Curcumin Derivatives Verify the Essentiality of ROS Upregulation in Tumor Suppression.

BACKGROUND: Curcumin has been shown to exert pleiotropic biological effects, including anti-tumorigenic activity. We previously showed that curcumin controls reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels through the ROS metabolic enzymes, to prevent tumor cell growth. In this study, we synthesized 39 novel curcumin derivatives and examined their anti-proliferative and anti-tumorigenic properties. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-nine derivatives exhibited anti-proliferative activity toward human cancer cell lines, including CML-derived K562 leukemic cells, in a manner sensitive to an antioxidant, N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC). Some compounds exhibited lower GI50 values than curcumin, some efficiently induced cell senescence, and others markedly increased ROS levels, efficiently induced cell death and suppressed tumor formation in a xenograft mouse model, without any detectable side effects. A clustering analysis of the selected compounds and their measurement variables revealed that anti-tumorigenic activity was most well-correlated with an increase in ROS levels. Pulldown assays and a molecular docking analysis showed that curcumin derivatives competed with co-enzymes to bind to the respective ROS metabolic enzymes and inhibited their enzymatic activities. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of novel curcumin derivatives established the importance of ROS upregulation in suppression of tumorigenesis, and these compounds are potentially useful for the development of an anti-cancer drug with few side effects.

Site-Selective Conversion of Azido Groups at Carbonyl α-Positions to Diazo Groups in Diazido and Triazido Compounds.

This paper reports on the selective conversion of alkyl azido groups at the carbonyl α-position to diazo compounds. Through ß-elimination of dinitrogen, followed by hydrazone formation/decomposition, α-azidocarbonyl moieties were transformed into α-diazo carbonyl groups in one step. As these reaction conditions do not involve aryl or general alkyl azides, site-selective conversions of di- and triazides were achieved. Through this method, the successive site-selective conjugation of the triazido molecule with three different components is demonstrated.

Nitrosoallene-Mediated endo-Cyclizations for the Synthesis of (Hetero)cyclic α-Substituted exo-Unsaturated Oximes.

Nitrosoallene-mediated endo-dig cyclization reactions producing (hetero)cyclic exo-unsaturated oximes (enoximes) are described. The intramolecular 1,4-type addition to in situ generated nitrosoallenes afforded α-substituted cyclic enoximes with exo-methylene units, which are the favored conformation for further cyclizations. The strong electron-withdrawing ability of the nitroso group facilitated the construction of five-to-seven-membered ring systems via C-O, C-N, C-S, and C-C bond formations, including a quaternary carbon center, at low temperatures.

Synthesis, photophysical properties, and photodynamic activity of positional isomers of TFPP-glucose conjugates.

The synthesis and characterization of a 'complete set' of positional isomers of tetrakis(perfluorophenyl)porphyrins (TFPP)-glucose conjugates (1OH, 2OH, 3OH, 4OH, and 6OH) are reported herein. The cellular uptake and photocytotoxicity of these conjugates were examined in order to investigate the influence of location of the TFPP moiety on the d-glucose molecule on the biological activity of the conjugates. An In vitro biological evaluation revealed that the certain of these isomers have a greater effect on cellular uptake and cytotoxicity than others. The TFPP-glucose conjugates 1OH, 3OH, and 4OH were found to exert exceptional photocytotoxicity in several types of cancer cells compared to 2OH and 6OH substituted isomers.

Arene-Inserted Extended Germa[n]pericyclynes: Synthesis, Structure, and Phosphorescence Properties.

This report describes the synthesis and characterization of arene-inserted extended (ArEx) germa[n]pericyclynes composed of germanium and 1,4-diethynylbenzene units. These novel cyclic germanium-π unit materials were synthesized with diethynylbenzene and germanium dichloride. X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed their structures, and the planar conformation of ArEx germa[4]pericyclyne along with the regular aromatic rings. UV/Vis absorption spectra and fluorescence emission spectra showed considerably unique and highly improved character compared to previously reported germa[n]pericyclynes. Even in the absence of transition metal components, phosphorescence emissions were observed, and the emission lifetimes were dramatically improved. ArEx germa[n]pericyclynes showed high photoluminescence quantum yields, whereas low photoluminescence quantum yields were observed for acyclic compounds. Density functional theory calculations show delocalized orbitals between skipped alkyne units through a germanium tether, and an increase in the HOMO energy level, leading to a small HOMO-LUMO energy gap.

