Synthesis of Unprotected Cyclic Peptide Methylene Dithioacetals by Rhodium-Catalyzed Oxidation of Methanol to Formaldehyde.

In the presence of a rhodium catalyst, unprotected peptide dithiols possessing two cysteine residues are efficiently converted to their corresponding cyclic methylene dithioacetals in a mixed solvent of methanol and water (4:1) under an oxygen atmosphere (1 atm). The slow formation of formaldehyde inhibits side reactions by maintaining its concentration at a low level, which is a key feature of this reaction. This method can be applied to peptide dithiols containing amino acids such as Gly, Ala, Ser, Lys, Met, Phe, Tyr, and His and provides cyclic methylene dithioacetals without being affected by other functional groups. Primary alcohols, such as ethanol and isopropanol, can also be employed. Oxytocin can be cyclized to provide a cyclic methylene dithioacetal.

5,6-Dihydrotetrazolo[1,5-c]quinazolines: Toxicity prediction, synthesis, antimicrobial activity, molecular docking, and perspectives.

Antimicrobial resistance is a never-ending challenge, which should be considered seriously, especially when using unprescribed "over-the-counter" drugs. The synthesis and investigation of novel biologically active substances is among the directions to overcome this problem. Hence, 18 novel 5,6-dihydrotetrazolo[1,5-c]quinazolines were synthesized, their identity, purity, and structure were elucidated by elemental analysis, IR, LC-MS, 1 Н, and 13 C NMR spectra. According to the computational estimation, 15 substances were found to be of toxicity Class V, two of Class IV, and only one of Class II. The in vitro serial dilution method of antimicrobial screening against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans determined b3, c1, c6, and c10 as the "lead-compounds" for further modifications to increase the level of activity. Substance b3 demonstrated antibacterial activity that can be related to the calculated high affinity toward all studied proteins: 50S ribosomal protein L19 (PDB ID: 6WQN), sterol 14-alpha demethylase (PDB ID: 5TZ1), and ras-related protein Rab-9A (PDB ID: 1WMS). The structure-activity and structure-target affinity relationships are discussed. The targets for further investigations and the anatomical therapeutic chemical codes of drug similarity are predicted.

Selective induction of thymic stromal lymphopoietin expression by novel nitrogen-containing steroid compounds in PAM-212 cells.

Background: Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) has been shown to be able to amplify Tregs. Thus, TSLP induction has the potential to induce endogenous Tregs and control autoimmunity. In the previous research, we found that a new compound named 02F04 can induce TSLP production while simultaneously activating the liver X receptor (LXR). Because LXR activation leads to a decrease in Treg, we attempted to find a 02F04-derivative, druggable lead compound with a basic skeleton that induces TSLP production without activating LXR. As the results, we found HA-7 and HA-19 and, in this study, examined the molecular mechanisms in TSLP production. Methods: A murine keratinocyte cell line PAM 212 was stimulated with HA-7 and HA-19, and then the expressions of cytokines were examined via ELISA and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Results: HA-7 and HA-19 induced TSLP production but almost not the expression of TNF-α, IL-13, IL-25, and IL-33 in PAM212 cells. These compounds inhibited LXR activities. The TSLP expression induced by HA-7 and HA-19 was inhibited by the Gq/11 inhibitor YM-254890, ROCK inhibitor Y-27632, and ERK inhibitor U0126. HA-7 and HA-19 also induced the formation of stress fiber and ERK phosphorylation, which were inhibited by YM-254890 and Y-27632. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that HA-7 and HA-19 selectively induced TSLP production in PAM212 via Gq/11, Rho/ROCK and ERK pathways. Our findings also indicated that TSLP expression was differentially regulated from other cytokines, and the selective expression could be induced with low-molecular-weight compounds such as HA-7 and HA-19.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Synthesis of Peptide Polysulfides by Insertion of Sulfur into Unprotected Peptide Disulfides.

