Grignard reactions to chiral oxazolidine aldehydes

New Spisulosine Derivative promotes robust autophagic response to cancer cells

Therapy resistance by evasion of apoptosis is one of the hallmarks of human cancer. Therefore, restoration of cell death by non-apoptotic mechanisms is critical to successfully overcome therapy resistance in cancer. By rational drug design approach, here we try to provide evidence that subtle changes in the chemical structure of spisulosine completely switched its cytotoxic function from apoptosis to autophagy. Our most potent molecule (26b) in a series of 16 synthesized derivatives showed robust autophagic cell death in diverse cancer cells sparing normal counterpart. Compound 26b mediated lethal autophagy induction was confirmed by formation of characteristic autophagic vacuoles, LC3 puncta formation, upregulation of signature autophagy markers like Beclin and Atg family proteins. Altogether, we have detected novel autophagy inducer small molecule which can be tested further for drug discovery research.

Synthetic Studies Toward the Skyllamycins: Total Synthesis and Generation of Simplified Analogues

Herein, we report our synthetic studies toward the skyllamycins, a highly modified class of nonribosomal peptide natural products which contain a number of interesting structural features, including the extremely rare α-OH-glycine residue. Before embarking on the synthesis of the natural products, we prepared four structurally simpler analogues. Access to both the analogues and the natural products first required the synthesis of a number of nonproteinogenic amino acids, including three β-OH amino acids that were accessed from the convenient chiral precursor Garner's aldehyde. Following the preparation of the suitably protected nonproteinogenic amino acids, the skyllamycin analogues were assembled using a solid-phase synthetic route followed by a final stage solution-phase cyclization reaction. To access the natural products (skyllamycins A-C) the synthetic route used for the analogues was modified. Specifically, linear peptide precursors containing a C-terminal amide were synthesized via solid-phase peptide synthesis. After cleavage from the resin the N-terminal serine residue was oxidatively cleaved to a glyoxyamide moiety. The target natural products, skyllamycins A-C, were successfully prepared via a final step cyclization with concomitant formation of the unusual α-OH-glycine residue. Purification and spectroscopic comparison to the authentic isolated material confirmed the identity of the synthetic natural products.

Total synthesis of the reported structure of ceanothine D via a novel macrocyclization strategy

The first total synthesis of the reported structure of ceanothine D, a cyclopeptide alkaloid found in red root, was achieved using a highly convergent synthetic strategy. Highlights of the synthesis include the first concomitant macrocyclization and formation of the unique chiral tertiary alkyl-aryl ether bond with complete regio- and stereo-control in the presence of a sensitive Z-enamide moiety to access the strained para-cyclophane present in its structure. This synthetic strategy may be broadly applicable in the generation of other structurally similar cyclopeptide alkaloids, enabling further biological and chemical investigations.

Total Synthesis of Skyllamycins A-C

The skyllamycins are a family of highly functionalized non-ribosomal cyclic depsipeptide natural products which contain the extremely rare α-OH-glycine functionality. Herein the first total synthesis of skyllamycins A-C is reported, together with the biofilm inhibitory activity of the natural products. Linear peptide precursors for each natural product were prepared through an efficient solid-phase route incorporating a number of synthetic modified amino acids. A novel macrocyclization step between a C-terminal amide and an N-terminal glyoxylamide moiety served as a key transformation to install the unique α-OH-glycine unit and generate the natural products in the final step of the synthesis.

The total synthesis and stereochemical assignment of scytonemin A

The total synthesis of scytonemin A and its C-9 epimer, as well as elucidation of the absolute stereochemistry of natural scytonemin A is described.

