Scaffold Diversity through Intramolecular Cascade Reactions of Solid-Supported Cyclic N-Acyliminium Intermediates

Polymer-Supported Syntheses of Heterocycles Bearing Oxazine and Thiazine Scaffolds

In this review, we summarize synthetic approaches to preparing single or fused oxazine and thiazine derivatives using solid-phase synthesis (SPS). The literature survey revealed that diverse compounds bearing variously functionalized 1,2-oxazine, 1,3-oxazine, or 1,4-oxazine scaffolds and the corresponding thiazines are accessible by SPS. The latest contributions involving the stereoselective polymer-supported syntheses of morpholines indicate that the field is continuing to expand.

Traceless Solid-Phase Synthesis of [6,7,8 + 5,6,7]-Fused Molecular Frameworks

We report two synthetic strategies for traceless solid-phase synthesis of molecular scaffolds comprising 6- to 8-membered rings fused with 5- to 7-membered rings. Traceless synthesis facilitated preparation of target molecules without any trace of polymer-supported linkers. The cyclization proceeded via acid-mediated tandem N-acylium ion formation followed by the nucleophilic addition of O- and C-nucleophiles. The presented synthetic strategy enabled, through the use of simple building blocks without any conformational preferences, the evaluation of the predisposition of different combinations of ring sizes to form fused ring molecular scaffolds. Compounds with any combination of [6,7 + 5,6,7] ring sizes were accessible with excellent crude purity. The 8-membered cyclic iminium was successfully fused only with the 5-membered cycle and larger fused ring systems were not formed, probably due to their instability.

Novel Dimer Compounds That Bind α-Synuclein Can Rescue Cell Growth in a Yeast Model Overexpressing α-Synuclein. A Possible Prevention Strategy for Parkinson's Disease

The misfolding of α-synuclein is a critical event in the death of dopaminergic neurons and the progression of Parkinson's disease. Previously, it was suggested that drugs, which bind to α-synuclein and form a loop structure between the N- and C-termini, tend to be neuroprotective, whereas others, which cause a more compact structure, tend to be neurotoxic. To improve the binding to α-synuclein, eight novel compounds were synthesized from a caffeine scaffold attached to (R,S)-1-aminoindan, (R,S)-nicotine, and metformin, and their binding to α-synuclein determined through nanopore analysis and isothermal titration calorimetry. The ability of the dimers to interact with α-synuclein in a cell system was assayed in a yeast model of PD which expresses an AS-GFP (α-synuclein-Green Fluorescent Protein) construct under the control of a galactose promoter. In 5 mM galactose this yeast strain will not grow and large cytoplasmic foci are observed by fluorescent microscopy. Two of the dimers, C₈-6-I and C₈-6-N, at a concentration of 0.1 μM allowed the yeast to grow normally in 5 mM galactose and the AS-GFP became localized to the periphery of the cell. Both dimers were superior when compared to the monomeric compounds. The presence of the dimers also caused the disappearance of preformed cytoplasmic foci. Nanopore analysis of C₈-6-I and C₈-6-N were consistent with simultaneous binding to both the N- and C-terminus of α-synuclein but the binding constants were only 10⁵ M^-1.

Fused Ring Molecular Scaffold with 3D Architecture for Constrained Peptidomimetics: Polymer-Supported Stereoselective Synthesis of Tetrahydrobenzo[e]pyrazino[2,1-c][1,2,4]thiadiazinone 6,6-dioxide via N-Acyl Iminiums

3,4,4a,5-Tetrahydrobenzo[e]pyrazino[2,1-c][1,2,4]thiadiazin-1(2H)-one 6,6-dioxides, molecular scaffolds with 3D architecture, were synthesized on solid supports via tandem N-acyl iminium ion cyclization followed by nucleophilic addition. The modular synthesis proceeded under mild conditions using commercially available building blocks and provided crude products with respectable purity. The synthesized compounds are applicable as fused nitrogenous heterocyclic compounds in drug discovery and as constrained peptidomimetics incorporated into a peptide backbone.

Synthesis of a natural product-like compound collection through oxidative cleavage and cyclization of linear peptides

Massive efforts in molecular library synthesis have strived for the development of synthesis methodology which systematically delivers natural product-like compounds of high spatial complexity. Herein, we present a conceptually simple approach that builds on the power of solid-phase peptide synthesis to assemble precursor peptides (oligomers) designed to undergo oxidative cascade reactions. By harnessing the structural side-chain diversity and inherent stereochemical features offered by readily available amino acids (monomers), a proof-of-concept collection of 54 skeletally and stereochemically diverse compounds was generated, and selected compounds were elaborated into isoform-selective metalloprotease inhibitors.

