Total Syntheses of Ningalin A, Lamellarin O, Lukianol A, and Permethyl Storniamide A Utilizing Heterocyclic Azadiene Diels−Alder Reactions

The application of formyl group activation of bromopyrrole esters to formal syntheses of lycogarubin C, permethyl storniamide A and lamellarin G trimethyl ether

Lycogarubin C, permethyl storniamide A and lamellarin G trimethyl ether are pyrrole containing, natural products, which exhibit interesting biological properties. Such properties include anti-tumor activity on a variety of cancer cell lines including those that confer drug resistance, inhibition of HIV integrase and vascular disrupting activity. We now describe the use of methyl and ethyl 3-bromo-2-formylpyrrole-5-carboxylate as building blocks for the formal synthesis of these three highly functionalized, bioactive pyrroles. These new building blocks will now provide ready access to the natural products and many novel analogs due to the ability to easily modify positions 2,3,4 and 5 of the pyrrole core.

N-oxide 1,2,4,5-tetrazine-based high-performance energetic materials

One route to high density and high performance energetic materials based on 1,2,4,5-tetrazine is the introduction of 2,4-di-N-oxide functionalities. Based on several examples and through theoretical analysis, the strategy of regioselective introduction of these moieties into 1,2,4,5-tetrazines has been developed. Using this methodology, various new tetrazine structures containing the N-oxide functionality were synthesized and fully characterized using IR, NMR, and mass spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray analysis. Hydrogen peroxide (50 %) was used very effectively in lieu of the usual 90 % peroxide in this system to generate N-oxide tetrazine compounds successfully. Comparison of the experimental densities of N-oxide 1,2,4,5-tetrazine compounds with their 1,2,4,5-tetrazine precursors shows that introducing the N-oxide functionality is a highly effective and feasible method to enhance the density of these materials. The heats of formation for all compounds were calculated with Gaussian 03 (revision D.01) and these values were combined with measured densities to calculate detonation pressures (P) and velocities (νD ) of these energetic materials (Explo 5.0 v. 6.01). The new oxygen-containing tetrazines exhibit high density, good thermal stability, acceptable oxygen balance, positive heat of formation, and excellent detonation properties, which, in some cases, are superior to those of 1,3,5-tritnitrotoluene (TNT), 1,3,5-trinitrotriazacyclohexane (RDX), and octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX).

Cycloadditions of noncomplementary substituted 1,2,3-triazines

The scope of the [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of substituted 1,2,3-triazines, bearing noncomplementary substitution with electron-withdrawing groups at C4 and/or C6, is described. The studies define key electronic and steric effects of substituents impacting the reactivity, mode (C4/N1 vs C5/N2), and regioselectivity of the cycloaddition reactions of 1,2,3-triazines with amidines, enamines, and ynamines, providing access to highly functionalized heterocycles.

Theoretical elucidation of the origins of substituent and strain effects on the rates of Diels-Alder reactions of 1,2,4,5-tetrazines

The Diels-Alder reactions of seven 1,2,4,5-tetrazines with unstrained and strained alkenes and alkynes were studied with quantum mechanical calculations (M06-2X density functional theory) and analyzed with the distortion/interaction model. The higher reactivities of alkenes compared to alkynes in the Diels-Alder reactions with tetrazines arise from the differences in both interaction and distortion energies. Alkenes have HOMO energies higher than those of alkynes and therefore stronger interaction energies in inverse-electron-demand Diels-Alder reactions with tetrazines. We have also found that the energies to distort alkenes into the Diels-Alder transition-state geometries are smaller than for alkynes in these reactions. The strained dienophiles, trans-cyclooctene and cyclooctyne, are much more reactive than unstrained trans-2-butene and 2-butyne, because they are predistorted toward the Diels-Alder transition structures. The reactivities of substituted tetrazines correlate with the electron-withdrawing abilities of the substituents. Electron-withdrawing groups lower the LUMO+1 of tetrazines, resulting in stronger interactions with the HOMO of dienophiles. Moreover, electron-withdrawing substituents destabilize the tetrazines, and this leads to smaller distortion energies in the Diels-Alder transition states.

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: Synthesis, molecular docking, cytotoxic and inhibition of the human carbonic anhydrase isoforms I, II, IX, XII with novel benzenesulfonamides incorporating pyrrole, pyrrolopyrimidine and fused pyrrolopyrimidine moieties

A series of novel pyrroles, pyrrolopyrimidines, pyrazolopyrrolopyrimidine, triazolopyrrolopyrimidines, tetrazolopyrrolopyrimidine, triazinopyrrolopyrimidines and pyrrolopyrimidotriazepines bearing the biologically active benzenesulfonamide moiety were synthesized by using pyrrole-o-amino-carbonitrile as key intermediate. All the synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in vitro carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitory effects against the human (h) isoforms hCA I, II, IX and XII. Among the tested derivatives, compounds 16, 18 and 20-24 showed potent activity as inhibitors for the tumor associated transmembrane isoforms (hCA IX and XII) in the nanomolar and subnanomolar range, with high selectivity. All compounds underwent cytotoxic activity assays on human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) showing effective activity, comparable to that of the clinically used drug doxorubicin.

