Direct Deamination of Primary Amines via Isodiazene Intermediates.

We report here a reaction that selectively deaminates primary amines and anilines under mild conditions and with remarkable functional group tolerance including a range of pharmaceutical compounds, amino acids, amino sugars, and natural products. An anomeric amide reagent is uniquely capable of facilitating the reaction through the intermediacy of an unprecedented monosubstituted isodiazene intermediate. In addition to dramatically simplifying deamination compared to existing protocols, our approach enables strategic applications of iminium and amine-directed chemistries as traceless methods. Mechanistic and computational studies support the intermedicacy of a primary isodiazene which exhibits an unexpected divergence from previously studied secondary isodiazenes, leading to cage-escaping, free radical species that engage in a chain, hydrogen-atom transfer process involving aliphatic and diazenyl radical intermediates.

Highly Selective Hydrogenation of C═C Bonds Catalyzed by a Rhodium Hydride.

Under mild conditions (room temperature, 80 psi of H2) Cp*Rh(2-(2-pyridyl)phenyl)H catalyzes the selective hydrogenation of the C═C bond in α,ß-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, including natural product precursors with bulky substituents in the ß position and substrates possessing an array of additional functional groups. It also catalyzes the hydrogenation of many isolated double bonds. Mechanistic studies reveal that no radical intermediates are involved, and the catalyst appears to be homogeneous, thereby affording important complementarity to existing protocols for similar hydrogenation processes.

Lewis Basic Salt-Promoted Organosilane Coupling Reactions with Aromatic Electrophiles.

Lewis basic salts promote benzyltrimethylsilane coupling with (hetero)aryl nitriles, sulfones, and chlorides as a new route to 1,1-diarylalkanes. This method combines the substrate modularity and selectivity characteristic of cross-coupling with the practicality of a base-promoted protocol. In addition, a Lewis base strategy enables a complementary scope to existing methods, employs stable and easily prepared organosilanes, and achieves selective arylation in the presence of acidic functional groups. The utility of this method is demonstrated by the synthesis of pharmaceutical analogues and its use in multicomponent reactions.

Building trans-bicyclo[4.4.0]decanes/decenes in complex multifunctional frameworks: the case for antibiotic development.

Covering: 2000 to 2020. trans-Bicyclo[4.4.0]decane/decene (such as trans-decalin and trans-octalin)-containing natural products display a wide range of structural diversity and frequently exhibit potent and selective antibacterial activities. With one of the major factors in combatting antibiotic resistance being the discovery of novel scaffolds, the efficient construction of these natural products is an attractive pursuit in the development of novel antibiotics. This highlight aims to provide a critical analysis on how the presence of dense architectural and stereochemical complexity necessitated special strategies in the synthetic pursuits of these natural trans-bicyclo[4.4.0]decane/decene antibiotics.

Approaches to the Synthesis of Dicarboxylic Derivatives of Bis(pyrazol-1-yl)alkanes.

Carboxylation of bis(pyrazol-1-yl)alkanes by oxalyl chloride was studied. It was found that 4,4'-dicarboxylic derivatives of substrates with electron-donating methyl groups and short linkers (from one to three methylene groups) can be prepared using this method. Longer linkers lead to significantly lower product yields, which is probably due to instability of the intermediate acid chlorides that are initially formed in the reaction with oxalyl chloride. Thus, bis(pyrazol-1-yl)methane gave only monocarboxylic derivative even with a large excess of oxalyl chloride and prolonged reaction duration. An alternative approach involves the reaction of ethyl 4-pyrazolecarboxylates with dibromoalkanes in a superbasic medium (potassium hydroxide-dimethyl sulfoxide) and is suitable for the preparation of bis(4-carboxypyrazol-1-yl)alkanes with both short and long linkers independent of substitution in positions 3 and 5 of pyrazole rings. The obtained dicarboxylic acids are interesting as potential building blocks for metal-organic frameworks.

Photoredox cross-electrophile coupling in DNA-encoded chemistry.

A catalytic manifold that enables photoredox cross-electrophile coupling of alkyl bromides with DNA-tagged aryl iodides in aqueous solution is presented. This metallaphotoredox transformation was aided by the identification of a new pyridyl bis(carboxamidine) ligand, which proved critical to the nickel catalytic cycle. The described C(sp2)-C(sp3) coupling tolerates a wide range of both DNA-tagged aryl iodides as well as alkyl bromides. Importantly, this reaction was optimized for parallel synthesis, which is a paramount prerequisite for the preparation of combinatorial libraries, by using a 96-well plate-compatible blue LED array as the light source. Therefore, this mild and DNA-compatible transformation is well positioned for the construction of DNA-encoded libraries.

