Functional 1,3a,6a-triazapentalene scaffold: Design of fluorescent probes for kinesin spindle protein (KSP)

Palladium-Catalyzed Arylations towards 3,6-Diaryl-1,3a,6a-triazapentalenes and Evaluation of Their Fluorescence Properties

Methyl 4-(1,3a,6a-triazapentalen-3-yl)benzoate (TAP1) shows interesting properties as a small molecule fluorophore. In the search for post-functionalization methods, palladium-catalyzed arylation reactions were demonstrated. Direct CH arylation reactions of TAP1 with various aryl halides resulted in 3,6-diaryltriazapentalenes TAP4, although mostly in poor yields. Bromination of TAP1 followed by Suzuki coupling, on the other hand, requires a more delicate procedure, but gave arylated products with the same regiochemistry (TAP4) in moderate to good yields. The structure of 6-phenyltriazapentalene TAP4a was confirmed by crystallographic analysis. In addition, the effect of the C6 arylation on the fluorescent properties of 3-aryl-1,3a,6a-triazapentalenes was studied in dichloromethane at room temperature and in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran at 77 K, while the photophysical properties of two saponified derivatives were measured in acetonitrile.

Facile preparation of polycyclic halogen-substituted 1,2,3-triazoles by using intramolecular Huisgen cycloaddition

When 1-(ω-azidoalkyl)-2-(2,2-dihalovinyl)arenes were heated in DMF, the intramolecular Huisgen cycloaddition of an azido group with a 1,1-dihalovinyl group afforded 5-halo-1,2,3-triazole-fused tricyclic benzo compounds. Based on the remaining bromo groups, carbon elongation by the Mizoroki-Heck or Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions, followed by an intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction, afforded polycyclic compounds with fused triazole rings. Thereafter, the bromo groups were converted into 2-nitrophenyl groups via the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction, which was followed by the Cadogan reaction; a fluorescent pentacyclic compound was obtained.

1,3a,6a-Triazapentalene derivatives as photo-induced cytotoxic small fluorescent dyes

1,3a,6a-Triazapentalene (TAP) is a compact fluorescent chromophore whose fluorescence properties vary greatly depending on the substituents on the TAP ring. This study investigated the photo-induced cytotoxicities of various TAP derivatives. Among the derivatives, 2-p-nitrophenyl-TAP showed significant cytotoxicity to HeLa cells under UV irradiation but no cytotoxicity without UV. In addition, the photo-induced cytotoxicity of 2-p-nitirophenyl-TAP was found to be cancer cell selective and effective against HeLa cells and HCT 116 cells. Under UV irradiation, 2-p-nitrophenyl-TAP generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) that induced an apoptosis and ferroptosis in cancer cells. Therefore, it was revealed that 2-p-nitrophenyl-TAP is the most compact dye that can generate ROS by photoirradiation.

Synthesis, Photophysical Properties, and Aromaticity of Pyrazine-Fused Tetrazapentalenes

Pyrazine-fused 1,2,6,6a-tetrazapentalenes (PyTeAP) are zwitterionic tricyclic compounds exhibiting an original pattern with four consecutive nitrogen atoms. They were obtained by a challenging cyclization through the formation of a N-N bond under thermolytic conditions. Ten derivatives were synthesized, and the original scaffold of PyTeAP was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of one derivative. Examination of their photophysical properties in solution revealed blue fluorescence with λ_em = 416-426 nm. Theoretical investigations of the aromaticity in these compounds through magnetic criteria evidenced the presence of a dominant 14-electron circuit at the periphery.

Miniaturized Chemical Tags for Optical Imaging

Recent advances in optical bioimaging have prompted the need for minimal chemical reporters that can retain the molecular recognition properties and activity profiles of biomolecules. As a result, several methodologies to reduce the size of fluorescent and Raman labels to a few atoms (e.g., single aryl fluorophores, Raman‐active triple bonds and isotopes) and embed them into building blocks (e.g., amino acids, nucleobases, sugars) to construct native‐like supramolecular structures have been described. The integration of small optical reporters into biomolecules has also led to smart molecular entities that were previously inaccessible in an expedite manner. In this article, we review recent chemical approaches to synthesize miniaturized optical tags as well as some of their multiple applications in biological imaging.

