Suzuki cross-coupling approaches to the synthesis of bioactive 3-substituted and 5-substituted-4-methoxy-6-methyl-2-pyrones

Rh-Catalyzed α-Arylation of Cyclic 1,3-Dicarbonyls with Benzocyclobutenols Enabled by a Cyclic Iodonium Ylide Strategy

To date, the general and catalytic α-arylation of cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyls remains elusive. We now report the first Rh-catalyzed α-arylation of cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyls with benzocyclobutenols through a cyclic iodonium ylide strategy. Our strategy represents a good solution for the previously challenging α-arylation of cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyls with sterically demanding aryl partners, which is especially appropriate for structurally unique heteroaromatic 1,3-dicarbonyls. Our approach features mild conditions, readily available starting materials, high yields, excellent functional group-tolerance, and simple operation, providing expedient access toward medically important 2-aryl (hetero)cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyls. The practicality of this approach is demonstrated by the gram-scale synthesis, one-pot synthesis, and numerous downstream transformations.

HIV-1 Integrase Inhibitor, Dihydroobionin B, and the Investigation of Its Extraordinary Specific Rotation

Dihydroobionin B (1), a chiral congener of known obionin B, was isolated from Pseudocoleophoma sp. KT4119, a freshwater fungus collected from a submerged wood block in Kochi Prefecture, Japan, in 2020. The planar structure of 1 was characterized by mass and NMR spectral analysis and confirmed by density functional theory (DFT)-based chemical shift calculations. Its absolute structure was determined by electronic circular dichroism spectral analysis. Notably, 1 exhibited an extraordinarily large specific rotation [[α]20D +1080 (c 0.056, CHCl3)], which was verified by DFT-based specific rotation calculations. However, these calculations indicated that the sign of the specific rotation based on static analysis was insufficient to determine the absolute configuration in this case. Furthermore, Pseudocoleophoma KT4119 produced coleophomapyrones A (2) and B (3) and coleophomaldehyde A (4). While this is the first report of 2 isolated from a natural source, it has also been prepared previously using a synthetic approach. Compound 1 potently inhibited HIV type 1 integrase (IC50 = 0.44 μM) without significant cytotoxicity. Finally, docking experiments were conducted to propose a plausible mechanism for the behavior of 1.

Bioinspired Total Synthesis of Delitschiapyrone A

A bioinspired seven-step total synthesis of delitschiapyrone A was accomplished in 32% overall yield from commercially available 4-bromo-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid. The key step of the synthesis is an exclusively regioselective and diastereoselective reaction cascade consisting of the Diels-Alder reaction, α-ketol rearrangement, and cyclic hemiacetalization, achieved by simply stirring a heterogeneous mixture of two Diels-Alder substrates (putative biosynthetic intermediates) and water at 35 °C, directly furnishing the pentacyclic natural product in 75% yield.

Design, synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular modeling of dihydropyrazole sulfonamide derivatives as potential COX-1/COX-2 inhibitors

Novel dihydropyrazole sulfonamide derivatives (30-56) were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their biological activities as COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors. In vitro biological evaluation against three human tumor cell lines revealed that most target compounds showed antiproliferative activities. Among the compounds, compound 48 exhibited the most potent and selective COX-2 inhibitor (COX-2 IC50=0.33 μM; COX-1 IC50=68.49 μM) relative to the reference drugs celecoxib (IC50=0.052 μM). Docking simulation was performed to position compound 48 into the COX-2 active site and the result showed that compound 48 could bind well at the COX-2 active site and it indicated that compound 48 could be a potent and selective COX-2 inhibitor.

Exploiting Noninnocent (E,E)-Dibenzylideneacetone (dba) Effects in Palladium(0)-Mediated Cross-Coupling Reactions: Modulation of the Electronic Properties of dba Affects Catalyst Activity and Stability in Ligand and Ligand-Free Reaction Systems

