Square sugars: challenges and synthetic strategies

The synthesis of square sugars requires innovative strategies based on efficient stereoselective methodologies, from organocatalysis to metal carbene insertion.

Novel spirocyclic systems via multicomponent aza-Diels–Alder reaction

Here we present a two-step diastereoselective methodology building on a multicomponent aza-Diels–Alder reaction.

Exploration of a Au(i)-mediated three-component reaction for the synthesis of DNA-tagged highly substituted spiroheterocycles

A gold(i)-mediated reaction to a DNA-tagged spirocycle, and the tolerance of different nucleic acids to the reaction conditions are demonstrated.

Substituted (E)-2-(2-benzylidenehydrazinyl)-4-methylthiazole-5-carboxylates as dual inhibitors of 15-lipoxygenase & carbonic anhydrase II: synthesis, biochemical evaluation and docking studies

15-Lipoxygenase (15-LOX) plays a major role in many inflammatory lung diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and chronic bronchitis. Over-expression of 15-LOX is related with some specific carcinomas including pancreatic, gastric and brain tumor. Similarly among different isozymes of carbonic anhydrase (CA), CA II is expressed in pancreatic, gastric carcinomas as well as in brain tumors. Therefore, novel potent inhibitors of both 15-LOX and CA II are required to explore the role of these enzymes further and to enable the drug discovery efforts. For this purpose, a series of benzyledinyl-hydrazinyl substituted thiazole derivatives were designed, synthesized and characterized by FTIR, ¹H, &¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The derivatives were then evaluated for their potential to inhibit 15-LOX and bovine carbonic anhydrase II (bCA II). Most of these compounds showed excellent inhibitory potential for 15-LOX with an IC₅₀ of 0.12 ± 0.002 to 0.69 ± 0.5 μM and showed moderate inhibition potency for bCA II with compound 5h (IC₅₀ = 1.26 ± 0.24 μM) being the most active. The most potent compound 5a that emerged as a dual inhibitor of both enzymes, exhibiting 24 times greater selectivity for 15-LOX over bCA II. Compound 5a exhibited dual potent inhibitory activity against both 15-LOX and bCA II enzymes having IC₅₀ values of 0.12 ± 0.002 and 2.93 ± 0.22 μM, respectively. Molecular docking studies of potent as well as dual inhibitors were also carried out to provide an insight into the binding site interactions.

A metal-catalyzed enyne-cyclization step for the synthesis of bi- and tricyclic scaffolds amenable to molecular library production

A facile metal-catalyzed diversification step for the synthesis of novel bi- and tricyclic scaffolds from enyne substrates is reported in this study. From a single starting material, topologically diverse scaffolds for library synthesis can be generated and decorated in a few steps. The methodology was used to produce a library of 490 compounds within the European Lead Factory (ELF) Consortium.

The "Cyclopropyl Fragment" is a Versatile Player that Frequently Appears in Preclinical/Clinical Drug Molecules

Recently, there has been an increasing use of the cyclopropyl ring in drug development to transition drug candidates from the preclinical to clinical stage. Important features of the cyclopropane ring are, the (1) coplanarity of the three carbon atoms, (2) relatively shorter (1.51 Å) C-C bonds, (3) enhanced π-character of C-C bonds, and (4) C-H bonds are shorter and stronger than those in alkanes. The present review will focus on the contributions that a cyclopropyl ring makes to the properties of drugs containing it. Consequently, the cyclopropyl ring addresses multiple roadblocks that can occur during drug discovery such as (a) enhancing potency, (b) reducing off-target effects,

Synthesis of diversely functionalised 2,2-disubstituted oxetanes: fragment motifs in new chemical space

Di-, tri- and tetra-substituted oxetane derivatives with combinations of ester, amide, nitrile, aryl, sulfone and phosphonate substituents are prepared as fragments or building blocks for drug discovery. The synthesis of these novel oxetane functional groups, in new chemical space, is achieved via rhodium-catalysed O-H insertion and C-C bond forming cyclisation.

Development of an Intermittent-Flow Enantioselective Aza-Henry Reaction Using an Arylnitromethane and Homogeneous Brønsted Acid-Base Catalyst with Recycle

A stereoselective aza-Henry reaction between an arylnitromethane and Boc-protected aryl aldimine using a homogeneous Brønsted acid-base catalyst was translated from batch format to an automated intermittent-flow process. This work demonstrates the advantages of a novel intermittent-flow setup with product crystallization and slow reagent addition which is not amenable to the standard continuous equipment: plug flow tube reactor (PFR) or continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR). A significant benefit of this strategy was the integration of an organocatalytic enantioselective reaction with straightforward product separation, including recycle of the catalyst, resulting in increased intensity of the process by maintaining high catalyst concentration in the reactor. A continuous campaign confirmed that these conditions could effectively provide high throughput of material using an automated system while maintaining high selectivity, thereby addressing nitroalkane safety and minimizing catalyst usage.