Role of KSP inhibitors as anti-cancer therapeutics: an update

Regardless of the growing discovery of anticancer treatments, targeting cancer-specific pathways, cytotoxic therapy still maintained its abundant clinical significance based on the fact that tumours harbour a greater population of actively dividing cells than normal tissues. Conventional anti-mitotic agents or microtubule poisons acting on the major mitotic spindle protein tubulin have been effectively used in clinical settings for cancer chemotherapy over the last three decades. However, use of these drugs is associated with limited clinical utility due to serious side effects such as debilitating and dose-limiting peripheral neuropathy, myelosuppression, drug resistance and allergic reactions. Therefore, research initiatives have been undertaken to develop novel microtubule motor proteins inhibitors that can potentially circumvent the limitations associated with conventional microtubule poisons. Kinesin spindle proteins (KSP) belonging to the kinesin-5 family play a crucial role during mitosis and unregulated cell proliferation. Several evidences from preclinical studies and different phases of clinical trials have presented kinesin spindle protein as a promising target for cancer therapeutics. kinesin spindle protein inhibitors causing mitosis disruption without interfering with microtubule dynamics in non-dividing cells offer a potential therapeutic alternative for the management of several major cancer types and are devoid of side effects associated with classical anti-mitotic drugs. This review summarizes recent data highlighting progress in the discovery of targeted KSP inhibitors and presents the development of scaffolds, structure-activity relationships, and outcomes of biological, and enzyme inhibition studies. We reviewed the recent literature reports published over last decade, using various electronic database searches such as PubMed, Embase, Medline, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Clinical trial data till 2021 was retrieved from ClinicalTrial.gov. Major chemical classes developed as selective KSP inhibitors include dihydropyrimidines, β-carbolines, carbazoles, benzimidazoles, fused aryl derivatives, pyrimidines, fused pyrimidines, quinazolines, quinolones, thiadiazolines, spiropyran and azobenzenes. Drugs such as filanesib, litronesib, ispinesib have entered clinical trials, the most advanced phase explored being Phase II. KSP inhibitors have exhibited promising results; however, continued exploration is greatly required to establish the clinical potential of KSP inhibitors.

Various effects of two types of kinesin-5 inhibitors on mitosis and cell proliferation

Kinesin-5 has received considerable attention as a new target for mitosis. Various small-molecule compounds targeting kinesin-5 have been developed in the last few decades. However, the differences in the cellular effects of kinesin-5 inhibitors remain poorly understood. Here, we used two different kinesin-5 inhibitors, biphenyl-type PVZB1194 and S-trityl-L-cysteine-type PVEI0021, to examine their effects on molecular events involving kinesin-5. Our biochemical study of kinesin-5 protein-protein interactions showed that PVZB1194-treated kinesin-5 interacted with TPX2 microtubule nucleation factor, Aurora-A kinase, receptor for hyaluronan-mediated motility, and γ-tubulin, as did untreated mitotic kinesin-5. However, PVEI0021 prevented kinesin-5 from binding to these proteins. In mitotic HeLa cells recovered from nocodazole inhibition, kinesin-5 colocalized with these binding proteins, along with microtubules nucleated near kinetochores. By acting on kinesin-5 interactions with chromatin-associated microtubules, PVZB1194, rather than PVEI0021, not only affected the formation of dispersed microtubule clusters but also enhanced the stability of microtubules. In addition, screening for mitotic inhibitors working synergistically with the kinesin-5 inhibitors revealed that paclitaxel synergistically inhibited HeLa cell proliferation only with PVZB1194. In contrast, the Aurora-A inhibitor MLN8237 exerted a synergistic anti-cell proliferation effect when combined with either inhibitor. Together, these results have provided a better understanding of the molecular action of kinesin-5 inhibitors and indicate their usefulness as molecular tools for the study of mitosis and the development of anticancer agents.

