Spiroheterocyclic Photocatalyst for Reducing QHIn-Persistent Pollutants, Dyes, and Transition-Metal Ions Cocatalyzed with Electrolytes

The 7-nitro-2'-phenyl-5',6',7',7a'-tetrahydrospiro[indeno[1,2-b]quinoxaline-11,3'-pyrrolizine]-1',1'(2'H)-dicarbonitrile (SIQPI), 2'-(4-cyanophenyl)-7-nitro-5',6',7',7a'-tetrahydrospiro[indeno[1,2-b]quinoxaline-11,3'-pyrrolizine]-1',1'(2'H) dicarbonitrile (SIQPII), and 2'-(4-methoxyphenyl)-7-nitro-5',6',7',7a'-tetrahydrospiro[indeno[1,2-b]quinoxaline-11,3'-pyrrolizine]-1',1'(2'H)-dicarbonitrile (SIQPIII) were used to photocatalyze quinonoid phenolphthalein (QHIn) in aq-ACN-EtOH (mixed solvent) with NaCl and KCl electrolytes. SIQPI, II, and III spiroindenoquinoxaline pyrrolidines (SIQPs) as spiroheterocyclic photocatalysts alone could not reduce QHIn, but with the addition of electrolytes they are reduced via π cationic interactions (PCI). SIQPI, II, and III with NaCl reduced QHIn in 120, 28, and 50 min, unlike in 138, 58, and 63 min with KCl in mixed solvent. SIQPI, II, and III alone have reduced methylene blue (MB) in 120, 45, and 70 min, unlike in 110, 27, and 55 min with graphene oxide (GO), whereas with NaCl and KCl hey are reduced in 82, 36, and 44 min and 89, 43, and 50 min, respectively. SIQPs with GO had reduced MB in less time than the SIQPs alone, and SIQPs with NaCl had reduced QHIn in a shorter time than KCl. The electrolytes have cocatalyzed a reduction of dyes under sunlight (SL). The electrolytes have reduced a quinonoid structure (QS) and dyes by generating negative and positive (e ^- and h ⁺) holes in a shorter time. SIQPII and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) of 58 nm with NaCl photocatalyzed the QHIn in 2880 min. The SIQPs also reduced methyl orange (MO) and brilliant blue R (BBR) at variable temperature (T) and pH range, whereas SIQPs have developed a molecular organic framework (MOF) with transition-metal salts (NiCl₂, CrO₃, KMnO₄, CuSO₄, and MnCl₂) on photocatalysis.

Overcoming synthetic challenges in targeting coenzyme A biosynthesis with the antimicrobial natural product CJ-15,801

The biosynthesis of the essential metabolic cofactor coenzyme A (CoA) has been receiving increasing attention as a new target that shows potential to counter the rising resistance to established antimicrobials. In particular, phosphopantothenoylcysteine synthetase (PPCS)-the second CoA biosynthesis enzyme that is found as part of the bifunctional CoaBC protein in bacteria, but is monofunctional in eukaryotes-has been validated as a target through extensive genetic knockdown studies in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Moreover, it has been identified as the molecular target of the fungal natural product CJ-15,801 that shows selective activity against Staphylococcus aureus and the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. As such, CJ-15,801 and 4'-phospho-CJ-15,801 (its metabolically active form) are excellent tool compounds for use in the development of new antimicrobial PPCS inhibitors. Unfortunately, further study and analysis of CJ-15,801 is currently being hampered by several unique challenges posed by its synthesis. In this study we describe how these challenges were overcome by using a robust palladium-catalyzed coupling to form the key N-acyl vinylogous carbamate moiety with retention of stereochemistry, and by extensive investigation of protecting groups suited to the labile functional group combinations contained in this molecule. We also demonstrate that using TBAF for deprotection causes undesired off-target effects related to the presence of residual tertiary ammonium salts. Finally, we provide a new method for the chemoenzymatic preparation of 4'-phospho-CJ-15,801 on multi-milligram scale, after showing that chemical synthesis of the molecule is not practical. Taken together, the results of this study advances our pursuit to discover new antimicrobials that specifically target CoA biosynthesis and/or utilization.

Total synthesis of an anticancer norsesquiterpene alkaloid isolated from the fungus Flammulina velutipes

The first total synthesis of a norsesquiterpene alkaloid (R)-8-hydroxy-4,7,7-trimethyl-7,8-dihydrocyclopenta[e]isoindole-1,3(2H,6H)-dione, isolated from the mushroom-forming fungus Flammulina velutipes, in both racemic and enantiomeric pure forms, is reported. The (-)-enantiomer of the natural product has been synthesized from the D-(-)-pantolactone chiral pool. The synthesis features a one-pot, three-step reaction sequence comprising an enyne RCM/Diels-Alder/aromatization to construct the desired indane skeleton present in the natural product. Our synthesis further confirms the assigned structure and absolute configuration of the natural product.

Diversity-Oriented Approaches to Polycyclics and Bioinspired Molecules via the Diels-Alder Strategy: Green Chemistry, Synthetic Economy, and Beyond

We describe diverse approaches to various dienes and their utilization in the Diels-Alder reaction to produce a variety of polycycles. The dienes covered here are prepared by simple alkylation reaction or via the Claisen rearrangement or by enyne metathesis of alkyne or enyne building blocks. Here, we have also included the Diels-Alder chemistry of dendralenes, a higher analog of cross-conjugated dienes. The present article is inclusive of o-xylylene derivatives that are generated in situ starting with benzosultine or benzosulfone derivatives. The Diels-Alder reaction of these dienes with various dienophiles gave diverse polycyclic systems and biologically important targets.

One-pot quadruple/triple reaction sequence: a useful tool for the synthesis of natural products

Multiple reactions in one pot has always been a useful technique for synthetic organic chemists, as it can minimizes solvent usage, time and the number of purification steps when compared to individual multi-step syntheses. In line with this, here in this perspective we discuss a one-pot quadruple/triple reaction sequence comprising an enyne ring-closing metathesis/cross-metathesis/Diels-Alder/aromatization for the synthesis of natural products setting.