Lewis Acid Catalyzed Cyclization Reactions of Ethenetricarboxylates via Intramolecular Hydride Transfer.

Catalytic cyclization of amides of ethenetricarboxylate bearing ether and acetal groups has been examined. The reaction of the amides bearing cyclic ether and acetal groups in the presence of Lewis acid such as Sc(OTf)3 gave spirocyclic piperidine derivatives as major products. The cyclized products may be formed via intramolecular hydride transfer. The reaction mechanism was examined by the DFT calculations. The scope and limitations of the hydride transfer/cyclization reactions of amides of ethenetricarboxylates was investigated, and morpholine formation by intramolecular oxy-Michael addition was also found.

Formal [3+2] Cycloaddition of Nitrosoallenes with Carbonyl and Nitrile Compounds to Form Functional Cyclic Nitrones.

The synthesis of functional cyclic nitrones via [3+2] cycloadditions of allenamide-derived nitrosoallenes with carbonyl/nitrile compounds, including ketones, esters, and nitriles, is presented herein. Rapid carbon-carbon, carbon-oxygen, and carbon-nitrogen bond formations were achieved with in situ prepared nitrosoallenes, and densely substituted oxacyclic and carbocyclic nitrones containing tetrasubstituted carbon centers were successfully synthesized. The spirocyclic nitrone products synthesized from cyclic dicarbonyl compounds underwent the unique skeletal rearrangements to cyclic α-ketonitrones.

Synthesis of α-Substituted Enoximes with Nucleophiles via Nitrosoallenes.

This paper reports nitrosoallene-mediated synthesis of α-substituted enoximes. Nucleophilic substitution of nitrosoallenes, a novel chemical species prepared from allenyl N-hydroxysulfonamides, afforded α-functionalized enoximes. Introduction of various nucleophiles proceeded smoothly to form C-N, C-O, C-S, C-F, and C-C bonds in the presence of azodicarboxylates.

Accessible protocol for asymmetric hydroformylation of vinylarenes using formaldehyde.

We report herein on an accessible protocol for the asymmetric hydroformylation of vinylarenes using formaldehyde as a substitute for syngas. The regioselectivity (branched/linear = up to 96/4) and enantioselectivity (up to 95% ee) can be attributed to the use of chiral Ph-bpe as a ligand.

Synthesis of a Novel Cysteine-Incorporated Anthraquinone Derivative and Its Structural Properties.

A novel cysteine-incorporated anthraquinone derivative was synthesized, and its molecular structure was determined by X-ray crystal analysis. Each mercapto group was located separately and did not form a disulfide bond, and hydrogen bondings and π-π interaction were observed from the packing structure.

Selective accumulation of [6²Zn]-labeled glycoconjugated porphyrins as multi-functional positron emission tomography tracers in cancer cells.

Positron-emission tomography (PET) can be used to visualize active stage cancer. Fluorine-18 ([(18)F])-labeled 2-([(18)F])2-deoxy-2-fluoroglucose (([(18)F])-FDG), which accumulates in glucose-dependent tissues, is a good cancer-targeting tracer. However, ([(18)F])-FDG is obscured in glucose-dependent normal tissues. In this study, we assessed the cancer-selective accumulation of zinc-labeled glycoconjugated 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (ZnGlc1-4), both in vitro and in vivo. Experiments using both normal and cancer cells confirmed the relationship between cancer cell-selective accumulation and the substitution numbers and orientations of glycoconjugated porphyrins. ZnGlctrans-2 accumulated at greater levels in cancer cells compared with other glycoconjugated porphyrins. PET imaging showed that ZnGlctrans-2 accumulated in tumor.

