Deoxyfluorination of phenols for chemoselective 18F-labeling of peptides.

The challenge of forming C-18F bonds is often a bottleneck in the development of new 18F-labeled tracer molecules for noninvasive functional imaging studies using positron emission tomography (PET). Nucleophilic aromatic substitution is the most widely employed reaction to functionalize aromatic substrates with the radioactive fluorine-18 but its scope is restricted to arenes containing electron-withdrawing substituents. Furthermore, many protic functional groups are incompatible with basic fluoride anions. Peptide substrates, which are highly desirable targets for PET molecular imaging, are particularly challenging to label with fluorine-18 because they are densely functionalized and sensitive to high temperatures and basic conditions. To expand the utility of nucleophilic aromatic substitution with fluorine-18, we describe two complementary procedures for the radiodeoxyfluorination of bench-stable and easy-to-access phenols that ensure rapid access to densely functionalized electron-rich and electron-poor 18F-aryl fluorides. The first procedure details the synthesis of an 18F-synthon and its subsequent ligation to the cysteine residue of Arg-Gly-Asp-Cys in 10.5 h from commercially available starting materials (189-min radiosynthesis). The second procedure describes the incorporation of commercially available CpRu(Fmoc-tyrosine)OTf into a fully protected peptide Lys-Met-Glu-(CpRu-Tyr)-Leu via solid-phase peptide synthesis and subsequent ruthenium-mediated uronium deoxyfluorination with fluorine-18 followed by deprotection, accomplished within 7 d (116-min radiosynthesis). Both radiolabeling methods are highly chemoselective and have conveniently been automated using commercially available radiosynthesis equipment so that the procedures described can be employed for the synthesis of peptide-based PET probes for in vivo imaging studies according to as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) principles.

Parvalbumin as a neurochemical marker of the primate optic radiation.

Parvalbumin (PV) is a calcium-binding protein that labels neuronal cell bodies in the magno and parvocellular layers of the primate lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN). Here we demonstrate that PV immunohistochemistry can also be used to trace the optic radiation (OR) of the marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus) from its LGN origin to its destinations in the primary visual cortex (V1), thus providing a high-resolution method for identification of the OR with single axon resolution. The emergence of fibers from LGN, their entire course and even the entry points to V1 were clearly defined in coronal, parasagittal, and horizontal sections of marmoset brain. In all cases, the trajectory revealed by PV staining paralleled that defined by high-resolution diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). We found that V1 was the exclusive target for the PV-containing fibers, with abrupt transitions in staining observed in the white matter at the border with area V2, and no evidence of PV-labeled axons feeding into other visual areas. Changes in the pattern of PV staining in the OR were detected following V1 lesions, demonstrating that this method can be used to assess the progress of retrograde degeneration of geniculocortical projections. These results suggest a technically simple approach to advance our understanding of a major white matter structure, which provides a cellular resolution suitable for the detection of microstructural variations during development, health and disease. Understanding the relationship between PV staining and DTI in non-human primates may also offer clues for improving the specificity and sensitivity of OR tractography for clinical purposes.

One-Step Synthesis of [18F]Fluoro-4-(vinylsulfonyl)benzene: A Thiol Reactive Synthon for Selective Radiofluorination of Peptides.

Radiolabeled peptide-based molecular imaging probes exploit the advantages of large biologics and small molecules, providing both exquisite selectivity and favorable pharmacokinetic properties. Here, we report an operationally simple and broadly applicable approach for the 18F-fluorination of unprotected peptides via a new radiosynthon, [18F]fluoro-4-(vinylsulfonyl)benzene. This reagent demonstrates excellent chemoselectivity at the cysteine residue and rapid 18F-labeling of a diverse scope of peptides to generate stable thioether constructs.

Dynamic kinetic resolution of biaryl atropisomers by chiral dialkylaminopyridine catalysts.

The acylative dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of configurationally unstable biaryl atropisomers is achieved by using newly developed chiral dialkylaminopyridine catalysts with fluxional chirality. Various types of biaryl substrates containing phenolic structures were subjected to the DKR to obtain a range of acylated biaryl products with enantiomeric ratios up to 90 : 10.

Synthesis of [18 F]Fluoroarenes by Nucleophilic Radiofluorination of N-Arylsydnones.

A practical method for radiofluorination of anilines with [18 F]fluoride via N-arylsydnone intermediates is described. These precursors are stable, easy to handle and facilitate direct and regioselective 18 F-labeling to prepare [18 F]fluoroarenes. The value of this methodology is further highlighted by successful application to prepare an 18 F-labeled neuropeptide.

Catalytic Kinetic Resolution of Biaryl Compounds.

Biaryl compounds with axial chirality are very common in synthetic chemistry, especially in catalysis. Axially chiral biaryls are important due to their biological activities and extensive applications in asymmetric catalysis. Thus the development of efficient enantioselective methods for their synthesis has attracted considerable attention. This Minireview discusses the progress made in catalytic kinetic resolution of biaryl compounds and chronicles significant advances made recently in catalytic kinetic resolution of biaryl scaffolds.

Fluxionally chiral DMAP catalysts: kinetic resolution of axially chiral biaryl compounds.

Can organocatalysts that incorporate fluxional groups provide enhanced selectivity in asymmetric transformations? To address this issue, we have designed chiral 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) catalysts with fluxional chirality. These catalysts were found to be efficient in promoting the acylative kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols and axially chiral biaryl compounds with selectivity factors of up to 37 and 51, respectively.

Synthesis, molecular modeling and biological evaluation of dithiocarbamates as novel antitubulin agents.

A series of novel dithiocarbamate compounds with the chalcone scaffold have been designed and synthesized, and their biological activities were also evaluated as potential antiproliferation and antitubulin polymerization inhibitors. Compound 2n showed the most potent biological activity in vitro, which inhibited the growth of MCF-7 cells with IC(50) of 0.04+/-0.01 microM and the polymerization of tubulin with IC(50) of 6.8+/-0.6 microM. To understand the tubulin-inhibitor interaction and the selectivity of the most active compound towards tubulin, molecular modeling studies were performed to dock compound 2n into the colchicine binding site, which suggested probable inhibition mechanism.

Squaramide-catalyzed enantioselective Friedel-Crafts reaction of indoles with imines.

Chiral squaramides are highly enantioselective catalysts for Friedel-Crafts reaction of indoles with N-tosyl imines, affording 3-indolyl methanamine products in 85-96% yields and 84-96% ees.

Synthesis, structure and structure-activity relationship analysis of 3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-arylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid derivatives as potential antibacterial agents.

Nine 2-arylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid derivatives and nine 3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-arylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid derivatives were synthesized to screen for their antibacterial activities. Compounds 5, 14-18 were first reported. Their chemical structures were clearly determined by (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, ESI mass spectra and elemental analyses, coupled with one selected single-crystal structure. All the compounds were assayed for antibacterial activities against two Gram-positive bacterial strains (Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538) and two Gram-negative bacterial strains (Escherichia coli ATCC 35218 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 13525) by MTT method. Most of the 3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-arylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid derivatives exhibited better antibacterial activities against the four bacterial strains than relative 2-arylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid derivatives. Compound (2RS,4R)-3-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-(5-fluoro-2-hydroxyphenyl)thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (14) showed powerful antibacterial activities against P. aeruginosa with IC(50) value of 0.195 microg/mL, which was superior to the positive controls Penicillin G and Kanamycin B, respectively. On the basis of the biological results, structure-activity relationships were discussed.