Nitroalkanes as thioacyl equivalents to access thioamides and thiopeptides.

Thioamides are an important, but a largely underexplored class of amide bioisostere in peptides. Replacement of oxoamide units with thioamides in peptide therapeutics is a valuable tactic to improve biological activity and resistance to enzymatic hydrolysis. This tactic, however, has been hampered by insufficient methods to introduce thioamide bonds into peptide or protein backbones in a site-specific and stereo-retentive fashion. In this work, we developed an efficient and mild thioacylation method to react nitroalkanes with amines directly in the presence of elemental sulfur and sodium sulfide to form a diverse range of thioamides in high yields. Notably, this convenient method can be employed for the controlled thioamide coupling of multifunctionalized peptides without epimerization of stereocenters, including the late stage thioacylation of advanced compounds of biological and medicinal interest. Experimental interrogation of postulated mechanisms currently supports the intermediacy of thioacyl species.

Phosphine-catalyzed activation of cyclopropenones: a versatile C3 synthon for (3+2) annulations with unsaturated electrophiles.

We herein report a phosphine-catalyzed (3 + 2) annulation of cyclopropenones with a wide variety of electrophilic π systems, including aldehydes, ketoesters, imines, isocyanates, and carbodiimides, offering products of butenolides, butyrolactams, maleimides, and iminomaleimides, respectively, in high yields with broad substrate scope. An α-ketenyl phosphorous ylide is validated as the key intermediate, which undergoes preferential catalytic cyclization with aldehydes rather than stoichiometric Wittig olefinations. This phosphine-catalyzed activation of cyclopropenones thus supplies a versatile C3 synthon for formal cycloadditon reactions.

Cis Selective RCM Study to the 14-Membered Cyclic Subunit of Bielschowskysin.

A concise, (Z)-selective ring-closing metathesis (RCM) route to the 14-membered carbocycle of bielschowskysin is detailed using naturally occurring chiral starting materials. Unproductive RCM substrates were attributed to alkyne chelation of the ruthenium catalyst and steric disadvantages within the cembranoid precursors, which was eventually circumvented by using cyclic diol benzylidene protection involving a C8-quaternary carbinol center.

Direct Cyclopropanation of α-Cyano ß-Aryl Alkanes by Light-Mediated Single Electron Transfer Between Donor-Acceptor Pairs.

Cyclopropanes are traditionally prepared by the formal [2+1] addition of carbene or radical based C1 units to alkenes. In contrast, the one-pot intermolecular cyclopropanation of alkanes by redox active C1 units has remained unrealised. Herein, we achieved this process simply by exposing ß-aryl propionitriles and C1 radical precursors (N-oxy esters) to base and blue light. The overall process is redox-neutral and a photocatalyst, whether metal- or organic-based, is not required. Our findings support that single electron transfer (SET) from the α-cyano carbanion of the propionitrile to the N-oxy ester is facilitated by blue-light via their electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complex. The α-cyano carbon radical thus formed can then lose a ß-proton to form a π-resonance stabilised radical anion that preferentially couples at the benzylic ß-position with a decarboxylated C1 radical unit. This new transition metal-free chemistry tolerates both electron rich and electron deficient (hetero)aryl systems, even sulfide or alkene functionality, to afford a range of cis-aryl/cyano cyclopropanes bearing congested tetrasubstituted quaternary carbons.

A convergent total synthesis of the kedarcidin chromophore: 20-years in the making.

The kedarcidin chromophore is a formidible target for total synthesis. Herein, we describe a viable synthesis of this highly unstable natural product. This entailed the early introduction and gram-scale synthesis of 2-deoxysugar conjugates of both L-mycarose and L-kedarosamine. Key advances include: (1) stereoselective allenylzinc keto-addition to form an epoxyalkyne; (2) α-selective glycosylations with 2-deoxy thioglycosides (AgPF6/DTBMP) and Schmidt donors (TiCl4); (3) Mitsunobu aryl etherification to install a hindered 1,2-cis-configuration; (4) atropselective and convergent Sonogashira-Shiina cyclization sequence; (5) Ohfune-based amidation protocol for naphthoic acid; (6) Ce(III)-mediated nine-membered enediyne cyclization and ester/mesylate derivatisation; (7) SmI2-based reductive olefination and global HF-deprotection end-game. The longest linear sequence from gram-scale intermediates is 17-steps, and HRMS data of the synthetic natural product was obtained for the first time.

