One-Pot Synthesis of Dibenzo[b,f]oxepines and Total Synthesis of Bauhinoxepin C.

In this work, we report a novel and simple one-pot synthesis of substituted dibenzo[b,f]oxepines under transition-metal-free conditions. This cascade process involves nucleophilic aromatic substitution followed by Knoevanagel condensation, as evidenced by the isolated reaction intermediates. We have also achieved the synthesis of anticancer bauhinoxepin C in 7 steps with 5.1% overall yield using this synthetic approach.

Total Syntheses of (+)-α-Allokainic Acid and (-)-2- epi-α-Allokainic Acid Employing Ketopinic Amide as a Chiral Auxiliary.

Asymmetric Michael reaction of iminoglycinate 4 to α,ß-unsaturated esters had been developed with >98:<2 diastereoselectivity. A reverse of diastereoselectivity for Michael reaction could be achieved by the replacement of lithium enolate with magnesium enolate. This methodology was applied to the total syntheses of (+)-α-allokainic acid 1 and (-)-2- epi-α-allokainic acid 6 each in 11 synthetic steps starting from 4 in 17.8 and 18.0% yields, respectively.

Biomimetic Syntheses of (±)-Isopalhinine†A, (±)-Palhinine†A, and (±)-Palhinine†D.

The first total synthesis of isopalhinine A, as well as unified syntheses of palhinine A and palhinine D, were successfully accomplished by means of a biomimetic strategy that proceeds through a bioinspired 5/6/6/9 tetracyclic intermediate, which mimics the amino ketone form of palhinine D. An early-stage direct SN 2 cyclization to construct the nine-membered azonane ring minimized the transannular strain that would otherwise be increased by the twisted nature of the isotwistane skeleton. Then, a diastereoselective Diels-Alder reaction of a masked ortho-benzoquinone using the nine-membered ring as a steric shielding group furnished a functionalized 6/6/9 tricyclic skeleton and established the desired stereochemistry at the C3, C7, C12, and C15 positions in one step. A thiol-mediated acyl radical cyclization gave the bioinspired intermediate bearing three differentiated oxygen-containing functional groups, from which all three total syntheses could be completed in either two or three additional steps.

The selective electrochemical fluorination of S-alkyl benzothioate and its derivatives.

We herein report that the regioselective anodic fluorination of S-alkyl benzothioate and its derivatives in various aprotic solvents using Et3N·nHF (n = 3-5) and Et4NF·nHF (n = 3-5) as supporting electrolyte and a fluorine source successfully provided the corresponding α-fluorinated products in moderate yields. Dichloromethane containing Et4NF·4HF was found to be the most suitable combination as electrolytic solvent and supporting salt as well as fluorine source for the anodic fluorination. The electrochemical fluorination of cyclic benzothioates such as benzothiophenone was also achieved.

Moniliformediquinone induces in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity through glutathione involved DNA damage response and mitochondrial stress in human hormone refractory prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: Hormone refractory metastatic prostate cancer is a major obstacle in clinical treatment. The key focus of this study was the discovery and development of a potential agent for this disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Several pharmacological and biochemical assays were used to characterize the apoptotic signaling pathways of moniliformediquinone, a natural product, in hormone refractory metastatic prostate cancer. RESULTS: Moniliformediquinone induced cell cycle arrest at the S-phase and subsequent apoptosis in the hormone refractory metastatic prostate cancer cell lines PC-3 and DU-145. Further examination showed that moniliformediquinone induced a DNA damage response associated with Chk1, Chk2, c-Jun and JNK activation. Mitochondrial apoptosis pathways were also activated, including loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release, and activation of caspase-9 and 3. The antioxidant and glutathione precursor N-acetylcysteine, and the antioxidant Trolox™ completely abolished moniliformediquinone induced generation of reactive oxygen species. However, N-acetylcysteine but not Trolox blocked moniliformediquinone mediated apoptosis and related signaling cascades. Further identification showed that moniliformediquinone alone did not conjugate glutathione but significantly decreased cellular glutathione levels. The in vivo study revealed that moniliformediquinone completely inhibited tumor growth with no weight loss. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that moniliformediquinone is a potential anticancer agent for hormone refractory metastatic prostate cancer by decreasing cellular glutathione, leading to a DNA damage response and cell cycle arrest at the S-phase. Mitochondrial stress also occurs due to moniliformediquinone action through loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and cytochrome c release, which in turn induce the activation of caspase cascades and apoptotic cell death.

