Document Type

Poster Presentation

Publication Date

Spring 4-7-2026

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance remains a critical global health challenge, underscoring the urgent need for novel antibiotics with unique structural frameworks. β-Lactones represent a promising class of bioactive molecules with significant therapeutic potential. Interestingly, most β-lactone-based antibiotics reported to date share a common structural feature: relatively long α-side chains. Our research focuses on expanding the structural diversity of β-lactones to explore new biological activities. We have synthesized a series of β-lactones via boron-mediated aldol reactions of substituted acetic acids with aldehydes and ketones, followed by dialkyl carbodiimide-mediated lactonization of the resulting β-hydroxy acids. However, this approach imposes limitations on the length and nature of the acetic acid substituent. To overcome this constraint, we developed a strategy involving the synthesis of α-vinyl-β-lactones, enabling subsequent diversification through Heck coupling with various substituents. This presentation will discuss the synthetic methodology, structural diversification, and preliminary biological evaluation of these novel β-lactones.

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