The first total synthesis of the cyclodepsipeptide pipecolidepsin A

Pipecolidepsin A is a head-to-side-chain cyclodepsipeptide isolated from the marine sponge Homophymia lamellosa. This compound shows relevant cytotoxic activity in three human tumour cell lines and has unique structural features, with an abundance of non-proteinogenic residues, including several intriguing amino acids. Although the moieties present in the structure show high synthetic difficulty, the cornerstone is constituted by the unprecedented and highly hindered γ-branched β-hydroxy-α-amino acid D-allo-(2R,3R,4R)-2-amino-3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethylhexanoic acid (AHDMHA) residue, placed at the branching ester position and surrounded by the four demanding residues L-(2S,3S,4R)-3,4-dimethylglutamine, (2R,3R,4S)-4,7-diamino-2,3-dihydroxy-7-oxoheptanoic acid, D-allo-Thr and L-pipecolic acid. Here we describe the first total synthesis of a D-allo-AHDMHA-containing peptide, pipecolidepsin A, thus allowing chemical structure validation of the natural product and providing a robust synthetic strategy to access other members of the relevant head-to-side-chain family in a straightforward manner.

Stereocontrolled synthesis of syn-β-Hydroxy-α-amino acids by direct aldolization of pseudoephenamine glycinamide

β-Hydroxy-α-amino acids figure prominently as chiral building blocks in chemical synthesis and serve as precursors to numerous important medicines. Reported herein is a method for the synthesis of β-hydroxy-α-amino acid derivatives by aldolization of pseudoephenamine glycinamide, which can be prepared from pseudoephenamine in a one-flask protocol. Enolization of (R,R)- or (S,S)-pseudoephenamine glycinamide with lithium hexamethyldisilazide in the presence of LiCl followed by addition of an aldehyde or ketone substrate affords aldol addition products that are stereochemically homologous with L- or D-threonine, respectively. These products, which are typically solids, can be obtained in stereoisomerically pure form in yields of 55-98 %, and are readily transformed into β-hydroxy-α-amino acids by mild hydrolysis or into 2-amino-1,3-diols by reduction with sodium borohydride. This new chemistry greatly facilitates the construction of novel antibiotics of several different classes.

Garner's aldehyde as a versatile intermediate in the synthesis of enantiopure natural products

Since its introduction to the synthetic community in 1984, Garner's aldehyde has gained substantial attention as a chiral intermediate for the synthesis of numerous amino alcohol derivatives. This review presents some of the most successful carbon chain elongation reactions, namely carbonyl alkylations and olefinations. The literature is reviewed with particular attention on understanding how to avoid the deleterious epimerization of the existing stereocenter in Garner's aldehyde.

Synthesis and evaluation of sphingosine analogues as inhibitors of sphingosine kinases

Sphingolipid-metabolizing enzymes control the critical balance of the cellular levels of sphingolipids, including the apoptotic inducing ceramide (Cer) and the proliferative inducing sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). The production of S1P, catalyzed by the action of sphingosine kinases (SPHKs), is known to be critical for many cellular processes. However, it is suggested that SPHK, and/or its catalytic product S1P, plays critical roles in various diseases including autoimmune diseases, cancer, and allergies. However, there is a great limitation of specific pharmacological inhibitors for SPHKs. In this paper, we describe a novel and stereoselective method of synthesizing SPHKs inhibitors. We generated a number of novel compounds and identified a number of specific inhibitors of human SPHKs. These compounds demonstrated inhibition of SPHKs at micromolar concentrations, making them more potent than dimethylsphingosine (DMS), a well-known inhibitor of SPHKs. In particular, one of the inhibitors was found to be selective toward a particular isoform of SPHK.

Ceramides: branched alkyl chains in the sphingolipid siblings of diacylglycerol improve biological potency

The synthesis of a small number of ceramide analogues containing a combination of linear and highly branched alkyl chains on either the d-sphingosine or the N-acyl core of the molecule is reported. Regardless of location, the presence of the branched chain improves potency relative to the positive control, C2 ceramide; however, the most potent compound (4) has the branched side chain as part of the d-sphingosine core. The induction of apoptosis by 4 in terms of Annexin V binding and DiOC(6) labeling was superior to that achieved with C2 ceramide.

