Synthesis and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-12 inhibitory activity of ageladine A and its analogs

Ageladine A (1) and its analogs 2–10 were expeditiously synthesized by featuring the biosynthetic route proposed for 1 (for 1–10) and by employing 2-(N-t-butoxycarbonylamino)imidazol-4-carbaldehyde as the starting material (for 1–8). From MMP-12 inhibitory activity assay, it appeared evident that the two bromine atoms and the three NH groups (1-NH, 14-NH, and 15-NH2) were indispensable for 1 to exhibit excellent activity.