Structure of the antifungal nucleotide antibiotic phosmidosine

Silver(i)-catalyzed dehydrogenative cross-coupling of 2-aroylbenzofurans with phosphites

The silver(i)-catalyzed dehydrogenative cross-coupling reaction of 2-aroylbenzofurans with phosphites to afford 2-aroyl-3-phosphonylbenzofurans is reported.

Recent advances in the synthesis and applications of phosphoramides

Phosphoramide, as an important framework of many biologically active molecules, has attracted widespread attention in recent decades. It is not only widely used in pharmaceuticals because of its excellent biological activities, but it also shows good performance in organic dyes, flame retardants and extractors. Thus, it is of great significance to develop effective and convenient methods for the synthesis of phosphoramides. In this review, the recent advancements made in the synthesis routes and applications of phosphoramides are discussed. The synthetic strategies of phosphoramides can be separated into five categories: phosphorus halides as the substrate, phosphates as the substrate, phosphorus hydrogen as the substrate, azides as the substrate and other methods. The latest examples of these methods are provided and some representative mechanisms are also described.

Electrochemical phosphorylation of arenols and anilines leading to organophosphates and phosphoramidates

A practical phosphorylation for generating organophosphates and phosphoramidates via electrochemical dehydrogenative cross-coupling of P(O)H compounds with arenols and anilines is disclosed. This method involves using inorganic iodide salts as both redox catalysts and electrolytes in an undivided cell without the addition of oxidants or bases. A preliminary mechanistic study suggests that radicals are not involved in this process. This method is green and eco-friendly and has good functional group tolerance, high yields and broad substrate scope, with the potential for practical synthesis.

Phosphorus Compounds of Natural Origin: Prebiotic, Stereochemistry, Application

Organophosphorus compounds play a vital role as nucleic acids, nucleotide coenzymes, metabolic intermediates and are involved in many biochemical processes. They are part of DNA, RNA, ATP and a number of important biological elements of living organisms. Synthetic compounds of this class have found practical application as agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, bioregulators, and othrs. In recent years, a large number of phosphorus compounds containing P-O, P-N, P-C bonds have been isolated from natural sources. Many of them have shown interesting biological properties and have become the objects of intensive scientific research. Most of these compounds contain asymmetric centers, the absolute configurations of which have a significant effect on the biological properties of the products of their transformations. This area of research on natural phosphorus compounds is still little-studied, that prompted us to analyze and discuss it in our review. Moreover natural organophosphorus compounds represent interesting models for the development of new biologically active compounds, and a number of promising drugs and agrochemicals have already been obtained on their basis. The review also discusses the history of the development of ideas about the role of organophosphorus compounds and stereochemistry in the origin of life on Earth, starting from the prebiotic period, that allows us in a new way to consider this most important problem of fundamental science.

Synthesis of Acyl Phosphoramidates Employing a Modified Staudinger Reaction

A one-step synthesis of acyl phosphoramidates from a variety of functionalized acyl azides has been developed employing trimethylsilyl chloride as an activating agent in a modified Staudinger reaction. The methodology was further adapted to include the in situ generation of the acyl azides from a diverse selection of carboxylic acids and hydrazide starting synthons. The reaction scope was extended to include the synthesis of imidodiphosphates and the natural product Microcin C.

Opening up the Toolbox: Synthesis and Mechanisms of Phosphoramidates

This review covers the main synthetic routes to and the corresponding mechanisms of phosphoramidate formation. The synthetic routes can be separated into six categories: salt elimination, oxidative cross-coupling, azide, reduction, hydrophosphinylation, and phosphoramidate-aldehyde-dienophile (PAD). Examples of some important compounds synthesized through these routes are provided. As an important class of organophosphorus compounds, the applications of phosphoramidate compounds, are also briefly introduced.