Examining the chirality, conformation and selective kinase inhibition of 3-((3R,4R)-4-methyl-3-(methyl(7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)amino)piperidin-1-yl)-3-oxopropanenitrile (CP-690,550)

Here, we examine the significance that stereochemistry plays within the clinically relevant Janus kinase 3 (Jak3) inhibitor 1 (CP-690,550). A synthesis of all four enantiopure stereoisomers of the drug was carried out and an examination of each compound revealed that only the enantiopure 3R,4R isomer was capable of blocking Stat5 phosphorylation (Jak3 dependent). Each compound was profiled across a panel of over 350 kinases, which revealed a high level of selectivity for the Jak family kinases for these related compounds. Each stereoisomer retained a degree of binding to Jak3 and Jak2 and the 3R,4S and 3S,4R stereoisomers were further revealed to have binding affinity for selected members of the STE7 and STE20 subfamily of kinases. Finally, an appraisal of the minimum energy conformation of each stereoisomer and molecular docking at Jak3 was performed in an effort to better understand each compounds selectivity and potency profiles.

Evolution of the total syntheses of ustiloxin natural products and their analogues

Ustiloxins A-F are antimitotic heterodetic cyclopeptides containing a 13-membered cyclic core structure with a synthetically challenging chiral tertiary alkyl-aryl ether linkage. The first total synthesis of ustiloxin D was achieved in 31 linear steps using an S(N)Ar reaction. An NOE study of this synthetic product showed that ustiloxin D existed as a single atropisomer. Subsequently, highly concise and convergent syntheses of ustiloxins D and F were developed by utilizing a newly discovered ethynyl aziridine ring-opening reaction in a longest linear sequence of 15 steps. The approach was further optimized to achieve a better macrolactamization strategy. Ustiloxins D, F, and eight analogues (14-MeO-ustiloxin D, four analogues with different amino acid residues at the C-6 position, and three (9R,10S)-epi-ustiloxin analogues) were prepared via the second-generation route. Evaluation of these compounds as inhibitors of tubulin polymerization demonstrated that variation at the C-6 position is tolerated to a certain extent. In contrast, the S configuration of the C-9 methylamino group and a free phenolic hydroxyl group are essential for inhibition of tubulin polymerization.

Expedient synthesis of threo-beta-hydroxy-alpha-amino acid derivatives: phenylalanine, tyrosine, histidine, and tryptophan

An expedient synthesis of enantiomerically pure threo-beta-hydroxy-alpha-amino acid derivatives of phenylalanine, tyrosine, histidine, and tryptophan is described. The NBS-mediated radical bromination of the N,N-di-tert-butoxycarbonyl protected alpha-amino acids and subsequent treatment with silver nitrate in acetone provided the trans-oxazolidinones predominantly. Cesium carbonate catalyzed hydrolysis then generated the beta-hydroxy amino acid derivatives in excellent overall yield.

Theoretical Evidence for Pyramidalized Bicyclic Serine Enolates in Highly Diastereoselective Alkylations

A new chiral serine equivalent and its enantiomer have been synthesized from (S)- and (R)-N-Boc-serine methyl esters (Boc: tert-butyloxycarbonyl). The use of these compounds as chiral building blocks has been demonstrated in the synthesis of alpha-alkyl alpha-amino acids by diastereoselective potassium enolate alkylation reactions and subsequent acid hydrolyses. Theoretical studies were performed to elucidate the stereochemical outcome of both the formation of five-membered cyclic N,O-acetals and the subsequent alkylation process, which occurs with total retention of configuration. This feature could be explained in terms of the high degree of pyramidalization of enolate intermediates.

