Carbotrifluoromethylations of C-C Multiple Bonds (Excluding Aryl- and Alkynyltrifluoromethylations).

Organofluorine chemistry has become an expanding area of research in organic chemistry and drug design. The synthesis of fluorine-containing molecules has received high significance in synthetic chemistry. Trifluoromethylative difunctionalizations of carbon-carbon multiple bonds with the simultaneous introduction of a CF3 group and another function have considerable relevance. Because of the high importance of carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions in organic synthesis, carbotrifluoromethylations are considered to be a field of synthetic chemistry of increasing importance. Our current goal in this review is to summarize recent developments of various trifluoromethylation reactions (excluding aryl- and alkynyl-trifluoromethylations) taking into consideration several main approaches, such as alkenyltrifluoromethylation, alkyltrifluoromethylation, carbonyltrifluoromethylation, and cyanotrifluoromethylation reactions.

N-Fluoroalkylated Morpholinos - a New Class of Nucleoside Analogues.

The first concise and efficient synthesis of some fluorine-containing morpholino nucleosides has been developed. One synthetic strategy was based on the oxidative ring cleavage of the vicinal diol unit of uridine, cytidine adenosine and guanosine derivatives, followed by cyclisation of the dialdehyde intermediates by double reductive amination with fluorinated primary amines to obtain various N-fluoroalkylated morpholinos. Another approach involved cyclisation of the diformyl intermediates with ammonia source, followed by dithiocarbamate formation and desulfurization-fluorination with diethylaminosulfur trifluoride yielding the corresponding morpholine-based nucleoside analogues with a N-CF3 element in their structure.

Application of Metathesis Protocols to the Stereocontrolled Synthesis of some Functionalized ß-Amino Esters and Azaheterocycles.

In this account our aim was to give an insight into the application of metathesis protocols (ROM, RCM, RCEYM, CM, RRM) for the synthesis of various azaheterocyclic frameworks. Due to the high biological potential and importance in peptide chemistry and drug design of ß-amino acids our intention is to give a highlight on the synthetic procedures and transformation of these class of compounds with the above-mentioned metathesis strategies with emphasis on selectivity, stereocontrol, substrate-directing effect or functional group tolerance.

Chemical Aspects of Human and Environmental Overload with Fluorine.

Over the last 100-120 years, due to the ever-increasing importance of fluorine-containing compounds in modern technology and daily life, the explosive development of the fluorochemical industry led to an enormous increase of emission of fluoride ions into the biosphere. This made it more and more important to understand the biological activities, metabolism, degradation, and possible environmental hazards of such substances. This comprehensive and critical review focuses on the effects of fluoride ions and organofluorine compounds (mainly pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals) on human health and the environment. To give a better overview, various connected topics are also discussed: reasons and trends of the advance of fluorine-containing pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, metabolism of fluorinated drugs, withdrawn fluorinated drugs, natural sources of organic and inorganic fluorine compounds in the environment (including the biosphere), sources of fluoride intake, and finally biomarkers of fluoride exposure.

Palladium-Catalyzed Arylfluorination of Alkenes: A Powerful New Approach to Organofluorine Compounds.

Fluorine incorporation into organic molecules is often beneficial to their absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) properties or bioactivity. As a consequence, organofluorine compounds have become quite common amongst drugs and agrochemicals, and their preparation is a highly important topic in both synthetic organic chemistry and pharmaceutical chemistry. One of the newly developed methods for accessing organofluorine compounds is Pd-catalyzed arylfluorination of alkenes. It is an olefin difunctionalization process that simultaneously introduces an aryl group and a fluorine atom into an alkene framework. This review provides a concise overview of this powerful and versatile method.

Recent Progress in the Selective Fluorinations of Some Functionalized Cycloalkenes.

Organofluorine compounds have had an increasing impact in synthetic organic chemistry and pharmaceutical research over the past two decades. Their syntheses and the development of novel synthetic approaches towards versatile fluorinated small molecules have received great interest. Our research team has designed various selective and stereocontrolled methods for the construction of fluorine-containing small molecular entities, involving the transformation of various functionalized cycloalkenes across their ring olefin bond. The synthetic methodologies developed to access various pharmacologically interesting fluorinated derivatives with multiple chiral centers might be valuable protocols for the preparation of other classes of organic compounds as well.

Fentanyl but Not Morphine or Buprenorphine Improves the Severity of Necrotizing Acute Pancreatitis in Rats.

