ZnO-mediated regioselective C-arylsulfonylation of indoles: a facile solvent-free synthesis of 2- and 3-sulfonylindoles and preliminary evaluation of their activity against drug-resistant mutant HIV-1 reverse transcriptases (RTs)

Iodophor-/H2O2-Mediated 2-Sulfonylation of Indoles and N-Methylpyrrole in Aqueous Phase

A convenient and efficient strategy for the preparation of 2-sulfonylindoles has been achieved through iodophor-/H2O2-mediated 2-sulfonylation of indoles with readily available sulfonyl hydrazides in the aqueous phase. Iodophor is commercially available and serves as the green catalyst and aqueous phase. A series of 2-sulfonylated products from indoles and N-methylpyrrole were synthesized in moderate yields in only 10 min. Control experiments were also conducted to reveal the mechanism of action. This method is environment friendly, easy to operate and suitable for a wide range of substrates.

(Indol-3-yl)(DMIX)Iodonium Salts: Novel Electrophilic Indole Reagents

A new umpolung approach to the C3-H functionalization of indoles with diverse nucleophiles based on the intermediate formation of I(III) reagents is described. The 3,5-dimethylisoxazol-4-yl auxiliary allows for selective indole transfer under catalyst-free conditions, which was impossible using previously reported reagents. Combining the mildness of transition-metal-free conditions and the high reactivity of hypervalent iodine reagents, this protocol tolerates various functional groups and provides access to indoles that are difficult to prepare conventionally.

Visible-Light-Induced, Graphene Oxide-Promoted C3-Chalcogenylation of Indoles Strategy under Transition-Metal-Free Conditions

An efficient and general method for the synthesis of 3-sulfenylindoles and 3-selenylindoles employing visible-light irradiation with graphene oxide as a promoter at room temperature has been achieved. The reaction features are high yields, simple operation, metal-free and iodine-free conditions, an easy-to-handle oxidant, and gram-scalable synthesis. This simple protocol allows one to access a wide range of 3-arylthioindoles, 3-arylselenylindoles, and even 3-thiocyanatoindoles with good to excellent yields.

Therapeutic potential of indole derivatives as anti-HIV agents: A mini-review

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is one of the leading causes of human deaths. The advent of different anti-HIV drugs over different disease progress has made AIDS/HIV from a deadly infection to chronic and manageable disease. However, the development of multidrug-resistant viruses, together with the severe side effects of anti-HIV agents, compromised their efficacy and limited the treatment options. Indoles, the most common frameworks in the bioactive molecules, represent attractive scaffolds for the design and development of novel drugs. Indole derivatives are potential inhibitors of HIV enzymes such as reverse transcriptase, integrase and protease, and some indole-based agents like Delavirdine have already been applied in clinics or under clinical evaluations for the treatment of AIDS/HIV, revealing that indole moiety is a useful template for the development of anti-HIV agents. This review focuses on the recent advancement of indole derivatives including indole alkaloids, hybrids, and dimers with anti-HIV potential, covering articles published between 2010 and 2020. The chemical structures, structure-activity relationship and mechanisms of action are also discussed.

Scaffold hopping and optimisation of 3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl- containing thienopyrimidinones: synthesis of quinazolinone derivatives as novel allosteric inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase-associated ribonuclease H

Bioisosteric replacement and scaffold hopping are powerful strategies in drug design useful for rationally modifying a hit compound towards novel lead therapeutic agents. Recently, we reported a series of thienopyrimidinones that compromise dynamics at the p66/p51 HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT)-associated Ribonuclease H (RNase H) dimer interface, thereby allosterically interrupting catalysis by altering the active site geometry. Although they exhibited good submicromolar activity, the isosteric replacement of the thiophene ring, a potential toxicophore, is warranted. Thus, in this article, the most active 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,6-dimethylthieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-one 1 was selected as the hit scaffold and several isosteric substitutions of the thiophene ring were performed. A novel series of highly active RNase H allosteric quinazolinone inhibitors was thus obtained. To determine their target selectivity, they were tested against RT-associated RNA-dependent DNA polymerase (RDDP) and integrase (IN). Interestingly, none of the compounds were particularly active on (RDDP) but many displayed micromolar to submicromolar activity against IN.

