Aldol condensation of amides using phosphazene-based catalysis

Antifungal Activity of N-(4-Halobenzyl)amides against Candida spp. and Molecular Modeling Studies

Fungal infections remain a high-incidence worldwide health problem that is aggravated by limited therapeutic options and the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Cinnamic and benzoic acid amides have previously shown bioactivity against different species belonging to the Candida genus. Here, 20 cinnamic and benzoic acid amides were synthesized and tested for inhibition of C. krusei ATCC 14243 and C. parapsilosis ATCC 22019. Five compounds inhibited the Candida strains tested, with compound 16 (MIC = 7.8 µg/mL) producing stronger antifungal activity than fluconazole (MIC = 16 µg/mL) against C. krusei ATCC 14243. It was also tested against eight Candida strains, including five clinical strains resistant to fluconazole, and showed an inhibitory effect against all strains tested (MIC = 85.3–341.3 µg/mL). The MIC value against C. krusei ATCC 6258 was 85.3 mcg/mL, while against C. krusei ATCC 14243, it was 10.9 times smaller. This strain had greater sensitivity to the antifungal action of compound 16. The inhibition of C. krusei ATCC 14243 and C. parapsilosis ATCC 22019 was also achieved by compounds 2, 9, 12, 14 and 15. Computational experiments combining target fishing, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were performed to study the potential mechanism of action of compound 16 against C. krusei. From these, a multi-target mechanism of action is proposed for this compound that involves proteins related to critical cellular processes such as the redox balance, kinases-mediated signaling, protein folding and cell wall synthesis. The modeling results might guide future experiments focusing on the wet-lab investigation of the mechanism of action of this series of compounds, as well as on the optimization of their inhibitory potency.

Phosphorus-Based Organocatalysis for the Dehydrative Cyclization of N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)amides into 2-Oxazolines

A metal-free, biomimetic catalytic protocol for the cyclization of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)amides to the corresponding 2-oxazolines (4,5-dihydrooxazoles), promoted by the 1,3,5,2,4,6-triazatriphosphorine (TAP)-derived organocatalyst tris(o-phenylenedioxy)cyclotriphosphazene (TAP-1) has been developed. This approach requires less precatalyst compared to the reported relevant systems, with respect to the phosphorus atom (the maximum turnover number (TON) ∼ 30), and exhibits a broader substrate scope and higher functional-group tolerance, providing the functionalized 2-oxazolines with retention of the configuration at the C(4) stereogenic center of the 2-oxazolines. Widely accessible β-amino alcohols can be used in this approach, and the cyclization of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)amides provides the desired 2-oxazolines in up to 99% yield. The mechanism of the reaction was studied by monitoring the reaction using spectral and analytical methods, whereby an ¹⁸O-labeling experiment furnished valuable insights. The initial step involves a stoichiometric reaction between the substrate and TAP-1, which leads to the in situ generation of the catalyst, a catechol cyclic phosphate, as well as to a pyrocatechol phosphate and two possible active intermediates. The dehydrative cyclization was also successfully conducted on the gram scale.

PCl3-mediated transesterification and aminolysis of tert-butyl esters via acid chloride formation

A PCl3-mediated conversion of tert-butyl esters into esters and amides in one-pot under air is developed. This novel protocol is highlighted by the synthesis of skeletons of bioactive molecules and gram-scale reactions. Mechanistic studies revealed that this transformation involves the formation of an acid chloride in situ, which is followed by reactions with alcohols or amines to afford the desired products.

γ-C (sp3)-H bond functionalisation of α,β-unsaturated amides through an umpolung strategy

The nucleophilic γ-phenylation and γ-alkylation of α,β-unsaturated amides have been developed. This umpolung reaction allows the regioselective introduction of phenyl and alkyl groups to a vinylketene N,O-acetal, which is generated in situ from an α,β-unsaturated N-alkoxyamide, followed by N-O bond cleavage in a two-step, one-pot process.

Manganese-catalyzed direct C–C coupling of α-C–H bonds of amides and esters with alcohols via hydrogen autotransfer

Mn-catalyzed C-alkylation of amides and tert-butyl acetate using alcohols as alkylating agents is reported. This approach exhibits a broad substrate scope providing the C(α)-alkylated amides in good yields via hydrogen auto-transfer strategy.

Iridium-catalyzed selective α-alkylation of unactivated amides with primary alcohols

The first α-alkylation of unactivated amides with primary alcohols is described. An effective and robust iridium pincer complex has been developed for selective α-alkylation of tertiary and secondary acetamides involving a "borrowing hydrogen" methodology. The method is compatible with alcohols bearing various functional groups. This presents a convenient and environmentally benign protocol for α-alkylation of amides.