Correlation between Molecular Docking and the Stabilizing Interaction of HOMO-LUMO: Spirostans in CHK1 and CHK2, an In Silico Cancer Approach.

Checkpoint kinases 1 and 2 (CHK1 and CHK2) are enzymes that are involved in the control of DNA damage. At the present time, these enzymes are some of the most important targets in the fight against cancer since their inhibition produces cytotoxic effects in carcinogenic cells. This paper proposes the use of spirostans (Sp), natural compounds, as possible inhibitors of the enzymes CHK1 and CHK2 from an in silico analysis of a database of 155 molecules (S5). Bioinformatics studies of molecular docking were able to discriminate between 13 possible CHK1 inhibitors, 13 CHK2 inhibitors and 1 dual inhibitor for both enzymes. The administration, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMETx) studies allowed a prediction of the distribution and metabolism of the potential inhibitors in the body, as well as determining the excretion routes and the appropriate administration route. The best inhibition candidates were discriminated by comparing the enzyme-substrate interactions from 2D diagrams and molecular docking. Specific inhibition candidates were obtained, in addition to studying the dual inhibitor candidate and observing their stability in dynamic molecular studies. In addition, Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital-Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO-LUMO) interactions were analyzed to study the stability of interactions between the selected enzymes and spirostans resulting in the predominant gaps from HOMOCHKs to LUMOSp (Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital of CHKs-Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital of spirostan). In brief, this study presents the selection inhibitors of CHK1 and CHK2 as a potential treatment for cancer using a combination of molecular docking and dynamics, ADMETx predictons, and HOMO-LUMO calculation for selection.

α-(Aminomethyl)acrylates as acceptors in radical-polar crossover 1,4-additions of dialkylzincs: insights into enolate formation and trapping.

We demonstrate that α-(aminomethyl)acrylates are suitable acceptors for 1,4-additions of dialkylzincs in aerobic conditions. The air-promoted radical-polar crossover process involves the 1,4-addition of an alkyl radical followed by homolytic substitution at the zinc atom of dialkylzinc. Coordination of the nitrogen atom to zinc enables this SH2 process which represents a rare example of alkylzinc-group transfer to a tertiary α-carbonyl radical. The zinc enolate thus formed readily undergoes ß-fragmentation unless it is trapped by electrophiles in situ. Enolates of substrates having free N-H bonds undergo protodemetalation to provide ultimately the 1,4-addition adduct. In the presence of carbonyl acceptors, aldol condensation occurs providing overall a tandem 1,4-addition-aldol process. When a tert-butanesulfinyl moiety is present on the nitrogen atom, these electrophilic substitution reactions occur with good levels of chiral induction, paving the way to enantioenriched ß2-amino acids and ß2,2-amino acids.

Chiral Indolizinium Salts Derived from 2-Pyridinecarbaldehyde-First Diastereoselective Syntheses of (-)-1-epi-lentiginosine.

The first diastereoselective synthesis of (-)-1-epi-lentiginosine from a common chiral trans-epoxyamide derived from 2-pyridincarbaldehyde is reported. This methodology involves a sequential oxirane ring opening and intramolecular 5-exo-tet cyclization of tosylate trans-epoxyalcohol to afford a diastereomeric mixture of indolizinium salts in a one-pot fashion, followed by regio- and diastereospecific pyridinium ring reduction.

ß-Secretase-1: In Silico Drug Reposition for Alzheimer's Disease.

The ß-secretase-1 enzyme (BACE-1) performs a key role in the production of beta-Amyloid protein (Aß), which is associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The inhibition of BACE-1 has been an important pharmacological strategy in the treatment of this neurodegenerative disease. This study aims to identify new potential candidates for the treatment of Alzheimer's with the help of in silico studies, such as molecular docking and ADME prediction, from a broad list of candidates provided by the DrugBank database. From this analysis, 1145 drugs capable of interacting with the enzyme with a higher coupling energy than Verubecestat were obtained, subsequently only 83 presented higher coupling energy than EJ7. Applying the oral route of administration as inclusion criteria, only 41 candidates met this requirement; however, 6 of them are associated with diagnostic tests and not treatment, so 33 candidates were obtained. Finally, five candidates were identified as possible BACE-1 inhibitors drugs: Fluphenazine, Naratriptan, Bazedoxifene, Frovatriptan, and Raloxifene. These candidates exhibit pharmacophore-specific features, including the indole or thioindole group, and interactions with key amino acids in BACE-1. Overall, this study provides insights into the potential use of in silico methods for drug repurposing and identification of new candidates for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, especially those targeting BACE-1.

Diastereoselective synthesis of new zwitterionic bicyclic lactams, scaffolds for construction of 2-substituted-4-hydroxy piperidine and its pipecolic acid derivatives.