A rhodium-catalyzed insertion of sulfur into unprotected peptide disulfides in aqueous solvents has been developed, which yields mixtures of trisulfides and tetrasulfides. This method can be applied to peptides containing amino acids such as Gly, Phe, Tyr, Ser, Met, Asp, Gln, and Lys and provides polysulfides with various amino acid residues without being affected by functional groups. A reaction can be conducted on a gram scale. Vasopressin can also be converted into its corresponding polysulfides.

Antioxidant action of persulfides and polysulfides against free radical-mediated lipid peroxidation.

Hydrogen sulfide, hydropersulfides, and hydropolysulfides have been revealed to play important physiological roles such as cell signaling and protection against oxidative stress, but the underlying mechanisms and dynamics of action remain elusive. It is generally accepted that these species act by two-electron redox mechanisms, while the involvement of one-electron redox chemistry has received less attention. In this study, the radical-scavenging activity of hydrogen persulfide, hydrogen polysulfides (HSnH n = 2-4), and diallyl- or dialkyl-sulfides (RSnR, n = 1-4) was measured. Furthermore, their antioxidant effects against free radical-mediated human plasma lipid peroxidation were assessed by measuring lipid hydroperoxides. It was found that disodium disulfide, trisulfide, and tetrasulfide acted as potent peroxyl radical scavengers, the rate constant for scavenging peroxyl radical being 3.5 × 105, 4.0 × 105, and 6.0 × 105 M-1 s-1 in PBS pH 7.4 at 37 °C respectively and that they inhibited plasma lipid peroxidation efficiently, the efficacy is increased with the catenation number. Disodium tetrasulfide was 1.5 times as reactive as Trolox toward peroxyl radical and inhibited plasma lipid peroxidation more efficiently than ascorbate and Trolox. On the other hand, diallyl- and dialkyl-sulfides did not exert significant radical-scavenging activity, nor did they inhibit lipid peroxidation efficiently, except for diallyl tetrasulfide, which suppressed plasma lipid peroxidation, despite less significantly than disodium tetrasulfide. Collectively, this study shows that hydrogen persulfide and hydrogen polysulfides act as potent radical-scavenging antioxidants and that, in addition to two-electron redox mechanisms, one electron redox reaction may also play important role in the in vivo defense against deleterious oxidative stress.

Stable and Unstable Concentration Oscillations Induced by Temperature Oscillations on Reversible Nonequilibrium Chemical Reactions of Helicene Oligomers.

Temperature oscillations can affect behaviors of living things. In this article, we describe the effect of triangle temperature oscillations on reversible nonequilibrium chemical reactions detected as concentration oscillations. When amplification through self-catalytic reactions is involved in the chemical reactions, concentration oscillations exhibit diverse nonequilibrium phenomena, which include equilibrium intersecting, equilibrium noncontact, and equilibrium sliding. Both stable and unstable concentration oscillations occur, during which repeated cycles provide the same and different concentration oscillations, respectively. Concentration oscillations are classified according to their waveforms in concentration/time profiles, the shapes of hysteresis curves in concentration/temperature profiles, the nature of self-catalytic reactions, and their relationships with equilibrium. An unstable concentration oscillation may be transformed into a stable concentration oscillation, which is described on the basis of the classifications. Experimental examples are shown using reversible association and dissociation reactions of helicene oligomers.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Synthesis of Unsymmetric Di(heteroaryl)ureas Involving an Equilibrium Shift.

Unsymmetric di(heteroaryl)ureas such as HetAr1-NHCONH-HetAr2 are efficiently synthesized from two symmetric ureas, HetAr1-NHCONH-HetAr1 and HetAr2-NHCONH-HetAr2, by rhodium-catalyzed exchange reactions. The equilibrium in some of the reactions can be shifted to the formation of unsymmetric ureas by the aggregation of the dimers formed by inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonding.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Synthesis of Organosulfur Compounds Involving S-S Bond Cleavage of Disulfides and Sulfur.