TBHP/NH4I-Mediated Direct N-H Phosphorylation of Imines and Imidates

A direct and practical metal-free N-H phosphorylation has been achieved via the TBHP/NH₄I-mediated cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) reactions between imines/imidates and P(O)H compounds. This transformation provides an efficient synthetic route to the construction of P-N bonds with good functional group compatibility, leading to the formation of N-phosphorylimines and N-phosphorylimidates in up to 95% yield (33 examples) under mild conditions.

Natural Products Containing 'Rare' Organophosphorus Functional Groups

Phosphorous-containing molecules are essential constituents of all living cells. While the phosphate functional group is very common in small molecule natural products, nucleic acids, and as chemical modification in protein and peptides, phosphorous can form P⁻N (phosphoramidate), P⁻S (phosphorothioate), and P⁻C (e.g., phosphonate and phosphinate) linkages. While rare, these moieties play critical roles in many processes and in all forms of life. In this review we thoroughly categorize P⁻N, P⁻S, and P⁻C natural organophosphorus compounds. Information on biological source, biological activity, and biosynthesis is included, if known. This review also summarizes the role of phosphorylation on unusual amino acids in proteins (N- and S-phosphorylation) and reviews the natural phosphorothioate (P⁻S) and phosphoramidate (P⁻N) modifications of DNA and nucleotides with an emphasis on their role in the metabolism of the cell. We challenge the commonly held notion that nonphosphate organophosphorus functional groups are an oddity of biochemistry, with no central role in the metabolism of the cell. We postulate that the extent of utilization of some phosphorus groups by life, especially those containing P⁻N bonds, is likely severely underestimated and has been largely overlooked, mainly due to the technological limitations in their detection and analysis.

Copper-promoted dehydrogenative cross-coupling reaction of dialkyl phosphites with sulfoximines

Synthesis of sulfoximine derived phosphoramidates was achieved in good to excellent yields from NH-sulfoximines and dialkyl phosphites.

A Burkholderia endophyte of the ancient maize landrace Chapalote utilizes c-di-GMP-dependent and independent signaling to suppress diverse plant fungal pathogen targets

Chapalote is a maize (corn) landrace grown continuously by subsistence farmers in the Americas since 1000 BC, valued in part for its broad-spectrum pathogen resistance. Previously, we showed that Chapalote possesses a bacterial endophyte, Burkholderia gladioli strain 3A12, which suppresses growth of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa, a fungal pathogen of a maize relative, used as a model system. Ten mutants that lost the anti-pathogen activities were identified, corresponding to five genes. However, S. homoeocarpa is not a known maize pathogen; hence, the relevance of these anti-fungal mechanisms to its ancient host has not been clear. Here, the strain 3A12 mutants were tested against a known pathogen of maize and many crops, Rhizoctonia solani. Microscopy established that wild-type 3A12 swarms towards, and attaches onto, the pathogen, forming microcolonies, resulting in hyphal cleavage. Analysis of the mutants revealed that 3A12 uses common downstream gene products (e.g. fungicides) to suppress the growth of both S. homoeocarpa and R. solani, but apparently different upstream regulatory machinery, with the former, but not latter pathogen, requiring YajQ, a receptor for the secondary messenger c-di-GMP. We conclude that B. gladioli strain 3A12, an endophyte of an ancient maize, employs both c-di-GMP-dependent and independent signaling to target diverse fungal pathogens.

Iridium-catalyzed C–H phosphoramidation of N-aryl-7-azaindoles with phosphoryl azides

An iridium-catalyzed C–H phosphoramidation of N-aryl-7-azaindoles with phosphoryl azides was developed, affording a series of 7-azaindole phenylphosphoramidates.

