Remarkable rate acceleration of water-promoted nucleophilic substitution of Baylis–Hillman acetate: a facile and highly efficient synthesis of N-substituted imidazole

Metal catalyst-free N-allylation/alkylation of imidazole and benzimidazole with Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) alcohols and acetates

A highly α-regioselective N-nucleophilic allylic substitution of cyclic MBH alcohols and acetates with imidazole or benzimidazole, in toluene at reflux with an azeotropic distillation, was successfully carried out with no catalysts or additives, affording the corresponding N-substituted imidazole derivatives in good yields. On the other hand, in refluxing toluene or methanol, the aza-Michael addition of imidazole onto acyclic MBH alcohols was performed using DABCO as an additive, leading to the corresponding 1,4-adducts in 70-84% yields.

Xanthopsin-Like Systems via Site-Specific Click-Functionalization of a Retinoic Acid Binding Protein

The use of light-responsive proteins to control both living or synthetic cells, is at the core of the expanding fields of optogenetics and synthetic biology. It is thus apparent that a richer reaction toolbox for the preparation of such systems is of fundamental importance. Here, we provide a proof-of-principle demonstration that Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts can be employed to perform a facile site-specific, irreversible and diastereoselective click-functionalization of a lysine residue buried into a lipophilic binding pocket and yielding an unnatural chromophore with an extended π-system. In doing so we effectively open the path to the in vitro preparation of a library of synthetic proteins structurally reminiscent of xanthopsin eubacterial photoreceptors. We argue that such a library, made of variable unnatural chromophores inserted in an easy-to-mutate and crystallize retinoic acid transporter, significantly expand the scope of the recently introduced rhodopsin mimics as both optogenetic and "lab-on-a-molecule" tools.

Selective Derivatization of Hexahistidine-Tagged Recombinant Proteins

Covalent modification of proteins is extensively used in research and industry for biosensing, medical diagnostics, targeted drug delivery, and many other practical applications. The conventional method for production of protein conjugates has changed little in the last 20 years mostly relying on reactions of side chains of cysteine and lysine residues. Due to the presence of large numbers of similar reactive amino acid residues in proteins, common synthetic methods generally produce complex mixtures of products, which are difficult to separate. An emerging alternative technology for covalent modification of proteins involves formation of a covalent bond with a hexahistidine affinity tag present in a majority of recombinant proteins without interfering with other amino acid residues. The approach is based on formation of a ternary complex of the hexahistidine sequence with a bivalent metal cation chelated by ligand bearing an electrophilic Baylis-Hillman ester group capable of subsequent formation of a covalent bond with one of the histidine residues of the tag. The reaction proceeds under mild reaction conditions in neutral aqueous solutions under high dilutions (10^-5 to 10^-4 M) providing a stable covalent bond between the label and an imidazole residue in a hexahistidine tag at either C- or N-terminus. Because hexahistidine affinity tag methodology is a de-facto standard for preparation of recombinant proteins our approach can be easily implemented for selective derivatization of these proteins with fluorescent groups, alkynyl groups for "click" reactions, or biotinylation.

Synthesis and Evaluation of Baylis-Hillman Reaction Derived Imidazole and Triazole Cinnamates as Antifungal Agents

Allylic acetates derived from Baylis-Hillman reaction undergo efficient nucleophilic isomerization with imidazoles and triazoles to provide imidazolylmethyl and triazolylmethyl cinnamates stereoselectively. Antifungal evaluation of these derivatives against Cryptococcus neoformans exhibits good minimum inhibitory concentration values. These compounds exhibit low toxicity in proliferating MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Structure activity relationship studies indicate that halogenated aromatic derivatives provide better antifungal activity.

DABCO-catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation of aldehydes with ethyl cyanoacetate using hydroxy ionic liquid as a promoter

N-(2-Hydroxy-ethyl)-pyridinium chloride ([HyEtPy]Cl) was synthesized and explored as a novel promoter for 1,4-diazabicyclo [2.2.2] octane (DABCO)-catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation reactions, which showed better catalytic activity compared to other ionic liquid (IL) that had no hydroxyl group attached to the IL scaffold. The effect of hydrogen bond formation between the hydroxyl group of [HyEtPy]Cl and the carbonyl group of aldehyde played an important role in the Knoevenagel condensation reaction. In the [HyEtPy]Cl–H₂O–DABCO composite system, Knoevenagel condensation reactions proceeded smoothly and cleanly, and the corresponding Knoevenagel condensation products were obtained in good to excellent yields in all cases examined. This protocol provides a versatile solvent–catalyst system, which has notable advantages such as being eco-friendly, ease of work-up and convenient reuse of the ionic liquid.

N-(2-Hydroxy-ethyl)-pyridinium chloride ([HyEtPy]Cl) was synthesized and explored as a novel promoter for 1,4-diazabicyclo [2.2.2] octane (DABCO)-catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation reactions, excellent catalytic activity was obtained.