Organosulfur compounds are widely used for the manufacture of drugs and materials, and their synthesis in general conventionally employs nucleophilic substitution reactions of thiolate anions formed from thiols and bases. To synthesize advanced functional organosulfur compounds, development of novel synthetic methods is an important task. We have been studying the synthesis of organosulfur compounds by transition-metal catalysis using disulfides and sulfur, which are easier to handle and less odiferous than thiols. In this article, we describe our development that rhodium complexes efficiently catalyze the cleavage of S-S bonds and transfer organothio groups to organic compounds, which provide diverse organosulfur compounds. The synthesis does not require use of bases or organometallic reagents; furthermore, it is reversible, involving chemical equilibria and interconversion reactions.

Rhodium-catalyzed phosphorylation reaction of water-soluble disulfides using hypodiphosphoric acid tetraalkyl esters in water.

RhCl3 catalyzed the exchange reaction of disulfides and hypodiphosphoric acid tetraalkyl esters in water under homogeneous conditions, which indicated the hypodiphosphoric acid tetraalkyl esters to be novel and efficient phosphorylation reagents in water. The reaction was used in the phosphorylation of unprotected glutathione disulfide.

Acid-catalyzed synthesis of condensed polycyclic diaryl ethers from arenols.

Diaryl ethers containing condensed polycyclic aryl groups were synthesized from arenols in the presence of a catalytic amount of p-chlorobenzenesulfonic acid. Symmetrical binaphthyl, biphenanthryl, and bipyrenyl ethers were obtained in high yields. Unsymmetrical derivatives were also synthesized from 9-phenanthrol and arenols, using combinations of reactive and unreactive substrates.

Optically active iodohelicene derivatives exhibit histamine N-methyl transferase inhibitory activity.

Optically active helicene derivatives inhibit the activity on histamine N-methyl transferase (HNMT). Specifically, methyl (P)-1,12-dimethylbenzo[c]phenanthrene-8-carboxylate with 6-iodo and 5-trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy groups inhibits HNMT activity on the µM order of IC50. Chirality is important, and (M)-isomers exhibits substantially reduced activity. The 6-iodo group is also essential, which suggests the involvement of halogen bonds in protein binding. Substituents on the sulfonate moiety also affect the inhibitory activity.

Catalytic Method for the Synthesis of C-N-Linked Bi(heteroaryl)s Using Heteroaryl Ethers and N-Benzoyl Heteroarenes.

C-N-linked bi(heteroaryl)s are synthesized by a rhodium-catalyzed N-heteroarylation reaction of N-benzoyl heteroarenes including azoles/azolones, pyridones, cyclic ureas, and cyclic imides using heteroaryl aryl ethers. The reaction involves the covalent bond-exchange reaction of N-CO and HetAr-O bonds without using metal bases and exhibits a broad applicability, giving diverse C-N-linked bi(heteroaryl)s containing five- and six-membered heteroarenes. The N-heteroarylation of N-H azoles/azolones and pyridone proceeds at higher reaction temperatures.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Insertion Reaction of PhP Group of Pentaphenylcyclopentaphosphine with Acyclic and Cyclic Disulfides.

Organophosphorus compounds with a phosphorus atom attached to a phenyl group and two organothio/organoseleno groups were synthesized using the rhodium-catalyzed insertion reaction of the PhP group of pentaphenylcyclopentaphosphine (PhP)5 with acyclic disulfides and diselenides. The method was applied to the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds containing the S-P-S group by the reaction of (PhP)5 and cyclic disulfides such as 1,2-dithietes, 1,2-dithiocane, 1,4,5-dithiopane, and 1,2-dithiolanes.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Synthesis of Unsymmetric Di(heteroaryl) Sulfides Using Heteroaryl Ethers and S-Heteroaryl Thioesters via Heteroarylthio Exchange.

Unsymmetric di(heteroaryl) sulfides were synthesized by a rhodium-catalyzed heteroarylthio exchange reaction of heteroaryl aryl ethers and S-(heteroaryl) thioesters. The reaction has broad applicability, giving diverse unsymmetric di(heteroaryl) sulfides containing five- and six-membered heteroarenes. No base is required in this reaction, which has been developed by the judicious design of organic substrates.

