Titanium Salalen Catalyzed Enantioselective Benzylic Hydroxylation

The titanium complex of the cis-1,2-diaminocyclohexane (cis-DACH) derived Berkessel-salalen ligand is a highly efficient and enantioselective catalyst for the asymmetric epoxidation of terminal olefins with hydrogen peroxide ("Berkessel-Katsuki catalyst"). We herein report that this epoxidation catalyst also effects the highly enantioselective hydroxylation of benzylic C-H bonds with hydrogen peroxide. Mechanism-based ligand optimization identified a novel nitro-salalen Ti-catalyst of the highest efficiency ever reported for asymmetric catalytic benzylic hydroxylation, with enantioselectivities of up to 98 % ee, while overoxidation to ketone is marginal. The novel nitro-salalen Ti-catalyst also shows enhanced epoxidation efficiency, as evidenced by e.g. the conversion of 1-decene to its epoxide in 90 % yield with 94 % ee, at a catalyst loading of 0.1 mol-% only.

Hydrogen Bonding Shuts Down Tunneling in Hydroxycarbenes: A Gas-Phase Study by Tandem-Mass Spectrometry, Infrared Ion Spectroscopy, and Theory

Hydroxycarbenes can be generated and structurally characterized in the gas phase by collision-induced decarboxylation of α-keto carboxylic acids, followed by infrared ion spectroscopy. Using this approach, we have shown earlier that quantum-mechanical hydrogen tunneling (QMHT) accounts for the isomerization of a charge-tagged phenylhydroxycarbene to the corresponding aldehyde in the gas phase and above room temperature. Herein, we report the results of our current study on aliphatic trialkylammonio-tagged systems. Quite unexpectedly, the flexible 3-(trimethylammonio)propylhydroxycarbene turned out to be stable─no H-shift to either aldehyde or enol occurred. As supported by density functional theory calculations, this novel QMHT inhibition is due to intramolecular H-bonding of a mildly acidic α-ammonio C-H bonds to the hydroxyl carbene's C-atom (C:···H-C). To further support this hypothesis, (4-quinuclidinyl)hydroxycarbenes were synthesized, whose rigid structure prevents this intramolecular H-bonding. The latter hydroxycarbenes underwent "regular" QMHT to the aldehyde at rates comparable to, e.g., methylhydroxycarbene studied by Schreiner et al. While QMHT has been shown for a number of biological H-shift processes, its inhibition by H-bonding disclosed here may serve for the stabilization of highly reactive intermediates such as carbenes, even as a mechanism for biasing intrinsic selectivity patterns.

Design and synthesis of a tetracyclic tripeptide mimetic frozen in a polyproline type II (PP2) helix conformation

A synthesis of the new tetracyclic scaffold ProM-19, which represents a XPP tripeptide unit frozen in a PPII helix conformation, was developed. As a key building block, N-Boc-protected ethyl (1S,3S,4R)-2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxylate was prepared through a diastereoselective aza-Diels-Alder reaction and subsequent hydrogenolytic removal of the chiral N-1-phenylethyl substituent under temporary protection of the double bond through dihydroxylation and reconstitution by Corey-Winter olefination. The target compound Boc-[ProM-19]-OMe was then prepared via subsequent peptide coupling and Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis steps employing (S)-N-Boc-allylgylcine and cis-5-vinyl-proline methyl ester as additional building blocks. In addition, Ac-[2-Cl-Phe]-[Pro]-[ProM-19]-OMe was prepared by solution phase peptide synthesis as a potential ligand for the ena-VASP EVH1 domain.

An organometallic analogue of combretastatin A-4 and its apoptosis-inducing effects on lymphoma, leukemia and other tumor cells in vitro

Hexacarbonyl[1,3-dimethoxy-5-((4'-methoxyphenyl)ethynyl)benzene]dicobalt (NAHO27), an organometallic analogue of combretastatin A-4, has been synthesized and its activity against lymphoma, leukemia, breast cancer and melanoma cells has been investigated. It was shown that NAHO27 specifically induces apoptosis in BJAB lymphoma and Nalm-6 leukemia cells at low micromolar concentration and does not affect normal leukocytes in vitro. It also proved to be active against vincristine and daunorubicin resistant leukemia cell lines with p-glycoprotein-caused multidrug resistance and showed a pronounced (550%) synergistic effect when co-applied with vincristine at very low concentrations. Mechanistic investigations revealed NAHO27 to induce apoptosis via the mitochondrial (intrinsic) pathway as reflected by the processing of caspases 3 and 9, the involvement of Bcl-2 and smac/DIABLO, and the reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential. Gene expression analysis and protein expression analysis via western blot showed an upregulation of the proapoptotic protein harakiri by 9%.