Autoinductive conversion of α,α-diiodonitroalkanes to amides and esters catalysed by iodine byproducts under O2.

Studies to convert nitroalkanes into amides and esters using I2 and O2 revealed in situ-generated iodine species facilitate the homolytic C-I bond cleavage of α,α-diiodonitroalkanes, arguably in an autoinductive or autocatalytic manner. Consequently, we devised a rapid and economical I2/O2-based method to synthesise sterically hindered esters directly from primary nitroalkanes.

Sterically Demanding Oxidative Amidation of α-Substituted Malononitriles with Amines Using O2.

An efficient amidation method between readily available 1,1-dicyanoalkanes and either chiral or nonchiral amines was realized simply with molecular oxygen and a carbonate base. This oxidative protocol can be applied to both sterically and electronically challenging substrates in a highly chemoselective, practical, and rapid manner. The use of cyclopropyl and thioether substrates support the radical formation of α-peroxy malononitrile species, which can cyclize to dioxiranes that can monooxygenate malononitrile α-carbanions to afford activated acyl cyanides capable of reacting with amine nucleophiles.

Mechanism of Oxidative Amidation of Nitroalkanes with Oxygen and Amine Nucleophiles by Using Electrophilic Iodine.

Recently, we developed a direct method to oxidatively convert primary nitroalkanes into amides that entailed mixing an iodonium source with an amine, base, and oxygen. Herein, we systematically investigated the mechanism and likely intermediates of such methods. We conclude that an amine-iodonium complex first forms through N-halogen bonding. This complex reacts with aci-nitronates to give both α-iodo- and α,α-diiodonitroalkanes, which can act as alternative sources of electrophilic iodine and also generate an extra equimolar amount of I(+) under O2. In particular, evidence supports α,α-diiodonitroalkane intermediates reacting with molecular oxygen to form a peroxy adduct; alternatively, these tetrahedral intermediates rearrange anaerobically to form a cleavable nitrite ester. In either case, activated esters are proposed to form that eventually reacts with nucleophilic amines in a traditional fashion.

Oxidative Amidation of Nitroalkanes with Amine Nucleophiles using Molecular Oxygen and Iodine.

The formation of amides and peptides often necessitates powerful yet mild reagent systems. The reagents used, however, are often expensive and highly elaborate. New atom-economical and practical methods that achieve such goals are highly desirable. Ideally, the methods should start with substrates that are readily available in both chiral and non-chiral forms and utilize cheap reagents that are compatible with a wide variety of functional groups, steric encumberance, and epimerizable stereocenters. A direct oxidative method was developed to form amide and peptide bonds between amines and primary nitroalkanes simply by using I2 and K2 CO3 under O2 . Contrary to expectations, a 1:1 halogen-bonded complex forms between the iodonium source and the amine, which reacts with nitronates to form α-iodo nitroalkanes as precursors to the amides.

Biomimetic total synthesis of cyanosporaside aglycons from a single enediyne precursor through site-selective p-benzyne hydrochlorination.

The cyanosporasides A-F are a collection of monochlorinated benzenoid derivatives isolated from the marine actinomycetes Salinispora and Streptomyces sp. All derivatives feature one of two types of cyanocyclopenta[a]indene frameworks, which are regioisomeric in the position of a single chlorine atom. It is proposed that these chloro-substituted benzenoids are formed biosynthetically through the cycloaromatization of a bicyclic nine-membered enediyne precursor. Herein, we report the synthesis of such a bicyclic precursor, its spontaneous transannulation into a p-benzyne, and its differential 1,4 hydrochlorination reactivity under either organochlorine or chloride-salt conditions. Our bioinspired approach culminated in the first regiodivergent total synthesis of the aglycons A/F and B/C, as well as cyanosporasides D and E. In addition, empirical insights into the site selectivity of a natural-like p-benzyne, calculated to be a ground-state triplet diradical, to hydrogen, chlorine, and chloride sources are revealed.

