Catalysis and Sensing for our Environment (CASE2015) and the Supramolecular Chemistry Ireland Meeting (SCI 2015): Dublin and Maynooth, Ireland. 8th–11th July

Aniline-containing derivatives of parthenolide: Synthesis and anti-chronic lymphocytic leukaemia activity

Parthenolide exhibits anti-leukaemia activity, whilst its synthetic modification to impart improve drug-like properties, including 1,4-conjugate addition of primary and secondary amines, have previously been used, 1,4-addition of aniline derivatives to parthenolide has not been fully explored. A protocol for such additions to parthenolide is outlined herein. Reaction conditions were determined using tulipane as a model Michael acceptor. Subsequently, aniline-containing parthenolide derivatives were prepared under the optimised conditions and single crystal X-ray diffraction structures were resolved for three of the compounds synthesised. The synthesised derivatives, along with compounds resulting from a side reaction, were tested for their in vitro anti-leukaemia activity using the chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) MEC1 cell line. Computational studies with the 2RAM protein structure suggested that the activity of the derivatives was independent of their in silico ability to dock with the Cys38 residue of NF-κB.

Coetaneous catalytic kinetic resolution of alkynes and azides through asymmetric triazole formation

A non-enzymatic simultaneous (coined coetaneous) kinetic resolution of a racemic alkyne and racemic azide, utilising an asymmetric CuAAC reaction is reported. The use of a CuCl (R,R)-Ph-Pybox catalyst system effects a simultaneous kinetic resolution of two racemic starting materials to give one major triazolic diastereoisomer in the ratio 74:12:4:10 (dr 84:16, 90% ee maj). The corresponding control reaction using an achiral copper catalyst gives the four possible diastereoisomers in a 23:27:23:27 ratio, demonstrating minimal inherent substrate control.

Balancing Bulkiness in Gold(I) Phosphino-triazole Catalysis

The syntheses of a series of 1-phenyl-5-phosphino 1,2,3-triazoles are disclosed, within which, the phosphorus atom (at the 5-position of a triazole) is appended by one, two or three triazole motifs, and the valency of the phosphorus(III) atom is completed by two, one or zero ancillary (phenyl or cyclohexyl) groups respectively. This series of phosphines was compared with tricyclohexylphosphine and triphenylphosphine to study the effect of increasing the number of triazoles appended to the central phosphorus atom from zero to three triazoles. Gold(I) chloride complexes of the synthesised ligands were prepared and analysed by techniques including single-crystal X-ray diffraction structure determination. Gold(I) complexes were also prepared from 1-(2,6-dimethoxy)-phenyl-5-dicyclohexyl-phosphino 1,2,3-triazole and 1-(2,6-dimethoxy)-phenyl-5-diphenyl-phosphino 1,2,3-triazole ligands. The crystal structures thus obtained were examined using the SambVca (2.0) web tool and percentage buried volumes determined. The effectiveness of these gold(I) chloride complexes to serve as precatalysts for alkyne hydration were assessed. Furthermore, the regioselectivity of hydration of but-1-yne-1,4-diyldibenzene was probed.

Derivatisation of parthenolide to address chemoresistant chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Parthenolide is a natural product that exhibits anti-leukaemic activity, however, its clinical use is limited by its poor bioavailability. It may be extracted from feverfew and protocols for growing, extracting and derivatising it are reported. A novel parthenolide derivative with good bioavailability and pharmacological properties was identified through a screening cascade based on in vitro anti-leukaemic activity and calculated "drug-likeness" properties, in vitro and in vivo pharmacokinetics studies and hERG liability testing. In vitro studies showed the most promising derivative to have comparable anti-leukaemic activity to DMAPT, a previously described parthenolide derivative. The newly identified compound was shown to have pro-oxidant activity and in silico molecular docking studies indicate a prodrug mode of action. A synthesis scheme is presented for the production of amine 7 used in the generation of 5f.

