Recent achievements in copper catalysis for C–N bond formation

A mini-review describes the development of the catalysis by Cu(I) complexes aimed at the formation of C–N bond at the Lomonosov MSU during 2010s. The main approach employs the amination of aryl and heteroaryl halides with the amines and polyamines, in this direction a great versatility of starting compounds was achieved: adamantane-containing amines, linear diamines, oxadiamines and polyamines, various aryl iodides and bromides, derivatives of pyridine, and quinoline were used for this purpose. In more peculiar cases, the copper catalysis was used for steroids transformations, including vinylation of azoles, wide-spread “click” reactions for the conjugate syntheses, and successful heterogenezation of the copper catalysts were also undertaken.

Aniline-Based Inhibitors of Influenza H1N1 Virus Acting on Hemagglutinin-Mediated Fusion

Two series of easily accessible anilines were identified as inhibitors of influenza A virus subtype H1N1, and extensive chemical synthesis and analysis of the structure-activity relationship were performed. The compounds were shown to interfere with low pH-induced membrane fusion mediated by the H1 and H5 (group 1) hemagglutinin (HA) subtypes. A combination of virus resistance, HA interaction, and molecular dynamics simulation studies elucidated the binding site of these aniline-based influenza fusion inhibitors, which significantly overlaps with the pocket occupied by some H3 HA-specific inhibitors, indicating the high relevance of this cavity for drug design.