Pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinoline-1,3-diones as potent caspase-3 inhibitors. Synthesis and SAR of 2-substituted 4-methyl-8-(morpholine-4-sulfonyl)-pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinoline-1,3-diones

Pyrazole-promoted synthesis of pyrrolo[3,4-c] quinoline-1,3-diones in a novel diketene-based reaction

We describe the first classic example of green synthesis of pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinolones scaffolds by catalyst-free unusual reaction of diketene, isatin, and primary amines in ethanol in the presence of pyrazole as a promoter for 4 h. The whole structure of the new product was confirmed by X-ray analysis. The overall transformation involves the cleavage and generation of multiple carbon-nitrogen and carbon-carbon bonds. This report represents a simple and straightforward approach for the synthesis of pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinoline-1,3-diones, which has significant advantages like readily available precursors, non-use of toxic solvent, operational simplicity, mild conditions, good atom economy, and excellent yields; therefore it provides a green and sustainable strategy for access to a range of interesting N-containing heterocyclic compounds in medicinal and organic chemistry.

Desymmetrization of Prochiral N-Pyrazolyl Maleimides via Organocatalyzed Asymmetric Michael Addition with Pyrazolones: Construction of Tri-N-Heterocyclic Scaffolds Bearing Both Central and Axial Chirality

The desymmetrization of N-pyrazolyl maleimides was realized through an asymmetric Michael addition by using pyrazolones under mild conditions, leading to the formation of a tri-N-heterocyclic pyrazole-succinimide-pyrazolone assembly in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% yield, up to 99% ee). The use of a quinine-derived thiourea catalyst was essential for achieving stereocontrol of the vicinal quaternary-tertiary stereocenters together with the C-N chiral axis. Salient features of this protocol included a broad substrate scope, atom economy, mild conditions and simple operation. Moreover, a gram-scale experiment and derivatization of the product further illustrated the practicability and potential application value of this methodology.

Cu-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Annulation of N-Phenylglycines with Maleimides: Synthesis of 1H-Pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinoline-1,3(2H)-diones

A novel protocol for the construction of functionalized 1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinoline-1,3(2H)-diones (PQLs, 3) from N-phenylglycines and maleimides was developed. The cascade reaction was enabled by heating a mixture of the two substrates in the presence of di-tert-butyl peroxide (DTBP) as an oxidant and anhydrous CuBr as a catalyst in chlorobenzene. Consequently, a diverse series of PQLs 3 were synthesized in moderate-to-good yields (43-73%). The synthesis of the PQLs was enabled via a one-pot cascade reaction that proceeded through subsequent oxidative decarboxylation, 1,2-addition, intramolecular cyclization, tautomerization, and aromatization reactions. This protocol can be used for the synthesis of functionalized PQLs via a one-pot oxidative decarboxylation annulation reaction rather than through a series of multistep reactions, making it suitable for both combinatorial and parallel syntheses of PQLs.

Synthesis of Stable N-H Imines with a Benzo[7,8]indolizine Core and Benzo[7,8]indolizino[1,2-c]quinolines via Copper-Catalyzed Annulation of α,β-Unsaturated O-Acyl Ketoximes with Isoquinolinium N-Ylides

A copper-catalyzed annulation of α,β-unsaturated O-acyl ketoximes with isoquinolinium N-ylides has been developed for the concise synthesis of stable N-H imines with a benzo[7,8]indolizine core. When β-(2-bromoaryl)-α,β-unsaturated O-acyl ketoximes are used as the starting materials, a cascade cyclization occurs to afford the benzo[7,8]indolizino[1,2-c]quinolines.

Morpholine as ubiquitous pharmacophore in medicinal chemistry: Deep insight into the structure-activity relationship (SAR)

Morpholine is a versatile moiety, a privileged pharmacophore and an outstanding heterocyclic motif with wide ranges of pharmacological activities due to different mechanisms of action. The ability of morpholine to enhance the potency of the molecule through molecular interactions with the target protein (kinases) or to modulate the pharmacokinetic properties propelled medicinal chemists and researchers to synthesize morpholine ring by the efficient ways and to incorporate this moiety to develop various lead compounds with diverse therapeutic activities. The present review primarily focused on discussing the most promising synthetic leads containing morpholine ring along with structure-activity relationship (SAR) to reveal the active pharmacophores accountable for anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anticonvulsant, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant, antimicrobial and antileishmanial activity. This review outlines some of the recent effective chemical synthesis for morpholine ring. The review also highlighted the metabolic liability of some clinical drugs containing this nucleus and various researches on modified morpholine to enhance the metabolic stability of drugs as well. Drugs bearing morpholine ring and those under clinical trials are also mentioned with the role of morpholine and their mechanism of action. This review will provide the necessary knowledge base to the medicinal chemists in making strategic structural changes in designing morpholine derivatives.

