Design and synthesis of unique morphinan-type molecules: Their application to the search for the unexplored binding domain between opioid receptors and morphinan ligands.

The morphinan skeleton is valued in drug discovery for its beneficial physicochemical properties and is recognized as a crucial template for opioid receptor ligands. In morphinan derivatives, it is well-established that the nitrogen atom within the piperidine ring (D-ring) interacts with the amino acid residues of the opioid receptors. This interaction is recognized as one of the crucial pharmacophores between the morphinan molecule and the opioid receptors. Consequently, the structure-activity relationships (SAR) surrounding the D-ring are not well-studied, due to concerns that structural transformations around the nitrogen at the 17-position could disrupt this interaction. In this study, we found that our novel morphinan-type ligands with a side chain containing a heteroatom positioned above the d-ring have binding affinity for the opioid receptors. These novel skeletons could provide unique templates with the desired side chain above the D-ring in the morphinan skeleton, and thus, potentially advance the SAR studies of morphinan ligands with the opioid receptors.

Stereoselective Synthesis of the Southern Hemisphere Acyclic Domain of Neaumycin B.

A stereocontrolled synthetic entry to the southern hemisphere C3-C17 acyclic domain of neaumycin B, a highly potent cytotoxic macrolide natural product, has been developed. The present synthesis is based on (i) a tandem olefin cross-metathesis/hemiacetalization/intramolecular oxa-Michael addition, (ii) a regioselective reductive acetal opening for differential protection of the C14 hydroxy group, (iii) a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction for the stereoselective formation of the C8-C9 olefin, and (iv) a Corey-Bakshi-Shibata asymmetric reduction to create the C7 stereogenic center.

Ruthenium-Catalyzed Intramolecular Double Hydrofunctionalization of Alkynes. Synthesis of Spirocyclic Hemiaminal Ethers and Their Lewis Acid-Mediated Cleavage/Nucleophilic Addition.

[RuCl2(p-cymene)]2/AgNO3-catalyzed intramolecular double hydrofunctionalization of internal alkynes having nitrogen and oxygen nucleophilic groups at appropriate positions provided a series of spirocyclic hemiaminal ether derivatives in good to excellent yields. The product spiro-hemiaminal ethers underwent Lewis acid-mediated chemoselective cleavage, and in situ-generated iminium/oxocarbenium ions could be trapped with nucleophiles to afford a range of nitrogen and oxygen heterocycles.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Hartung-Mukaiyama Cyclization of γ-Hydroxy Olefins: Stereocontrolled Synthesis of the Tetrahydrofuran Moiety of Amphidinolide N.

Cobalt-catalyzed Mukaiyama-type cyclization of γ-hydroxy olefins is known as an atom- and step-economical means for stereoselective synthesis of 2,5-trans-substituted tetrahydrofuran derivatives. In this study, we investigated the synthesis of a series of 2,5-substituted tetrahydrofuran derivatives by means of a cobalt-catalyzed Hartung-Mukaiyama cyclization. The stereochemical consequence of the reaction was found to be largely dependent on the substitution pattern and relative configuration of γ-hydroxy olefins. 2,5-cis-Substituted tetrahydrofuran derivatives could be obtained diastereoselectively from appropriately substituted γ-hydroxy olefins. Additionally, relatively bulky olefin substituents and unprotected hydroxy groups at non-interfering positions (e.g., α and δ) were well tolerated in the reaction. Finally, the synthetic versatility of the Hartung-Mukaiyama cyclization was demonstrated through a stereocontrolled synthesis of the tetrahydrofuran moiety of amphidinolide N, a potent cytotoxic macrolide of marine origin. This study expands the capacity of Mukaiyama-type cyclization in that it can be used in convergent assembly of complex tetrahydrofuran motifs from internal olefins.

Total synthesis and complete configurational assignment of amphirionin-2.

Amphirionin-2 is a linear polyketide metabolite that exhibits potent and selective cytotoxic activity against certain human cancer cell lines. We disclose herein the first total synthesis of amphirionin-2 and determination of its absolute configuration. Our synthesis featured an extensive use of cobalt-catalyzed Mukaiyama-type cyclization of γ-hydroxy olefins for stereoselective formation of all the tetrahydrofuran rings found in the natural product, and a late-stage Stille-type coupling for convergent assembly of the entire carbon backbone. Four candidate diastereomers of amphirionin-2 were synthesized in a unified, convergent manner, and their spectroscopic/chromatographic properties were compared with those of the authentic material. The present study culminated in the reassignment of the C5/C7 relative configuration, assignment of the C12/C18 relative configuration, and determination of the absolute configuration of amphirionin-2.

Fluorescence-labeled neopeltolide derivatives for subcellular localization imaging.

Design, synthesis and functional analysis of fluorescent derivatives of neopeltolide, an antiproliferative marine macrolide, are reported herein. Live cell imaging using the fluorescent derivatives showed rapid cellular uptake and localization within the endoplasmic reticulum as well as the mitochondria.

Crystal structure of (-)-methyl (R,E)-4-[(2R,4R)-2-amino-2-tri-chloro-methyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl]-4-hy-droxy-2-methyl-but-2-enoate.