Phosphino-Triazole Ligands for Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling

Twelve 1,5-disubtituted and fourteen 5-substituted 1,2,3-triazole derivatives bearing diaryl or dialkyl phosphines at the 5-position were synthesized and used as ligands for palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions. Bulky substrates were tested, and lead-like product formation was demonstrated. The online tool SambVca2.0 was used to assess steric parameters of ligands and preliminary buried volume determination using XRD-obtained data in a small number of cases proved to be informative. Two modeling approaches were compared for the determination of the buried volume of ligands where XRD data was not available. An approach with imposed steric restrictions was found to be superior in leading to buried volume determinations that closely correlate with observed reaction conversions. The online tool LLAMA was used to determine lead-likeness of potential Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling products, from which 10 of the most lead-like were successfully synthesized. Thus, confirming these readily accessible triazole-containing phosphines as highly suitable ligands for reaction screening and optimization in drug discovery campaigns.

Palladium and Platinum 2,4-cis-amino Azetidine and Related Complexes

Seven N,N'-palladium(II) chloride complexes, one N,N'-palladium(II) acetate complex of 2,4-cis-azetidines where prepared and analyzed by single crystal XRD. Two platinum(II) chloride N,N'-complexes of 2,4-cis-azetidines where prepared and analyzed by single crystal XRD. Computational analysis and determination of the %Vbur was examined conducted. A CNN' metallocyclic complex was prepared by oxidative addition of palladium(0) to an ortho bromo 2,4-cis-disubstituted azetidine and its crystal structure displays a slightly pyramidalized metal-ligand orientation.

Rigid and concave, 2,4-cis-substituted azetidine derivatives: A platform for asymmetric catalysis

A series of single enantiomer, 2,4-cis-disubstituted amino azetidines were synthesised and used as ligands for copper-catalysed Henry reactions of aldehydes with nitromethane. Optimisation of ligand substituents and the reaction conditions was conducted. The enantiomeric excess of the formed products was highest when alkyl aldehydes were employed in the reaction (>99% e.e.). The absolute stereochemistry of one representative azetidine derivative salt was determined by analysis of the Flack parameter of an XRD single crystal structure. The origin of selectivity in catalysis was investigated computationally, revealing the importance of the amino-substituent in determining the stereochemical outcome. A racemic platinum complex of a cis-disubstituted azetidine is examined by XRD single crystal structure analysis with reference to its steric parameters, and analogies to the computationally determined copper complex catalyst are drawn. A preliminary example of the use of a cis-disubstituted azetidine scaffold in thiourea H-bonding catalyst is noted in the supporting information.

Glucose selective bis-boronic acid click-fluor

Four novel bis-boronic acid compounds were synthesised via copper catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reactions. Glucose selectivity was observed for a particular structural motif. Moreover, a new glucose selective fluorescent sensor was designed and synthesised as a result.

The Bull-James assembly as a chiral auxiliary and shift reagent in kinetic resolution of alkyne amines by the CuAAC reaction

The Bull-James boronic acid assembly is used simultaneously as a chiral auxiliary for kinetic resolution and as a chiral shift reagent for in situ enantiomeric excess (ee) determination by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Chiral terminal alkyne-containing amines, and their corresponding chiral triazoles formed via CuAAC, were probed in situ. Selectivity factors of up to s = 4 were imparted and measured, accurate to within ±3% when compared to chiral GC.

Ethylenation of aldehydes to 3-propanal, propanol and propanoic acid derivatives

Methodology has been developed for the synthesis of 3-propanaldehydes through a five-step process in 11–67% yield from aldehydes. Aldehydes were reacted with Meldrum’s acid through a Knoevenagel condensation to give materials that upon reduction with sodium borohydride and subsequent hydrolysis decarboxylation generated the corresponding 3-propanoic acid derivatives. The -propanoic acid derivatives were reduced to give 3-propanol derivatives, which were readily oxidised to target 3-propanal derivatives.

“Click-fluors”: triazole-linked saccharide sensors

A series of boronic acid-containing saccharide receptors was synthesised via copper catalysed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reactions.