A mechanochemical approach to the synthesis of sydnones and derivatives.

Sydnones are heterocyclic compounds which display important biological activities, including their abilities to react in 1,3-dipolar additions for applications in the development of new prodrugs. Capitalizing on our preliminary work on the mechanosynthesis of sydnones, an extension of this work to two related families of molecules, diarylsydnones and iminosydnones is reported. A ball-milling approach towards the synthesis of diaryl sydnones was developed, a necessary step for the synthesis of potential sydnone-based ligands of metal complexes. A mechanochemistry-based synthesis of iminosydnones was optimized, including the preparation of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) related to feprosidnine, linsidomine, mesocarb and molsidomine. This work demonstrated that the ball-milling procedures were efficient and time saving through avoiding purification steps, and reduced the use of organic solvents.

Impact of the Substitution Pattern at the Basic Center and Geometry of the Amine Fragment on 5-HT6 and D3R Affinity in the 1H-Pyrrolo[3,2-c]quinoline Series.

Salt bridge (SB, double-charge-assisted hydrogen bonds) formation is one of the strongest molecular non-covalent interactions in biological systems, including ligand-receptor complexes. In the case of G-protein-coupled receptors, such an interaction is formed by the conserved aspartic acid (D3.32) residue and the basic moiety of the aminergic ligand. This study aims to determine the influence of the substitution pattern at the basic nitrogen atom and the geometry of the amine moiety at position 4 of 1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]quinoline on the quality of the salt bridge formed in the 5-HT6 receptor and D3 receptor. To reach this goal, we synthetized and biologically evaluated a new series of 1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]quinoline derivatives modified with various amines. The selected compounds displayed a significantly higher 5-HT6R affinity and more potent 5-HT6R antagonist properties when compared with the previously identified compound PZ-1643, a dual-acting 5-HT6R/D3R antagonist; nevertheless, the proposed modifications did not improve the activity at D3R. As demonstrated by the in silico experiments, including molecular dynamics simulations, the applied structural modifications were highly beneficial for the formation and quality of the SB formation at the 5-HT6R binding site; however, they are unfavorable for such interactions at D3R.

Alternative Technologies That Facilitate Access to Discrete Metal Complexes.

Organometallic complexes: these two words jump to the mind of the chemist and are directly associated with their utility in catalysis or as a pharmaceutical. Nevertheless, to be able to use them, it is necessary to synthesize them, and it is not always a small matter. Typically, synthesis is via solution chemistry, using a round-bottom flask and a magnetic or mechanical stirrer. This review takes stock of alternative technologies currently available in laboratories that facilitate the synthesis of such complexes. We highlight five such technologies: mechanochemistry, also known as solvent-free chemistry, uses a mortar and pestle or a ball mill; microwave activation can drastically reduce reaction times; ultrasonic activation promotes chemical reactions because of cavitation phenomena; photochemistry, which uses light radiation to initiate reactions; and continuous flow chemistry, which is increasingly used to simplify scale-up. While facilitating the synthesis of organometallic compounds, these enabling technologies also allow access to compounds that cannot be obtained in any other way. This shows how the paradigm is changing and evolving toward new technologies, without necessarily abandoning the round-bottom flask. A bright future is ahead of the organometallic chemist, thanks to these novel technologies.

Neuropathic pain-alleviating activity of novel 5-HT6 receptor inverse agonists derived from 2-aryl-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxamide.

The diverse signaling pathways engaged by serotonin type 6 receptor (5-HT6R) together with its high constitutive activity suggests different types of pharmacological interventions for the treatment of CNS disorders. Non-physiological activation of mTOR kinase by constitutively active 5-HT6R under neuropathic pain conditions focused our attention on the possible repurposing of 5-HT6R inverse agonists as a strategy to treat painful symptoms associated with neuropathies of different etiologies. Herein, we report the identification of compound 33 derived from the library of 2-aryl-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxamides as a potential analgesic agent. Compound 33 behaves as a potent 5-HT6R inverse agonist at Gs, Cdk5, and mTOR signaling. Preliminary ADME/Tox studies revealed preferential distribution of 33 to the CNS and placed it in the low-risk safety space. Finally, compound 33 dose-dependently reduced tactile allodynia in spinal nerve ligation (SNL)-induced neuropathic rats.

