The synthesis and evaluation of triazolopyrimidines as anti-tubercular agents.

We identified a di-substituted triazolopyrimidine with anti-tubercular activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Three segments of the scaffold were examined rationally to establish a structure-activity relationship with the goal of improving potency and maintaining good physicochemical properties. A number of compounds displayed sub-micromolar activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis with no cytotoxicity against eukaryotic cells. Non-substituted aromatic rings at C5 and a two-carbon chain connecting a terminal aromatic at C7 were preferred features; the presence of NH at C7 and a lack of substituent at C2 were essential for potency. We identified compounds with acceptable metabolic stability in rodent and human liver microsomes. Our findings suggest that the easily-synthesized triazolopyrimidines are a promising class of potent anti-tubercular agents and warrant further investigation in our search for new drugs to fight tuberculosis.

One-pot high-throughput synthesis of a 160-membered library of methyl 3,5-diaryl-isoxazoline-5-carboxylate pharmacophores by a 2·2·2-component reaction.

A simple and efficient methodology has been developed for the synthesis of methyl 3,5-diaryl-isoxazoline-5-carboxylates in a high-throughput fashion. This was accomplished in one-pot by a sequence of three 2-component reactions steps (2·2·2-CR), whereby compounds were obtained in overall 30-66% isolated yields. The functional group diversity was established by synthesizing a 160-membered library.

Insertion of arynes into thioureas: a new amidine synthesis.

Arynes, generated from trimethylsilyl phenyltriflate precursors, have been found to react with thioureas via a formal π-insertion into the C═S bond. The reaction contrasts with that of ureas, which proceeds via benzyne σ-insertion into the C-N bond, and represents a new, operationally simple route to functionalized amidines.

Menaquinone synthesis is critical for maintaining mycobacterial viability during exponential growth and recovery from non-replicating persistence.

Understanding the basis of bacterial persistence in latent infections is critical for eradication of tuberculosis. Analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis mRNA expression in an in vitro model of non-replicating persistence indicated that the bacilli require electron transport chain components and ATP synthesis for survival. Additionally, low microM concentrations of aminoalkoxydiphenylmethane derivatives inhibited both the aerobic growth and survival of non-replicating, persistent M. tuberculosis. Metabolic labelling studies and quantification of cellular menaquinone levels suggested that menaquinone synthesis, and consequently electron transport, is the target of the aminoalkoxydiphenylmethane derivatives. This hypothesis is strongly supported by the observations that treatment with these compounds inhibits oxygen consumption and that supplementation of growth medium with exogenous menaquinone rescued both growth and oxygen consumption of treated bacilli. In vitro assays indicate that the aminoalkoxydiphenylmethane derivatives specifically inhibit MenA, an enzyme involved in the synthesis of menaquinone. Thus, the results provide insight into the physiology of mycobacterial persistence and a basis for the development of novel drugs that enhance eradication of persistent bacilli and latent tuberculosis.

Discovery of 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoate [corrected] prenyltransferase inhibitors: new drug leads for multidrug-resistant gram-positive pathogens.

Since utilization of menaquinone in the electron transport system is a characteristic of Gram-positive organisms, the 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoate prenyltransferase (MenA) inhibitors 1a and 2a act as selective antibacterial agents against organisms such as methicillin-resistant Stapylococcus aureus (MRSA), Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE), and Mycobacterium spp. Growth of drug-resistant Gram-positive organisms was sensitive to the MenA inhibitors, indicating that menaquinone synthesis is a valid new drug target in Gram-positive organisms.

Polymer-supported (2,6-dichloro- 4-alkoxyphenyl)(2,4-dichlorophenyl)methanol: a new linker for solid-phase organic synthesis.

An acid and base stable hydroxytetrachlorodiphenylmethyl (HTPM) linker is developed for polymer-supported organic synthesis. The linkers reported here are utilized for loading carboxylic acids, amines, alcohols, and phenols, and are stable to Brønsted and Lewis acids, Brønsted bases, and a wide variety of nucleophiles. However, the HTPM linkers can conveniently be cleaved by the solvolytic displacement reactions with 20% TFA. [structure: see text]

Highly enantioselective copper(I)-phosphoramidite-catalysed additions of organoaluminium reagents to enones.

Simple phosphoramidite ligands afford good to excellent levels of enantioselectivity in 1,4-additions of AlR3 species to enones; sequential carboalumination-ACA cascades are possible.