A new, palladium-catalyzed synthesis of aromatic mercapturic acid derivatives

New Aminobiphenylcysteine Derivatives in Globin and Urine of Rats Dosed with 4-Aminobiphenyl, a Tobacco Smoke Carcinogen

The 4-biphenylnitrenium ion (BPN), a reactive metabolic intermediate of the tobacco smoke carcinogen 4-aminobiphenyl (4-ABP), can react with nucleophilic sulfanyl groups in glutathione (GSH) as well as in proteins. The main site of attack of these S-nucleophiles was predicted using simple orientational rules of aromatic nucleophilic substitution. Thereafter, a series of presumptive 4-ABP metabolites and adducts with cysteine were synthesized, namely, S-(4-amino-3-biphenyl)cysteine (ABPC), N-acetyl-S-(4-amino-3-biphenyl)cysteine (4-amino-3-biphenylmercapturic acid, ABPMA), S-(4-acetamido-3-biphenyl)cysteine (AcABPC), and N-acetyl-S-(4-acetamido-3-biphenyl)cysteine (4-acetamido-3-biphenylmercapturic acid, AcABPMA). Then, globin and urine of rats dosed with a single ip dose of 4-ABP (27 mg/kg b.w.) was analyzed by HPLC-ESI-MS². ABPC was identified in acid-hydrolyzed globin at levels of 3.52 ± 0.50, 2.74 ± 0.51, and 1.25 ± 0.12 nmol/g globin (mean ± S.D.; n = 6) on days 1, 3, and 8 after dosing, respectively. In the urine collected on day 1 (0-24 h) after dosing, excretion of ABPMA, AcABPMA, and AcABPC amounted to 1.97 ± 0.88, 3.09 ± 0.75, and 3.69 ± 1.49 nmol/kg b.w. (mean ± S.D.; n = 6), respectively. On day 2, excretion of the metabolites decreased by one order of magnitude followed by a slower decrease on day 8. Regarding the possible formation of AcABPC from ABPC, N-acetylation of the amino group at the biphenyl moiety prior to that at cysteine appears to be very unlikely. Thus, the structure of AcABPC indicates the involvement of N-acetyl-4-biphenylnitrenium ion (AcBPN) and/or its reactive ester precursors in in vivo reactions with GSH and protein-bound cysteine. ABPC in globin might become an alternative biomarker of the dose of toxicologically relevant metabolic intermediates of 4-ABP.

One-flask synthesis of pyrazolone thioethers involving catalyzed and uncatalyzed thioetherification pathways of pyrazolones

One-pot thioetherification of pyrazolones through cross-coupling as well as an aromatic S_N2 pathway using elemental sulfur as the sulfur source.

3-Substituted-N-(4-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)arylsulfonamides as a novel class of selective Mcl-1 inhibitors: structure-based design, synthesis, SAR, and biological evaluation

Mcl-1, an antiapoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family of proteins, is a validated and attractive target for cancer therapy. Overexpression of Mcl-1 in many cancers results in disease progression and resistance to current chemotherapeutics. Utilizing high-throughput screening, compound 1 was identified as a selective Mcl-1 inhibitor and its binding to the BH3 binding groove of Mcl-1 was confirmed by several different, but complementary, biochemical and biophysical assays. Guided by structure-based drug design and supported by NMR experiments, comprehensive SAR studies were undertaken and a potent and selective inhibitor, compound 21, was designed which binds to Mcl-1 with a Ki of 180 nM. Biological characterization of 21 showed that it disrupts the interaction of endogenous Mcl-1 and biotinylated Noxa-BH3 peptide, causes cell death through a Bak/Bax-dependent mechanism, and selectively sensitizes Eμ-myc lymphomas overexpressing Mcl-1, but not Eμ-myc lymphoma cells overexpressing Bcl-2. Treatment of human leukemic cell lines with compound 21 resulted in cell death through activation of caspase-3 and induction of apoptosis.

A new single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging agent for serotonin transporters: [(125)I]Flip-IDAM, (2-((2-((dimethylamino)methyl)-4-iodophenyl)thio)phenyl)methanol

New ligands for in vivo brain imaging of serotonin transporter (SERT) with single photon emission tomography (SPECT) were prepared and evaluated. An efficient synthesis and radiolabeling of a biphenylthiol, FLIP-IDAM, 4, was accomplished. The affinity of FLIP-IDAM was evaluated by an in vitro inhibitory binding assay using [(125)I]-IDAM as radioligand in rat brain tissue homogenates (K(i) = 0.03 nM). New [(125)I]Flip-IDAM exhibited excellent binding affinity to SERT binding sites with a high hypothalamus to cerebellum ratio of 4 at 30 min post iv injection. The faster in vivo kinetics for brain uptake and a rapid washout from non-specific regions provide excellent signal to noise ratio. This new agent, when labeled with (123)I, may be a useful imaging agent for mapping SERT binding sites in the human brain.

Sulfination by using Pd-PEPPSI complexes: studies into precatalyst activation, cationic and solvent effects and the role of butoxide base

The activation of PEPPSI precatalysts has been systematically studied in Pd-catalysed sulfination. Under the reactions conditions of the sulfide and KOtBu in toluene, the first thing that happens is exchange of the two chlorides on the PEPPSI precatalyst with the corresponding sulfides, creating the first resting state; it is via this complex that all Pd enters the catalytic cycle. However, it is also from this same complex that a tri-Pd complex forms, which is a more persistent resting state. Under standard reaction conditions, this complex is catalytically inactive. However, if additional pyridine or a smaller base (i.e., KOEt) is added, this complex is broken down, presumably initially back to the first resting state and it is again capable of entering the catalytic cycle and completing the sulfination. Of note, once the tri-Pd complex forms, one equivalent of Pd is lost to the transformation. Related to this, the nature of the cation of the sulfide salt and solvent dielectric is very important to the success of this transformation. That is, the less soluble the salt the better the performance, which can be attributed to lowering sulfide concentration to avoid the movement of the Pd-NHC complex into the above described off-cycle sulfinated resting states.

