Synthesis and biological evaluation of cyclic derivatives of combretastatin A-4 containing group 14 elements.

Several tricyclic compounds inspired by the structure of combretastatin A-4 and bearing group 14 elements have been synthesized by homocoupling lithiated aryl fragments followed by ring-closing metathesis. These tricyclic compounds and their diolefin precursors were evaluated for their antiproliferative action on the tumor cell lines HT-29, MCF-7, HeLa and A-549 and on the non-tumor cell line HEK-293. In addition, their effects on the cell cycle were also measured. The tricyclic compounds show antiproliferative activity similar to that of combretastatin A-4, even though they are not so active in arresting the cell cycle. However, some diolefin precursors are able to cause accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase in a higher percentage than combretastatin A-4 itself. Inhibition of endothelial tube formation and VEGFR-2 phosphorylation of some selected compounds is comparable to that of combretastatin A-4, particularly those of tin-containing compounds 23c and 26c, whose actions exceed those of sorafenib, a clinically used VEGFR-2 inhibitor.

Arylureas derived from colchicine: Enhancement of colchicine oncogene downregulation activity.

Our efforts to get therapeutically useful colchicine derivatives for the treatment of cancer have led us to synthetize and biologically evaluate twenty-seven N,N'-disubstituted ureas containing a colchicine moiety and an aryl fragment. The cytotoxicity of the compounds, their ability to inhibit the expression of oncogenes related to telomerase activation and to the VEGF/VEGFR-2 autocrine process, such as c-MYC, hTERT and VEGF and their capability to downregulate c-MYC and VEGFR-2 proteins and the secretion of VEGF have been measured. In these biological evaluations, we have found that the change of the acetyl group in colchicines for an N-arylurea unit causes a great improvement in anticancer properties. The most promising derivatives were compounds 6 (o-Cl) and 14 (o,o-di-F) as they were able to downregulate all the tested targets at a concentration below their IC50 values. Thus, the arylurea unit enhances the potential of colchicine as an anticancer agent.

Selective targeting of collagen IV in the cancer cell microenvironment reduces tumor burden.

Goodpasture antigen-binding protein (GPBP) is an exportable1 Ser/Thr kinase that induces collagen IV expansion and has been associated with chemoresistance following epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here we demonstrate that cancer EMT phenotypes secrete GPBP (mesenchymal GPBP) which displays a predominant multimeric oligomerization and directs the formation of previously unrecognized mesh collagen IV networks (mesenchymal collagen IV). Yeast two-hybrid (YTH) system was used to identify a 260SHCIE264 motif critical for multimeric GPBP assembly which then facilitated design of a series of potential peptidomimetics. The compound 3-[4''-methoxy-3,2'-dimethyl-(1,1';4',1'')terphenyl-2''-yl]propionic acid, or T12, specifically targets mesenchymal GPBP and disturbs its multimerization without affecting kinase catalytic site. Importantly, T12 reduces growth and metastases of tumors populated by EMT phenotypes. Moreover, low-dose doxorubicin sensitizes epithelial cancer precursor cells to T12, thereby further reducing tumor load. Given that T12 targets the pathogenic mesenchymal GPBP, it does not bind significantly to normal tissues and therapeutic dosing was not associated with toxicity. T12 is a first-in-class drug candidate to treat cancer by selectively targeting the collagen IV of the tumor cell microenvironment.

Design, synthesis and antimalarial evaluation of novel thiazole derivatives.

As part of our medicinal chemistry program's ongoing search for compounds with antimalarial activity, we prepared a series of thiazole analogs and conducted a SAR study analyzing their in vitro activities against the chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 strain. The results indicate that modifications of the N-aryl amide group linked to the thiazole ring are the most significant in terms of in vitro antimalarial activity, leading to compounds with high antimalarial potency and low cytotoxicity in HepG2 cell lines. Furthermore, the observed SAR implies that non-bulky, electron-withdrawing groups are preferred at ortho position on the phenyl ring, whereas small atoms such as H or F are preferred at para position. Finally, replacement of the phenyl ring by a pyridine affords a compound with similar potency, but with potentially better physicochemical properties which could constitute a new line of research for further studies.

Solution versus fluorous versus solid-phase synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted 1,3-azoles. Preliminary antibacterial activity studies.

A small library of compounds with an oxa(thia)zole scaffold and structural diversity in both positions 2 and 5 has been synthesized. Double acylation of a protected glycine affords intermediate alpha-amido-beta-ketoesters, which in turn can be dehydrated to afford 1,3-oxazoles or reacted with Lawesson's reagent to furnish 1,3-thiazoles. This procedure was designed with its adaptation to fluorous techniques in mind. Thus, when a protected glycine with a fluorous tag in the ester moiety is used as a starting material, the synthesis can be easily completed without column chromatography purification of intermediate compounds with good to excellent yields, thus affording a suitable entry to the preparation of small libraries of these bioactive compounds. The prepared oxa(thia)zoles were assayed for their antibacterial activity, and several of them were active against Staphylococcus aureus.