Design, Sustainable Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of a Novel Dual α2A/5-HT7 Receptor Antagonist with Antidepressant-Like Properties.

The complex pathophysiology of depression, together with the limits of currently available antidepressants, has resulted in the continuous quest for alternative therapeutic strategies. Numerous findings suggest that pharmacological blockade of α2-adrenoceptor might be beneficial for the treatment of depressive symptoms by increasing both norepinephrine and serotonin levels in certain brain areas. Moreover, the antidepressant properties of 5-HT7 receptor antagonists have been widely demonstrated in a large set of animal models. Considering the potential therapeutic advantages in targeting both α2-adrenoceptors and 5-HT7 receptors, we designed a small series of arylsulfonamide derivatives of (dihydrobenzofuranoxy)ethyl piperidines as dually active ligands. Following green chemistry principles, the designed compounds were synthesized entirely using a sustainable mechanochemical approach. The identified compound 8 behaved as a potent α2A/5-HT7 receptor antagonist and displayed moderate-to-high selectivity over α1-adrenoceptor subtypes and selected serotonin and dopaminergic receptors. Finally, compound 8 improved performance of mice in the forced swim test, displaying similar potency to the reference drug mirtazapine.

Sustainable Synthesis of a Potent and Selective 5-HT7 Receptor Antagonist Using a Mechanochemical Approach.

A mechanochemical procedure was developed to obtain PZ-1361, a potent and selective 5-HT7 receptor antagonist, with antidepressant properties in rodents. The elaborated protocol offered several advantages over classical batch synthesis, including improvement of the overall yield (from 34% to 64%), reduction of reaction time (from 60 to 5.5 h), limitation of the use of toxic solvents, and the formation of byproducts. This approach represents a rare example of the synthesis of biologically active compounds exclusively performed using mechanochemical reactions.

Straightforward Ball-Milling Access to Dinucleoside 5',5'-Polyphosphates via Phosphorimidazolide Intermediates.

A solvent-assisted mechanochemical approach to access symmetrical and mixed dinucleoside 5,5'-polyphosphates is reported. Under ball-milling conditions, nucleoside 5'-monophosphates were quantitatively activated using 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole, forming their phosphorimidazolide derivatives. The addition of a nucleoside 5'-mono-, di- or triphosphate directly led to the formation of the corresponding dinucleotides. Benefits of the reported one-pot method include the use of unprotected nucleotides in their sodium or acid form, activation by the eco-friendly 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole, non-dry conditions, short reaction time, high conversion rates, and easy setup and purification. This work offers new perspectives for the synthesis of nucleotide conjugates and analogues, combining the phosphorimidazolide approach and milling conditions.

Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Hydantoins: The State of the Art of a Valuable Scaffold.

The review highlights the hydantoin syntheses presented from the point of view of the preparation methods. Novel synthetic routes to various hydantoin structures, the advances brought to the classical methods in the aim of producing more sustainable and environmentally friendly procedures for the preparation of these biomolecules, and a critical comparison of the different synthetic approaches developed in the last twelve years are also described. The review is composed of 95 schemes, 8 figures and 528 references for the last 12 years and includes the description of the hydantoin-based marketed drugs and clinical candidates.

High-Cluster (Cu9) Cage Silsesquioxanes: Synthesis, Structure, and Catalytic Activity.

