediated through the induction of caspase-8, -9, and -3-
dependent apoptosis [24]. Antitumor effects of 3-bromofascaplysin and 10-bromofascaplysin were
comprehensively examined in an in vitro glioma C6 cell model. The cytotoxic efficiency of
compounds 3 and 4 was higher than that of unsubstituted fascaplysin; 3-bromofascaplysin exhibited
the best capacity to kill glioma C6 cells [25]. 3,10-Dibromofascaplysin (5)—the last representative of
fascaplysin alkaloids was synthesized in eight steps from 6-bromoindole and 4-amino-2-
bromotoluene, but the therapeutic potential of that perspective compound has not been investigated
yet [26].
Herein, we report the two-step method for the syntheses of 3-bromofascaplysin and 3,10-
dibromofascaplysin, which has been previously used for the synthesis of fascaplysin. The similarity
in structures lets us to use these compounds as starting materials for the first syntheses of several
alkaloids of reticulatine group (compounds 6–12, Figure 1, [27]). Also, the bioactivities of the obtained
compounds were investigated.

Mar. Drugs 2019, 17, 496 3 of 12
2. Results
2.1. Chemistry
Several groups have synthesized fascaplysin and its naturally occurring analogs and more than
10 syntheses have been reported to date [28–38]. Among them the two-step scheme by Zhu et al. is
the most suitable for the preparation of the target compounds [36]. To apply that synthetic scheme
for the synthesis of 3,10-dibromofascaplysin, the reaction between 3-bromophenylhydrazine (13) and
4-bromobutanal (14) in an autoclave at 150 °C was used to prepare the mixture of 6-bromotryptamine
(15) and 4-bromotryptamine (16) (Scheme 1). Thereafter, the obtained mixture and 2,4-
dibromoacetophenone (17) were subjected to the cascade coupling protocol, previously developed
by Zhu et al., which included the sequential iodination of the corresponding acetophenone, the
Kornblum oxidation of the intermediate in the presence of DMSO to phenylglyoxal, and its Pictet–
Spengler condensation with the derivative of tryptamine followed by the oxidation of the
intermediate. After chromatography purification, two isomeric 1-benzoyl-β-carbolines (18, 19) were
obtained with the yields of 20% and 19%, respectively. These products were subsequently
transformed to 3,10-dibromofascaplysin (5) and its isomer 20 according to the procedure reported by
the group of Radchenko [31].
Br
NH
NH2
Br N
H
N
Br
Br
O
N
H
N
Br
Br
O
Br
Br N
H
N+
Br
O
N
H
N+
Br
O
Br
NH2
N
H
Br
NH2
Br
N
H
20%
19%
91%
93%
ab
16
13 15
18
19
c
5
20
57%
c
+
Cl-
Cl-
Scheme 1. Reagents and conditions. (a) 4-bromobutanal (14, 4.0 equiv.), EtOH, H2O, autoclave, 150
°C, 1 h; (b) 2,4-dibromoacetophenone (17) (1 equiv.), I2 (0.8 equiv.), DMSO, 110 °C, 1 h, then
tryptamines 15, 16 (1.0 equiv.), DMSO, 110 °C, 4 h; (c) 220 °C, 15 min, then HCl (aq).
3-Bromofascaplysin was prepared in a similar manner from tryptamine (21) and 2,4-
dibromoacetophenone (17) with a total yield of 32%. Taking into account the high biological activity
of synthetic chloro derivatives of fascaplysin, we obtained the corresponding derivative at C-2 (25)
from tryptamine and 2,5-dichloroacetophenone (22) by a similar method (Scheme 2) [20].

Mar. Drugs 2019, 17, 496 4 of 12
N
H
NH2
N
H
N+
O
N
H
N
O
CH3
O
ab
3: X1 = H, X2 = Br, 84%
25: X1 = Cl, X2 = H, 70%
Cl-
21
+
X1
X2
X3
17, 23: X1=H, X2=Br, X3=Br
22, 24: X1=Cl, X2=H, X3=Cl
17, 22
X1
X2
X3
23, 38%
24, 44%
X1
X2
Scheme 2. Reagents and conditions. (a) I2 (0.8 equiv.), DMSO, 110 °C, 1 h, then tryptamine (1.0 equiv.),
DMSO, 110 °C, 4 h; (b) 220 °C, 15 min, then HCl (aq).