Opioids are widely used for the pain management of acute pancreatitis (AP), but their impact on disease progression is unclear. Therefore, our aim was to study the effects of clinically relevant opioids on the severity of experimental AP. Various doses of fentanyl, morphine, or buprenorphine were administered as pre- and/or post-treatments in rats. Necrotizing AP was induced by the intraperitoneal injection of L-ornithine-HCl or intra-ductal injection of Na-taurocholate, while intraperitoneal caerulein administration caused edematous AP. Disease severity was determined by laboratory and histological measurements. Mu opioid receptor (MOR) expression and function was assessed in control and AP animals. MOR was expressed in both the pancreas and brain. The pancreatic expression and function of MOR were reduced in AP. Fentanyl post-treatment reduced necrotizing AP severity, whereas pre-treatment exacerbated it. Fentanyl did not affect the outcome of edematous AP. Morphine decreased vacuolization in edematous AP, while buprenorphine pre-treatment increased pancreatic edema during AP. The overall effects of morphine on disease severity were negligible. In conclusion, the type, dosing, administration route, and timing of opioid treatment can influence the effects of opioids on AP severity. Fentanyl post-treatment proved to be beneficial in AP. Clinical studies are needed to determine which opioids are best in AP.

Mislocalization of CFTR expression in acute pancreatitis and the beneficial effect of VX-661 + VX-770 treatment on disease severity.

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) has an essential role in maintaining pancreatic ductal function. Impaired CFTR function can trigger acute pancreatitis (AP) and exacerbate disease severity. We aimed to investigate the localization and expression of CFTR during AP, and determined the effects of a CFTR corrector (VX-661) and potentiator (VX-770) on disease severity. AP was induced in FVB/n mice by 6-10 hourly intraperitoneal injections of 50 µg/kg cerulein. Some mice were pre-treated with five to six daily injections of 2 mg/kg VX-661 + VX-770. Control animals were administered physiological saline instead of cerulein and dimethyl sulfoxide instead of VX compounds. AP severity was determined by measuring laboratory and histological parameters; CFTR and CK19 expression was measured. Activity of ion transporters was followed by intracellular pH or fluid secretion measurement of isolated pancreatic intra-/interlobular ducts. Cerulein-induced AP severity was greatest between 12 and 24 h. CFTR mRNA expression was significantly increased 24 h after AP induction. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated disturbed staining morphology of CFTR and CK19 proteins in AP. Mislocalization of CFTR protein was observed from 6 h, while expression increased at 24 h compared to control. Ductal HCO3- transport activity was significantly increased 6 h after AP induction. AP mice pre-treatment with VX-661 + VX-770 significantly reduced the extent of tissue damage by about 20-30%, but other parameters were unchanged. Interestingly, VX-661 + VX-770 in vitro administration significantly increased the fluid secretion of ducts derived from AP animals. This study described the course of the CFTR expression and mislocalization in cerulein-induced AP. Our results suggest that the beneficial effects of CFTR correctors and potentiators should be further investigated in AP. KEY POINTS: Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is an important ion channel in epithelial cells. Its malfunction has several serious consequences, like developing or aggravating acute pancreatitis (AP). Here, the localization and expression of CFTR during cerulein-induced AP in mice were investigated and the effects of CFTR corrector (VX-661) and a potentiator (VX-770) on disease severity were determined. CFTR mRNA expression was significantly increased and mislocalization of CFTR protein was observed in AP compared to the control group. Interestingly, pre-treatment of AP mice with VX-661 + VX-770 significantly reduced the extent of pancreatic tissue damage by 20-30%. In vitro administration of VX-661 + VX-770 significantly increased the fluid secretion of ducts derived from AP animals. Based on these results, the utilization of CFTR correctors and potentiators should be further investigated in AP.

A study on selective transformation of norbornadiene into fluorinated cyclopentane-fused isoxazolines.

This work presents an examination of the selective functionalization of norbornadiene through nitrile oxide 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition/ring-opening metathesis (ROM)/cross-metathesis (CM) protocols. Functionalization of commercially available norbornadiene provided novel bicyclic scaffolds with multiple stereogenic centers. The synthesis involved selective cycloadditions, with subsequent ROM of the formed cycloalkene-fused isoxazoline scaffolds and selective CM by chemodifferentiation of the olefin bonds of the resulting alkenylated derivatives. Various experimental conditions were applied for the CM transformations with the goal of exploring substrate and steric effects, catalyst influence and chemodifferentiation of the olefin bonds furnishing the corresponding functionalized, fluorine-containing isoxazoline derivatives.

Diversity-oriented Functionalization of Cyclodienes Through Selective Cycloaddition/Ring-opening/Cross-metathesis Protocols; Transformation of a "Flatland" into Three-dimensional Scaffolds With Stereo- and Regiocontrol.

This article presents selective transformations of some readily available cyclodienes through simple chemical procedures into novel functionalized small-molecular entities. The syntheses hereby described involved selective cycloadditions, followed by ring-opening metathesis of the resulting ß-lactam or isoxazoline derivatives and selective cross-metathesis by differentiation of the olefin bonds on the alkenylated heterocycles. The cross-metathesis transformations have been detailed, which were performed under various experimental conditions with the aim of exploring chemodiscrimination of the olefin bonds and delivering the corresponding functionalized ß-lactam or isoxazoline derivatives.