Phenanthroindolizidine Alkaloids Isolated from Tylophora ovata as Potent Inhibitors of Inflammation, Spheroid Growth, and Invasion of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), representing the most aggressive form of breast cancer with currently no targeted therapy available, is characterized by an inflammatory and hypoxic tumor microenvironment. To date, a broad spectrum of anti-tumor activities has been reported for phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids (PAs), however, their mode of action in TNBC remains elusive. Thus, we investigated six naturally occurring PAs extracted from the plant Tylophora ovata: O-methyltylophorinidine (1) and its five derivatives tylophorinidine (2), tylophoridicine E (3), 2-demethoxytylophorine (4), tylophoridicine D (5), and anhydrodehydrotylophorinidine (6). In comparison to natural (1) and for more-in depth studies, we also utilized a sample of synthetic O-methyltylophorinidine (1s). Our results indicate a remarkably effective blockade of nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) within 2 h for compounds (1) and (1s) (IC50 = 17.1 ± 2.0 nM and 3.3 ± 0.2 nM) that is different from its effect on cell viability within 24 h (IC50 = 13.6 ± 0.4 nM and 4.2 ± 1 nM). Furthermore, NFκB inhibition data for the additional five analogues indicate a structure–activity relationship (SAR). Mechanistically, NFκB is significantly blocked through the stabilization of its inhibitor protein kappa B alpha (IκBα) under normoxic as well as hypoxic conditions. To better mimic the TNBC microenvironment in vitro, we established a 3D co-culture by combining the human TNBC cell line MDA-MB-231 with primary murine cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) and type I collagen. Compound (1) demonstrates superiority against the therapeutic gold standard paclitaxel by diminishing spheroid growth by 40% at 100 nM. The anti-proliferative effect of (1s) is distinct from paclitaxel in that it arrests the cell cycle at the G0/G1 state, thereby mediating a time-dependent delay in cell cycle progression. Furthermore, (1s) inhibited invasion of TNBC monoculture spheroids into a matrigel®-based environment at 10 nM. In conclusion, PAs serve as promising agents with presumably multiple target sites to combat inflammatory and hypoxia-driven cancer, such as TNBC, with a different mode of action than the currently applied chemotherapeutic drugs.

Synthetic α-Helical Peptides as Potential Inhibitors of the ACE2 SARS-CoV-2 Interaction

During viral cell entry, the spike protein of SARS‐CoV‐2 binds to the α1‐helix motif of human angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Thus, alpha‐helical peptides mimicking this motif may serve as inhibitors of viral cell entry. For this purpose, we employed the rigidified diproline‐derived module ProM‐5 to induce α‐helicity in short peptide sequences inspired by the ACE2 α1‐helix. Starting with Ac‐QAKTFLDKFNHEAEDLFYQ‐NH₂ as a relevant section of α1, a series of peptides, N‐capped with either Ac‐βHAsp‐[ProM‐5] or Ac‐βHAsp‐PP, were prepared and their α‐helicities were investigated. While ProM‐5 clearly showed a pronounced effect, an even increased degree of helicity (up to 63 %) was observed in sequences in which non‐binding amino acids were replaced by alanine. The binding affinities of the peptides towards the spike protein, as determined by means of microscale thermophoresis (MST), revealed only a subtle influence of the α‐helical content and, noteworthy, led to the identification of an Ac‐βHAsp‐PP‐capped peptide displaying a very strong binding affinity (K_D=62 nM).

B-nor-methylene Colchicinoid PT-100 Selectively Induces Apoptosis in Multidrug-Resistant Human Cancer Cells via an Intrinsic Pathway in a Caspase-Independent Manner

Colchicine, the main active alkaloid from Colchicum autumnale L., is a potent tubulin binder and represents an interesting lead structure for the development of potential anticancer chemotherapeutics. We report on the synthesis and investigation of potentially reactive colchicinoids and their surprising biological activities. In particular, the previously undescribed colchicinoid PT-100, a B-ring contracted 6-exo-methylene colchicinoid, exhibits extraordinarily high antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects on various types of cancer cell lines like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Nalm6), acute myeloid leukemia (HL-60), Burkitt-like lymphoma (BJAB), human melanoma (MelHO), and human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7) cells at low nanomolar concentrations. Apoptosis induction proved to be especially high in multidrug-resistant Nalm6-derived cancer cell lines, while healthy human leukocytes and hepatocytes were not affected by the concentration range studied. Furthermore, caspase-independent initiation of apoptosis via an intrinsic pathway was observed. PT-100 also shows strong synergistic effects in combination with vincristine on BJAB and Nalm6 cells. Cocrystallization of PT-100 with tubulin dimers revealed its (noncovalent) binding to the colchicine-binding site of β-tubulin at the interface to the α-subunit. A pronounced effect of PT-100 on the cytoskeleton morphology was shown by fluorescence microscopy. While the reactivity of PT-100 as a weak Michael acceptor toward thiols was chemically proven, it remains unclear whether this contributes to the remarkable biological properties of this unusual colchicinoid.

