2,3-Disubstituted 6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes as novel dopamine transporter inhibitors

Ene Reductase Enabled Intramolecular β-C-H Functionalization of Substituted Cyclohexanones for Efficient Synthesis of Bridged Bicyclic Nitrogen Scaffolds

Herein we report that ene reductases (EREDs) can facilitate an unprecedented intramolecular β-C-H functionalization reaction for the synthesis of bridged bicyclic nitrogen heterocycles containing the 6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane scaffold. To streamline the synthesis of these privileged motifs, we developed a gram-scale one-pot chemoenzymatic cascade by combining iridium photocatalysis with EREDs, using readily available N-phenylglycines and cyclohexenones that can be obtained from biomass. Further derivatization using enzymatic or chemical methods can convert 6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-one into 6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3α-ols, which can be potentially utilized for the synthesis of azaprophen and its analogues for drug discovery. Mechanistic studies revealed the reaction requires oxygen, presumably to produce oxidized flavin, which can selectively dehydrogenate the 3-substituted cyclohexanone derivatives to form the α,β-unsaturated ketone, which subsequently undergoes spontaneous intramolecular aza-Michael addition under basic conditions.

Expedient Synthesis of Bridged Bicyclic Nitrogen Scaffolds via Orthogonal Tandem Catalysis

Bridged nitrogen bicyclic skeletons have been accessed via unprecedented site- and diastereoselective orthogonal tandem catalysis from readily accessible reactants in a step economic manner. Directed Pd-catalyzed γ-C(sp³ )-H olefination of aminocyclohexane with gem-dibromoalkenes, followed by a consecutive intramolecular Cu-catalyzed amidation of the 1-bromo-1-alkenylated product delivers the interesting normorphan skeleton. The tandem protocol can be applied on substituted aminocyclohexanes and aminoheterocycles, easily providing access to the corresponding substituted, aza- and oxa-analogues. The Cu catalyst of the Ullmann-Goldberg reaction additionally avoids off-cycle Pd catalyst scavenging by alkenylated reaction product. The picolinamide directing group stabilizes the enamine of the 7-alkylidenenormorphan, allowing further product post functionalizations. Without Cu catalyst, regio- and diastereoselective Pd-catalyzed γ-C(sp³ )-H olefination is achieved.

Synthesis of a bicyclic oxo-γ-lactam from a simple caprolactam derivative

Reaction of caprolactams with an axial ester substituent with base gives the 6-azabicyclo-[3.2.1]octane ring system via Dieckmann cyclization.

Synthesis of Normorphans through an Efficient Intramolecular Carbamoylation of Ketones

An unexpected C-C bond cleavage was observed in trichloroacetamide-tethered ketones under amine treatment and exploited to develop a new synthesis of normophans from 4-amidocyclohexanones. The reaction involves an unprecedented intramolecular haloform-type reaction of trichloroacetamides promoted by enamines (generated in situ from ketones) as counter-reagents. The methodology was applied to the synthesis of compounds embodying the 6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane framework.

Carbamoyl radical-mediated synthesis and semipinacol rearrangement of β-lactam diols

In an approach to the biologically important 6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane ring system, the scope of the tandem 4-exo-trig carbamoyl radical cyclization-dithiocarbamate group transfer reaction to ring-fused β-lactams is evaluated. β-Lactams fused to five-, six-, and seven-membered rings are prepared in good to excellent yield, and with moderate to complete control at the newly formed dithiocarbamate stereocentre. No cyclization is observed with an additional methyl substituent on the terminus of the double bond. Elimination of the dithiocarbamate group gives α,β- or β,γ-unsaturated lactams depending on both the methodology employed (base-mediated or thermal) and the nature of the carbocycle fused to the β-lactam. Fused β-lactam diols, obtained from catalytic OsO4-mediated dihydroxylation of α,β-unsaturated β-lactams, undergo semipinacol rearrangement via the corresponding cyclic sulfite or phosphorane to give keto-bridged bicyclic amides by exclusive N-acyl group migration. A monocyclic β-lactam diol undergoes Appel reaction at a primary alcohol in preference to semipinacol rearrangement. Preliminary investigations into the chemo- and stereoselective manipulation of the two carbonyl groups present in a representative 7,8-dioxo-6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane rearrangement product are also reported.

Singular value decomposition analysis of the torsional angles of dopamine reuptake inhibitor GBR 12909 analogs: effect of force field and charges

Three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) analysis of large, flexible molecules, such as the dopamine reuptake inhibitor GBR 12909 (1), is complicated by the fact that they can take on a wide range of closely-related conformations. The first step in the analysis is to classify the conformers into groups. Over 600 conformers each of a piperazine (2) and piperidine (3) analog of 1 were generated by random search conformational analysis using the Merck Molecular Force Field (MMFF94). Singular value decomposition (SVD) was used to group the conformers of 2 and 3 by the similarity of their non-ring torsional angles. SVD uncovered subtle differences in their conformer populations due to that fact that the conformers separate along different principal components, and ultimately to the fact that different torsional angles are the chief contributors to these components. The results were compared to our previous SVD analysis (Fiorentino, et al., Journal of Computational Chemistry, 2006, 27, 609-620) of conformer populations of 2 and 3 generated by the Tripos force field and Gasteiger-Hückel charges. Except for the dominant contribution of angle B3 to principal component 8 seen with both force fields, the angles which are chiefly responsible for the grouping of the conformers of 2 and 3 are different with both force fields. This illustrates that SVD is useful in identifying unique groupings of conformers in large data sets of flexible molecules-a first step in selecting representative conformers for 3D-QSAR modeling studies.

Stereoselective cyclopropanation of serine- and threonine-derived oxazines to access new morpholine-based scaffolds

A general strategy for the synthesis of novel, orthogonally protected scaffolds based on the unique 2-oxa-5-azabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane structure is presented. The described reaction sequence takes advantage of easily available starting materials such as serine and threonine and leads to stereochemically dense structures in few, high-yielding synthetic steps. We show how the stereochemistry can be easily tuned by starting from different beta-hydroxy-alpha-amino acids and also by means of a transition metal-catalyzed cyclopropanation step. The compounds find application as constrained templates for the construction of geometrically diversified libraries of compounds.

3-Aza-6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes as new enantiopure heteroatom-rich tropane-like ligands of human dopamine transporter

CNS diseases such as Parkinson, schizophrenia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are characterized by a significant alteration of dopamine transporter (DAT) density. Thus, the development of compounds that are able to selectively interact with DAT is of great interest. Herein we describe the design and synthesis of a new set of 3-aza-6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes having a tropane-like structure with additional heteroatoms at positions 3 and 6. The compounds were evaluated for their in vitro receptor binding properties toward human dopamine (hDAT) and serotonin (hSERT) transporters using [3H]WIN35,428 and [3H]citalopram as specific radioligands, respectively. Biological assays revealed that some compounds having the N-3 atom substituted with aryl groups possess significant affinity and selectivity for monoamine transporters, and in particular, compound 5d displayed an IC50 of 21 nM toward DAT, and a good selectivity toward SERT (IC50=1042 nM). These results suggest that 3-aryl-3-aza-6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes may represent a new class of DAT ligands.