Development of Imidazole-Reactive Molecules Leading to a New Aggregation-Induced Emission Fluorophore Based on the Cinnamic Scaffold

In order to obtain new fluorophores potentially useful in imidazole labeling and subsequent conjugation, a small series of Morita-Baylis-Hillman acetates (3a-c) was designed, synthesized, and reacted with imidazole. The optical properties of the corresponding imidazole derivatives 4a-c were analyzed both in solution and in the solid state. Although the solutions display a very weak emission, the powders show a blue emission, particularly enhanced in the case of compound 4c possessing two methoxy groups in the cinnamic scaffold. The photophysical study confirmed the hypothesis that the molecular rigidity of the solid state enhances the emission properties of these compounds by triggering the restriction of intramolecular motions, paving the way for their applications in fluorogenic labeling.

[HyEtPy]Cl–H2O: an efficient and versatile solvent system for the DABCO-catalyzed Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction

A very efficient and versatile solvent system, [HyEtPy]Cl–H₂O, has been developed and used in the DABCO-catalyzed Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction.

Templated alkylation of hexahistidine with Baylis-Hillman esters

Alkylation of one of the imidazole rings of hexahistidine with Baylis-Hillman esters tethered to nitrilotriacetate residue was achieved in aqueous solutions at neutral pH and at micromolar concentrations in the presence of Ni(2+), Cu(2+), or Zn(2+) cations. The utility of the approach for selective functionalization of His-tagged recombinant proteins was demonstrated by attachment of a fluorescent label to recombinant protein A with an alkynyl group followed by a "click" 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction.

Nucleophilicities and Lewis basicities of imidazoles, benzimidazoles, and benzotriazoles

The kinetics of the reactions of some imidazoles, benzimidazoles and benzotriazoles with benzhydrylium ions (diarylcarbenium ions) have been studied photometrically in DMSO, acetonitrile, and aqueous solution at 20 degrees C. The resulting second-order rate constants have been used to determine the nucleophile-specific parameters N and s of these azoles according to the linear-free-energy relationship log k (20 degrees C) = s(N + E). With N = 11.47 (imidazole in acetonitrile), N = 10.50 (benzimidazole in DMSO), and N = 7.69 (benzotriazole in acetonitrile) these azoles are significantly less nucleophilic than previously characterized amines, such as DMAP (N = 14.95 in acetonitrile) and DABCO (N = 18.80 in acetonitrile). For some reactions of the 1-methyl substituted azoles with benzhydrylium ions equilibrium constants have been measured, which render a comparison of the Lewis basicities of these compounds. Substitution of the rate and equilibrium constants of these reactions into the Marcus equation yields the corresponding intrinsic barriers DeltaG(0)( not equal). From the ranking of DeltaG(0)( not equal) (imidazoles > pyridines > 1-azabicyclooctanes) one can derive that the reorganization energies for the reactions of imidazoles with electrophiles are significantly higher than those for the other amines and that imidazoles are less nucleophilic than pyridines and 1-azabicyclooctanes of comparable basicity.

Chemo- and regio-selective functionalization of Morita–Baylis–Hillman bromides with anthranilic acid

Nucleophilic substitution products of Morita–Baylis–Hillman adducts and their derivatives are valuable synthons. In an attempt to ameliorate the functionality of these functionalized motifs, we report the regio- and chemo-selective functionalization of Morita–Baylis–Hillman bromides with anthranilic acid.

Regio- and Stereoselective Synthesis of α,β-dehydro-β-amino Esters

A facile method for the regio- and stereoselective synthesis of α,β-dehydro-β-amino esters from acetates of Baylis-Hillman adducts with amines was reported. In the absence of any solvent and catalyst, the present strategy works well for a series of electron deficient and electron rich aromatic amines as well as aliphatic ones.

BiCl3-catalysed nucleophilic substitution of Baylis–Hillman adducts with alcohols

An efficient nucleophilic substitution of Baylis–Hillman adducts with alcohols catalysed by 10 mol% BiCl3, affords functionalised ethers. Water was the only side product.

Syntheses of (Z)-Allyl Chlorides from Baylis–Hillman Adducts with a Trichlorotriazine/DMF System

Stereoselective transformation of Baylis–Hillman adducts 1 into corresponding ( Z)-allyl chlorides 2 have been achieved by treatment with 2,4,6-trichloro [1,3,5]triazine and N, N-dimethyl formamide. This novel approach proceeds readily at room temperature within a few hours with excellent yields and stereoselectivity.

Remarkable rate acceleration of SmI3-mediated iodination of acetates of Baylis-Hillman adducts in ionic liquid: facile synthesis of (Z)-allyl iodides

Stereoselective transformation of Baylis-Hillman acetates 1 into corresponding (Z)-allyl iodides 2 has been achieved by treatment of 1 with samarium triiodide in THF. Remarkable rate acceleration of samarium triiodide-mediated iodination of 1 was found when ionic liquid 1-n-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium tetrafluroborate ([bmim]BF(4)) was used as reaction media in stead of THF. This novel approach proceeds readily at 50 degrees C within a few minutes to afford (Z)-allyl iodides 2 in excellent yields. A mechanism involving stereoselective iodination of the acetates of Baylis-Hillman adducts by samarium triiodide is described, in which a six-membered ring transition state played a key role in the stereoselective formation of 2.