From energy transfer to electron transfer photocatalysis (PenT→PET): oxidative cyclobutane cleavage alters the product composition

Photocatalytic [2+2]-cycloadditions between cyclic enones and electron-rich cyclic enol ethers are initiated by triplet-triplet energy transfer from an excited iridium photocatalyst to the enone acceptor. The composition of the resulting...

: conjugation with a CO-releasing unit greatly enhances the anti-inflammatory activity of itaconates

Endogenous itaconate as well as the gasotransmitter CO have recently been described as powerful anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating agents. However, each of the two agents comes along with a major drawback: Whereas itaconates only exert beneficial effects at high concentrations above 100 μM, the uncontrolled application of CO has strong toxic effects. To solve these problems, we designed hybrid prodrugs, i.e. itaconates that are conjugated with an esterase-triggered CO-releasing acyloxycyclohexadiene-Fe(CO)₃ unit (ItaCORMs). Here, we describe the synthesis of different ItaCORMs and demonstrate their anti-inflammatory potency in cellular assays of primary murine immune cells in the low μmolar range (<10 μM). Thus, ItaCORMs represent a promising new class of hybrid compounds with high clinical potential as anti-inflammatory agents.

A Short Enantioselective Synthesis of (S)-Levetiracetam through Direct Palladium-Catalyzed Asymmetric N-Allylation of Methyl 4-Aminobutyrate

An exceedingly short and enantioselective synthesis of the antiepileptic drug (S)-levetiracetam was elaborated. As the chirogenic key step, a Pd-catalyzed asymmetric N-allylation of methyl 4-aminobutyrate was achieved in the presence of only 1 mol% of a catalyst prepared in situ from [Pd(allyl)Cl]2 and a tartaric acid-derived C 2-symmetric diphosphine ligand.

A Concise Synthesis of 24,25-Dihydro-6-epi-Monanchosterol A

We report the first synthetic entry to a steroid with an unusual bicyclo[4.3.1]dec-3-en-10-one A/B ring substructure as a close structural analogue of the anti-inflammatory monanchosterols. Under optimized conditions, regioselective cis-dihydroxylation of the Δ5-double bond of 7-dehydrocholesterol and subsequent Criegee oxidation yields the corresponding 5,6-seco-steroid as a pure Z-isomer which upon treatment with K2CO3 in MeOH diastereoselectively affords 24,25-dihydro-6-epi-monanchosterol A through intramolecular aldol addition (cyclization). The developed three-step sequence proceeds in 17% overall yield without the need of any protecting group. The title compound was characterized by X-ray crystallography.

Synthesis of the 8,19-Epoxysteroid Eurysterol A

We report the first chemical synthesis of eurysterol A, a cytotoxic and antifungal marine steroidal sulfate with a unique C8−C19 oxy‐bridged cholestane skeleton. After C19 hydroxylation of cholesteryl acetate, used as an inexpensive commercial starting material, the challenging oxidative functionalization of ring B was achieved by two different routes to set up a 5α‐hydroxy‐7‐en‐6‐one moiety. As a key step, an intramolecular oxa‐Michael addition was exploited to close the oxy‐bridge (8β,19‐epoxy unit). DFT calculations show this reversible transformation being exergonic by about −30 kJ mol⁻¹. Along the optimized (scalable) synthetic sequence, the target natural product was obtained in only 11 steps in 5 % overall yield. In addition, an access to (isomeric) 7β,19‐epoxy steroids with a previously unknown pentacyclic ring system was discovered.