Previously zwitter-ionic β-carboline 26 was obtained from fascaplysin that was treated with
aqueous solution of NaOH or 30% NH4OH [39]. After optimization of the reaction conditions 14-
bromoreticulatate (10) and its dibromo analog (27, not isolated from marine organisms) were
obtained from compounds 3 and 5 in DMF at r.t. with 86% and 80% yields, respectively (Scheme 3).
Different conditions for methylation of compounds 10 and 27 were investigated, including (i) the
interaction with diazomethane; (ii) with POCl3 and following treatment with methanol; (iii) the
reaction with dimethyl sulfate. In the latter case, best results were achieved. However, 7,14-
dibromoreticulatine (8) was not obtained after methylation of compound 27. Instead, the product of
dimethylation (28) was obtained. Because of the insolubility of compound 28 in most solvents, only
MS and 1H NMR were used to identify its structure. The spectral characteristics of synthetic 3-
bromofascaplysin, 3,10-dibromofascaplysin, 14-bromoreticulatate, and 14-bromoreticulatine were
identical to those of the natural products.
Cl
Cl
Cl
O
N+
N
H
N+
OCH3
O
N
H
Br
N+
O
O
N
H
N
N+
OCH3
O
CH3
Br
Br
14
14
b
7
14
7
3
10
1: X1 = X2 = H,
3: X1 = H, X2 = Br,
5: X1 = X2 = Br
26: X1 = X2 = H, 54% from [39]
10: X1 = H, X2 = Br, 86%
27: X1 = X2 = Br, 80%
a
b
for 10
for 27
X1
X2 X2
X1
7, 52%
for 3, 5
28, 48%
Scheme 3. Reagents and conditions–(a) NaOH (4 equiv.), DMF, r.t., 0.5 h; (b) (CH3)2SO4 (4 equiv.),
CH3CN, 1 h.
2.2. Biology
The bioactivities of obtained compounds were investigated using fascaplysin (1) as a standard.
First, the cytotoxic effects of the compounds against human colorectal carcinoma (HT-29), human
breast cancer (T-47D), and melanoma (SK-MEL-28) cell lines were evaluated by MTS assay (Table 1).
The cells were incubated with different concentrations of the respective compounds (0–5 µM) for 24
h. The concentration that caused inhibition of 50% of cell viability (IC50) was 5 µM for compound 1
against T-47D cells. Other investigated compounds were less cytotoxic against this type of cancer
cells at concentrations up to 5 µM. However, the IC50 of 1, 3, and 7 were detected at concentrations
ranging from 1.1 to 1.9 µM against SK-MEL-28 cells. Among the investigated cancer cells, the most

Mar. Drugs 2019, 17, 496 5 of 12
resistant cell line to the cytotoxic effect of the compounds was found to be breast cancer cells T-47D,
while the most sensitive were melanoma cells SK-MEL-28. It was shown that compounds 1 and 3
possessed comparable IC50 against colorectal carcinoma cells HT-29. Our results indicated that the
investigated compounds reveal selective cytotoxic effects to different cancer cell lines, with highest
efficacy in melanoma cells SK-MEL-28.
Table 1. Cytotoxic activities of fascaplysin and its derivatives. Values are indicated as mean ±
standard deviation.