Synthesis of a new π-deficient phenylalanine derivative from a common 1,4-diketone intermediate and study of the influence of aromatic density on prolyl amide isomer population

Enantiopure (2S)-N-(Boc)-3-(6-methylpyridazinyl)alanine (14) has been synthesized to serve as a phenylalanine analog lacking significant pi-donor capability. Two approaches were developed to furnish the target compound from L-aspartic acid as chiral educt in respectively six and nine steps and 13% and 12% yields. In both routes, a key homoallylic ketone intermediate was synthesized by a copper-catalyzed cascade addition of vinylmagnesium bromide to a carboxylic ester. Dipeptide models Ac-Xaa-Pro-NHMe (21a-c) were prepared and the relative populations of prolyl cis- and trans-amide isomers were measured in chloroform, dimethylsulfoxide, and water by proton NMR spectroscopy in order to assess the significance of the electron density of the neighboring aromatic residue on the prolyl amide geometry.

A solution to the stereochemical problems posed by amaryllidaceae constituents using a highly syn-selective arylcuprate conjugate addition to γ-amino and γ-carbamato-α,β-enoates

Various substituted arylcuprates undergo stereocontrolled additions to L-serine-derived γamino- and γ-carbamato-α,β-enoates with high syn-selectivities. The stereochemical outcome of these reactions is fully consistent with the reductive elimination-based model proposed previously. This method is well suited for the preparation of a broad range of biologically active amaryllidaceae constituents and their aromatic analogues.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of gamma-aminophosphonates as potent, subtype-selective sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor agonists and antagonists

The synthesis of N-arylamide phosphonates and related arylether and arylamine analogues provided potent, subtype-selective agonists and antagonists of the five known sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptors (S1P(1-5)). To this end, the syntheses of phosphoserine mimetics-selectively protected and optically active phosphonoserines-are described. In vitro binding assays showed that the implementation of phosphonates as phosphate mimetics provided compounds with similar receptor binding affinities as compared to their phosphate precursors. meta-substituted arylamide phosphonates were discovered to be antagonists of the S1P(1) and S1P(3) receptors. When administered to mice, an antagonist blocked the lymphopenia evoked by a S1P receptor agonist and caused capillary leakage in both lung and kidney.

Evaluation of anticancer activity of 4-vinyl-1-arylsulfonylimidazolidinones

To continue exploration of structure activity relationship of novel 1-(indoline-5-sulfonyl)-4-phenylimidazolidinones (1) reported as anticancer agent with broad spectrum, three 1-(arylsulfonyl)-4-vinylimidazolidinones (2) were synthesized from methyl serinate (3) in 8 steps. Reaction of intermediate 2-phenoxycarbonylaminobut-3-enyl p-toluenesulfonate (10) with arylsulfonamide in the presence of potassium carbonate produced corresponding 2 and N-(4-vinyloxazolidin-2-yl)arylsulfonamide 11 in approximately equal ratio. This reaction is believed to undergo through urea intermediate 16 as shown in scheme 3. 1-Arylsufonyl-4-vinylimidazolidinones 2 show much reduced activity against human colon carcinoma (Colo205), human chronic myelogenous leukemia (K562), and human ovarian adenocarcinoma (SK-OV-3) and compatible activity against human lung carcinoma (A549) compared to 1. Therefore phenyl at 4-position should be the optimum planar motif for the activity of 1.

Synthesis of nonproteinogenic amino acids to probe lantibiotic biosynthesis

The synthesis of six nonproteinogenic amino acids appropriately protected for Fmoc-based solid-phase peptide synthesis is described. These amino acids are (2S,3R)-vinylthreonine, (2S)-(E)-2-amino-5-fluoro-pent-3-enoic acid (fluoroallylglycine), (S)-beta(2)-homoserine, (S) and (R)-beta(3)-homocysteine, and (2R,3R)-methylcysteine. Once incorporated into peptides, these compounds were envisioned to serve as alternative substrates for the lantibiotic synthases that dehydrate serine and threonine residues in their peptide substrates and catalyze the subsequent intramolecular Michael-type addition of cysteines to the dehydroamino acids.

