Stereoselective Synthesis of Highly Functionalized 5- and 6-Membered Aminocyclitols Starting with a Readily Available 2-Azetidinone.

Stereoselective transformations of 4-vinyl-2-azetidinone derivative 4 into a variety of highly functionalized 6- and 5-membered carbocyclic compounds 7 and 9 were carried out using sequences involving sequential C1-N bond cleavage and Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis. The derived carbocycles were further transformed into polyhydroxylated 6- and 5-membered aminocyclitols.

Tandem Rh-Catalyzed Oxidative C-H Olefination and Cyclization of Enantiomerically Enriched Benzo-1,3-Sulfamidates: Stereoselective Synthesis of trans-1,3-Disubstituted Isoindolines.

A tandem process, involving Rh(III)-catalyzed oxidative C-H olefination of enantiomerically enriched 4-aryl-benzo-1,3-sulfamidates and subsequent intramolecular aza-Michael cyclization has been developed. The reaction produces trans-benzosulfamidate-fused-1,3-disubstituted isoindolines as major products, in which the configurational integrity of the stereogenic center in the starting material is preserved. Further transformations of the benzosulfamidate-fused-1,3-disubstituted isoindolines are described.

DBU-Promoted Dynamic Kinetic Resolution in Rh-Catalyzed Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of 5-Alkyl Cyclic Sulfamidate Imines: Stereoselective Synthesis of Functionalized 1,2-Amino Alcohols.

Dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR)-driven asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of 5-alkyl cyclic sulfamidate imine produces the corresponding sulfamidate with excellent levels of diastereo- and enantioselectivity by employing a HCO2H/DBU mixture as the hydrogen source in the presence of the Noyori-type chiral Rh-catalyst at room temperature for 1 h. In this process, DKR was induced by DBU-promoted rapid racemization of the substrate. Stereoselective transformations of the resulting cyclic sulfamidates to functionalized enantiomerically enriched 1,2-amino alcohol and chiral amine substances are also described.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Functionalized 1,3-Disubstituted Isoindolines via Rh(III)-Catalyzed Tandem Oxidative Olefination-Cyclization of 4-Aryl-cyclic Sulfamidate-5-Carboxylates.

A new method for the direct, stereoselective synthesis of highly functionalized 1,3-disubstituted isoindolines 6 from enantiomerically enriched cyclic 4-aryl-sulfamidate-5-carboxylates (5) is described. The process involves sulfamidate directed, Rh(III)-catalyzed tandem ortho C-H olefination of the 4-aryl-sulfamidate-5-carboxylates and subsequent cyclization by aza-Michael addition. In the reaction, which generates trans-1,3-disubstituted isoindolines exclusively, the configurational integrity of the stereogenic center in the starting cyclic sulfamidate is completely retained in the product. Examples are provided which show that the cyclic sulfamidate moiety not only serves as a chiral directing group but also as a versatile handle for further functionalization of the generated isoindoline ring system.

Stereoselective Synthesis of 4-Substituted Cyclic Sulfamidate-5-Phosphonates by Using Rh-Catalyzed, Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation with Accompanying Dynamic Kinetic Resolution.

Dynamic kinetic resolution driven, asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of 4-substituted cyclic sulfamidate imine-5-phosphonates produces the corresponding cyclic sulfamidate-5-phosphonates. The process employs a HCO2H/Et3N mixture as the hydrogen source and the chiral Rh catalysts, (R,R)- or (S,S)-Cp*RhCl(TsDPEN), and it takes place at room temperature within 1 h with high yields and high levels of stereoselectivity.

Dynamic kinetic resolution based asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of α-alkoxy-ß-ketophosphonates. Diastereo- and enantioselective synthesis of monoprotected 1,2-dihydroxyphosphonates.

Dynamic kinetic resolution driven, asymmetric transfer hydrogenation reactions of a wide range of 2-substituted α-alkoxy-ß-ketophosphonates 3 were observed to proceed efficiently to give the corresponding 2-substituted α-alkoxy-ß-hydroxy phosphonates 4 with excellent levels of diastereo- and enantioselectivity. These processes are promoted by using well-defined, commercially available, chiral transition metal catalysts and a 0.2:1 mixture of formic acid and triethylamine as the hydrogen source and solvent.

Dynamic kinetic resolution-based asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of 2-benzoylmorpholinones and its use in concise stereoselective synthesis of all four stereoisomers of the antidepressant reboxetine.

Dynamic kinetic resolution-driven, asymmetric transfer hydrogenation reaction of 2-benzoylmorpholin-3-ones (4) proceeds efficiently to give the corresponding (2R,3S)- or (2S,3R)-2-(hydroxyphenylmethyl)morpholin-3-ones (6) with an excellent level of diastereo- and enantioselectivity and simultaneous control of two contiguous stereogenic centers in a single step. This process is employed to prepare all four stereoisomers of the antidepressant reboxetine.

Multiparity increases the risk of diabetes by impairing the proliferative capacity of pancreatic ß cells.