Rhodium-catalyzed P-P bond exchange reaction of diphosphine disulfides.

A rhodium-catalyzed exchange reaction of diphosphine disulfides, a diphosphine oxide, and a diphosphine is developed. Various symmetric diphosphine disulfides containing alkyl and phenyl groups are exchanged, giving equilibrium mixtures, from which unsymmetric diphosphine disulfides are readily separated by silica gel chromatography. The resulting unsymmetric diphosphine disulfide is regioselectively added to an aldehyde.

Rhodium-catalyzed transformation of heteroaryl aryl ethers into heteroaryl fluorides.

A rhodium complex catalyzed the conversion of the C-O bond of heteroaryl aryl ethers to the C-F bond. The reaction of (4-chlorophenylthio)pentafluorobenzene with heteroaryl aryl ethers provided heteroaryl fluorides and heteroaryl (4-chlorophenylthio)tetrafluorophenyl ethers; this involved the cleavage of a single heteroaryl C-O bond under equilibrium conditions. The reaction of heteroaryl aryl ethers with 2-fluorobenzothiazole in which two heteroaryl and aryl C-O bonds were cleaved provided heteroaryl fluorides and aryl fluorides. The reactions were applicable to five-membered and six-membered heteroaryl aryl ethers and also to diaryl ethers possessing one or two electron-withdrawing groups.

Synthesis of thiiranes by rhodium-catalyzed sulfur addition reaction to reactive alkenes.

A rhodium complex derived from RhH(PPh3)4, dppe, and 4-ethynyltoluene catalyzes the addition reaction of sulfur to norbornenes giving the corresponding thiiranes under acetone reflux conditions. The rhodium complex effectively transfers a sulfur atom to the double bond from sulfur, and exo-adducts are obtained. The reaction is also applicable to (E)-cyclooctene and cyclic allenes. The ring-opening reaction of the thiiranes with lithium aluminium hydride gives the corresponding thiols.

A palladium-catalyzed addition reaction of aroyl/heteroaroyl acid anhydrides to norbornenes.

A palladium complex derived from Pd2(dba)3 and dppp catalyzes the addition reaction of aroyl/heteroaroyl acid anhydrides to norbornenes, giving 2-aroyl/heteroaroyl-3-aroyloxy/heteroaroyloxy-bicyclo[2,2,1]heptanes. The C-O bond of acid anhydride is cleaved, and the aroyl/heteroaroyl and aroyloxy/heteroaroyloxy groups are added to alkenes. trans-Adducts are selectively obtained with the endo-benzoyl group and exo-benzoyloxy group.

Rhodium-catalyzed synthesis of unsymmetrical di(aryl/heteroaryl)methanes using aryl/heteroarylmethyl ketones via CO-C bond cleavage.

RhH(PPh3)4 and 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene catalyze the reaction of aryl/heteroarylmethyl ketones and aryl heteroaryl ethers giving unsymmetrical diarylmethanes containing one or two heteroarenes in high yields. The reaction does not use alkali metal bases, and therefore does not form large amounts of metal waste.

Rhodium-catalyzed synthesis of diaryl sulfides using aryl fluorides and sulfur/organopolysulfides.

Substituted pentafluorobenzenes react with sulfur to give bis(4-substituted 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl) sulfides in the presence of RhH(PPh(3))(4), 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene (dppBz), and tributylsilane. The reaction proceeds efficiently between room temperature and 80 °C. A comparative study of the reactivities of an organic trisulfide and a tetrasulfide showed notable substrate specificity. Di-tert-butyl tetrasulfide reacted with reactive aryl monofluorides and substituted pentafluorobenzenes. Di-tert-butyl trisulfide reacted with aryl monofluorides. The reactivity was explained on the basis of the difference in S-S bond energy.