A Simple Method of Dithioacetal—and Ketalization

Moderately lipophilic 2-(Het)aryl-6-dithioacetals, 2-phenyl-1,4-benzodioxane-6-dithioacetals and 2-phenylbenzofuran-5-dithioacetals: Synthesis and primary evaluation as potential antidiabetic AMPK-activators

Since the 1950's, AMP-kinase (AMPK) has been used as a promising target for the development of antidiabetic drugs against Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Indeed, the canonical antidiabetic drug metformin recruits, at least partially, AMPK activation for its therapeutic effect. Herein we present design and synthesis of 20 novel relatively polar cyclic and acyclic dithioacetals of 2-(Het)arylchroman-6-carbaldehydes, 2-phenyl-1,4-benzodioxane-6-carbaldehyde, and 2-phenylbenzofuran-5-carbaldehyde, which were developed as potential AMPK activators. Three of the synthesized dithioacetals demonstrated significant enhancement (≥70%) of glucose uptake in rat L6 myotubes. Noteworthy, one of the dithioacetals, namely 4-(6-(1,3-dithian-2-yl)chroman-2-yl)pyridine, exhibited high potency comparing to other molecules. It increased the rate of glucose uptake in rat L6 myotubes and augmented insulin secretion from rat INS-1E cells in pharmacological relevant concentrations (up to 2 μM). Both effects were mediated by activation of AMPK. In addition, the compound showed excellent pharmacokinetic profile in healthy mice, including maximal oral bioavailability. Such bifunctionality (increased glucose uptake and insulin secretion) can be used as a starting point for the development of a novel class of antidiabetic drugs with dual activity that is relevant for T2D treatment.

Equilibrium Acidities of Nitroalkanes in an Ionic Liquid

The acidity ladder scale in [BMPY][NTf₂] was successfully expanded toward the weak acidity region for about five more p K units compared to the previously established one. This allows the acidities of a series of 13 aliphatic and aromatic nitroalkanes to be determined accurately by the UV-vis spectroscopic method. The acidity of nitroalkane in [BMPY][NTf₂] covers ∼8 p K units and is significantly weaker than those in DMSO and water. The Hammett plot for 4-substituted phenylnitromethanes shows an excellent linearity with a slope of 2.06, which is rather close to that in DMSO but significantly larger than that in water (0.80). The regression analyses reveal that the solvation behavior of [BMPY][NTf₂] on the acidic dissociations of C-H acids is similar to that of DMSO.

Rhodium-catalyzed denitrogenative thioacetalization of N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles with disulfides: an entry to diverse transformation of terminal alkynes

An efficient and useful rhodium-catalyzed denitrogenative thioacetalization of N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles has been developed for the first time. The protocol uses readily available N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles and diaryl disulfides as the starting materials. The corresponding hydrolytic and reductive products with thioacetals were obtained in good to excellent yields, and the reactions were carried out easily under mild conditions with tolerance of some functional groups. Furthermore, the generated thioacetals could be transformed into some useful compounds. Therefore, the present method provides a novel and valuable strategy for the diverse transformation of alkynes.

Total Synthesis of (-)-Coriolin

An efficient synthetic method for (-)-coriolin has been developed on the basis of a [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of a 1-(methylthio)-2-siloxyallyl cationic species and vinylsulfides. An enantiomerically pure C-ring unit was prepared through optical resolution of five-membered allyl ester 6b using a lipase. The first [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of C-ring unit (S)-7 gave bicyclic ketones 8 and 9, which were easily converted into vinyl sulfide 11. Stereoselective construction of the A-ring was achieved by the second [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of the BC-ring unit. New methods for introduction of the oxygen functional groups to the triquinane skeleton were also developed for the last stages of the total synthesis. Thus, the C7 hydroxyl group was introduced by epoxidation of dienol silyl ether 17, and stereocontrolled construction of the spiro epoxide moiety was accomplished on the basis of a Darzens-type reaction.