Diastereoselective Pictet−Spengler Approach for the Synthesis of Pyrrolo[3,2-e][1,4]diazepin-2-one Peptide Turn Mimics

Strategies for converting turn-motif and cyclic peptides to small molecules for targeting protein-protein interactions

The development of small molecules that interact with protein-protein interactions is an ongoing challenge. Peptides offer a starting point in the drug discovery process for targeting protein-interactions due to their larger, more flexible structure and the structurally diverse properties that allow for a greater interaction with the protein. The techniques for rapidly identifying potent cyclic peptides and turn-motif peptides are highly effective, but this potential has not yet transferred to approved drug candidates. By applying the properties of the peptide-protein interaction the development of small molecules for drug discovery has the potential to be more efficient. In this review, we discuss the methods that allow for the unique binding properties of peptides to proteins, and the methods deployed to transfer these qualities to potent small molecules.

I2-Promoted Multicomponent Dicyclization and Ring-Opening Sequences: Direct Synthesis of Benzo[e][1,4]diazepin-3-ones via Dual C-O Bond Cleavage

A novel and efficient formal [4 + 2+1] annulation of aryl methyl ketones and 2-aminobenzyl alcohols for the synthesis of benzo[e][1,4]diazepin-3-ones is reported. This reaction successfully affords diverse seven-membered ring lactams via dual C-O bond cleavage. A preliminary mechanistic study showed that a multicomponent dicyclization and ring-opening sequence might occur, with the introduction of methyl sulfide proposed as the last step. This efficient strategy with mild reaction conditions and a broad substrate scope has potential applications in chemistry and medicine.

An Atom-Economical Method To Prepare Enantiopure Benzodiazepines with N-Carboxyanhydrides

The development of a rapid, one-pot synthesis of diazepinones with simple reagents is described. N-Carboxyanhydrides (NCAs) are employed as amino acid building blocks that react with o-ketoanilines sequentially as electrophiles and nucleophiles to form diazepinones with water and carbon dioxide as byproducts. Notably, these reactions enable the coupling of stereodefined amino acid derived NCAs without racemization. This method is demonstrated by an improved synthesis of a key intermediate toward a bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) bromodomain inihibitor.

Peptide turns through just ‘one atom’! A sulfamide group nucleates folding and stabilizes new supramolecular topologies in short peptides

Peptide segments with centrally placed sulfamide groups showed a remarkable tendency to adopt a turn conformation and exhibited supramolecular topologies like ‘helical stacks’ and ‘hairpin sheets’ through a highly coordinated array of strong and weak hydrogen bonds.