Synthetic Efforts toward the Synthesis of a Fluorinated Analog of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid: Practical Synthesis of Racemic and Enantiomerically Defined 3-Fluoro-5-aminolevulinic Acid.

In 2017, the FDA authorized 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) for intraoperative optical imaging of suspected high-grade gliomas. This was the first authorized optical imaging agent for brain tumor surgery to enhance the visualization of malignant tissue. Herein we report the synthesis of a racemic and enantiopure fluorinated analog of 5-ALA, i.e., 3-fluoro-5-aminolevulinic acid (3F-5-ALA). We anticipate that these studies will provide the foundation for the future construction of a fluorine-18-labeled 5-ALA PET tracer to be used for functional and metabolic imaging of gliomas.

Biased modulators of NMDA receptors control channel opening and ion selectivity.

Allosteric modulators of ion channels typically alter the transitions rates between conformational states without changing the properties of the open pore. Here we describe a new class of positive allosteric modulators of N-methyl D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) that mediate a calcium-permeable component of glutamatergic synaptic transmission and play essential roles in learning, memory and cognition, as well as neurological disease. EU1622-14 increases agonist potency and channel-open probability, slows receptor deactivation and decreases both single-channel conductance and calcium permeability. The unique functional selectivity of this chemical probe reveals a mechanism for enhancing NMDAR function while limiting excess calcium influx, and shows that allosteric modulators can act as biased modulators of ion-channel permeation.

Esterification by Redox Dehydration Using Diselenides as Catalytic Organooxidants.

Ortho-functionalized aryl diselenides are catalytic (5.0 mol %) oxidants for the construction of esters from carboxylic acids and alcohols in the presence of stoichiometric triethyl phosphite and dioxygen in air as the terminal redox reagents (redox dehydration conditions). The reaction proceeds through the intermediacy of the anhydride and requires the presence of 10% DMAP to drive the esterification.

Mechanism of Acylative Oxidation-Reduction-Condensation Reactions Using Benzoisothiazolones as Oxidant and Triethylphosphite as Stoichiometric Reductant.

We previously described a new organocatalytic oxidation-reduction-condensation for amide/peptide construction. The reaction system relies on triethylphosphite as the stoichiometric reductant and organocatalytic benzoisothiazolone/O2 in air as the oxidant. The reaction was assumed to generate catalytic quantities of S-acylthiosalicylamides as electrophiles, which are rapidly intercepted by amine reactants to generate amides/peptides and o-mercaptobenzamides. The latter are then gently reoxidized to the benzoisothiazolones under Cu-catalyzed aerobic conditions to complete the catalytic cycle. To gain a mechanistic understanding, we describe herein our studies of the stoichiometric generation of S-acylthiosalicylamides under oxidation-reduction-condensation conditions from a variety of benzoisothiazolones and carboxylic acids using triethylphosphite as the terminal reductant. These studies have revealed the presence of more than one reaction pathway when benzoisothiazolones react with triethylphosphite (including a rapid, direct deoxygenation of certain classes of benzoisothiazolones by triethylphosphite) and allow the identification of optimal reaction characteristics (benzoisothiazolone structure and solvent) for the generation of thioesters. These explorations will inform our efforts to develop highly effective and robust organocatalytic oxidation-reduction-condensation reactions that are based on the benzoisothiazolone and related motifs.

Benzoisothiazolone Organo/Copper-Cocatalyzed Redox Dehydrative Construction of Amides and Peptides from Carboxylic Acids using (EtO)3P as the Reductant and O2 in Air as the Terminal Oxidant.

Carboxylic acids and amine/amino acid reactants can be converted to amides and peptides at neutral pH within 5-36 h at 50 °C using catalytic quantities of a redox-active benzoisothiazolone and a copper complex. These catalytic "oxidation-reduction condensation" reactions are carried out open to dry air using O2 as the terminal oxidant and a slight excess of triethyl phosphite as the reductant. Triethyl phosphate is the easily removed byproduct. These simple-to-run catalytic reactions provide practical and economical procedures for the acylative construction of C-N bonds.

Carboxyl activation via silylthioesterification: one-pot, two-step amidation of carboxylic acids catalyzed by non-metal ammonium salts.

The first organo-catalyzed silylthioesterification of a carboxylic acid and a commercially available mercaptoorganosilane results in the in situ production of an O-silylthionoester. Subsequent amine addition forms amides in an operationally simple one-pot procedure without removal of water. The scope and efficiency of these reactions with respect to the catalyst, carboxylic acid, amine, [Si─S] moiety, and solvent are investigated. A number of functionalities are tolerated in the two-step amidation including alkene, alkyne, alkyl and aryl halides, benzylic ethers, and heterocycles with free coordinating sites.

Mobilizing Cu(I) for carbon-carbon bond forming catalysis in the presence of thiolate. Chemical mimicking of metallothioneins.

Copper(I) is rendered catalytically viable in the presence of thiolate by the design of a small molecule chemical analogue of the metallothionein system in which an N-O reactant serves the same conceptual purpose of the S-S reactant of the biological system.

