Synthesis of 2-aryltryptamines with palladium catalyzed cross-coupling of 2-bromotryptamines and arylboronic acids

Rutaecarpine-inspired scaffold-hopping strategy and Ullmann cross-coupling based synthetic approach: Identification of pyridopyrimidinone-indole based novel anticancer chemotypes

Natural products as starting templates have shown historically major contribution to development of drugs. Inspired by the structure-function of an anticancer natural alkaloid Rutaecarpine, the Scaffold-hopped Acyclic Analogues of Rutaecarpine (SAAR) with 'N'-atom switch (1°-hop) and ring-opening (2°-hop) were investigated. A new synthetic route was developed for an effective access to the analogues, i.e. 2-indolyl-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidinones, which involved preparation of N-Boc-N'-phthaloyltryptamine/mexamine-bromides and pyridopyrmidinon-2-yl triflate, a nickel/palladium-catalysed Ullmann cross-coupling of these bromides and triflate, deprotection of phthalimide followed by N-aroylation, and Boc-deprotection. Fourteen novel SAAR-compounds were prepared, and they showed characteristic antiproliferative activity against various cancer cells. Three most active compounds (11a, 11b, and 11c) exhibited good antiproliferative activity, IC50 7.7-15.8 µM against human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7), lung cancer cells (A549), and colon cancer cells (HCT-116). The antiproliferative property was also observed in the colony formation assay. The SAAR compound 11b was found to have superior potency than original natural product Rutaecarpine and an anticancer drug 5-FU in antiproliferative activities with relatively lower cytotoxicity towards normal breast epithelial cells (MCF10A) and significantly higher inhibitory effect on cancer cells' migration. The compound 11b was found to possess favourable in silico physicochemical characteristics (lipophilicity-MLOGP, TPSA, and water solubility-ESOL, and others), bioavailability score, and pharmacokinetic properties (GI absorption, BBB non-permeant, P-gp, and CYP2D6). Interestingly, the compound 11b did not show any medicinal chemistry structural alert of PAINS and Brenk filter. The study represents for the first time the successful discovery of new potent anticancer chemotypes using Rutaecarpine natural alkaloid as starting template and reaffirms the significance of natural product-inspired scaffold-hopping technique in drug discovery research.

Use of Bromine and Bromo-Organic Compounds in Organic Synthesis

Bromination is one of the most important transformations in organic synthesis and can be carried out using bromine and many other bromo compounds. Use of molecular bromine in organic synthesis is well-known. However, due to the hazardous nature of bromine, enormous growth has been witnessed in the past several decades for the development of solid bromine carriers. This review outlines the use of bromine and different bromo-organic compounds in organic synthesis. The applications of bromine, a total of 107 bromo-organic compounds, 11 other brominating agents, and a few natural bromine sources were incorporated. The scope of these reagents for various organic transformations such as bromination, cohalogenation, oxidation, cyclization, ring-opening reactions, substitution, rearrangement, hydrolysis, catalysis, etc. has been described briefly to highlight important aspects of the bromo-organic compounds in organic synthesis.

Microwave irradiated synthesis of 2-bromo(chloro)indoles via intramolecular cyclization of 2-(gem-dibromo(chloro)vinyl)anilines in the presence of TBAF under metal-free conditions

2-Bromo(chloro)indoles were readily prepared through TBAF-promoted intramolecular cyclization of 2-(gem-dibromo(chloro)vinyl)anilines in excellent yields under metal-free and microwave irradiation conditions.

Synthesis of the pentacyclic skeleton of the indole alkaloid arboflorine

An effective synthesis of the pentacyclic core of the unusual Kopsia alkaloid arboflorine is reported. The success of the synthetic route rested on the use of a borylative C-H functionalization reaction, a convergent Suzuki cross-coupling to a C(2) halogenated indole, and an unprecedented transannular dehydrogenative C-N bond forming reaction.

An approach to the hexacyclic skeleton of trigonoliimines

A strategy to construct the hexacyclic skeleton of trigonoliimines A, B and their derivatives involving a carbanion-triggered intramolecular cyclization of a seven-membered ring and a subsequent six-membered ring formation in one pot is described.

Tryptamine and homotryptamine-based sulfonamides as potent and selective inhibitors of 15-lipoxygenase

A series of inhibitors of mammalian 15-lipoxygenase based on tryptamine and homotryptamine scaffolds is described. Compounds with aryl substituents at C-2 of the indole core of tryptamine and homotryptamine sulfonamides (e.g., 37a-p) proved to be potent inhibitors of the isolated enzyme. Selected compounds also demonstrated desirable inhibition selectivities over isozymes 5- and P-12-LO.