Fluorous TBAF: a convenient and selective reagent for fluoride-mediated deprotections.

A fluorous analogue of TBAF has been developed for its use in the clean removal of silicon-derived protecting groups. Purification of the crude mixtures by fluorous solid-phase extractions allowed alcohols, amines, and carboxylic acids to be obtained in high purity, with no need of chromatographic separations. The moderate reactivity of fluorous TBAF was exploited in selective deprotections of several bifunctional molecules.

Cross-metathesis reactions as an efficient tool in the synthesis of fluorinated cyclic beta-amino acids.

The synthesis of enantiomerically pure, cyclic, gamma,gamma-difluorinated beta-amino acids with various ring sizes has been carried out with a cross-metathesis (CM) reaction being one of the key steps, followed by a Dieckmann-type condensation to bring about the cyclization. Subsequent catalytic hydrogenation under microwave irradiation with (-)-8-phenylmenthol as a chiral auxiliary led to the successful chemo- and diastereoselective chemical reduction of the resulting cyclic beta-enamino esters. The efficiency and scope of the CM reaction with different types of fluorinated imidoyl chlorides and unsaturated esters has also been studied in order to determine the optimal reaction conditions with regard to selectivity and reactivity.

New fluorinated peptidomimetics through tandem aza-michael addition to alpha-trifluoromethyl acrylamide acceptors: synthesis and conformational study in solid state and solution.

A range of partially modified retro (PMR) psi[NHCH(2)] peptide mimetics containing a hydrolytically stable CH(2)CH(CF(3))CO unit have been synthesized. The first kind of peptidomimetics is obtained from the highly efficient aza-Michael addition of different amines to alpha-trifluoromethyl acrylamide acceptors. Subsequent deprotection of the amino group furnishes the key common intermediate for the synthesis of other families of peptidomimetics: dipeptides, tripeptides, peptidomimetics containing a urea moiety, and structures containing two units of alpha-trifluoromethyl-beta(2)-alanine. Finally, a conformational study of several of the newly synthesized peptidomimetics, performed with the aid of X-ray analysis and NMR techniques, shows a beta-turn-like conformation for the structures both in the solid state and in solution.

Synthesis of new fluorinated Tebufenpyrad analogs with acaricidal activity through regioselective pyrazole formation.

In previous studies, our group has shown that the use of fluorinated alcohols such as trifluoroethanol (TFE) and hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) as solvents dramatically increases the regioselectivity in the pyrazole formation from 1,3-diketone with methylhydrazine. We have now applied this synthetic method to the preparation of new fluorinated pyrazoles, which have then been used as synthetic intermediates in the preparation of fluorinated analogs of Tebufenpyrad, a commercial acaricide. These compounds display a strong acaricidal activity that is either comparable to or better than that of the commercial compound.

Tiratricol neutralizes bacterial endotoxins and reduces lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF-alpha production in the cell.

The screening of a commercially available library of compounds has proved a successful strategy for the identification of a lead compound in a drug discovery programme. Here, we analysed 880 off-patent drugs, which initially comprised the Prestwick Chemical library, as sources of bacterial endotoxin neutralizers. We identified 3,3',5-triiodo-thyroacetic acid (tiratricol) as a non-antibacterial compound that neutralizes the toxic lipopolysaccharide.

Solution-, solid-phase, and fluorous synthesis of beta,beta-difluorinated cyclic quaternary alpha-amino acid derivatives: a comparative study.

The diastereoselective synthesis of cyclic beta,beta-difluorinated alpha-amino acid derivatives bearing a quaternary stereocenter is described. The process relies on the chemo- and diastereoselective addition of allylic organometallic reagents to fluorinated alpha-imino esters and a subsequent ring-closing metathesis reaction (RCM). Complete selectivity in the nucleophilic addition was achieved with (R)-phenylglycinol methyl ether as a chiral auxiliary. The resulting amino acids were introduced into peptide chains, which could facilitate the preparation of potentially bioactive dipeptide derivatives. In addition, the solution synthesis of these cyclic fluorinated alpha-amino acids was successfully adapted to solid-phase and fluorous-phase techniques. The reaction times and final deprotection were clearly more favorable in the latter, in which a fluorous trimethylsilylethanol (TMSE) tag was used. The tag was then easily removed upon treatment with TBAF in a high-yield transesterification process.

Improved regioselectivity in pyrazole formation through the use of fluorinated alcohols as solvents: synthesis and biological activity of fluorinated tebufenpyrad analogs.

The preparation of N-methylpyrazoles is usually accomplished through reaction of a suitable 1,3-diketone with methylhydrazine in ethanol as the solvent. This strategy, however, leads to the formation of regioisomeric mixtures of N-methylpyrazoles, which sometimes are difficult to separate. We have determined that the use of fluorinated alcohols such as 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) as solvents dramatically increases the regioselectivity in the pyrazole formation, and we have used this modification in a straightforward synthesis of fluorinated analogs of Tebufenpyrad with acaricide activity.