Pregnancy imposes a substantial metabolic burden on women, but little is known about whether or how multiple pregnancies increase the risk of maternal postpartum diabetes. In this study, we assessed the metabolic impact of multiple pregnancies in humans and in a rodent model. Mice that underwent multiple pregnancies had increased adiposity, but their glucose tolerance was initially improved compared to those of age-matched virgin mice. Later, however, insulin resistance developed over time, but insulin secretory function and compensatory pancreatic ß cell proliferation were impaired in multiparous mice. The ß cells of multiparous mice exhibited aging features, including telomere shortening and increased expression of Cdkn2a. Single-cell RNA-seq analysis revealed that the ß cells of multiparous mice exhibited upregulation of stress-related pathways and downregulation of cellular respiration- and oxidative phosphorylation-related pathways. In humans, women who delivered more than three times were more obese, and their plasma glucose concentrations were elevated compared to women who had delivered three or fewer times, as assessed at 2 months postpartum. The disposition index, which is a measure of the insulin secretory function of ß cells, decreased when women with higher parity gained body weight after delivery. Taken together, our findings indicate that multiple pregnancies induce cellular stress and aging features in ß cells, which impair their proliferative capacity to compensate for insulin resistance.

Stereoselective synthesis of norephedrine and norpseudoephedrine by using asymmetric transfer hydrogenation accompanied by dynamic kinetic resolution.

Each of the enantiomers of both norephedrine and norpseudoephedrine were stereoselectively prepared from the common, prochiral cyclic sulfamidate imine of racemic 1-hydroxy-1-phenyl-propan-2-one by employing asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) catalyzed by the well-defined chiral Rh-complexes, (S,S)- or (R,R)-Cp*RhCl(TsDPEN), and HCO(2)H/Et(3)N as the hydrogen source. The ATH processes are carried out under mild conditions (rt, 15 min) and are accompanied by dynamic kinetic resolution.

Efficient kinetic resolution in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of 3-aryl-indanones: applications to a short synthesis of (+)-indatraline and a formal synthesis of (R)-tolterodine.

Efficient kinetic resolution (KR) occurs in asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) reactions of racemic 3-aryl-1-indanones using commercial (R,R)- or (S,S)-Ts-DENEB as a catalyst, a 1 : 5 mixture of HCO2H and Et3N as a hydrogen source and MeOH as solvent. This process at room temperature produces near equal yields of cis-3-arylindanols with high dr and ee, and unreacted 3-arylindanones with excellent ee. Stereoselective transformations of 3-arylindanols and 3-arylindanones, generated by using the ATH-KR protocol, were carried out to form (+)-indatraline and synthetically valuable (R)-6-methyl-4-phenylcoumarine, which is a key intermediate in the preparation of (R)-tolterodine, (S)-4-aryl-3,4-dihydroquinoline-2(1H)-one and (S)-4-aryl-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline-1(2H)-one.

Highly efficient, enantioselective syntheses of (S)-(+)- and (R)-(-)-dapoxetine starting with 3-phenyl-1-propanol.

A highly efficient, enantioselective sequence has been developed for the synthesis of (S)- and (R)-dapoxetine. The pathways involve the intermediacy of the 6-membered-ring sulfamate esters 4, which were generated by Du Bois asymmetric C-H amination reactions of the prochiral sulfamate 3, catalyzed by the chiral dirhodium(II) complexes. During the course of our research, the absolute configuration of the enantiomer of 4-pheny[1,2,3]oxathiazinane 2,2-dioxide (4r), prepared by the Du Bois asymmetric C-H amination reaction of 3 and the Rh(2)(S-nap)(4) catalyst, is determined to be R and not S as was originally reported.

Anthelmintic activity of KSI-4088 against Caenorhabditis elegans.

Anthelmintic resistance is a serious global problem because of the worldwide spread of resistant nematodes in animals and humans. This has triggered increasing investment in research for new anthelmintics. Over the past decade, Caenorhabditis elegans has become a popular model organism for parasitic nematode research, and many examples have been published to illustrate its use. In this study, we investigated the effect of KSI-4088 on the egg hatching, larval development, and migration of the nematode worm C. elegans compared with ivermectin and levamisole (well-known anthelmintic drugs). KSI-4088 demonstrated anthelmintic activity on all assays of C. elegans. The anthelmintic activity of KSI-4088 on egg hatching and larval development showed especially strong activity, but assays showed that ivermectin and levamisole had no effects on C. elegans. In addition, KSI-4088 was capable of producing a change in the timing of the development of the worms at the L1-L3 and L4 stage. Also, we demonstrate that C. elegans L3-4 are more sensitive than adults to KSI-4088 in assay of migration. Our results indicate that KSI-4088 is an active anthelmintic compound that should be further investigated with the aim of developing a potent drug against nematodes.

Stereoselective synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted isoindolines via Rh(III)-catalyzed tandem oxidative olefination-cyclization of 4-aryl cyclic sulfamidates.