Stereocontrolled Synthesis of Functionalized Azaheterocycles from Carbocycles through Oxidative Ring Opening/Reductive Ring Closing Protocols.

Fluorine-containing organic scaffolds are of significant interest in medicinal chemistry. The incorporation of fluorine into biomolecules can lead to remarkable changes in their physical, chemical, and biological properties. There are already many drugs on the market, which contain at least one fluorine atom. Saturated functionalized azaheterocycles as bioactive substances have gained increasing attention in pharmaceutical chemistry. Due to the high biorelevance of organofluorine molecules and the importance of N-heterocyclic compounds, selective stereocontrolled procedures to the access of new fluorine-containing saturated N-heterocycles are considered to be a hot research topic. This account summarizes the synthesis of functionalized and fluorine-containing saturated azaheterocycles starting from functionalized cycloalkenes and based on oxidative ring cleavage of diol intermediates followed by ring expansion with reductive amination.

The Effect of Sodium Bicarbonate, a Beneficial Adjuvant Molecule in Cystic Fibrosis, on Bronchial Epithelial Cells Expressing a Wild-Type or Mutant CFTR Channel.

Clinical and experimental results with inhaled sodium bicarbonate as an adjuvant therapy in cystic fibrosis (CF) are promising due to its mucolytic and bacteriostatic properties, but its direct effect has not been studied on respiratory epithelial cells. Our aim was to establish and characterize co-culture models of human CF bronchial epithelial (CFBE) cell lines expressing a wild-type (WT) or mutant (deltaF508) CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) channel with human vascular endothelial cells and investigate the effects of bicarbonate. Vascular endothelial cells induced better barrier properties in CFBE cells as reflected by the higher resistance and lower permeability values. Activation of CFTR by cAMP decreased the electrical resistance in WT but not in mutant CFBE cell layers confirming the presence and absence of functional channels, respectively. Sodium bicarbonate (100 mM) was well-tolerated by CFBE cells: it slightly reduced the impedance of WT but not that of the mutant CFBE cells. Sodium bicarbonate significantly decreased the more-alkaline intracellular pH of the mutant CFBE cells, while the barrier properties of the models were only minimally changed. These observations indicate that sodium bicarbonate is beneficial to deltaF508-CFTR expressing CFBE cells. Thus, sodium bicarbonate may have a direct therapeutic effect on the bronchial epithelium.

Synthesis of novel fluorinated building blocks via halofluorination and related reactions.

A study exploring halofluorination and fluoroselenation of some cyclic olefins, such as diesters, imides, and lactams with varied functionalization patterns and different structural architectures is described. The synthetic methodologies were based on electrophilic activation through halonium ions of the ring olefin bonds, followed by nucleophilic fluorination with Deoxo-Fluor®. The fluorine-containing products thus obtained were subjected to elimination reactions, yielding various fluorine-containing small-molecular entities.

Cyclodextrin-mediated capillary electrophoresis enantioseparation of dansylated ß-amino acids with bicyclo[2.2.2]octane, bicyclo[3.1.1]heptane and cyclopenta[d][1,2]oxazole core structures.

The present study investigated the separation of bicyclic ß-amino acids with bicyclo[2.2.2]octane, bicyclo[3.1.1]heptane and cyclopenta[d][1,2]oxazole core structures by capillary electrophoresis using native cyclodextrins as well as neutral and charged derivatives as chiral selectors. The amino acids were derivatized with dansyl chloride to provide a UV chromophore. Separations were carried out at 20°C in a 48.5/40 cm, 50 µm fused-silica capillary at an applied voltage of 20 kV. Fifty millimolar sodium phosphate background electrolytes pH 2.5 and 7.2 containing either 5 or 30 mg/mL of the CDs were used. For the majority of the investigated CDs, enantioseparations could only be achieved at pH 2.5 when the analytes are positively charged. Successful enantioseparations as negatively charged analytes at pH 7.2 were only observed for few compounds. In the case of methyl-γ-cyclodextrin, opposite enantiomer migration order was observed in pH 2.5 or 7.2 background electrolytes. Dependence of the enantiomer migration order on the size of the cavity of the cyclodextrins was also found. Furthermore, the degree of methylation of ß-cyclodextrin derivatives affected the migration order of several analyte enantiomers.

Alicyclic ß- and γ-Amino Acids: Useful Scaffolds for the Stereocontrolled Access to Amino Acid-Based Carbocyclic Nucleoside Analogs.

