A Fluorogenic Disaccharide Substrate for α-Mannosidases Enables High-Throughput Screening and Identification of an Inhibitor of the GH92 Virulence Factor from Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Trimming of host glycans is a mechanism that is broadly employed by both commensal and pathogenic microflora to enable colonization. Host glycan trimming by the opportunistic Gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae has been demonstrated to be an important mechanism of virulence. While S. pneumoniae employs a multitude of glycan processing enzymes, the exo-mannosidase SpGH92 has been shown to be an important virulence factor. Accordingly, SpGH92 is hypothesized to be a target for much-needed new treatments of S. pneumoniae infection. Here we report the synthesis of 4-methylumbelliferyl α-d-mannopyranosyl-(1→2)-ß-d-mannopyranoside (Manα1,2Manß-4MU) as a fluorogenic disaccharide substrate and development of an assay for SpGH92 that overcomes its requirement for +1 binding site occupancy. We miniaturize our in vitro assay and apply it to a high-throughput screen of >65 000 compounds, identifying a single inhibitory chemotype, LIPS-343. We further show that Manα1,2Manß-4MU is also a substrate of the human Golgi-localized α-mannosidase MAN1A1, suggesting that this substrate should be useful for assessing the activity of this and other mammalian α-mannosidases.

N-Oxides as Control Element for the Direction of a Sigmatropic Rearrangement: Application as a Switch for Fluorescence.

An exceptional level of control over the direction of the (2,3)-sigmatropic rearrangement between N-oxides and alkoxylamine is achieved by simply changing the solvent in which they are dissolved. Protic solvents like water, methanol and hexafluoroisopropanol favour the N-oxide form, while other solvents like acetone, acetonitrile and benzene favour the alkoxylamine. The reaction temperature and nature of the substituents on the alkene affect the rate of rearrangement. A N-oxide fragment was attached to two fluorescent molecules and acted as an on/off switch for their fluorescence. The conversion of alkoxylamines into the corresponding N-oxides has not previously been described and is here termed the 'Reverse Meisenheimer Rearrangement'.

Constraining the Side Chain of C-Terminal Amino Acids in Apelin-13 Greatly Increases Affinity, Modulates Signaling, and Improves the Pharmacokinetic Profile.

Side-chain-constrained amino acids are useful tools to modulate the biological properties of peptides. In this study, we applied side-chain constraints to apelin-13 (Ape13) by substituting the Pro12 and Phe13 positions, affecting the binding affinity and signaling profile on the apelin receptor (APJ). The residues 1Nal, Trp, and Aia were found to be beneficial substitutions for Pro12, and the resulting analogues displayed high affinity for APJ (Ki 0.08-0.18 nM vs Ape13 Ki 0.7 nM). Besides, constrained (d-Tic) or α,α-disubstituted residues (Dbzg; d-α-Me-Tyr(OBn)) were favorable for the Phe13 position. Compounds 47 (Pro12-Phe13 replaced by Aia-Phe, Ki 0.08 nM) and 53 (Pro12-Phe13 replaced by 1Nal-Dbzg, Ki 0.08 nM) are the most potent Ape13 analogues activating the Gα12 pathways (53, EC50 Gα12 2.8 nM vs Ape13, EC50 43 nM) known to date, displaying high affinity, resistance to ACE2 cleavage as well as improved pharmacokinetics in vitro (t1/2 5.8-7.3 h in rat plasma) and in vivo.

O-Heterocycles from Unsaturated Carbonyls and Dimethoxycarbene.

The (4+1)-annulation of dimethoxycarbene with readily accessible α,ß-unsaturated carbonyls gives cyclic orthoesters, which can then be converted in just a few steps to other O-heterocycles, including methoxyfurans, furanones, and furans.

A Photorearrangement To Construct the ABDE Tetracyclic Core of Palau'amine.

A synthesis of the ABDE tetracyclic carbon core of palau'amine was achieved in 9 steps from commercial materials. The core's most notable feature, a highly strained trans cyclopenta[ c]pyrrolidine, was obtained in high yield using a ring contraction strategy starting from a much less strained trans bicyclic lactam derivative that is accessible in only 7 steps.

Dialkoxycarbenes in (4 + 1) Cycloadditions: Application to the Synthesis of Carotol.

Dialkoxycarbenes are more reactive than NHCs and participate in many reactions including a formal (4 + 1) cycloaddition with electron-deficient dienes. We have learned to control the relative stereochemistry of the newly created chiral carbons in this process and now report that, combined with a chiral auxiliary, it has been used successfully in a short and efficient synthesis of the sesquiterpene carotol.

N-Heterocycles from chromium aminocarbenes.

The initial [2 + 2]-cycloadduct between a chromium aminocarbene and a tethered alkene undergoes a ß-hydrogen elimination very efficiently when triphenylphosphine is added as a ligand. The reaction gives cyclic enamines or homoenamines depending on the substitution on the alkene.

Converting cycloalkanones into N-heterocycles: formal synthesis of (-)-gephyrotoxin 287C.

The photochemical rearrangement of N-activated lactams enables their ring contraction concomitant with the migration of a carbon onto a nitrogen atom. When coupled with the Beckmann rearrangement, this photochemical ring contraction converts cycloalkanones into N-heterocycles in a few steps and in a stereospecific manner. To showcase the method, we performed an efficient formal synthesis of (-)-gephyrotoxin 287C.

N-Heteropolycyclic compounds from the formal intramolecular (4 + 1)-cycloaddition of chromium aminocarbenes.

