Dynamic Covalent Template-Guided Screen for Nucleic Acid-Targeting Agents.

Trinucleotide repeat diseases such as myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and Huntington's disease (HD) are caused by expanded DNA repeats that can be used as templates to synthesize their own inhibitors. Because it would be particularly advantageous to reversibly assemble multivalent nucleic acid-targeting agents in situ, we sought to develop a target-guided screen that uses dynamic covalent chemistry to identify multitarget inhibitors. We report the synthesis of a library of amine- or aldehyde-containing fragments. The assembly of these fragments led to a diverse set of hit combinations that was confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) in the presence of DM1 and HD repeat sequences. Of interest for both diseases, the resulting hit combinations inhibited transcription selectively and in a cooperative manner in vitro, with inhibitory concentration (IC50) values in the micromolar range. This dynamic covalent library and screening approach could be applied to identify compounds that reversibly assemble on other nucleic acid targets.

Visible-Light-Induced C4-Selective Functionalization of Pyridinium Salts with Cyclopropanols.

The site-selective C-H functionalization of heteroarenes is of considerable importance for streamlining the rapid modification of bioactive molecules. Herein, we report a general strategy for visible-light-induced ß-carbonyl alkylation at the C4 position of pyridines with high site selectivity using various cyclopropanols and N-amidopyridinium salts. In this process, hydrogen-atom transfer between the generated sulfonamidyl radicals and O-H bonds of cyclopropanols generates ß-carbonyl radicals, providing efficient access to synthetically valuable ß-pyridylated (aryl)ketones, aldehydes, and esters with broad functional-group tolerance. In addition, the mild method serves as an effective tool for the site-selective late-stage functionalization of complex and medicinally relevant molecules.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Peptidomimetic Aldehydes as Broad-Spectrum Inhibitors against Enterovirus and SARS-CoV-2.

A novel series of peptidomimetic aldehydes was designed and synthesized to target 3C protease (3Cpro) of enterovirus 71 (EV71). Most of the compounds exhibited high antiviral activity, and among them, compound 18p demonstrated potent enzyme inhibitory activity and broad-spectrum antiviral activity on a panel of enteroviruses and rhinoviruses. The crystal structure of EV71 3Cpro in complex with 18p determined at a resolution of 1.2 Å revealed that 18p covalently linked to the catalytic Cys147 with an aldehyde group. In addition, these compounds also exhibited good inhibitory activity against the 3CLpro and the replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), especially compound 18p (IC50 = 0.034 µM, EC50 = 0.29 µM). According to our previous work, these compounds have no reasons for concern regarding acute toxicity. Compared with AG7088, compound 18p also exhibited good pharmacokinetic properties and more potent anticoronavirus activity, making it an excellent lead for further development.

Synthesis and Olfactory Properties of Seco-Analogues of Lilac Aldehydes.

Lilac aldehydes are considered as principal olfactory molecules of lilac flowers. We have designed, prepared, and evaluated a set of racemic seco-analogues of such natural products. The synthesis employs commercially available α-chloroketones as substrates that are transformed in four steps to target compounds. Their qualitative olfactory analysis revealed that the opening of the tetrahydrofuran ring leads to a vanishing of original flowery scent with the emergence of spicy aroma accompanied by green notes, and/or fruity aspects of novel seco-analogues. These results suggest the important osmophoric role of THF moiety for the generation of the typical flowery aroma associated with lilac aldehydes.

Ruthenium-on-Carbon-Catalyzed Facile Solvent-Free Oxidation of Alcohols: Efficient Progress under Solid-Solid (Liquid)-Gas Conditions.

A protocol for the ruthenium-on-carbon (Ru/C)-catalyzed solvent-free oxidation of alcohols, which proceeds efficiently under solid-solid (liquid)-gas conditions, was developed. Various primary and secondary alcohols were transformed to corresponding aldehydes and ketones in moderate to excellent isolated yields by simply stirring in the presence of 10% Ru/C under air or oxygen conditions. The solvent-free oxidation reactions proceeded efficiently regardless of the solid or liquid state of the substrates and reagents and could be applied to gram-scale synthesis without loss of the reaction efficiency. Furthermore, the catalytic activity of Ru/C was maintained after five reuse cycles.