Synthesis of sulfur-containing heterocycles through oxidative carbon-hydrogen bond functionalization

Vinyl sulfides react rapidly and efficiently with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) to form α,β-unsaturated thiocarbenium ions through oxidative carbon-hydrogen bond cleavage. These electrophiles couple with appended π-nucleophiles to yield sulfur-containing heterocycles through carbon-carbon bond formation. Several nucleophiles are compatible with the procedure, and the reactions generally proceed through readily predictable transition states.

Transition metal catalyzed synthesis of aryl sulfides

The presence of aryl sulfides in biologically active compounds has resulted in the development of new methods to form carbon-sulfur bonds. The synthesis of aryl sulfides via metal catalysis has significantly increased in recent years. Historically, thiolates and sulfides have been thought to plague catalyst activity in the presence of transition metals. Indeed, strong coordination of thiolates and thioethers to transition metals can often hinder catalytic activity; however, various catalysts are able to withstand catalyst deactivation and form aryl carbon-sulfur bonds in high-yielding transformations. This review discusses the metal-catalyzed arylation of thiols and the use of disulfides as metal-thiolate precursors for the formation of C-S bonds.

Design and synthesis of an all-in-one 3-(1,1-difluoroprop-2-ynyl)-3H-diazirin-3-yl functional group for photo-affinity labeling

A novel radioisotope-free photo-affinity probe containing the 3-(1,1-difluoroprop-2-ynyl)-3H-diazirin-3-yl functional group was designed and synthesized. This very compact functionality is envisaged to allow photochemically-induced coupling of a compound to its target followed by click reaction coupling with an azido-biotin reagent in order to facilitate purification of the labeled target. In a proof-of-concept study we have shown that 3-(1,1-difluoroprop-2-ynyl)-3H-diazirin-3-yl functional group could be photolyzed to efficiently furnish the methanol adduct 23 and that the generated highly unstable carbene does not react with the neighboring acetylene moiety. A subsequent click reaction with the azido-biotin derivative 25 proceeded smoothly to give triazole 26. This chemical probe should thus be of unique value for facilitating identification of the molecular structure of the target of a bioactive compound.

Methyl mercapturate synthesis: an efficient, convenient and simple method

A safe and simple method for methyl S-arylmercapturate synthesis is described. Thirteen such compounds, to be used afterwards in metabolism studies, have been obtained with yields ranging from 71 to 99.6%. These compounds were obtained using a sulfa-Michael addition and synthesized by adding the corresponding thiophenols to a mixture composed of methyl 2-acetamidoacrylate (MAA), potassium carbonate and a phase transfer catalyst, Aliquat 336. MAA, the initial synthon, was itself isolated in quasi quantitative yield following a fully described synthesis.

One-Pot Synthesis of Trans-4-Alkylthio- and 4-Arylthio-Cinnamic Acids from Trans-4-Chlorosulfonylcinnamic Acid in an Aqueous Medium

A one-pot syntheses of trans-4-alkylthio- and 4-arylthio-cinnamic acids were achieved in high yields by reduction of trans-4-chlorosulfonylcinnamic acid with stannous chloride dihydrate followed by alkylation and arylation of the resulting trans-4-thiocinnamic acid with various kinds of alkyl and activated aryl halides in an aqueous medium.

Alkyl- or arylthiolation of aryl iodide via cleavage of the S-S bond of disulfide compound by nickel catalyst and zinc

Various aryl sulfides can be synthesized by nickel-catalyzed alkyl- or arylthiolation of aryl iodide with a disulfide compound. This reaction produces Ni(0) from NiBr2-bpy by the reduction with zinc, and this generated complex works as an activating species to convert ArI into ArSR under neutral conditions. Furthermore, this system enables the use of two RS groups in (RS)2.

A General Palladium-Catalyzed Coupling of Aryl Bromides/Triflates and Thiols

We have developed an efficient palladium-catalyzed carbon-sulfur bond formation reaction of aryl bromides, triflates, and activated aryl chloride. Using this protocol, we have shown tolerance to a wide variety of aryl thiols and alkyl thiols that can also be used as sulfide equivalents. [reaction: see text]

A Facile One-Pot Synthesis of Alkyl Aryl Sulfides from Aryl Bromides

A convenient one-pot synthetic method for the formation of alkyl aryl sulfides from various alkyl halides and lithium aryl thiolates that are prepared in situ by direct halogen-lithium exchange is reported. In particular, the method overcomes many of the problems encountered in previous reports; it is very quick, catalyst-free, and does not involve use of unstable aryl thiols.

General Method for the Synthesis of 8-Arylsulfanyl Adenine Derivatives

We report a general method for the synthesis of 8-arylsulfanyl adenine derivatives using a mild protocol of coupling 8-mercaptoadenine with a variety of aryl iodides.

Approaches toward the total synthesis of the nine-membered thio-lactone core of griseoviridin

Three different approaches toward the synthesis of the macrocyclic thiolactone core of griseoviridin have been studied. Intramolecular palladium-catalyzed thiol coupling and esterification (carboxylate activation) have led to the formation of unexpected rearranged products. An intermolecular palladium-catalyzed thiol/vinyl iodide coupling followed by an esterification (alcohol activation) ultimately led to the nine-membered core of griseoviridin.