Fine-tuning of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate esters that potently induce degradation of HMG-CoA reductase

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase is the rate-limiting enzyme in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway, and competitive inhibitors targeting the catalytic domain of this enzyme, so-called statins, are widely used for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. The membrane domain mediates the sterol-accelerated degradation, a post-translational negative feedback mechanism, and small molecules triggering such degradation have been studied as an alternative therapeutic option. Such strategies are expected to provide benefits over catalytic site inhibitors, as the inhibition leads to transcriptional and post-translational upregulation of the enzyme, necessitating a higher dose of the inhibitors and concomitantly increasing the risk of serious adverse effects, including myopathies. Through our previous study on SR12813, a synthetic small molecule that induces degradation of HMG-CoA reductase, we identified a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate ester SRP3042 as a highly potent HMG-CoA reductase degrader. Here, we performed a systematic structure-activity relationship study to optimize its activity and physicochemical properties, specifically focusing on the reduction of lipophilicity. Mono-fluorination of tert-butyl groups on the molecules was found to increase the HMG-CoA reductase degradation activity while reducing lipophilicity, suggesting the mono-fluorination of saturated alkyl groups as a useful strategy to balance potency and lipophilicity of the lead compounds.

Synthesis and evaluation of stable substrate analogs as potential modulators of cyclodiphosphate synthase IspF

Stable IspF substrate analogs were synthesized. In the presence of substrate analogs, the E. coli IspF-MEP complex shows activities distinct from IspF, and bisphosphonates (BP) behave differently than their diphosphate (DP) counterparts. Bisphosphonate analogs activate and/or stabilize IspF, and only the closest structural substrate analog weakly inhibits the IspF-MEP complex.

Multistep organic synthesis of modular photosystems

Quite extensive synthetic achievements vanish in the online supporting information of publications on functional systems. Underappreciated, their value is recognized by experts only. As an example, we here focus in on the recent synthesis of multicomponent photosystems with antiparallel charge-transfer cascades in co-axial hole- and electron-transporting channels. The synthetic steps are described one-by-one, starting with commercial starting materials and moving on to key intermediates, such as asparagusic acid, an intriguing natural product, as well as diphosphonate “feet”, and panchromatic naphthalenediimides (NDIs), to finally reach the target molecules. These products are initiators and propagators for self-organizing surface-initiated polymerization (SOSIP), a new method introduced to secure facile access to complex architectures. Chemoorthogonal to the ring-opening disulfide exchange used for SOSIP, hydrazone exchange is then introduced to achieve stack exchange, which is a “switching” technology invented to drill giant holes into SOSIP architectures and fill them with functional π-stacks of free choice.

A concise synthesis of α-D-ribofuranosyl alkylphosphonates — Putative substrate intermediates for the carbon–phosphorous lyase system

Carbon–phosphorous lyase is a multienzyme system found in many species of bacteria that is distinguished by its ability to hydrolyze a broad array of unactivated alkylphosphonates. α-D-Ribofuranosyl alkylphosphonates are potential metabolic intermediates generated by the carbon–phosphorous lyase pathway. Here we describe a facile synthesis of α-D-ribofuranosyl alkylphosphonates using β-D-ribofuranosyl trichloracetimidate as a glycosyl donor.Key words: carbon–phosphorous lyase, phn operon, phnN, phosphonates, glycosyl trichloroacetimidate donor, α-D-ribofuranosyl ethylphosphonate.

Building a successful structural motif into sialylmimetics-cyclohexenephosphonate monoesters as pseudo-sialosides with promising inhibitory properties

A variable synthesis of a new class of sialylmimetics which provides access to pseudo-sialosides containing the successful cyclohexene motif in the sialic acid mimicking part has been developed. The D- and L-xylo cyclohexenephosphonate scaffolds allow attachment of selected aglycons or aglycon mimetics via mixed phosphonate diester strategies and some target compounds thus synthesized displayed promising inhibitory properties when tested with parasitic or bacterial sialidases.

SYNTHESIS OF SYMMETRICAL METHYLENEBIS(ALKYL HYDROGEN PHOSPHONATES) BY SELECTIVE CLEAVAGE OF METHYLENEBIS(DIALKYL PHOSPHONATES) WITH MORPHOLINE

The preparation of partial esters of methylenebisphosphonic acids has been of recent interest due to their potential therapeutic applications. This paper describes a convenient method to prepare symmetrical methylenebis(alkyl hydrogen phosphonates) by the selective cleavage of the corresponding methylenebis(dialkyl phosphonate) with refluxing morpholine. The effects of structural variations on the amine as well as the substrate have been investigated to understand the scope and limitations of this reaction. A superior approach to hindered bisphosphonic acid esters involves the cleavage of their dimethyl esters, 4, using morpholine. This method is also useful to access a number of C-alkyl dialkyl methylenebisphosphonic acids such as 6. This study clearly shows that cleavage with morpholine is convenient, inexpensive, and allows for the preparation of a variety of P,P'-disubstituted partial esters in good yields and high purity.