8-Oxo-7,8-dihydroadenine and 8-Oxo-7,8-dihydroadenosine-Chemistry, Structure, and Function in RNA and Their Presence in Natural Products and Potential Drug Derivatives

A description and history of the role that 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroadenine (8-oxoAde) and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroadenosine (8-oxoA) have in various fields has been compiled. This Review focusses on 1) the formation of this oxidatively generated modification in RNA, its interactions with other biopolymers, and its potential role in the development/progression of disease; 2) the independent synthesis and incorporation of this modified nucleoside into oligonucleotides of RNA to display the progress that has been made in establishing its behavior in biologically relevant systems; 3) reported synthetic routes, which date back to 1890, along with the progress that has been made in the total synthesis of the nucleobase, nucleoside, and their corresponding derivatives; and 4) the isolation, total synthesis, and biological activity of natural products containing these moieties as the backbone. The current state of research regarding this oxidatively generated lesion as well as its importance in the context of RNA, natural products, and potential as drug derivatives is illustrated using all available examples reported to date.

Genes Required for the Anti-fungal Activity of a Bacterial Endophyte Isolated from a Corn Landrace Grown Continuously by Subsistence Farmers Since 1000 BC

Endophytes are microbes that inhabit internal plant tissues without causing disease. Some endophytes are known to combat pathogens. The corn (maize) landrace Chapalote has been grown continuously by subsistence farmers in the Americas since 1000 BC, without the use of fungicides, and the crop remains highly valued by farmers, in part for its natural tolerance to pests. We hypothesized that the pathogen tolerance of Chapalote may, in part, be due to assistance from its endophytes. We previously identified a bacterial endophyte from Chapalote seeds, Burkholderia gladioli strain 3A12, for its ability to combat a diversity of crop pathogens, including Sclerotinia homoeocarpa, the most important fungal disease of creeping bentgrass, a relative of maize used here as a model system. Strain 3A12 represents a unique opportunity to understand the anti-fungal activities of an endophyte associated with a crop variety grown by subsistence farmers since ancient times. Here, microscopy combined with Tn5-mutagenesis demonstrates that the anti-fungal mode of action of 3A12 involves flagella-dependent swarming toward its pathogen target, attachment and biofilm-mediated microcolony formation. The mutant screen revealed that YajQ, a receptor for the secondary messenger c-di-GMP, is a critical signaling system that mediates this endophytic mobility-based defense for its host. Microbes from the traditional seeds of farmers may represent a new frontier in elucidating host-microbe mutualistic interactions.

Recent advances in C–H bond aminations catalyzed by ruthenium porphyrin complexes

This review deals with the use of ruthenium porphyrin complexes to catalyze hydrocarbon aminations. This class of versatile porphyrin catalysts are able to activate different nitrogen sources, such as iminoiodinanes and organic azides, and promote the synthesis of a variety of aza-derivatives. Many synthetic procedures have been discussed as well as catalytic mechanisms involved in order to give an overview on the use of ruthenium porphyrins to promote nitrene transfer reactions yielding aminated derivatives.

A Catalyst-Free Synthesis of Phosphinic Amides Using O-Benzoylhydroxylamines

A practical approach for the synthesis of phosphinic amides via the coupling of secondary phosphine oxides (SPOs) with O-benzoylhydroxylamines has been reported. Simply heating the mixture of SPOs and O-benzoylhydroxylamines in the presence of K(2)CO(3) gave the phosphinic amides in moderate to excellent yields under an open air system. This method provides a practical and catalyst-free method for the synthesis of various synthetically valuable phosphinic amides.

A Cp*CoI2-dimer as a precursor for cationic Co(iii)-catalysis: application to C–H phosphoramidation of indoles

C2-selective indole C–H phosphoramidation through Cp*Co(iii) catalysis was achieved.

Diastereoselective synthesis of P-chirogenic phosphoramidate prodrugs of nucleoside analogues (ProTides) via copper catalysed reaction

The first example of transition metal assisted diastereoselective synthesis of phosphoramidate of nucleoside analogues is presented.

