Catalytic Enantioselective Allylboration and Related Reactions of Isatins Promoted by Chiral BINOLs: Scope and Mechanistic Studies.

An improvement in the catalytic enantioselective allylboration of isatins with 2-allyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolane in the presence of chiral BINOL derivatives is reported, offering an efficient one-step access to enantioenriched N-unprotected 3-allyl-3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles. This catalytic process is also effective for the crotylboration reaction with enantiomeric ratios (er) up to 97:3, as well as for the asymmetric synthesis of homopropargylic alcohols via an allenyl addition to indoline-2,3-diones. Origins of the high enantioselectivity in chiral BINOL-catalyzed allylboration of isatins were examined by DFT calculations. A hypothetical scenario suggested a crucial internal hydrogen bonding between the amide group (C═O···H-O) and the ethylene hydroxyl of the transient chiral mixed boronate ester, generating a rigid and stabilized system that favors the addition of the allylboron species to the Re face of the ketone function. The key role of the alcohol additive (t-BuOH or t-AmOH) in the enantioselective allylboration reaction of isatins has also been shown on the basis of a kinetics study and computational calculations by favoring the transesterification of the 2-allyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolane with BINOL via proton transfer processes.

Structural and molecular bases to IRE1 activity modulation.

The Unfolded Protein response is an adaptive pathway triggered upon alteration of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis. It is transduced by three major ER stress sensors, among which the Inositol Requiring Enzyme 1 (IRE1) is the most evolutionarily conserved. IRE1 is an ER-resident type I transmembrane protein exhibiting an ER luminal domain that senses the protein folding status and a catalytic kinase and RNase cytosolic domain. In recent years, IRE1 has emerged as a relevant therapeutic target in various diseases including degenerative, inflammatory and metabolic pathologies and cancer. As such several drugs altering IRE1 activity were developed that target either catalytic activity and showed some efficacy in preclinical pathological mouse models. In this review, we describe the different drugs identified to target IRE1 activity as well as their mode of action from a structural perspective, thereby identifying common and different modes of action. Based on this information we discuss on how new IRE1-targeting drugs could be developed that outperform the currently available molecules.

BINOL derivatives-catalysed enantioselective allylboration of isatins: application to the synthesis of (R)-chimonamidine.

The asymmetric synthesis of the 3-allyl-3-hydroxyoxindole skeleton was accomplished in yields up to 99% via a metal-free and enantioselective allylation of isatins (90-96% ee) using BINOL derivatives as catalysts and an optimized allylboronate. This methodology was applied at a gram-scale to the synthesis of the natural product (R)-chimonamidine.

Stereospecific C-Glycosylation by Mizoroki-Heck Reaction: A Powerful and Easy-to-Set-Up Synthetic Tool to Access α- and ß-Aryl-C-Glycosides.

A stereospecific Mizoroki-Heck cross-coupling of differently substituted glycals with haloarenes resulting in the exclusive formation of either α- or ß-aryl-C-glycosides depending solely on the configuration at C3 was achieved. The reaction was easy to set up because no specific precautions were required concerning moisture or oxygen, and it proceeded by a chirality transfer from C3 to C1. After optimization of cross-coupling conditions, various prepared glycals (7 examples) and arenes (10 examples) were tested, leading stereospecifically to the corresponding aryl-C-glycosides with a carbonyl group at C3, thus opening up new horizons for the total synthesis of glycosylated natural products.

1,3-Dioxa-[3,3]-sigmatropic Oxo-Rearrangement of Substituted Allylic Carbamates: Scope and Mechanistic Studies.

An unexpected 1,3-dioxa-[3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement during the treatment of aryl- and alkenyl-substituted allylic alcohols with activated isocyanates is reported. The reorganization of bonds is highly dependent on the electron density of the aromatic ring and the nature of isocyanate used. This metal-free tandem reaction from branched allyl alcohols initiated by a carbamoylation reaction and followed by a sigmatropic rearrangement thus offers a new access to ( E)-cinnamyl and conjugated ( E, E)-diene carbamates, such as N-acyl and N-sulfonyl derivatives. A computational study was conducted in order to rationalize this phenomenon, and a rearrangement progress kinetic analysis was performed.

