Chemoselective Peptide Backbone Diversification and Bioorthogonal Ligation by Ruthenium‐Catalyzed C−H Activation/Annulation

Construction of Peptide-Isoquinolone Conjugates via Rh(III)-Catalyzed C-H Activation/Annulation

Herein, we disclose a Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H activation/annulation reaction for the derivatization of Lys-based peptides, in situ affording diverse peptide-isoquinolone conjugates. This approach features racemization-free conditions, high atom- and step-economy, excellent chemo- and site-selectivity, and broad scope including substrates bearing unprotected Trp and Tyr, free Ser and Gln, and Met residues. The peptide-isoquinolone conjugates also display good fluorescent properties with maximum emission wavelengths up to 460 nm. Importantly, preliminary antifungal activity studies indicate that peptide-isoquinolone conjugates show potential activities toward crop and forest pathogenic fungi, in which the peptide-isoquinolone conjugate bearing unprotected Tyr residue exhibits much better antifungal activities toward B. cinerea Pers. and C. chrysosperma than the positive control.

Ring-Modified Histidine-Containing Cationic Short Peptides Exhibit Anticryptococcal Activity by Cellular Disruption

Delineation of clinical complications secondary to fungal infections, such as cryptococcal meningitis, and the concurrent emergence of multidrug resistance in large population subsets necessitates the need for the development of new classes of antifungals. Herein, we report a series of ring-modified histidine-containing short cationic peptides exhibiting anticryptococcal activity via membrane lysis. The N-1 position of histidine was benzylated, followed by iodination at the C-5 position via electrophilic iodination, and the dipeptides were obtained after coupling with tryptophan. In vitro analysis revealed that peptides Trp-His[1-(3,5-di-tert-butylbenzyl)-5-iodo]-OMe (10d, IC₅₀ = 2.20 μg/mL; MIC = 4.01 μg/mL) and Trp-His[1-(2-iodophenyl)-5-iodo)]-OMe (10o, IC₅₀ = 2.52 μg/mL; MIC = 4.59 μg/mL) exhibit promising antifungal activities against C. neoformans. When administered in combination with standard drug amphotericin B (Amp B), a significant synergism was observed, with 4- to 16-fold increase in the potencies of both peptides and Amp B. Electron microscopy analysis with SEM and TEM showed that the dipeptides primarily act via membrane disruption, leading to pore formation and causing cell lysis. After entering the cells, the peptides interact with the intracellular components as demonstrated by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).

An asymmetric metal-templated route to amino acids with an isoquinolone core via a Rh(III)-catalyzed coupling of aryl hydroxamates with chiral propargylglycine Ni(II) complexes

A general protocol for the asymmetric synthesis of artificial amino acids (AAs) comprising an isoquinolone skeleton was successfully elaborated via a straightforward Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H activation/annulation of various aryl hydroxamates with a series of robust chiral propargylglycine Ni(II) complexes derived from glycine (Gly), alanine (Ala) and phenylalanine (Phe) in a green solvent (methanol) under mild conditions (at room temperature under air). Notably, in the case of phenylalanine-derived complexes, the formation of unfavorable 4-substituted isoquinolone regioisomers was achieved by a catalyst control for the first time. The subsequent acidic decomposition of the obtained Ni(II) complexes provides the target unnatural α- and α,α-disubstituted AAs with an isoquinolone core in an enantiopure form.

Pd(II)-Catalyzed Synthesis of Furo[2,3-b]pyridines from β-Ketodinitriles and Alkynes via Cyclization and N-H/C Annulation

A Pd(II)-catalyzed synthesis of furopyridines has been developed from β-ketodinitriles and alkynes via an unusual N-H/C annulation. The participation of both the nitrile groups and the concurrent construction of furan and pyridine rings through the formation of C-C, C═C, C-O, C-N, and C═N bonds are the important features. The synthetic applicability is further demonstrated through a series of postsynthetic alterations.

Microwave-Assisted Ruthenium- and Rhodium-Catalyzed Couplings of α-Amino Acid Ester-Derived Phosphinamides with Alkynes

Two different types of new phosphinamide α-amino ester derivatives have been prepared in moderate to high yields via ruthenium(II) and rhodium(III)-catalyzed ortho-C-H functionalization under microwave irradiation. Specifically, the ortho-alkenylated phosphinamides were produced through coupling of phosphinamides containing an α-substituted or α,α-disubstituted α-amino ester with internal alkynes under ruthenium catalysis. In contrast, Ru and the more effective Rh-catalyzed coupling of the α-unsubstituted glycine ester phosphinamide with alkynes resulted in formation of oxidative annulation products, phosphaisoquinolin-1-ones. The developed methods feature the use of easily accessible starting materials, short reaction time, exclusive E-stereoselectivity (for ortho-alkenylation) and good functional group tolerance. The alkenylation reaction was readily scaled up to gram scale. Furthermore, the obtained alkenylated phosphinamide could be transformed into P-containing dipeptides through hydrolysis of the ester group in the catalysis product and subsequent condensation with an α-amino ester.

Site-selective modification of peptide backbones

Exciting developments in the site-selective modification of peptide backbones are allowing an outstanding fine-tuning of peptide conformation, folding ability, and physico-chemical and biological properties.