Image sensor pixel with on-chip high extinction ratio polarizer based on 65-nm standard CMOS technology.

In this study, we demonstrate a polarization sensitive pixel for a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor based on 65-nm standard CMOS technology. Using such a deep-submicron CMOS technology, it is possible to design fine metal patterns smaller than the wavelengths of visible light by using a metal wire layer. We designed and fabricated a metal wire grid polarizer on a 20 × 20 µm(2) pixel for image sensor. An extinction ratio of 19.7 dB was observed at a wavelength 750 nm.

Diastereoselective [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of cyclohexenone derivative with olefins in supercritical carbon dioxide.

We performed diastereoselective [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of the cyclohexenone derivative with olefins in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2). A dramatic enhancement of conversion was observed at around critical density when ethylene gas was employed as a coupling partner. Furthermore, we elucidated that the pressure dependence of the diastereomeric excess (de) was discontinuous at critical density owing to the difference of substrate solubility between near-critical carbon dioxide (ncCO2) and scCO2; both the reaction conversion and de values obtained were lower than those in conventional organic solvent. On the contrary, when cyclopentene (liquid) was utilized as a coupling partner, moderate conversion was always observed irrespective of CO2 pressure, because the substrate could be dissolved in cyclopentene. Furthermore, we could accomplish de enhancement in scCO2, in particular around critical density, compared to that in organic solvent. This highly selective photoreaction is due to the unique solvent property of scCO2, which is called the clustering effect.

Lewis acid-promoted cyclization reactions of alkenyl ethenetricarboxylates: stereoselective synthesis of 2-oxotetrahydrofurans and 2-oxopyrrolidines.

Lewis acid-promoted intramolecular reactions of alkenyl ethenetricarboxylates and the corresponding amides have been examined. Reaction of allyl ethenetricarboxylates and the amides with Lewis acids (1-2 equiv) such as TiCl4, TiBr4, AlCl3, and AlBr3 gave 3,4-trans-halogenomethyl 2-oxotetrahydrofuran and pyrrolidine derivatives stereoselectively in high yields. The stereochemistries were determined by NOE experiments. Reaction of alkyl-substituted allylic ethenetricarboxylates with Lewis acids gave chloro 2-oxotetrahydrofurans and pyrans. For some alkyl-substituted substrates, cationic intermediates may be formed under the reaction conditions, and rearranged products have been obtained.

Diastereoselective [2+2] photocycloaddition of chiral cyclic enones with olefins in aqueous media using surfactants.

We conducted diastereodifferentiating [2+2] photocycloadditions of cyclo-hexenones modified with a chiral 8-(p-methoxy phenyl)menthyl auxiliary with olefins in water. Although the photoreaction didn't proceed at all in pure water owing to very low solubility, the use of surfactants [sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or dodecylamine hydrochloride (DAH)] and additive (organic solvent) enabled the reactions to progress with moderate to high conversions and yields. Furthermore, we synthesized a new menthol derivative substrate containing a (p-octyloxy)phenyl group for enhancing hydrophobicity, and elucidated that this new substrate was found to be a suitable chiral auxiliary in this asymmetric photoreaction in aqueous system. The additive effect of organic molecules on the yield and diastereoselectivity of the photo-adducts is also discussed.

Microflow photochemistry: UVC-induced [2 + 2]-photoadditions to furanone in a microcapillary reactor.

[2 + 2]-Cycloadditions of cyclopentene and 2,3-dimethylbut-2-ene to furanone were investigated under continuous-flow conditions. Irradiations were conducted in a FEP-microcapillary module which was placed in a Rayonet chamber photoreactor equipped with low wattage UVC-lamps. Conversion rates and isolated yields were compared to analogue batch reactions in a quartz test tube. In all cases examined, the microcapillary reactor furnished faster conversions and improved product qualities.

Cationic Rhodium(I)-Catalyzed Asymmetric Cyclohydroformylation of 1,6-Enynes with Formaldehyde.