Stereodivergent approach in the protected glycal synthesis of L-vancosamine, L-saccharosamine, L-daunosamine and L-ristosamine involving a ring-closing metathesis step.

In this paper, a new access to several chiral 3-aminoglycals as potential precursors for glycosylated natural products is reported from a common starting material, (-)-methyl-L-lactate. The stereodivergent strategy is based on the implementation of a ring-closing metathesis of vinyl ethers as key step of reaction sequences developed.

Total Synthesis of γ-Indomycinone and Kidamycinone by Means of Two Regioselective Diels-Alder Reactions.

An efficient access for the synthesis of pluramycinones is described. Total syntheses of racemic γ-indomycinone and kidamycinone were achieved by means of two Diels-Alder reactions. A first Diels-Alder condensation followed by a Stille cross-coupling is used for the elaboration of the desired substituted dienes which will be involved in the second pericyclic reaction with juglone to construct the tetracyclic core of pluramycinones.

Marine-Derived 2-Aminoimidazolone Alkaloids. Leucettamine B-Related Polyandrocarpamines Inhibit Mammalian and Protozoan DYRK & CLK Kinases.

A large diversity of 2-aminoimidazolone alkaloids is produced by various marine invertebrates, especially by the marine Calcareous sponges Leucetta and Clathrina. The phylogeny of these sponges and the wide scope of 2-aminoimidazolone alkaloids they produce are reviewed in this article. The origin (invertebrate cells, associated microorganisms, or filtered plankton), physiological functions, and natural molecular targets of these alkaloids are largely unknown. Following the identification of leucettamine B as an inhibitor of selected protein kinases, we synthesized a family of analogues, collectively named leucettines, as potent inhibitors of DYRKs (dual-specificity, tyrosine phosphorylation regulated kinases) and CLKs (cdc2-like kinases) and potential pharmacological leads for the treatment of several diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and Down syndrome. We assembled a small library of marine sponge- and ascidian-derived 2-aminoimidazolone alkaloids, along with several synthetic analogues, and tested them on a panel of mammalian and protozoan kinases. Polyandrocarpamines A and B were found to be potent and selective inhibitors of DYRKs and CLKs. They inhibited cyclin D1 phosphorylation on a DYRK1A phosphosite in cultured cells. 2-Aminoimidazolones thus represent a promising chemical scaffold for the design of potential therapeutic drug candidates acting as specific inhibitors of disease-relevant kinases, and possibly other disease-relevant targets.

Stereospecific Synthesis of α-Amino Allylsilane Derivatives through a [3,3]-Allyl Cyanate Rearrangement. Mild Formation of Functionalized Disiloxanes.

An efficient asymmetric synthesis of α-amino allylsilane derivatives is reported. The strategy is based on a [3,3]-allyl cyanate sigmatropic rearrangement from enantioenriched γ-hydroxy alkenylsilyl compounds. The isocyanate intermediate can be trapped by several nucleophiles, opening the way for the preparation of unknown chiral functionalized compounds such as the α-ureido allylsilanes as well as carbamate derivatives. A computational study was conducted to rationalize the complete 1,3-chirality transfer of this kind of rearrangement. Moreover, starting from products bearing a phenyldimethyl silyl substituent, the α-amino silane derivatives or the corresponding disiloxanes can be obtained under hydrogenation conditions in an exclusive way according to the used catalyst.

[3,3]-Sigmatropic Rearrangement/Allylboration/Cyclization Sequence: Enantioenriched Seven-Membered-Ring Carbamates and Ring Contraction to Pyrrolidines.

