Stereochemistry-Driven Interactions of α,γ-Peptide Ligands with the Neuropeptide Y Y4-Receptor.

The G-protein-coupled Y4-receptor (Y4R) and its endogenous ligand, pancreatic polypeptide (PP), suppress appetite in response to food intake and, thus, are attractive drug targets for body-weight control. The C-terminus of human PP (hPP), T32-R33-P34-R35-Y36-NH2, penetrates deep into the binding pocket with its tyrosine-amide and di-arginine motif. Here, we present two C-terminally amidated α,γ-hexapeptides (1a/b) with sequence Ac-R31-γ-CBAA32-R33-L34-R35-Y36-NH2, where γ-CBAA is the (1R,2S,3R)-configured 2-(aminomethyl)-3-phenylcyclobutanecarboxyl moiety (1a) or its mirror image (1b). Both peptides bind the Y4R (Ki of 1a/b: 0.66/12 nM) and act as partial agonists (intrinsic activity of 1a/b: 50/39%). Their induced-fit binding poses in the Y4R pocket are unique and build ligand-receptor contacts distinct from those of the C-terminus of the endogenous ligand hPP. We conclude that energetically favorable interactions, although they do not match those of the native ligand hPP, still guarantee high binding affinity (with 1a rivaling hPP) but not the maximum receptor activation.

Photosensitised regioselective [2+2]-cycloaddition of cinnamates and related alkenes.

An efficient method for the synthesis of substituted cyclobutanes from cinnamates, chalcones, and styrenes has been developed utilizing a visible-light triplet sensitisation mode. This reaction provides a diverse range of substituted cyclobutanes in high yields under mild conditions without the need of external additives. Good regioselectivity is obtained due to strong π-π-stacking of arene moieties, whereas diastereoselectivity relies on the electronic effects or ortho-substitution of the arene substrate. The utility of this transformation is demonstrated by the formal synthesis of the lignane natural product (±)-Tanegool.

Asymmetric synthesis of both enantiomers of arteludovicinolide A.

The first total synthesis of either enantiomer of Arteludovicinolide A and their biological evaluation is reported, featuring a new strategy for the asymmetric construction of γ-butyrolactones with stereogenic side chains in the 4-position. Starting from the renewable resource methyl 2-furoate, the sesquiterpene lactone was synthesized in 9 steps and 4.8% overall yield via an asymmetric cyclopropanation and two diastereoselective nucleophile additions making use of a donor-acceptor-cyclopropane-lactonization cascade. At noncytotoxic concentrations (≤10 µM) (+)-1 was found to have a 15 times higher anti-inflammatory activity (4.87 ± 1.1 µM) than previously reported for concentrations of ≥45 µM.