Synthesis and Evaluation of a Library of Trifunctional Scaffold-Derived Compounds as Modulators of the Insulin Receptor

Click assembly through selective azaylide formation

An efficient triple-click assembly using a newly designed trivalent platform is disclosed. We achieved the selective azaylide formation of 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl azides with o-ester-substituted triarylphosphines leaving 2,6-dichlorophenyl azides untouched. Further rapid Staudinger reaction of dichlorophenyl azides and subsequent triazole formation allowed us to prepare trifunctionalized molecules in three steps.

Combinatorial Libraries of Bipodal Binders of the Insulin Receptor

The binding process of insulin to its transmembrane receptor entails a sophisticated interplay between two proteins, each possessing two binding sites. Given the difficulties associated with the use of insulin in the treatment of diabetes, despite its remarkable efficacy, there is interest in smaller and more stable compounds than the native hormone that would effectively activate the receptor. Our study adopts a strategy focused on synthesizing extensive combinatorial libraries of bipodal compounds consisting of two distinct peptides linked to a molecular scaffold. These constructs, evaluated in a resin bead-bound format, were designed to assess their binding to the insulin receptor. Despite notable nonspecific binding, our approach successfully generated and tested millions of compounds. Rigorous evaluations via flow cytometry and specific antibodies revealed peptide sequences with specific interactions at either receptor binding Site 1 or 2. Notably, these sequences bear similarity to peptides discovered through phage display by other researchers. This convergence of chemical and biological methods underscores nature's beauty, revealing general principles in peptide binding to the insulin receptor. Overall, our study deepens the understanding of molecular interactions in ligand binding to the insulin receptor, highlighting the challenges of targeting large proteins with small synthetic peptides.

Iterative click reactions using trivalent platforms for sequential molecular assembly

A facile synthesis of multi(triazole)s by iterative click reactions is disclosed. Good functional group tolerance of sequential click assembly by sulfur-fluoride exchange (SuFEx), copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), and thia-Michael reaction realizes the iterative click reactions. Diverse multi(triazole)-type mid-molecules can be synthesized easily from readily available modules through good chemoselective reactions without functional group transformation steps.

Placing CF2 in the Center: Major Physicochemical Changes Upon a Minor Structural Alteration in Gem-Difunctional Compounds

Fluorine atoms play an important role in all branches of chemistry and accordingly, it is very important to study their unique and varied effects systematically, in particular, the structure-physicochemical properties relationship. The present study describes exceptional physicochemical effects resulting from a H/F exchange at the methylene bridge of gem-difunctional compounds. The Δlog P_(CF2-CH2) values, that is, the change in lipophilicity, observed for the CH₂ /CF₂ replacement in various α,α-phenoxy- and thiophenoxy-esters/amides, diketones, benzodioxoles and more, fall in the range of 0.6-1.4 units, which for most cases, is far above the values expected for such a replacement. Moreover, for compounds holding more than one such gem-difunctional moiety, the effect is nearly additive, so one can switch from a hydrophilic compound to a lipophilic one in a limited number of H/F exchanges. DFT studies of some of these systems revealed that polarity, conformational preference as well as charge distributions are strongly affected by such hydrogen to fluorine atom substitution. The pronounced effects described, are a result of the interplay between changes in polarity, H-bond basicity and molecular volume, which were obtained with a very low 'cost' in terms of molecular weight or steric effects and may have a great potential for implementation in various fields of chemical sciences.

Azido-type-selective triazole formation by iridium-catalyzed cycloaddition with thioalkynes

The iridium-catalyzed azide-thioalkyne cycloaddition was found to proceed much faster with benzyl azide than with phenyl azide. The high azido-type selectivity was also observed in other combinations of azides with different steric environments. This finding enabled the efficient assembly of three azidophilic molecules to triazido platforms by three sequential triazole-forming reactions.

Modular synthesis of triazoles from 2-azidoacrylamides having a nucleophilic amino group

Assembling methods using 2-azidoacrylamides having a nucleophilic amino group are disclosed. Divergent transformations of the amine-type trivalent platform were accomplished with a wide variety of electrophiles to provide a broad...

Assembly of four modules onto a tetraazide platform by consecutive 1,2,3-triazole formations

Efficient consecutive 1,2,3-triazole formations using multiazide platforms are disclosed. On the basis of unique clickability of the 1-adamantyl azido group, a four-step synthesis of tetrakis(triazole)s was achieved from a tetraazide platform molecule. This method was applied to a convergent synthesis of tetrafunctionalized probes in a modular synthetic manner.

