Synthesis of enantiopure trans-3,4-disubstituted piperidines. An enantiodivergent synthesis of (+)- and (-)-paroxetine

Regiodivergent Asymmetric Pyridinium Additions: Mechanistic Insight and Synthetic Applications

A practical protocol for the first regiodivergent asymmetric addition of aryl and alkenyl organometallic reagents to substituted N-alkyl pyridinium heterocycles is described. The couplings proceed with high regiochemical and stereochemical selectivities, and provide access to chiral 1,2,3- and 1,3,4-trisubstituted dihydropyridine products, controlled by judicious choice of nitrogen activating agent. To this end, a correlation was found between the parameterized size of the activating group and the C2/C4 regioselectivity in the couplings. The utility of the described chemistry was demonstrated in two concise asymmetric syntheses of (+)-N-methylaspidospermidine and (-)-paroxetine.

Catalytic Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Tetrasubstituted Unsaturated Lactams: An Efficient Approach to Enantioenriched 3,4-Disubstituted Piperidines

Asymmetric hydrogenation of tetrasubstituted alkenes remains a formidable challenge in asymmetric catalysis. We report herein an unprecedented Rh-catalyzed enantioselective and diastereoselective hydrogenation of easily accessed α,β-disubstituted unsaturated lactams to afford synthetically valuable chiral lactams with 1,2-consecutive stereocenters. The reaction could be performed on the gram scale, and the products could be concisely transformed to enantiomerically pure trans-3,4-disubstituted piperidines, which are prevalent structural units in medicinal agents.

Chemical and structural investigation of the paroxetine-human serotonin transporter complex

Antidepressants target the serotonin transporter (SERT) by inhibiting serotonin reuptake. Structural and biochemical studies aiming to understand binding of small-molecules to conformationally dynamic transporters like SERT often require thermostabilizing mutations and antibodies to stabilize a specific conformation, leading to questions about relationships of these structures to the bonafide conformation and inhibitor binding poses of wild-type transporter. To address these concerns, we determined the structures of ∆N72/∆C13 and ts2-inactive SERT bound to paroxetine analogues using single-particle cryo-EM and x-ray crystallography, respectively. We synthesized enantiopure analogues of paroxetine containing either bromine or iodine instead of fluorine. We exploited the anomalous scattering of bromine and iodine to define the pose of these inhibitors and investigated inhibitor binding to Asn177 mutants of ts2-active SERT. These studies provide mutually consistent insights into how paroxetine and its analogues bind to the central substrate-binding site of SERT, stabilize the outward-open conformation, and inhibit serotonin transport.

A Novel Bromine-Containing Paroxetine Analogue Provides Mechanistic Clues for Binding Ambiguity at the Central Primary Binding Site of the Serotonin Transporter

The serotonin transporter (SERT) is the primary target for the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). However, the structural basis for the extraordinarily high binding affinity of the widely prescribed SSRI, paroxetine, to human SERT (hSERT) has not yet been fully elucidated. Our previous findings unveiled a plausible ambiguity in paroxetine's binding orientations that may constitute an integral component of this SSRI's high affinity for hSERT. Herein, we investigate factors contributing to paroxetine's high affinity by modifying both the ligand and the protein. We generated a series of bromine (Br)-containing derivatives and found that the one in which the 4-F of paroxetine had been replaced with the chemically similar but more electron-rich Br atom (13) had the highest affinity. By comparatively characterizing the binding of paroxetine and 13 to both wild type (WT) and a construct harboring a paroxetine-sensitive mutation in the binding cavity, we identified a mechanistic determinant responsible for the pose ambiguity of paroxetine, which can guide future drug design.

Enantioselective synthesis and antioxidant activity of 3,4,5-substituted piperidine derivatives

In this study, 3,4,5-trisubstituted piperidines were synthesized enantioselectively, and their antioxidant activity was evaluated. The 3,4,5-trisubstituted piperidines containing TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl) and a spatially proximal hydroxy group showed good antioxidant activity. Some of these compounds showed IC50 values in a nanomolar range, comparable to that of TEMPO. Probably the TEMPO generated from the homolysis of the CON bond of 3,4,5-trisubstituted piperidines functions as a radical-scavenging entity, and the hydroxy group of piperidines has a synergistic effect to the antioxidant activity.

