Copper-Catalyzed Enantioselective Synthesis of Spirohydroindoles by Ethoxyformylmethylene Oxindole and Iminoester 1,3-Dipole Cycloaddition: An Examination of Associated Biological Activities

A highly enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of ethoxyformylmethylene oxindole with iminoesters has been achieved using the Cu(I)-(S,Sp)-Ph Phosferrox catalytic system, generating a series of chiral spiro[pyrrolidin-3,3'-oxindole] compounds with four consecutive stereocenters, including a spirocycle quaternary center (71%-99% yield, up to >20:1 dr and 95:5 er). The compounds exhibited good inhibitory activity against Valsa mali (V.m.), Fusarium oxysporium (F.o.), and Alternaria brassicae (A.b.).

Synthesis of ApoSense compound [18F]2-(5-(dimethylamino)naphthalene-1-sulfonamido)-2-(fluoromethyl)butanoic acid ([18F]NST732) by nucleophilic ring opening of an aziridine precursor

INTRODUCTION

The small molecule 2-(5-(dimethylamino)naphthalene-1-sulfonamido)-2-(fluoromethyl)butanoic acid (NST732) is a member of the ApoSense family of compounds, capable of selective targeting, binding and accumulation within cells undergoing apoptotic cell death. It has application in molecular imaging and blood clotting particularly for monitoring antiapoptotic drug treatments. We are investigating a fluorine-18-radiolabeled analog of this compound for positron emission tomography studies.

METHODS

We prepared the tosylate precursor methyl 2-(5-(dimethylamino)naphthalene-1-sulfonamido)-2-(tosyloxymethyl)butanoate (4) to synthesize fluorine-18-labeled NST732. Fluorination reaction of the tosylate precursor in 1:1 acetonitrile:dimethylsulfoxide with tetrabutyl ammonium fluoride proceeds through an aziridine intermediate (4A) to afford two regioisomers: 2-(5-(dimethylamino)naphthalene-1-sulfonamido)-2-fluorobutanoate (5) and methyl 2-(5-(dimethylamino)naphthalene-1-sulfonamido)-2-(fluoromethyl)butanoate (6). Acid hydrolysis of the fluoromethylbutanoate (6) isomer produced NST732. As the fluorination reaction of the tosylate precursor proceeds through an aziridine intermediate (4A) and the fluorination conceivably could be done directly on the aziridine, we have separately prepared an aziridine precursor (4A). Fluorine-18 labeling of the aziridine precursor (4A) was performed with [(18)F]tetrabutyl ammonium fluoride to afford the same two regioisomers (5 and 6). The [18F]2-((5-dimethylamino)naphthalene-1-sulfonamido)methyl)-2-fluorobutanoic acid (NST732) was then obtained by the hydrolysis of corresponding [18F]-labeled ester (6) with 6 N hydrochloric acid.

RESULTS

Two regioisomers obtained from the fluorination reaction of aziridine were easily separated by high-performance liquid chromatography. The total radiochemical yield was 15%±3% (uncorrected, n=18) from the aziridine precursor in a 70-min synthesis time with a radiochemical purity>99%.

CONCLUSION

Fluorine-18-labeled ApoSense compound [18F]NST732 is prepared in moderate yield by direct fluorination of an aziridine precursor.

Diastereo- and enantioselective conjugate addition of α-substituted nitroacetates to maleimides under base-free neutral phase-transfer conditions

Highly diastereo- and enantioselective conjugate addition of α-substituted nitroacetates to maleimides under base-free neutral phase-transfer conditions was developed for the synthesis of α,α-disubstituted α-amino acid derivatives.