Synthesis of Functionalized Diketopiperazines as Cyclotryprostatin and Tryprostatin Analogues

Synthesis of C2-Carbonyl Indoles via Visible Light-Induced Oxidative Cleavage of an Aminomethylene Group

A strategy for photochemical oxidative cleavage of the aminomethylene group at the C2 position of indole was developed to synthesize C2-carbonyl indoles. The reaction was initiated by the photochemical oxidation of N1, followed by a water-assisted concerted H-shift by abstracting hydrogen from aminomethylene. Bromopyridine was discovered to play dual roles as an oxidant for the regeneration of photocatalysts and as an accelerant for the single-electron transfer process.

Discovery of 3,3'-pyrrolidinyl-spirooxindoles as cardioprotectant prohibitin ligands

The scaffold proteins prohibitins-1 and 2 (PHB1/2) play many important roles in coordinating many cell signaling pathways and represent emerging targets in cardiology and oncology. We previously reported that a family of natural products derivatives, flavaglines, binds to PHB1/2 to exert cardioprotectant and anti-cancer effects. However, flavaglines also target the initiation factor of translation eIF4A, which doesn't contribute to cardioprotection and may even induce some adverse effects. Herein, we report the development of a convenient and robust synthesis of the new PHB2 ligand 2'-phenylpyrrolidinyl-spirooxindole, and its analogues. We discovered that these compounds displays cardioprotective effect against doxorubicin mediated cardiotoxicity and uncovered the structural requirement for this activity. We identified in particular some analogues that are more cardioprotectant than flavaglines. Pull-down experiments demonstrated that these compounds bind not only to PHB2 but also PHB1. These novel PHB ligands may provide the basis for the development of new drugs candidates to protect the heart against the adverse effects of anticancer treatments.