Characterization of the commercially-available fluorescent chloroquine-BODIPY conjugate, LynxTag-CQGREEN, as a marker for chloroquine resistance and uptake in a 96-well plate assay.

Chloroquine was a cheap, extremely effective drug against Plasmodium falciparum until resistance arose. One approach to reversing resistance is the inhibition of chloroquine efflux from its site of action, the parasite digestive vacuole. Chloroquine accumulation studies have traditionally relied on radiolabelled chloroquine, which poses several challenges. There is a need for development of a safe and biologically relevant substitute. We report here a commercially-available green fluorescent chloroquine-BODIPY conjugate, LynxTag-CQGREEN, as a proxy for chloroquine accumulation. This compound localized to the digestive vacuole of the parasite as observed under confocal microscopy, and inhibited growth of chloroquine-sensitive strain 3D7 more extensively than in the resistant strains 7G8 and K1. Microplate reader measurements indicated suppression of LynxTag-CQGREEN efflux after pretreatment of parasites with known reversal agents. Microsomes carrying either sensitive- or resistant-type PfCRT were assayed for uptake; resistant-type PfCRT exhibited increased accumulation of LynxTag-CQGREEN, which was suppressed by pretreatment with known chemosensitizers. Eight laboratory strains and twelve clinical isolates were sequenced for PfCRT and Pgh1 haplotypes previously reported to contribute to drug resistance, and pfmdr1 copy number and chloroquine IC50s were determined. These data were compared with LynxTag-CQGREEN uptake/fluorescence by multiple linear regression to identify genetic correlates of uptake. Uptake of the compound correlated with the logIC50 of chloroquine and, more weakly, a mutation in Pgh1, F1226Y.

Total synthesis of (-)-platensimycin by advancing oxocarbenium- and iminium-mediated catalytic methods.

(-)-Platensimycin is a potent inhibitor of fatty acid synthase that holds promise in the treatment of metabolic disorders (e.g., diabetes and "fatty liver") and pathogenic infections (e.g., those caused by drug-resistant bacteria). Herein, we describe its total synthesis through a four-step preparation of the aromatic amine fragment and an improved stereocontrolled assembly of the ketolide fragment, (-)-platensic acid. Key synthetic advances include 1) a modified Lieben haloform reaction to directly convert an aryl methyl ketone into its methyl ester within 30 seconds, 2) an experimentally improved dialkylation protocol to form platensic acid, 3) a sterically controlled chemo- and diastereoselective organocatalytic conjugate reduction of a spiro-cyclized cyclohexadienone by using the trifluoroacetic acid salt of α-amino di-tert-butyl malonate, 4) a tetrabutylammonium fluoride promoted spiro-alkylative para dearomatization of a free phenol to assemble the cagelike ketolide core with the moderate leaving-group ability of an early tosylate intermediate, and 5) a bismuth(III)-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts cyclization of a free lactol, with LiClO4 as an additive to liberate a more active oxocarbenium perchlorate species and suppress the Lewis basicity of the sulfonyloxy group. The longest linear sequence is 21 steps with an overall yield of 3.8 % from commercially available eugenol.

Lipidomic analysis of human tear fluid reveals structure-specific lipid alterations in dry eye syndrome.

