Direct diazo-transfer reaction on beta-lactam: synthesis and preliminary biological activities of 6-triazolylpenicillanic acids

Stereoselective Unsymmetrical 1,1-Diborylation of Alkynes with a Neutral sp2 -sp3 Diboron Reagent

The incorporation of two distinct boryl groups at the same carbon center in organic molecules has attracted growing research interest due to its potential for facilitating controlled, precise synthesis through stepwise dual carbon-boron bond transformations. Here we report a method to access unsymmetrical 1,1-diborylalkene (UDBA) stereoselectively via the reaction of readily available alkynes with a neutral sp2 -sp3 diboron reagent (NHC)BH2 -Bpin (NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene). Attributing to the chemically easily distinguishable nature of the sp2 and sp3 boryl moieties, controllable stepwise derivatization of the resultant UDBAs is realized. This process leads to various multifunctionalized olefins and organoborons, such as acylboranes, which are difficult to prepare by other methods.

Spiro-β-lactam BSS-730A Displays Potent Activity against HIV and Plasmodium

The high burden of malaria and HIV/AIDS prevents economic and social progress in developing countries. A continuing need exists for development of novel drugs and treatment regimens for both diseases in order to address the tolerability and long-term safety concerns associated with current treatment options and the emergence of drug resistance. We describe new spiro-β-lactam derivatives with potent (nM) activity against HIV and Plasmodium and no activity against bacteria and yeast. The best performing molecule of the series, BSS-730A, inhibited both HIV-1 and HIV-2 replication with an IC₅₀ of 13 ± 9.59 nM and P. berghei hepatic infection with an IC₅₀ of 0.55 ± 0.14 μM with a clear impact on parasite development. BSS-730A was also active against the erythrocytic stages of P. falciparum, with an estimated IC₅₀ of 0.43 ± 0.04 μM. Time-of-addition studies showed that BSS-730A potentially affects all stages of the HIV replicative cycle, suggesting a complex mechanism of action. BSS-730A was active against multidrug-resistant HIV isolates, with a median 2.4-fold higher IC₅₀ relative to control isolates. BSS-730A was equally active against R5 and X4 HIV isolates and displayed strong synergism with the entry inhibitor AMD3100. BSS-730A is a promising candidate for development as a potential therapeutic and/or prophylactic agent against HIV and Plasmodium.

Domino Synthetic Strategy for Tetrahydrothiopyran Derivatives from Benzaldehydes, 2-Acetylfuran/2-Acetylthiophene, and Sodium Sulfide

A novel domino reaction from benzaldehydes and 2-acetylfuran/2-acetylthiophene with sodium sulfide was developed to synthesize a series of tetrahydrothiopyran (THTP) derivatives. The reaction proceeded well to construct a tetrahydrothiopyran ring and five new bonds in one step. A mechanism is proposed, involving a stepwise Aldol/double Michael addition/Aldol (AMMA) reaction cascade. In this transformation, sodium sulfide acts as a nucleophile and base. This method is characterized by transition-metal-free, commercially available starting materials and mild reaction conditions.

Synthesis of New Bis(spiro-β-lactams) via Interaction of Methyl 1-Bromocycloalcanecarboxylates with Zinc and N,N′-Bis(arylmethylidene)benzidines

Interaction of the Reformatsky reagents, prepared from methyl 1-bromocyclopentane-1-carboxylate or methyl 1-bromocyclohexane-1-carboxylate, with N,N′-bis(arylmethylidene)benzidines has given rise to a set of intermediates as a result of nucleophilic addition to the C=N group of a substrate. Further intramolecular attack of the amide nitrogen atom onto the ester carbonyl group is responsible for the ring closure, which affords two series of spirocompounds: 2,2′-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4,4′-diyl)bis(3-aryl-2-azaspiro[3.4]octan-1-one) or 2,2′-([1,1′-biphenyl]-4,4′-diyl)bis(3-aryl-2-azaspiro[3.5]nonan-1-ones).

