A novel class of small-molecule caspase-3 inhibitors prepared by multicomponent reactions

SO3H-Functionalized Epoxy-Immobilized Fe3O4 Core-Shell Magnetic Nanoparticles as an Efficient, Reusable, and Eco-Friendly Catalyst for the Sustainable and Green Synthesis of Pyran and Pyrrolidinone Derivatives

A SO₃H-functionalized epoxy-immobilized Fe₃O₄ core-shell magnetic nanocatalyst was prepared through a simple three-step procedure, and it was identified by various analyses such as Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential thermal gravity (DTG), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), vibration sample magnetometry (VSM), and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). BET analysis showed that the as-prepared nanocatalyst was synthesized with a mesoporous structure and high specific area (35.45 m² g^-1). The TEM image clearly showed that the particle size distribution was in the range of 47-65 nm. The designed magnetic nanocatalyst was used successfully in the synthesis of pyran derivatives via the reaction of dimedone, malononitrile, and various aromatic aldehydes and synthesis of pyrrolidinone derivatives via the reaction of various aromatic aldehydes, aniline, and diethyl acetylenedicarboxylate. The nanocatalyst was simply isolated from the reaction mixture utilizing an external magnet and reused several times according to the model reactions without significant loss in its efficiency.

Exploring the Synthetic Potential of γ-Lactam Derivatives Obtained from a Multicomponent Reaction. Applications as Antiproliferative Agents

A study on the reactivity of 3-amino α,β-unsaturated γ-lactam derivatives obtained from a multicomponent reaction is presented. Key features of the substrates are the presence of an endocyclic α,β-unsaturated amide moiety and an enamine functionality. Following different synthetic protocols, the functionalization at three different positions of the lactam core is achieved. In the presence of a soft base, under thermodynamic conditions, the functionalization at C-4 takes place where the substrates behave as enamines, while the use of a strong base, under kinetic conditions, leads to the formation of C-5-functionalized γ-lactams, in the presence of ethyl glyoxalate, through a highly diastereoselective vinylogous aldol reaction. Moreover, the nucleophilic addition of organometallic species allows the functionalization at C-3, through the imine tautomer, affording γ-lactams bearing tetrasubstituted stereocenters, where the substrates act as imine electrophiles. Taking into account the advantage of the presence of a chiral stereocenter in C-5 substituted γ-lactams, further diastereoselective transformations are also explored, leading to novel bicyclic substrates holding a fused γ and δ-lactam skeleton. Remarkably, an example of a highly stereoselective formal [3+3] cycloaddition reaction of chiral γ-lactam substrates is reported for the synthesis of 1,4-dihidropyridines, where a non-covalent attractive interaction of a carbonyl group with an electron-deficient arene seems to drive the stereoselectivity of the reaction to the exclusive formation of the cis isomer. In order to unambiguously determine the substitution pattern resulting from the diverse reactions, an extensive characterization of the substrates is detailed through 2D NMR and/or X-ray experiments. Likewise, applications of the substrates as antiproliferative agents against lung and ovarian cancer cells are also described.

A simple iodine-DMSO-promoted multicomponent reaction for the synthesis of 2,4-disubstituted dihydrotriazole-3-ones

A series of 2,4-disubstituted 1,2,4-triazole-3-ones 4 were prepared via an iodine-DMSO-promoted three-component reaction of formaldehyde, amines and hydrazines in moderate yields.

Multicomponent Synthesis of Unsaturated γ-Lactam Derivatives. Applications as Antiproliferative Agents through the Bioisosterism Approach: Carbonyl vs. Phosphoryl Group

We report efficient synthetic methodologies for the preparation of 3-amino and 3-hydroxy 3-pyrrolin-2-ones (unsaturated γ-lactams) through a multicomponent reaction of amines, aldehydes and acetylene or pyruvate derivatives. The densely substituted γ-lactam substrates show in vitro cytotoxicity, inhibiting the growth of the carcinoma human tumor cell lines RKO (human colon epithelial carcinoma), SKOV3 (human ovarian carcinoma) and A549 (carcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cell). In view of the possibilities for the diversity of the substituents that offer a multicomponent, synthetic methodology, an extensive structure–activity profile is presented. In addition, the bioisosteric replacement of the flat ester group by a tetrahedral phosphonate or phosphine oxide moiety in γ-lactam substrates leads to increased growth inhibition activity. Cell morphology analysis and flow cytometry assays indicate that the main pathway by which our compounds induce cytotoxicity is based on the activation of the intracellular apoptotic mechanism.