Conversion of oxazolidinediones to isoindoloisoquinolinones via intramolecular Friedel–Crafts reaction

Treatment of oxazolidinediones with TiCl4 in CH2Cl2 resulted in conversion to isoindoloisoquinolinones via intramolecular Friedel–Crafts reaction with extrusion of CO2 in the transformation. The alkaloid nuevamine has been synthesized under these conditions in a regiospecific manner.

Case studies of the synthesis of bioactive cyclodepsipeptide natural products

Cyclodepsipeptide natural products often display intriguing biological activities that along with their complex molecular scaffolds, makes them interesting targets for chemical synthesis. Although cyclodepsipeptides feature highly diverse chemical structures, their synthesis is often associated with similar synthetic challenges such as the establishment of a suitable macrocyclization methodology. This review therefore compiles case studies of synthetic approaches to different bioactive cyclodepsipeptide natural products, thereby illustrating obstacles of cyclodepsipeptide synthesis as well as their overcomings.

Solid-phase synthesis of structurally diverse heterocycles by an amide-ketone condensation/N-acyliminium pictet-spengler sequence

An efficient approach for the solid-phase synthesis of structurally diverse heterocyclic compounds is presented. Under acidic reaction conditions, peptidic levulinamides undergo intramolecular ketone-amide condensation reactions to form cyclic N-acyliminium intermediates. In the presence of a tethered nucleophile, a second cyclization reaction results in the formation of a fused bicyclic ring system. The scope of the methodology was demonstrated by several combinations of substituted ketones and nucleophiles, the latter conveniently originating from amino acids with functionalized side chains, such as tryptophan, substituted phenylalanines, and cysteine. The cyclization sequence provides diastereomerically pure products in high yields. In one extension of the methodology, the resulting relative stereochemistry of the products enables the formation of bridged ring systems by a unique cyclative release mechanism.

The Pictet-Spengler reaction in nature and in organic chemistry

Alkaloids are an important class of natural products that are widely distributed in nature and produced by a large variety of organisms. They have a wide spectrum of biological activity and for many years were used in folk medicine. These days, alkaloids also have numerous applications in medicine as therapeutic agents. The importance of these natural products in inspiring drug discovery programs is proven and, therefore, their continued synthesis is of significant interest. The condensation discovered by Pictet and Spengler is the most important method for the synthesis of alkaloid scaffolds. The power of this synthesis method has been convincingly proven in the construction of stereochemicaly and structurally complex alkaloids.

Solid phase total synthesis of the 3-amino-6-hydroxy-2-piperidone (Ahp) cyclodepsipeptide and protease inhibitor Symplocamide A

The solid phase total synthesis of the marine cyanobacterial Ahp-cyclodepsipeptide Symplocamide A is reported as a model for a general route for the synthesis of tailor-made non-covalent serine protease inhibitors.

N-acyliminium intermediates in solid-phase synthesis

N-Acyliminium ions are powerful intermediates in synthetic organic chemistry. Examples of their use are numerous in solution-phase synthesis, but there are unmerited few reports on these highly reactive electrophiles in solid-phase synthesis. The present review covers the literature to date and illustrates the methods used to generate N-acyliminium intermediates on solid support and their further elaboration to a range of pharmacologically interesting peptidomimetics, heterocycles, and other small molecules.

Cytoplasmic delivery of liposomal contents mediated by an acid-labile cholesterol-vinyl ether-PEG conjugate

An acid-cleavable PEG lipid, 1'-(4'-cholesteryloxy-3'-butenyl)-omega-methoxy-polyethylene[112] glycolate (CVEP), has been developed that produces stable liposomes when dispersed as a minor component (0.5-5 mol %) in 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE). Cleavage of CVEP at mildly acidic pHs results in dePEGylation of the latently fusogenic DOPE liposomes, thereby triggering the onset of content release. This paper describes the synthesis of CVEP via a six-step sequence starting from the readily available precursors 1,4-butanediol, cholesterol, and mPEG acid. The hydrolysis rates and release kinetics from CVEP/DOPE liposome dispersions as a function of CVEP loading, as well as the cryogenic transmission electron microscopy and pH-dependent monolayer properties of 9:91 CVEP/DOPE mixtures, also are reported. When folate receptor-positive KB cells were exposed to calcein-loaded 5:95 CVEP/DOPE liposomes containing 0.1 mol % folate-modified 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-polyethylene[76] glycolamide (folate-PEG-DSPE), delivery of the calcein cargo to the cytoplasm of the cells was observed as determined by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer analysis of lipid mixing in these cells was consistent with membrane-membrane fusion between the liposome and endosomal membranes.