Gender Difference in sidE eFfects of ImmuNotherapy: a possible clue to optimize cancEr tReatment (G-DEFINER): study protocol of an observational prospective multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have significantly improved outcomes in various cancers. ICI treatment is associated with the incidence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) which can affect any organ. Data on irAEs occurrence in relation to sex- differentiation and their association with gender-specific factors are limited. AIMS: The primary objective of the G-DEFINER study is to compare the irAEs incidence in female and male patients who undergo ICI treatment. Secondary objectives are: to compare the irAEs incidence in pre- and postmenopausal female patients; to compare the irAEs incidence in female and male patients according to different clinical and gender-related factors (lifestyle, psychosocial, and behavioral factors). Exploratory objectives of the study are to compare and contrast hormonal, gene-expression, SNPs, cytokines, and gut microbiota profiles in relation to irAEs incidence in female and male patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: The patients are recruited from Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Italy, St Vincent's University Hospital, Ireland, Oslo University Hospital, Norway, and Karolinska Insitutet/Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden. The inclusion of patients was delayed due to the Covid pandemic, leading to a total of 250 patients recruited versus a planned number of 400 patients. Clinical and translational data will be analyzed. INTERPRETATION: The expected outcomes are to improve the management of cancer patients treated with ICIs, leading to more personalized clinical approaches that consider potential toxicity profiles. The real world nature of the trial makes it highly applicable for timely irAEs diagnosis.

Carbocation catalysed ring closing aldehyde-olefin metathesis.

A highly efficient aldehyde-olefin metathesis catalysed by the carbocation, 4-phenylphenyl-diphenylmethylium ion, has been developed. This protocol is characterized by high yields, low catalyst loading (down to 2 mol%), good functional group compatibility and mild reaction conditions.

Anionic polycondensation and equilibrium driven monomer formation of cyclic aliphatic carbonates.

The current work explores the sodium hydride mediated polycondensation of aliphatic diols with diethyl carbonate to produce both aliphatic polycarbonates and cyclic carbonate monomers. The lengths of the diol dictate the outcome of the reaction; for ethylene glycol and seven other 1,3-diols with a wide array of substitution patterns, the corresponding 5-membered and 6-membered cyclic carbonates were synthesized in excellent yield (70-90%) on a 100 gram scale. Diols with longer alkyl chains, under the same conditions, yielded polycarbonates with an M w ranging from 5000 to 16 000. In all cases, the macromolecular architecture revealed that the formed polymer consisted purely of carbonate linkages, without decarboxylation as a side reaction. The synthetic design is completely solvent-free without any additional post purification steps and without the necessity of reactive ring-closing reagents. The results presented within provide a green and scalable approach to synthesize both cyclic carbonate monomers and polycarbonates with possible applications within the entire field of polymer technology.

One-pot inimer promoted ROCP synthesis of branched copolyesters using α-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone as the branching reagent.

An array of branched poly(ɛ-caprolactone)s was successfully synthesized using an one-pot inimer promoted ring-opening multibranching copolymerization (ROCP) reaction. The biorenewable, commercially available yet unexploited comonomer and initiator 2-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone was chosen as the inimer to extend the use of 5-membered lactones to branched structures and simultaneously avoiding the typical tedious work involved in the inimer preparation. Reactions were carried out both in bulk and in solution using stannous octoate (Sn(Oct)2) as the catalyst. Polymerizations with inimer equivalents varying from 0.01 to 0.2 were conducted which resulted in polymers with a degree of branching ranging from 0.049 to 0.124. Detailed ROCP kinetics of different inimer systems were compared to illustrate the branch formation mechanism. The resulting polymer structures were confirmed by 1H, 13C, and 1H-13C HSQC NMR and SEC (RI detector and triple detectors). The thermal properties of polymers with different degree of branching were investigated by DSC, confirming the branch formation. Through this work, we have extended the current use of the non-homopolymerizable γ-butyrolactone to the branched polymers and thoroughly examined its behaviors in ROCP. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 54, 1908-1918.

Carbocations as Lewis acid catalysts in Diels-Alder and Michael addition reactions.

In general, Lewis acid catalysts are metal-based compounds that owe their reactivity to a low-lying empty orbital. However, one potential Lewis acid that has received negligible attention as a catalyst is the carbocation. We have demonstrated the potential of the carbocation as a highly powerful Lewis acid catalyst for organic reactions. The stable and easily available triphenylmethyl (trityl) cation was found to be a highly efficient catalyst for the Diels-Alder reaction for a range of substrates. Catalyst loadings as low as 500 ppm, excellent yields, and good endo/exo selectivities were achieved. Furthermore, by changing the electronic properties of the substituents on the tritylium ion, the Lewis acidity of the catalyst could be tuned to control the outcome of the reaction. The ability of this carbocation as a Lewis acid catalyst was also further extended to the Michael reaction.