Compound
Inhibiting Concentration, (IC50), µM IC50
(ViCell)/IC50
(MTT) for
22Rv1 Cells
HT-29 a T-47D
a SK-MEL-28
a PC-3
b 22Rv1
b 22Rv1
c
Fascaplysin (1) 2.7 ± 0.05 5 ± 0.2 1.3 ± 0.08 0.78 ± 0.16 0.24 ± 0.04 0.34 ± 0.11 1.39
3-Bromofascaplysin (3) 3.3 ± 0.12 >5 1.9 ± 0.04 10 ± 1.75 0.42 ± 0.29 0.24 ± 0.14 0.58
Compound 20 >5 >5 >5 1.39 ± 0.43 0.21 ± 0.04 0.26 ± 0.05 1.24
Compound 25 >5 >5 1.8±0.02 0.91 ± 0.06 0.27 ± 0.01 0.5 ± 0.19 1.88
14-Bromoreticulatate
(10) >5 >5 >5 n/d n/d n/d n/d
14-Bromoreticulatine
(7) >5 >5 1.2 ± 0.1 > 50 35.72 ± 10.1 n/d n/d
3,10-
Dibromofascaplysin
(5)
>5 >5 >5 7.28 ± 0.73 0.69 ± 0.05 5.14 ± 1.16 7.45
IC50, the concentration of compounds that caused a 50% reduction in cell viability of tested normal
and cancer cells; a MTS assay was used; b MTT assay was used; c ViCell assay (trypan blue exclusion)
was used, n/d—not determined.
We have also investigated the effect of the synthesized compounds on the viability and the
growth of human prostate cancer drug-resistant PC-3 and 22Rv1 cells. IC50s of the substances have
been determined by both, MTT and trypan blue exclusion assay (ViCell assay) (Table 1, Figure 2). It
is known that MTT assay accesses the metabolic activity of the cells, while the trypan blue exclusion
assay shows the alive cells with either intact (non-stained) or disrupted (stained) membranes.
Compound 20 was identified to be the most active among the tested fascaplysin derivatives.
However, its cytotoxicity determined by MTT assay was within the range of compounds 3 and 25
and fascaplysin (1). Interestingly, compound 5, having a higher IC50 of 0.69 ± 0.14 µM, had a very
smooth cytotoxicity profile, suggesting a wide therapeutic window (Figure 2). Moreover, for
compound 5, the IC50 determined by trypan blue exclusion assay was ~8-fold higher than the IC50
accessed using MTT test. In contrast, for the other compounds the difference of the IC50s generated
by the two different methods was distinctly less pronounced. This may indicate an antimetabolic
effect of compound 5 rather an effect on the cell membrane integrity (necrotic-like cell death).
Compound 5 starts to suppress cancer cell viability/proliferation already at 0.1 µM, while the ranges
of active concentrations for the other two tested compounds were rather narrow. Fascaplysin (1)
started to suppress cancer cell viability/proliferation at 0.125 µM. Remarkably, for this compound no
difference between IC50s generated with the two different methods was observed. The high potential
of compound 5 for therapeutic assays was also confirmed by its low cytotoxity (IC50 50 µM) against
normal MRC-9 lung cells.

Mar. Drugs 2019, 17, 496 6 of 12
Figure 2. Effect of the compounds on viability of 22Rv1 cells. The effect was accessed using MTT
assay. Cells were treated with the compounds for 48 h. The values are presented as mean expression
levels ± SD are shown.
It is known that fascaplysins exhibit potent but nonselective antibiotic activities. To evaluate
activity of reticulatines in comparison to known fascaplysin derivatives, compounds 1, 3, 7, 25 were
studied in vitro for antibiotic activity against several microbes using the disk diffusion soft agar assay
as shown in Table 2. 14-Bromoreticulatine (7) showed potent activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa
while it exhibited low activity or no activity at all against other tested microbes. As expected, high
and non-selective antibiotic activities were demonstrated for the other tested compounds (1, 3, 25).
Table 2. Antibiotic activity of compounds 1, 3, 25, and 7.
Compound Conc.,
mg/disc
Zone Unit Differentials in the Disk Diffusion Soft Agar Assay a
Bacillus
subtilis
(KMM 430)
Staphylococcus
aureus (ATCC
21027)
Pseudomonas
aeruginosa
(KMM 433)
Escherichia coli
(ATCC 15034)
Candida
albicans
(KMM 455)
1 0.4 25 25 >35 20 n/a
3 0.1 25 20 >35 20 *
25 0.2 20 20 >35 20 n/a
7 0.2 10 n/a >35 10 n/a
a Measured in mm; * fungistatic effect; n/a, not active.