Biocatalytic Production of Aldehydes: Exploring the Potential of Lathyrus cicera Amine Oxidase.

Aldehydes are a class of carbonyl compounds widely used as intermediates in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. To date, there are few fully enzymatic methods for synthesizing these highly reactive chemicals. In the present work, we explore the biocatalytic potential of an amino oxidase extracted from the etiolated shoots of Lathyrus cicera for the synthesis of value-added aldehydes, starting from the corresponding primary amines. In this frame, we have developed a completely chromatography-free purification protocol based on crossflow ultrafiltration, which makes the production of this enzyme easily scalable. Furthermore, we determined the kinetic parameters of the amine oxidase toward 20 differently substituted aliphatic and aromatic primary amines, and we developed a biocatalytic process for their conversion into the corresponding aldehydes. The reaction occurs in aqueous media at neutral pH in the presence of catalase, which removes the hydrogen peroxide produced during the reaction itself, contributing to the recycling of oxygen. A high conversion (>95%) was achieved within 3 h for all the tested compounds.

Fabrication of a Magnetic Fluorinated Covalent Organic Framework for the Selective Capture of Benzoylurea Insecticide Residue in Beverages.

Efficient capture of benzoylurea insecticide (BU) residue in food is a vital procedure for food safe monitoring. Herein, a core-shell structured magnetic fluorinated covalent organic framework with good magnetic responsiveness and abundant fluorine affinity sites was successfully synthesized, suitable for magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) of BUs. Using a room-temperature synthesis strategy, the magnetic fluorinated covalent organic framework was fabricated by in situ polymerization of 1,3,5-tris(4-aminophenyl) triazine (TAPT) and 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoroterephthaldehyde (TFTA) on the surface of carboxylated Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The competitive adsorption experiment and molecular simulation verified that this magnetic fluorinated covalent organic framework possesses favorable adsorption affinity for BUs. This magnetic fluorinated covalent organic framework could be easily regenerated and reused at least eight times with no reduction of enrichment performance. Combining this magnetic fluorinated covalent organic framework-based MSPE with high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, a novel sensitive method for the analysis of BUs was developed. In yellow wine and fruit juice samples, good linear correlations were obtained for BUs in the range of 10-2000 and 20-4000 ng·L-1, respectively. The limit of quantitation of the BUs ranged from 1.4 to 13.3 ng·L-1 in the two beverage matrices. Desirable precision was achieved, with intraday and interday relative standard deviations lower than 11%.

Rational Synthesis of Imine-Linked Fluorescent Covalent Organic Frameworks with Different pKa for pH Sensing In Vitro and In Vivo.

Precise modulation of pH in living cells plays a vital role in the study of many diseases, such as cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. Here, a series of imine-linked covalent organic frameworks (COFs) were rationally designed and developed for pH sensing in tumor cells and zebrafish. Four monomers were chosen to synthesize COFs (COF1-COF4) with different pKa by a simple orthogonal combination through condensation reaction. The as-obtained COFs exhibited a sensitive pH-dependent fluorescence response compared to their building blocks. Among them, COF2 possessed a high crystallinity, excellent fluorescence, and suitable pKa for biosensing. For bioimaging applications, COF2 was modified with poly-d-lysine (PDL) to improve its biocompatibility and endocytosis efficiency. After that, PDL-modified COF2 (PDL@COF2) was used as a novel fluorescence probe with a superior linear pH response over the range from 5.0 to 8.0 due to its fully reversible protonation and deprotonation. The fluorescent PDL@COF2 was further employed as a good candidate for pH imaging in tumor cells and zebrafish. The as-constructed environment-sensitive fluorescent COFs have greatly expanded the applications of COFs in the biological area.

