Copper(I)-Catalyzed Cycloaddition of Methyl O-Propargylpodocarpate and Azides at Room Temperature

Phenolic diterpenoid derivatives as anti-influenza a virus agents

A series of diterpenoid derivatives based on podocarpic acid were synthesized and evaluated as anti-influenza A virus agents. Several of the novel podocarpic acid derivatives exhibited nanomolar activities against an H1N1 influenza A virus (A/Puerto Rico/8/34) that was resistant to two anti-influenza drugs, oseltamivir and amantadine. This class of compounds inhibits the influenza virus by targeting the viral hemagglutinin-mediated membrane fusion. These results indicated that podocarpic acid derivatives may serve as potential drug candidates to fight drug-resistant influenza A virus infections.

Synthesis, surface properties, and biocompatibility of 1,2,3-triazole-containing alkyl β-D-xylopyranoside surfactants

We are interested in the development of surfactants derived from hemicellulosic biomass, as they are potential components in pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and other detergents. Such surfactants should exhibit low toxicity in mammalian cells. In this study we synthesized a series of alkyl or fluoroalkyl β-xylopyranosides from azides and an alkyne using the copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne (CuAAC) 'click' reaction in 4 steps from xylose. The purified products were evaluated for both their surfactant properties, and for their biocompatibility. Unlike other carbohydrate-based surfactants, liquid-crystalline behavior was not observed by differential scanning calorimetry. The triazole-containing β-xylopyranosides with short (6 carbons) and long (>12 carbons) chains exhibited no toxicity at concentrations ranging from 1 to 1000 μM. Triazole-containing β-xylopyranosides with 8, 10, or 12 carbons caused toxicity via apoptosis, with CC50 values ranging from 26-890 μM. The two longest chain compounds did form stable monolayers at the air-water interface over a range of temperatures, although a brief transition to an the unstable monolayer was observed.

Complex N-heterocycle synthesis via iron-catalyzed, direct C-H bond amination

The manipulation of traditionally unreactive functional groups is of paramount importance in modern chemical synthesis. We have developed an iron-dipyrrinato catalyst that leverages the reactivity of iron-borne metal-ligand multiple bonds to promote the direct amination of aliphatic C-H bonds. Exposure of organic azides to the iron dipyrrinato catalyst furnishes saturated, cyclic amine products (N-heterocycles) bearing complex core-substitution patterns. This study highlights the development of C-H bond functionalization chemistry for the formation of saturated, cyclic amine products and should find broad application in the context of both pharmaceuticals and natural product synthesis.

Catalytic stereoselective synthesis of diverse oxindoles and spirooxindoles from isatins

A strategy for the efficient two-step synthesis of triazole derivatives of oxindoles and spirooxindoles is presented. Using a common set of N-propargylated isatins, a series of mechanistically distinct stereoselective reactions with different combinations of nucleophiles and catalysts provide access to diverse hydroxy-oxindoles, spiroindolones, and spirocyclic oxazoline structures. The resulting N-propargylated oxindoles are then converted to triazoles using copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reactions. Overall, this strategy affords a 64-member pilot-scale library of diverse oxindoles and spirooxindoles.