Synthesis and evaluation of sulfonamide-bearing thiazole as carbonic anhydrase isoforms hCA I and hCA II

Sulfonamide-bearing thiazole compounds were synthesized and their inhibitory effects on the activity of purified human carbonic anhydrase I and II were evaluated. Human carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes (hCA-I and hCA-II) were purified from erythrocyte cells by affinity chromatography. The inhibitory effects of the 12 synthesized sulfonamide (5a-l) on the hydratase and esterase activities of these isoenzymes (hCA-I and hCA-II) were studied in vitro. In relation to these activities, the inhibition equilibrium constants (Ki) were determined. The results showed that all the synthesized compounds inhibited the CA isoenzyme activity. Among them 5b was found to be the most active (IC50 = 0.35 μM; Ki: 0.33 μM) for hCA I and hCA II.

Synthesis of dibenzylamino-1-methylcyclohexanol and dibenzylamino-1-trifluoromethylcyclohexanol isomers

The isomers of dibenzylamino-1-methylcyclohexan-1-ol and dibenzylamino-1-trifluoromethylcyclohexan-1-ol have been prepared. The stereochemistry of these compounds was unequivocally assigned through a combination of NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray analysis. The cis-isomer of 3-N,N-dibenzylamino-1-trifluoromethylcyclohexanol and its derivatives display an unusual conformational behaviour in both solution-phase and the solid-state, where the amino group usually adopts an axial conformation.

Enantioselective formation of cyclopropane spiroindenes from benzofulvenes by phase transfer catalysis

The enantio- and diastereoselective formation of indenes spirofused to highly substituted cyclopropanes is described.

Domino Michael-aldol annulations for the stereocontrolled synthesis of bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane and bicyclo[3.2.1]octane derivatives

One-pot synthesis of bicyclo compounds from cycloalkane-1,3-diones and enals.

Metal-free C–N bond formations: one-pot synthesis of pyrido[2′,1′:2,3]imidazo[4,5-c]cinnolines, benzo[4′,5']thiazolo- and thiazolo[2′,3′:2,3]imidazo[4,5-c]cinnolines

An efficient one-pot synthesis of novel pyrido[2′,1′:2,3]imidazo[4,5-c]cinnoline derivatives has been achieved with moderate to good yields, with two C–N bond formations through C–H functionalization of 2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.

Friedel–Crafts Chemistry. Part 46. Unprecedented Construction of Tricyclic Pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolines, -[1,8]naphthyridines, -azepines, -azocines, -pyrido[3,2-g]azocines, and pyrazolo[3,4-b]azonines via Friedel–Crafts Ring Closures

A series of keto-substituted pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolines, pyrazolo[3,4-b][1,8]naphthyridines, benzo[e]pyrazolo[3,4-b]azepines, benzo[g]pyrazolo[3,4-b]azocines, pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyrido[3,2-g]azocines, and benzo[g]pyrazolo[3,4-b]azonines scaffolds were synthesized via a Friedel–Crafts cyclialkylation approach. The precursor acids were obtained by utilizing the modified Ullman coupling reactions of 5-chloro-3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid with different aryl amines followed by ring closures in the presence of AlCl3/CH3NO2 or P2O5 or polyphosphoric acid catalysts. Particular attention is given to the novel structures especially in regard to the promising pharmaceutical and therapeutic values associated with their skeletons.

Following Ramachandran: exit vector plots (EVP) as a tool to navigate chemical space covered by 3D bifunctional scaffolds. The case of cycloalkanes

An approach to analysis and visualization of chemical space covered by disubstituted scaffolds, which is based on exit vector plots (EVP), is used for analysis of cycloalkane. Four clearly defined regions (α, β, γ and δ) are found in their EVP.

Amino Azaxylylenes Photogenerated from o-Amido Imines: Photoassisted Access to Complex Spiro-Poly-Heterocycles

Upon irradiation, cyclic imines containing o-amido groups are shown to produce reactive intermediates, amino azaxylylenes, which undergo intramolecular cycloadditions to tethered unsaturated pendants to yield complex N,O-heterocycles having an additional spiro-connected nitrogen heterocyclic moiety. Modular assembly of the photoprecursors allows expeditious increase of the complexity of the target poly-heterocyclic scaffolds with a minimal number of experimentally simple reaction steps. The photocyclization and subsequent postphotochemical transformations are accompanied by an increase of Lovering's fsp3 factor, thus producing unprecedented three-dimensional molecular architectures, and offering extended sampling of chemical space.

