Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of α-Chiral Azaheteroaryl Ethylamines by Asymmetric Protonation.

The direct enantioselective synthesis of chiral azaheteroaryl ethylamines from vinyl-substituted N-heterocycles and anilines is reported. A chiral phosphoric acid (CPA) catalyst promotes dearomatizing aza-Michael addition to give a prochiral exocyclic aryl enamine, which undergoes asymmetric protonation upon rearomatization. The reaction accommodates a broad range of N-heterocycles, nucleophiles, and substituents on the prochiral centre, generating the products in high enantioselectivity. DFT studies support a facile nucleophilic addition based on catalyst-induced LUMO lowering, with site-selective, rate-limiting, intramolecular asymmetric proton transfer from the ion-paired prochiral intermediate.

Synthesis of functionalised 4H-quinolizin-4-ones via tandem Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination/cyclisation.

4H-Quinolizin-4-ones are a unique class of heterocycle with valuable physicochemical properties and which are emerging as key pharmacophores for a range of biological targets. A tandem Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination/cyclisation method has been developed to allow facile access to substituted 4H-quinolizin-4-ones encoded with a range of functional groups.

Application of Molecular-Modeling, Scaffold-Hopping, and Bioisosteric Approaches to the Discovery of New Heterocyclic Picolinamides.

Macrocyclic natural products and their derivatives are a valuable source for biologically active crop protection products and have had significant impact on the development of conventional agrochemicals. However, they can be challenging starting points for lead-generation efforts because of their size, structural complexity, and developability. Using molecular modeling and electrostatic analysis, alternative bicyclic isosteres were identified as replacements for the antifungal nine-membered macrocycle UK-2A. By application of a structure-based conformational approach, a series of heterocyclic replacements were derivatized to deliver promising fungicidal activity and scaffold bioisosteres were further diversified to investigate structure-activity relationships.

One-Pot Homologation of Boronic Acids: A Platform for Diversity-Oriented Synthesis.

Formal homologation of sp(2)-hybridized boronic acids is achieved via cross-coupling of boronic acids with conjunctive haloaryl BMIDA components in the presence of a suitably balanced basic phase. The utility of this approach to provide a platform for diversity-oriented synthesis in discovery medicinal chemistry is demonstrated in the context of the synthesis of a series of analogues of a BET bromodomain inhibitor.