An efficient entry to optically active anti- and syn-beta-amino-alpha-trifluoromethyl alcohols.

The reaction of chiral 5,6-dihydro-2H-1,4-oxazin-2-ones with TMSCF3 in the presence of a suitable activator leads to trifluoromethyl lactols, which can be selectively reduced to anti-beta-amino-alpha-trifluoromethyl alcohols. The corresponding syn diastereoisomers are obtained when the starting imines are reduced and the nitrogen atom is conveniently protected. In addition, a novel rearrangement of the CF3 group in the lactol intermediates has been observed. This represents a formal CF3 addition to the imine function in the starting substrates.

Asymmetric synthesis of fluorinated amino macrolactones through ring-closing metathesis.

The synthesis of new chiral fluorinated amino and azamacrolactones of types 1 and 2 is described. A ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction constitutes the key step in this methodology, which uses fluorinated amino alcohols 7 as starting materials. The influence of the CF2 group, which is located in the alpha-position relative to the carbon bearing the amino group, on the efficiency of the RCM reaction is noteworthy. This method allows for the preparation of the desired fluorinated macrolactones in excellent yields.

Asymmetric synthesis of fluorinated cyclic beta-amino acid derivatives through cross metathesis.

The asymmetric synthesis of several fluorinated cis-2-aminocycloalkane carboxylic acids (cis-2-ACACs) with a cross metathesis (CM) reaction as the key step has been carried out, constituting the first time a metathesis protocol has been undertaken with fluorinated imidoyl chlorides. Subsequent chemoselective hydrogenation of the olefin moiety, Dieckmann condensation, and stereoselective reduction of the iminic double bond afforded the corresponding beta-amino esters with several ring sizes. The asymmetric version of the process was achieved by using (-)-8-phenylmenthol as a chiral auxiliary.

Asymmetric synthesis of new beta,beta-difluorinated cyclic quaternary alpha-amino acid derivatives.

The synthesis of new beta,beta-difluorinated cyclic quaternary alpha-amino acid derivatives 1 in which a ring-closing metathesis reaction (RCM) constitutes the key step is described. The approach employs imidoyl chlorides 3 as fluorinated building blocks, and the overall process involves the stereoselective creation of a quaternary stereocenter. Complete selectivity was achieved when (R)-phenylglycinol methyl ether was used as chiral auxiliary, allowing for the preparation of new six-membered cyclic fluorinated alpha-amino acids as single enantiomers.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new bicyclic fluorinated uracils through ring-closing metathesis.

Two families of bicyclic fluorinated uracils have been prepared starting from a gem-difluorinated unsaturated nitrile, by means of a ring-closing metathesis reaction to form the new ring, which is fused at the C-5/C-6 or N-1/C-6 positions of the uracil moiety. The selective formation of olefin regioisomers in the metathesis process can be controlled according to the reaction conditions (catalyst, solvent, and temperature). The acaricidal activities of the resulting compounds have also been investigated.

Fluorous (trimethylsilyl)ethanol: a new reagent for carboxylic acid tagging and protection in peptide synthesis.

Starting with a fluorous analogue of 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethanol, we have designed an easy method for preparing a new fluorous tag ((F)TMSE) for the protection of carboxylic acids. Because mild conditions are employed in the tag cleavage (TBAF in the presence of 4 A molecular sieves, which prevent racemization), this tag can be advantageously used in the synthesis of peptides and modified peptides, as we have demonstrated with several examples, including the fluorous synthesis of short alpha- and beta-peptides as well as of modified fluorinated retropeptides.

Role of the gem-difluoro moiety in the tandem ring-closing metathesis-olefin isomerization: regioselective preparation of unsaturated lactams.

Careful selection of the metathesis catalyst, solvent, and reaction conditions allows for the efficient and regioselective synthesis of isomeric fluorinated and nonfluorinated lactam derivatives II and III from precursor amides I through a ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction or a tandem RCM-isomerization protocol, respectively. The presence of the gem-difluoro moiety in the starting materials exerts a pivotal effect by directing the isomerization step, making the overall tandem transformation a regioselective process. The scope, limitations, and synthetic usefulness of this protocol are also discussed.

Sesquiterpenes from Centaurea aspera.

The aerial parts of two subspecies of Centaurea aspera L. (Asteraceae) yielded the germacranolides 1a-h, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the elemane derivatives 6d and 6f, the lignan matairesinol, the degraded terpene loliolide, and the onopordopicrin-valine dimeric adduct 7. From these, compounds 1e, 3 and 6d are natural products. The chemical composition of the two subspecies is very similar, a circumstance which does not support a taxonomic subdivision of the species.