Catalytic enantioselective addition of indoles to arylnitroalkenes: An effective route to enantiomerically enriched tryptamine precursors

A new valuable catalytic protocol for the preparation of synthetically useful beta-indolyl nitro compounds bearing benzhydryl stereocenters is presented. The combined use of catalytic amounts of a commercially available chiral [SalenAlCl] complex and pyridine allowed, for the Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of indoles with aromatic nitro-olefins to be carried out in good yields and enantioselectivity (up to 63% ee).

Total syntheses of enantiomerically enriched R-(+)- and S-(–)-deplancheine

Total syntheses of indoloquinolizidine alkaloid (+/-)-, R-(+)-, and S-(-)-deplancheine are described here. The synthesis features an enantioselective intramolecular formal aza-[3 + 3] cycloaddition for the construction of the quinolizidine CD-ring. This application serves to introduce a new synthetic strategy for the synthesis of indoloquinolizidine alkaloids.

Intramolecular Formal Aza-[3 + 3] Cycloaddition Approach to Indoloquinolizidine Alkaloids. A Stereoselective Total Synthesis of (±)-Tangutorine

[reaction: see text] A 19-step stereoselective total synthesis of (+/-)-tangutorine is described here. The total synthesis features an intramolecular aza-[3 + 3] formal cycloaddition strategy and also a Heck coupling for constructing the C2-C3 bond. This work provides a novel approach toward the indoloquinolizidine family of alkaloids.

A non-cryogenic method for the preparation of 2-(indolyl) borates, silanes, and silanols

2-Indolyl borates are prepared via addition of LDA to a mixture of N-Boc-indole and triisopropyl borate at 0-5 degrees C. Following acidic hydrolysis, the boronic acids are isolated by crystallization in good to excellent yield (73-99%). The method is quite general, tolerating a wide range of functional groups, and also provides access to 2-silyl derivatives (80-91%).

Anticonvulsant activity of a nonpeptide galanin receptor agonist

Galanin is a neuropeptide with a wide variety of biological functions, including that of a strong endogenous anticonvulsant. No nonpeptide ligands, capable of activating galanin receptors, are available today. Based on known pharmacophores of galanin, a combinatorial library was designed, synthesized, and screened at the rat hippocampal galanin receptor. A low molecular weight galanin receptor agonist, 7-((9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl)cyclohexylalanyllysyl)amino-4-methylcoumarin (galnon) was found to displace (125)I-galanin with micromolar affinity at Bowes cellular and rat hippocampal membranes. Autoradiographic binding assay on rat spinal cord sections confirmed the ability of galnon to displace (125)I-galanin from its binding sites. Galnon inhibited adenylate cyclase activity, suggesting an agonist action at galanin receptors. When injected i.p. galnon reduced the severity and increased the latency of pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in mice and reversed the proconvulsant effects of the galanin receptor antagonist M35, injected into a lateral ventricle. Intrahippocampal injection of galnon also shortened the duration of self-sustaining status epilepticus in rats, confirming its agonist properties in vivo. Pretreatment of rats with antisense peptide nucleic acid targeted to galanin receptor type 1 mRNA abolished the effect of galnon, suggesting mediation of its anticonvulsant properties through this receptor subtype. These findings introduce a systemically active nonpeptide galanin agonist anticonvulsant.

Synthetic studies of psilocin analogs having either a formyl group or bromine atom at the 5- or 7-position

Psilocin analogs having either a formyl group (9-12) or a bromine atom (13-18) at the 5- or 7-position have been prepared for the first time. Syntheses of 5- and 7-bromo derivatives of 4-hydroxy- (23, 24, 28) and 4-benzyloxyindole-3-carbaldehyde (19, 25, 29, 30), 4-benzyloxyindole-3-acetonitriles (20, 31), and 4-benzyloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (32, 34, 35) have also been established.

SAR studies of novel 5-substituted 2-arylindoles as nonpeptidyl GnRH receptor antagonists

The discovery of the potency-enhancing effect of 5-substitutions on the novel 2-arylindoles as nonpeptidyl GnRH receptor antagonists led to the identification of several analogues with high affinities on the GnRH receptor. The syntheses and SARs of these 5-substituted-2-arylindole analogues are reported.

Initial structure-activity relationship of a novel class of nonpeptidyl GnRH receptor antagonists: 2-arylindoles

A nonpeptidyl GnRH receptor antagonist (1), with a unique 2-arylindole core, was identified through the Merck in-house screening for binding affinity on the rat GnRH receptor. SAR studies directed toward the alkoxy-ethanolamine and 2-aryl groups resulted in a simpler lead structure with improved activity. This compound 50 exhibits a 60-fold improvement in binding activity over our initial lead 1.

Studies on the novel anti-staphyloccal compound nematophin

A number of analogues of the recently described compound nematophin were prepared and studied for antibacterial activity. The 2-phenyl derivative was found to exhibit exceptional activity against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) whereas the isosteric benzimidazole analogue was much less active.