Asymmetric Syntheses of (E)-δ-Hydroxymethyl-anti-homoallylic Alcohols via Highly Enantio- and Stereoselective Aldehyde Allylation with α-Borylmethyl-(E)-crotylboronate.

Highly stereo- and enantioselective synthesis of (E)-δ-hydroxymethyl-anti-homoallylic alcohols is reported. Under the developed conditions, reactions between aldehydes and chiral nonracemic α-borylmethyl-(E)-crotylboronate upon oxidative workup gave δ-hydroxymethyl-anti-homoallylic alcohols with high E-selectivities and enantioselectivities.

Functionalisation of the non-reducing end of chitin by selective periodate oxidation: A new approach to form complex block polysaccharides and water-soluble chitin-based block polymers.

Most polysaccharides used in polysaccharide-based block copolymers are attached to the second block through the reducing end, due to the few and highly polysaccharide specific non-reducing end (NRE) functionalisation methods available. Chitin oligomers, prepared by nitrous acid degradation of chitosan (AnM) can, however, be selectively oxidised by periodate since they only possess a single vicinal diol in the NRE residue. Here, we show that both aldehydes formed after oxidation are highly reactive towards bifunctional oxyamines and hydrazide linkers. Sub-stochiometric amounts of linkers resulted in conjugation of AnM oligomers through both chain termini to yield a discrete distribution of 'polymerised' oligomers. Such chitin-based block polymers were, in contrast to chitins of the same chain lengths, water-soluble. Oxidised AnM oligomers, functionalised at both termini can also enable the preparation of more complex block polysaccharides such as ABA- or ABC-type.

Iron-catalyzed domino decarboxylation-oxidation of α,ß-unsaturated carboxylic acids enabled aldehyde C-H methylation.

A practical and general iron-catalyzed domino decarboxylation-oxidation of α,ß-unsaturated carboxylic acids enabling aldehyde C-H methylation for the synthesis of methyl ketones has been developed. This mild, operationally simple method uses ambient air as the sole oxidant and tolerates sensitive functional groups for the late-stage functionalization of complex natural-product-derived and polyfunctionalized molecules.

Expansion of Substrate Scope for Nitroxyl Radical/Copper-Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidation of Primary Alcohols: A Guideline for Catalyst Selection.

Four distinctive sets of optimum nitroxyl radical/copper salt/additive catalyst combinations have been identified for accommodating the aerobic oxidation of various types of primary alcohols to their corresponding aldehydes. Interestingly, less nucleophilic catalysts exhibited higher catalytic activities for the oxidation of particular primary allylic and propargylic alcohols to give α,ß-unsaturated aldehydes that function as competent Michael acceptors. The optimum conditions identified herein were successful in the oxidation of various types of primary alcohols, including unprotected amino alcohols and divalent-sulfur-containing alcohols in good-to-high yields. Moreover, N-protected alaninol, an inefficient substrate in the nitroxyl radical/copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidation, was oxidized in good yield. On the basis of the optimization results, a guideline for catalyst selection has been established.

Superphane: a new lantern-like receptor for encapsulation of a water dimer.

A new superphane, featuring an aesthetically pleasing structure, was successfully obtained via one-pot synthesis of a hexakis-amine and m-phthalaldehyde in a [2+6] manner. It proved capable of entrapping a water dimer within its cavity as inferred from the mass spectroscopy, crystallographical analysis, NMR spectroscopy, and theoretical calculations.

Electrochemically driven desaturation of carbonyl compounds.

Electrochemical techniques have long been heralded for their innate sustainability as efficient methods to achieve redox reactions. Carbonyl desaturation, as a fundamental organic oxidation, is an oft-employed transformation to unlock adjacent reactivity through the formal removal of two hydrogen atoms. To date, the most reliable methods to achieve this seemingly trivial reaction rely on transition metals (Pd or Cu) or stoichiometric reagents based on I, Br, Se or S. Here we report an operationally simple pathway to access such structures from enol silanes and phosphates using electrons as the primary reagent. This electrochemically driven desaturation exhibits a broad scope across an array of carbonyl derivatives, is easily scalable (1-100 g) and can be predictably implemented into synthetic pathways using experimentally or computationally derived NMR shifts. Systematic comparisons to state-of-the-art techniques reveal that this method can uniquely desaturate a wide array of carbonyl groups. Mechanistic interrogation suggests a radical-based reaction pathway.

