Selective Modification of Ribosomally Synthesized and Post-Translationally Modified Peptides (RiPPs) through Diels-Alder Cycloadditions on Dehydroalanine Residues

We report the late‐stage chemical modification of ribosomally synthesized and post‐translationally modified peptides (RIPPs) by Diels–Alder cycloadditions to naturally occurring dehydroalanines. The tail region of the thiopeptide thiostrepton could be modified selectively and efficiently under microwave heating and transition‐metal‐free conditions. The Diels–Alder adducts were isolated and the different site‐ and endo/exo isomers were identified by 1D/2D ¹H NMR. Via efficient modification of the thiopeptide nosiheptide and the lanthipeptide nisin Z the generality of the method was established. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays of the purified thiostrepton Diels–Alder products against thiostrepton‐susceptible strains displayed high activities comparable to that of native thiostrepton. These Diels–Alder products were also subjected successfully to inverse‐electron‐demand Diels–Alder reactions with a variety of functionalized tetrazines, demonstrating the utility of this method for labeling of RiPPs.

Exploratory studies towards a total synthesis of the unusual bridged tetracyclic Lycopodium alkaloid lycopladine H

A strategy for a total synthesis of the structurally novel Lycopodium alkaloid lycopladine H has been investigated. Key steps that have been tested include: 1.a regioselective Diels-Alder cycloaddition of nitroethylene with an o-quinone ketal to produce the bicyclo[2.2.2]octane moiety of the alkaloid; 2. a stereoselective Henry reaction to generate the requisite functionality and configuration at C-5; 3. a stereoselective catalytic hydrogenation of a trisubstituted alkene to set the C-15 methyl configuration.

Methyl mercapturate synthesis: an efficient, convenient and simple method

A safe and simple method for methyl S-arylmercapturate synthesis is described. Thirteen such compounds, to be used afterwards in metabolism studies, have been obtained with yields ranging from 71 to 99.6%. These compounds were obtained using a sulfa-Michael addition and synthesized by adding the corresponding thiophenols to a mixture composed of methyl 2-acetamidoacrylate (MAA), potassium carbonate and a phase transfer catalyst, Aliquat 336. MAA, the initial synthon, was itself isolated in quasi quantitative yield following a fully described synthesis.

An efficient route to all stereoisomeric enantiopure 6-amino-3-alkyl-3- azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-6-carboxylic acids

A single-step synthesis on a gram scale of four pure stereoisomers of the 6-amino-3-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-6-carboxylic acid was carried out using (R)-1-phenylethylamine to confer chirality. The phenylethyl group, and the p-methoxy group linked to the N-atom, are easily removed by hydrogenolysis to afford the corresponding NH-3 derivatives. A series of N-3-alkyl compounds were prepared by way of a "one-pot" deprotection-alkylation procedure starting from the above key compounds. Their biological activity has been evaluated on the GABA receptor.

1-Aminocyclopentane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acids screening on glutamatergic and serotonergic systems

Enantiopure constrained 1-aminocyclopentane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acids containing the glutamic acid skeleton were prepared as two diastereomers characterized by having the carboxylic groups in position two and four cis-oriented to each other and trans with respect to 1-carboxylic group and all cis-oriented carboxylic groups, respectively. A biochemical screening of activity of the above amino acids was investigated on glutamate and 5-HT receptors to find a possible metabotropic agonist, acting on the serotoninergic system.

Alpha,gamma-diamino acids: asymmetric synthesis of new constrained 6-amino-3-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-6-carboxylic acids

The synthesis of two new diastereomeric 6-amino-3-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-6-carboxylic acids exo- and endo-8,9 is reported using exo- and endo-norbornene amino acids as chiral building blocks. This method provides a fast access to optically pure amino acids 8 and 9 which can be considered both alpha,gamma- and alpha,delta-diamino acids containing sterical constraints and characterized by alpha,alpha-disubstitution.

Asymmetric synthesis of 2-amino-3-hydroxynorbornene-2-carboxylic acid derivatives

The enantioselective synthesis of 2-amino-3-hydroxynorbornene-2-carboxylic acid derivatives (5) was studied using the Diels-Alder reaction between cyclopentadiene and different dienophiles, i.e., alkyl 5-oxo-2-phenyloxazol-4-methylenecarbonates (1) or 2-benzoylamino-3-alkoxycarbonyloxy-acrylates (12), operating with different Lewis acids and both with thermal and with ultrasound conditions. The enantioselective synthesis of the exo/endo compounds 5c,d and 5'c,d was achieved starting from the chiral menthyl acrylates 12b,c using Mg(ClO(4))(2) as the catalyst and ultrasound. The cycloadducts were obtained in very good yield, in mild conditions, in short time, and in good diastereomeric excess (exo, 80%; endo, 87%). Finally, the use of alkylidene-oxazolones or acrylates and EtAlCl(2) or Mg(ClO(4))(2) as the catalyst allowed control of the cycloaddition reaction in favor of the exo or endo products.

Conformationally constrained serine analogues: synthesis of new 2-amino-3-hydroxynorbornanecarboxylic acid derivatives

A synthesis of the new oxazolone 2, functionalized with the ethoxycarbonyloxy group on methylenic carbon, is presented, starting from 4-hydroxymethylenoxazolone 1 and ethyl chlorocarbonate. Oxazolone 2 was reacted with cyclopentadiene in the presence of EtAlCl(2), giving the two diastereoisomeric cycloadducts exo-3 and endo-3 in a 70:30 ratio. Selective hydrolysis of the lactone ring (THF, HCl) gave the corresponding acids 5 and 6 which were transformed into hydroxyacid derivatives 7 and 8, respectively, operating in an ethanolic solution of Me(2)NH. The new 3-hydroxy-2-aminonorbornane-2-carboxylic acids 11 and 12, in which the serine skeleton is included, were obtained by reduction of acids 5 and 6 to derivatives 9 and 10 and a subsequent hydrolysis with HCl.