Total Synthesis of Mauritines A, B, C, and F: Cyclopeptide Alkaloids with a 14-Membered Paracyclophane Unit

A unified strategy for the synthesis of mauritines A (5), B (6), C (7), and F (10) has been developed based on a key intramolecular nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction (S(N)Ar) for the formation of the strained 14-membered paracyclophane. It was demonstrated that the outcome of the cycloetherification is independent of the stereochemistry of the peptide backbone and that both (1R)-16 and (1S)-16 cyclized smoothly to provide the corresponding macrocycle. On the other hand, dehydration of the secondary benzylic alcohol, via the phenylselenide intermediate, is configuration dependent. (1R)-25 underwent the two-step syn-elimination much more easily than (1S)-22. A modified reductive deamination procedure via the diazonium intermediate was developed. A complete assignment of proton and carbon NMR spectroscopy signals for these natural products is reported for the first time.

Bacterial glycolipids and analogs as antigens for CD1d-restricted NKT cells

The CD1 family of proteins binds self and foreign glycolipids for presentation to CD1-restricted T cells. To identify previously uncharacterized active CD1 ligands, especially those of microbial origin, numerous glycolipids were synthesized and tested for their ability to stimulate mouse and human natural killer T (NKT) cells. They included analogs of the well known NKT cell agonist alpha-galactosyl ceramide (alpha-GalCer), bacterial glycolipids, and variations of the self-glycolipid, sulfatide. Bacterial glycolipids, alpha-galacturonosyl-ceramides from Sphingomonas wittichii, although structurally similar to alpha-GalCer, have significant differences in the sugar head group as well as the ceramide portion. The Sphingomonas glycosphingolipids (GSLs) and sulfatide variants were shown to activate human NKT cells as measured by IL-4 and IFN-gamma secretion. Moreover, CD1d-dimer staining revealed human NKT cell reactivity toward these GSLs and to the sulfatides in a fashion comparable with alpha-GalCer. Because alpha-GalCer is a marine-sponge-derived ligand, our study here shows that bacterium-derived antigens are also able to stimulate mouse and human NKT cells.

Direct Organocatalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reactions of α-Amino Aldehydes: Expedient Syntheses of Highly Enantiomerically Enriched anti-β-Hydroxy-α-amino Acids

[reaction: see text] A simple and efficient method for the synthesis of highly enantiomerically enriched beta-hydroxy-alpha-amino acid derivatives has been developed. Direct asymmetric aldol reactions of a glycine aldehyde (aminoacetaldehyde) derivative have been performed under organocatalysis using l-proline or (S)-5-pyrrolidine-2-yl-1H-tetrazole. The reactions afforded anti-beta-hydroxy-alpha-amino aldehydes in good yield with high diastereoselectivity (dr up to >100:1) and high enantioselectivity (up to >99.5% ee), which were easily transformed into beta-hydroxy-alpha-amino acid derivatives.

Studies on the Chemical Stability and Synthetic Utility of an Oxazolidine Linker for Solid-Phase Chemistry

A chemical stability study on the oxazolidine linker system has been carried out using a dual-linker analytical construct within a parallel reaction scan. The study established the compatibility of the oxazolidine platform with a wide range of commonly employed synthetic reaction conditions including nucleophilic, oxidizing, and reducing conditions. The scan was further used to probe and optimize acidic conditions under which the oxazolidine could release the substrate from the solid-support and to identify reagents that could cleave while retaining other acid-labile groups. The solid-phase synthesis of a small molecular array established the utility of oxazolidine aldehyde 1 as a building block for asymmetric chemistry while exploiting the data generated by the reaction scan.

Stereoselective generation of vicinal stereogenic quaternary centers by photocycloaddition of 5-methoxy oxazoles to α-keto esters: synthesis of erythro β-hydroxy dimethyl aspartates

The photocycloaddition of methyl pyruvate and methyl phenylglyoxylate, respectively, to 5-methoxy oxazoles bearing additional substituents at C-2 and C-4 leads to bicyclic oxetanes 2 and 3 with high to moderate (exo) diastereoselectivity that can be easily ring-opened to give bis-quaternary aspartic acid diester derivatives 4 and 5.