Function-oriented synthesis, step economy, and drug design

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylations of polynitrogen-containing aromatic heterocycles

We report the palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation (AAA) reaction of a variety of nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocycles, including pyrazine, pyrimidine, pyridazine, quinoxaline, and benzoimidazole derivatives. The mesityl ester, whose steric bulk prevents competitive deacylation of the electrophile from "hard" nucleophiles, is introduced as a new leaving group in allylic alkylation chemistry. In contrast to our previous studies of AAA reactions with pyridine-based substrates, no precomplexation with a Lewis acid is required before deprotonation with LiHMDS, underscoring the relative acidity of these electron-deficient nucleophiles.

A flow-microreactor approach to protecting-group-free synthesis using organolithium compounds

Protecting-group-free synthesis has received significant recent research interest in the context of ideal synthesis and green sustainable chemistry. In general, organolithium species react with ketones very rapidly, and therefore ketone carbonyl groups should be protected before an organolithium reaction, if they are not involved in the desired transformation. If organolithium chemistry could be free from such a limitation, its power would be greatly enhanced. Here we show that a flow microreactor enables such protecting-group-free organolithium reactions by greatly reducing the residence time (0.003 s or less). Aryllithium species bearing ketone carbonyl groups are generated by iodine-lithium exchange reactions of the corresponding aryl iodides with mesityllithium and are reacted with various electrophiles using a flow-microreactor system. The present method has been successfully applied to the formal synthesis of Pauciflorol F.

Natural product-like synthetic libraries

There is a paucity of chemical matter suitably poised for effective drug development. Improving the quality and efficiency of research early on in the drug discovery process has been a long standing objective for the drug industry and improvements to the accessibility and quality of compound screening decks might have a significant and positive impact. In the absence of specific molecular information that can be modeled and used predicatively we are far from identifying which small molecules are most relevant to emerging biological targets such as protein-protein interactions. Natural products have been historically successful as an entry point for drug discovery and recently screening libraries are being synthesized to emulate natural product like features.

Gateway synthesis of daphnane congeners and their protein kinase C affinities and cell-growth activities

The daphnane diterpene orthoesters constitute a structurally fascinating family of natural products that exhibit a remarkable range of potent biological activities. Although partial activity information is available for some natural daphnanes, little information exists for non-natural congeners or on how changes in structure affect mode of action, function, potency or selectivity. A gateway strategy designed to provide general synthetic access to natural and non-natural daphnanes is described and utilized in the synthesis of two novel members of this class. In this study, a commercially available tartrate derivative was elaborated through a key late-stage diversification intermediate into B-ring yuanhuapin analogues to initiate exploration of the structure-function relationships of this class. Protein kinase C was identified as a cellular target for these agents, and their activity against human lung and leukaemia cell lines was evaluated. The natural product and a novel non-natural analogue exhibited significant potency, but the epimeric epoxide was essentially inactive.

A concise asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-brevisamide

A new protecting-group-free synthesis of the marine monocyclic ether (+)-brevisamide is reported. The enantioselective synthesis utilizes a key asymmetric Henry reaction and an Achmatowicz rearrangement for the formation of the tetrahydropyran ring. A penultimate Stille cross-coupling allows for an efficient installation of the conjugated (E,E)-diene side chain ultimately delivering (+)-brevisamide.

Targeting oncogenic protein-protein interactions by diversity oriented synthesis and combinatorial chemistry approaches

We are currently witnessing a decline in the development of efficient new anticancer drugs, despite the salient efforts made on all fronts of cancer drug discovery. This trend presumably relates to the substantial heterogeneity and the inherent biological complexity of cancer, which hinder drug development success. Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are key players in numerous cellular processes and aberrant interruption of this complex network provides a basis for various disease states, including cancer. Thus, it is now believed that cancer drug discovery, in addition to the design of single-targeted bioactive compounds, should also incorporate diversity-oriented synthesis (DOS) and other combinatorial strategies in order to exploit the ability of multi-functional scaffolds to modulate multiple protein-protein interactions (biological hubs). Throughout the review, we highlight the chemistry driven approaches to access diversity space for the discovery of small molecules that disrupt oncogenic PPIs, namely the p53-Mdm2, Bcl-2/Bcl-xL-BH3, Myc-Max, and p53-Mdmx/Mdm2 interactions.

A new strategy for the synthesis of chiral β-alkynyl esters via sequential palladium and copper catalysis

A new strategy for the synthesis of chiral β-alkynyl esters which relies on sequential Pd and Cu catalysis is reported. Terminal alkynes bearing aryl, alkyl, and silyl groups can be employed without prior activation yielding a wide range of important chiral building blocks. The reaction sequence utilizes a robust Pd(II)-catalyzed hydroalkynylation of ynoates with terminal alkynes providing geometrically pure ynenoates which are readily reduced by CuH. In contrast to previous reports, where additions to ynenoates proceed with marginal preference for the 1,6-pathway, this conjugate reduction occurs with high 1,4-selectivity yielding β-alkynyl esters with excellent levels of enantioselectivity. Importantly, the method tolerates a wide range of functionality, including allylic carbonates and carbamates, and thus allows for rapid elaboration of the β-alkynyl esters into a variety of chiral, substituted heterocycles.