Ruthenium(IV) porphyrin catalyzed phosphoramidation of aldehydes with phosphoryl azides as a nitrene source

[Ru(IV)(por)Cl(2)] (por = porphyrin dianion) can efficiently catalyze nitrene insertion into aldehyde C-H bonds with phosphoryl azides as a nitrene source to give N-acylphosphoramidates in good to high yields.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase inhibitors as potential antibiotics

Increasing resistance to antibiotics is a major problem worldwide and provides the stimulus for development of new bacterial inhibitors with preferably different modes of action. In search for new leads, several new bacterial targets are being exploited beside the use of traditional screening methods. Hereto, inhibition of bacterial protein synthesis is a long-standing validated target. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) play an indispensable role in protein synthesis and their structures proved quite conserved in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. However, some divergence has occurred allowing the development of selective aaRS inhibitors. Following an outline on the action mechanism of aaRSs, an overview will be given of already existing aaRS inhibitors, which are largely based on mimics of the aminoacyl-adenylates, the natural reaction intermediates. This is followed by a discussion on more recent developments in the field and the bioavailability problem.

Dinogunellins A-D: Putative ichthyootoxic phospholipids of northern blenny Stichaeus grigorjewi eggs

Dinogunellins A-D, ichthyootoxic phospholipids, have been isolated from the mature eggs of the northern blenny Stichaeus grigorjewi. Their structures were determined based on spectral and chemical methods as a mixture of 2’- or 3’-acylated adenosine 5’-phosphate linked to the α-carboxyl group of L-asparagine through a P-N bond.

Maturation of an Escherichia coli ribosomal peptide antibiotic by ATP-consuming N-P bond formation in microcin C7

Synthetic phosphoramidate analogues of nucleosides have been used as enzyme inhibitors for decades and have therapeutic applications in the treatments of HIV and cancer, but little is known about how N-P bonds are fashioned in nature. The heptapeptide MccA undergoes post-translational processing in producer strains of Escherichia coli to afford microcin C7 (MccC7), a "Trojan horse" antibiotic that contains a phosphoramidate linkage to adenosine monophosphate at its C-terminus. We show that the enzyme MccB, encoded by the MccC7 gene cluster, is responsible for formation of the N-P bond in MccC7. This modification requires the consumption of two ATP molecules per MccA peptide and formation and breakdown of a peptidyl-succinimide intermediate.

Synthesis and biological properties of new phosmidosine analogs having an N-acylsulfamate linkage

A new phosmidosine analog 10, in which the proline and 8-oxoadenosine moieties were linked by an N-acyl sulfamate linkage, was successfully synthesized by the sulfamoylation of an 8-oxoadenosine derivative 5 followed by coupling with an L-proline derivative 8. An L-alanine-substituted derivative 13 and its derivative 14 without the alanyl residue were also synthesized. The morphological reversion activity of these synthetic compounds in v-src(ts) NRK cells and their antitumor activity in L1210 and KB cells were studied. As the result, neither L-proline- nor L-alanine-substituted phosmidosine analogs 10 and 13 showed any antitumor activity. Contrary to these results, the derivative 14 lacking the amino acid residue showed potent antitumor activities against cancer cells.

Aspartyl-tRNA Synthetase Is the Target of Peptide Nucleotide Antibiotic Microcin C

Microcin C is a ribosome-synthesized heptapeptide that contains a modified adenosine monophosphate covalently attached to the C-terminal aspartate. Microcin C is a potent inhibitor of bacterial cell growth. Based on the in vivo kinetics of inhibition of macromolecular synthesis, Microcin C targets translation, through a mechanism that remained undefined. Here, we show that Microcin C is a subject of specific degradation inside the sensitive cell. The product of degradation, a modified aspartyl-adenylate containing an N-acylphosphoramidate linkage, strongly inhibits translation by blocking the function of aspartyl-tRNA synthetase.

Asparagine synthetase chemotherapy

Modern clinical treatments of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) employ enzyme-based methods for depletion of blood asparagine in combination with standard chemotherapeutic agents. Significant side effects can arise in these protocols and, in many cases, patients develop drug-resistant forms of the disease that may be correlated with up-regulation of the enzyme glutamine-dependent asparagine synthetase (ASNS). Though the precise molecular mechanisms that result in the appearance of drug resistance are the subject of active study, potent ASNS inhibitors may have clinical utility in treating asparaginase-resistant forms of childhood ALL. This review provides an overview of recent developments in our understanding of (a) the structure and catalytic mechanism of ASNS, and (b) the role that ASNS may play in the onset of drug-resistant childhood ALL. In addition, the first successful, mechanism-based efforts to prepare and characterize nanomolar ASNS inhibitors are discussed, together with the implications of these studies for future efforts to develop useful drugs.

