Late-Stage C(sp2 )-H Arylation of Artemisinic Acid and Arteannuin B: Effect of Olefin Migration Towards Synthesis of C-13 Arylated Artemisinin Derivatives

In recent years, C-H bond functionalization has emerged as a pivotal tool for late-stage functionalization of complex natural products for the synthesis of potent biologically active derivatives. Artemisinin and its C-12 functionalized semi-synthetic derivatives are well-known clinically used anti-malarial drugs due to the presence of the essential 1,2,4-trioxane pharmacophore. However, in the wake of parasite developing resistance against artemisinin-based drugs, we conceptualized the synthesis of C-13 functionalized artemisinin derivatives as new antimalarials. In this regard, we envisaged that artemisinic acid could be a suitable precursor for the synthesis of C-13 functionalized artemisinin derivatives. Herein, we report C-13 arylation of artemisinic acid, a sesquiterpene acid and our attempts towards synthesis of C-13 arylated artemisinin derivatives. However, all our efforts resulted in the formation of a novel ring-contracted rearranged product. Additionally, we have extended our developed protocol for C-13 arylation of arteannuin B, a sesquiterpene lactone epoxide considered to be the biogenetic precursor of artemisinic acid. Indeed, the synthesis of C-13 arylated arteannuin B renders our developed protocol to be effective in sesquiterpene lactone as well.

Glycal mediated synthesis of piperidine alkaloids: fagomine, 4-epi-fagomine, 2-deoxynojirimycin, and an advanced intermediate, iminoglycal

Glucal and galactal are transformed into 2-deoxyglycolactams, which are important building blocks in the synthesis of biologically active piperidine alkaloids, fagomine and 4-epi-fagomine. In one of the strategies, reduction of 2-deoxyglycolactam-N-Boc carbonyl by lithium triethylborohydride (Super-Hydride®) has been exploited to generate lactamol whereas reduction followed by dehydration was utilized as the other strategy to functionalize the C1-C2 bond in the iminosugar substrate. The strategies provide the formal synthesis of 2-deoxynojirimycin, nojirimycin and nojirimycin B. DFT studies were carried out to determine the reason for the failure of the formation of the 2-deoxygalactonojirimycin derivative. Further, DFT studies suggest that phenyl moieties of protecting groups and lone pairs of oxygen in carbamate group plays a vital role in deciphering the conformational space of the reaction intermediates and transition-state structures through cation-π or cation-lone pair interactions. The influence of these interactions is more pronounced at low temperature when the entropy factor is small.

Synthesis of artemisinin derived glycoconjugates inspired by click chemistry

Cu(i)-catalysed click reactions between β-propargylated dihydroartemisinin and azido sugars were carried out to furnish artemisinin based glycoconjugates.

Synthesis of novel 1,2,3-triazole based artemisinin derivatives and their antiproliferative activity

Novel artemisinin-1,2,3-triazole derivatives show significant antiproliferative activity, and induce apoptosis and ROS generation and arrest the cell cycle at the G2/M phase.

Norepinephrine alkaloids as antiplasmodial agents: Synthesis of syncarpamide and insight into the structure-activity relationships of its analogues as antiplasmodial agents

Syncarpamide 1, a norepinephrine alkaloid isolated from the leaves of Zanthoxylum syncarpum (Rutaceae) exhibited promising antiplasmodial activities against Plasmodium falciparum with reported IC₅₀ values of 2.04 μM (D6 clone), 3.06 μM (W2 clone) and observed by us 3.90 μM (3D7 clone) and 2.56 μM (K1 clone). In continuation of our work on naturally occurring antimalarial compounds, synthesis of syncarpamide 1 and its enantiomer, (R)-2 using Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation as a key step has been accomplished. In order to study structure-activity-relationship (SAR) in detail, a library of 55 compounds (3-57), which are analogues/homologues of syncarpamide 1 were synthesized by varying the substituents on the aromatic ring, by changing the stereocentre at the C-7 and/or by varying the acid groups in the ester and/or amide side chain based on the natural product lead molecule and further assayed in vitro against 3D7 and K1 strains of P. falciparum to evaluate their antiplasmodial activities. In order to study the effect of position of functional groups on antiplasmodial activity profile, a regioisomer (S)-58 of syncarpamide 1 was synthesized however, it turned out to be inactive against both the strains. Two compounds, (S)-41 and its enantiomer, (R)-42 having 3,4,5-trimethoxy cinnamoyl groups as side chains showed better antiplasmodial activity with IC₅₀ values of 3.16, 2.28 μM (3D7) and 1.78, 2.07 μM (K1), respectively than the natural product, syncarpamide 1. Three compounds (S)-13, (S)-17, (S)-21 exhibited antiplasmodial activities with IC₅₀ values of 6.39, 6.82, 6.41 μM against 3D7 strain, 4.27, 7.26, 2.71 μM against K1 strain and with CC₅₀ values of 147.72, 153.0, >200 μM respectively. The in vitro antiplasmodial activity data of synthesized library suggests that the electron density and possibility of resonance in both the ester and amide side chains increases the antiplasmodial activity as compared to the parent natural product 1. The natural product syncarpamide 1 and four analogues/homologues out of the synthesized library of 55, (S)-41, (R)-42, (S)-55 and (S)-57 were assayed in vivo assay against chloroquine-resistant P. yoelii (N-67) strain of Plasmodium. However, none of the five molecules, 1, (S)-41, (R)-42, (S)-55 and (S)-57 exhibited any promising in vivo antimalarial activity against P. yoelii (N-67) strain. Compounds 4, 6, 7 and 11 showed high cytotoxicities with CC₅₀ values of 5.87, 5.08, 6.44 and 14.04 μM, respectively. Compound 6 was found to be the most cytotoxic as compared to the standard drug, podophyllotoxin whereas compounds 4 and 7 showed comparable cytotoxicities to podophyllotoxin.

Design of Drug Delivery Systems Containing Artemisinin and Its Derivatives

Artemisinin and its derivatives have been reported to be experimentally effective for the treatment of highly aggressive cancers without developing drug resistance, they are useful for the treatment of malaria, other protozoal infections and they exhibit antiviral activity. However, they are limited pharmacologically by their poor bioavailability, short half-life in vivo, poor water solubility and long term usage results in toxicity. They are also expensive for the treatment of malaria when compared to other antimalarials. In order to enhance their therapeutic efficacy, they are incorporated onto different drug delivery systems, thus yielding improved biological outcomes. This review article is focused on the currently synthesized derivatives of artemisinin and different delivery systems used for the incorporation of artemisinin and its derivatives.