The combination of in situ generated α-isocyanato allylboronic esters and aldehydes afforded seven-membered-ring enecarbamates with high levels of diastereo- and enantiocontrol. They were easily converted into diversely substituted 1,3-oxazepan-2-ones. An unprecedented rearrangement of 5-acetoxy-7-aryl or styryl derivatives led to tetrasubstituted pyrrolidines. A computational study provides evidence on the feasibility of the proposed mechanism of this unusual ring contraction.

Microwave-Assisted Condensation Reactions of Acetophenone Derivatives and Activated Methylene Compounds with Aldehydes Catalyzed by Boric Acid under Solvent-Free Conditions.

We here disclosed a new protocol for the condensation of acetophenone derivatives and active methylene compounds with aldehydes in the presence of boric acid under microwave conditions. Implementation of the reaction is simple, healthy and environmentally friendly owing to the use of a non-toxic catalyst coupled to a solvent-free procedure. A large variety of known or novel compounds have thus been prepared, including with substrates bearing acid or base-sensitive functional groups.

cdc-like/dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinases inhibitor leucettine L41 induces mTOR-dependent autophagy: implication for Alzheimer's disease.

Leucettines, a family of pharmacological inhibitors of dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation regulated kinases and cdc-like kinases (CLKs), are currently under investigation for their potential therapeutic application to Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. We here report that leucettine L41 triggers bona fide autophagy in osteosarcoma U-2 OS cells and immortalized mouse hippocampal HT22 cells, characterized by microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 membrane translocation and foci formation. Leucettine L41-triggered autophagy requires the Unc-51-like kinase and is sensitive to the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors wortmannin and 3-methyladenine, suggesting that it acts through the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/PI3K-dependent pathway. Leucettine L41 does not act by modifying the autophagic flux of vesicles. Leucettine L41-induced autophagy correlates best with inhibition of CLKs. Leucettine L41 modestly inhibited phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate 5-kinase, FYVE domain-containing activity as tested both in vitro and in vivo, which may also contribute to autophagy induction. Altogether these results demonstrate that leucettines can activate the autophagic mTOR/PI3K pathway, a characteristic that may turn advantageous in the context of Alzheimer's disease treatment.

Cross-metathesis/isomerization/allylboration sequence for a diastereoselective synthesis of anti-homoallylic alcohols from allylbenzene derivatives and aldehydes.

We describe a highly diastereoselective approach to anti-homoallylic alcohols from allylbenzene derivatives and aldehydes. The strategy is based on a cross-metathesis/isomerization/allylboration sequence catalyzed successively by ruthenium and iridium. This methodology provides another way to access this class of compounds, which leads to the preparation of hitherto-unknown homoallylic alcohols without the requirement to control the stereochemistry of the 1-alkenyl boronate intermediates. Our study towards an enantioselective version of this sequential reaction is also reported.

New 5-ylidene rhodanine derivatives based on the dispacamide A model.

A practical approach for the preparation of (5Z) 5-ylidene rhodanine derivatives bearing the (4,5-dihalogeno-pyrrol-2-yl)carbamoyl fragment of dispacamide A is reported. The new compounds were obtained in good yields (19-88 %) by Knoevenagel condensation according to a solution-phase microwave dielectric heating protocol in the presence of organic bases (piperidine, TEA, and AcONa) from a set of N-substituted rhodanines 2(a-i). The ten synthetic products 3(a-j) have been synthesized with a Z-geometry about their exocyclic double bond and the structure of one of these compounds (3) was confirmed by a single X-ray diffraction analysis. The new (5Z) 5-ylidene rhodanine derivatives 3(a-j) were tested against eight protein kinases.

Boron-substituted 1,3-dienes and heterodienes as key elements in multicomponent processes.

In the last few years, multicomponent reactions involving boron substituted 1,3-dienes have emerged as important tools in synthetic organic chemistry. The most significant recent results and developments obtained in this area are reported in this review.