Exploiting translational stalling peptides in an effort to extend azithromycin interaction within the prokaryotic ribosome nascent peptide exit tunnel

The ribosome is the primary protein synthesis machine in the cell and is a target for treatment of a variety of diseases including bacterial infection and cancer. The ribosomal peptide exit tunnel, the route of egress for the nascent peptide, is an inviting site for drug design. Toward a rational engagement of the nascent peptide components for the design of small molecule inhibitors of ribosome function, we designed and disclosed herein a set of N-10 indole functionalized azithromycin analogs. The indole moiety of these compounds is designed to mimic the translation stalling interaction of SecM W155 side-chain with the prokaryotic (Escherichia coli) ribosome A751 residue. Many of these N-10 functionalized compounds have enhanced translation inhibition activities against E. coli ribosome relative to azithromycin while a subset inhibited the growth of representative susceptible bacteria strains to about the same extent as azithromycin. Moreover, the inclusion of bovine serum in the bacterial growth media enhanced the anti-bacterial potency of the N-10 functionalized azithromycin analogs by as high as 10-fold.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationship of 3-hydroxypyridine-2-thione-based histone deacetylase inhibitors

We previously identified 3-hydroxypyridine-2-thione (3HPT) as a novel zinc binding group for histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition. Early structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies led to various small molecules possessing selective inhibitory activity against HDAC6 or HDAC8 but devoid of HDAC1 inhibition. To delineate further the depth of the SAR of 3HPT-derived HDAC inhibitors (HDACi), we have extended the SAR studies to include the linker region and the surface recognition group to optimize the HDAC inhibition. The current efforts resulted in the identification of two lead compounds, 10d and 14e, with potent HDAC6 and HDAC8 activities that are inactive against HDAC1. These new HDACi possess anticancer activities against various cancer cell lines including Jurkat J.γ1 for which SAHA and the previously disclosed 3HPT-derived HDACi were inactive.

Synthesis of tartaric acid analogues of FR258900 and their evaluation as glycogen phosphorylase inhibitors

Di-O-cinnamoylated, -p-coumaroylated, and -feruloylated d-, l- and meso-tartaric acids were synthesized as analogues of the natural product FR258900, a glycogen phosphorylase (GP) inhibitor with in vivo antihyperglycaemic activity. The new compounds inhibited rabbit muscle GP in the low micromolar range, and bound to the allosteric site of the enzyme. The best inhibitor was 2,3-di-O-feruloyl meso-tartaric acid and had Ki values of 2.0μM against AMP (competitive) and 3.36μM against glucose-1-phosphate (non-competitive).

One-pot phosphine-catalyzed syntheses of quinolines

In this study we developed an efficient one-pot procedure for the preparation of 3-substituted and 3,4-disubstituted quinolines from stable starting materials (activated acetylenes reacting with o-tosylamidobenzaldehydes and o-tosylamidophenones, respectively) under mild conditions. The reaction appears to operate under a general base catalysis mechanism, instigated by the β-phosphonium enoate α-vinyl anion generated in situ through nucleophilic addition of PPh(3) to the activated alkyne. Michael addition of the deprotonated tosylamides to the activated alkynes and subsequent rapid aldol cyclization led to the formation of labile N-tosyldihydroquinoline intermediates. Driven by aromatization, detosylation of the dihydroquinoline intermediates occurred readily in the presence of dilute aqueous HCl to give the final quinoline products.

Diversity-oriented synthesis based on the DPPP-catalyzed mixed double-Michael reactions of electron-deficient acetylenes and β-amino alcohols

In this study, we prepared oxizolidines through 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)-propane (DPPP)–catalyzed mixed double-Michael reactions of β-amino alcohols with electron-deficient acetylenes. These reactions are very suitable for the diversity-oriented parallel syntheses of oxizolidines because: (i) they are performed under mild metal-free conditions and (ii) the products are isolated without complicated work-up. To demonstrate the applicability of mixed double-Michael reactions for the preparation of five-membered-ring heterocycles, we prepared 60 distinct oxazolidines from five β-amino alcohols and 12 electron-deficient acetylenes. We synthesized 36 of these 60 oxazolidines in enantiomerically pure form from proteinogenic amino acid–derived β-amino alcohols.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationship of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors with triazole-linked cap group

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition is a recent, clinically validated therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. Small molecule HDAC inhibitors identified so far fall in to three distinct structural motifs: the zinc-binding group (ZBG), a hydrophobic linker, and a recognition cap group. Here we report the suitability of a 1,2,3-triazole ring as a surface recognition cap group-linking moiety in suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid-like (SAHA-like) HDAC inhibitors. Using "click" chemistry (Huisgen cycloaddition reaction), several triazole-linked SAHA-like hydroxamates were synthesized. Structure-activity relationship revealed that the position of the triazole moiety as well as the identity of the cap group markedly affected the in vitro HDAC inhibition and cell growth inhibitory activities of this class of compounds.