As current diagnostic markers for dry eye syndrome (DES) are lacking in both sensitivity and specificity, a pressing concern exists to develop activity markers that closely align with the principal axes of disease progression. In this study, a comprehensive lipidomic platform designated for analysis of the human tear lipidome was employed to characterize changes in tear lipid compositions from a cohort of 93 subjects of different clinical subgroups classified based on the presence of dry eye symptoms and signs. Positive correlations were observed between the tear levels of cholesteryl sulfates and glycosphingolipids with physiological secretion of tears, which indicated the possible lacrimal (instead of meibomian) origin of these lipids. Notably, we found wax esters of low molecular masses and those containing saturated fatty acyl moieties were specifically reduced with disease and significantly correlated with various DES clinical parameters such as ocular surface disease index, tear breakup time, and Schirmer's I test (i.e., both symptoms and signs). These structure-specific changes in tear components with DES could potentially serve as unifying indicators of disease symptoms and signs. In addition, the structurally-specific aberrations in tear lipids reported here were found in patients with or without aqueous deficiency, suggesting a common pathology for both DES subtypes.

Rapid and sensitive profiling of tear wax ester species using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry.

A rapid and sensitive method was developed for quantitative profiling of wax esters (WEs) in human tear lipidome. Individual WE species was separated by liquid chromatography and detected by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry using specific multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) scanning. Palmitoyl palmitate and in-house synthesized wax esters (13)C18:1(oleic acid-1,2,3,7,8,9,10-(13)C7)C26:0 were used as internal standards for quantitation of WEs containing saturated and unsaturated fatty acids (FA), respectively. The limit of detection was approximately 70 nmol/L. The linearity range of the liquid chromatography (LC)-MRM detection for WEs was about three orders of magnitude. Quantitative analyses of 141 individual WE in the human tear lipidome demonstrated that species comprising FA18:1 and FA16:1 each accounted for 47.7% and 24.0% (molar%) of total WE, while fatty alcohols in WEs of human tears ranged from 17 carbons to 32 carbons with predominant species represented by C24, C25 and C26.

Transient absorption spectroscopy on spiropyran monolayers using nanosecond pump-probe Brewster angle reflectometry.

Self-assembled monolayers of 11-(3',3'-dimethyl-6,8-dinitrospiro[chromene-2,2'-indoline]-1'-yl) undecanoic acid (amphiphilic spiropyran) at the air-water interface are studied using Brewster angle reflectometry. Transient kinetics of the spiropyran to merocyanine conversion are recorded in a UV-pump, VIS-probe configuration. By varying the probe wavelength using an optical parametric oscillator, we are able to reconstruct absorption spectra of intermediate states with a time-resolution of 10 nanoseconds, limited by the temporal convolution of the two laser pulses. After UV irradiation, spiropyran converts to merocyanine in two stages. The first occurs within a timescale of several tens of nanoseconds and is heavily convoluted with the system response time, whereas the second stage occurs over a few hundred nanoseconds. During the rise time there is a small red shift in the transient absorption spectrum of ~20 nm. We assign the red shift and the slower kinetics to the isomerization of a merocyanine isomer cis about the central methine bond to those that are trans about the same bond.

Isolation and synthesis of falcitidin, a novel myxobacterial-derived acyltetrapeptide with activity against the malaria target falcipain-2.

A 384-well microtitre plate fluorescence cleavage assay was developed to identify inhibitors of the cysteine protease falcipain-2, an important antimalarial drug target. Bioassay-guided isolation of a MeOH extract from a myxobacterium Chitinophaga sp. Y23 isolated from soil collected in Singapore, led to the identification of a new acyltetrapeptide, falcitidin (1), which displayed an IC50 value of 6 µM against falcipain-2. The planar structure of 1 was secured by NMR and MS/MS analysis. Attempts to isolate further material for biological testing were hampered by inconsistent production and by a low yield (<100 µg l(-1)). The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by Marfey's analysis and the structure was confirmed through total synthesis as isovaleric acid-D-His-L-Ile-L-Val-L-Pro-NH2. Falcitidin (1) is the first member of a new class of falcipain-2 inhibitors and, unlike other peptide-based inhibitors, does not contain reactive groups that irreversibly bind to active cysteine sites.

Parasite-based screening and proteome profiling reveal orlistat, an FDA-approved drug, as a potential anti Trypanosoma brucei agent.

