Iodine atoms: a new molecular feature for the design of potent transthyretin fibrillogenesis inhibitors.

The thyroid hormone and retinol transporter protein known as transthyretin (TTR) is in the origin of one of the 20 or so known amyloid diseases. TTR self assembles as a homotetramer leaving a central hydrophobic channel with two symmetrical binding sites. The aggregation pathway of TTR into amiloid fibrils is not yet well characterized but in vitro binding of thyroid hormones and other small organic molecules to TTR binding channel results in tetramer stabilization which prevents amyloid formation in an extent which is proportional to the binding constant. Up to now, TTR aggregation inhibitors have been designed looking at various structural features of this binding channel others than its ability to host iodine atoms. In the present work, greatly improved inhibitors have been designed and tested by taking into account that thyroid hormones are unique in human biochemistry owing to the presence of multiple iodine atoms in their molecules which are probed to interact with specific halogen binding domains sitting at the TTR binding channel. The new TTR fibrillogenesis inhibitors are based on the diflunisal core structure because diflunisal is a registered salicylate drug with NSAID activity now undergoing clinical trials for TTR amyloid diseases. Biochemical and biophysical evidence confirms that iodine atoms can be an important design feature in the search for candidate drugs for TTR related amyloidosis.

Arylation of Phe and Tyr side chains of unprotected peptides by a Suzuki-Miyaura reaction in water.

An efficient arylation in water of tyrosine and phenylalanine side chains from unprotected iodopeptides is accomplished by using Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling processes. The method is compatible with the hydrophilic and thermolabile nature of biologically active peptides. Also of interest, the arylated tyrosine peptides can be accessed in one-pot mode starting from native peptides.

A general and regioselective synthesis of cyclopentenone derivatives through nickel(0)-mediated [3 + 2] cyclization of alkenyl Fischer carbene complexes and internal alkynes.

A broad range of substituted 2-cyclopentenone derivatives 3-6 are synthesized by the nickel(0)-mediated [3 + 2] cyclization reaction of chromium alkenyl(methoxy)carbene complexes 1 and internal alkynes 2. The reaction takes place with complete regioselectivity with both unactivated alkynes and activated alkynes (electron-withdrawing and electron-donating substituted alkynes). Representative cycloadducts containing boron and tin substituents are further demonstrated to be active partners in classical Pd-catalyzed C-C coupling processes to allow the production of 2-aryl- and 2-alkynyl-substituted cyclopentenones 9-13.

Palladium catalyzed amination of vinyl chlorides: a new entry to imines, enamines and 2-amino-1,3-butadienes.

Vinyl chlorides are employed for the first time in palladium catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with amines to furnish imines and enamines. The new methodology has been applied to the synthesis of 2-amino-1,3-butadienes, that could not be achieved from the corresponding bromides.

Solid-phase synthesis of polysubstituted piperidines by imino-Diels-Alder cycloaddition of 2-amino-1,3-butadienes with solid-supported imines.

[reaction: see text] The solid-phase imino-Diels-Alder reaction of 2-amino-1,3-butadienes with solid-supported imines is described. The reaction furnishes 4-piperidones and 4-aminopiperidines with high diastereoselectivity and with very good yields and purity after the release from the solid support. The possibility of introducing variations in both cycloaddition partners gives rise to substituted piperidines with up to five elements of diversity.