Functionalization of 4-bromobenzo[c][2,7]naphthyridine via regioselective direct ring metalation. A novel approach to analogues of pyridoacridine alkaloids.

Readily available 4-bromobenzo[c][2,7]naphthyridine undergoes regioselective direct ring metalation at C-5 with TMPMgCl∙LiCl at -40 °C. Quenching with various electrophiles gives a broad range of 5-substituted products, which are building blocks for the synthesis of heterocyclic natural products and analogues thereof. In combination with a Parham-type cyclization a novel approach to pyrido[4,3,2-mn]acridones has been worked out.

Aminomethylation/hydrogenolysis as an alternative to direct methylation of metalated isoquinolines - a novel total synthesis of the alkaloid 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-1-methylisoquinoline.

Highly-substituted isoquinolines are important scaffolds in syntheses of natural products and in drug development and hence, effective synthetic approaches are required. Here we present a novel method for the introduction of a methyl group at C1 of isoquinolines. This is exemplified by a new total synthesis of the alkaloid 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-1-methylisoquinoline. Direct metalation of 7-benzyloxy-6-methoxyisoquinoline with Knochel-Hauser base, followed by cuprate-mediated methylation gives the target alkaloid directly, but separation from the educt is cumbersome. Quenching the metalated intermediate with Eschenmoser's reagent gives an easy to clean tertiary benzylamine, which, after quaternization with iodomethane, is easily converted into the desired 1-methylisoquinoline by hydrogenolysis of both the benzylamine and benzyl ether groups.

A novel approach to oxoisoaporphine alkaloids via regioselective metalation of alkoxy isoquinolines.

Oxoisoaporphine alkaloids are conveniently prepared via direct ring metalation of alkoxy-substituted isoquinolines at C-1, followed by reaction with iodine. Subsequent Suzuki cross-coupling of the resulting 1-iodoisoquinolines to methyl 2-(isoquinolin-1-yl)benzoates and intramolecular acylation of the corresponding carboxylic acids with Eaton's reagent afforded five alkaloids of the oxoisoaporphine type. The yield of the cyclization step strongly depends on the electrophilic properties of ring B. An alternative cyclization protocol via directed remote metalation of ester and amide intermediates was investigated thoroughly, but found to be not feasible. Two of the alkaloids showed strong cytotoxicity against the HL-60 tumor cell line.

A divergent approach to benzylisoquinoline-type and oxoaporphine alkaloids via regioselective direct ring metalation of alkoxy isoquinolines.

Methoxy- and benzyloxy-substituted isoquinolines are regioselectively metalated at C-1 with the Knochel-Hauser base, subsequent trapping with aromatic aldehydes gives aryl(isoquinolin-1-yl)carbinols as building blocks for divergent syntheses of different types of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids. Photochemical cyclization of ortho-bromo analogues under reductive conditions gives oxoaporphine alkaloids. Nine benzylisoquinoline alkaloids and two oxoaporphine alkaloids were obtained in two or three steps from appropriate isoquinolines.

Total synthesis of the marine pyridoacridine alkaloid demethyldeoxyamphimedine.

A four-step total synthesis of the marine pyridoacridine alkaloid demethyldeoxyamphimedine (5) is presented. With an overall yield of 6.4%, this pentacyclic compound has been synthesized by utilizing only two commercial building blocks, ethyl nicotinate and 2-iodoaniline. The final cyclization step was achieved via a directed remote ring metalation with Knochel-Hauser base (TMPMgCl·LiCl) followed by intramolecular trapping of an ester group.

Isoquinoline-based biaryls as a robust scaffold for microtubule inhibitors.

We here report the discovery of isoquinoline-based biaryls as a new scaffold for colchicine domain tubulin inhibitors. Colchicinoid inhibitors offer highly desirable cytotoxic and vascular disrupting bioactivities, but their further development requires improving in vivo robustness and tolerability: properties that both depend on the scaffold structure employed. We have developed isoquinoline-based biaryls as a novel scaffold for high-potency tubulin inhibitors, with excellent robustness, druglikeness, and facile late-stage structural diversification, accessible through a tolerant synthetic route. We confirmed their bioactivity mechanism in vitro, developed soluble prodrugs, and established safe in vivo dosing in mice. By addressing several problems facing the current families of inhibitors, we expect that this new scaffold will find a range of in vivo applications towards translational use in cancer therapy.