The reactivity of palladium(0) complexes, [Pd(0) (2)(dba-n,n'-Z)(3)] (n,n'-Z=4,4'-F; 4,4'-CF(3); 4,4'-H; 4,4'-MeO) and [Pd(0)(dba-n,n'-Z)(2)] (n,n'-Z=4,4'-CF(3); 4,4'-H; 3,3',5,5'-OMe), used as precursor catalysts with suitable donor ligands (e.g. phosphines, N-heterocyclic carbenes), has been correlated in several palladium(0)-mediated cross-coupling processes. Increasing the electron density on the aryl moiety of the dba-n,n'-Z ligand increases the overall catalytic activity in the majority of these processes. This effect primarily derives from destabilization of the L(n)Pd(0)-eta(2)-dba interaction (in dpi-pi* synergic bonding, n=1 or 2), which ultimately increases the global concentration of catalytically active L(n)Pd(0) available for reaction with aryl halide in the first committed step in the general catalytic cycle(s) (oxidative addition). Decreasing electron density on the aryl moiety of the dba-n,n'-Z ligand stabilizes the Pd(0)-eta(2)-dba interaction, reducing catalytic activity. The specific type of dba-n,n'-Z ligand appears to also play a stabilizing role in the catalytic cycle, preventing Pd agglomeration, and increasing catalyst longevity. A subtle balance therefore exists between the L(n)Pd(0) concentration (and the associated catalytic activity) and catalyst longevity. Changing the type of dba-n,n'-Z ligand controls the concentration of L(n)Pd(0) and the rate of the oxidative addition step, and not other intimate steps within the catalytic cycle(s), for example, transmetallation (or carbopalladation) and reductive elimination. The role of dba-n,n'-Z ligands in Heck arylation is more convoluted and dependent on the alkene substrate employed, although trends have emerged. Changes in the structure of dba-n,n'-Z had a minimal affect on Buchwald-Hartwig aryl amination processes. A secondary Michael reaction of dba-n,n'-Z with amine and/or base effectively lessens its interference in the catalytic cycle.

η4-Pyrone iron(0)carbonyl complexes as effective CO-releasing molecules (CO-RMs)

The CO-releasing properties of iron(0)tricarbonyl complexes bearing a 2-pyrone ligand have been evaluated. In this report, we demonstrate that the intrinsic stability of the (eta4-2-pyrone)Fe(CO)3 complex influences the extent and rate of CO release, which is affected by the presence of a halogen substituent on the 2-pyrone ring. The cell viability index has been highlighted for the active carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (CO-RMs), demonstrating that these complexes and related derivatives are a promising new class of compounds with potential therapeutic applications.

Optical properties of donor-acceptor phenylene-ethynylene systems containing the 6-methylpyran-2-one group as an acceptor

Donor-acceptor phenylene ethynylene systems containing the 6-methylpyran-2-one group, synthesized via classic or microwave-assisted Sonogashira cross-coupling, exhibit pronounced solvatochromism in fluorescence suggesting a highly polar excited state; 4-[4-(4-N,N-dihexylaminophenylethynyl)phenylethynyl]-6-methylpyran-2-one has a fluorescence quantum yield >0.9 in cyclohexane.

Design, Synthesis, and Structure−Activity Relationship Studies of 3,4,6-Triphenylpyran-2-ones as Selective Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors

A group of regioisomeric 3,4,6-triphenylpyran-2-ones with a MeSO(2) pharmacophore at the para-position of either a C-3 phenyl or a C-4 phenyl substituent on the central six-membered pyran-2-one ring were prepared and evaluated in vitro for their abilities to inhibit the isozymes COX-1 and COX-2. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) data, acquired by substituent modification at the para-position of the C-6 phenyl ring attached to the central pyranone, showed that 6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(4-methanesulfonylphenyl)-4-phenylpyran-2-one (12e) was the most potent and selective COX-2 inhibitor (COX-2 IC(50) = 0.02 microM; COX-1 IC(50) > 100 microM) with a high COX-2 selectivity index (SI > 5000) relative to the reference drugs celecoxib (COX-2 IC(50) = 0.07 microM; SI = 474) and rofecoxib (COX-2 IC(50) = 0.50 microM; SI > 200). 6-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-3-(4-methanesulfonylphenyl)-4-phenylpyran-2-one (12e) was a more potent oral antiinflammatory agent (ID(50) = 5.6 mg/kg) than celecoxib (ID(50) = 10.8 mg/kg) in a carrageenan-induced rat paw edema assay. In a 4% NaCl-induced abdominal constriction assay, a 5 mg/kg oral dose of 12e exhibited good analgesic activity at different time intervals producing 37.5 and 69% inhibition of writhing at 30 and 60 min, respectively. In contrast, the corresponding 6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-(4-methanesulfonylphenyl)-3-phenylpyran-2-one regiosiomer (12o) was a less potent and selective COX-2 inhibitor (COX-2 IC(50) = 0.45 microM; SI = 70). A molecular modeling study for 12e indicated that the p-OMe substituent on the C-6 phenyl ring interacts with the COX-2 binding site amino acids Ile(345), Val(349), Leu(359), Leu(531), and Met(535) and that the OMe substituent may be responsible for proper orientation of the C-3 p-SO(2)Me-phenyl ring within the COX-2 secondary pocket (Gln(192), Arg(513), and Phe(518)). These results show that the COX-2 selectivity and potency of 3,4,6-triphenylpyranone regioisomers can be modulated by appropriate placement of the p-SO(2)Me pharmacophore on either the C-3 or C-4 phenyl moiety. In addition, electronic properties at the para-position of a C-6 phenyl substituent on the central pyranone ring govern COX-2 inhibitory potency and selectivity by controlling the orientation of the p-SO(2)Me pharmacophore within the COX-2 secondary pocket.