In the title compound, C10H14Cl3NO5, the five-membered dioxolane ring adopts an envelope conformation with the C atom bonded to the butenoate side chain as the flap. It deviates from the mean plane of the other atoms in the ring by 0.446 (6) Å. In the crystal, mol-ecules are connected by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds into helical chains running along the b-axis direction. The chains are linked into a sheet structure parallel to (001) by an N-H⋯O hydrogen bond. These classical hydrogen bonds enclose an R44(24) graph-set motif in the sheet structure. Furthermore, a weak inter-molecular C-H⋯Cl inter-action expands the sheet structures into a three-dimensional network.

Crystal structure of (+)-N-[(1R,5S,6S,9S)-5-hydroxy-methyl-3,3,9-trimethyl-8-oxo-2,4,7-trioxabi-cyclo-[4.3.0]nonan-9-yl]acetamide.

In the title compound, C12H19NO6, the six-membered 1,3-dioxane ring adopts a chair-like conformation. The seat of this chair, containing two O atoms, is essentially planar, with a maximum deviation of 0.0021 (12) Å. The five-membered oxolane ring cis-fused to the 1,3-dioxane ring adopts an envelope form. The bridgehead C atom at the flap, which is bonded to the tetra-substituted C atom of the oxolane ring, deviates from the mean plane of other ring atoms by 0.539 (4) Å. In the crystal, classical O-H⋯O and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules into a sheet structure enclosing an R 4 (4)(24) graph-set motif. Weak inter-molecular C-H⋯O inter-actions support the sheet formation.

Simultaneous Real-Time Monitoring of Oxygen Consumption and Hydrogen Peroxide Production in Cells Using Our Newly Developed Chip-Type Biosensor Device.

All living organisms bear its defense mechanism. Immune cells during invasion by foreign body undergoes phagocytosis during which monocyte and neutrophil produces reactive oxygen species (ROS). The ROS generated in animal cells are known to be involved in several diseases and ailments, when generated in excess. Therefore, if the ROS generated in cells can be measured and analyzed precisely, it can be employed in immune function evaluation and disease detection. The aim of the current study is to introduce our newly developed chip-type biosensor device with high specificity and sensitivity. It comprises of counter electrode and working electrodes I and II. The counter electrode is a platinum plate while the working electrodes I and II are platinum microelectrode and osmium-horseradish peroxidase modified gold electrode, respectively which acts as oxygen and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) detection sensors. Simultaneous measurement of oxygen consumption and H2O2 generation were measured in animal cells under the effect of exogenous addition of differentiation inducer, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. The results obtained showed considerable changes in reduction currents in the absence and presence of inducer. Our newly developed chip-type biosensor device is claimed to be a useful tool for real-time monitoring of the respiratory activity and precise detection of H2O2 in cells. It can thus be widely applied in biomedical research and in clinical trials being an advancement over other H2O2 detection techniques.

Practical synthesis of the C-ring precursor of paclitaxel from 3-methoxytoluene.

The practical synthesis of the C-ring precursor of paclitaxel starting from 3-methoxytoluene is described. Lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of a substituted cyclohexane-1,2-diol, derived from 3-methoxytoluene in three steps, successfully afforded a desired enantiomer with >99% ee, which was transformed to a cyclohexenone. 1,4-Addition of a vinyl metal species, followed by Mukaiyama aldol reaction with formalin in the presence of a Lewis acid provided the known C-ring precursor of paclitaxel in a 10 g scale.

Crystal structure of (±)-(7RS,8SR)-7-methyl-1,4-dioxa-spiro-[4.5]decane-7,8-diol.

In the title compound, C9H16O4, the five-membered dioxolane ring adopts a twist conformation; two adjacent C atoms deviate alternately from the mean plane of other atoms by -0.297 (4) and 0.288 (4) Å. The spiro-fused cyclo-hexane ring shows a chair form. The hy-droxy group substituted in an axial position makes an intra-molecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bond with one of the O atoms in the cyclic ether, forming an S(6) ring motif. In the crystal, the O-H⋯O hydrogen bond involving the equatorial hy-droxy group connects the mol-ecules into a zigzag chain with a C(5) motif running along the c axis.

Detection of hydrogen peroxide in Photosystem II (PSII) using catalytic amperometric biosensor.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is known to be generated in Photosystem II (PSII) via enzymatic and non-enzymatic pathways. Detection of H2O2 by different spectroscopic techniques has been explored, however its sensitive detection has always been a challenge in photosynthetic research. During the recent past, fluorescence probes such as Amplex Red (AR) has been used but is known to either lack specificity or limitation with respect to the minimum detection limit of H2O2. We have employed an electrochemical biosensor for real time monitoring of H2O2 generation at the level of sub-cellular organelles. The electrochemical biosensor comprises of counter electrode and working electrodes. The counter electrode is a platinum plate, while the working electrode is a mediator based catalytic amperometric biosensor device developed by the coating of a carbon electrode with osmium-horseradish peroxidase which acts as H2O2 detection sensor. In the current study, generation and kinetic behavior of H2O2 in PSII membranes have been studied under light illumination. Electrochemical detection of H2O2 using the catalytic amperometric biosensor device is claimed to serve as a promising technique for detection of H2O2 in photosynthetic cells and subcellular structures including PSII or thylakoid membranes. It can also provide a precise information on qualitative determination of H2O2 and thus can be widely used in photosynthetic research.

