Palladium-Catalyzed C-H Allylation of Electron-Deficient Polyfluoroarenes with gem-Difluorinated Cyclopropanes.

A palladium-catalyzed C-H allylation of electron-deficient polyfluoroarenes with gem-difluorinated cyclopropanes is reported. It provides a useful and facile approach to 2-fluoroallylic polyfluoroarenes in moderate to excellent yields with high Z-selectivity. In addition, this new approach has good functional group compatibility and broad substrate scope.

A novel NIR fluorescence probe with cysteine-activated structure for specific detection of cysteine and its application in vitro and in vivo.

Cysteine (Cys) as a vital antioxidant molecule and an effective biomarker for illness, plays an essential role in physiological functions and pathological processes. Extensive work has been done to explore the physiological functions of Cys and develop probes for detection of biothiols. However, the challenge to differentiate Cys from glutathione and homocystine remains. In this work, we constructed a novel near-infrared (NIR) probe, termed TMN-Cys, using TMN-NH2 and thionoesters. The probe could selectively detect Cys over homocysteine and glutathione in solution. It displayed a large Stokes shift (210 nm) upon treatment with Cys, and its detection limit was as low as 79 nM. Moreover, this probe showed low toxicity and was successfully employed in monitoring endogenous Cys in living cells and mice.

Lactate production is a prioritized feature of adipocyte metabolism.

Adipose tissue is essential for whole-body glucose homeostasis, with a primary role in lipid storage. It has been previously observed that lactate production is also an important metabolic feature of adipocytes, but its relationship to adipose and whole-body glucose disposal remains unclear. Therefore, using a combination of metabolic labeling techniques, here we closely examined lactate production of cultured and primary mammalian adipocytes. Insulin treatment increased glucose uptake and conversion to lactate, with the latter responding more to insulin than did other metabolic fates of glucose. However, lactate production did not just serve as a mechanism to dispose of excess glucose, because we also observed that lactate production in adipocytes did not solely depend on glucose availability and even occurred independently of glucose metabolism. This suggests that lactate production is prioritized in adipocytes. Furthermore, knocking down lactate dehydrogenase specifically in the fat body of Drosophila flies lowered circulating lactate and improved whole-body glucose disposal. These results emphasize that lactate production is an additional metabolic role of adipose tissue beyond lipid storage and release.

Palladium-Catalyzed Carbene Migratory Insertion and Trapping with Sulfinic Acid Salts toward Allylic Sulfones.

Allylic sulfones were synthesized with excellent selectivity and good yield via Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling of vinyl iodide with N-tosylhydrazone. This process involves palladium carbene migratory insertion/trapping with sulfinic acid salts. For the previous Pd-catalyzed N-tosylhydrazone cross-coupling, sulfinic acid salt is generated as a byproduct. In this transformation, the diazo compound and the sulfinic acid salt, which are all generated from N-tosylhydrazone, were used as cross-coupling partner.

The novel dithiocarbamate, DpdtC suppresses HER2-overexpressed cancer cells by up-regulating NDRG1 via inactivation of HER2-ERK 1/2 signaling.

Dithiocarbamate has been tested for its effective anti-tumor activity, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We previously prepared a novel diththiocarbamate derivative, DpdtC with an ability of catalase inhibition. Here, we for the first time investigated the growth inhibition effects of DpdtC on HER2-amplified cancer cells and elucidated its mechanism of action. Results showed that DpdtC exerted the potent anti-tumor effects against HER2-overexpressed SK-OV-3 and SK-BR-3 cells, especially on SK-OV-3 cells with a higher NDRG1 level, which was also confirmed in the SK-OV-3 xenograft model. Interestingly, we observed that NDRG1 was up-regulated, while membrane expression of HER2 was regressed in SK-OV-3 cells upon DpdtC treatment. In agreement, silencing endogenous NDRG1 also increased the expression of HER2 in SK-OV-3 cells, while overexpressing NDRG1 decreased HER2 expression in SK-BR-3 cells. Furthermore, our results showed the formation of the EGFR/HER2 heterodimer was attenuated and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was inhibited in SK-OV-3 cells when treated with DpdtC. Collectively, these observations demonstrated that NDRG1 plays an important role in mediating the inhibition effects of DpdtC in HER2-overexpressed cancer cells via selective targeting of the HER2-ERK1/2 pathway. Hence, our investigation suggests that up-regulation of NDRG1 by DpdtC is a promising therapeutic approach in HER2-overexpressed cancers.

Calcium release induced by 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone and its copper complex contributes to tumor cell death.