Rh(III)-catalyzed tandem ortho C-H olefination of cyclic 4-aryl sulfamidates (1) and subsequent intramolecular cyclization are described. This reaction serves as a method for the direct and stereoselective synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted isoindolines (3) starting with enantiomerically enriched 4-aryl cyclic sulfamidates. In this process, the configurational integrity of the stereogenic center in the starting cyclic sulfamidate is completely retained. In addition, the process generates trans-1,3-disubstituted isoindolines exclusively.

Stereoselective synthesis of 4-substituted-cyclic sulfamidate-5-carboxylates by asymmetric transfer hydrogenation accompanied by dynamic kinetic resolution and applications to concise stereoselective syntheses of (-)-epi-cytoxazone and the taxotere side-chain.

Dynamic kinetic resolution driven, asymmetric transfer hydrogenation reactions of cyclic sulfamidate imine-5-carboxylate esters were developed. Applications of the new methodology to stereoselective syntheses of the taxotere side-chain and (-)-epi-cytoxazone are described.

Xanthene derivatives increase glucose utilization through activation of LKB1-dependent AMP-activated protein kinase.

5' AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a highly conserved serine-threonine kinase that regulates energy expenditure by activating catabolic metabolism and suppressing anabolic pathways to increase cellular energy levels. Therefore AMPK activators are considered to be drug targets for treatment of metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus. To identify novel AMPK activators, we screened xanthene derivatives. We determined that the AMPK activators 9H-xanthene-9-carboxylic acid {2,2,2-trichloro-1-[3-(3-nitro-phenyl)-thioureido]-ethyl}-amide (Xn) and 9H-xanthene-9-carboxylic acid {2,2,2-trichloro-1-[3-(3-cyano-phenyl)-thioureido]-ethyl}-amide (Xc) elevated glucose uptake in L6 myotubes by stimulating translocation of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4). Treatment with the chemical AMPK inhibitor compound C and infection with dominant-negative AMPKa2-virus inhibited AMPK phosphorylation and glucose uptake in myotubes induced by either Xn or Xc. Of the two major upstream kinases of AMPK, we found that Xn and Xc showed LKB1 dependency by knockdown of STK11, an ortholog of human LKB1. Single intravenous administration of Xn and Xc to high-fat diet-induced diabetic mice stimulated AMPK phosphorylation of skeletal muscle and improved glucose tolerance. Taken together, these results suggest that Xn and Xc regulate glucose homeostasis through LKB1-dependent AMPK activation and that the compounds are potential candidate drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Dynamic kinetic resolution in the stereoselective synthesis of 4,5-diaryl cyclic sulfamidates by using chiral rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation.

The dynamic kinetic resolution of 4,5-diaryl cyclic sulfamidate imines was achieved via asymmetric transfer hydrogenation using a HCO(2)H/Et(3)N mixture as the hydrogen source and chiral Rh catalysts (R,R)- or (S,S)-RhCl(TsDPEN)Cp* affording the corresponding cyclic sulfamidates in good yields with up to >20 : 1 dr and up to >99% ee.

Enantioselective synthesis of cyclic sulfamidates by using chiral rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation.

Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of cyclic sulfamidate imines 4 and 9, using a HCO(2)H/Et(3)N mixture as the hydrogen source and well-defined chiral Rh catalysts (S,S)- or (R,R)-2, Cp*RhCl(TsDPEN), effectively produces the corresponding cyclic sulfamidates with excellent yields and enantioselectivities at room temperature within 0.5 h. ATH of 4,5-disubstituted imines 9, having preexisting stereogenic centers, is shown to take place with dynamic kinetic resolution.

The current status and future perspectives of studies of cannabinoid receptor 1 antagonists as anti-obesity agents.

Since the discovery of rimonabant (Acomplia: 1), a large effort has been directed at the discovery of new, potent and selective CB(1)R antagonists that serve as anti obesity drugs. As a result, a number of compounds reached various stages of clinical trials by late 2008. However, the announcement by Sanofi-Aventis that they were discontinuing all ongoing trials with rimonabant, as a result of the finding that risks associated with depression and anxiety outweighed its benefits, had a major impact on this area. A wave of terminations of programs targeting the development of CB(1)R blockers for treatment of obesity ensued. However, abandoning this CB(1)R therapeutic target for anti-obesity drug development seems to be premature, since there are a number of potential approaches have been uncovered to circumvent the problems of the current agents. In this review, we summarize advances that have been made and the status of studies of a diverse array of CB(1)R antagonists that have been identified mainly based on modifications of the first-in-class CB(1)R antagonist, rimonabant. Various approaches have been employed to design these analogs, such as bioisosteric replacement, introduction of conformational constraints, scaffold hopping and ligand-based molecular modeling. In addition, current approaches that have been uncovered to avoid psychiatric side effects of CB(1)R antagonists are summarized. Finally, the design of non-brain penetrating and peripherally acting CB(1)R antagonists, allosteric modulators of CB(1)R, and neutral antagonists for CB(1)R is also discussed in this review.