Stereoselective synthesis and receptor activity of conformationally defined retinoid X receptor selective ligands

Preparation of cycloheptane ring by nucleophilic cyclopropanation of 1,2-diketones with bis(iodozincio)methane

The nucleophlic cyclopropanation of hexa-1,5-diene-3,4-diones with bis(iodozincio)methane afforded the Zn alkoxides of cyclohepta-2,7-diene-1,2-diols stereospecifically via Zn alkoxides of cis-dialkenylcyclopropane-1,2-diols.

Complete 1H and 13C NMR assignment of trans,trans-2,3-divinylfuran derivatives

1H and 13C NMR spectra of trans, trans-2,3-divinylfuran derivatives (1-4) in CDCl3 were fully assigned using one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques. The 1H NMR resonances of ethylenic protons in position 2 with regard to the corresponding protons in position 3 of the furan ring are discussed.

Synthesis of 2-Alkenyl-3-(alkoxycarbonyl)furans Based on Feist−Benary Cyclocondensation of (2,4-Dioxobutylidene)phosphoranes with α-Haloketones and α-Chloracetaldehyde

3-Acyl-2-alkenylfurans were prepared by "Feist-Benary cyclocondensation" of (2,4-dioxobutylidene)phosphoranes with chloracetaldehyde and alpha-haloketones and subsequent Wittig reactions.

Preparation and biological activity of 13-substituted retinoic acids

13-Demethyl or 13-substituted all-E- and 9Z-retinoic acids were synthesized using a palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction of enol triflates and tributylstannylolefins. Their biological activities were then measured. The 13-ethyl analogs exhibited approximately one-half of the antiproliferative and differentiation-inducing activity of ATRA in HL-60 cells. In contrast, in the 9Z-derivatives, all analogs, except for the 13-butyl derivatives, showed apoptosis-inducing activity.

Retinoic acid receptor ligands based on the 6-cyclopropyl-2,4-hexadienoic acid

A series of novel cyclopropanyl methyl hexadienoic acid retinoids was designed and prepared. These compounds exhibited either selective activity as RXR agonists or pan-agonists on one or more of each of the RAR and RXR isoforms. The most potent pan-agonist 5a (RAR's EC(50)=17-59 nM; RXR's EC(50)=6-14 nM) showed good antiproliferative properties in the in vitro cancer cell lines, ME 180 and RPMI 8226.