Chromium aminocarbenes tethered to dienes of all three electronic natures undergo an efficient intramolecular (4 + 1)-cycloaddition to give N-heteropolycyclic compounds. Ligands on chromium had a profound effect on the course of the reaction.

Photochemical and thermal ring-contraction of cyclic hydroxamic acid derivatives.

Cyclic hydroxamic acids can undergo a thermal ring contraction after an in situ triflation. High yields of ring-contraction products are obtained with DBU when the migrating carbon is a methylene, while best results are obtained with Et(3)N for the migration of quaternary carbons. In some cases, the regiochemical outcome of the reaction can be controlled by changing the base. This novel thermal rearrangement complements a similar but photochemical rearrangement of N-mesyloxylactams.

Simulated infrared spectra of triflic acid during proton dissociation.

Vibrational analysis of triflic acid (TfOH) at different water uptakes was conducted. This molecule mimics the sulfonate end of the Nafion side-chain. As the proton leaves the sulfonic acid group, structural changes within the Nafion side-chain take place. They are revealed by signal shifts in the infrared spectrum. Molecular modeling is used to follow structural modifications that occur during proton dissociation. To confirm the accuracy of the proposed structures, infrared spectra were computed via quantum chemical modeling based on density functional theory. The requirement to use additional diffuse functions in the basis set is discussed. Comparison between simulated infrared spectra of 1 and 2 acid molecules with different water contents and experimental data was performed. An accurate description of infrared spectra for systems containing 2 TfOH was obtained.

Formal intramolecular (4 + 1)-cycloaddition of dialkoxycarbenes: control of the stereoselectivity and a mechanistic portrait.

The stereoselective synthesis of 5-5, 6-5, and 7-5 fused O-heterocyclic compounds is reported. The key reaction is a formal intramolecular (4 + 1)-cycloaddition involving a dialkoxycarbene and an electron-deficient diene where the stereoselectivity is dependent on the length of the tether. An analysis of the stereochemical outcome of this reaction sheds light on its complex mechanistic picture. High-level calculations were used to support the proposed mechanistic portrait.

Menthone and p-menthyl-3-carboxaldehyde as chiral auxiliaries.

Two chiral auxiliaries and the role they play in the preparation of chiral carbonyl compounds and heterocyclic compounds are presented. Key reactions include S(N)2' displacements, Mitsunobu with hydrazoic acid, and 3,3-sigmatropic rearrangements. One of the auxiliaries serves many functions and is removed either by oxidative cleavage or RCM reaction.

Photochemical rearrangement of N-mesyloxylactams: stereospecific formation of N-heterocycles.

N-Mesyloxylactams undergo an efficient ring-contraction to N-heterocycles of various ring sizes. Yields increase with the degree of substitution α to the carbonyl. The stereochemical information of a chiral migrating carbon is conserved making this reaction a synthetically useful complement to the well-known Hofmann, Curtius, Lossen, and Schmidt rearrangements.

Photochemical rearrangement of N-chlorolactams: a route to N-heterocycles through concerted ring contraction.

We report a novel ring contraction allowing the direct conversion of N-chlorolactams to their corresponding ring-contraction N-heterocycles upon photolysis. Results show that the rearrangement occurs with a variety of N-chlorolactams and that the greater the substitution at the migrating carbon, the greater the yield of product. Importantly, stereochemistry at the migrating carbon is conserved in the product. Rearranged products were isolated as their methyl carbamates in yields varying from 17% to 58%, with the major side product being the recyclable parent lactam.

Stereoselective synthesis of (+)-aspidofractinine.

We describe the synthesis of (+)-aspidofractinine, the enantiomer of a naturally occurring alkaloid of the kopsane family. Key features of the synthesis include a stereospecific cyanate to isocyanate rearrangement on a chiral scaffold, a ring-closing alkene metathesis to cleave the chiral auxiliary, and a chemoselective cyclopropanation to introduce the quaternary carbon at position 7 of aspidofractinine.

Stereoselective synthesis of (+)-euphococcinine and (-)-adaline.

We describe the syntheses of (+)-euphococcinine and (-)-adaline, two naturally occurring alkaloids containing a quaternary carbon bearing a nitrogen atom. Key features of the syntheses are a 3,3-sigmatropic rearrangement to give an all-carbon quaternary center, a ring-closing alkene metathesis to give an 8-membered ring, and the use of a single enantiomer of p-menthane-3-carboxaldehyde to make two natural alkaloids of opposite configuration.

Mechanism and regioselectivity of the cycloaddition of thiones derived from Meldrum's acid, malonates, or other dicarbonyls.

Several alpha,alpha-dioxothiones were generated in situ and reacted with 1,3-dienes of varying electronic and steric properties. It was found that thiones 10a and 11a reacted well with electron-rich or electron-poor dienes and are complementary in their regioselectivities when steric effects are at play. The calculated preferred mechanistic pathway implies a thiiranium zwitterion intermediate.

Sterically biased 3,3-sigmatropic rearrangement of chiral allylic azides: application to the total syntheses of alkaloids.

We describe a tandem Mitsunobu/3,3-sigmatropic rearrangement of allylic azides on a chiral auxiliary system that favors one regioisomer thanks to its exceptional steric bias. The sequence may be completed by the oxidative cleavage of the auxiliary or by a ring-closing metathesis reaction that produces a carbo- or heterocycle directly and a recyclable form of the chiral auxiliary. Applications of the methodology to the total synthesis of (+)-coniine, (+)-lentiginosin, and (+)-pumiliotoxin C are reported.