Cyclobutane and cyclobutene synthesis: catalytic enantioselective [2+2] cycloadditions

Cyclobutanes and cyclobutenes are important structural motifs found in numerous biologically significant molecules, and they are useful intermediates for chemical synthesis. Consequently, [2+2] cycloadditions to access cyclobutanes and cyclobutenes have been established to be particularly useful transformations. Within the last 10 years, an increase in the frequency of publications for catalytic enantioselective [2+2] cycloadditions has occurred. These reactions provide access to a wide array of enantiomerically enriched chemical diversity that was not previously attainable. Described in this review are the advances made in catalytic enantioselective [2+2] cycloadditions to access cyclobutanes and cyclobutenes.

Diastereo- and Enantioselective Iridium Catalyzed Carbonyl (α-Cyclopropyl)allylation via Transfer Hydrogenation

The first examples of diastereo- and enantioselective carbonyl α-(cyclopropyl)allylation are reported. Under the conditions of iridium catalyzed transfer hydrogenation using the chiral precatalyst (R)-Ir-I modified by SEGPHOS, carbonyl α-(cyclopropyl)allylation may be achieved with equal facility from alcohol or aldehyde oxidation levels. This methodology provides a conduit to hitherto inaccessible inaccessible enantiomerically enriched cyclopropane-containing architectures.

Synthesis of Naphtho[1',2':4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and Imidazo[5,1,2-cd]indolizines Through Pd-Catalyzed Cycloaromatization of 2-Phenylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with Alkynes

In this paper, palladium-catalyzed oxidative cycloaromatization of 2-phenylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (PIP) with internal alkyne is studied. From this reaction, two classes of fused N-heterocycle, naphtho[1',2':4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (NIP) and imidazo[5,1,2-cd]indolizine (IID), were formed through dehydrogenative coupling featured with cleavage of the C-H bonds located on different moiety of the PIP substrates. Moreover, when 5-methyl-2-phenylimidazo [1,2-a]pyridine or 2-mesitylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine was used, either NIP or IID could be obtained as an exclusive product with good efficiency. Intriguingly, Pd(II) showed different action mode in promoting this reaction compared with Rh(III) and led to the formation of NIP with reversed regio-selectivity for the reaction of asymmetrical alkyne.

Studies on the formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition of aziridines with alkenes for the synthesis of 1-azaspiroalkanes

The Lewis acid-mediated [3 + 2] cycloaddition of N-sulfonyl- and N-sulfamoylaziridines with alkenes provides a rapid and efficient access to 1-azaspiro[4.n]alkanes. Experimental studies have been combined with DFT calculations to explore the mechanism of the reaction. They demonstrate that the nature of the electron-withdrawing nitrogen protecting group has a very limited influence on the course of the reaction and, particularly, on the initial formation of the 1,3-zwitterionic species through C-N bond cleavage, which has been found to be the rate-determining step. Compared to N-sulfonylaziridines, N-sulfamoylaziridines have proved to be more synthetically useful synthons that afford crystalline polycyclic structures in good yields. A short sequence of catalytic C(sp(3))-H amination-cyclization-[3 + 2] cycloaddition has then been successfully designed to afford the homologue 1-azaspiro[5.n]alkanes, thereby illustrating the higher versatility of sulfamates in these cycloadditions.

Cu-Catalyzed selective C3-formylation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine C–H bonds with DMSO using molecular oxygen

Using the widely available DMSO as the formylation reagent under oxidative conditions, an efficient Cu-catalyzed C3-formylation reaction of imidazo [1,2-a]pyridine C–H bonds to directly generate structurally sophisticated 3-formyl imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives has been developed.

Regioselective copper-catalyzed thiolation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines: an efficient C–H functionalization strategy for C–S bond formation

Regioselective copper-catalyzed thiolation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.

Synthesis of spiro[2.5]octa-4,7-dien-6-one with consecutive quaternary centers via 1,6-conjugate addition induced dearomatization of para-quinone methides

Spiro[2.5]octa-4,7-dien-6-one with consecutive quaternary centers was synthesized in one pot without the use of metals.

Facile access to a heterocyclic, sp3-rich chemical scaffold via a tandem condensation/intramolecular nitrone–alkene [3+2] cycloaddition strategy

A heterocyclic, sp³-rich chemical scaffold was synthesised in just 6 steps via a highly regio- and diastereo-selective tandem nitrone formation/intramolecular nitrone–alkene [3+2] cycloaddition reaction.

Trinuclear {Co2+–M3+–Co2+} complexes catalyze reduction of nitro compounds

Trinuclear {Co²⁺–Co³⁺–Co²⁺} and {Co²⁺–Fe³⁺–Co²⁺} complexes function as reusable heterogeneous catalysts for the selective reduction of assorted nitro compounds to their corresponding amines. The mechanistic investigations suggest the involvement of a Co(ii)–Co(i) cycle in the catalysis.