Thiosemicarbazones display significant antitumor activity and their copper complexes also exhibit enhanced biological activities in most situations, but the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Therefore, investigation of the mechanism involved in the change upon chelation is required to extend our understanding of the effects of thiosemicarbazones. In the present study, the inhibitory effect of 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (PCT) and its copper complex (PCT-Cu) on cell proliferation was investigated. The copper chelate exhibited a 3- to 10-fold increase in antitumor activity (with an IC50 <5 µM). The results showed that both PCT and PCT-Cu induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in vitro and in vivo, caused cellular DNA fragmentation, depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane and cell cycle arrest. Western blotting showed that both PCT and PCT-Cu induced apoptosis. Upregulation of GRP78 in HepG2 cells following treatment with the agents indicated that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress occurred. Furthermore calcium release was revealed in this study, suggesting that PCT and PCT-Cu disturbed calcium homeostasis. It was noted that PCT-Cu sensitized thapsigargin­stimulated calcium release from the ER, which was correlated with the ROS level they induced, implying that the antitumor activity of PCT and PCT-Cu partly stemmed from calcium mobilization, a situation that was reported in few studies. Our findings may significantly contribute to the understanding of the anti­proliferative effect of the derivatives of thiosemicarbazones along with their antitumor mechanism.

Redox cycling of a copper complex with benzaldehyde nitrogen mustard-2-pyridine carboxylic acid hydrazone contributes to its enhanced antitumor activity, but no change in the mechanism of action occurs after chelation.

Many anticancer drugs used in the clinical have potent metal chelating ability. The formed metal complex(es) may exhibit improved (or antagonistic) antitumor activity. However, the underlying mechanism has received limited attention. Therefore, investigation of the mechanism involved in the change upon chelation is required to extend our understanding of the effects of various drugs. In the present study, the proliferation inhibition effect of benzaldehyde nitrogen mustard-2-pyridine carboxylic acid hydrazone (BNMPH) and its copper complex on tumor cell lines was investigated. The copper chelate exhibited almost a 10-fold increase in antitumor activity (with IC50 <5 µM). The results showed that both BNMPH and its copper complex induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and caused upregulation of caspase 8 and Bax as well as the downregulation of Bcl-2, indicating that apoptosis was involved in the cytotoxic effects. DNA fragmentation noted in the comet assay further supported ROS involvement. The present study indicated that BNMPH and its copper complex effectively induced S phase arrest and the cell cycle arrest was associated with the downregulation of cyclin D1. The formation of acidic vesicular organelles (AVOs) and an increase in cleaved LC3-II demonstrated that autophagy occurred in the HepG2 cells treated with the agents. Taken together, BNMPH and its copper complex exhibited proliferation inhibition via apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and autophagy, which was dependent on ROS. The enhanced antitumor activity of the copper complex was due to its redox-cycling ability, but the mechanism was not altered compared to BNMPH. Our findings may significantly contribute to the understanding of the anti-proliferative effect of BNMPH and its copper complex.

Iodine-Promoted Radical Cyclization in Water: A Selective Reaction of 1,6-Enynes with Sulfonyl Hydrazides.

An iodine-promoted one-pot radical cyclization reaction of 1,6-enynes with sulfonyl hydrazides to provide five-membered and hexatomic ring sulfonylated products under the same conditions is established. This reaction proceeded smoothly in water and gave the corresponding products by using I2/TBHP instead of expensive and toxic catalysts with C-S and C-I bond formed in one step. This method also allowed easy access to significant functional sulfones for potential applications in medicinal and organic chemistry.

[The appearance of parotid neoplasms on real-time elastosonography].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the features of parotid neoplasms on real-time elastosonography. METHODS: The elastograms of parotid lesions in 43 patients with 48 neoplasms were analyzed and classified into 5 grades, with pathologic diagnosis as the gold standard for comparision. The data was statistically analyzed with SPSS13.0 software package. RESULTS: The elastographic grades of most benign neoplasms were I-II, while those of malignancies were III-IV. The elastographic grades of benign and malignant lesions were of significant difference (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Some typical features of different parotid lesions on elastosonography are found, which are useful for differential diagnosis of parotid lesions.

Regioselective access to CF3S-substituted dihydrofurans from homopropargylic alcohols with trifluoromethanesulfenamide.

A facile access to 4-((trifluoromethyl)thio)-2,3-dihydrofurans from unprotected homopropargylic alcohols in high regioselectivity is reported. This method is the first example of using a free hydroxy group as a nucleophile to complete a trifluoromethylthiolation/cyclization protocol with an alkyne in moderate to excellent yields.

Using N-tosylhydrazone as a double nucleophile in the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction to synthesize allylic sulfones.