Unusual high-cluster (Cu9) cage phenylsilsesquioxanes were obtained via complexation of in situ CuII,Na-silsesquioxane species formed with phenanthroline and neocuproine. In the first case, phenanthroline, acting as "a silent ligand" (not participating in the composition of the final product), favors the formation of an unprecedented cagelike phenylsilsesquioxane of Cu9Na6 nuclearity, 1. In the second case, neocuproine ligands withdraws two Cu ions from the metallasilsesquioxane matrix, producing two cationic fragments Cu+(neocuproine)2. The remaining metallasilsesquioxane is rearranged into an anionic cage of Cu9Na4 nuclearity, finalizing the formation of a specific ionic complex, 2. The impressive molecular architecture of both types of complexes, e.g., the presence of different (cyclic/acyclic) types of silsesquioxane ligands, was established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Compound 1 was revealed to be highly active in the oxidative amidation of benzylic alcohol and the catalyst loading could be reduced down to 100 ppm of Cu. Catalytic studies of compound 1 demonstrated its high activity in hydroperoxidation of alkanes with H2O2 and oxidation of alcohols to ketones with tert-BuOOH.

Heptanuclear Fe5Cu2-Phenylgermsesquioxane containing 2,2'-Bipyridine: Synthesis, Structure, and Catalytic Activity in Oxidation of C-H Compounds.

A new representative of an unusual family of metallagermaniumsesquioxanes, namely the heterometallic cagelike phenylgermsesquioxane (PhGeO2)12Cu2Fe5(O)OH(PhGe)2O5(bipy)2 (2), was synthesized and structurally characterized. Fe(III) ions of the complex are coordinated by oxa ligands: (i) cyclic (PhGeO2)12 and acyclic (Ph2Ge2O5) germoxanolates and (ii) O2- and (iii) HO- moieties. In turn, Cu(II) ions are coordinated by both oxa (germoxanolates) and aza ligands (2,2'-bipyridines). This "hetero-type" of ligation gives in sum an attractive pagoda-like molecular architecture of the complex 2. Product 2 showed a high catalytic activity in the oxidation of alkanes to the corresponding alkyl hydroperoxides (in yields up to 30%) and alcohols (in yields up to 100%) and in the oxidative formation of benzamides from alcohols (catalyst loading down to 0.4 mol % in Cu/Fe).

Si10Cu6N4 Cage Hexacoppersilsesquioxanes Containing N Ligands: Synthesis, Structure, and High Catalytic Activity in Peroxide Oxidations.

The synthesis, composition, and catalytic properties of a new family of hexanuclear Cu(II)-based phenylsilsesquioxanes are described here. Structural studies of 17 synthesized compounds revealed the general principle underlying their molecular topology: viz., a central metal oxide layer consisting of two Cu3 trimers is coordinated by two cyclic [PhSiO1.5]5 siloxanolate ligands to form a skewed sandwich architecture with the composition [(PhSiO1.5)10(CuO)6]2+. In addition to this O ligation by the siloxanolate rings, two opposite copper ions are additionally coordinated by the nitrogen atoms of corresponding N ligand(s), such as 2,2'-bipyridine (compounds 1-9), 1,10-phenanthroline (compounds 10-13), mixed 1,10-phenanthroline/2,2'-bipyridine (compound 14), or bathophenanthroline (compounds 15-17). Finally, the charge balance is maintained by two HO- (compounds 1-7, 10-13, and 15-17), two H3CO- (compound 8), or two CH3COO- (compounds 9 and 14) anions. Complexes 1 and 10 exhibited a high activity in the oxidative amidation oxidation of alcohols. Compounds 1, 10, and 15 are very efficient homogeneous catalysts in the oxidation of alkanes and alcohols with peroxides.

Peptide synthesis: ball-milling, in solution, or on solid support, what is the best strategy?

While presenting particularly interesting advantages, peptide synthesis by ball-milling was never compared to the two traditional strategies, namely peptide syntheses in solution and on solid support (solid-phase peptide synthesis, SPPS). In this study, the challenging VVIA tetrapeptide was synthesized by ball-milling, in solution, and on solid support. The three strategies were then compared in terms of yield, purity, reaction time and environmental impact. The results obtained enabled to draw some strengths and weaknesses of each strategy, and to foresee what will have to be implemented to build more efficient and sustainable peptide syntheses in the near future.

Poly(ethylene glycol)s as grinding additives in the mechanochemical preparation of highly functionalized 3,5-disubstituted hydantoins.

