Reactions of 3-Hydroxy-2-phenyl-1H-benzo[e]isoindol-1-one: A Route to 3-Hydroxy-/3-anilinobenzo[e]indan-1-ones and Benzo[f]phthalazin-1(2H)-ones

New hydroxy- and anilinoindanone derivatives 3 and 4 were synthesized starting from 3-hydroxybenzo[e]isoindolinone 1 via the addition of alkyllithium (s-BuLi, n-BuLi, MeLi or i-PrLi) to the carbonyl group, followed by lactam ring opening and, finally, an intramolecular cyclization leading to target compounds. The same starting material was used for the preparation of the new benzo[f]phthalazinone derivatives 12-16 through multi-step reactions. The target derivative 16 was obtained from the corresponding bromolactam 15 by the Buchwald-Hartwig amination. Structures of the obtained compounds were confirmed by the NMR spectra.

Chiral-Directing-Group-Assisted Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Asymmetric Addition of Inert Arene C-H Bond to Aldimines with Subsequent Intramolecular Cyclization

By using a chiral directing group, an asymmetric rhodium(III)-catalyzed C-H bond addition to aldimines followed by intramolecular cyclization to form chiral isoindolinones has been achieved (up to 68 % yield, up to 93 % ee). A three-component variant that resembles Mannich reaction was also realized (41 % yield, 83 % ee). Product elaborations and preliminary mechanistic studies were described.

RhIII -Catalyzed C-H Activation of Aryl Hydroxamates for the Synthesis of Isoindolinones

RhIII -catalyzed C-H functionalization reaction yielding isoindolinones from aryl hydroxamates and ortho-substituted styrenes is reported. The reaction proceeds smoothly under mild conditions at room temperature, and tolerates a range of functional groups. Experimental and computational investigations support that the high regioselectivity observed for these substrates results from the presence of an ortho-substituent embedded in the styrene. The resulting isoindolinones are valuable building blocks for the synthesis of bioactive compounds. They provide easy access to the natural-product-like compounds, isoindolobenzazepines, in a one-pot two-step reaction. Selected isoindolinones inhibited Hedgehog (Hh)-dependent differentiation of multipotent murine mesenchymal progenitor stem cells into osteoblasts.

Chiral Phase Transfer Catalysis in the Asymmetric Synthesis of a 3,3-Disubstituted Isoindolinone and Determination of Its Absolute Configuration by VCD Spectroscopy

In this work we report our endeavors toward the development of an asymmetric synthesis of a 3,3-disubstituted isoindolinone, dimethyl 2-(1-methyl-3-oxoisoindolin-1-yl)malonate, via asymmetric cascade reaction of 2-acetylbenzonitrile with dimethylmalonate and the determination of its absolute configuration (AC) by vibrational circular dichroism (VCD). Bifunctional ammonium salts, derived from trans-1,2-cyclohexanediamine in combination with inorganic bases under phase transfer conditions, were the most effective catalytic systems, leading to the target in high yields and moderate enantioselectivity. An efficient process of heterochiral crystallization allowed the increase of the enantiopurity up to 96% ee and in an acceptable overall yield. An important aim of the present work is the comparison of different VCD methodologies for AC determination of the target compound.

Multicomponent reactions (MCRs): a useful access to the synthesis of benzo-fused γ-lactams

Benzo-fused γ-lactam rings such as isoindolin-2-ones and 2-oxindoles are part of the structure of many pharmaceutically active molecules. They can be often synthesized by means of multicomponent approaches and recent contributions in this field are summarized in this review. Clear advantages of these methods include the efficiency in saving raw materials and working time. However, there is still a need of new catalytic systems to allow the enantioselective preparation of these heterocycles by multicomponent reactions.

Supported Palladium Nanoparticles that Catalyze Aminocarbonylation of Aryl Halides with Amines using Oxalic Acid as a Sustainable CO Source

Polystyrene-supported palladium (Pd@PS) nanoparticles (NPs) have been used to catalyze the aminocarbonylation of aryl halides with amines using oxalic acid as a CO source for the first-time for the synthesis of amides. Furthermore, o-iodoacetophenones participated in amidation and cyclization reactions to give isoindolinones in a single step following a concerted approach. Oxalic acid has been used as a safe, environmentally benign and operationally simple ex situ sustainable CO source under double-layer-vial (DLV) system for different aminocarbonylation reactions. Catalyst stability under a CO environment is a challenging task, however, Pd@PS was found to be recyclable and applicable for a vast substrate scope avoiding regeneration steps. Easy handling of oxalic acid, additive and base-free CO generation, catalyst stability and effortless catalyst separation from the reaction mixture by filtration and introduce of DLV are the added advantages to make the overall process a sustainable approach.