2-Azidoacrylamides as compact platforms for efficient modular synthesis

Efficient methods to assemble modules with compact platform molecules by triazole formations and Michael reactions are disclosed. The good electrophilicity of 2-triazolylacrylamides realized Michael additions using various nucleophiles. An iterative synthesis of a tetrakis(triazole) was accomplished by orthogonal triazole formations and Michael reactions.

Multipodal insulin mimetics built on adamantane or proline scaffolds

Multi-orthogonal molecular scaffolds can be applied as core structures of bioactive compounds. Here, we prepared four tri-orthogonal scaffolds based on adamantane or proline skeletons. The scaffolds were used for the solid-phase synthesis of model insulin mimetics bearing two different peptides on the scaffolds. We found that adamantane-derived compounds bind to the insulin receptor more effectively (K_d value of 0.5 μM) than proline-derived compounds (K_d values of 15-38 μM) bearing the same peptides. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that spacers between peptides and central scaffolds can provide greater flexibility that can contribute to increased binding affinity. Molecular modeling showed possible binding modes of mimetics to the insulin receptor. Our data show that the structure of the central scaffold and flexibility of attached peptides in this type of compound are important and that different scaffolds should be considered when designing peptide hormone mimetics.

Triazole formation of phosphinyl alkynes with azides through transient protection of phosphine by copper

An efficient preparation method of functionalized phosphines by copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) through the transient protection of phosphine from the Staudinger reaction is disclosed. Diverse phosphines were prepared from phosphinyl alkynes and azides by the click reaction at the ethynyl group without damaging the phosphinyl group. Double- and triple-click assemblies of azides were accomplished by triazole formations and robust azaylide formation.

A Trifunctional Linker for Palmitoylation and Peptide and Protein Localization in Biological Membranes

Attachment of lipophilic groups is an important post-translational modification of proteins, which involves the coupling of one or more anchors such as fatty acids, isoprenoids, phospholipids, or glycosylphosphatidyl inositols. To study its impact on the membrane partitioning of hydrophobic peptides or proteins, we designed a tyrosine-based trifunctional linker. The linker allows the facile incorporation of two different functionalities at a cysteine residue in a single step. We determined the effect of the lipid modification on the membrane partitioning of the synthetic α-helical model peptide WALP with or without here and in all cases below; palmitoyl groups in giant unilamellar vesicles that contain a liquid-ordered (Lo ) and liquid-disordered (Ld ) phase. Introduction of two palmitoyl groups did not alter the localization of the membrane peptides, nor did the membrane thickness or lipid composition. In all cases, the peptide was retained in the Ld phase. These data demonstrate that the Lo domain in model membranes is highly unfavorable for a single membrane-spanning peptide.

Untapped Opportunities of Resin-to-Resin Transfer Reactions (RRTR) for the Convergent Assembly of Multivalent Peptide Conjugates

Handling of the individual fragments remains a bottleneck in the convergent assembly of peptides. Overlooked since the emergence of ligation chemistries during the past two decades, so-called resin-to-resin transfer reactions (RRTR) are here described as a strategic shortcut in this context. Condensation of the involved moieties at an acceptor resin is facilitated by shuttling peptide segments directly from a donor resin in a one-pot fashion. The straightforward synthesis of a sterically constrained 13-mer peptidosteroid model illustrates the utility of this approach, presenting the first successful application of the RRTR methodology in the field of multivalent design and bioconjugation. Relying on established procedures to generate, monitor and isolate intermediates and products, the solid-phase nature of the entire strategy allows for the fast construction of polypeptide adducts and libraries thereof. As such, a rejuvenated use and new opportunities for RRTR are reported.

Sequential conjugation methods based on triazole formation and related reactions using azides

The recent remarkable progress in azide chemistry has realized sequential conjugation methods with selective 1,2,3-triazole formation. On the basis of the diverse reactivities of azides and azidophiles, including terminal alkynes and cyclooctynes, various selective reactions to furnish triazoles and a wide range of platform molecules, such as diynes, diazides, triynes, and triazides, have been developed so far for bis- and tris(triazole) syntheses. This review highlights recent transformations involving selective triazole formation, allowing the efficient preparation of unsymmetric bis- and tris(triazole)s using diverse platform molecules.

Facile assembly of three cycloalkyne-modules onto a platform compound bearing thiophene S,S-dioxide moiety and two azido groups

An efficient method to assemble three cycloalkyne-modules onto a platform bearing a thiophene S,S-dioxide moiety and two azido groups has been developed. The sequential reactions without catalysis or additives enabled the facile preparation of trifunctional molecules by a simple procedure.