Cercosporin-photocatalyzed sp3 (C-H) activation for the synthesis of pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinolones

We reported a new method that visible light along with cercosporin, one of the naturally occurring perylenequinonoid pigments with excellent properties of photosensitization, photocatalyzed sp³ (C-H) activation for the synthesis of pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinolones through the annulation of anilines and maleimides under mild conditions.

Synthesis of 4-substituted pyrazole-3,5-diamines via Suzuki-Miyaura coupling and iron-catalyzed reduction

A general and efficient synthesis of 4-substituted-1H-pyrazole-3,5-diamines was developed to access derivatives with an aryl, heteroaryl, or styryl group, which are otherwise relatively difficult to prepare. The first step is based on the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction utilizing the XPhos Pd G2 precatalyst. The coupling reactions of 4-bromo-3,5-dinitro-1H-pyrazole with the electron-rich/deficient or sterically demanding boronic acids enabled the production of the corresponding dinitropyrazoles. The subsequent iron-catalyzed reduction of both nitro groups with hydrazine hydrate accomplished the synthesis. The additional demethylation of the 4-methoxystyryl derivative allowed the production of the carboanalog of CAN508 reported as a selective CDK9 inhibitor.

Convenient one-step synthesis of pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinolin-1-ones via TMSCl-catalyzed cascade reactions of isatins and β-enamino ketones

A series of pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinolin-1-ones were afforded by TMSCl-catalyzed isatins and β-enamino ketones in high yields under mild conditions.

Insights into the unexpected chemoselectivity in Brønsted acid catalyzed cyclization of isatins with enaminones: convenient synthesis of pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinolin-1-ones and spirooxindoles

Chemoselective [1+2+3] vs. cascade cyclization has been developed by switching Brønsted acid, offering a divergent synthesis of pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinolin-1-ones and spirooxindoles.

An isocyanide insertion approach to substituted pyrrolo[2,3-b]quinolines under metal-free and azide-free conditions

An isocyanide insertion approach to construct the pyrrolo[2,3-b]quinoline skeleton by an I₂/CHP mediated reaction of aminome-thylenecyclo-propanes (amino-MCPs) is developed.

Small Molecule Active Site Directed Tools for Studying Human Caspases

Caspases are proteases of clan CD and were described for the first time more than two decades ago. They play critical roles in the control of regulated cell death pathways including apoptosis and inflammation. Due to their involvement in the development of various diseases like cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, or autoimmune disorders, caspases have been intensively investigated as potential drug targets, both in academic and industrial laboratories. This review presents a thorough, deep, and systematic assessment of all technologies developed over the years for the investigation of caspase activity and specificity using substrates and inhibitors, as well as activity based probes, which in recent years have attracted considerable interest due to their usefulness in the investigation of biological functions of this family of enzymes.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of diverse pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinoline-1,3-diones and their antibacterial activities

With the aim of developing a general and practical method for library production, a novel and efficient two-phase microwave-assisted cascade reaction between isatins and β-ketoamides in [Bmim]BF4/toluene was developed for the synthesis of pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinoline-1,3-diones. The features of this methodology are, the use of microwave-assisted rapid synthesis, mild reaction conditions, high yields, operational simplicity, facile product separation, and recyclability. Furthermore, the antibacterial activities of the pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinoline-1,3-dione derivatives produced were evaluated against Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter aerogenes) and Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus). These derivatives showed antibacterial activities against Gram-positive strains that were at least equivalent to that against Gram-negative strains. Compound 7{3,5} displayed the most potent antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa (MIC = 0.5 μg/mL) and greater activity than standard ampicillin (MIC = 1 μg/mL). Compound 7{4,7} exhibited the best inhibitory activity against E. coli and E. aerogenes (MIC = 1 and 0.5 μg/mL), compared with the standard ampicillin (both MICs = 1 μg/mL). The synthesized pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinoline-1,3-diones are expected to be widely used as lead compounds for the development of new antibacterial agents.