3. Materials and Methods
3.1. Chemistry
All starting materials are commercially available. Commercial reagents were used without any
purification. The products were isolated by MPLC: Buchi B-688 pump, glass column C-690 (15 × 460
mm) with Silica gel (particle size 0.015–0.040 mm), UV-detector Knauer K-2001. The analytical
examples were purified by Shimadzu HPLC system (model: LC-20AP) equipped with a RID detector
(model: RID 10A) using Supelco C18 (5 µm, 4.6 × 250 mm) column using ACN:water (20:80, 50:50,
70:30) mobile phase by isocratic elution at flow rate of 1 mL/min. NMR spectra were recorded with a
NMR instrument operating at 400 MHz (1H) and 100 MHz (13C). Proton spectra were referenced to
TMS as internal standard, in some cases, to the residual signal of used solvents. Carbon chemical
shifts were determined relative to the 13C signal of TMS or used solvents. Chemical shifts are given
on the δ scale (ppm). Coupling constants (J) are given in Hz. Multiplicities are indicated as follows: s
(singlet), d (doublet), t (triplet), q (quartet), m (multiplet), or br (broadened). The original spectra of
the relative compounds could be found in Supplementary Materials. High-resolution mass spectra
(HRMS) were obtained with a time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray
source at atmospheric pressure ionization (ESI).
3.1.1. Preparation of Mixture of Tryptamines 15 and 16
A mixture of 4-bromobutanal (1.33 g, 8.8 mmol), 3–bromophenylhydrazine hydrochloride (0.50
g, 2.2 mmol), EtOH (3 mL), and H2O (1 mL) was placed into an autoclave and heated at 150 °C for 1
h. After cooling, the mixture was poured into H2O (100 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (3 × 50 mL).
Then aqueous solution was treated with NaOH to pH 12 and extracted with CH2Cl2 (3 × 50 mL). The
combined organic layer was washed with brine (2 × 100 mL), dried over Na2SO4, and evaporated.
After flash column chromatography (EtOAc, then EtOH/NH3), compounds 15 and 16 were isolated
as a mixture in ratio of 1:1 (brown oil, 300 mg, 57%).
3.1.2. Preparation of Substituted 1-Benzoyl-β-Carbolines 18, 19, 23, 24
Corresponding acetophenone (0.458 mmol) and iodine (92 mg, 0.366 mmol) were added to 2 mL
of DMSO, and the resulting solution was heated at 90 °C for 1 h. After that tryptamine, its derivative
or their mixture (0.458 mmol) was added to the solution and this solution was stirred at the same

Mar. Drugs 2019, 17, 496 7 of 12
temperature for 3–4 h till completion of reaction (monitored by TLC). Then the reaction mixture was
cooled to room temperature followed by the addition of water (50 mL) and extraction with EtOAc (2
× 25 mL). The extract was washed with 10% Na2S2O3, dried over Na2SO4, filtered and evaporated
under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by MPLC using benzene and benzene/hexanes as
eluent to give the desired product.
For 1-(2,4-dibromobenzoyl)-7-bromo-β-carboline (18): yellow solid, 20%. 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3):
δ 10.45 (br. s, 1H), 8.57 (d, J = 4.9 Hz, 1H), 8.15 (d, J = 4.9 Hz, 1H), 8.05 (d, J = 8.3 Hz, 1H), 7.88 (d, J =
1.7 Hz, 1H), 7.79 (d, J = 1.1 Hz, 1H), 7.62 (dd, J = 8.3, 1.7 Hz, 1H), 7.50 (dd, J = 8.3, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.46 (d,
J = 8.2 Hz, 1H). 13C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ 196.7, 141.4, 138.9, 138.4, 136.5, 135.2, 134.7, 130.9, 130.6,
129.8, 124.4, 124.2, 122.9, 122.6, 120.5, 119.2, 118.9, 114.8. HRMS-ESI, m/z: [M + H]+ calculated for
C18H1079Br3N2O+: 506.8340, found 506.8345.
