Synthesis of new acromelic acid congeners: novel neuroexcitatory amino acids acting on glutamate receptor

Synthesis of the ABC Ring of Calyciphylline A-Type Alkaloids by a Stereocontrolled Aldol Cyclization: Formal Synthesis of (±)-Himalensine A

A synthetic approach to a functionalized ABC-tricyclic framework of calyciphilline A-type alkaloids, a building block toward this class of alkaloids, is reported. The key synthetic steps involve a radical cyclization to form the hydroindole system and piperidine ring closure through a stereocontrolled aldol cyclization. The resulting alcohol allows the methyl group to be installed in the bowl-shaped azatricyclic structure; this crucial reaction takes place with configuration retention. The synthesis of azatricyclic compound I constitutes a formal synthesis of himalensine A.

Practical synthesis of kainoids: a new chemical probe precursor and a fluorescent probe

A practical total synthesis of kainoid MFPA (5) was achieved in only six steps, via a novel Ni-catalyst-mediated asymmetric conjugate addition reaction. Furthermore, a fluorescein-based fluorescent ionotropic glutamate receptor probe 28 was efficiently synthesized from a precursor derived from a synthetic intermediate of 5.

Regio- and Stereoselective Heck Arylations of N-Carbomethoxy-l- 3-Dehydroproline Methyl Ester with Arenediazonium Salts. Total Synthesis of Neuroexcitatory Aryl Kainoids

The Heck arylation of N-carbomethoxy-L-3-dehydroproline methyl ester with arenediazonium tetrafluoroborates produced chiral 4-aryldehydroproline derivatives in moderate to good yields in a highly regio- and stereocontrolled fashion. A rationale for the unexpected high regioselectivity is provided using Deeth's model. Heck adduct 15 (G = o-CH3O) was converted into several aryl kainoids using concise and efficient routes.

Total synthesis of (+/-)-kainic Acid with an aza-[2,3]-Wittig sigmatropic rearrangement as the key stereochemical determining step

A flexible route to the kainoid skeleton is exemplified by the synthesis of (+/-)-kainic acid from 3-butyn-1-ol. The route relies on the aza-[2,3]-Wittig sigmatropic rearrangement to efficiently install the relative stereochemistry between C2-C3. The C4 stereocenter was derived from a diastereocontrolled iodolactonization. The aza-[2,3]-Wittig rearrangement potentially allows structural diversity at C3 and the displacement of the tosyloxy group with retention of stereochemistry allows structural diversity at C4. The trans-C2 carboxylic acid functional group was found to be the most important for retention of stereochemistry at C4 upon treatment with a higher order cyano cuprate reagent.

Molecular orbital calculation for the model compounds of kainoid amino acids, agonists of excitatory amino acid receptors. Does the kainoid C4-substituent directly interact with the receptors?

Kainoid amino acids are agonists of the AMPA/kainate receptors and exhibit highly potent neuroexcitatory activity. From the results of extensive structure--activity relationship studies, we previously postulated that the C4-substituent of the kainoid amino acids interacts with an allosteric site of the glutamate receptor with electron-donating character. In order to investigate the mode of action in more detail, molecular orbital calculation for model compounds of the kainoid were performed. The results indicated that the HOMO energy level of the C4-substituent is involved in the potent neuroexcitatory activity, thus supporting our hypothesis.

The synthesis of 4-arylsulfanyl-substituted kainoid analogues from trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline

The potent neuroexcitatory activity of kainoid amino acids in the mammalian CNS places new analogues in high demand as tools for neuropharmacological research. A range of 4-arylsulfanyl-substituted kainoids has been synthesised in a parallel fashion via mesylate displacement by a number of aromatic and heteroaromatic thiolates upon (2S,3S,4R)-1-benzoyl-3-tert-butoxycarbonylmethyl-4-methanesulfo nyloxy pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester 8, which is obtainable in eight steps from trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline 5.

Simple Methods for Determining Relative Stereochemistry of Kainoid Amino Acids by (1)H NMR Chemical Shifts

The kainoid amino acids are biologically important compounds because they show remarkable neuroexcitatory and excitotoxic activities. For exhibiting potent activity, the stereochemical relationship of the substituents on the pyrrolidine ring is crucial. We found simple methods for determining the relative stereochemistry of these compounds on the basis of the (1)H NMR chemical shifts of H-2 and H-4 in D(2)O solution. The signals of H-2 appear at fields higher than 4.2 ppm when the compounds have 2,3-trans stereochemistry whereas, in the 2,3-cis compounds, they appear lower than 4.2 ppm, irrespective of the C-4 substituent. This criterion holds when the solution is in the range of pD 3-8. Moreover, when an epimeric pair at C-2 is available and the spectra are recorded at the same or nearly equal pD, the H-2 chemical shift of the 2,3-trans isomer is higher than that of the corresponding 2,3-cis isomer. Similarly, the relative stereochemistry between C-3 and C-4 can be determined from the chemical shift of H-4. The signals of H-4 of the 3,4-cis isomers appear at lower fields than those of the corresponding 3,4-trans isomers in each pair of C-4 epimers when the spectra are recorded at the same or nearly equal pD. This holds for the compounds bearing an unsaturated substituent at C-4. All these phenomena can be rationalized by the anisotropic effect of the pi-electron system in the C-2 and C-4 substituents.