Synthesis of a biotin-conjugate of phosmidosine O-ethyl ester as a G1 arrest antitumor drug

This paper deals with the synthesis of a stable biotin-phosmidosine conjugate molecule 3 that is required for isolation of biomolecules that bind to phosmidosine (1). It was found that introduction of a biotin residue into the 6-N position of phosmidosine could be carried out by reaction of an N7-Boc-7,8-dihydro-8-oxoadenosine derivative 13 with phenyl chloroformate followed by displacement with a diamine derivative 6 along with the simultaneous removal of the Boc group and one of the two phenoxycarbonyl groups and the successive condensation with an N-tritylated biotin derivative 5. The condensation of an N-prolylphosphorodiamidite derivative 4 with an appropriately protected 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoadenosine derivative 17 having the biotin residue gave the coupling product 18, which was deprotected to give the biotin-phosmidosine (O-ethyl ester) conjugate 3.

Structure-activity relationship of phosmidosine: importance of the 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoadenosine residue for antitumor activity

To study the structure-activity relationship of phosmidosine, a variety of phosmidosine derivatives 9a-g were synthesized by condensation of N-diisopropyl N'-(N-tritylprolyl)phosphorodiamidite 6 with appropriately protected nucleoside derivatives 7a-g. As the result, replacement of the 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoadenine base by adenine and 6-N-acetyladenine did not affect the antitumor activity. However, phosmidosine derivatives containing uracil, cytosine, and guanine in place of the 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoadenine base did not show significant activity. A plausible explanation for the selective expression of phosmidosine compared with that of phosmidosine analogs having other amino acids in place of proline is also discussed. These results suggest that phosmidosine serves as an inhibitor of prolyl adenosine 5'-phosphate (prolyl-AMP) to inhibit the peptide synthesis in cancer-related cells.

Synthesis of chemically stabilized phosmidosine analogues and the structure--activity relationship of phosmidosine

Phosmidosine is known to have potent antitumor activity and the unique property of stopping cell growth at the G(1) phase in the cell cycle. However, this natural product having N-prolylphosphoramidate and O-methyl ester linkages on the 5'-phosphoryl residue is unstable under basic conditions and even during the chemical synthesis due to its inherent methyl transfer activity. To find stable derivatives of phosmidosine, a variety of phosmidosine analogues 1a-d replaced by longer alkyl groups in place of the methyl group on the phosphoramidate linkage were synthesized by reaction of alkyl N-(N-tritylprolyl)phosphorodiamidite derivatives 7a-d with an 8-oxoadenosine derivative 4 protected with acid-labile protecting groups. Consequently, the O-ethyl ester derivative 1b was found to be sufficiently stable in aqueous solution. When the prolyl group was replaced by other aminoacyl moieties, the reaction of N-tritylaminoacylamide derivatives 25a-d with an appropriately protected 8-oxoadenosine 5'-(ethyl phosphoramidite) derivative 9 gave better results than the above coupling reaction. A phosphoramidothioate derivative 17 and several simple compounds such as 11, 13, and 15 lacking partial structures of phosmidosine were also synthesized. The antitumor activities of these modified analogues were extensively studied to clarify the structure-activity relationship of phosmidosine. As a result, the two diastereoisomers of longer alkyl-containing phosmidosine analogues both proved to have similar antitumor activities. Replacement of l-proline with other l-amino acids or d-proline resulted in considerable decrease of the antitumor activity. The non-nucleotidic materials 13 did not show any antitumor activity, but a simple core compound of 11 exhibited weak cytotoxicity. The phosphoramidothioate derivative 17 maintained essentially a similar antitumor activity, but the efficiency decreased slightly.