ω-Quinazolinonylalkyl aryl ureas as reversible inhibitors of monoacylglycerol lipase

The serine hydrolase monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) is involved in a plethora of pathological conditions, in particular pain and inflammation, various types of cancer, metabolic, neurological and cardiovascular disorders, and is therefore a promising target for drug development. Although a large number of irreversible-acting MAGL inhibitors have been discovered over the past years, there are only few compounds known so far which inhibit the enzyme in a reversible manner. Therefore, much effort is put into the development of novel chemical entities showing reversible inhibitory behavior, which is thought to cause less undesired side effects. To explore a wide range of chemical structures as MAGL binders, we have applied a virtual screening approach by docking small molecules into the crystal structure of human MAGL (hMAGL) and envisaged a library of 45 selected compounds which were then synthesized. Biochemical investigations included the determination of the inhibitory potency on hMAGL and two related hydrolases, i.e. human fatty acid amide hydrolase (hFAAH) and murine cholesterol esterase (mCEase). The most promising candidates from theses analyses, i.e. three ω-quinazolinonylalkyl aryl ureas bearing alkyl spacers of three to five methylene groups, exhibited IC₅₀ values of 20-41 µM and reversible, detergent-insensitive behavior towards hMAGL. Among these compounds, the inhibitor 1-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-3-(4-(4-oxo-3,4-dihydroquinazolin-2-yl)butyl)urea (96) was selected for further kinetic characterization, yielding a dissociation constant K_i = 15.4 µM and a mixed-type inhibition with a pronounced competitive component (α = 8.94). This mode of inhibition was further supported by a docking experiment, which suggested that the inhibitor occupies the substrate binding pocket of hMAGL.

Total Synthesis of α-Tocopherol through Enantioselective Iridium-Catalyzed Fragmentation of a Spiro-Cyclobutanol Intermediate

A conceptionally new strategy for the asymmetric (2R-selective) synthesis of α-tocopherol (vitamin E) was developed. In the stereocontrolled key step, a prochiral spiro[chromane-2,3'-cyclobutanol] unit is effectively desymmetrized under C-C bond activation in an unprecedented iridium-catalyzed transformation using (S)-DTBM-SegPhos as a chiral ligand (e.r. 97:3). To complete the synthesis, the side chain was attached through Ru-catalyzed cross-metathesis employing an alkene derived from (R,R)-hexahydrofarnesol. To suppress epimerization during the final hydrogenation, PtO₂ had to be used as a catalyst instead of Pd/C. In an alternative approach (employing a propargyl-substituted spiro-cyclobutanol), the side chain was constructed prior to the Ir-catalyzed ring fragmentation (>99:1 d.r.) through enyne cross-metathesis (using an alkene derived from (R)-dihydrocitronellal) followed by Cr-catalyzed 1,4-hydrogenation and (diastereoselective) Pfaltz hydrogenation of the resulting triple-substituted olefin. The work demonstrates the potential of iridium catalysis for enantioselective C-C bond activation.

A Stereoselective Synthesis of the ACE Inhibitor Trandolapril

A conceptually novel and stereoselective synthesis of the enantiopure octahydroindole building block and its conversion into the ACE inhibitor trandolapril was achieved. Key steps include the α-allylation of a protected l-pyroglutamic acid derivative, a highly diastereoselective Hosomi–Sakurai reaction and a Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis of a 4,5-diallylated proline. This way, the synthesis of trandolapril was efficiently achieved in 25% overall yield (12 steps).

Intermediates of N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) Dimerization Probed in the Gas Phase by Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry: C-H⋅⋅⋅:C Hydrogen Bonding Versus Covalent Dimer Formation

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs, :C) can interact with azolium salts (C-H⁺ ) by either forming a hydrogen-bonded aggregate (CHC⁺ ) or a covalent C-C bond (CCH⁺ ). In this study, the intramolecular NHC-azolium salt interactions of aromatic imidazolin-2-ylidenes and saturated imidazolidin-2-ylidenes have been investigated in the gas phase by traveling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry (TW IMS) and DFT calculations. The TW IMS experiments provided evidence for the formation of these important intermediates in the gas phase, and they identified the predominant aggregation mode (hydrogen bond vs. covalent C-C) as a function of the nature of the interacting carbene-azolium pairs.

Enantioselective Cu-catalyzed 1,4-additions of organozinc and Grignard reagents to enones: exceptional performance of the hydrido-phosphite-ligand BIFOP-H

Enantioselective Cu^I-catalyzed 1,4-additions and DFT computations concerning the enantioselective mechanism.

Ligand's electronegativity controls the sense of enantioselectivity in BIFOP-X palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylations

Palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylations of Na(CH(CO₂Me)₂ with 1,3-diphenylallyl acetate, employing BIFOP-X (X = H, D, Cl, CN, N3) ligands, yield the C–C coupling product (up to 91% yield, 70% ee). A NBO effect reveals a change of stereochemistry.