Pyridazino-1,3a,6a-Triazapentalenes as Versatile Fluorescent Probes: Impact of Their Post-Functionalization and Application for Cellular Imaging

Pyridazino-1,3a,6a-triazapentalenes (PyTAP) are compact fused 6/5/5 tricyclic scaffolds which exhibit promising fluorescent properties. Chemically stable, they can be post-functionalized using standard Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling chemistry. Several original PyTAP bearing additional unsaturated substituents in positions 2 and 8 were synthetized and their spectroscopic properties analyzed. They have been successfully tested as fluorescent probes for cellular imaging.

Bicyclic 1,3a,6a-Triazapentalene Chromophores: Synthesis, Spectroscopy and Their Use as Fluorescent Sensors and Probes

The 1,3a,6a-triazapentalene (TAP) is an aromatic heterocyclic fluorescent dye with interesting features such as its small size, large Stokes shift, solvatochromism, and emission wavelengths that are spread across the visible spectrum. TAPs have been synthesized via different synthetic strategies involving click−cyclization−aromatization domino reactions, gold-catalyzed cyclization of propargyl triazoles or triazolization of acetophenones. As a result, TAPs with diverse substitution patterns were obtained, showing varying fluorescence properties. Based on these properties, several TAPs have been selected and studied as fluorescent imaging probes in living cells and as sensors. This mini review provides an overview of the research on the bicyclic TAPs and does not comment on the literature about benzo or otherwise fused systems. The synthetic methodologies for the preparation of TAPs, the substituent effects on the fluorescence properties, and the behavior of the TAP core as an element of biological imaging probes and sensors are discussed.

Ring-Degenerate Rearrangement Resulting from the Azo Coupling Reaction of a 3-Aryl-1,3a,6a-triazapentalene

The 3-(4-(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl)triazapentalene is a highly fluorescent small molecule which is readily accessible via a two-step synthesis. In the search for postfunctionalization methods, a radical CH-arylation with diazonium salts was attempted. However, azo coupling resulted in a ring-degenerate rearrangement toward a 2-aryl-4-azotriazapentalene, which was confirmed via crystallographic analysis. A mechanism involving the generation of a nitrilimine is proposed. In addition, reduction of the azo group led to cleavage of the triazapentalene core. The present results further demonstrate the sensitivity of the triazapentalene fluorophore.

Development of a 1,3a,6a-triazapentalene derivative as a compact and thiol-specific fluorescent labeling reagent

For the fluorescence imaging of biologically active small compounds, the development of compact fluorophores that do not perturb bioactivity is required. Here we report a compact derivative of fluorescent 1,3a,6a-triazapentalenes, 2-isobutenylcarbonyl-1,3a,6a-triazapentalene (TAP-VK1), as a fluorescent labeling reagent. The reaction of TAP-VK1 with various aliphatic thiols proceeds smoothly to afford the corresponding 1,4-adducts in high yields, and nucleophiles other than thiols do not react. After the addition of thiol groups in dichloromethane, the emission maximum of TAP-VK1 shifts to a shorter wavelength and the fluorescence intensity is substantially increased. The utility of TAP-VK1 as a compact fluorescent labeling reagent is clearly demonstrated by the labeling of Captopril, which is a small molecular drug for hypertension. The successful imaging of Captopril, one of the most compact drugs, in this study demonstrates the usefulness of compact fluorophores for mechanistic studies.