A stereodivergent strategy for the preparation of corynantheine and ipecac alkaloids, their epimers, and analogues: efficient total synthesis of (-)-dihydrocorynantheol, (-)-corynantheol, (-)-protoemetinol, (-)-corynantheal, (-)-protoemetine, and related natural and nonnatural compounds.

Here we present a general and common catalytic asymmetric strategy for the total and formal synthesis of a broad number of optically active natural products from the corynantheine and ipecac alkaloid families, for example, indolo[2,3-a]- and benzo[a]quinolizidines. Construction of the core alkaloid skeletons with the correct absolute and relative stereochemistry relies on an enantioselective and diastereodivergent one-pot cascade sequence followed by an additional diastereodivergent reaction step. This allows for enantio- and diastereoselective synthesis of three out of four possible epimers of the quinolizidine alkaloids that begin from common and easily accessible starting materials by using a common synthetic route. Focus has been made on excluding protecting groups and limiting isolation and purification of synthetic intermediates. This methodology is applied in the total synthesis of the natural products (-)-dihydrocorynantheol, (-)-hirsutinol, (-)-corynantheol, (-)-protometinol, (-)-dihydrocorynantheal, (-)-corynantheal, (-)-protoemetine, (-)-(15S)-hydroxydihydrocorynantheol, and an array of their nonnatural epimers. The potential of this strategy is also demonstrated in the synthesis of biologically interesting natural product analogues not accessible through synthetic elaboration of alkaloid precursors available from nature, for example, thieno[3,2-a]quinolizidine derivatives. We also report the formal synthesis of (+)-dihydrocorynantheine, (-)-emetine, (-)-cephaeline, (-)-tubulosine, and (-)-deoxytubulosine.

Efficient bioreduction of bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-2,5-dione and bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-7-ene-2,5-dione by genetically engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A screening of non-conventional yeast species and several Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's yeast) strains overexpressing known carbonyl reductases revealed the S. cerevisiae reductase encoded by YMR226c as highly efficient for the reduction of the diketones 1 and 2 to their corresponding hydroxyketones 3-6 (Scheme 1) in excellent enantiomeric excesses. Bioreduction of 1 using the genetically engineered yeast TMB4100, overexpressing YMR226c, resulted in >99% ee for hydroxyketone (+)-4 and 84-98% ee for (-)-3, depending on the degree of conversion. Baker's yeast reduction of diketone 2 resulted in >98% ee for the hydroxyketones (+)-5 and (+)-6. However, TMB4100 led to significantly higher conversion rates (over 40 fold faster) and also a minor improvement of the enantiomeric excesses (>99%).

An unexpectedly mild thermal Alder-ene-type cyclization of enallenes.

A mild, thermal Alder-ene reaction of enallenes has been developed. The allenic double bond acts as the "ene" and generates a carbon-carbon bond to an unactivated olefinic "enophile" in DMF at 120 degrees C to give [n.3.0] bicyclic systems (n = 3-5) in good yields. Except for a minor [2 + 2] cycloaddition byproduct, the reaction proceeded with complete atom economy, as there is no requirement of a catalyst or additional reactants, and no waste products are formed in the process.

A general organocatalyst for direct alpha-functionalization of aldehydes: stereoselective C-C, C-N, C-F, C-Br, and C-S bond-forming reactions. Scope and mechanistic insights.

The development of a general organocatalyst for the alpha-functionalization of aldehydes, via an enamine intermediate, is presented. Based on optically active alpha,alpha-diarylprolinol silyl ethers, the scope and applications of this catalyst for the stereogenic formation of C-C, C-N, C-F, C-Br, and C-S bonds are outlined. The reactions all proceed in good to high yields and with excellent enantioselectivities. Furthermore, we will present mechanistic insight into the reaction course applying nonlinear effect studies, kinetic resolution, and computational investigations leading to an understanding of the properties of the alpha,alpha-diarylprolinol silyl ether catalysts.

Asymmetric multicomponent domino reactions and highly enantioselective conjugated addition of thiols to alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes.

An organocatalytic asymmetric multicomponent domino and a conjugated addition reaction to alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes are presented. The development is based, first, on an organocatalyzed highly enantioselective nucleophilic thiol addition to the beta-carbon atom in the iminium ion intermediate, followed by an electrophilic amination of the alpha-carbon atom to the enamine intermediate. The multicomponent reactions proceed to give enantiopure amino-thiols in moderate to good yields. Furthermore, the organocatalyzed thiol addition to alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes takes place in good yields and excellent enantioselectivities.