(3aR*,8bR*)-3a,8b-Dihy-droxy-1-(4-methyl-phen-yl)-2-methyl-sulfanyl-3-nitro-1,8b-di-hydro-indeno-[1,2-b]pyrrol-4(3aH)-one

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C₁₉H₁₆N₂O₅S, contains four independent mol­ecules (A, B, C and D), with two mol­ecules (B and D) displaying disorder in their methyl­sulfanyl groups [occupancy ratios of 0.797 (11):0.203 (11) and 0.85 (2):0.15 (2)]. The nitro groups are twisted slightly out of the planes of the 2-pyrroline rings to which they are bonded with dihedral angles of 10.17 (1), 8.01 (1), 9.44 (1) and 8.87 (1)° in mol­ecules A, B, C and D, respectively. The 2-pyrroline rings are almost orthogonal to the attached tolyl rings, forming dihedral angles of 73.44 (1), 81.21 (1), 88.18 (8) and 73.94 (1)° for mol­ecules A, B, C and D, respectively. A weak intra­molecular O—H⋯O inter­action is observed in mol­ecules B and C. The two hy­droxy groups in each mol­ecule are involved in inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonding. In the crystal, mol­ecules are connected via O—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a complex three-dimensional network.

Crystal structures and antifungal activities of fluorine-containing thioureido complexes with nickel(II)

Ni(II) complexes with N-2-fluorobenzoylpiperidine-1-carbothioimidate (L2-), N-4-fluorobenzoylpiperidine-1-carbothioimidate (L3-), N-2-fluorobenzoylmorpholine- 1-carbothioimidate (L5-) and N-4-fluorobenzoylmorpholine-1-carbothioimidate (L6-)  have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR and 1H-NMR. The crystal structures of three ligands (HL2, HL3 and HL6) and the corresponding Ni(II) complexes ([Ni(L2)2], [Ni(L3)2] and [Ni(L6)2]) have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The antifungal activities of the Ni(II) complexes together and the corresponding ligands against the fungi Botrytis cinerea, Trichoderma spp., Myrothecium and Verticillium spp. have been investigated. The experimental results showed that the ligands and their complexes have antifungal abilities. When the fluorine was substituted on the para-benzoyl moiety, the antifungal activity of the ligands was obviously increased. Moreover, the ligands were stronger than their complexes in inhibiting fungal activities. The antifungal ability of HL6 is especially strong, and similar to that of the commercial fungicide fluconazole.

(3aR,8bR)-3a,8b-Dihy-droxy-2-methyl-sulfanyl-3-nitro-1-phenyl-1,8b-di-hydro-indeno[1,2-b]pyrrol-4(3aH)-one

In the title compound, C18H14N2O5, the pyrrolidine ring adopts a shallow envelope conformation, with the C atom bearing the OH group (and remote from the N atom) displaced by 0.257 (2) Å from the other atoms. The cyclo-pentane ring has a twisted conformation about the C-C bond bearing one =O and one -OH grouping. The dihedral angle between the five-membered rings (all atoms) is 65.54 (9)° and the OH groups lie to the same side of the ring-junction. The mol-ecular structure features a weak intra-molecular O-H⋯O bond and a possible C-H⋯π inter-action. In the crystal, the mol-ecules are linked into [010] chains by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Weak C-H⋯O bonds connect the chains into (100) sheets.

Pharmacophore modeling and docking studies on some nonpeptide-based caspase-3 inhibitors

Neurodegenerative disorders are major consequences of excessive apoptosis caused by a proteolytic enzyme known as caspase-3. Therefore, caspase-3 inhibition has become a validated therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative disorders. We performed pharmacophore modeling on some synthetic derivatives of caspase-3 inhibitors (pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinoline-1,3-diones) using PHASE 3.0. This resulted in the common pharmacophore hypothesis AAHRR.6 which might be responsible for the biological activity: two aromatic rings (R) mainly in the quinoline nucleus, one hydrophobic (H) group (CH₃), and two acceptor (A) groups (–C=O). After identifying a valid hypothesis, we also developed an atom-based 3D-QSAR model applying the PLS algorithm. The developed model was statistically robust (q² = 0.53; pred_r² = 0.80). Additionally, we have performed molecular docking studies, cross-validated our results, and gained a deeper insight into its molecular recognition process. Our developed model may serve as a query tool for future virtual screening and drug designing for this particular target.

Design, synthesis and evaluation of 1,2-benzisothiazol-3-one derivatives as potent caspase-3 inhibitors

A number of 1,2-benzisothiazol-3-one derivatives were prepared through structural modification of the original compound from high-throughput screening. Some analogues (e.g., 6b, 6r, 6s and 6w) were identified as novel and potent caspase inhibitors with IC50 of nanomolar. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies for caspase-3 inhibition were evaluated in vitro. Molecular modeling studies provided further insight into the interaction of this class of compounds with activated caspase-3. The present small molecule caspase-3 inhibitor with novel structures different from structures of known caspase inhibitors revealed a new direction for therapeutic strategies directed against diseases involving abnormally up-regulated apoptosis.

