A new gold(I) phosphine complex induces apoptosis in prostate cancer cells by increasing reactive oxygen species.

Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is a pivotal regulator of redox homeostasis. It is frequently overexpressed in various cancer cells, including prostate cancer, making it a promising target for the development of anti-cancer drugs. In this study, we screened a series of newly designed complexes of gold(I) phosphine. Specifically, Compound 5 exhibited the highest cytotoxicity against prostate cancer cells and demonstrated stronger antitumor effects than commonly used drugs, such as cisplatin and auranofin. Importantly, our mechanistic study revealed that Compound 5 effectively inhibits the TrxR system in vitro. Additionally, Compound 5 promoted intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and irreversible apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. Our in vivo xenograft study further demonstrated that Compound 5 has excellent antitumor activity against prostate cancer cells, but does not cause severe side effects. These findings provide a promising lead Compound for the development of novel antitumor agents targeting prostate cancer and offer a valuable tool for investigating biological pathways involving TrxR and ROS modulation.

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,6-addition of diarylphosphines to α,ß,γ,δ-unsaturated sulfonic esters: controlling regioselectivity by rational selection of electron-withdrawing groups.

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric 1,6-addition of diarylphosphines to electron-deficient dienes was developed through rational selection of electron-withdrawing groups on the dienes. Various chiral allylic phosphine derivatives were synthesized in good yields with high enantioselectivity (up to 96% ee).

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric addition of diarylphosphines to α,ß-unsaturated sulfonic esters for the synthesis of chiral phosphine sulfonate compounds.

Highly stereoselective addition of diarylphosphines to α,ß-unsaturated sulfonic esters catalyzed through a PCP pincer-Pd complex is developed to synthesize chiral phosphine sulfonic esters with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99.5% ee). The transformation of the chiral adduct into a useful palladium phosphine sulfonate complex is also demonstrated.

Catalytic asymmetric construction of chiral hydropyridazines via conjugate addition of N-monosubstituted hydrazones to enones.

The first example of a highly enantioselective and scalable formal diaza-ene reaction between N-monosubstituted hydrazones and enones catalyzed by a simple chiral primary-second diamine salt has been developed. The catalytic process provides a highly practical and stereoselective synthetic method for chiral hydropyridazines.