Discovery of 2-(3-Benzamidopropanamido)thiazole-5-carboxylate Inhibitors of the Kinesin HSET (KIFC1) and the Development of Cellular Target Engagement Probes.

The existence of multiple centrosomes in some cancer cells can lead to cell death through the formation of multipolar mitotic spindles and consequent aberrant cell division. Many cancer cells rely on HSET (KIFC1) to cluster the extra centrosomes into two groups to mimic the bipolar spindle formation of non-centrosome-amplified cells and ensure their survival. Here, we report the discovery of a novel 2-(3-benzamidopropanamido)thiazole-5-carboxylate with micromolar in vitro inhibition of HSET (KIFC1) through high-throughput screening and its progression to ATP-competitive compounds with nanomolar biochemical potency and high selectivity against the opposing mitotic kinesin Eg5. Induction of the multipolar phenotype was shown in centrosome-amplified human cancer cells treated with these inhibitors. In addition, a suitable linker position was identified to allow the synthesis of both fluorescent- and trans-cyclooctene (TCO)-tagged probes, which demonstrated direct compound binding to the HSET protein and confirmed target engagement in cells, through a click-chemistry approach.

First total synthesis of concavine.

The synthesis of the unusual alkaloid concavine, isolated from Clitocybe concava (Basidiomycetae), has been accomplished. The synthetic route features regio- and stereoselective manipulation of polycyclic imide intermediates via enolate substitution and Grignard addition, along with a key bridge-forming step involving a new method for sulfenylative radical cyclisation. The NMR data for synthetic concavine demonstrate that the original data reported for the natural product refer to the derived acetic acid salt, probably formed as an artefact of isolation or purification.

Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation coupled with dynamic kinetic resolution in water: synthesis of anti-ß-hydroxy-α-amino acid derivatives.

The use of asymmetric transfer hydrogenation combined with dynamic kinetic resolution for the synthesis of ß-hydroxy-α-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino esters in water is described. This procedure provides the desired amino alcohols in good yields, diastereoselectivities, and enantioselectivities. A surfactant is employed to achieve good yields due to the hydrophobic nature of both the catalyst and substrate. The reaction setup is operationally simple, and nondegassed water can be used as the solvent.