Teaching Aldehydes New Tricks Using Rhodium- and Cobalt-Hydride Catalysis.

By using transition metal catalysts, chemists have altered the "logic of chemical synthesis" by enabling the functionalization of carbon-hydrogen bonds, which have traditionally been considered inert. Within this framework, our laboratory has been fascinated by the potential for aldehyde C-H bond activation. Our approach focused on generating acyl-metal-hydrides by oxidative addition of the formyl C-H bond, which is an elementary step first validated by Tsuji in 1965. In this Account, we review our efforts to overcome limitations in hydroacylation. Initial studies resulted in new variants of hydroacylation and ultimately spurred the development of related transformations (e.g., carboacylation, cycloisomerization, and transfer hydroformylation).Sakai and co-workers demonstrated the first hydroacylation of olefins when they reported that 4-pentenals cyclized to cyclopentanones, using stoichiometric amounts of Wilkinson's catalyst. This discovery sparked significant interest in hydroacylation, especially for the enantioselective and catalytic construction of cyclopentanones. Our research focused on expanding the asymmetric variants to access medium-sized rings (e.g., seven- and eight-membered rings). In addition, we achieved selective intermolecular couplings by incorporating directing groups onto the olefin partner. Along the way, we identified Rh and Co catalysts that transform dienyl aldehydes into a variety of unique carbocycles, such as cyclopentanones, bicyclic ketones, cyclohexenyl aldehydes, and cyclobutanones. Building on the insights gained from olefin hydroacylation, we demonstrated the first highly enantioselective hydroacylation of carbonyls. For example, we demonstrated that ketoaldehydes can cyclize to form lactones with high regio- and enantioselectivity. Following these reports, we reported the first intermolecular example that occurs with high stereocontrol. Ketoamides undergo intermolecular carbonyl hydroacylation to furnish α-acyloxyamides that contain a depsipeptide linkage.Finally, we describe how the key acyl-metal-hydride species can be diverted to achieve a C-C bond-cleaving process. Transfer hydroformylation enables the preparation of olefins from aldehydes by a dehomologation mechanism. Release of ring strain in the olefin acceptor offers a driving force for the isodesmic transfer of CO and H2. Mechanistic studies suggest that the counterion serves as a proton-shuttle to enable transfer hydroformylation. Collectively, our studies showcase how transition metal catalysis can transform a common functional group, in this case aldehydes, into structurally distinct motifs. Fine-tuning the coordination sphere of an acyl-metal-hydride species can promote C-C and C-O bond-forming reactions, as well as C-C bond-cleaving processes.

Semi-synthesis as a tool for broadening the health applications of bioactive olive secoiridoids: a critical review.

Covering: 2005 up to 2020Olive bioactive secoiridoids are recognized as natural antioxidants with multiple beneficial effects on human health. Nevertheless, the study of their biological activity has also disclosed some critical aspects associated with their application. Firstly, only a few of them can be extracted in large amounts from their natural matrix, namely olive leaves, drupes, oil and olive mill wastewater. Secondly, their application as preventive agents and drugs is limited by their low membrane permeability. Thirdly, the study of their biological fate after administration is complicated by the absence of pure analytical standards. Accordingly, efficient synthetic methods to obtain natural and non-natural bioactive phenol derivatives have been developed. Among them, semi-synthetic protocols represent efficient and economical alternatives to total synthesis, combining efficient extraction protocols with efficient catalytic conversions to achieve reasonable amounts of active molecules. The aim of this review is to summarize the semi-synthetic protocols published in the last fifteen years, covering 2005 up to 2020, which can produce natural olive bioactive phenols scarcely available by extractive procedures, and new biophenol derivatives with enhanced biological activity. Moreover, the semi-synthetic protocols to produce olive bioactive phenol derivatives as analytical standards are also discussed. A critical analysis of the advantages offered by semi-synthesis compared to classical extraction methods or total synthesis protocols is also performed.