For 1-(2,4-dibromobenzoyl)-5-bromo-β-carboline (19): yellow solid, 19%. 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3):
δ 10.55 (br. s, 1H), 8.81 (d, J = 5.1 Hz, 1H), 8.62 (d, J = 5.1 Hz, 1H), 7.88 (d, J = 1.8 Hz, 1H), 7.63 (dd, J =
3.2, 1.4 Hz, 1H), 7.61 (dd, J = 2.9, 1.4 Hz, 1H), 7.54–7.58 (m, 1H), 7.51 (d, J = 7.80 Hz, 1H), 7.46 (d, J =
8.2 Hz, 1H). 13C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ 197.5, 142.4, 142.4, 139.4, 139.1, 137.0, 135.9, 135.1, 131.6,
131.3, 130.4, 130.2, 125.4, 125.1, 121.5, 121.2, 118.5, 111.3. HRMS-ESI, m/z: [M + H]+ calculated for
C18H1079Br3N2O+ 506.8340, found 506.8347.
For 1-(2,4-dibromobenzoyl)-β-carboline (23): yellow solid, 38%. 1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ
12.23 (br. s, 1H, NH), 8.48 (d, J = 4.9, 1H, H-3), 8.44 (d, J = 4.9, 1H, H-4), 8.34 (d, J = 7.9, 1H, H-5), 8.02
(d, J = 1.9, 1H, H-3’), 7.85 (d, J = 8.0, 1H, H-8), 7.76 (dd, J = 8.3, 1.9, 1H, H-5’), 7.64 (ddd, J = 7.2, 7.2, 1.0,
1H, H-7), 7.57 (d, J = 8.3, 1H, H-6’), 7.35 (ddd, J = 7.2, 7.2, 1.0, 1H, H-6). 13C-NMR (100 MHz, DMSO-
d6): δ 195.9, 142.0, 140.5, 137.9, 135.3, 134.8, 134.3, 131.4, 131.0, 130.3, 129.2, 128.3, 123.2, 121.9, 120.5,
120.0, 119.8, 113.1. HRMS-ESI, m/z: [M + H]+ calculated for C18H1179Br2N2O+ 428.9235, found 428.9239.
For 1-(2,5-dichlorobenzoyl)-β-carboline (24): yellow solid, 44%. 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 10.38
(br. s, 1H), 8.57 (d, J = 4.9 Hz, 1H), 8.19 (m, 2H), 7.65 (m, 2H), 7.57 (t, J = 1.4 Hz, 1H), 7.43 (d, J = 1.1 Hz,
2H), 7.39 (m, 1H). 13C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ 196.1, 141.2, 139.6, 139.0, 136.8, 134.9, 132.5, 132.0,
131.1, 131.1, 130.1, 129.7, 129.6, 122.0, 121.2, 120.7, 119.5, 112.2. HRMS-ESI, m/z: [M + H]+ calculated
for C18H1135Cl2N2O+ 341.0247, found 341.0242.
3.1.3. Preparation of Fascaplysin Derivatives
Substituted 1-benzoyl-β-carboline (0.326 mmol) was heated in sealed tube at 220 °C for 15 min.
After cooling, the reaction mixture was washed with EtOAc (3 × 3 mL) and H2O (3 × 10 mL). The
combined aqueous layer was acidified with hydrochloric acid and evaporated under reduced
pressure to give target product as a red powder.
For 3,10-dibromofascaplysin (5): red solid, 91%. 1H NMR (400 MHz, MeOH-d4): δ 9.38 (d, J = 6.4, 1H,
H-6), 8.97 (d, J = 6.4, 1H, H-7), 8.69 (bs, 1H, H-4), 8,41 (d, J = 8.8, 1H, H-8), 8.05 (d, J = 1.4, 1H, H-11),
7.97 (d, J = 0.8 × 2, 2H, H-1, H-2), 7.71 (dd, J = 8.6, 1.7, 1H, H-9). 13C-NMR (100 MHz, MeOH-d4): δ
180.2, 147.7, 147.6, 140.8, 134.0, 131.4, 130.7, 128.7, 126.6, 126.4, 126.0, 124.8, 122.7, 119.5, 119.5, 118.7,
118.4, 115.9. 13C-NMR (100 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ 181.3, 148.0, 147.8, 140.2, 134.4, 131.2, 130.5, 128.2,
127.7, 127.1, 126.6, 126.1, 123.5, 123.3, 120.8, 119.6, 118.6, 116.4. HRMS-ESI, m/z: [M]+ calculated for
C18H979Br2N2O+ 426.9079, found 426.9085.