We report a rhodium(I)-catalyzed asymmetric cyclohydroformylation reaction of 1,6-enynes with formaldehyde. The reaction of 1,6-enynes with formaldehyde in the presence of a cationic Rh(I) catalyst, such as [Rh(cod)2 ]+ OTf- , and a chiral biaryl diphosphine led to asymmetric cyclohydroformylation to produce aldehydes with higher-order structures highly enantioselectively. This transformation procedure is applicable to a variety of enynes, with wide compatibility in various atoms liking between the alkyne and alkene parts, substituents at the alkyne terminus, and substituents at the alkene part, being converted to newly formed aldehydes in 14% to 90% yields with 50% to 98% ee. The products were further transformed with various nucleophiles to alcohols, an amine, and a diene without loss of chirality at their γ-position.

Entrainer effects on enantiodifferentiating photocyclization of 5-hydroxy-1,1-diphenylpentene in near-critical and supercritical carbon dioxide.

Enantiodifferentiating photocyclization of 5-hydroxy-1,1-diphenyl-1-pentene (1) sensitized by bis(1,2;4,5-di-O-isopropylidene-α-fructopyranosyl) 1,4-naphthalenedicarboxylate (2) was performed in near-critical and supercritical carbon dioxide media containing organic entrainers to obtain a chiral tetrahydrofuran derivative (3) in enantiomeric excess (ee) higher than those obtained in conventional organic solvents. Interestingly, the entrainer-driven ee enhancement did not depend on the entrainer polarity, which is in contrast to the behavior of the ee observed upon selective solvation in nonpolar organic solvents. This indicates that entrainer clustering around the intervening exciplex is essential in order to keep the intimate sensitizer-substrate contact within the exciplex. Therefore, the clustering itself, rather than its property, is more crucial to prevent the dissociative diffusion to gaseous CO(2). The wider allowance in choosing the entrainer enables us to use more "green" solvents for achieving the ee enhancement, while reducing the environmental risk.

Rh(I)-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of 3-substituted isoindolinones through CO gas-free aminocarbonylation.

A highly efficient and accessible synthesis of chiral 3-substituted isoindolinone frameworks is described. The synthesis involved the Rh(I)-catalyzed asymmetric arylation of boronic acids to 2-halobenzaldimines and the subsequent Rh(I)-catalyzed intramolecular aminocarbonylation of the resulting 2-halobenzylamines using an aldehyde as the carbonyl source. The method tolerates a variety of functional groups, yielding isoindolinone derivatives in moderate to high yields with high ee-values. In addition, two Rh(I)-catalyzed transformations could be efficiently accomplished in a one-pot sequence to give chiral isoindolinones by the simple addition of a ligand and an aldehyde after the Rh(I)-catalyzed asymmetric arylation.

Microenvironmental control of enantiodifferentiating photocyclization of 5-hydroxy-1,1-diphenylpentene through selective solvation.

For mechanistic elucidation of the photosensitized cyclization of 5-hydroxy-1,1-diphenylpentene (1), its methyl ether (4) was synthesized as an unreactive "dummy" substrate and used as a quencher of the sensitizer fluorescence to reveal the intervention of an exciplex intermediate that was unable to detect when reactive substrate 1 was used as a quencher/reactant In the enantiodifferentiating photocyclization of 1 to 2-(diphenylmethyl)tetrahydrofuran (2) sensitized by a chiral saccharide ester of 1,4-naphthalenedicarboxylate (3), the enantiomeric excess (ee) of chiral product 2 obtained in methylcyclohexane (MCH) at 25 °C was significantly enhanced from 20% to 35% upon 10-fold dilution of the sample solution by MCH, for which the reduced solvent polarity, discouraging dissociation of the intervening radical ionic exciplex, is likely to be responsible. Further attempts to microenvironmentally control the photochirogenic reaction and enhance the product's ee through selective solvation of polar cosolvent to the diastereomeric exciplex pair in nonpolar solvent were not successful probably due to the inherently high local polarity around the exciplex of saccharide-appended 3 with alcoholic substrate 1.