Synthesis, cytotoxicity and topoisomerase inhibition properties of multifarious aminoalkylated indeno[1,2-c]isoquinolin-5,11-diones

The Castagnoli–Cushman Reaction

Since the first reports of the reaction of imines and cyclic anhydrides by Castagnoli and Cushman, this procedure has been applied to the synthesis of a variety of lactams, some of them with important synthetic or biological interest. The scope of the reaction has been extended to the use of various Schiff bases and anhydrides as well as to different types of precursors for these reagents. In recent years, important advances have been made in understanding the mechanism of the reaction, which has historically been quite controversial. This has helped to develop reaction conditions that lead to pure diastereomers and even homochiral products. In addition, these mechanistic studies have also led to the development of new multicomponent versions of the Castagnoli–Cushman reaction that allow products with more diverse and complex molecular structures to be easily obtained.

Design and Synthesis of Indenoisoquinolines Targeting Topoisomerase I and Other Biological Macromolecules for Cancer Chemotherapy

The discovery that certain indenoisoquinolines inhibit the religation reaction of DNA in the topoisomerase I-DNA-indenoisoquinoline ternary complex led to a structure-based drug design research program which resulted in three representatives that entered Phase I clinical trials in cancer patients at the National Cancer Institute. This has stimulated a great deal of interest in the design and execution of new synthetic pathways for indenoisoquinoline production. More recently, modulation of the substitution pattern and chemical nature of substituents on the indenoisoquinoline scaffold has resulted in a widening scope of additional biological targets, including RXR, PARP-1, MYC promoter G-quadruplex, topoisomerase II, estrogen receptor, VEGFR-2, HIF-1α, and tyrosyl DNA phosphodiesterases 1 and 2. Furthermore, convincing evidence has been advanced supporting the potential use of indenoisoquinolines for the treatment of diseases other than cancer. The rapidly expanding indenoisoquinoline knowledge base has provided a firm foundation for further advancements in indenoisoquinoline chemistry, pharmacology, and therapeutics.

A comprehensive review of topoisomerase inhibitors as anticancer agents in the past decade

The topoisomerase enzymes play an important role in DNA metabolism, and searching for enzyme inhibitors is an important target in the search for new anticancer drugs. Discovery of new anticancer chemotherapeutical capable of inhibiting topoisomerase enzymes is highlighted in anticancer research. Therefore, biologists, organic chemists and medicinal chemists all around the world have been identifying, designing, synthesizing and evaluating a variety of novel bioactive molecules targeting topoisomerase. This review summarizes types of topoisomerase inhibitors in the past decade, and divides them into nine classes by structural characteristics, including N-heterocycles compounds, quinone derivatives, flavonoids derivatives, coumarin derivatives, lignan derivatives, polyphenol derivatives, diterpenes derivatives, fatty acids derivatives, and metal complexes. Then we discussed the application prospect and development of these anticancer compounds, as well as concluded parts of their structural-activity relationships. We believe this review would be invaluable in helping to further search potential topoisomerase inhibition as antitumor agent in clinical usage.

Mustard carbonate analogues

Sulfur and nitrogen (half-)mustard carbonate analogues are a new class of compounds, easily synthesized by methoxycarbonylation reaction of the parent alcohols with dialkyl carbonates. In this work, their reactivity as novel, green electrophiles is reported. Reactions have been conducted in autoclave conditions at high temperature (180°C), under pressure and in absence of any base, as well as, in neat at atmospheric pressure, lower temperature (150°C) and in the presence of a catalytic amount of a base. Several nucleophiles have been investigated resulting, in some cases, in unexpected compounds, i.e., six-membered heterocycle piperidine. Reaction mechanism and kinetics have been studied confirming that these compounds retain the anchimeric effect of their mustard gas analogues, without being toxic. Noteworthy, a symmetrical nitrogen mustard carbonate has also been employed as reagent in the preparation of a new family of macrocycles i.e., azacrowns, before not easily accessible.

Behaviour of iprit carbonate analogues in solventless reactions

Sulfur iprit carbonate analogues showed to undergo nucleophilic substitution with several substrates in neat conditions at atmospheric pressure, in the presence and in the absence of a catalytic amount of base.