The synthesis of new chiral highly functionalized zwitterionic bicyclic lactams starting from acyclic ß-enaminoesters derived from (R)-(-)-2-phenylglycinol is described. The key step involved an intramolecular non-classical Corey-Chaykovsky ring-closing reaction of the corresponding sulfonium salts derived from ß-enaminoesters. This methodology permits the generation of two or three new stereogenic centers with high diastereoselectivity. The utility of these intermediates was demonstrated by the stereocontrolled total synthesis of cis-4-hydroxy-2-methyl piperidine and its corresponding pipecolic acid derivative.

Crystal structures of two chiral piperidine derivatives: 1-[(1R)-2-hy-droxy-1-phenyl-eth-yl]piperidin-4-one and 8-[(1S)-1-phenyl-eth-yl]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro-[4.5]decane-7-thione.

The crystal structures of the two title piperidine derivatives show different conformations for the six-membered heterocycle. The N-substituted 4-piperidinone 1-[(1R)-2-hy-droxy-1-phenyl-eth-yl]piperidin-4-one, C13H17NO2, (I), has a chair conformation, while the piperidine substituted in position 2 with a thio-carbonyl group, 8-[(1S)-1-phenyl-eth-yl]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro-[4.5]decane-7-thione, C15H19NO2S, (II), features a half-chair conformation. Comparison of the two structures, and data retrieved from the literature, suggests that the conformational flexibility is mainly related to the hybridization state of the C atom α to the piperidinic N atom: a Csp (3) atom favours the chair conformer, while a Csp (2) atom distorts the ring towards a half-chair conformer. In the crystal structure of (I), weak C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules into supra-molecular chains propagating along the b-axis direction. In the crystal of (II), the mol-ecules are linked by weak C-H⋯S contacts into supra-molecular chains propagating along the b-axis direction.

The Stabilizing Role of the Intramolecular C-H···O Hydrogen Bond in Cyclic Amides Derived From α-Methylbenzylamine.

A series of five-, six-, seven-, and eight-membered lactams containing the chiral auxiliary α-methylbenzylamine were structurally analyzed and further studied by DFT calculations with the purpose to examine with detail the previously detected intramolecular C-H···O hydrogen-bonding interaction formed between the hydrogen atom of the α-methylbenzylamine and the carbonyl group of the cyclic amide. The main objective was to establish whether its presence does have a tangible relevance in their spatial arrangement in solution and in the solid state or is a simple and not stabilizing interaction.

2,2-Dimethyl-5-(2-nitro-benzyl-idene)-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C13H11NO6, contains two mol-ecules in both of which the six-membered 1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione ring shows a screw-boat conformation. The dihedral angles between the best planes through the six-membered rings are 47.8 (2) and 49.8 (2)°. In the crystal, C-H⋯O inter-actions link the mol-ecules, building a supramolecular sheet parallel to the c axis.

(R)-3,3-Diethyl-1-(2-hy-droxy-1-phenyl-eth-yl)piperidin-2-one.

In the title compound C(17)H(25)NO(2), the piperidin-2-one ring adopts an envelope conformation with the C atom in the 5-position as the flap. The crystal packing is stabilized by inter-molecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, building a infinite chain along the b-axis direction. C-H⋯π inter-actions further stabilize the crystal packing.

(S)-(-)-2-(1H-Indol-3-yl)-N-(1-phenyl-eth-yl)acetamide.

In the title compound, C(18)H(18)N(2)O, the dihedral angle between the indole system and the phenyl ring is 17.2 (2)°. The crystal packing features two N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, which link the mol-ecules into layers parallel to (001). The absolute configuration was determined by the synthetic procedure and was set according to the starting material.

(7aS)-(-)-Dimeth-yl(1-oxido-3-oxo-5,6,7,7a-tetra-hydro-3H-pyrrolizin-2-yl)sulfonium.

In the zwitterionic title compound, C(9)H(13)NO(2)S, the pyrrolidine heterocycle adopts an envelope conformation (with the C atom in the 7-position as the flap). The negative charge is delocalized over the two carbonyl groups and the C atom connecting them. The positive charge is located on the S atom. Two inter-molecular C-H⋯O inter-actions are observed. The molecular geometry at the S atom is trigonal pyramidal.

(R)-(+)-Dimeth-yl[4-oxido-2-oxo-1-(1-phenyl-eth-yl)-1,2,5,6-tetra-hydro-pyridin-3-yl]sulfonium.

In the title zwitterionic compound, C(15)H(19)NO(2)S, the six-membered heterocycle adopts a sofa conformation. The negative charge is delocalized along the carbonyl and enolate system on the ring and the positive charge is localized on the S atom. Two inter-molecular C-H⋯O inter-actions help to establish the packing.

(1'S,2R,3R)-(-)-2-Hydr-oxy-3-morpholino-3-phenyl-N-(1'-phenyl-ethyl)propion-amide.

In the title compound, C(21)H(26)N(2)O(3), the morpholine ring has a chair conformation and the dihedral angle between the two phenyl rings is 59.0 (3)°. The crystal packing is stabilized by inter-molecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, generating a ribbon structure along the a axis. An intra-molecular N-H⋯O contact is also present.