For compound 20: red solid, 93%. 1H-NMR (400 MHz, MeOH-d4): δ 9.44 (d, J = 4.7 Hz, 1 H), 9.36 (d,
J = 4.5 Hz, 1 H), 8.76 (s, 1 H), 7.98 (s, 2 H), 7.76–7.88 (m, 3 H). 13C-NMR (100 MHz, MeOH-d4): δ 180.1,
148.1, 147.5, 140.1, 134.5, 134.2, 131.4, 130.7, 126.8, 126.0, 122.7, 122.4, 120.3, 119.5, 118.9, 118.9, 118.5,
112.2. HRMS-ESI, m/z: [M]+ calculated for C18H979Br2N2O+ 426.9079, found 426.9083.
For 3-bromofascaplysin (3): red solid, 84%. 1H-NMR (400 MHz, MeOH-d4): δ 9.35 (d, J = 6.2, 1H, H-
6), 8.95 (d, J = 6.2, 1H, H-7), 8.68 (s, 1H, H-4), 8.48 (d, J = 8.1, 1H, H-8), 7.93 (s, 2H, H-1, H-2), 7.88 (t, J
= 7.6, 1H, H-10), 7.79 (d, J = 8.1, 1H, H-11), 7.52 (t, J = 7.6, 1H, H-9). 13C-NMR (100 MHz, MeOH-d4): δ

Mar. Drugs 2019, 17, 496 8 of 12
182.0, 149.4, 148.9, 143.1, 136.0, 135.6, 132.3, 132.2, 127.7, 127.6, 125.1, 124.5, 124.5, 123.8, 121.1, 120.9,
120.3, 114.5. HRMS-ESI, m/z: [M]+ calculated for C18H1079BrN2O+ 348.9974, found 348.9980.
For compound 25: red solid, 70%. 1H-NMR (400 MHz, MeOH-d4): δ 9.36 (d, J = 5.8, 1H), 8.96 (d, J =
6.0, 1H), 8.49 (d, J = 8.0, 1H), 8.35 (d, J = 8.6, 1H), 8.05 (d, J = 1.2, 1H), 7.98 (d, J = 7.5, 1H), 7.90 (d, J =
6.8, 1H), 7.82 (m, 1H), 7.55 (t, J = 7.6, 1H). 13C-NMR (100 MHz, MeOH-d4): δ 180.3, 147.2, 145.3, 136.7,
135.8, 134.3, 127.6, 126.5, 126.2, 126.1, 125.8, 124.9, 123.6, 123.0, 121.9, 119.5, 116.3, 112.9. HRMS-ESI,
m/z: [M]+ calculated for C18H1035ClN2O+ 305.0480, found 305.0486.
3.1.4. Preparation of Compounds 10, 27
A solution of compound 3 or 5 (0.15 mmol) in DMF (10 mL) was treated with solution of NaOH
(24 mg, 0.6 mmol) in 0.1 mL of H2O at room temperature for 0.5 h. The mixture was neutralized with
AcOH and evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was washed with Et2O and dried.
For 14-bromoreticulatate (10): yellow solid, 86%. 1H-NMR (400 MHz, MeOH-d4): δ 9.37 (s, 1H), 8.75
(d, J = 6.3, 1H), 8.59 (d, J = 6.5, 1H), 8.47 (d, J = 8.1, 1H), 8.17 (d, J = 8.4, 1H), 8.06 (s, 1H), 8.00 (d, J = 8.4,
1H), 7.83 (m, 2H), 7.50 (t, J = 7.4, 1H). 13C-NMR (100 MHz, MeOH-d4): δ 152.1, 144.6, 142.4, 134.2,
133.4, 133.4, 133.1, 132.1, 131.9, 130.0, 129.1, 123.0, 122.7, 121.5, 119.5, 119.0, 116.0, 112.1. HRMS-ESI,
m/z: [M]+ calculated for C18H1279BrN2O2+ 367.0079, found 367.0084.
