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

Iodine/water-mediated deprotective oxidation of allylic ethers to access α,β-unsaturated ketones and aldehydes

The first iodine/water-mediated deprotective oxidation of allylic ethers to access α,β-unsaturated ketones and aldehydes was achieved. The reaction tolerates a wide range of functionalities. Furthermore, this protocol was found to be applicable to the oxidative transformation of allylic acetates. The proposed mechanism involves an oxygen transfer from solvent water to the carbonyl products.

The first iodine/water-mediated deprotective oxidation of allylic ethers to access α,β-unsaturated ketones and aldehydes was effectively achieved.

Combinatorial synthesis and evaluation of α-iminocarboxamide-nickel(II) catalysts for the copolymerization of ethylene and a polar monomer

Late-transition metal catalysts used for olefin polymerization, the so-called postmetallocenes, which includes α-iminocarboxamide-nickel(II) catalysts have attracted a great deal of attention because of many valuable features such as the copolymerization of α-olefins with polar monomers. In this paper, the combinatorial synthesis and evaluation of α-iminocarboxamide-nickel(II) catalysts are discussed for their roles in the discovery of a highly active catalyst and elucidation of its structure-activity relationship. The combinatorial optimization of each reaction condition was performed, then a combinatorial library of α-iminocarboxamides with systematically modified substituents was constructed by amidation of α-keto acid chlorides and subsequent imination of α-keto carboxamides in parallel fashion. As a result, 87 analytically pure α-iminocarboxamide ligands were successfully synthesized. α-Iminocarboxamide-nickel(II) catalysts were prepared from the synthesized α-iminocarboxamide ligands. The catalysts' activities for polymerization of ethylene and copolymerization of ethylene and 5-norbornen-2-ol were evaluated. Results of the present study revealed 9 novel active catalysts for ethylene polymerization and 7 novel active catalysts for copolymerization of ethylene and 5-norbornen-2-ol. It should be noted that the best catalysts for ethylene polymerization and for copolymerization in the present study showed higher activities compared to the known active catalyst. Polymerization activities of the catalysts varied dramatically according to the combination of substituents on the α-iminocarboxamides.

Polymer-Assisted Solution-Phase Synthesis and Neurite-Outgrowth-Promoting Activity of 15-Deoxy-Δ12,14-PGJ2 Derivatives

An efficient solution-phase synthesis of rac-15-deoxy-delta(12,14)-PGJ2 (15dPGJ2) derivatives that contain variable alpha and omega chains based on a polymer-assisted strategy and their neurite-outgrowth-promoting activity are described. The strategy for the synthesis of PGJ2 derivatives involves the use of a vinyl iodide bearing cyclopentenone as a key intermediate, which undergoes Suzuki-Miyaura coupling and subsequent Lewis acid catalyzed aldol condensation for incorporation of the omega and alpha chains, respectively. For easy access to the PGJ2 derivatives, a polymer-supported catalyst and scavengers were adapted for use in these four diverse steps, in which workup and purification can be performed by simple filtration of the solid-supported reagents. By using this methodology, we succeeded in the synthesis of 16 PGJ2 derivatives with four alkyl boranes and four aldehydes. The neurite-outgrowth-promoting activity of the 16 synthetic compounds in PC12 cells revealed that the side-chains play a major role in modulating their biological activity. The carboxylic acid on the alpha chain improved the biological activity, although it was not absolutely required. Furthermore, a PGJ2 derivative with a phenyl moiety on the omega chain was found to exhibit an activity comparable to that of natural 15dPGJ2.

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.