Acid-Mediated Decarboxylative C–H Coupling between Arenes and O-Allyl Carbamates

Treatment of O-allyl N-tosyl carbamates with aromatic compounds in the presence of Cu(OTf)2 or TMSOTf as promoters, affords N-substituted 1-arylpropan-2-amines, 1,2-diarylpropanes, 1,1-diarylpropanes, or indanes, depending on the nature of the...

Enantio- and Regioselective Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Dioxygenation of (Aza-)Alkenols

An oxidative Pd-catalyzed intra-intermolecular dioxygenation of (aza-)alkenols has been reported, with total regioselectivity. To study the stereoselectivity, different chiral ligands as well as different hypervalent-iodine compounds have been compared. In particular, by using a C-6 modified pyridinyl-oxazoline (Pyox) ligand and hypervalent iodine bearing an aromatic ring, an excellent enantio- and diastereoselectivity has been achieved.

Fluoro-Aryl Substituted α,β2,3-Peptides in the Development of Foldameric Antiparallel β-Sheets: A Conformational Study

α,β^2,3-Disteroisomeric foldamers of general formula Boc(S-Ala-β-2R,3R-Fpg)_nOMe or Boc(S-Ala-β-2S,3S-Fpg)_nOMe were prepared from both enantiomers of syn H-2-(2-F-Phe)-h-PheGly-OH (named β-Fpg) and S-alanine. Our peptides show two appealing features for biomedical applications: the presence of fluorine, attractive for non-covalent interactions, and aryl groups, crucial for π-stacking. A conformational study was performed, using IR, NMR and computational studies of diastereoisomeric tetra- and hexapeptides containing the β^2,3-amino acid in the R,R- and S,S-stereochemistry, respectively. We found that the stability of peptide conformation is dependent on the stereochemistry of the β-amino acid. Combining S-Ala with β-2R,3R-Fpg, a stable extended β-strand conformation was obtained. Furthermore, β-2R,3R-Fpg containing hexapeptide self-assembles to form antiparallel β-sheet structure stabilized by intermolecular H-bonds and π,π-interactions. These features make peptides containing the β^2,3-fluoro amino acid very appealing for the development of bioactive proteolytically stable foldameric β-sheets as modulators of protein-protein interaction (PPI).

Synthesis, structural, and biological evaluation of bis-heteroarylmaleimides and bis-heterofused imides

Bis-2,3-heteroarylmaleimides and polyheterocondensed imides joined through nitrogen atoms of the N,N'-bis(ethyl)-1,3-propanediamine linker were prepared from substituted maleic anhydrides and symmetrical diamines in good to satisfactory yields and short reaction times using microwave heating. The novel molecules were shown to inhibit proliferation of human tumor cells (NCI-H460 lung carcinoma) and rat aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) with variable potencies. Compound 11a, the most potent one of the series, showed IC(50) values comparable to those observed for the leading molecule elinafide in both cell lines, but with a higher selectivity toward human tumor cells. Compound 11a affected G1/S phase transition of the cell cycle, showed in vitro DNA intercalating activity and in vivo antitumor activity. A thorough structural analysis of the 11a-DNA complex was also made by mean of NMR and computational techniques.

Access to pyrrolo- and pyrido[1,2-a]indole derivatives by intramolecular nitrone cycloadditions. Effect of steric factors on the regioselective product formation

On starting from N-allyl-substituted 2-indolecarbaldehydes and exploiting the intramolecular nitrone cycloaddition methodology, we synthesized a number of the title fused-ring indole derivatives in racemic as well as enantiopure form.