Discovery of sulfonamides and 9-oxo-2,8-diazaspiro[5,5]undecane-2-carboxamides as human kynurenine aminotransferase 2 (KAT2) inhibitors.

Human kynurenine aminotransferase 2 (KAT2) inhibitors could be potentially used to treat the cognitive deficits associated with bipolar disease and schizophrenia. Although, there has been active drug research activity by several industrial and academic groups in developing KAT2 inhibitors over the years, no such compound has proceeded to the clinics. Here, we report two different chemical series of reversible KAT2 inhibitors with sub-micromolar activities. The first series was identified by a high-throughput screening of a diverse random library and the second one by structure-based virtual screening. Two novel crystal structures of KAT2 complexed with different reversible inhibitors were also deposited to the Protein databank which could be useful for future drug discovery efforts.

Synthesis, biological evaluation and docking studies of a novel class of sulfur-bridged diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes.

A small library of 3-thia-7,9-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes was synthesized and their opioid receptors affinity and selectivity evaluated. Among these novel sulfur-bridged compounds, the (E) 9-[3'-(3-chlorophenyl)-but-2'-en-1'-yl]-7-propionyl-3-thia-7,9-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane 2i emerged as the derivative with the highest µ receptor affinity (Ki = 85 nM) and selectivity (Ki µ/δ = 58.8, Ki µ/κ > 117.6). The antinociceptive activity of 2i was also evaluated in acute thermal pain. Docking studies disclosed the specific pattern of interactions of these derivatives.

Synthesis and Cytotoxic Activity of Chiral Sulfonamides Based on the 2-Azabicycloalkane Skeleton.

A series of chiral sulfonamides containing the 2-azabicycloalkane scaffold were prepared from aza-Diels-Alder cycloadducts through their conversion to amines based on 2-azanorbornane or the bridged azepane skeleton, followed by the reaction with sulfonyl chlorides. The cytotoxic activity of the obtained bicyclic derivatives was evaluated using human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), medulloblastoma (MB), and glioblastoma (GBM) cell lines. Chosen compounds were shown to notably reduce cell viability as compared to nonmalignant cells.

Bicyclo [6.3.0] Undecane Sesquiterpenoids: Structures, Biological Activities, and Syntheses.

Sesquiterpenoids constitute a marvelously varied group of natural products that feature a vast array of molecular architectures. Among them, the unusual bicyclo [6.3.0] undecane sesquiterpenoids are one of the most representative. To date, only approximately 42 naturally occurring compounds with this unique scaffold, which can be classified into seven different groups, have been reported. As the first-found member of each type, dactylol, asteriscanolide, dumortenol, toxicodenane C, and capillosanane S are characteristic of the four methyl groups on the five-eight-membered ring system. Only 11-hydroxyjasionone and sinuketal decorate the core with an isopropyl group. These natural products exhibit a wide range of bioactivities, including antifouling, anti-inflammatory, immune suppression, cytotoxic, antimutagenic, antiplasmodial, and antiviral activities. It was noted that some total syntheses of precapnellane-sesquiterpenoids (dactylol, poitediol, precapnelladiene), asteriscanolide, and 11-hydroxyjasionone have been achieved, because their cyclooctanoid core represents an important target for the development of synthetic strategies to prepare eight-membered ring-containing compounds. This review focuses on these natural sesquiterpenoids and their biological activities and synthesis, and aims to provide a foundation for further research of these interesting compounds.

Synthesis of Bisheteroarylalkanes by Heteroarylboration: Development and Application of a Pyridylidene-Copper Complex.

The development of pyridylidene-Cu-complexes and their application in Cu/Pd-catalyzed heteroarylboration of alkenylheteroarenes is reported. The significance of 1,1'-heteroarylalkanes as building blocks for drug discovery, as well as the straightforward and modular sequence to prepare the pyridylidene-Cu-complexes, makes this catalyst and it applications attractive for chemical synthesis. Furthermore, chiral variants of the pyridylidene-Cu-complexes have been prepared and utilized in the enantioselective arylboration of E-alkenes, further demonstrating the value and potential of this class of catalysts.

Ti-Catalyzed Radical Alkylation of Secondary and Tertiary Alkyl Chlorides Using Michael Acceptors.