ω-Phthalimidoalkyl Aryl Ureas as Potent and Selective Inhibitors of Cholesterol Esterase

Cholesterol esterase (CEase), a serine hydrolase thought to be involved in atherogenesis and thus coronary heart disease, is considered as a target for inhibitor development. We investigated recombinant human and murine CEases with a new fluorometric assay in a structure-activity relationship study of a small library of ω-phthalimidoalkyl aryl ureas. The urea motif with an attached 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl group and the aromatic character of the ω-phthalimide residue were most important for inhibitory activity. In addition, an alkyl chain composed of three or four methylene groups, connecting the urea and phthalimide moieties, was found to be an optimal spacer for inhibitors. The so-optimized compounds 2 [1-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-3-(3-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)propyl)urea] and 21 [1-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-3-(4-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)butyl)urea] exhibited dissociation constants (K_i ) of 1-19 μm on the two CEases and showed either a competitive (2 on the human enzyme and 21 on the murine enzyme) or a noncompetitive mode of inhibition. Two related serine hydrolases-monoacylglycerol lipase and fatty acid amide hydrolase-were inhibited by ω-phthalimidoalkyl aryl ureas to a lesser extent.

Determination of inter-ionic and intra-ionic interactions in a monofluorinated imidazolium ionic liquid by a combination of X-ray crystallography and NOE NMR spectroscopy

We report the very first application of a Transient 1D ¹ H{¹⁹ F} NOE NMR experiment in neat ionic liquids. In comparison with classical 2D HOESY NMR spectroscopy, a substantial reduction in measurement time is gained with comparable quality and information content of the spectra. In combination with classical X-ray crystallography, we have applied this technique for the determination of inter-ionic distances (i.e. probabilities of presence) utilizing an ionic liquid containing a monofluorinated imidazolium cation. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Keto-Enol Thermodynamics of Breslow Intermediates

Breslow intermediates, first postulated in 1958, are pivotal intermediates in carbene-catalyzed umpolung. Attempts to isolate and characterize these fleeting amino enol species first met with success in 2012 when we found that saturated bis-Dipp/Mes imidazolidinylidenes readily form isolable, though reactive diamino enols with aldehydes and enals. In contrast, triazolylidenes, upon stoichiometric reaction with aldehydes, gave exclusively the keto tautomer, and no isolable enol. Herein, we present the synthesis of the "missing" keto tautomers of imidazolidinylidene-derived diamino enols, and computational thermodynamic data for 15 enol-ketone pairs derived from various carbenes/aldehydes. Electron-withdrawing substituents on the aldehyde favor enol formation, the same holds for N,N'-Dipp [2,6-di(2-propyl)phenyl] and N,N'-Mes [2,4,6-trimethylphenyl] substitution on the carbene component. The latter effect rests on stabilization of the diamino enol tautomer by Dipp substitution, and could be attributed to dispersive interaction of the 2-propyl groups with the enol moiety. For three enol-ketone pairs, equilibration of the thermodynamically disfavored tautomer was attempted with acids and bases but could not be effected, indicating kinetic inhibition of proton transfer.

Electrochemical polymerization of 1,3,4,6-tetraarylpyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole-2,5-dione (isoDPP) derivatives

Electrochemical polymerization of tetraaryldiketopyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole (isoDPP) derivatives leads to deeply coloured low band gap polymers with reversible oxidation and reduction behaviour and electrochromic properties.

1,6-Naphthodione-based monomers and polymers

Deeply coloured 1,6-naphthodifuranone-/1,6-naphthodipyrrolidone-based monomers and polymers are reported. The polymers exhibit broad and strong absorption in the visible region from 400 to 1000 nm, and low band gaps of 1.20–1.41 eV.

Nucleoside analogues with a 1,3-diene-Fe(CO)3 substructure: stereoselective synthesis, configurational assignment, and apoptosis-inducing activity

The synthesis and stereochemical assignment of two classes of iron-containing nucleoside analogues, both of which contain a butadiene-Fe(CO)3 substructure, is described. The first type of compounds are Fe(CO)3-complexed 3'-alkenyl-2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-dehydro nucleosides (2,5-dihydrofuran derivatives), from which the second class of compounds is derived by formal replacement of the ring oxygen atom by a CH2 group (carbocyclic nucleoside analogues). These compounds were prepared in a stereoselective manner through the metal-assisted introduction of the nucleobase. Whilst the furanoid intermediates were prepared from carbohydrates (such as methyl-glucopyranoside), the carbocyclic compounds were obtained by using an intramolecular Pauson-Khand reaction. Stereochemical assignments based on NMR and CD spectroscopy were confirmed by X-ray structural analysis. Biological investigations revealed that several of the complexes exhibited pronounced apoptosis-inducing properties (through an unusual caspase 3-independent but ROS-dependent pathway). Furthermore, some structure-activity relationships were identified, also as a precondition for the design and synthesis of fluorescent and biotin-labeled conjugates.