Isoindolinone Synthesis via One-Pot Type Transition Metal Catalyzed C-C Bond Forming Reactions.

Isoindolinone structure is an important privileged scaffold found in a large variety of naturally occurring as well as synthetic, biologically and pharmaceutically active compounds. Owing to its crucial role in a number of applications, the synthetic methodologies for accessing this heterocyclic skeleton have received significant attention during the past decade. In general, the synthetic strategies can be divided into two categories: First, direct utilization of phthalimides or phthalimidines as starting materials for the synthesis of isoindolinones; and second, construction of the lactam and/or aromatic rings by different catalytic methods, including C-H activation, cross-coupling, carbonylation, condensation, addition and formal cycloaddition reactions. Especially in the last mentioned, utilization of transition metal catalysts provides access to a broad range of substituted isoindolinones. Herein, the recent advances (2010-2020) in transition metal catalyzed synthetic methodologies via formation of new C-C bonds for isoindolinones are reviewed.

The surprisingly facile formation of Pd(i)-phosphido complexes from ortho-biphenylphosphines and palladium acetate.

The widely-used ortho-biphenylphosphine ligands SPhos and RuPhos not only undergo facile orthometallation with palladium acetate, yielding strained, four-membered dimeric palladacycles but more surprisingly, in the presence of alcoholic solvents, along with the less encumbered analogue MePhos, yield unusual dinuclear Pd(i) complexes, in which the Pd-centers are bridged by both a phosphide ligand and by the arene of a coordinated phosphine donor.

Isoindolinones via Copper-Catalyzed Intramolecular Benzylic C-H Sulfamidation.

2-Benzyl-N-tosylbenzamides and related substrates undergo copper-catalyzed intramolecular sulfamidation at the benzylic methylene to give N-arylsuflonyl-1-arylisoindolinones, which can be N-deprotected using samarium iodide to generate the free 1-arylisoindolinones. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicate that the rate-determining step is not C-H bond cleavage but are instead consistent with slow oxidation of a copper π-arene intermediate.

Palladium-Catalyzed Ortho-Arylation of Carbamate-Protected Estrogens.

The palladium-catalyzed ortho-arylation of diethyl carbamate-protected estrone and estriol with aryl iodides gives the 2-arylated analogues. Subsequent removal of the carbamate directing group furnishes 2-arylated estrone, estradiol, or estriol depending on the method used.

Iron Chelators and Antioxidants Regenerate Neuritic Tree and Nigrostriatal Fibers of MPP+/MPTP-Lesioned Dopaminergic Neurons.

Neuronal death in Parkinson's disease (PD) is often preceded by axodendritic tree retraction and loss of neuronal functionality. The presence of non-functional but live neurons opens therapeutic possibilities to recover functionality before clinical symptoms develop. Considering that iron accumulation and oxidative damage are conditions commonly found in PD, we tested the possible neuritogenic effects of iron chelators and antioxidant agents. We used three commercial chelators: DFO, deferiprone and 2.2'-dypyridyl, and three 8-hydroxyquinoline-based iron chelators: M30, 7MH and 7DH, and we evaluated their effects in vitro using a mesencephalic cell culture treated with the Parkinsonian toxin MPP+ and in vivo using the MPTP mouse model. All chelators tested promoted the emergence of new tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive processes, increased axodendritic tree length and protected cells against lipoperoxidation. Chelator treatment resulted in the generation of processes containing the presynaptic marker synaptophysin. The antioxidants N-acetylcysteine and dymetylthiourea also enhanced axodendritic tree recovery in vitro, an indication that reducing oxidative tone fosters neuritogenesis in MPP+-damaged neurons. Oral administration to mice of the M30 chelator for 14 days after MPTP treatment resulted in increased TH- and GIRK2-positive nigra cells and nigrostriatal fibers. Our results support a role for oral iron chelators as good candidates for the early treatment of PD, at stages of the disease where there is axodendritic tree retraction without neuronal death.

Cytisine: a natural product lead for the development of drugs acting at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

Covering: up to the end of 2011. This review covers classical and modern structural modifications of the alkaloid, the more recent (since 2007) syntheses of cytisine and analogues, and the pharmacology of these compounds, with emphasis on their interactions with nicotinic receptors. 89 references are cited.