Stereospecific Cu(I)-Catalyzed C-O Cross-Coupling Synthesis of Acyclic 1,2-Di- and Trisubstituted Vinylic Ethers from Alcohols and Vinylic Halides.

CuI and trans-N,N'-dimethylcyclohexyldiamine catalyze the single-step C-O bond cross-coupling between 1,2-di- and trisubstituted vinylic halides with functionalized alcohols, producing acyclic vinylic ethers. This stereospecific transformation selectively gives each of the (E)- and (Z)-vinylic ether products from the corresponding vinyl halide precursors. This method is compatible with carbohydrate-derived primary and secondary alcohols and several other functional groups. The conditions are mild enough to reliably generate vinylic allylic ethers without promoting Claisen rearrangements.

A Tropomycin-Related Kinase B Receptor Activator for the Management of Ocular Blast-Induced Vision Loss.

Pressure waves from explosions or other traumatic events can damage the neurons of the eye and visual centers of the brain, leading to functional loss of vision. There are currently few treatments for such injuries that can be deployed rapidly to mitigate damage. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and activation of its receptor tropomycin-related kinase B (TrkB) have neuroprotective effects in a number of degeneration models. Small molecule activators of TrkB, such as N-[2-(5-hydroxy-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]-2-oxopiperidine-3-carboxamide (HIOC), cross the blood-brain and blood-retina barriers after systemic administration. We characterize the effects of blast-induced ocular trauma on retinal and visual function. We show that systemic administration of HIOC, a potent small molecule activator of the BDNF/TrkB receptor, preserves visual function in mice exposed to ocular blast injury. The HIOC treatment for one week preserves visual function for at least four months. The HIOC treatment effectively protected vision when the initial dose was administered up to 3 h after blast, but not if the initial treatment was delayed for 24 h. We provide evidence that the therapeutic effect of HIOC is mediated by activation of BDNF/TrkB receptors. The results indicate that HIOC may be useful for managing ocular blast injury and other forms of traumatic optic neuropathy.

Alkynylation of Pentose Derivatives with Stereochemical Fidelity: Implications for the Regioselectivity of Alkynyl Diol Cycloisomerizations to Cyclic Enol Ethers.

This work characterizes a previously undetected epimerization in the preparation of alkynyl diols from pentose precursors utilizing the Ohira-Bestmann reagent. Lithium trimethylsilyldiazomethane (Colvin reagent) additions to the d-ribose and d-lyxose-derived benzylidene acetals provide the respective alkynyl diol stereoisomers, without epimerization. Regioselective tungsten-catalyzed cycloisomerizations of the d-ribose- and d-lyxose-derived alkynyl diols yield rigid bicyclic pyranose glycals, confirming the stereochemical fidelity of the Colvin alkynylation process.

Sequential exo-mode oxacyclizations for the synthesis of the CD substructure of brevenal.

We describe a novel strategy for synthesizing the CD bicyclic ether substructure of the fused polycyclic ether natural product brevenal. This product arises from a three-step sequence beginning with (1) regio- and diastereoselective iodoetherification of an acyclic diene-diol, followed by (2) alkene metathesis with an epoxyalkene synthon, concluding with (3) palladium-catalyzed cycloisomerization. Despite the modest yield and long reaction period for the cycloisomerization step, these studies provide valuable insights into the nature of byproducts generated and the mechanisms by which they form. This work demonstrates a portion of a larger synthetic strategy for constructing the pentacyclic core of brevenal from an acyclic precursor.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Pyrans from Epoxyalkenes: Dual Catalysis with Palladium and Brønsted Acid.

We describe regio- and stereoselective cycloisomerizations of alcohols tethered to epoxyalkenes, to construct alkene-substituted pyrans. These transformations are best catalyzed by Pd(PPh3)4 in the presence of phosphite ligands, and with diphenylphosphinic acid as an essential Brønsted acid cocatalyst for activation of the epoxyalkene.

Synthesis of the ABC Substructure of Brevenal by Sequential exo-Mode Oxacyclizations of Acyclic Polyene Precursors.

Exploratory studies on the sequential exo-mode oxacyclizations of acyclic polyene precursors have provided a substantial substructure of brevenal, including the fused tricyclic polyether with stereochemical patterns consistent with the AB and BC ring fusions. The synthesis of acyclic substrates featured two variations of Cr(II)/Ni(II) couplings for preparing 1,1-disubstituted allylic alcohols. A sequence of iodine-promoted cycloetherification, base-promoted intramolecular conjugate addition, and mercury-promoted cycloetherification produced the tricyclic substructure.

Gram-scale, chemoselective synthesis of N-[2-(5-hydroxy-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]-2-oxopiperidine-3-carboxamide (HIOC).

N-[2-(5-hydroxy-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]-2-oxopiperidine-3-carboxamide (HIOC) is a potent activator of the TrkB receptor in mammalian neurons and of interest because of its potential therapeutic uses. In the absence of a commercial supply of HIOC, we sought to produce several grams of material. However, a synthesis of HIOC has never been published. Herein we report the preparation of HIOC by the chemoselective N-acylation of serotonin, without using blocking groups in the key acylation step.

Blockade of glioma proliferation through allosteric inhibition of JAK2.

