Synthesis of (Z)-1,2-dihydro-1-tosylbenzo[b]azepin-3-ones by two-step, one-pot gold-catalyzed tandem heterocyclization/Petasis–Ferrier rearrangement of 2-(N-(prop-2-ynyl)-N-tosylamino)benzaldehydes

Regio- and Diastereoselective Construction of Functionalized Benzo[b]oxepines and Benzo[b]azepines via Recyclable Gold(I)-Catalyzed Cyclizations

The heterogeneous gold-catalyzed cyclization of (o-alkynyl)phenoxy- or N-(o-alkynylphenyl)tolylsulfonamidoacrylates with alcohols has been developed by using an MCM-41-anchored diphenylphosphine-Au(I) complex [MCM-41-Ph₂P-AuNTf₂] as the catalyst under mild reaction conditions, yielding diverse functionalized benzo[b]oxepines or benzo[b]azepines with good to high yields and excellent diastereoselectivity. This heterogenized gold(I) catalyst exhibits a comparable activity to homogeneous Ph₃PAuNTf₂ and can be facilely recovered by a simple filtration of the reaction solution and reused more than seven times with almost a consistent catalytic efficiency.

A robust photoluminescence screening assay identifies uracil-DNA glycosylase inhibitors against prostate cancer

Many cancers have developed resistance to 5-FU, due to removal by the enzyme uracil-DNA glycosylase (UDG), a type of base excision repair enzyme (BER) that can excise uracil and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) from DNA. However, the development of UDG inhibitor screening methods, especially for the rapid and efficient screening of natural product/natural product-like compounds, is still limited so far. We developed herein a robust time-resolved photoluminescence method for screening UDG inhibitors, which could significantly improve sensitivity over the screening method based on the conventional steady-state spectroscopy, reducing the substantial fluorescence background interference. As a proof-of-concept, two potential UDG inhibitors were identified from a database of natural products and approved drugs. Co-treatment of these two compounds with 5-FU showed synergistic cytotoxicity, providing the basis for treating drug-resistant cancers. Overall, this method provides an avenue for the rapid screening of small molecule regulators of other BER enzyme activities that can avoid false negatives arising from the background fluorescence.

The discovery of UDG inhibitors against prostate cancer by using a robust photoluminescence screening assay that can avoid false negatives arising from the background fluorescence.

Fused Catechol Ethers from Gold(I)-Catalyzed Intramolecular Reaction of Propargyl Ethers with Acetals

Selective gold(I)-catalyzed rearrangement of aromatic methoxypropynyl acetals leads to fused catechol ethers (1,2-dialkoxynapthalenes) in excellent yields. Furthermore, this process extends to the analogous heterocyclic and aliphatic substrates. Alkyne activation triggers nucleophilic addition of the acetal oxygen that leads to an equilibrating mixture of oxonium ions of similar stability. This mixture is "kinetically self-sorted" via a highly exothermic cyclization. Selective formation of 1,2-dialkoxy naphthalenes originates from chemoselective aromatization of the cyclic intermediate via 1,4-elimination of methanol.

Gold-catalyzed π-directed regioselective cyclization of bis(o-alkynyl benzyl alcohols): rapid access to dihydroisobenzofuran derivatives

A tandem alkyne/alkene-directed 5-exo-dig cyclization and a Prins-type cyclization for the synthesis of dihydroisobenzofurans are described.

Gold-catalyzed tandem cycloisomerization/Petasis–Ferrier rearrangement: a direct route to 3-alkoxyindanones from enynals and alcohols

A method to prepare 3-alkoxyindanones by gold-catalyzed tandem cycloisomerization/Petasis–Ferrier rearrangement of ortho-ethynylarylaldehydes with alcohols is described. The reaction also offers a synthetic route to 3-alkoxylcyclopentenones.

Efficient synthesis of functionalized dihydroquinolines, quinolines and dihydrobenzo[b]azepine via an iron(iii) chloride-catalyzed intramolecular alkyne–carbonyl metathesis of alkyne tethered 2-amino benzaldehyde/acetophenone derivatives

Iron-catalyzed synthesis of dihydroquinolines, quinolines and dihydrobenzo[b]azepine.