Cooperative activation of alkyne and thioamide functionalities; direct catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of terminal alkynes to α,β-unsaturated thioamides

A detailed study of the direct catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition of terminal alkynes to α,β-unsaturated thioamides is described. A soft Lewis acid/hard Brønsted base cooperative catalyst, comprising [Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)]PF(6), bisphosphine ligand, and Li(OC(6)H(4)-p-OMe) simultaneously activated both substrates to compensate for the low reactivity of copper alkynylide. A series of control experiments revealed that the intermediate copper-thioamide enolate functioned as a Brønsted base to generate copper alkynylide from the terminal alkyne, thus driving the catalytic cycle through an efficient proton transfer between substrates. These findings led to the identification of a more convenient catalyst using potassium hexamethyldisilazane (KHMDS) as the Brønsted base, which was particularly effective for the reaction of silylacetylenes. Divergent transformation of the thioamide functionality and a concise enantioselective synthesis of a GPR40 receptor agonist AMG-837 highlighted the synthetic utility of the present catalysis.

Diversity-oriented synthesis of a library of substituted tetrahydropyrones using oxidative carbon-hydrogen bond activation and click chemistry

Eighteen (2RS,6RS)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-6-(substituted ethyl)dihydro-2H-pyran-4(3H)ones were synthesized via a DDQ-mediated oxidative carbon-hydrogen bond activation reaction. Fourteen of these tetrahydropyrans were substituted with triazoles readily assembled via azide-alkyne click-chemistry reactions. Examples of a linked benzotriazole and pyrazole motif were also prepared. To complement the structural diversity, the alcohol substrates were obtained from stereoselective reductions of the tetrahydropyrone. This library provides rapid access to structurally diverse non-natural compounds to be screened against a variety of biological targets.

Translating Nature's Library: The Bryostatins and Function-Oriented Synthesis

We review in part our computational, design, synthesis, and biological studies on a remarkable class of compounds and their designed analogs that have led to preclinical candidates for the treatment of cancer, a first-in-class approach to Alzheimer's disease, and a promising strategy to eradicate HIV/AIDS. Because these leads target, in part, protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes, they have therapeutic potential even beyond this striking set of therapeutic indications. This program has given rise to new synthetic methodology and represents an increasingly important direction of synthesis focused on achieving function through synthesis-informed design (function-oriented synthesis).

The synthetic bryostatin analog Merle 23 dissects distinct mechanisms of bryostatin activity in the LNCaP human prostate cancer cell line

Bryostatin 1 has attracted considerable attention both as a cancer chemotherapeutic agent and for its unique activity. Although it functions, like phorbol esters, as a potent protein kinase C (PKC) activator, it paradoxically antagonizes many phorbol ester responses in cells. Because of its complex structure, little is known of its structure-function relations. Merle 23 is a synthetic derivative, differing from bryostatin 1 at only four positions. However, in U-937 human leukemia cells, Merle 23 behaves like a phorbol ester and not like bryostatin 1. Here, we characterize the behavior of Merle 23 in the human prostate cancer cell line LNCaP. In this system, bryostatin 1 and phorbol ester have contrasting activities, with the phorbol ester but not bryostatin 1 blocking cell proliferation or tumor necrosis factor alpha secretion, among other responses. We show that Merle 23 displays a highly complex pattern of activity in this system. Depending on the specific biological response or mechanistic change, it was bryostatin-like, phorbol ester-like, intermediate in its behavior, or more effective than either. The pattern of response, moreover, varied depending on the conditions. We conclude that the newly emerging bryostatin derivatives such as Merle 23 provide powerful tools to dissect subsets of bryostatin mechanism and response.

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of potent bryostatin analogs that modulate PKC translocation selectivity

Modern methods for the identification of therapeutic leads include chemical or virtual screening of compound libraries. Nature's library represents a vast and diverse source of leads, often exhibiting exquisite biological activities. However, the advancement of natural product leads into the clinic is often impeded by their scarcity, complexity, and nonoptimal properties or efficacy as well as the challenges associated with their synthesis or modification. Function-oriented synthesis represents a strategy to address these issues through the design of simpler and therefore synthetically more accessible analogs that incorporate the activity-determining features of the natural product leads. This study illustrates the application of this strategy to the design and synthesis of functional analogs of the bryostatin marine natural products. It is specifically directed at exploring the activity-determining role of bryostatin A-ring functionality on PKC affinity and selectivity. The resultant functional analogs, which were prepared by a flexible, modular synthetic strategy, exhibit excellent affinity to PKC and differential isoform selectivity. These and related studies provide the basic information needed for the design of simplified and thus synthetically more accessible functional analogs that target PKC isoforms, major targets of therapeutic interest.