A Multicomponent Protocol for the Synthesis of Highly Functionalized γ-Lactam Derivatives and Their Applications as Antiproliferative Agents

An efficient synthetic methodology for the preparation of 3-amino 1,5-dihydro-2H-pyrrol-2-ones through a multicomponent reaction of amines, aldehydes, and pyruvate derivatives is reported. In addition, the densely substituted lactam substrates show in vitro cytotoxicity, inhibiting the growth of carcinoma human tumor cell lines HEK293 (human embryonic kidney), MCF7 (human breast adenocarcinoma), HTB81 (human prostate carcinoma), HeLa (human epithelioid cervix carcinoma), RKO (human colon epithelial carcinoma), SKOV3 (human ovarian carcinoma), and A549 (carcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cell). Given the possibilities in the diversity of the substituents that offer the multicomponent synthetic methodology, an extensive structure-activity profile is presented. In addition, both enantiomers of phosphonate-derived γ-lactam have been synthesized and isolated and a study of the cytotoxic activity of the racemic substrate vs. its two enantiomers is also presented. Cell morphology analysis and flow cytometry assays indicate that the main pathway by which our compounds induce cytotoxicity is based on the activation of the intracellular apoptotic mechanism.

Photocatalytic Cyclization/Defluorination Domino Sequence to Access 3-Fluoro-1,5-dihydro-2H-pyrrol-2-one Scaffold

We herein report an unprecedented photoinduced cyclization/defluorination domino process of N-allylbromodifluoroacetamide with cyclic secondary amines. Consequently, a wide array of valuable 3-fluoro-1,5-dihydro-2H-pyrrol-2-ones were facilely prepared from readily available starting materials under mild conditions. Preliminary mechanistic investigations suggest that a radical chain propagation and amine-promoted defluorination pathway are presumably involved in this transformation.

Developments of small molecules as inhibitors for carbonic anhydrase isoforms

Carbonic anhydrases are ubiquitous, and their role in the hydration of carbon dioxide is essential for the survival of many tissues and organs. However, their association with many pathological diseases, especially in glaucoma, Alzheimer's, obesity, epilepsy, and tumorigenesis, has prompted the design and synthesis of novel carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs). Herein we describe (1) approaches used in the design of CAIs and (2) synthesis of small molecules as CAIs within the last five years. Despite the active research in this area, there are still more avenues to explore, especially selective inhibition of CA I, CA IX, and XII. These isoforms would continue to open up a diversity of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors containing 1,2,3-triazoles, imidazolone, pyrrolidone, thiadiazole, isatin, and glycoconjugates as part of their molecular frameworks.

Discovery of dihydropyrrolidones as novel inhibitors against influenza A virus

More effective prophylactic and therapeutic strategies to combat influenza viruses are urgently required worldwide because the conventional anti-influenza drugs are facing drug resistance. Here, dihydropyrrolidones (DHPs), the products of an efficient multi-components reaction, were found to possess good activities against influenza A virus (IAV). Primary structure-activity relationship indicated that the activities of DHPs were greatly influenced by substituents and four of them had IC₅₀ values lower than 10 μM (DHPs 5-2, 8, 14 and 19: IC₅₀ = 3.11-9.23 μM). The activities against multiple IAV strains and mechanism of DHPs were further investigated by using 5-2 (IC₅₀ = 3.11 μM). It was found that 5-2 possessed antiviral effects against all the investigated subtypes of IAVs with the IC₅₀ values from 3.11 to 7.13 μM. Moreover, 5-2 showed very low cytotoxicity with CC₅₀ > 400 μM. Results of mechanism study indicated that 5-2 could efficiently inhibit replication of IAV, up-regulate the expression of key antiviral cytokines IFN-β and antiviral protein MxA, and suppress the production of the NDAPH oxidase NOX1 in MDCK cells. These results indicated that 5-2 could be used as a potential inhibitor against wide subtypes of IAVs.