The mechanochemical preparation of highly functionalized 3,5-disubstituted hydantoins was investigated in the presence of various poly(ethylene) glycols (PEGs), as safe grinding assisting agents (liquid-assisted grinding, LAG). A comparative study under dry-grinding conditions was also performed. The results showed that the cyclization reaction was influenced by the amount of the PEG grinding agents. In general, cleaner reaction profiles were observed in the presence of PEGs, compared to dry-grinding procedures.

A mechanochemical approach to access the proline-proline diketopiperazine framework.

Ball milling was exploited to prepare a substituted proline building block by mechanochemical nucleophilic substitution. Subsequently, the mechanocoupling of hindered proline amino acid derivatives was developed to provide proline-proline dipeptides under solvent-free conditions. A deprotection-cyclization sequence yielded the corresponding diketopiperazines that were obtained with a high stereoselectivity which could be explained by DFT calculations. Using this method, an enantiopure disubstituted Pro-Pro diketopiperazine was synthesized in 4 steps, making 5 new bonds using a ball mill.

Mechanochemical Preparation of 3,5-Disubstituted Hydantoins from Dipeptides and Unsymmetrical Ureas of Amino Acid Derivatives.

5-Substituted-3-(alkoxycarbonyl)alkyl-hydantoin derivatives were prepared by mechanochemistry from amino esters or dipeptides, via a 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole-mediated one-pot/two-step cyclization reaction involving amino acid unsymmetrical urea A and carboxy-imidazolyl-dipeptide ester B intermediates. Comparative experiments in solution were also performed. The successful preparation of an antibacterial agent precursor was also investigated.

Cage-like Fe,Na-Germsesquioxanes: Structure, Magnetism, and Catalytic Activity.

A series of four unprecedented heterometallic metallagermsesquioxanes were synthesized. Their cage-like architectures have a unique type of molecular topology consisting of the hexairon oxo {Fe6 O19 } core surrounded in a triangular manner by three cyclic germoxanolates [PhGe(O)O]5 . This structural organization induces antiferromagnetic interactions between the FeIII ions through the oxygen atoms. Evaluated for this first time in catalysis, these compounds showed a high catalytic activity in the oxidation of alkanes and the oxidative formation of benzamides from alcohols.

Expedient Mechanosynthesis of N,N-Dialkyl Imidazoliums and Silver(I)-Carbene Complexes in a Ball-Mill.

The absence of solvent, associated with intensive mechanical agitation, allowed the first mechanosynthesis of high-value silver(I)-carbene complexes and the corresponding N,N-dialkylimidazolium precursors. This procedure gave outstanding results in terms of yield and reaction time, when compared to solution-based conditions previously described in literature, and was generalized to unprecedented compounds. Silver(I)-carbene complexes could either be obtained from N,N-dialkylimidazolium salts or directly from imidazole and alkyl halides in a one-pot two-step procedure without isolating the imidazolium intermediate. Additionally, an efficient one-pot three-step sequence, including imidazole alkylation, silver metalation, and transmetalation is reported.

Comprehensive study of the organic-solvent-free CDI-mediated acylation of various nucleophiles by mechanochemistry.

Acylation reactions are ubiquitous in the synthesis of natural products and biologically active compounds. Unfortunately, these reactions often require the use of large quantities of volatile and/or toxic solvents, either for the reaction, purification or isolation of the products. Herein we describe and discuss the possibility of completely eliminating the use of organic solvents for the synthesis, purification and isolation of products resulting from the acylation of amines and other nucleophiles. Thus, utilisation of N,N'-carbonyldiimidazole (CDI) allows efficient coupling between carboxylic acids and various nucleophiles under solvent-free mechanical agitation, and water-assisted grinding enables both the purification and isolation of pure products. Critical parameters such as the physical state and water solubility of the products, milling material, type of agitation (vibratory or planetary) as well as contamination from wear are analysed and discussed. In addition, original organic-solvent-free conditions are proposed to overcome the limitations of this approach. The calculations of various green metrics are included, highlighting the particularly low environmental impact of this strategy.