Enantio- and Diastereoselective Copper-Catalyzed Borylative Coupling of Styrenes and Azadienes

Here we disclose a CuB-catalyzed reaction between aurone-derived α,β-unsaturated imines and styrenes to produce 2-substituted benzofuran derivatives bearing both the γ-boryl functionality and α,β-unsymmetric stereogenic centers. The reaction represents the first transition-metal-catalyzed unsymmetric 1,4-Michael additions of azadienes, which would enrich the arsenal of CuB catalysis in organic synthesis. In addition, the synthetically versatile boron-alkylated products can be elaborated by chemical transformations to useful optically active benzofuran heterocycles.

Synbiotic Musa acuminata skin extract and Streptococcus salivarius K12 inhibit candida species biofilm formation

This study aimed to determine the effect of synbiotic Musa acuminata skin extract (MASE) and Streptococcus salivarius K12 (K12) on Candida species biofilm formation. Liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight (LC-Q-TOF-MS) was conducted to characterize MASE. To determine the effect of synbiotic on Candida biofilm, 200 µL of RPMI-1640 containing Candida, K12, and MASE were pipetted into the same well and incubated at 37 °C for 72 h. A similar protocol was repeated with K12 or MASE to determine the probiotic and prebiotic effects, respectively. Dimorphism, biofilm biomass, and Candida total cell count (TCC) were determined. A total of 60 compounds were detected in MASE. C. albicans (ALT5) and Candida lusitaniae exhibited the highest reduction in biofilm biomass when co-cultured with prebiotic (77.70 ± 7.67%) and synbiotic (97.73 ± 0.28%), respectively. All Candida spp. had decreased TCC and hyphae when co-cultured with synbiotic. In conclusion, MASE and K12 inhibit Candida biofilm formation.

Pd-Catalyzed cross-coupling synthesis of 4-aryl-3-formylcoumarins

The threefold cross-coupling of triarylbismuth reagents with 4-chloro-3-formylcoumarins furnished the corresponding 4-aryl-3-formylcoumarins in a chemoselective manner with high yields under Pd-catalyzed conditions. This method was successfully applied to electronically different triarylbismuth reagents and 4-chloro-3-formylcoumarins preserving the 3-formyl group in the coumarin scaffold.

Copper-catalyzed synthesis of 1-(2-benzofuryl)-N-heteroarenes from o-hydroxy-gem-(dibromovinyl)benzenes and N-heteroarenes

An efficient method for the synthesis of 1-(2-benzofuryl)-N-heteroarenes is developed from o-hydroxy-gem-(dibromovinyl)benzenes and N-heteroarenes under copper-catalyzed tandem reaction conditions. This methodology displayed a broad substrate scope and high yields in the preparation of a variety of 1-(2-benzofuryl)-N-heteroarenes. Further, 1-(2-benzofuryl)-N-heteroarenes were also applied in the synthesis of polycyclic benzofuro-indolo-pyridine scaffolds under palladium-catalyzed dehydrogenative coupling conditions. Overall, the present tandem approach is general, synthetically advantageous and avoids air-sensitive reagents.

De Novo Synthesis of Tricyclic 5,5-Benzannulated Spiroketals

The synthesis of tricyclic 5,5-benzannulated spiroketal scaffolds was accomplished from 2'-hydroxyacetophenones and gem-dibromoalkenes involving a one-pot domino strategy. The hitherto unknown transformation afforded the tricyclic 5,5-benzannulated spiroketals as single diastereomers in high yields with a broad substrate scope.

Synthesis of novel unnatural α-amino acids (UAAs) containing 7-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-chroman using isoxazole as a linker

An efficient and novel method for the preparation of unnatural α-amino acids (UAAs) containing 7-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-chroman via a 1,3-di-polar-cyloaddition reaction has been described.

Diversity-oriented generation and biological evaluation of new chemical scaffolds bearing a 2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromene unit: Discovery of novel potent ANO1 inhibitors

Chemical territory bearing a 2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromene motif was expanded by utilizing an o-hydroxy aldehyde group of 5-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromene-6-carbaldehyde as a synthetic handle to install distinctive morphology and functionality of each scaffold. Cell based assays and in silico docking analysis led us to discover that these new compounds exhibit inhibitory effect on anoctamin1 (ANO1). ANO1 is amplified and highly expressed in various carcinomas including prostate cancer, esophageal cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Biological assays revealed that (E)-1-(7,7-dimethyl-7H-furo[2,3-f]chromen-2-yl)-3-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one (3n, Ani-FCC) is a novel, potent and selective ANO1 inhibitor with an IC₅₀ value of 1.23 μM. 3n showed 144 times stronger activity on ANO1 inhibition than ANO2 inhibition and did not alter the chloride channel activity of CFTR and the intracellular calcium signaling. Notably, 3n strongly decreased cell viability of PC-3 and FaDu cells expressing high levels of ANO1 with a decrease in ANO1 protein levels. In addition, 3n significantly enhanced apoptosis via activation of caspase 3 and cleavage of PARP in PC-3 and FaDu cells. This study shows that a novel ANO1 inhibitor, 3n, can be a potential candidate for the treatment of cancers overexpressing ANO1, such as prostate cancer and esophageal cancer.

Last Decade of Unconventional Methodologies for the Synthesis of Substituted Benzofurans

This review describes the progress of the last decade on the synthesis of substituted benzofurans, which are useful scaffolds for the synthesis of numerous natural products and pharmaceuticals. In particular, new intramolecular and intermolecular C-C and/or C-O bond-forming processes, with transition-metal catalysis or metal-free are summarized. (1) Introduction. (2) Ring generation via intramolecular cyclization. (2.1) C7a-O bond formation: (route a). (2.2) O-C2 bond formation: (route b). (2.3) C2-C3 bond formation: (route c). (2.4) C3-C3a bond formation: (route d). (3) Ring generation via intermolecular cyclization. (3.1) C7a-O and C3-C3a bond formation (route a + d). (3.2) O-C2 and C2-C3 bond formation: (route b + c). (3.3) O-C2 and C3-C3a bond formation: (route b + d). (4) Benzannulation. (5) Conclusion.

Synthesis of benzofurans from the cyclodehydration of α-phenoxy ketones mediated by Eaton’s reagent

Cyclodehydration of α-phenoxy ketones promoted by Eaton’s reagent (phosphorus pentoxide–methanesulfonic acid) is used to prepare 3-substituted or 2,3-disubstituted benzofurans with moderate to excellent yields under mild conditions. The method provides a facile access to benzofurans from readily available starting materials such as phenols and α-bromo ketones. The reaction is highly efficient, which is attributed to the good reactivity and fluidity of Eaton’s reagent. The reaction can be applied to prepare naphthofurans, furanocoumarins, benzothiophenes, and benzopyrans.

Rh-Catalyzed aldehydic C–H alkynylation and annulation

Novel Rh-catalyzed aldehydic C–H bond alkynylation and annulation for the in situ synthesis of chromones and aurones are described.

A protecting group-free divergent synthesis of natural benzofurans via one-pot synthesis of 2-bromo-6-hydroxybenzofurans

One-pot synthesis of 2-bromo-6-hydroxybenzofurans and their applications in the divergent synthesis of bioactive benzofurans are successfully established.