Water–DMSO-promoted one-pot synthesis of two new series of dihydropyrrolo[2,3-h]quinolines

Two new series of dihydropyrrolo[2,3-h]quinolines 4 and 6 were synthesized via a three-component reaction synergistically activated by water and DMSO, and new pyrrolo[2,3-h]quinolines 10 can be obtained by oxidation of 4 using Cu(NO₃)₂ as oxidant.

Discovery of Dihydropyrrol-2-ones as Novel G0/G1-Phase Arresting Agents Inducing Apoptosis

A series of dihydropyrrol-2-ones (DHPs) were designed and synthesized via an efficient multicomponent reaction at room temperature for evaluation of their bioactivities against four human cancer lines (MCF-7, RKO, HeLa, and A549) in vitro. Preliminary structure-activity relationship studies showed that R4 = 3-MeO-4-OH-Ph is a crucial group for increasing cytotoxicities against RKO cells and the influences of R1-R3 depend on their combination. It was found that DHPs 5a, 5q, and 5s showed the best antiproliferative activities against A549, RKO, and all four studied cell lines, respectively (IC50 = 1.9, 0.8, and 0.9-2.4 μM). They can be used as new lead compounds for developing potentially selective or broad spectrum anticancer agents. 5q proves as a potent G0/G1-phase arresting agent inducing cell apoptosis by increasing/decreasing the levels of p53 and p21/cyclin D1.

A Brønsted Acid-Catalyzed Multicomponent Reaction for the Synthesis of Highly Functionalized γ-Lactam Derivatives

Brønsted acids catalyze a multicomponent reaction of benzaldehyde with amines and diethyl acetylenedicarboxylate to afford highly functionalized γ-lactam derivatives. The reaction consists of a Mannich reaction of an enamine to an imine, both generated in situ, promoted by a phosphoric acid catalyst and a subsequent intramolecular cyclization. The hydrolysis of the cyclic enamine substrate can provide enol derivatives and, moreover, a second attack of the amine on the carboxylate can afford amide derivatives. An optimization of the reaction conditions is presented in order to obtain selectively cyclic enamines that can afford the enol species after selective hydrolysis.

Virtual Screening against Phosphoglycerate Kinase 1 in Quest of Novel Apoptosis Inhibitors

Inhibition of apoptosis is a potential therapy to treat human diseases such as neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Parkinson’s disease), stroke, and sepsis. Due to the lack of druggable targets, it remains a major challenge to discover apoptosis inhibitors. The recent repositioning of a marketed drug (i.e., terazosin) as an anti-apoptotic agent uncovered a novel target (i.e., human phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (hPgk1)). In this study, we developed a virtual screening (VS) pipeline based on the X-ray structure of Pgk1/terazosin complex and applied it to a screening campaign for potential anti-apoptotic agents. The hierarchical filters in the pipeline (i.e., similarity search, a pharmacophore model, a shape-based model, and molecular docking) rendered 13 potential hits from Specs chemical library. By using PC12 cells (exposed to rotenone) as a cell model for bioassay, we first identified that AK-918/42829299, AN-465/41520984, and AT-051/43421517 were able to protect PC12 cells from rotenone-induced cell death. Molecular docking suggested these hit compounds were likely to bind to hPgk1 in a similar mode to terazosin. In summary, we not only present a versatile VS pipeline for potential apoptosis inhibitors discovery, but also provide three novel-scaffold hit compounds that are worthy of further development and biological study.