Synthesis of Paclitaxel. 1. Synthesis of the ABC Ring of Paclitaxel by SmI2-Mediated Cyclization.

A convergent synthesis of the ABC ring of antitumor natural product paclitaxel (Taxol) is described. SmI2-mediated reductive cyclization of an allylic benzoate possessing an aldehyde function, synthesized from tri-O-acetyl-d-glucal and 1,3-cyclohexanedione, smoothly afforded the highly strained 6-8-6 tricarbocyclic structure in 66% yield.

Crystal structures of (±)-(1SR,5SR,6SR,7SR,10SR,11SR,13RS,14SR)-13-hy-droxy-7-meth-oxy-meth-oxy-11,15,18,18-tetra-methyl-3-oxo-2,4-dioxa-tetra-cyclo-[12.3.1.0(1,5).0(6,11)]octa-dec-15-en-10-yl benzoate, its 13-epimer and 13-one derivative.

The title compounds, C29H38O8·0.25C5H12, (A), C29H38O8, (B), and C29H36O8, (C), are tetra-cyclic benzoates possessing a taxane skeleton with a fused dioxolane ring as the core structure. In the asymmetric unit of (A), there are two independent benzoate mol-ecules (A and A') and a half mol-ecule of solvent pentane disordered about an inversion center. The mol-ecular conformations of (A), (B) and (C) are similar except for the flexible meth-oxy-meth-oxy group. The cyclo-hexane, cyclo-hexene and central cyclo-octane rings adopt chair, half-chair and chair-chair (extended crown) forms, respectively. The dioxolane rings are essentially planar, while the dioxolane ring of A' is slightly twisted from the mean plane. In the crystal of (A), inter-molecular O-H⋯O, C-H⋯O and C-H⋯π inter-actions link the independent benzoates alternately, forming a chain structure. In the crystals of (B) and (C), mol-ecules are linked through O-H⋯O and C-H⋯π inter-actions, and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, respectively, into similar chains. Further, weak inter-molecular C-H⋯O inter-actions connect the chains into a three-dimensional network in (A) and a sheet in (B), whereas no other interactions are observed for (C).

Crystal structure of (±)-(1SR,5SR,6SR,7SR,10SR,11SR,13SR)-13-benz-yloxy-7-meth-oxy-meth-oxy-11,15,18,18-tetra-methyl-3-oxo-2,4-dioxa-tetra-cyclo-[12.3.1.0(1,5).0(6,11)]octa-deca-14,16-dien-10-yl benzoate.

In the title compound, C36H42O8, the dioxolane ring adopts a twist conformation; the two adjacent C atoms deviate alternately from the mean plane of other atoms by -0.287 (5) and 0.174 (5) Å. The cyclo-hexane, cyclo-hexa-diene and central cyclo-octane rings show chair, half-chair and boat-chair forms, respectively. As a result of the strained ring system, the tetra-subsituted olefin in the cyclo-hexa-diene is skewed from an ideal planar structure. In the crystal, C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds connect the mol-ecules into a sheet parallel to (100). The sheets are further linked by other weak C-H⋯O and C-H⋯π inter-actions, forming a three-dimensional network.

Synthesis of Paclitaxel. 2. Construction of the ABCD Ring and Formal Synthesis.

A formal synthesis of the antitumor diterpenoid paclitaxel (Taxol) is described. The ABC ring of paclitaxel, synthesized starting from 1,3-cyclohexanedione and tri-O-acetyl-d-glucal by SmI2-mediated cyclization as the key transformation, was successfully converted to Takahashi's tetracyclic oxetane intermediate. A double Chugaev reaction was employed for introduction of the strained bridgehead olefin, and stereoselective formation of the oxetane ring afforded the known synthetic intermediate, completing the formal synthesis of paclitaxel.

Crystal structure of (±)-(4RS,5RS,7SR)-4-[(1RS,2RS,3RS,6RS)-3-benzo-yloxy-2-(2-hy-droxy-ethyl)-6-meth-oxy-meth-oxy-2-methyl-cyclo-hex-yl]-8,10,10-trimethyl-2-oxo-1,3-dioxa-spiro-[4.5]dec-8-en-7-yl benzoate benzene monosolvate.

In the title compound, C36H44O10·C6H6, the dioxolane ring adopts an envelope conformation with the C atom bonded to the H atom as the flap, while the cyclo-hexene and cyclo-hexane rings are in half-chair and chair conformations, respectively. In the crystal, a pair of O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds with an R 2 (2)(26) graph-set motif connect the benzoate mol-ecules into an inversion dimer. The dimers are linked by a weak C-H⋯O inter-action into a tape structure along [01-1]. The benzene mol-ecule links the tapes through C-H⋯O and C-H⋯π inter-actions, forming a sheet parallel to (100).