Enantioselective Synthesis of Imperanene via Enzymatic Asymmetrization of an Intermediary 1,3-Diol

Design of 92 New 9-Norlignan Derivatives and Their Effect on Cell Viabilities of Cancer and Insect Cells

Ninety-two new 9-norlignan derivatives containing more effective compounds against both cancer and insect cells than lead compounds were synthesized. Against HeLa cells, 7-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-7'-(3'-hydroxy-4'-methoxyphenyl) derivative 63 (IC₅₀ = 0.9 ± 0.2 μM) was to be around 6-fold more potent than lead compound 5. Moreover, against HL-60 cells, 7-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-7'-(3'/4'-hydroxyphenyl) derivatives 78 and 79 (IC₅₀ = 2.2 ± 0.4 μM and 2.4 ± 0.6 μM) were 3-fold more potent than lead compound 5. Furthermore, against Sf9 cells from the common cutworm, the 7-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl) derivatives bearing electron-withdrawing groups 76-96 showed a wider range of activity (around 20-fold difference), giving valuable information on the structure-activity relationship. The 7-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-7'-(2'/3'-hydroxyphenyl) derivatives 77 and 78 (IC₅₀ = 4.7 ± 0.6 μM and 4.9 ± 0.9 μM) had around 2-fold higher activity against Sf9 cells than lead compound 5. The 7-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-7'-(3'-hydroxyphenyl) derivative 78 was also effective against mosquito NIAS-AcAl-2 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 5.4 ± 0.3.

Enantioselective syntheses of both enantiomers of 9'-dehydroxyimperanene and 7,8-dihydro-9'-dehydroxyimperanene and the comparison of biological activity between 9-norlignans and dihydroguaiaretic acids

To estimate the effect of methyl group of dihydroguaiaretic acid, which shows many kinds of biological activities, on biological activity, both enantiomers of 9'-dehydroxyimperanene (5, 6) and 7,8-dihydro-9'-dehydroxyimperanene (7, 8) lacking one of the methyl groups of dihydroguaiaretic acid were synthesized. (S)-7,8-Dihydro-9'-dehydroxyimperanene (7) showed 4-6-fold higher cytotoxic activity than all stereoisomers of dihydroguaiaretic acid (2-4). The IC50 values of (S)-7,8-dihydro-9'-dehydroxyimperanene (7) against HL-60 and HeLa cells were 6.1μM and 5.6μM, respectively. Though only one of three stereoisomers of dihydroguaiaretic acid showed antibacterial activity against a gram negative bacterium, both enantiomers of 5-8 showed antibacterial activity against a gram negative bacterium. This is a Letter on biological activity of 9-norlignan, in which one of methyl groups of lignan is absent.

Chiral recognition of imperanene enantiomers by various cyclodextrins: a capillary electrophoresis and NMR spectroscopy study

The enantiomers of imperanene, a novel polyphenolic compound of Imperata cylindrica (L.), were separated via cyclodextrin-modified capillary electrophoresis. The anionic form of the analyte at pH 9.0 was subject to complexation and enantioseparation CE studies with neutral and charged cyclodextrins. As chiral selectors 27 CDs were applied differing in cavity size, sidechain, degree of substitution (DS) and charge. Three hydroxypropylated and three sulfoalkylated CD preparations provided enantioseparation and the migration order was successfully interpreted in each case in terms of complex mobilities and stability constants. The best enantioresolution (R(S)  = 1.26) was achieved using sulfobutyl-ether-γ-CD (DS ∼4), but it could be enhanced by extensive investigations on dual selector systems. After optimization (CD concentrations and pH) R(S)  = 4.47 was achieved using a 12.5 mM sulfobutyl-ether-γ-CD and 10 mM 6-monodeoxy-6-mono-(3-hydroxy)-propylamino-β-cyclodextrin dual system. The average stoichiometry of the complex was determined with Job's method using NMR-titration and resulted in a 1:1 complex for both (2-hydroxy)propyl-β- and sulfobutyl-ether-γ-CD. Further NMR experiments suggest that the coniferyl moiety of imperanene is involved in the host-guest interaction.

Design, asymmetric synthesis, and evaluation of pseudosymmetric sulfoximine inhibitors against HIV-1 protease

The HIV-1 protease is a validated drug target for the design of antiretroviral drugs to combat AIDS. We previously established the sulfoximine functionality as a valid transition state mimetic (TSM) in the HIV-1 protease inhibitors (PI) design and have identified a lead pseudosymmetric compound with nanomolar enzymatic inhibitory activity. Here, we report the asymmetric synthesis of this compound and its application in the synthesis of sulfoximine-based peptidomimetic HIV-1 protease inhibitors. Molecular modeling revealed the potential mode of binding of the sulfoximine inhibitor as a TSM. The predicted absolute binding free energies suggested similar inhibitory effect as observed in our enzymatic inhibitory studies.

An efficient synthesis of a potent PPARpan agonist

An efficient synthesis of 2-{4-[({4-{[4-(4-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl]methyl}-2-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1,3-thiazol-5-yl}methyl)thio]phenoxy}-2-methylpropanoic acid (1), a potent PPARpan agonist, is described. The seven-step synthesis, which afforded 1 in 30% overall yield, includes a highly regioselective carbon-sulfur bond formation via coupling of a bishydroxymethylthiazole (3) with 4-hydroxythiophenol, displacement of the remaining alcohol through a three-step telescoped sequence involving an efficient cleavage of an aryl mesylate, and an efficient and practical method of introducing an isobutyric acid fragment.

Large Rigid Blue-Emitting π-Conjugated Stilbenoid-Based Dendrimers: Synthesis and Properties

Two large pi-conjugated dendrimers (G0 and G1) employing the stilbenoid moiety as the bridge unit have been developed through the Suzuki and the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reactions. The molecular weight of G1 is 10 973 Da. Both G0 and G1 have good fluorescence quantum yields and exhibit similar absorption and emission behaviors in solutions and in thin films. They emit strong blue fluorescence in films under the irradiation of UV light.