Bryostatins: biological context and biotechnological prospects

Bryostatins are a family of protein kinase C modulators that have potential applications in biomedicine. Found in miniscule quantities in a small marine invertebrate, lack of supply has hampered their development. In recent years, bryostatins have been shown to have potent bioactivity in the central nervous system, an uncultivated marine bacterial symbiont has been shown to be the likely natural source of the bryostatins, the bryostatin biosynthetic genes have been identified and characterized, and bryostatin analogues with promising biological activity have been developed and tested. Challenges in the development of bryostatins for biomedical and biotechnological application include the cultivation of the bacterial symbiont and heterologous expression of bryostatin biosynthesis genes. Continued exploration of the biology as well as the symbiotic origin of the bryostatins presents promising opportunities for discovery of additional bryostatins, and new functions for bryostatins.

Function-Oriented Synthesis of a Didesmethyl Triazacryptand Analogue for Fluorescent Potassium Ion Sensing

Triazacryptand (TAC)-based fluorescent K+ sensors have broad biomedical utility, yet their advancement has been hindered because of their challenging synthesis. Herein, an efficient synthesis is reported that delivers a didesmethyl tri-azacryptand (ddTAC) K+ sensor in twofold fewer steps and ninefold higher overall yield than the original TAC synthesis. Our synthesis utilizes a C-O dianionic oxidative macrocyclization and reports new examples of aminoarylations and a microwave route to xanthythilium chromophores. The K+ sensitivity and selectivity of the ddTAC-based sensor are comparable to the TAC-based sensor.

Synthesis and receptor profiling of Stemona alkaloid analogues reveal a potent class of sigma ligands

Reported biological activities of Stemona natural products, such as antitussive activity, inspired the development of synthetic methods to access several alkaloids within this family and in so doing develop a general route to the core skeleta shared by the class of natural products. The chemistry was subsequently adapted to afford a series of analogue sets bearing simplified, diverse Stemona-inspired skeleta. Over 100 of these analogues were subjected to general G protein-coupled receptor profiling along with the known antitussive compound, neostenine; this led to the identification of hit compounds targeting several receptor types. The particularly rich hit subset for sigma receptors was expanded with two focused library sets, which resulted in the discovery of a fully synthetic, potent chemotype of sigma ligands. This collaborative effort combined the development of synthetic methods with extensive, flexible screening resources and exemplifies the role of natural products in bioactivity mining.

11-Step enantioselective synthesis of (-)-lomaiviticin aglycon

Lomaiviticins A and B are complex antitumor antibiotics that were isolated from a strain of Micromonospora. A confluence of several unusual structural features renders the lomaiviticins exceedingly challenging targets for chemical synthesis. We report an 11-step, enantioselective synthetic route to lomaiviticin aglycon. Our route proceeds by late-stage, stereoselective dimerization of two equivalent monomeric intermediates, a transformation that may share parallels with the natural products' biosyntheses. The route we describe is scalable and convergent, and it lays the foundation for determination of the mode of action of these natural products.

Diversity-oriented synthesis leads to an effective class of bifunctional linchpins uniting anion relay chemistry (ARC) with benzyne reactivity

In conjunction with the construction of a diversity-oriented synthesis library of 10-membered ring "natural product-like" macrolides, the design, synthesis, and validation of a unique class of bifunctional linchpins, uniting benzyne reactivity initiated by type II anion relay chemistry (ARC) has been achieved, permitting access to diverse [2+2], [3+2], and [4+2] cycloadducts.

Photochemical reactions as key steps in natural product synthesis

Photochemical reactions contribute in a significant way to the existing repertoire of carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions by allowing access to exceptional molecular structures that cannot be obtained by conventional means. In this Review, the most important photochemical transformations that have been employed in natural product synthesis are presented. Selected total syntheses are discussed as examples, with particular attention given to the photochemical key step and its stereoselectivity. The structural relationship between the photochemically generated molecule and the natural product is shown, and, where necessary, the consecutive reactions in the synthesis are illustrated and classified.

Desmethyl Macrolide Analogues to Address Antibiotic Resistance: Total Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 4,8,10-Tridesmethyl Telithromycin

There is an urgent need to discover new drugs to address the pressing problem of antibiotic-resistance. Macrolide antibiotics such as erythromycin (1) are safe, broad-spectrum antibiotics used in the clinic since 1954. Herein we report the synthesis and evaluation of 4,8,10-tridesmethyl telithromycin (3), a novel desmethyl analogue of the 3rd-generation drug telithromycin (2), which is a semisynthetic derivative of 1. Analogue 3 was found to possess antibiotic activity and was superior to telithromycin (2) when tested against resistant strains of S. aureus possessing an A→T mutation at position 2058 (E. coli numbering).

Small molecule inhibitors as countermeasures for botulinum neurotoxin intoxication

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the most potent of known toxins and are listed as category A biothreat agents by the U.S. CDC. The BoNT-mediated proteolysis of SNARE proteins inhibits the exocytosis of acetylcholine into neuromuscular junctions, leading to life-threatening flaccid paralysis. Currently, the only therapy for BoNT intoxication (which results in the disease state botulism) includes experimental preventative antibodies and long-term supportive care. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify and develop inhibitors that will serve as both prophylactic agents and post-exposure ‘rescue’ therapeutics. This review focuses on recent progress to discover and develop small molecule inhibitors as therapeutic countermeasures for BoNT intoxication.