Stereocontrolled synthesis of some amino acid-based carbocyclic nucleoside analogs containing ring C=C bond has been performed on ß- and γ-lactam basis. Key steps were N-arylation of readily available ß- or γ-lactam-derived amino ester isomers and amino alcohols with 5-amino-4,6-dichloropyrimidine; ring closure of the formed adduct with HC(OMe)3 and nucleophilic displacement of chlorine with various N-nucleophiles in the resulting 6-chloropurine moiety.

Antidotal efficacies of the cyanide antidote candidate dimethyl trisulfide alone and in combination with cobinamide derivatives.

Formulation optimization and antidotal combination therapy are the two important tools to enhance the antidotal protection of the cyanide (CN) antidote dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS). The focus of this study is to demonstrate how the formulation with polysorbate 80 (Poly80), an excipient used in pharmaceutical technology, and the combinations with other CN antidotes having different mechanisms of action enhance the antidotal efficacy of the unformulated (neat) DMTS. The LD50 for CN was determined by the statistical Dixon up-and-down method on mice. Antidotal efficacy was expressed as antidotal potency ratio (APR). CN was injected subcutaneously one minute prior to the antidotes' injection intramuscularly. The APR values of 1.17 (dose: 25 mg/kg bodyweight) and 1.45 (dose: 50 mg/kg bodyweight) of the neat DMTS were significantly enhanced by the Poly80 formulation at both investigated doses to 2.03 and 2.33, respectively. The combination partners for the Poly80 formulated DMTS (DMTS-Poly80; 25 and 50 mg/kg bodyweight) were 4-nitrocobinamide (4NCbi) (20 mg/kg bodyweight) and aquohydroxocobinamide (AHCbi; 50, 100, and 250 mg/kg bodyweight). When DMTS-Poly80 (25 and 50 mg/kg bodyweight; APR = 2.03 and 2.33, respectively) was combined with 4NCbi (20 mg/kg bodyweight; APR = 1.35), significant increase in the APR values were noted at both DMTS doses (APR = 2.38 and 3.12, respectively). AHCbi enhanced the APR of DMTS-Poly80 (100 mg/kg bodyweight; APR = 3.29) significantly only at the dose of 250 mg/kg bodyweight (APR = 5.86). These studies provided evidence for the importance of the formulation with Poly80 and the combinations with cobinamide derivatives with different mechanisms of action for DMTS as a CN antidote candidate.

Selective Synthesis of Fluorine-Containing Cyclic ß-Amino Acid Scaffolds.

Fluorine-containing organic molecules have generated increasing impact in drug research over the past decade. Their preparation and development of novel synthetic methods towards new types of fluorinated molecules among them of ß-amino acid derivatives has received large interest. Our research group have designed various highly selective and stereocontrolled methods for the construction of fluorine-containing cyclic ß-amino acid derivatives. The synthetic approaches developed for the synthesis of various pharmacologically interesting cyclic ß-amino acid derivatives as monomers with multiple stereogenic centers might be valuable protocols for the access of other classes of organic compounds.

Ring-opening metathesis of some strained bicyclic systems; stereocontrolled access to diolefinated saturated heterocycles with multiple stereogenic centers.

Ring-opening metathesis (ROM) of various unsaturated, constrained bicyclic ring systems has been investigated with the use of commercial ruthenium-based catalysts. Starting from various cyclodienes, the corresponding derived bicyclic lactone, lactam, and isoxazoline derivatives were submitted to ROM under ethenolysis. These functionalized, strained bicyclic systems afforded novel highly-functionalized diolefinated heterocyclic scaffolds in ROM reactions with stereocontrol, through the conservation of the configuration of the stereogenic centers of the starting compounds.

Reaction of Dimethyl Trisulfide with Hemoglobin.

Dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS) is a promising antidotal candidate for cyanide intoxication. DMTS acts as a sulfur donor in the conversion of cyanide to the less-toxic thiocyanate. The alternate reaction pathways of DMTS in the blood are not well understood. We report changes in the hemoglobin absorption spectrum upon reaction with DMTS. These changes closely match those induced by the known methemoglobin former, sodium nitrite. The kinetics of methemoglobin formation with DMTS is slower than with sodium nitrite. These results support the hypothesis that a potentially significant side-reaction of the therapeutically administered DMTS is the oxidization of hemoglobin to methemoglobin.

Highly functionalized cyclic ß-amino acid moieties as promising scaffolds in peptide research and drug design.

Peptide-based drug research has received high attention in the field of medicinal chemistry over the past decade. For drug design, to improve proteolytic stability, it is desirable to include unnatural building blocks, such as conformationally restricted ß-amino acid moieties, into the peptide sequence. Accordingly, the synthesis and incorporation of such conformationally rigid systems into novel type of peptides has gained large interest. Our research group has designed highly efficient methods for the construction of potential antimicrobial peptides. Moreover, a number of synthetic approaches have been developed for the synthesis of various pharmacologically interesting cyclic ß-amino acid derivatives as monomers with multiple stereogenic centers.