Synthesis of alkenyl boronates from allyl-substituted aromatics using an olefin cross-metathesis protocol.

An efficient synthesis of 3-aryl-1-propenyl boronates from pinacol vinyl boronic ester and allyl-substituted aromatics by cross metathesis is reported. Although the allylbenzene derivatives are prone to isomerization reaction under metathesis conditions, we found that some ruthenium catalysts are effective for this methodology. This strategy thus provides an interesting alternative approach to alkyne hydroboration, leading to the preparation of unknown compounds. Moreover, the boron substituent can be replaced by various functional groups in good yields.

An efficient approach to dispacamide A and its derivatives.

Dispacamide A and new analogs of this marine alkaloid were prepared in seven steps with an overall yield ranging from 12 to 33%. The key step of the strategy was a stereocontrolled Knoevenagel condensation under microwave dielectric heating in the last step. In this condensation, the 2-aminoimidazolin-4-one hydrochloride partners 10a-c were synthesized in three steps with good overall yields (33-79%) via the ring closure of N-guanidino acetic acids 9a-c and the aldehydes 5a,b as the two others building-blocks, in 3 steps with 60-66% overall yields. The six synthetic products have been obtained with a Z geometry about their exocyclic bond on the basis of (13)C/(1)H long-range coupling constants using a gHSQMBC experiment.

Aminoboronic acids and esters: from synthetic challenges to the discovery of unique classes of enzyme inhibitors.

Although boronic acids have attracted considerable interest as versatile intermediates in organic synthesis, their contributions in chemical biology and drug discovery programs have long been underestimated. This situation is changing since the beginning of the 2000s, mainly due to significant advances in modern organoborane chemistry and the recent FDA approval of Velcade®, a boropeptide used for multiple myeloma treatment. There is now a significant renewed interest in the design and synthesis of new boron-containing compounds. Due to their close analogy to their carbon counterparts, aminoboronic acids, alone or incorporated at the C-terminal position of a peptide, represent one of the major classes of organoboranes evaluated as potential drug candidates. This critical review aims to provide an overview of the current state of the art in their synthesis and their most relevant biological properties (156 references).

Structure-Activity Relationship in the Leucettine Family of Kinase Inhibitors.

The protein kinase DYRK1A is involved in Alzheimer's disease, Down syndrome, diabetes, viral infections, and leukemia. Leucettines, a family of 2-aminoimidazolin-4-ones derived from the marine sponge alkaloid Leucettamine B, have been developed as pharmacological inhibitors of DYRKs (dual specificity, tyrosine phosphorylation regulated kinases) and CLKs (cdc2-like kinases). We report here on the synthesis and structure-activity relationship (SAR) of 68 Leucettines. Leucettines were tested on 11 purified kinases and in 5 cellular assays: (1) CLK1 pre-mRNA splicing, (2) Threonine-212-Tau phosphorylation, (3) glutamate-induced cell death, (4) autophagy and (5) antagonism of ligand-activated cannabinoid receptor CB1. The Leucettine SAR observed for DYRK1A is essentially identical for CLK1, CLK4, DYRK1B, and DYRK2. DYRK3 and CLK3 are less sensitive to Leucettines. In contrast, the cellular SAR highlights correlations between inhibition of specific kinase targets and some but not all cellular effects. Leucettines deserve further development as potential therapeutics against various diseases on the basis of their molecular targets and cellular effects.

Iridium-Catalyzed Allylic Amination Route to α-Aminoboronates: Illustration of the Decisive Role of Boron Substituents.

The development of a new route to α-aminoboronates using an iridium-catalyzed allylic amination on boronated substrates is described. Unlike the boronate group, the trifluoroborato substituent was found to govern the regioselectivity exclusively in favor of branched products. The transformation of an allylic substitution product into an α-aminoboronic ester in an efficient way validated the implementation of this approach.