Without extra addition of sulfinate salt, allylic sulfones were synthesized by palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl iodide with N-tosylhydrazone. In this transformation, not only the diazo compound but also the sulfinate salt, which were both generated in situ from base-mediated decomposition of the N-tosylhydrazone, was used as nucleophilic partner.

Silver-promoted oxidative cyclization of 1,6-enynes: highly regioselective synthesis of phosphorated fluorene derivatives.

A silver-promoted oxidative cyclization of 1,6-enynes with disubstituted phosphine oxides is developed for the synthesis of fluorene derivatives. The reaction proceeds with high regioselectivity by constructing one C-P bond and two C-C bonds in one step. Moreover, reduction of the pentavalent phosphine enlarges the application scope of the product.

Palladium-catalyzed/norbornene-mediated ortho-amination/N-tosylhydrazone insertion reaction: an approach to the synthesis of ortho-aminated vinylarenes.

ortho-Aminated vinylarene derivatives were obtained via a reaction of aryl iodides, N-benzoyloxyamines, and N-tosylhydrazones. This approach involves a palladium-catalyzed, norbornene-mediated ortho-amination/N-tosylhydrazone insertion reaction. In this transformation, one C-N bond and one C-C bond are formed and an amine group is introduced at the ortho position successfully.

Palladium-catalyzed/norbornene-mediated C-H activation/N-tosylhydrazone insertion reaction: a route to highly functionalized vinylarenes.

A straightforward method for the synthesis of highly functionalized vinylarenes through palladium-catalyzed, norbornene-mediated C-H activation/carbene migratory insertion is described. Extension to a one-pot procedure is also developed. Furthermore, this method can also be used to generate polysubstituted bicyclic molecules. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions to give the products in satisfactory yields using readily available starting materials. This is a Catellani-Lautens reaction that incorporates different types of coupling partners. Additionally, this reaction is the first to demonstrate the possibility of combining Pd-catalyzed insertion of diazo compounds and Pd-catalyzed C-H activation.

Zinc-catalyzed [4+3] cycloaddition with concomitant furan annulation: formation of cyclohepta[b]furans.

A convenient zinc-promoted [4+3] cycloaddition of a carbonyl ene-yne with simple dienes was first achieved. This reaction provided an efficient strategy to prepare various cyclohepta[b]furan rings by cascade cycloadditions. Additionally, a multicomponent reaction of dione, alkynal, and diene was also reported, which exhibited a novel strategy for selective creations of C-O bonds and C-C bonds.

Synthesis of polycyclic substituted vinylarenes via a one-pot intramolecular aryl alkylation-N-tosylhydrazone insertion reaction.

A novel method of a palladium-catalyzed/norbornene-mediated intramolecular C-H activation/N-tosylhydrazones insertion reaction is developed. In this process, various bicyclic or tricyclic substituted vinylarenes are obtained with high efficiency under mild conditions.

Metal-free cascade radical cyclization of 1,6-enynes with aldehydes.

A new and efficient metal-free cascade cyclization of 1,6-enynes with aldehydes is developed for the synthesis of tricyclic fluorene derivatives. The reaction involves a radical process and one C(sp(2))-C(sp(2)) and two C(sp(2))-C(sp(3)) bonds are formed simultaneously in one pot by using PivOH and TBHP.

Palladium-catalyzed insertion of N-tosylhydrazones and trapping with carbon nucleophiles.

A Pd-catalyzed three-component cross-coupling reaction of vinyl iodide, N-tosylhydrazone, and carbon nucleophiles is reported, and a one-pot procedure is also developed. The cross-coupling is proposed to proceed through a palladium-carbene migratory insertion, carbopalladation other than classic palladium-carbene migratory insertion, and ß-H elimination. Moreover, the reaction proceeds under mild conditions and with high stereoselectivity.

Palladium-catalyzed insertion of α,ß-unsaturated N-tosylhydrazones and trapping with carbon nucleophiles.

Palladium-catalyzed carbene migratory insertion-cyclization reactions were reported, delivering dihydronaphthalene and indene derivatives in moderate to good yields. A three-component cross-coupling was also developed. The reactions are easy to handle, under mild conditions and various functional groups are tolerated.

Palladium-catalyzed insertion of N-tosylhydrazones for the synthesis of isoindolines.

Isoindolines are synthesized by palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction of N-(2-iodobenzyl) anilines with α,ß-unsaturated N-tosylhydrazones. The reaction has several potential advantages: (1) toleration of a wide range of functional groups, (2) easy to handle and with mild conditions, (3) enriches the isoindoline family, (4) two new bonds form in one step.