Formal syntheses of (-)-isoretronecanol, (+)-laburnine, and a concise enantioselective synthesis of (+)-turneforcidine.

The synthesis of functionalized pyroglutamates 15 and 16 could be achieved by the application of recently developed diastereodivergent asymmetric Michael addition reaction of iminoglycinate 7 to ethyl γ-silyloxycrotonate with >98:<2 diastereoselectivity followed by hydrolysis and lactamization. Formal syntheses of (-)-isoretronecanol and (+)-laburnine as well as a concise enantioselective synthesis of (+)-turneforcidine could be achieved from functionalized pyroglutamates 15 or 16.

Asymmetric addition of dimethylzinc to alpha-ketoesters catalyzed by (-)-MITH.

This investigation describes the catalytic asymmetric addition of dimethylzinc to alpha-ketoesters in the presence of (-)-MITH ( 5) and triethyl borate as an additive to give the corresponding chiral alpha-hydroxy esters with good yields and high enantioselectivities.

Discovery of novel inhibitors of Aurora kinases with indazole scaffold: In silico fragment-based and knowledge-based drug design.

Aurora kinases have emerged as important anticancer targets so that there are several inhibitors have advanced into clinical study. Herein, we identified novel indazole derivatives as potent Aurora kinases inhibitors by utilizing in silico fragment-based approach and knowledge-based drug design. After intensive hit-to-lead optimization, compounds 17 (dual Aurora A and B), 21 (Aurora B selective) and 30 (Aurora A selective) possessed indazole privileged scaffold with different substituents, which provide sub-type kinase selectivity. Computational modeling helps in understanding that the isoform selectivity could be targeted specific residue in the Aurora kinase binding pocket in particular targeting residues Arg220, Thr217 or Glu177.

Enantioselective addition of dialkylzinc to aromatic aldimines mediated by camphor-derived chiral ß-amino alcohols.

The enantioselective addition of diethylzinc or dimethylzinc to N-(diphenylphosphinoyl)imines mediated by 1 or 2 could be achieved in high yields (70-97 %) and enantioselectivities (85-98 % ee). The catalytic loading of 1 or 2 a could be reduced to 10 mol % for methylation or ethylation of imines in high yields and enantioselectivities (79-96 %) when the reaction was conducted in the presence of 1.8 equiv of methanol. N-Monosubstituted amino alcohols induced higher enantioselectivity than their N,N-disubstituted congener in our catalytic system.

A modified Mannich-type reaction catalyzed by VO(acac)(2).

A facile VO(acac)(2)-catalyzed in situ generation of iminium ions from amine N-oxides and their participation in a modified Mannich-type reaction is described.

1,2-diphenylethylenediamine linked chiral Ti(IV) complex--a new entry to the highly enantioselective silylcyanation of aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes.

Highly enantioselective silylcyanation of aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes was achieved by using a 1,2-diphenylethylenediamine linked chiral Ti(IV) complex as the catalyst.

Remote sulfonamido group enhances reactivity and selectivity for asymmetric Michael addition of nitroalkanes to α,ß-unsaturated aldehydes.

The pyrrolidine-camphorsulfonamide-based catalyst 1 a catalyzes the enantioselective conjugate addition of nitroalkanes to α,ß-unsaturated aldehydes in the presence of five equivalents of water in iPrOH to give the corresponding chiral Michael adducts in good yields and high enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) with a catalyst loading as low as 1 mol%.

Antidiabetic effects of pterosin A, a small-molecular-weight natural product, on diabetic mouse models.