Alkyl chlorides are common functional groups in synthetic organic chemistry. However, the engagement of unactivated alkyl chlorides, especially tertiary alkyl chlorides, in transition-metal-catalyzed C-C bond formation remains challenging. Herein, we describe the development of a TiIII-catalyzed radical addition of 2° and 3° alkyl chlorides to electron-deficient alkenes. Mechanistic data are consistent with inner-sphere activation of the C-Cl bond featuring TiIII-mediated Cl atom abstraction. Evidence suggests that the active TiIII catalyst is generated from the TiIV precursor in a Lewis-acid-assisted electron transfer process.

Metallaphotoredox-Catalyzed Cross-Electrophile Csp3-Csp3 Coupling of Aliphatic Bromides.

A strategy for the installation of small alkyl fragments onto pharmaceutically relevant aliphatic structures has been established via metallaphotoredox catalysis. Herein, we report that tris(trimethylsilyl)silanol can be employed as an effective halogen abstraction reagent that, in combination with photoredox and nickel catalysis, allows a generic approach to Csp3-Csp3 cross-electrophile coupling. In this study, we demonstrate that a variety of aliphatic drug-like groups can be successfully coupled with a number of commercially available small alkyl electrophiles, including methyl tosylate and strained cyclic alkyl bromides. Moreover, the union of two secondary aliphatic carbon centers, a long-standing challenge for organic molecule construction, has been accomplished with a wide array of structural formats. Last, this technology can be selectively merged with Csp2-Csp3 aryl-alkyl couplings to build drug-like systems in a highly modular fashion.

Enantioselective Halolactonization Reactions using BINOL-Derived Bifunctional Catalysts: Methodology, Diversification, and Applications.

A general protocol is described for inducing enantioselective halolactonizations of unsaturated carboxylic acids using novel bifunctional organic catalysts derived from a chiral binaphthalene scaffold. Bromo- and iodolactonization reactions of diversely substituted, unsaturated carboxylic acids proceed with high degrees of enantioselectivity, regioselectivity, and diastereoselectivity. Notably, these BINOL-derived catalysts are the first to induce the bromo- and iodolactonizations of 5-alkyl-4( Z)-olefinic acids via 5- exo mode cyclizations to give lactones in which new carbon-halogen bonds are created at a stereogenic center with high diastereo- and enantioselectivities. Iodolactonizations of 6-substituted-5( Z)-olefinic acids also occur via 6- exo cyclizations to provide δ-lactones with excellent enantioselectivities. Several notable applications of this halolactonization methodology were developed for desymmetrization, kinetic resolution, and epoxidation of Z-alkenes. The utility of these reactions is demonstrated by their application to a synthesis of precursors of the F-ring subunit of kibdelone C and to the shortest catalytic, enantioselective synthesis of (+)-disparlure reported to date.

The synthesis of mono-alkyl phosphates and their derivatives: an overview of their nature, preparation and use, including synthesis under plausible prebiotic conditions.

Nucleic acids, phospholipids and other organic phosphates play central roles in biological pathways. n-Alkyl phosphates and their derivatives have been recognized as amphiphilic molecules for nearly two centuries. In the last 50 years, n-alkyl phosphate derivatives such as di-alkyl phosphates, mono-alkyl phosphatidyl ethanol amines and mono-alkyl phosphocholines have become predominant compounds with applications in different areas, from food chemistry to life science. The aim of this review is to summarize the most relevant progress made in the field of the synthesis of these molecules and to provide a concise perspective on the use of these amphiphiles as possible prebiotic membrane constituents. The first part of the review is dedicated to the analysis of the most relevant syntheses carried out in recent years with respect to those reported from the second half of the nineteenth century. The second part is dedicated to a description of the latest reports on prebiotic synthesis of mono-alkyl phosphates. In this part, the authors did not report the phosphorylation of other relevant biomolecules, such as nucleosides, which have been excellently reviewed elsewere.

Synthesis of the 10-oxabicyclo[5.2.1]decane framework present in bioactive natural products.

The present work deals with the synthesis of the 10-oxabicyclo[5.2.1]decane framework present in bioactive natural products like physalins, with potential as antitumor agents. This synthetic methodology involves several key reactions: (a) synthesis of polyfunctionalized cycloheptenones by [4 + 3] cycloaddition reactions of furan precursors with oxyallyl cations; (b) Nicholas reaction with propargyl cations stabilized as dicobalt hexacarbonyl complexes; (c) demetallation and hydration of the resulting acetylenes; (d) stereoconvergent aldol cyclization to generate a key oxatricyclic intermediate and (e) a ß-fragmentation process that affords, under hypoiodite photolysis, the desired product with moderate to good yield. The final compounds are the result of a radicalary ß-fragmentation at the level of C2-C6 with respect to the tertiary hydroxyl group on C6, with an unexpected contraction from a ten- to a nine-membered ring system, via a radical addition to the carbonyl group on C4. The synthetic methodology has been scaled up to multigram level with good overall yield. Further biological, biochemical and biophysical studies are being carried out in our laboratory on these 1,7-epoxycyclononane derivatives to determine the potential of this kind of oxabicyclic compound as future hits and/or leads for the development of new anticancer drugs. The preliminary evaluation of the anticancer activity of the representative synthesized compounds, against the leukaemia cancer cell lines K-562 and SR, shows a promising activity with a GI50 = 0.01 µM and a LC50 = 7.4 µM for a conveniently functionalized 10-oxabicyclo[5.2.1]decane.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 7-azaspiro[3.5]nonane derivatives as GPR119 agonists.