The gene that encodes the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is frequently overexpressed or mutated in human cancers, including glioblastoma. However, the efficacy of EGFR-targeted small-molecule inhibitors or monoclonal antibodies in glioblastomas that also have mutation or deletion of the gene encoding phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) has been modest. We found that EGFR signaling was blocked by a small molecule (G5-7) that selectively inhibited Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)-mediated phosphorylation and activation of EGFR and STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) by binding to JAK2, thereby decreasing the activity of downstream signaling by mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) and inducing cell cycle arrest. G5-7 inhibited the proliferation of PTEN-deficient glioblastoma cell lines harboring a constitutively active variant of EGFR (U87MG/EGFRvIII) and human glioblastoma explant neurosphere cultures, but the drug only weakly inhibited the proliferation of either glioblastoma cell lines that were wild type for EGFR and stably transfected with PTEN (U87MG/PTEN) or normal neural progenitor cells and astrocytes. Additionally, G5-7 reduced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion and endothelial cell migration and induced apoptosis in glioblastoma xenografts, thereby suppressing glioblastoma growth in vivo. Furthermore, G5-7 was more potent than EGFR or JAK2 inhibitors that interfere with either ligand or adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) binding at impeding glioblastoma cell proliferation, demonstrating that this allosteric JAK2 inhibitor may be an effective clinical strategy.

Biomimetic syntheses from squalene-like precursors: synthesis of ent-abudinol B and reassessment of the structure of muzitone.

We achieved the stereoselective syntheses of two different structural patterns corresponding to the enantiomers of the marine natural products abudinol B and muzitone, by developing two-directional tandem biomimetic cyclizations of polyepoxides of squalene analogues in which one alkene was functionalized as an enolsilane. In the course of this work, we demonstrated that the structure of muzitone was misassigned.

Convergent synthesis of fostriecin via selective alkene couplings and regioselective asymmetric dihydroxylation.

A highly convergent synthesis of fostriecin is described, featuring sequential palladium-catalyzed Negishi cross couplings to form the C7-C8 bond and C8-methyl bond, followed by late-stage regio- and stereoselective dihydroxylation of C8-C9.

Stereo- and regioselective synthesis of squalene tetraepoxide.

Squalene tetraepoxide, a putative biosynthetic precursor to a variety of oxacyclic triterpenoid natural products, has been efficiently synthesized by anionic coupling of two farnesol-derived diepoxides, which have arisen from electronic control of the regioselectivity in organocatalytic enantioselective epoxidations.

Brønsted acid-promoted glycosylations of disaccharide glycal substructures of the saccharomicins.

An acid-promoted glycosylation and alkynol cycloisomerization sequence provided direct access to the 2-deoxytrisaccharide corresponding to the fucose-saccharosamine-digitoxose substructure of saccharomicin B. In the course of this work, the absolute stereochemistry of the repeating fucose-saccharosamine disaccharide of saccharomicins was also confirmed.

Total synthesis of the sphingolipid biosynthesis inhibitor fumonisin B(1).

The first total synthesis of the sphingolipid biosynthesis inhibitor fumonisin B(1) has been achieved. This convergent synthesis utilizes oxonia Cope rearrangements to prepare two key homoallylic alcohols, which are then functionalized to the primary components A and B for cross-coupling. Other highlights of our approach include a new and efficient synthesis of the diprotected tricarballylic acid C and a global deprotection strategy as the final step.

1,5-Alpha-D-mannoseptanosides, ring-size isomers that are impervious to alpha-mannosidase-catalyzed hydrolysis.

1,5-D-mannoseptanosyl di- and trisaccharide ring-size isomers of the corresponding mannopyranosyl oligosaccharides have been prepared. Remarkably, these compounds show no inhibition of the alpha-mannosidase-catalyzed hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside.

Modular synthesis of the C9-C27 degradation product of aflastatin A via alkyne-epoxide cross-couplings.

A modular approach to the synthesis of complex polyketide natural products is demonstrated for the synthesis of the C9-C27 degradation product from aflastatin A. The product of the cross-coupling of C23-C27 terminal alkyne with C17-C22 epoxide underwent functionalization of the resulting internal alkyne, which was then coupled similarly with C9-C16 epoxide. This synthesis concluded with regio- and stereoselective addition of methyl onto the internal alkyne followed by stereoselective hydroboration-oxidation.

Stereo- and regioselective glycosylations to the bis-C-arylglycoside of kidamycin.

In explorations toward the total synthesis of the antitumor anthrapyran natural product kidamycin, the regioselective introduction of aminosugars angolosamine and vancosamine as C-arylglycosides has been accomplished onto hydroxylated anthrapyran aglycones. Specifically, the 9,11-dihydroxylated anthrapyran A undergoes sequential glycosylations with angolosamine synthon B and vancosamine synthon C to regio- and stereoselectively afford bis-C-glycoside D corresponding to the C-glycoside pattern of kidamycin.

Fischer carbene catalysis of alkynol cycloisomerization: application to the synthesis of the altromycin B disaccharide.

[reaction: see text] The tungsten-catalyzed cycloisomerization of alkynyl alcohols can be conducted without using photochemistry, using a stable tungsten Fischer carbene as the precatalyst for this transformation. A variety of alkynyl alcohols undergo cycloisomerization under these conditions to provide endocyclic enol ethers of five-, six-, and seven-membered ring sizes. The utility of this method is further demonstrated in the stereoselective synthesis of the disaccharide substructure of altromycin B.