Pd-catalysed cross coupling of terminal alkynes to diynes in the absence of a stoichiometric additive.

An efficient, room temperature procedure for the cross-coupling of a range of terminal alkynes, using standard Sonogashira cross-coupling conditions (Pd/Cu) is presented. At higher reaction temperatures, head-to-tail or head-to-head dimerisation affords 1,3- and 1,4-disubstituted enynes, respectively as minor products.

Bioactive 4-substituted-6-methyl-2-pyrones with promising cytotoxicity against A2780 and K562 cell lines.

Bioactive synthetic 4-substituted-6-methyl-2-pyrones are reported. Various 4-substitutents have been incorporated using Pd-catalysed carbon-carbon bond coupling procedures. Preliminary screening of the 2-pyrones against human ovarian carcinoma (A2780) and human chronic myelogenous leukaemia (K562) cell lines show that 4-alkynyl-6-methyl-2-pyrones have excellent potential as anticancer agents. The pyrones demonstrate broad spectrum antimicrobial activities.

Suzuki cross-coupling approaches to the synthesis of bioactive 3-substituted and 5-substituted-4-methoxy-6-methyl-2-pyrones.

Suzuki cross-coupling has been used to access a wide range of 3- and 5-substituted 2-pyrones, which show remarkable inhibitory activity against bacteria, yeasts and fungi. 3-Octenyl and 5-octenyl 2-pyrones inhibit human ovarium carcinoma (A2780) and human chronic myelogenous leukaemia (K562) cell lines at the micromolar level.

Identification of novel mammalian squalene synthase inhibitors using a three-dimensional pharmacophore.

Squalene synthase (E.C. 2.5.1.21) catalyses the reductive dimerisation of farnesyl diphosphate in a [1-4] head to head fashion to form squalene, and is the first committed step in cholesterol biosynthesis. Specific inhibitors of squalene synthase would inhibit cholesterol formation and allow production of other important compounds derived from the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway, namely the ubiquinones (co-enzyme Q(10)), dolichol, and would also allow the isoprenylation process of ras by farnesyl-protein transferase. The construction of a hypothetical squalene synthase three-dimensional pharmacophore is presented. It serves as a template for the identification of several new potential classes of inhibitors. The synthesis, anti-microbial and mammalian pig liver squalene synthase activities of analogues based on the bicyclo[3.2.0]heptane and bicyclo[3.3.0]octane ring systems are reported. Analogues of the latter system are pro-drug type inhibitors and exhibit promising biological activity.

Synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of farnesyl diphosphate mimetics.

The synthesis and first antimicrobial evaluation of farnesyl diphosphate mimetics are described. Several analogues (10, 12, 13, and 20) are inhibitors of Candida albicans, Shizosaccharomyces pombe, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The activities of analogues 10, 12, and 13, which contain a omega-phenyl moiety and a diphosphate isostere, are not attributable to inhibition of sterol biosynthesis via squalene synthase. Two geranyl phenylsulphones (14 and 15) are potent inhibitors of Escherichia coli. Analogue 15 exhibits potent activity towards Salmonella typhimurium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC-2 microg/mL) and represents the first type of semi-synthetic terpenoid allylic sulphone active against these bacteria.

2-pyrones possessing antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities.

The 2-pyrone sub-unit is found in a number of natural products possessing broad spectrum biological activity. Such compounds are validated as being capable of binding to specific protein domains and able to exert a remarkable range of biological effects. In an effort to identify synthetic 2-pyrones with interesting biological effects, herein we report the synthesis and biological evaluation of 4-substituted-6-methyl-2-pyrones. Synthetic routes to 4-alkyl/alkenyl/aryl/alkynyl-6-methyl-2-pyrones have been developed utilising Sonogashira, Suzuki and Negishi cross-coupling starting from readily available 4-bromo-6-methyl-2-pyrone. Specific conditions for each organometallic protocol were required for successful cross-coupling. In particular, a triethylamine/acetonitrile--base/solvent mixture was crucial to Sonogashira alkynylation of 4-bromo-6-methyl-2-pyrone, whereas thallium carbonate was a mandatory base for the Suzuki cross-coupling of trialkylboranes. The 2-pyrones demonstrate potent inhibitory activity against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Botrytis cinerea. The growth inhibitory activities of selected 2-pyrones were determined in A2780 human ovarian carcinoma and K562 human chronic myelogenous leukaemia cell lines using an in vitro cell culture system (MTT assay). These studies demonstrate that 4-phenylethynyl-, 4-tetrahydropyranylpropargyl ether- and 4-ethynyl-6-methyl-2-pyrones have excellent potential as a new class of anticancer agents.