Sequential oxonium–olefin–alkyne cyclization for the stereoselective synthesis of (octahydro-1H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyridin-5-yl)methanone derivatives

A broad range of aldehydes undergo a smooth cascade cyclization with (E)-5-(3-phenylprop-2-ynylamino)pent-3-en-1-ol in the presence of BF₃·OEt₂ at room temperature.

Diastereoselective and enantioselective conjugate addition reactions utilizing α,β-unsaturated amides and lactams

The conjugate addition reaction has been a useful tool in the formation of carbon-carbon bonds. The utility of this reaction has been demonstrated in the synthesis of many natural products, materials, and pharmacological agents. In the last three decades, there has been a significant increase in the development of asymmetric variants of this reaction. Unfortunately, conjugate addition reactions using α,β-unsaturated amides and lactams remain underdeveloped due to their inherently low reactivity. This review highlights the work that has been done on both diastereoselective and enantioselective conjugate addition reactions utilizing α,β-unsaturated amides and lactams.

An efficient and highly diastereoselective synthesis of GSK1265744, a potent HIV integrase inhibitor

A novel synthesis of GSK1265744, a potent HIV integrase inhibitor, is described. The synthesis is highlighted by an efficient construction of the densely functionalized pyridinone core as well as a highly diastereoselective formation of the acyl oxazolidine moiety. The latter exploits the target molecule's ability to chelate to Mg(2+), a key feature in the integrase inhibitor's mechanism of action.

Rapid Construction of (-)-Paroxetine and (-)-Femoxetine via N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed Homoenolate Addition to Nitroalkenes

A concise enantioselective synthesis of (-)-paroxetine (Paxil) and (-)-femoxetine has been achieved. Key to these syntheses is a N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed homoenolate addition to a nitroalkene followed by in situ reduction of the nitro-group to rapidly access δ-lactams.

Asymmetric organocatalysis at the service of medicinal chemistry

The application of the most representative and up-to-date examples of homogeneous asymmetric organocatalysis to the synthesis of molecules of interest in medicinal chemistry is reported. The use of different types of organocatalysts operative via noncovalent and covalent interactions is critically reviewed and the possibility of running some of these reactions on large or industrial scale is described. A comparison between the organo- and metal-catalysed methodologies is offered in several cases, thus highlighting the merits and drawbacks of these two complementary approaches to the obtainment of very popular on market drugs or of related key scaffolds.

Asymmetric N-Acyliminium Cyclization as an Approach to Heterocyclic Natural Product Synthesis

This paper describes the development of a highly stereoselective N-acyliminium cyclization protocol for the construction of a range of non-racemic heterocyclic templates. Due to the nature of this review, we have focused primarily on developments made within our own research group, but have included relevant and noteworthy contributions in the same area from others, most notably the research groups of Amat, Bosch and Lete. As a result, we apologize in advance for the omission of much excellent work carried out by many other talented researchers in this field.

Synthesis of fused piperidinones through a radical-ionic cascade

Azabicyclo[4.3.0]nonanes were assembled, from chiral allylsilanes possessing an oxime moiety, using a stereocontrolled formal [2 + 2 + 2] radical-ionic process. The cascade involves the addition of an alpha-iodoester to the less substituted end of the enoxime which is then followed by a 5-exo-trig cyclization onto the aldoxime function, producing an alkoxyaminyl radical species which finally lactamizes to afford the titled piperidinone. High levels of stereoinduction were observed, demonstrating the ability of a silicon group located at the allylic position to efficiently control the stereochemistry of the two newly created stereogenic centers. When the radical cascade was extended to ketoximes, the resulting sterically hindered alkoxyaminyl radical did not react further with the initiator Et3B to produce the expected nucleophilic amidoborane complex. In sharp contrast, this long-lived radical recombined with the initial alpha-stabilized ester radical to produce a cyclopentane incorporating two ester fragments.