The design and synthesis of a novel class of 7-azaspiro[3.5]nonane GPR119 agonists are described. In this series, optimization of the right piperidine N-capping group (R2) and the left aryl group (R3) led to the identification of compound 54g as a potent GPR119 agonist. Compound 54g showed a desirable PK profile in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and a favorable glucose lowering effect in diabetic rats.

Unsymmetrical Spiroalkanedithiols Having Mixed Fluorinated and Alkyl Tailgroups of Varying Length: Film Structure and Interfacial Properties.

A custom-designed series of unsymmetrical spiroalkanedithiols having tailgroups comprised of a terminally fluorinated chain and a hydrocarbon chain of varying lengths were synthesized and used to prepare self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold substrates. The specific structure of the adsorbates was of the form [CH3(CH2)n][CF3(CF2)7(CH2)8]C[CH2SH]2, where n = 7, 9, and 15 (designated as F8H10-C10, F8H10-C12, and F8H10-C18, respectively). The influence of the length of the hydrocarbon chain in the bidentate dithiol on the structure and interfacial properties of the monolayer was explored. A structurally analogous partially fluorinated monodentate alkanethiol and the corresponding normal alkanethiols were used to generate appropriate SAMs as reference systems. Measurements of ellipsometric thickness showed an unexpectedly low film thickness for the SAMs derived from the bidentate adsorbates, possibly due to disruptions in interchain packing caused by the fluorocarbon chains (i.e., phase-incompatible fluorocarbon-hydrocarbon interactions), ultimately giving rise to loosely packed and disordered films. Analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were also consistent with a model in which the films were loosely packed; additionally, the XPS spectra confirmed the attachment of the sulfur headgroups of the bidentate adsorbates onto the gold substrates. Studies of the SAMs by polarization modulation-infrared reflection-adsorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) suggested that as the length of the hydrocarbon chain in the adsorbates was extended, a more ordered surface was achieved by reducing the tilt of the fluorocarbon segment. The wettability data indicated that the adsorbates with longer alkyl chains were less wettable than those with shorter alkyl chains, likely due to an increase in interchain van der Waals forces in the former.

Nickel-Catalyzed Asymmetric Reductive Cross-Coupling To Access 1,1-Diarylalkanes.

An asymmetric Ni-catalyzed reductive cross-coupling of (hetero)aryl iodides and benzylic chlorides has been developed to prepare enantioenriched 1,1-diarylalkanes. As part of these studies, a new chiral bioxazoline ligand, 4-heptyl-BiOX (L1), was developed in order to obtain products in synthetically useful yield and enantioselectivity. The reaction tolerates a variety of heterocyclic coupling partners, including pyridines, pyrimidines, indoles, and piperidines.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of 1,3-diphenylbenzo[f][1,7]naphthyrdines.

A novel series of twenty 1,3-diphenylbenzo[f][1,7]benzonaphthyrdine derivatives were designed and synthesized through intermolecular imino Diels-Alder reaction. Their in vitro cytotoxic activities were evaluated against six human cancer cell lines (NCIH23, HCT15, NUGC-3, ACHN, PC-3, and MDA-MB-231). Majority of synthesized compounds exhibited significant cytotoxic activities against all tested human cancer cell lines. Among them 4l, 4m, and 4o derivatives exhibited most promising cytotoxic activities. Furthermore these compounds were evaluated against human Topoisomerase IIα inhibition. Interestingly, the compound 4l exhibited 1.3 and 1.2 times more potent human Topoisomerase IIα inhibition than the reference drug etoposide in both 100µM and 20µM concentrations respectively. Molecular docking studies for the compound 4l have also been executed by Sybyl X-2.1 in which it reveals the binding site of the compound 4l with topo IIα DNA cleavage site where etoposide was situated. The benzo[f][1,7]naphthyridine ring was stacked between the DNA bases of the cleavage site.