For compound 27: insoluble in most solvents ivory solid, 80%. It was introduced into next step
without further purification.
3.1.5. Preparation of 14-Bromoreticulatine (7) and Compound 28
A mixture of compound 10 or 27 (0.08 mmol), acetonitrile (1 mL), sodium carbonate (0.57 mmol)
and dimethyl sulfate (0.32 mmol) was stirred at room temperature for 0.5 h. The mixture was
evaporated under reduced pressure and washed with H2O (3 mL). The resulting oil was triturated
with Et2O and dried.
For 14-bromoreticulatine (7): yellow solid, 52%. 1H-NMR (400 MHz, MeOH-d4): δ 9.40 (s, 1H), 8.76
(d, J = 6.4 Hz, 1H), 8.60 (d, J = 6.4 Hz, 1H), 8.48 (d, J = 8.1 Hz, 1H), 8.20 (d, J = 8.5 Hz, 1H), 8.12 (d, J =
1.9 Hz, 1H), 8.05 (dd, J = 8.5, 1.8 Hz, 1H), 7.79–7.87 (m, 2H), 7.50 (ddd, J = 7.5, 7.5, 0.9 Hz, 1H), 3.64 (s,
3H). 13C-NMR (100 MHz, MeOH-d4): δ 162.8, 144.8, 143.2, 134.2, 134.2, 133.7, 133.1, 132.8, 132.4, 130.8,
130.0, 127.1, 124.5, 122.8, 121.7, 119.0, 116.1, 112.3, 51.5. HRMS-ESI, m/z: [M]+ calculated for
C19H1479BrN2O2+ 381.0235, found 381.0242.
For compound 28: yellow solid 48%. 1H-NMR (400 MHz, MeOH-d4): δ 8.90 (br. s, 1H), 8.43 (d, J = 6.1
Hz, 1H), 8.20 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 1H), 8.05 (d, J = 6.3 Hz, 1H), 7.91 (s, 1H), 7.77–7.88 (m, 3H), 7.26 (d, J = 8.4
Hz, 1H), 3.69 (s, 4 H), 3.35 (s, 3H). HRMS-ESI, m/z: [M]+ calculated for C20H1579Br2N2O2+ 473.0096, found
473.0103.
3.2. Biological Evaluation
McCoy’s 5A Medium (McCoy), Roswell Park Memorial Institute Medium (RPMI 1640),
Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM), phosphate buffered saline (PBS), L-glutamine,
penicillin–streptomycin solution, trypsin, fetal bovine serum (FBS), sodium hydrocarbonate
(NaHCO3), and agar were purchased from “Biolot” (Russia).
3.2.1. Cell Lines and Culture Conditions
Human colorectal carcinoma HT-29 (ATCC® no. HTB-38™), human breast cancer T-47D (ATCC®
no. HTB-133™), and melanoma SK-MEL-28 (ATCC® no. HTB-72™) cell lines were gifted by Hormel
Institute University of Minnesota (Austin, MN, USA). Human prostate cancer PC-3 (ATCC® no. CRL-
1435™) and 22Rv1 (ATCC® no. CRL-2505) cells were purchased from ATCC (Manassas, VA, USA).
Human colorectal carcinoma HT-29, human breast cancer T-47D, and melanoma SK-MEL-28 cell lines
were cultured in McCoy, RPMI-1640, and DMEM medium, respectively. Medium were

Mar. Drugs 2019, 17, 496 9 of 12
supplemented with 5% and 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 200 mM L-glutamine, and penicillin-
streptomycin solution. The cell cultures were maintained at 37 °C in humidified atmosphere
containing 5% CO2. The human prostate cancer PC-3 and 22Rv1 cells were cultured according to the
manufacturer’s instructions in RPMI media (Invitrogen), supplemented with GlutamaxTM-I
(Invitrogen, Paisley, UK) and contained 10% FBS (Invitrogen) and 1% penicillin/streptomycin
(Invitrogen). Cells were continuously kept in culture for a maximum of 3 months, and were routinely
checked for contamination with mycoplasma and inspected microscopically for stable phenotype.