In situ carboxyl activation using a silatropic switch: a new approach to amide and peptide constructions.

The novel reactivity of O-silylthionoesters with amine nucleophiles to generate oxoamides (rather than thioamides) is described. A straightforward first-generation trimethylsilylation protocol using bistrimethylsilylacetamide (BSA) combined with the unique reactivity of the O-silylthionoesters toward 1° and 2° amines to generate oxoamides provides the simplest means of activating a thiol acid for peptide bond formation at neutral pH. Excellent stereoretention is observed.

Organometallic enantiomeric scaffolding: a strategy for the enantiocontrolled construction of regio- and stereodivergent trisubstituted piperidines from a common precursor.

Reported herein is a general and efficient method to construct 2,3,6-trisubstituted piperidines in a substituent-independent fashion. From the high enantiopurity organometallic scaffold (-)-Tp(CO)(2)[(η-2,3,4)-(1S,2S)-1-benzyloxycarbonyl-5-oxo-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyridin-2-yl)molybdenum (Tp = hydridotrispyrazolylborato), a variety of TpMo(CO)(2)-based 2,3,6-trifunctionalized complexes of the (η-3,4,5-dihydropyridinyl) ligand were easily obtained in 5 steps through a sequence of highly regio- and stereospecific metal-influenced transformations (15 examples). From the 2,3,6-trifunctionalized molybdenum complexes, either 2,6-cis-3-trans or 2,3,6-cis systems were selectively obtained through the choice of an appropriate stereodivergent demetalation protocol. The potential of this strategy in synthetic chemistry was demonstrated by the short total synthesis of four natural and one non-natural alkaloids: indolizidines (±)-209I and (±)-8-epi-219F in the racemic series, and enantiocontrolled syntheses of (-)-indolizidine 251N, (-)-quinolizidine 251AA, and (-)-dehydroindolizidine 233E.

Synthesis, Radiolabeling, and Biological Evaluation of the trans-Stereoisomers of 1-Amino-3-(fluoro-18F)-4-fluorocyclopentane-1-carboxylic Acid as PET Imaging Agents.

The enantiomeric non-natural cyclic amino acids (3R,4R)-1-amino-3-fluoro-4-(fluoro-18F)cyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid and (3S,4S)-1-amino-3-fluoro-4-(fluoro-18F)cyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid ([ 18 F]5) have been prepared as a racemic mixture in 1.3% decay corrected radiochemical yield and in greater than 99% radiochemical purity. [ 18 F]5 is transported primarily via system L with some transport occurring via system ASC, as assessed in rat 9L gliosarcoma, human U87 ΔEGFR glioblastoma, and human DU145 androgen-independent prostate carcinoma tumor cells. In rats bearing intracranial 9L gliosarcoma, [ 18 F]5 gave tumor to contralateral brain tissue ratios of up to 2.8. Biodistribution studies in healthy rats demonstrated that bladder accumulation is delayed until 10 min postinjection.

Synthesis and evaluation of novel proton exchange membranes containing the semisquaric Acid group.

We focus our attention here on semisquaric acid, which is known to show high acidity, as a new proton dissociating group for proton exchange membranes (PEMs). The introduction of a squaric acid group into aromatic polymers was conducted by the reaction of lithiated aromatic polymers and diisopropoxy squarate, followed by treatment with hydrochloric acid. A resulting polyphenylsulfone membrane with the squaric acid group introduced (PPSf-SQ, IEC = 4.1 meq·g(-1) ) showed proton conductivity of 1.0 × 10(-1) S·cm(-1) at 80 °C under 95% relative humidity, which indicates that the semisquaric acid has the potential to become an alternative proton-conducting group for PEMs.

Synthesis, Radiolabeling, and Biological Evaluation of the cis Stereoisomers of 1-Amino-3-Fluoro-4-(fluoro-18F)Cyclopentane-1-Carboxylic Acid as PET Imaging Agents.

The non-natural cyclic amino acids (1S,3R,4S)-1-amino-3-fluoro-4-(fluoro-18F)cyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid ([18F]9) and (1S,3S,4R)-1-amino-3-fluoro-4-(fluoro-18F)cyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid ([18F]28) have been prepared in 10 and 1.7% decay corrected radiochemical yield, respectively, and in greater than 99% radiochemical purity. Cell assays in rat 9L gliosarcoma, human U87 ΔEGFR glioblastoma, and human DU145 androgen-independent prostate carcinoma tumor cells indicated that both compounds are substrates for amino acid transport primarily by system L, with some transport taking place via system ASC. In rats with 9L gliosarcoma, [18F]9 and [18F]28 provided high tumor to normal brain tissue ratios, with maximal ratios of 3.5 and 4.1, respectively. Biodistribution studies in healthy rats confirmed that both compounds are BBB permeable and that bladder accumulation is low until at least 5 min post injection.

A new reaction motif: "homo-S(N)2'-like" direct nucleophilic addition to neutral eta(3)-allylmolybdenum complexes. total synthesis of the antimalarial (+)-isofebrifugine.

