Photocyclization of Tetra- and Pentapeptides Containing Adamantylphthalimide and Phenylalanines: Reaction Efficiency and Diastereoselectivity

Photochemistry of phthalimidoadamantane dipeptides: effect of amino acid side chain on photocyclization

A series of dipeptides 1 was synthesized that at the N-site contained 3-(N-phthalimidoadamantane-1-carboxylic acid and at the C-site different aliphatic or aromatic L- or D-amino acids. The photochemical reaction of dipeptides 1 under acetone-sensitized conditions gave simple decarboxylation products 6, and decarboxylation-induced cyclization products 7, as well as some secondary products 8 and 9 formed by elimination of H2O or ring enlargement, respectively. Molecules 9 undergo secondary photoinduced H-abstractions by the phthalimide chromophore, delivering more complex polycycles 11. The photodecarboxylation-induced cyclization to 7 was observed only with phenylalanine (Phe), proline (Pro), leucine (Leu) and isoleucine (Ile). Contrary to dipeptides with Phe, the cyclization takes place with almost complete racemization at the amino acid chiral center, but diastereoselectively giving only one pair of enantiomers. The conducted investigation is important as it provides the breath and the scope of dipeptide cyclizations activated by phthalimides.

Simplified hybrids of two anticancer bistetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids ecteinascidin 743 and cribrostatin 4 and inhibitory activity against proliferation of cancer cells

A series of simplified hybrids/analogues of natural alkaloids ecteinascidin 743 and cribrostatin 4 have been synthesized and evaluated.

Photochemical Methods for Peptide Macrocyclisation

Photochemical reactions have been the subject of renewed interest over the last two decades, leading to the development of many new, diverse and powerful chemical transformations. More recently, these developments have been expanded to enable the photochemical macrocyclisation of peptides and small proteins. These constructs benefit from increased stability, structural rigidity and biological potency over their linear counterparts, providing opportunities for improved therapeutic agents. In this review, an overview of both the established and emerging methods for photochemical peptide macrocyclisation is presented, highlighting both the limitations and opportunities for further innovation in the field.

[3 + 2] Cycloaddition with photogenerated azomethine ylides in β-cyclodextrin

Stability constants for the inclusion complexes of cyclohexylphthalimide 2 and adamantylphthalimide 3 with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) were determined by 1H NMR titration, K = 190 ± 50 M-1, and K = 2600 ± 600 M-1, respectively. Photochemical reactivity of the inclusion complexes 2@β-CD and 3@β-CD was investigated, and we found out that β-CD does not affect the decarboxylation efficiency, while it affects the subsequent photochemical H-abstraction, resulting in different product distribution upon irradiation in the presence of β-CD. The formation of ternary complexes with acrylonitrile (AN) and 2@β-CD or 3@β-CD was also essayed by 1H NMR. Although the formation of such complexes was suggested, stability constants could not be determined. Irradiation of 2@β-CD in the presence of AN in aqueous solution where cycloadduct 7 was formed highly suggests that decarboxylation and [3 + 2] cycloaddition take place in the ternary complex, whereas such a reactivity from bulky adamantane 3 is less likely. This proof of principle that decarboxylation and cycloaddition can be performed in the β-CD cavity has a significant importance for the design of new supramolecular systems for the control of photoreactivity.

Photophysical properties and electron transfer photochemical reactivity of substituted phthalimides

Substituents on phthalimide affect its photophysics and photochemical reactivity. Electron donors generally result in low quantum yields of intersystem crossing and reactivity from singlet excited states.

Bicyclic Pyrrolidine-Isoxazoline γ Amino Acid: A Constrained Scaffold for Stabilizing α-Turn Conformation in Isolated Peptides

Unnatural amino acids have tremendously expanded the folding possibilities of peptides and peptide mimics. While α,α-disubstituted and β-amino acids are widely studied, γ-derivatives have been less exploited. Here we report the conformational study on the bicyclic unnatural γ amino acid, 4,5,6,6a-tetrahydro-3aH-pyrrolo[3,4-d]isoxazole-3-carboxylic acid 1. In model peptides, the (+)-(3aR6aS)-enantiomer is able to stabilize α-turn conformation when associated to glycine, as showed by 1H-NMR, FT-IR, and circular dichroism experiments, and molecular modeling studies. α-turn is a structural motif occurring in many biologically active protein sites, although its stabilization on isolated peptides is quite uncommon. Our results make the unnatural γ-amino acid 1 of particular interest for the development of bioactive peptidomimetics.