A Degron Blocking Strategy Towards Improved CRL4CRBN Recruiting PROTAC Selectivity.

Small molecules inducing protein degradation are important pharmacological tools to interrogate complex biology and are rapidly translating into clinical agents. However, to fully realise the potential of these molecules, selectivity remains a limiting challenge. Herein, we addressed the issue of selectivity in the design of CRL4CRBN recruiting PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs). Thalidomide derivatives used to generate CRL4CRBN recruiting PROTACs have well described intrinsic monovalent degradation profiles by inducing the recruitment of neo-substrates, such as GSPT1, Ikaros and Aiolos. We leveraged structural insights from known CRL4CRBN neo-substrates to attenuate and indeed remove this monovalent degradation function in well-known CRL4CRBN molecular glues degraders, namely CC-885 and Pomalidomide. We then applied these design principles on a previously published BRD9 PROTAC (dBRD9-A) and generated an analogue with improved selectivity profile. Finally, we implemented a computational modelling pipeline to show that our degron blocking design does not impact PROTAC-induced ternary complex formation. We believe that the tools and principles presented in this work will be valuable to support the development of targeted protein degradation.

Hydroxylation of anilides by engineered cytochrome P450BM3.

Biocatalytic direct monohydroxylation of anilides has been achieved on preparative scale using mutant cytochrome P450BM3 enzymes. Representative mono- and disubstituted N-trifluoromethanesulfonyl anilides are shown to be converted in most cases to the corresponding 4-hydroxy derivatives, with substituent hydroxylation also occurring in two cases. By mutation variation, it is possible to achieve selective hydroxylation of either ring- or side-chain sites.

Synthesis of cyclic alkenylsiloxanes by semihydrogenation: a stereospecific route to (Z)-alkenyl polyenes.

Cyclic alkenylsiloxanes were synthesized by semihydrogenation of alkynylsilanes-a reaction previously plagued by poor stereoselectivity. The silanes, which can be synthesized on multigram scale, undergo Hiyama-Denmark coupling to give (Z)-alkenyl polyene motifs found in bioactive natural products. The ring size of the silane is crucial: five-membered cyclic siloxanes also couple under fluoride-free conditions, whilst their six-membered homologues do not, enabling orthogonality within this structural motif.

Two Total Syntheses of Trigoxyphins K and L.

Two total syntheses are presented for trigoxyphins K and L, tricyclic terpenoids from Trigonostemon xyphophylloides. The first proceeds via electrophlic cyclization in A/C-ring substrates to close the B ring at C4-C5 and then 1O2-mediated hydroxybutenolide formation to trigoxyphin L, with Luche reduction leading to trigoxyphin K. The second route develops from tetralone ring expansion to a B/C-ring intermediate that, by one-step O-demethylation-lactonization-isomerization, affords trigoxyphin K and then trigoxyphin L following enolate oxygenation.