Two-Step One-Pot Reductive Amination of Furanic Aldehydes Using CuAlOx Catalyst in a Flow Reactor.

Aminomethylhydroxymethylfuran derivatives are well known compounds which are used in the pharmaceutical industry. Reductive amination of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) derived from available non-edible lignocellulosic biomass is an attractive method for the synthesis of this class of compounds. In the present study, the synthesis of N-substituted 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furfuryl amines and 5-(acetoxymethyl)-2-furfuryl amines was performed by two-step process, which includes the condensation of furanic aldehydes (HMF and 5-acetoxymethylfurfural) with primary amines in methanol on the first step and the reduction of obtained imines with hydrogen in a flow reactor over CuAlOx catalyst derived from layered double hydroxide on the second step. This process does not require isolation and purification of intermediate imines and can be used to synthesize a number of aminomethylhydroxymethylfurans in good to excellent yield.

Antioxidant Polymers via the Kabachnik-Fields Reaction to Control Cellular Oxidative Stress.

Small molecular antioxidants are almost ineffective in regulating harmful oxidative stress in vivo because of their poor bioavailability. Polymer antioxidants are a promising alternative to address this issue, but their laborious synthetic routes limit their development. In this study, aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes are used to synthesize a family of polymers containing different α-aminophosphonate pendant groups via a facile one-pot method that combines the Kabachnik-Fields (KF) reaction and free radical polymerization. The structure-property relationship study of these polymers reveals the KF moieties in polymer structures confer radical scavenging ability on polymers. The radical scavenging ability and cytotoxicity of these polymers are evaluated in a stepwise manner to identify a biocompatible polymer antioxidant that can effectively protect the cells from H2 O2 -induced oxidative damage. This is the first attempt to develop antioxidative polymers by the KF reaction. It highlights the feasibility of synthesizing new functional polymers using multicomponent reactions, which has important implications for organic and polymer chemistry.

New indole-7-aldehyde derivatives as melatonin analogues; synthesis and screening their antioxidant and anticancer potential.

Over the last decade, there has been substantial interest in the use of melatonin (MLT) and MLT-like compounds in the treatment of several diseases. MLT can scavenge different reactive oxygen species and can also stimulate the synthesis of antioxidant enzymes. Our ongoing study relies on changing the groups in the different modifiable sites of the indole ring to increase the antioxidant activity. In this study a new approach for substitution of indole ring as indole based MLT analogue was proposed. We report the synthesis and characterization of a series of new indole-7-aldehyde hydrazide/hydrazone derivatives as indole-based MLT analogues. Anticancer potential of the compounds were evaluated both by their antioxidant and CYP1 inhibitory activities. In vitro antioxidant capacity of the compounds was investigated both in a cell-based (DCFH assay) and a cell-free (DPPH assay) assay. Potential inhibitory effects of the compounds on CYP1 catalytic activity were investigated via EROD assay. Cytotoxic activity of the compounds was further evaluated by the MTT assay in CHO-K1 cells. MLT analogues having an o-halogenated aromatic moiety exhibited effective antioxidant properties without having any cytotoxic effect. In conclusion, MLT derivatives represent promising scaffolds for discovery of effective antioxidant agents.

DNA-Compatible Copper-Catalyzed Oxidative Amidation of Aldehydes with Non-Nucleophilic Arylamines.

We report a DNA-compatible protocol for synthesizing amides from DNA-bound aldehydes and non-nucleophilic arylamines including aza-substituted anilines, 2-aminobenzimidazoles, and 3-aminopyrazoles. The reactions were carried out at room temperature and provided reasonable conversions and wide functional group compatibility. The reactions were also successful when employing aryl and aliphatic aldehydes. In addition, qPCR and NGS data suggested no negative impact on DNA integrity after the copper-mediated oxidative amidation reaction.