C-H Sulfonylation via 1,3-Rearrangement of Sulfonyl Group in N-Protected 3-Bis-sulfonimidoindole Derivatives Using Fluorine Reagent

A C-H sulfonylation of N-protected 3-bis-sulfonimidoindole derivatives via a 1,3-rearrangement of a sulfonyl group on a bis-sulfonimide moiety using tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride (TBAF) was developed to provide 2-sulfonyl-3-sulfonamidoindole derivatives in high yields as a novel C_sp2-H functionalization of heterocycles. The rearrangement of the sulfonyl group proceeded through an intermolecular addition of the desorbed sulfinyl ion from the bis-sulfonimide moiety in the substrate.

The direct C3 chalcogenylation of indolines using a graphene-oxide-promoted and visible-light-induced synergistic effect

A green methodology for the construction of carbon–chalcogen (S and Se) bonds via a GO-promoted and metal-free light-induced synergistic effect is demonstrated.

Discovery of dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid derivatives as dual allosteric HIV-1 Integrase and Reverse Transcriptase associated Ribonuclease H inhibitors

The management of Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection requires life-long treatment that is associated with chronic toxicity and possible selection of drug-resistant strains. A new opportunity for drug intervention is offered by antivirals that act as allosteric inhibitors targeting two viral functions (dual inhibitors). In this work, we investigated the effects of 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA) derivatives on both HIV-1 Integrase (IN) and Reverse Transcriptase associated Ribonuclease H (RNase H) activities. Among the tested compounds, the dihydroxyindole-carboxamide 5 was able to inhibit in the low micromolar range (1-18 μM) multiple functions of IN, including functional IN-IN interactions, IN-LEDGF/p75 binding and IN catalytic activity. Docking and site-directed mutagenesis studies have suggested that compound 5 binds to a previously described HIV-1 IN allosteric pocket. These observations indicate that 5 is structurally and mechanistically distinct from the published allosteric HIV-1 IN inhibitors. Moreover, compound 5 also inhibited HIV-1 RNase H function, classifying this molecule as a dual HIV-1 IN and RNase H inhibitor able to impair the HIV-1 virus replication in cell culture. Overall, we identified a new scaffold as a suitable platform for the development of novel dual HIV-1 inhibitors.

Isocyanide Reactions Toward the Synthesis of 3-(Oxazol-5-yl)Quinoline-2-Carboxamides and 5-(2-Tosylquinolin-3-yl)Oxazole

A palladium-catalyzed three-component reaction between 5-(2-chloroquinolin-3-yl) oxazoles, isocyanides, and water to yield 3-(oxazol-5-yl)quinoline-2-carboxamides is described. Interestingly, sulfonylation occurred when the same reaction was performed with toluenesulfonylmethyl isocyanide (TosMIC) as an isocyanide source. The reaction with 5-(2-chloroquinolin-3-yl)oxazoles and TosMIC in the presence of Cs2CO3 in DMSO afforded 5-(2-Tosylquinolin-3-yl)oxazoles. In basic media, TosMIC probably decomposed to generate Ts- species, which were replaced with Cl-. Tandem oxazole formation with subsequent sulfonylation of 2-chloroquinoline-3-carbaldehydes to form directly 5-(2-tosylquinolin-3-yl)oxazoles was also investigated.

Graphene oxide mediated thiolation of indoles in water: a green and sustainable approach to synthesize 3-sulfenylindoles

Graphene oxide, a green and recyclable catalyst, was developed to synthesize 3-sulfenylindoles in water.

Eosin Y photoredox catalyzed net redox neutral reaction for regiospecific annulation to 3-sulfonylindoles via anion oxidation of sodium sulfinate salts

An eosin Y photoredox catalyzed net redox neutral process for 3-sulfonylindoles via the anionic oxidation of sodium sulfinate salts and its radical cascade cyclization with 2-alkynyl-azidoarenes was developed with visible light as a mediator.

Synthesis of N-alkyl-3-sulfonylindoles and N-alkyl-3-sulfanylindoles by cascade annulation of 2-alkynyl-N,N-dialkylanilines

Divergent synthesis of N-alkyl-3-sulfonylindoles and N-alkyl-3-sulfanylindoles from 2-alkynyl-N,N-dialkylanilines and sulfonyl hydrazides has been described.

Copper-Catalysed Selective 3-Sulfonylation of Indoles: A Mild Synthesis of Indolyl Sulfones

The selective C3-sulfonylation of some 4-, 5- and 6-substituted indoles using sodium arenesulfinates as reaction partners has been realised under mild conditions using catalytic CuI/1,10-phenanthroline at 70 °C. The reaction had a satisfactory application scope and proceeded in fair to excellent yields.