Charge neutral TpMo(CO)(2)(5-acyloxy-eta(3)-pyranyl) and TpMo(CO)(2)(5-acyloxy-eta(3)-pyridinyl) scaffolds undergo a novel intermolecular "homo-S(N)2'-like" reaction with a variety of carbon nucleophiles. Combined with an annulative demetalation, the homo-S(N)2'-like substitution/annulative demetalation sequence rapidly generates 2,7-dioxabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane and 2-aza-7-oxabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane frameworks in good to excellent yields with high enantiopurity. An enantiocontrolled total synthesis of the antimalarial alkaloid (+)-isofebrifugine was achieved utilizing this reaction cascade.

Organometallic enantiomeric scaffolding. Sequential semipinacol/1,5-"Michael-like" reactions as a strategic approach to bridgehead-quaternary center aza[3.3.1]bicyclics: application to the total synthesis of (-)-adaline.

A nontraditional approach to the enantiocontrolled construction of quaternary center-bearing heteroatom-bridged bicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes (homotropanes) is reported that is based on organometallic enantiomeric scaffolding. This strategy takes advantage of the unique reactivity profiles of TpMo(CO)(2)(5-oxo-eta(3)-pyranyl) and TpMo(CO)(2)(5-oxo-eta(3)-pyridinyl) scaffolds, and features a molybdenum-mediated semipinacol/1,5-"Michael-like" reaction sequence to establish the quaternary center and synthesize the bridged bicyclic structure. An asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-adaline highlights this methodology.

A copper-catalyzed, pH-neutral construction of high-enantiopurity peptidyl ketones from peptidic s-acylthiosalicylamides in air at room temperature.

A copper-catalyzed transformation of peptidic thiol esters and boronic acids gives peptidyl ketones and takes place in DMF or DMF/H(2)O at room temperature in air (see scheme). This aerobic reaction only occurs at a thiol ester group capable of coordinating to Cu through its appendage on the sulfur center and is not hampered by racemization of the reactants or products.

A simple, modular synthesis of substituted pyridines.

A simple, modular method to prepare highly substituted pyridines is disclosed. The method employs a cascade reaction comprising (1) a novel N-iminative, Cu-catalyzed cross-coupling of alkenylboronic acids at the N-O bond of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketoxime O-pentafluorobenzoates, (2) electrocyclization of the resulting 3-azatriene, and (3) air oxidation affording highly substituted pyridines in moderate to excellent isolated yields (43-91%). Starting materials are readily available, and functional group tolerance is very good.

Organometallic enantiomeric scaffolding: general access to 2-substituted oxa- and azabicyclo[3.2.1]octenes via a Brønsted acid catalyzed [5 + 2] cycloaddition reaction.

6-Substituted TpMo(CO) 2(eta-2,3,4-pyranyl)- and TpMo(CO) 2(eta-2,3,4-pyridinyl) scaffolds (Tp = hydridotrispyrazolylborato) function as reaction partners in an efficient regio- and stereocontrolled synthesis of functionalized oxa- and azabicyclo[3.2.1]octenes through a novel Brønsted acid catalyzed [5 + 2] cycloaddition reaction. Excellent exo-selectivities are obtained, and the reaction gives products with complete retention of enantiomeric purity when carried out with chiral, nonracemic scaffolds. The substituent at C-6 of the eta (3)-coordinated heterocyclic scaffold not only influences [5 + 2] reactivity but also plays a critical role in the demetalation step directing the reaction to only one of two possible products.

N-amidation by copper-mediated cross-coupling of organostannanes or boronic acids with o-acetyl hydroxamic acids.

A general nonoxidative N-amidation of organostannanes and boronic acids has been developed. Under nonbasic conditions a wide variety of aryl, alkenyl, and heteroaryl organostannanes and boronic acids couple efficiently with O-acetyl hydroxamic acids in the presence of Cu(I) sources.

Aerobic, Diselenide-Catalyzed Redox Dehydration: Amides and Peptides.

At 2.5 mol % loadings using reaction temperatures between 30-55 °C, ortho-functionalized diaryl diselenides are highly effective organocatalytic oxidants for aerobic redox dehydrative amidic and peptidic bond formation using triethyl phosphite as a simple terminal reductant. This simple-to-perform organocatalytic reaction relies on the ability of selenols to react directly with dioxygen in air without recourse to metal catalysts. It represents an important step toward the development of a general, economical, and benign catalytic redox dehydration protocol.

A new paradigm for carbon-carbon bond formation: aerobic, copper-templated cross-coupling.

Thiol esters and boronic acids react to produce ketones under aerobic conditions in the presence of catalytic quantities of a CuI or CuII salt. The reaction occurs at reasonable rates between room temperature and 50 degrees C at neutral pH using thiol esters derived from bulky 2 degrees amides of thiosalicylamides such as those based on N-tert-butyl-2-mercaptobenzamide. In this mechanistically unprecedented reaction system, the carbon-carbon bond formation occurs through templating of the thiol ester and the boronic acid at copper; the system is rendered catalytic in copper under the aerobic conditions.