Trifluoroacetic acid-promoted Michael addition-cyclization reactions of vinylogous carbamates

A simple and efficient methodology has been developed for the synthesis of pyrrolobenzoxazine and 3-arylamino coumarin derivatives promoted by trifluoroacetic acid. The initial step in the current protocol involves a Michael addition of the 1,4-benzoxazinone derivatives, a novel class of vinylogous carbamates to the Michael acceptors and subsequent cyclization.

Visible-light photoredox catalyzed synthesis of pyrroloisoquinolines via organocatalytic oxidation/[3 + 2] cycloaddition/oxidative aromatization reaction cascade with Rose Bengal

Pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline alkaloids have been prepared via a visible light photoredox catalyzed oxidation/[3 + 2] cycloaddition/oxidative aromatization cascade using Rose Bengal as an organo-photocatalyst. A variety of pyrroloisoquinolines have been obtained in good yields under mild and metal-free reaction conditions.

Bioactive marine drugs and marine biomaterials for brain diseases

Marine invertebrates produce a plethora of bioactive compounds, which serve as inspiration for marine biotechnology, particularly in drug discovery programs and biomaterials development. This review aims to summarize the potential of drugs derived from marine invertebrates in the field of neuroscience. Therefore, some examples of neuroprotective drugs and neurotoxins will be discussed. Their role in neuroscience research and development of new therapies targeting the central nervous system will be addressed, with particular focus on neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. In addition, the neuronal growth promoted by marine drugs, as well as the recent advances in neural tissue engineering, will be highlighted.

Synthesis of pyrroles from terminal alkynes, N-sulfonyl azides, and alkenyl alkyl ethers through 1-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles

A method for synthesis of substituted pyrroles has been developed. 1-Sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles generated from terminal alkynes gave α-imino rhodium carbene complexes, which when reacted with alkenyl alkyl ethers afforded substituted pyrroles. The method can be efficiently applied to a one-pot sequential reaction starting from terminal alkynes.

A general, simple and green process to access pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines using a KI/TBHP catalytic system

A novel KI/TBHP-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition/oxidation/aromatization cascade reaction provided a general, efficient and green access to biologically important pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines.

Out of cross-conjugation: the unexpected structure of tetrazinones

Combined experimental and theoretical investigations helped to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the unique structural and electronic properties of NHC-substituted tetrazinone compounds.

In(OTf)3-catalysed one-pot versatile pyrrole synthesis through domino annulation of α-oxoketene-N,S-acetals with nitroolefins

An operationally simple and efficient one-pot direct access to pyrroles has been achieved by annulation of α-oxoketene-N,S-acetals with β-nitrostyrenes catalyzed by In(OTf)₃under solvent-free conditions.

Modular synthesis of lamellarins via regioselective assembly of 3,4,5-differentially arylated pyrrole-2-carboxylates

A modular synthesis of lamellarins via 3,4,5-differentially arylated pyrrole-2-carboxylate intermediates has been developed. The key reactions employed are Br-Li exchange-methoxycarbonylation of 2,5-dibromo-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-1H-pyrrole (1) followed by palladium-catalyzed iterative Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of the pyrrole core. The 3,4,5-triarylpyrrole 4 thus synthesized was readily converted to 5,6-saturated lamellarin L (2) and 5,6-unsaturated lamellarin N (3) via lactonization followed by annulation of the pyrrole nitrogen and lateral aromatic ring at C5 using 2-bromoethyl phenyl sulfide or bromoacetaldehyde dimethyl acetal as two-carbon homologation agents. In principle, this strategy allows the production of diverse lamellarins in short steps with high yields using readily accessible arylboronic acids as aromatic modules.

Nucleophilic ortho-allylation of pyrroles and pyrazoles: an accelerated Pummerer/thio-Claisen rearrangement sequence

Arylsulfinyl groups direct the metal-free, regiospecific, nucleophilic ortho-allylation of pyrroles and pyrazoles. Mechanistic studies support the intermediacy of allylsulfonium salts that undergo facile thio-Claisen rearrangement onto the heterocyclic ring, giving products of coupling. The strategy has been adapted to allow regiospecific propargylation of the heterocyclic substrates.