Efficient Synthesis of a Series of Novel Octahydroquinazoline-5-ones via a Simple on-Water Urea-Catalyzed Chemoselective Five-Component Reaction

Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) have become a powerful tool for drug discovery and development owing to their advantages of fast and efficient construction of a large library of products with complexity and diversity. However, conventional MCRs usually proceed in environmentally unfriendly organic solvents rather than in water, a green solvent used by nature for biological chemistry. Herein, a simple and efficient on-water urea-catalyzed chemoselective five-component reaction (5CR) has been developed for the synthesis of a series of novel octahydroquinazoline-5-ones (6), the derivatives of quinazolinones possessing diverse biological activities. The molecular structure of 6{1,1,12} has been confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The 5CR can proceed at room temperature under normal atmospheric pressure in good yields and afford a large library of octahydroquinazoline-5-ones with various aromatic and aliphatic substituents at N-1, C-2, and N-3. In addition, a green method has been developed for the synthesis of enaminones, important intermediates in the 5CR and in synthetic chemistry.

In-water facile synthesis of poly-substituted 6-arylamino pyridines and 2-pyrrolidone derivatives using tetragonal nano-ZrO2 as reusable catalyst

Green synthesis of functionalized 6-arylamino pyridines and 2-pyrrolidinone derivatives using tetragonal ZrO₂ nanoparticles as reusable catalyst in aqueous ethanol.

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.

Synthesis and evaluation of N-acyl-substituted 1,2-benzisothiazol-3-one derivatives as caspase-3 inhibitors

A small molecule library of N-acyl-substituted 1,2-benzisothiazol-3-one derivatives has been synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of caspase-3 and -7, in which some of them showed nanomolar potency against caspase-3 and -7 in vitro. Meanwhile, in 10 lM concentration, both compounds 24 and 25 showed significant protection against apoptosis in camptothecin-induced Jurkat T cells system. The docking studies predicted the interactions and binding modes of the synthesized inhibitors in the caspase-3 active site.

1,2-benzisothiazol-3-one derivatives as a novel class of small-molecule caspase-3 inhibitors

A novel series of 1,2-benzisothiazol-3-one derivatives was synthesized and their biological activities were evaluated for inhibiting caspase-3 and -7 activities, in which some of them showed low nanomolar potency against caspase-3 in vitro and significant protection against apoptosis in a camptothecin-induced Jurkat T cells system. Among the tested compounds, compound 5i exhibited the most potent caspase-3 inhibitory activity (IC50=1.15 nM). The molecular docking predicted the interactions and binding modes of the synthesized inhibitor in the caspase-3 active site.

Development of four-component synthesis of tetra- and pentasubstituted polyfunctional dihydropyrroles: free permutation and combination of aromatic and aliphatic amines

We previously reported the novel efficient proton/heat-promoted four-component reactions (4CRs) of but-2-ynedioates, two same/different primary amines, and aldehydes for the synthesis of tetra- and pentasubstituted polyfunctional dihydropyrroles. If aromatic and aliphatic amines were used as reagents, four different series of products should be obtained via the permutation and combination of aromatic and aliphatic primary amines. However, only three/two rather four different series of tetra-/pentasubstisuted dihydropyrroles could be prepared via the proton/heat-promoted 4CRs. Herein, Cu(OAc)2·H2O, a Lewis acid being stable in air and water, was found to be an efficient catalyst for the 4CR synthesis of all the four different series of tetra-/pentasubstisuted dihydropyrroles. The copper-catalyzed 4CR could produce target products at room temperature in good to excellent yields. Interestingly, benzaldehyde, in addition to being used as a useful reactant for the synthesis of pentasubstituted dihydropyrroles, was found to be an excellent additive for preventing the oxidation of aromatic amines with copper(II) and ensuring the sooth conduct of the 4CRs for the synthesis of tetrasubstituted dihydropyrroles with aryl R(3). In addition, salicylic acid was found to be needed to increase the activities and yields of the copper-catalyzed 4CRs for the synthesis of petasubstituted diyhydropyrroles. On the basis of experimental results, the enamination/amidation/intramolecular cyclization mechanism was proposed and amidation is expected to be the rate-limited step in the copper-catalyzed 4CRs.