Multicomponent Synthesis of Isoindolinone Frameworks via RhIII -Catalysed in situ Directing Group-Assisted Tandem Oxidative Olefination/Michael Addition

A Rh^III -catalysed three-component synthesis of isoindolinone frameworks via direct assembly of benzoyl chlorides, o-aminophenols and activated alkenes has been developed. The process involves in situ generation of o-aminophenol (OAP)-based bidentate directing group (DG), Rh^III -catalysed tandem ortho C-H olefination and subsequent cyclization via aza-Michael addition. This protocol exhibits good chemoselectivity and functional group tolerance. Computational studies showed that the presence of hydroxyl group on the N-aryl ring could enhance the chemoselectivity of the reaction.

An Easy-to-Machine Electrochemical Flow Microreactor: Efficient Synthesis of Isoindolinone and Flow Functionalization

Flow electrochemistry is an efficient methodology to generate radical intermediates. An electrochemical flow microreactor has been designed and manufactured to improve the efficiency of electrochemical flow reactions. With this device only little or no supporting electrolytes are needed, making processes less costly and enabling easier purification. This is demonstrated by the facile synthesis of amidyl radicals used in intramolecular hydroaminations to produce isoindolinones. The combination with inline mass spectrometry facilitates a much easier combination of chemical steps in a single flow process.

Tandem C(sp3)-H Arylation/Oxidation and Arylation/Allylic Substitution of Isoindolinones

Isoindolinones comprise an important class of medicinally active compounds. Herein we report a straightforward functionalization of the isoindolinones with aryl bromides (22 examples) using a Pd(OAc)2/NIXANTPHOS-based catalyst system. Additionally 3-aryl 3-hydroxy isoindolinone derivatives, which exhibit anti-tumor activity, can be accessed via a tandem reaction. Thus, when the arylation product is exposed to air under basic conditions, in situ oxidation takes place to install the 3-hydroxyl group. Furthermore, a tandem arylation/allylic substitution reaction is advanced in which both the arylation and allylic substitution are catalyzed by the same palladium catalyst. Finally, a tandem arylation/alkylation procedure is presented. These tandem reactions enable the synthesis of a variety of structurally diverse isoindolinone derivatives from common starting materials.

Structurally diverse MDM2-p53 antagonists act as modulators of MDR-1 function in neuroblastoma

BACKGROUND

A frequent mechanism of acquired multidrug resistance in human cancers is overexpression of ATP-binding cassette transporters such as the Multi-Drug Resistance Protein 1 (MDR-1). Nutlin-3, an MDM2-p53 antagonist, has previously been reported to be a competitive MDR-1 inhibitor.

METHODS

This study assessed whether the structurally diverse MDM2-p53 antagonists, MI-63, NDD0005, and RG7388 are also able to modulate MDR-1 function, particularly in p53 mutant neuroblastoma cells, using XTT-based cell viability assays, western blotting, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis.

RESULTS

Verapamil and the MDM2-p53 antagonists potentiated vincristine-mediated growth inhibition in a concentration-dependent manner when used in combination with high MDR-1-expressing p53 mutant neuroblastoma cell lines at concentrations that did not affect the viability of cells when given alone. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses showed that verapamil, Nutlin-3, MI-63 and NDD0005, but not RG7388, led to increased intracellular levels of vincristine in high MDR-1-expressing cell lines.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show that in addition to Nutlin-3, other structurally unrelated MDM2-p53 antagonists can also act as MDR-1 inhibitors and reverse MDR-1-mediated multidrug resistance in neuroblastoma cell lines in a p53-independent manner. These findings are important for future clinical trial design with MDM2-p53 antagonists when used in combination with agents that are MDR-1 substrates.

Highly Regioselective Synthesis of Substituted Isoindolinones via Ruthenium-Catalyzed Alkyne Cyclotrimerizations

(Cyclooctadiene)(pentamethylcyclopentadiene)ruthenium chloride [Cp*RuCl(cod)] has been used to catalyze the regioselective cyclization of amide-tethered diynes with monosubstituted alkynes to give polysubstituted isoindolinones. Notably, the presence of a trimethylsilyl group on the diyne generally led to complete control over the regioselectivity of the alkyne cyclotrimerization. The cyclization reaction worked well in a sustainable non-chlorinated solvent and was tolerant of moisture. The optimized conditions were effective with a diverse range of alkynes and diynes. The 7-silylisoindolinone products could be halogenated, protodesilylated or ring opened to access a range of usefully functionalized products.

Synthesis of a library of tricyclic azepinoisoindolinones

Hydrozirconation of 1-hexyne, the addition to in situ prepared N-acyliminium species, and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) were key steps in the preparation of a tricyclic isoindolinone scaffold. An unusual alkene isomerization process during the RCM was identified and studied in some detail. Chemical diversification for library synthesis was achieved by a subsequent alkene epoxidation and zinc-mediated aminolysis reaction. The resulting library products provided selective hits among a large number of high-throughput screens reported in PubChem, thus illustrating the utility of the novel scaffold.