Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase Inhibitors Isolated from the Sponge <i>Xestospongia vansoesti</i>: Structure Elucidation, Analogue Synthesis, and Biological Activity

Two new IDO inhibitory meroterpenoids, xestolactone A (1) and xestosaprol O (2), have been isolated from the sponge Xestospongia vansoesti. Xestolactone A (1) has an unprecedented degraded meroterpenoid carbon skeleton. A short synthesis of the xestosaprol O (2) analogues 3 and 4 features the application of a rarely used photochemical coupling reaction. Synthetic analogue 3 is ∼40 times more potent than the inspirational natural product 2.