Selective Inhibition of Spindle Microtubules by a Tubulin-Binding Quinazoline Derivative

In the research field of tubulin-binding agents for the development of anticancer agents, hidden targets are emerging as a problem in understanding the exact mechanisms of actions. The quinazoline derivative 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(quinazolin-4-yl)ethan-1-ol (PVHD121) has anti-cell proliferative activity and inhibits tubulin polymerization by binding to the colchicine site of tubulin. However, the molecular mechanism of action of PVHD121 in cells remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that PVHD121 delays mitotic entry and efficiently causes mitotic arrest with spindle checkpoint activation, leading to subsequent cell death. The dominant phenotype induced by PVHD121 was aberrant spindles with robust microtubules and unseparated centrosomes. The microtubules were radially distributed, and their ends appeared to adhere to kinetochores, and not to centrosomes. Extensive inhibition by high concentrations of PVHD121 eliminated all microtubules from cells. PVHD277 [1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(2-morpholinoquinazolin-4-yl)ethan-1-ol], a PVHD121 derivative with fluorescence, tended to localize close to the centrosomes when cells prepared to enter mitosis. Our results show that PVHD121 is an antimitotic agent that selectively disturbs microtubule formation at centrosomes during mitosis. This antimitotic activity can be attributed to the targeting of centrosome maturation in addition to the interference with microtubule dynamics. Due to its unique bioactivity, PVHD121 is a potential tool for studying the molecular biology of mitosis and a potential lead compound for the development of anticancer agents. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Many tubulin-binding agents have been developed as potential anticancer agents. The aim of this study was to understand the subcellular molecular actions of a quinazoline derivative tubulin-binding agent, 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(quinazolin-4-yl)ethan-1-ol (PVHD121). As expected from its binding activity to tubulin, PVHD121 caused aberrant spindles and inhibited mitotic progression. However, in addition to tubulin, PVHD121 also targeted an unexpected biomolecule involved in centrosome maturation. Due to targeting the biomolecule just before entering mitosis, PVHD121 preferentially inhibited centrosome-derived microtubules rather than chromosome-derived microtubules during spindle formation. This study not only revealed the molecular action of PVHD121 in cells but also emphasized the importance of considering possible tubulin-independent effects of tubulin-binding agents via hidden targeted biomolecules for future use.

An original class of small sized molecules as versatile fluorescent probes for cellular imaging

An unusual class, compact in size, of fluorescent probes based on pyridazino-1,3a,6a-triazapentalene scaffolds exhibits promising fluorescent properties (quantum yield values up to 73%, large Stokes shifts, emission wavelengths located in the green-yellow range, excellent solubility) with good photostability suitable for optical imaging applications.

Synthesis and Evaluation of a 1,3a,6a-Triazapentalene (TAP)-Bonded System

A method of synthesizing a directly connected 1,3a,6a-triazapentalene (TAP) ring system as a linearly bonded aromatic system with a planar form was established. Various TAP-dimers and a 2-alkyl-TAP-trimer were synthesized and their fluorescence properties were evaluated. Although the direct connection of the TAP ring with other TAP rings did not affect the fluorescence properties in diluted solvent, TAP-dimers showed unique fluorescence properties derived from the aggregation state under highly concentrated conditions. In particular, TAP-dimer 5 f showed aggregation-induced emission in highly concentrated solution, and 5 b showed typical mechanochromic fluorescence in the solid state despite their compact molecular size.

Click 1,2,3-triazole derived fluorescent scaffold by mesoionic carbene–nitrene cyclization: an experimental and theoretical study

Easily accessible compact triazole-based fluorescent compounds were characterized spectroscopically and their properties modeled by computational methods.

Two-Step Synthesis of Fluorescent 3-Arylated 1,3a,6a-Triazapentalenes via a Three-Component Triazolization Reaction

Novel 3-arylated 1,3a,6a-triazapentalenes were synthesized using a metal-free three-component triazolization reaction followed by a triflate based cyclization step. This method starts from simple commercial starting materials and provides an easy functionalization strategy for the 3-position of the triazapentalenes. By introducing electron-withdrawing groups onto this position, stable and highly fluorescent dyes could be synthesized.