The therapeutic effect of pterosin A, a small-molecular-weight natural product, on diabetes was investigated. Pterosin A, administered orally for 4 weeks, effectively improved hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance in streptozotocin, high-fat diet-fed, and db/db diabetic mice. There were no adverse effects in normal or diabetic mice treated with pterosin A for 4 weeks. Pterosin A significantly reversed the increased serum insulin and insulin resistance (IR) in dexamethasone-IR mice and in db/db mice. Pterosin A significantly reversed the reduced muscle GLUT-4 translocation and the increased liver phosphoenolpyruvate carboxyl kinase (PEPCK) expression in diabetic mice. Pterosin A also significantly reversed the decreased phosphorylations of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and Akt in muscles of diabetic mice. The decreased AMPK phosphorylation and increased p38 phosphorylation in livers of db/db mice were effectively reversed by pterosin A. Pterosin A enhanced glucose uptake and AMPK phosphorylation in cultured human muscle cells. In cultured liver cells, pterosin A inhibited inducer-enhanced PEPCK expression, triggered the phosphorylations of AMPK, acetyl CoA carboxylase, and glycogen synthase kinase-3, decreased glycogen synthase phosphorylation, and increased the intracellular glycogen level. These findings indicate that pterosin A may be a potential therapeutic option for diabetes.

Enantioselective addition of dialkylzincs to aldehydes catalyzed by (-)-MITH.

An effective catalytic system that imparts high enantioselectivity has been disclosed for the synthesis of optically active alcohols, which may undergo further chemical transformations. The enantioselective alkylation of aldehydes with dialkylzincs to afford the corresponding optically active alcohols with excellent enantioselectvities has been achieved in the presence of 0.1-0.5 mol % of the camphor-derived chiral ligand (-)-2-exo-morpholinoisobornane-10-thiol (MITH) (1) at room temperature or at 0 °C.

Identification, SAR studies, and X-ray co-crystallographic analysis of a novel furanopyrimidine aurora kinase A inhibitor.

Herein we reveal a simple method for the identification of novel Aurora kinase A inhibitors through substructure searching of an in-house compound library to select compounds for testing. A hydrazone fragment conferring Aurora kinase activity and heterocyclic rings most frequently reported in kinase inhibitors were used as substructure queries to filter the in-house compound library collection prior to testing. Five new series of Aurora kinase inhibitors were identified through this strategy, with IC(50) values ranging from approximately 300 nM to approximately 15 microM, by testing only 133 compounds from a database of approximately 125,000 compounds. Structure-activity relationship studies and X-ray co-crystallographic analysis of the most potent compound, a furanopyrimidine derivative with an IC(50) value of 309 nM toward Aurora kinase A, were carried out. The knowledge gained through these studies could help in the future design of potent Aurora kinase inhibitors.

Design and synthesis of alpha-ketoamides as cathepsin S inhibitors with potential applications against tumor invasion and angiogenesis.

A series of small molecules bearing an alpha-ketoamide warhead were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to inhibit cathepsin S, a key proteolytic enzyme upregulated in many cancers during tumor progression and metastasis. Most of the synthetic compounds were noncytotoxic, but several robustly inhibited cathepsin S (IC(50) < 10 nM) and potently suppressed cell migration, invasion, and capillary tube formation. These results highlight the potential of alpha-ketoamide therapy for preventing or delaying cancer spread.

Highly enantioselective synthesis of (E)-allylic alcohols.

The asymmetric addition of alkenylzincs to aromatic and alpha-branched aliphatic aldehydes catalyzed by 1 generated the corresponding (E)-allylic alcohols with >95% ee and good to excellent chemical yields, especially >99.5% ee was observed in the case of 4-CF3-benzaldehyde. Notably, 1 is an effective ligand to catalyze the addition of disubstituted (R2 = R3 = ethyl) and bulky substituted (R2 = H, R3 = tert-butyl) alkenylzincs to benzaldehyde, affording the corresponding allylic alcohols both with 96% ee.