Diethyl 4-methoxyoxalyl-3,5-diphenylpyrrolidine-2,2-dicarboxylate

In the title compound, C₂₅H₂₇NO₇, the pyrrolidine ring exhibits an envelope conformation and the benzene rings form a dihedral angle of 33.47 (11)°. In the crystal, pairs of N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into centrosymmetric dimers. Weak C—H⋯O inter­actions link the dimers into layers parallel to the bc plane.

Diethyl 4-acetyl-5-(2-nitro-phen-yl)pyrrolidine-2,2-dicarboxyl-ate

The title compound, C(18)H(22)N(2)O(7), was synthesized by the 1,3-dipolar cyclo-addition reaction of but-3-en-2-one, diethyl 2-amino-malonate and 2-nitro-benzaldehyde. In the mol-ecule, the pyrrolidine ring possesses an envelope conformation. Inter-molecular N-H⋯O and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds are present in the crystal structure.

Diethyl 1-acetyl-4'-(4-chloro-phen-yl)-5'-(4-nitro-phen-yl)-2-oxospiro-[indoline-3,3'-pyrrolidine]-2',2'-dicarboxyl-ate

In the title compound, C₃₁H₂₈ClN₃O₈, the pyrrolidine ring exhibits an envelope conformation, with the spiro C atom located at the flap position. A spiro junction links the oxindole ring system and the pyrrolidine ring. The planar oxindole ring system is twisted with respect to the nitro­benzene and chloro­benzene rings, with dihedral angles of 62.34 (11) and 75.93 (9)°, respectively. In the crystal, a weak C—H⋯O interaction links the molecules into chains and two intramolecular C—H⋯O close contacts are seen.

6-Phenyl-5a,6,6a,7,12,13a-hexahydro-5H-benzo[6,7]indolizino[3,2-a]pyrrolizine

In the title compound, C₂₃H₂₂N₂, the central pyrrolidine ring adopts an envelope conformation. The benzene ring of the hexa­hydro­pyrroloisoquinoline ring system makes dihedral angles of 83.43 (6) and 61.99 (10)°, respectively, with the phenyl and pyrrole rings. In the crystal structure, weak C—H⋯π inter­actions are observed.

(3RS,4SR)-Methyl 4-(2-chloro-5,8-di-methoxy-quinolin-3-yl)-1-phenyl-pyrrolidine-3-carboxyl-ate

The mol­ecule of the title compound, C₂₃H₂₃ClN₂O₄, contains a quinolyl unit linked to a functionalized pyrrolidine system with a 3,4-trans arrangement of the substituents. The unit cell contains two stereoisomers that have the absolute stereochemistry 3S,4R and 3R,4S. The pyrrolidine ring adopts a twist conformation with pseudo-rotation parameters P = 258.2 (3)° and τ(M) = 35.3 (1)°. The packing is stabilized by C—H⋯π inter­actions and offset π–π stacking (centroid-to-centroid distance = 3.849 Å, inter­planar distance = 3.293 Å and slippage = 1.994 Å) between phenyl rings, leading to a two-dimensional network.

Screening for caspase-3 inhibitors: effect of a reducing agent on identified hit chemotypes

When studying cysteinyl proteases in general and caspases in particular, it is generally accepted that a reaction buffer must contain a reducing agent to prevent essential cysteinyl groups from spontaneous oxidation. Dithiothreitol (DTT) and beta-mercaptoethanol (beta-MCE) are 2 of the most broadly used reducing agents. While screening a library of small molecules against caspase-3, the authors have found that the nature of the reducing agent used, DTT or beta-MCE, dramatically affects screening results and leads to identification of nonoverlapping hits. Screening in DTT-containing buffer revealed few novel classes of small molecules that selectively and reversibly inhibit caspase-3 but failed to identify isatin sulfonamides recently found to be potent and selective caspase-3 inhibitors (false negatives). On the other hand, screening in the presence of beta-MCE failed to identify a series of hit compounds, 1,3-dioxo-2,3-dichloro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-c]quinolines, discovered with DTT, whereas isatin sulphonamides in these conditions exhibited strong caspase-3 inhibition. In this work, the authors show that thiol-containing reducing agents can affect catalytic activity of caspase-3 and modify its thermostability in a redox-potential-independent manner. The authors speculate that the differential structural modifications of caspase-3 seen with different reducing agents represent structurally different caspase-3 conformations and are responsible for its differential sensitivity to small molecules of different chemotypes. Hence, selection of the reducing agent may dramatically affect the quality of high-throughput screening campaigns.