A GSH-resistant FK228 analogue containing a stable disulfide bond

FK228 is a potent natural pan HDAC inhibitor approved by the FDA for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma as well as peripheral T-cell lymphoma. It is generally believed that the mechanism of FK228 acting on HDACs is by reducing its disulfide bond after entering the cell, and the dithiol group may chelate with Zn2+ and form a weak reversible covalent bond with cysteine in the catalytic pocket of HDACs, therefore inhibiting the activity of HDACs. However, due to the weak stability of the disulfide bond in FK228, it has been difficult to obtain direct evidence for the above conjecture. Thus, improving the stability of the FK228 disulfide bond will help to explore the exact mechanism of FK228. In this study, based on the stability and target-induced covalent properties of the Cysteine-Penicillamine (Cys-Pen) disulfide bond reported previously, the Pen was introduced into the modification of FK228. Specifically, the d-Cys in FK228 was replaced by d-Pen, the total synthetic pathway was optimized, and the novel synthetic FK228 analogue (FK-P) stability was verified. FK-P can also be used as a new drug molecule in the future to participate in the research of related biological mechanisms or the treatment of diseases.

Divergent reactivities of 2-pyridyl sulfonate esters. Exceptionally mild access to alkyl bromides and 2-substituted pyridines

A series of 2- and 3-pyridyl sulfonate and tosylate esters of primary and secondary alcohols were synthesized and evaluated in the bromination reaction with MgBr2·Et2O. The greater coordinating ability of the 2-pyridyl sulfonate esters accounted for its observed superior reactivity and selectivity. Reaction of neopentyl and phenyl 2-pyridyl sulfonates with a variety of aryl and heteroaryl Li reagents led to 2-substituted pyridines at temperatures as low as −78 °C via an SNAr process. Mechanistic considerations are discussed.

Scale-Up Synthesis and Identification of GLYX-13, a NMDAR Glycine-Site Partial Agonist for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder

GLYX-13, a NMDAR glycine-site partial agonist, was discovered as a promising antidepressant with rapidly acting effects but no ketamine-like side effects. However, the reported synthetic process route had deficiencies of low yield and the use of unfriendly reagents. Here, we report a scaled-up synthesis of GLYX-13 with an overall yield of 30% on the hectogram scale with a column chromatography-free strategy, where the coupling and deprotection reaction conditions were systematically optimized. Meanwhile, the absolute configuration of precursor compound of GLYX-13 was identified by X-ray single crystal diffraction. Finally, the activity of GLYX-13 was verified in the cortical neurons of mice through whole-cell voltage-clamp technique.

The depsipeptide technique applied to peptide segment condensation: scope and limitations

A promising application of the depsipeptide technique has recently been proposed to provide ideal conditions for segment condensation, in that coupling of peptides bearing a C-terminal depsipeptide unit occurs without giving rise to epimerization at the activated amino acid. This is due to the low tendency of the activated depsipeptide units, in contrast to the corresponding peptide segments, to form optically labile oxazolones. In this work we demonstrate that coupling of depsipeptides via base-assisted activation using HBTU occurs not only without loss of configuration, but even much faster than the coupling of the corresponding all-amide segments. Nevertheless, when the coupling of long depsipeptide segments proceeds slowly, we uncovered the occurrence of beta-elimination at the activated depsipeptide unit, in an extent dependent on the presence of base in the system and on the type of the solvent. Beta-elimination was completely suppressed by using carbodiimide/HOBt activation in a non-polar solvent (DCM), and in more polar media it was limited by substituting TMP for DIEA during HBTU activation, or using particular solvent mixtures (such as DMSO/toluene) for activation via carbodiimide. Finally, we show the application of C-terminal pseudoprolines, in comparison with that of depsipeptide units, to segment coupling.

Syntheses of TN building blocks Nα-(9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl)-O-(3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-α-d-galactopyranosyl)-l-serine/l-threonine pentafluorophenyl esters: comparison of protocols and elucidation of side reactions

T(N) antigen building blocks Nalpha-(9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl)-O-(3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl)-L-serine/L-threonine pentafluorophenyl ester [Fmoc-L-Ser/L-Thr(Ac3-alpha-D-GalN3)-OPfp, 13/14] have been synthesized by two different routes, which have been compared. Overall isolated yields [three or four chemical steps, and minimal intermediary purification steps] of enantiopure 13 and 14 were 5-18% and 6-10%, respectively, based on 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-D-galactal (1). A byproduct of the initial azidonitration reaction of the synthetic sequence, that is, N-acetyl-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranosylamine (5), has been characterized by X-ray crystallography, and shown by 1H NMR spectroscopy to form complexes with lithium bromide, lithium iodide, or sodium iodide in acetonitrile-d3. Intermediates 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl bromide (6) and 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-beta-D-galactopyranosyl chloride (7) were used to glycosylate Nalpha-(9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl)-L-serine/L-threonine pentafluorophenyl esters [Fmoc-L-Ser/L-Thr-OPfp, 11/12]. Previously undescribed low-level dehydration side reactions were observed at this stage; the unwanted byproducts were easily removed by column chromatography.