Enantioselective synthesis of 12-amino alkylidenecyclopentenone prostaglandins

One-Pot Synthesis of α,β-Unsaturated γ-Lactones and Lactams via a Sequential trans-Hydroalumination and Catalytic Carboxylation of Propargyl Alcohols and Amines with Carbon Dioxide

A one-pot, sequential process that combines a trans-selective hydroalumination of propargyl alcohols and amines with a copper- or silver-catalyzed carboxylation reaction using carbon dioxide, followed by an acid-mediated intramolecular condensation step, led to the formation of a wide range of α,β-unsaturated γ-butyrolactones and lactams.

Batch and flow photochemical benzannulations based on the reaction of ynamides and diazo ketones. Application to the synthesis of polycyclic aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds

Highly substituted polycyclic aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds are produced via a two-stage tandem benzannulation/cyclization strategy. The initial benzannulation step proceeds via a pericyclic cascade mechanism triggered by thermal or photochemical Wolff rearrangement of a diazo ketone. The photochemical process can be performed using a continuous flow reactor which facilitates carrying out reactions on a large scale and minimizes the time required for photolysis. Carbomethoxy ynamides as well as more ketenophilic bis-silyl ynamines and N-sulfonyl and N-phosphoryl ynamides serve as the reaction partner in the benzannulation step. In the second stage of the strategy, RCM generates benzofused nitrogen heterocycles, and various heterocyclization processes furnish highly substituted and polycyclic indoles of types that were not available by using the previous cyclobutenone-based version of the tandem strategy.

Tandem double intramolecular [4+2]/[3+2] cycloadditions of nitroalkenes: construction of the pentacyclic core structure of daphnilactone B

An asymmetric synthesis of the ABCD ring system of daphnilactone B is described. The synthesis features a tandem, double intramolecular, [4+2]/[3+2] cycloaddition of a highly functionalized, enantiomerically enriched nitroalkene to generate a pentacyclic nitroso acetal. The cycloaddition establishes six contiguous stereogenic centers including the critical CD ring junction that bears two quaternary stereogenic centers. Hydrogenolysis of the nitroso acetal followed by amide reduction and cyclization provided the AB rings. The methyl substituent on the A ring was installed in the correct configuration via hydrogenation of an exocyclic olefin in the final step.

Synthesis of (-)-agelastatin A by [3.3] sigmatropic rearrangement of allyl cyanate

Total synthesis of (-)-agelastatin A has been achieved starting from l-arabitol. The highlights in our synthesis include the preparation of vicinal diamine moiety by [3.3] sigmatropic rearrangement of allyl cyanate and construction of central ring-C with ring-closing metathesis.

Cross metathesis as a general strategy for the synthesis of prostacyclin and prostaglandin analogues

[reaction: see text] A cross metathesis (CM) approach has been successfully applied to introduce fully functionalized omega-side chain appendages of various prostacyclin and prostaglandin analogues, resulting in high (E)-selectivities for the C13-C14 double bond and leading to the total syntheses of isocarbacyclin, 15R-TIC, carbacyclin, and PGF(2)(alpha) and the formal syntheses of 15-deoxy-TIC and PGJ(2).

Novel synthetic strategies for the preparation of prostacyclin and prostaglandin analogues ? off the beaten track

The recent increase in activity in the fields of neuroscience and life sciences has been mirrored by the design and synthesis of novel chemically and metabolically stable prostaglandin and prostacyclin analogues. Consequently, convenient and practical access to these important classes of compounds is greatly coveted. Various strategies for the preparation of prostacyclin, prostaglandin and isoprostane analogues are discussed, with particular focus on novel approaches developed in our own laboratories.

Solid-Phase Synthesis and Biological Activity of a Combinatorial Cross-Conjugated Dienone Library

The solid-phase synthesis of a combinatorial cross-conjugated dienone library based on the structure of clavulones and their biological activity are reported. Clavulones are a family of marine prostanoids, and are composed of a cross-conjugated dienone system bearing two alkyl side-chains. The cross-conjugated dienone system irreversibly reacted with two nucleophiles. Our strategy for the solid-phase synthesis of the cross-conjugated dienones involves the Sonogashira-coupling reaction of a solid-supported cyclopentenone 10 bearing an acetylene group, followed by aldol condensation with aldehydes. The diphenyl derivative 7 aA was prepared from the solid-supported cyclopentenone 10 in 56% total yield. Combinatorial synthesis of a small library using twelve halides and eight aldehydes resulted in the production of 74 desired compounds from 98 candidates, and were detected by their mass spectra. Antiproliferative effects of the crude compounds against HeLaS3 cells showed that eleven samples showed strong antitumor activity (IC50<0.05 microM). Further biological examination of four purified compounds by using five tumor cell lines (A549, HeLaS3, MCF7, TMF1, and P388) revealed strong cytotoxicity comparable to that of adriamycin.