Several test cultures were used to determine antibiotic activity, including Bacillus subtilis (KMM 430),
Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 21027), P. aeruginosa (KMM 433), Escherichia coli (ATCC 15034), and
Candida albicans (KMM 455). All cultures are stored in the collection of marine microorganisms of the
PIBOC FEB RAS, the official acronym of CMM [40]. Antibiotic activity was determined with the disk
diffusion soft agar assay as described before [41].
3.2.2. Cytotoxicity Assays
MTS and MTT assays were used as an indicator of cell viability as determined by mitochondrial-
dependent reduction of formazan or its salts. For MTS assay, the cells were seeded in density of 1.0 ×
104 cells/200 µL of complete medium in 96-well plates. After incubation for 24 h attached cells were
treated with various concentrations of the compounds (0.05; 0.1; 0.5; 1; 5 µM), while the control was
treated with the complete McCoy, RPMI-1640, and DMEM medium only. Cells were cultured for
additional 24 h at 37 °C in 5% CO2 incubator. After incubation, MTS-reagent (20 µL) was added to
each well, and then cells were incubated for 3 h at 37 °C in 5% CO2. Absorbance was measured at
490/630 nm by microplate reader (Power Wave XS, American). All tested samples were carried out
in triplicates. MTT assay was performed as previously described with the 48 h drug treatment [42].
The trypan-blue-based viability assay (ViCell assay) was performed using Beckman Coulter Vi-CELL
(Beckman Coulter, Krefeld, Germany) as has been described before [43].
3.2.3. Statistical Analysis
Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism software v. 5.01 (GraphPad Prism
software Inc., La Jolla, CA, USA). Data are presented as mean ± SD. The unpaired Student’s t-test was
used for the comparison of two groups. Statistical significance was represented as * p < 0.05 and ** p
< 0.01.
4. Conclusions
Thus, the two-step approach toward the synthesis of the marine sponge derived pigment
fascaplysin was used to obtain the marine alkaloids 3-bromofascaplysin and 3,10-
dibromofascaplysin. These compounds were used as the starting materials for first syntheses of the
alkaloids 14-bromoreticulatine and 14-bromoreticulatate. Preliminary bioassays showed that 14-
bromoreticulatine reveals selective antibiotic (to P. aeruginosa) and cytotoxic (to melanoma SK-MEL-
28 cell line) activities. It was also demonstrated that 3,10-dibromofascaplysin was able to suppress
the cell metabolism at concentrations at least 7 times lower than the cytotoxic concentrations, which
induced cell membrane disruption. The examination of biological activity of the synthesized
compounds showed that even minimal modification of fascaplysin structure has a significant effect
on the bioactivity of this lead compound. At the present time, the biological activities of a large series
of novel synthetic derivatives of fascaplysin are being investigated thoroughly. This should open new
opportunities for the detailed studies of the structure–activity relationships among these potent and
promising biologically active substances.
Supplementary Materials: The following are available online at www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/17/9/496/s1,
Comparison of 1H-NMR data of synthetic and natural 3-bromofascaplysin, 3.10-dibromofascaplysin, 14-
bromoreticulatate and 14-bromoreticulatine. Spectra Data.
Author Contributions: P.A.S., O.A.T., A.V.K., and M.E.Z. performed the chemical research. Y.V.K., O.S.M.,
S.P.E., M.K., G.v.A., and S.A.D. performed the biological research. V.P.G. analyzed the data. M.E.Z. was

Mar. Drugs 2019, 17, 496 10 of 12
responsible for the funding of project, the design of the research, and the writing of the manuscript. All authors
read and approved the final manuscript.
Funding: This research was funded by the FEFU Endowment Foundation grant number D-349-17. And the APC
was funded by grant D-349-17.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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