Synthesis and crystallographic evaluation of diazenyl- and hydrazothiazoles. [5.5] sigmatropic rearrangement and formation of thiazolium bromide dihydrate derivatives

Convenient synthesis and X-ray determination of 2-amino-6H-1,3,4-thiadiazin-3-ium bromides endowed with antiproliferative activity

A new series of 1,3,4-thiadiazin-3-ium bromide derivatives 9a-g were prepared as a six-member ring by interactions between 4-substituted thiosemicarbazides 8a-e and α-halo ketones 2a,b. The reaction was conducted using hydrazine-NH2 and yielded a hexagonal shape. The structures of all obtained compounds have been verified using IR, NMR spectra, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and X-ray crystallography. The X-ray crystallographic analysis of compounds 9a and 9b has revealed that the salt is formed with the nitrogen atom N3 when the aromatic substituents 9a and 9d are present, but in the case of compounds 9b, 9c, 9e, 9f, and 9g with the aliphatic substituent, the salt is formed outside the ring. Compounds 9a-g were evaluated for antiproliferative activity as multitargeted inhibitors. Results revealed that targets 9a-g displayed good antiproliferative activity, with GI50 ranging from 38 nM to 66 nM against a panel of four cancer cell lines compared to the reference Erlotinib (GI50 = 33 nM). Compounds 9a, 9c, and 9d were the most potent antiproliferative derivatives, with GI50 values of 43, 38, and 47 nM, respectively. Compounds 9a, 9c, and 9d were evaluated for their inhibitory activity against EGFR, BRAFV600E, and VEGFR-2. The in vitro experiments demonstrated that the compounds being examined exhibit potent antiproliferative properties and have the potential to function as multitargeted inhibitors. In addition, the western blotting investigation demonstrated the inhibitory effects of 9c on EGFR, BRAFV600E, and VEGFR-2.

Dearomative di- and trifunctionalization of aryl sulfoxides via [5,5]-rearrangement

Aromatic [5,5]-rearrangement can in principle be an ideal protocol to access dearomative compounds. However, the lack of competent [5,5]-rearrangement impedes the advance of the protocol. In this Article, we showcase the power of [5,5]-rearrangement recently developed in our laboratory for constructing an intriguing dearomative sulfonium specie which features versatile and unique reactivities to perform nucleophilic 1,2- and 1,4-addition and cyclization, thus achieving dearomative di- and trifunctionalization of easily accessible aryl sulfoxides. Impressively, the dearomatization products can be readily converted to sulfur-removed cyclohexenones, naphthalenones, bicyclic cyclohexadienones, and multi-substituted benzenes. Mechanistic studies shed light on the key intermediates and the remarkable chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivities of the reactions.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of FJ-809, a compound originally described as MIM1 and an inhibitor of the anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1

The development of inhibitors of anti-apoptotic proteins, such as Mcl-1, is currently a very active area in the field of cancer research.

A visible light-controllable Rho kinase inhibitor based on a photochromic phenylazothiazole

Rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase (ROCK) is a serine-threonine kinase whose inhibitors are useful for the regulation of the actomyosin system. Here, we developed a photoswitchable ROCK inhibitor based on a phenylazothiazole scaffold. The reversible trans-cis isomerization by visible light stimuli enabled us to manipulate ROCK activities in vitro and in cells.

Structural revision of the Mcl-1 inhibitor MIM1: synthesis and biological studies on ovarian cancer cells with evaluation of designed analogues

In the area of cancer research, the development of new and potent inhibitors of anti-apoptotic proteins is a very active and promising topic. The small molecule MIM1 has been reported earlier as one of the first selective inhibitors of the anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1. In the present paper, we first revised the structure of this molecule based on extensive physicochemical analyses. Then we designed and synthesized a focused library of analogues for the corrected structure of MIM1. Next, these molecules were subjected to a panel of in cellulo biological studies, allowing the identification of dual Bcl-x_L/Mcl-1 inhibitors, as well as selective Mcl-1 inhibitors. These results have been complemented by fluorescence polarization assays with the Mcl-1 protein. Preliminary structure-activity relationships were discussed and extensive molecular modelling studies allowed us to propose a rationale for the biological activity of this series of new inhibitors, in particular for the selectivity of inhibition of Mcl-1 versus Bcl-x_L.

Regioselective and stereoselective synthesis of epithiomethanoiminoindeno[1,2-b]furan-3-carbonitrile: heterocyclic [3.3.3]propellanes

Synthesis of heteropropellanes in one step: the reaction between dicyanomethylene-1,3-indanedione (CNIND) and N-substituted-2-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hydrazinecarbothioamides, furnished (3aR,8bS,Z)-2-amino-9-substituted-10-(2-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hydrazono)-4-oxo-4H-3a,8b-(epithiomethanoimino)indeno[1,2-b]furan-3-carbonitrile as a type of (2,4-dinitrophenyl)hydrazono[3.3.3]propellanes in good yields as single diastereomers. Structure determination and confirmation of the synthesized products have been achieved using various and modern spectroscopic techniques such as IR, NMR (¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR), mass spectrometry, as well as X-ray crystal analysis. The X-ray structure data cleared that the molecule of 7a was crystalized as monoclinic, space group C2/c (no.15).