Intramolecular [4 + 2] Cycloaddition of Nitroalkenes for Construction of Vicinal Quaternary Stereocenters

[chemical reaction: see text]. Nitroalkene (E)-1 has been synthesized to test the feasibility of an intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition in a planned synthesis of daphnilactone B. This nitro olefin contains two unique structural features, a nitromethylene lactone and a pendant diene, that combine under the action of SnCl4 in a highly selective fashion to afford nitronates 2a and 2b. These products represent the correct relationship for the vicinal quaternary stereogenic centers in the core of daphnilactone B.

Induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis by a marine prostanoid in human hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a very common malignancy and is highly chemoresistant to currently available chemotherapeutic agents. We isolated a marine prostanoid, bromovulone III, from soft coral Clavularia viridis and found that it displayed effective anti-tumor activity in human hepatocellular carcinoma. The anti-tumor mechanism has been delineated in this study.

METHODS

Anti-tumor efficacy and apoptotic cell death were examined by sulforhodamine B and Hoechst 33342 assays. Rhodamine 123 was used to measure the change of mitochondrial membrane potential. Immunoprecipitation and Western blotting detect the involvement of several apoptosis-related proteins. Electron microscopic examination detects the morphological change of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER).

RESULTS

Bromovulone III primarily induced mitochondria-related activation of caspase-9 and -3 in several tumor types, such as prostate cancer PC-3 and acute promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. However, it primarily induced the activation of m-calpain, caspase-12, and transcription factor CHOP/GADD153 in hepatocellular carcinoma Hep3B cells, suggesting the involvement of ER stress. Furthermore, a secondary mitochondrial swelling and depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential were subsequently triggered after ER stress, suggesting the crosstalk between ER and mitochondria.

CONCLUSIONS

It is suggested that bromovulone III induces apoptosis in Hep3B cells through a mechanism that induces ER stress and leads to activation of CHOP/GADD153 and caspase-12.

Trans-Selective Conversions of γ-Hydroxy-α,β-Alkynoic Esters to γ-Hydroxy-α,β-Alkenoic Esters

Gamma-hydroxy-alpha,beta-acetylenic esters are used as precursors to prepare gamma-hydroxy-alpha,beta-alkenoic esters by means of trans-selective additions of two hydrogen atoms or one hydrogen atom and one iodine atom across the triple bonds. These methods allow for the preparation of beta-substituted and alpha,beta-disubstituted alkenoic esters in highly stereoselective manners. [reaction--see text]

Efficient Solid-Phase Synthesis of Clavulones via Sequential Coupling of α- and ω-Chains

We describe an efficient solid-phase synthesis of clavulones via the sequential coupling of the alpha- and omega-chains, involving two separate carbon-carbon bond-forming steps. The tetrahydropyranyl linker survived these reaction conditions and was cleaved without decomposing the unstable cross-conjugated dienones. Our methodology has allowed us to prepare six clavulone derivatives that are varied within the alpha-chain.

A new method for installation of aryl and alkenyl groups onto a cyclopentene ring and synthesis of prostaglandins

To construct a new strategy for synthesis of cyclopentanoids, the transition metal-catalyzed coupling reaction of cis 4-cyclopentene-1,3-diol monoacetate 1 with hard nucleophiles, R(T)-m, was investigated (eq 1 in Chart 1). Although preliminary experiments using PhZnCl, PhSnMe(3), [Ph-B(Me)(OCH(Me)CH(Me)O)]-Li(+) (6a) (derived from boronate ester 4a (R(T) = Ph) and MeLi) in the presence of a palladium or a nickel catalyst resulted in production of unidentified compounds, enone 16, and/or ketone 17 or recovery of 1, a new borate 5a (derived from 4a and n-BuLi) in the presence of a nickel catalyst (NiCl(2)(PPh(3))(2)) in THF at room temperature furnished the trans coupling products 2a (R(T) = Ph) and 3a (R(T) = Ph) in high combined yield, but with a low product ratio of 0.9:1. The ratio was improved to 13:1 by addition of t-BuCN and NaI into the reaction mixture. This is the first successful example of the reaction of 1 with a hard nucleophile, and the increase in the ratio, realized with the additives, is unprecedented. This reagent system (borate 5 (1.2-1.8 equiv), NiCl(2)(PPh(3))(2) (5-10 mol %), t-BuCN (2-5 equiv), NaI (0.5-1 equiv), THF, room temp) was further investigated with aryl borates 5b-g and alkenyl borates 5h-n to afford 2b-n in moderate to good yields (52-89%) with practically acceptable levels of the regioselectivity (5 approximately 21:1), thus establishing the generality of the reaction (Table 2, eqs 6 and 7). Starting with the products of the coupling reaction, syntheses of the prostaglandin intermediates 13 and 14 (for 11-deoxy-PGE(2) and PGA(2)) and Delta(7)-PGA(1) methyl ester (15) were accomplished efficiently. During these investigations, LDA, LiCA, and LHMDS were found to be equally efficient bases for aldol reaction at the alpha' (alpha prime) position of cyclopentenones 39, 40, and 41 (Table 3).