A concise synthesis of beta-asparaginyladenylate

Stable analogues of acyladenylate intermediates, such as N-acylphosphoramidates, are useful probes of tRNA aminoacylation and enzyme mechanism, and have potential application as enzyme inhibitors. We now report a concise, "one-pot" synthesis of beta-asparaginyladenylate using a novel coupling protocol that yields the target N-acylphosphoramidate in three reactions from readily available precursors. This simple synthetic procedure may represent a general approach for the preparation of functionalized N-acylphosphoramidates from amides that do not undergo coupling under the conditions of existing literature protocols.

First synthesis and anticancer activity of phosmidosine and its related compounds

This paper describes the first synthesis of phosmidosine and phosmidosine B, i.e., nucleotide antibiotics composed of 8-oxoadenosine and L-proline which are connected via a unique N-acyl phosphoramidate linkage. Phosmidosine has a yet-undetermined chiral center at the phosphorus atom of the N-acyl phosphoramidate linkage. Phosmidosine B is a demethylated phosmidosine derivative with no chirality on the phosphorus. Phosmidosine B was successfully synthesized by the reaction of an N-acetyl-8-oxoadenosine 5'-O-phosphoramidite derivative with an N-protected prolinamide in the presence of 5-(3,5-dinitrophenyl)-1H-tetrazole. The successful synthesis of phosmidosine was achieved by use of a tert-butoxycarbonyl (Boc) group, which was found to be selectively introduced into the 7-NH function of 8-oxoadenosine and to serve as a pseudo-protecting group due to its steric effect in such manner that the unmasked 6-amino group was not phosphitylated. Final coupling reaction of the 8-oxoadenosine 5'-phosphoramidite derivative with N-tritylprolinamide followed by full deprotection gave a mixture of phosmidosine and its diastereoisomer. The (13)C NMR spectra of the diastereomers suggest that the slow-eluted diastereomer 1b is the naturally occurring phosmidosine. The growth inhibitory activity of phosmidosine 1b, its diastereomer 1a, and phosmidosine B in various tumor cell lines was evaluated by the MTT assay. As the result, phosmidosine B showed high anticancer activities and both the diastereomers 1a and 1b of phosmidosine isolated were found to have similar but approximately 10 times higher anticancer activities than phosmidosine B. Moreover, it turned out that these phosmidosine derivatives showed characteristic inhibitory activities against cancer cells independent of their p53 phenotypes. These results suggest that phosmidosine and its related compounds would be promising as a new type of anticancer agents having a wide range of inhibitory activities against tumor cells.

Synthesis and properties of aminoacylamido-AMP: chemical optimization for the construction of an N-acyl phosphoramidate linkage

This paper describes the design and synthesis of a new type of aminoacyl-adenylate analogue (aa-AMPN) having an N-acyl phosphoramidate linkage where the oxygen atom of the mixed anhydride bond of aminoacyl-adenylate (aa-AMP) is replaced by an amino group. This new type of aa-AMP analogue is expected to be useful as material for studies on the recognition mechanism of the aminoacylation of tRNA and other biochemical reactions. The condensation of phosphoramidite derivatives of carboxamides with nucleoside derivatives failed, because the activated phosphoramidite derivatives reacted with not only the hydroxyl groups but also another reactive species. An alternative approach was examined by the reaction of 5'-O-phosphoramidite adenosine derivatives with carboxamide derivatives. The TBTr and TSE groups were chosen for protection of the amino group of amino acid amides and the phosphate group, respectively. Detailed studies revealed that the use of 5-(3,5-dinitrophenyl)-1H-tetrazole as an activating catalyst of phosphoramidites resulted in rapid condensation within 10 min to give fully protected aa-AMPN derivatives. No side reaction occurred. Deprotection of these products via a two-step procedure gave aa-AMPN derivatives in good yields. It also turned out that aa-AMPNs thus obtained are stable under both acidic and basic conditions, such as 0.1 M HCl (pH 1.0) and 0.1 M NaOH (pH 13.0).