Palladium(0)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of enallenes.

A novel palladium(0)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of enallenes has been developed. This reaction, catalyzed by [Pd(dba)2] (dba=dibenzylideneacetone) in acetic acid, results in the formation of cyclopentene derivatives and [n.3.0]bicyclic systems (n=3, 4) in good to high yields. The carbon-carbon bond-forming step is highly stereoselective to give cis-fused bicyclic systems. The presence of acetic acid as solvent and dba as ligand for palladium(0) turned out to be essential for the reaction in order to provide good reactivity and regioselectivity.

Asymmetric organocatalytic epoxidation of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes with hydrogen peroxide.

The first asymmetric organocatalytic epoxidation of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes is presented. A chiral bisaryl-silyl-protected pyrrolidine acts as a very selective epoxidation organocatalyst using simple oxidation agents, such as hydrogen peroxide and tert-butyl hydroperoxide. The asymmetric epoxidation reactions proceed under environmental friendly reaction condition in, for example, water mixtures of alcohols, and the scope of the reaction is demonstrated by the formation of optically active alpha,beta-epoxy aldehydes in high yields and enantioselectivities >94% ee. Furthermore, the direct synthesis of the sex pheromone from an acaric mite by asymmetric epoxidation of citral is presented.

Stereoselective palladium-catalyzed carbocyclization of allenic allylic carboxylates.

Palladium(0)-catalyzed reaction of allene-substituted allylic carboxylates 3-8 employing 2-5 mol % of Pd(dba)(2) in refluxing toluene leads to the carbocyclization and elimination of carboxylic acid to give bicyclo[4.3.0]nonadiene and bicyclo[5.3.0]decadiene derivatives (12-17). The carbon-carbon bond formation is stereospecific, occurring syn with respect to the leaving group. Addition of maleic anhydride as a ligand to the above-mentioned procedures changed the outcome of the reaction, and under these conditions 3-5 afforded cycloisomerized products 21-23. The experimental results are consistent with a mechanism involving oxidative addition of the allylic carboxylate to Pd(0) to give an electron-deficient (pi-allyl)palladium intermediate, followed by nucleophilic attack by the allene on the face of the pi-allyl opposite to that of the palladium atom. Furthermore, it was found that the Pd(dba)(2)-catalyzed cyclization of the trans-cycloheptene derivative (trans-8) can be directed to give either the trans-fused (trans-17) or the cis-fused (cis-17) ring system by altering the solvent. The former reaction proceeds via a nucleophilic trans-allene attack on the (pi-allyl)palladium intermediate, whereas the latter involves a syn-allene insertion into the allyl-Pd bond of the same intermediate. The products from the carbocylization undergo stereoselective Diels-Alder reactions to give stereodefined polycyclic systems in high yields.

Allenes as carbon nucleophiles in intramolecular attack on (pi-1,3-diene)palladium complexes: evidence for trans carbopalladation of the 1,3-diene.

Reaction of allene-substituted cyclohexa- and cyclohepta-1,3-dienes with [PdCl(2)(PhCN)(2)] gave eta(3)-(1,2,3)-cyclohexenyl- and eta(3)-(1,2,3)-cycloheptenylpalladium complexes, respectively, in which C-C bond formation between the allene and the 1,3-diene has occurred. Analysis of the (pi-allyl)palladium complexes by NMR spectroscopy, using reporter ligands, shows that the C-C bond formation has occurred by a trans carbopalladation involving nucleophilic attack by the middle carbon atom of the allene on a (pi-diene)palladium(II) complex. The stereochemistry of the (pi-allyl)palladium complexes was confirmed by benzoquinone-induced stereoselective transformations to allylic acetates.

Carbon-carbon bond formation in palladium(II)-catalyzed allylic oxidation: a novel oxidative carbocyclization of allene-substituted olefins.

A new efficient palladium(II)-catalyzed oxidative carbocyclization has been developed. It was found that allene-substituted olefins 1 cyclized in the presence of 1 mol % Pd(O2CCF3)2 and p-benzoquinone (2 equiv) to give bicyclic ring systems 2 in good to excellent yields. The cyclization constitutes a new type of carbon-carbon bond forming reaction between an allene and an olefin under oxidative conditions.

Allenes as carbon nucleophiles in palladium-catalyzed reactions: observation of anti attack of allenes on (pi-allyl)palladium complexes.

In the palladium-catalyzed cyclization of allenic allylic esters using Pd(dba)2 as catalyst, it was shown that the allene acts as a carbon nucleophile. Intermediates were isolated and stereochemical studies established that the double bond of the allene has attacked the (pi-allyl)palladium intermediate on the face opposite to that of palladium.