Trypanosoma brucei is a parasite that causes African sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in livestock and is transmitted by the tsetse fly. There is an urgent need for the development of new drugs against African trypanosomiasis due to the lack of vaccines and effective drugs. Orlistat (also called tetrahydrolipstatin or THL) is an FDA-approved antiobesity drug targeting primarily the pancreatic and gastric lipases within the gastrointestinal tract. It shows potential activities against tumors, mycobacteria, and parasites. Herein, we report the synthesis and evaluation of an expanded set of orlistat-like compounds, some of which showed highly potent trypanocidal activities in both the bloodstream form (BSF) and the procyclic form (PCF) of T. brucei. Subsequent in situ parasite-based proteome profiling was carried out to elucidate potential cellular targets of the drug in both forms. Some newly identified targets were further validated by the labeling of recombinantly expressed enzymes in Escherichia coli lysates. Bioimaging experiments with a selected compound were carried out to study the cellular uptake of the drug in T. brucei. Results indicated that orlistat is much more efficiently taken up by the BSF than the PCF of T. brucei and has clear effects on the morphology of mitochondria, glycosomes, and the endoplasmic reticulum in both BSF and PCF cells. These results support specific effects of orlistat on these organelles and correlate well with our in situ proteome profiling. Given the economic challenges of de novo drug development for neglected diseases, we hope that our findings will stimulate further research towards the conversion of orlistat-like compounds into new trypanocidal drugs.

Absolute configuration and total synthesis of a novel antimalarial lipopeptide by the de novo preparation of chiral nonproteinogenic amino acids.

The absolute configuration (via degradation and Marfey's derivatization studies) and the total synthesis of a novel antimalarial lipid-peptide isolated from Streptomyces sp. (IC(50) = 0.8 µM, Plasmodium falciparum 3D7) is disclosed. To this end, versatile stereocontrolled routes to nonproteinogenic amino acids (via catalytic Mannich, Sharpless methods) and enantiomeric trans fatty acids (via Evans alkylation, Kocienski-Julia olefination) have been developed.

Chemical modification and organelle-specific localization of orlistat-like natural-product-based probes.

Orlistat, also known as tetrahydrolipstatin (THL), is an FDA-approved anti-obesity drug with potential anti-cancer activity. Previously, we developed a chemical proteomic approach, based on the Orlistat-like probe (1a) for large-scale identification of unknown cellular targets of Orlistat in human hepatocytes. In this article, we report the chemical synthesis and biological evaluation of an expanded set of Orlistat-like compounds, with the intention to further dissect and manipulate potential cellular targets of Orlistat. In doing so, we carried out proteome-wide activity-based profiling and large-scale pull-down/LCMS analysis of these compounds in live HepG2 cells, and successfully identified many putative cellular targets for Orlistat and its structural analogues. By qualitatively assessing the spectra counts of potential protein hits against each of the seventeen Orlistat analogues, we obtained both common and unique targets of these probes. Our results revealed that subtle structural modifications of Orlistat led to noticeable changes in both the cellular potency and target profiles of the drug. In order to further improve the cellular activity of Orlistat, we successfully applied the well-established AGT/SNAP-tag technology to our cell-permeable, benzylguanine (BG)-containing Orlistat variant (4). We showed that the drug could be delivered and effectively retained in different sub-cellular organelles of living cells. This strategy may provide a general and highly effective chemical tool for the potential sub-cellular targeting of small molecule drugs.

A bismuth(III)-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts cyclization and stereocontrolled organocatalytic approach to (-)-platensimycin.

A high yielding route to the (-)-platensimycin core is communicated. This entailed the discovery of Bi(OTf)(3) to catalyze a Friedel-Crafts cyclization of a free lactol, supplemented by LiClO(4) to suppress the Lewis basicity of the sulfonate group. After TBAF-promoted cyclodearomatization, a diastereoselective conjugate reduction of a dienone was achieved by adopting amine-based organocatalytic rationales to reverse the inherent steric control of the substrate.