Y(OTf)3-Salazin-Catalyzed Asymmetric Aldol Condensation

The chiral aziridine-containing vicinal iminophenol tridentate ligands (named salazins) are a class of readily prepared chiral ligands from enantiopure aziridines and salicylaldehydes. Their scandium and yttrium triflate complexes show excellent reactivity and enantioselectivities in the catalytic asymmetric aldol condensation of electron-deficient aromatic aldehydes and ketones, including acetone and cycloalkanones. The stereoselectivity is rationalized to the strong π-stacking interaction between aromatic aldehydes and the vicinal iminophenol group in the chiral ligands.

Targeted modification of furan-2-carboxaldehydes into Michael acceptor analogs yielded long-acting hemoglobin modulators with dual antisickling activities

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common genetic disorder, affecting millions of people worldwide. Aromatic aldehydes, which increase the oxygen affinity of human hemoglobin to prevent polymerization of sickle hemoglobin and inhibit red blood cell (RBC) sickling, have been the subject of keen interest for the development of effective treatment against SCD. However, the aldehyde functional group metabolic instability has severly hampered their development, except for voxelotor, which was approved in 2019 for SCD treatment. To improve the metabolic stability of aromatic aldehydes, we designed and synthesized novel molecules by incorporating Michael acceptor reactive centers into the previously clinically studied aromatic aldehyde, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF). Eight such derivatives, referred to as MMA compounds were synthesized and studied for their functional and biological activities. Unlike 5-HMF, which forms Schiff-base interaction with αVal1 nitrogen of hemoglobin, the MMA compounds covalently interacted with βCys93, as evidenced by reverse-phase HPLC and disulfide exchange reaction, explaining their RBC sickling inhibitory activities, which at 2 mM and 5 mM, range from 0% to 21% and 9% to 64%, respectively. Additionally, the MMA compounds showed a second mechanism of sickling inhibition (12%-41% and 13%-62% at 2 mM and 5 mM, respectively) by directly destabilizing the sickle hemoglobin polymer. In vitro studies demonstrated sustained pharmacologic activities of the compounds compared to 5-HMF. These findings hold promise for advancing SCD therapeutics.

Design, Synthesis, and Antisickling Investigation of a Thiazolidine Prodrug of TD-7 That Prolongs the Duration of Action of Antisickling Aromatic Aldehyde

The synthetic allosteric effector of hemoglobin, TD-7 has been investigated as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of sickle cell disease. The pharmacologic activity of TD-7 is due to formation of a Schiff-base interaction between its aldehyde group and the two N-terminal αVal1 amines of hemoglobin, effectively inhibiting sickling of red blood cells. However, TD-7 faces a challenge in terms of poor oral bioavailability due to rapid in-vivo oxidative metabolism of its aldehyde functional group. To address this shortcoming, researches have explored the use of a L-cysteine ethyl ester group to cap the aldehyde group to form a thiazolidine aromatic aldehyde prodrug complex, resulting in the improvement of the metabolic stability of this class of compounds. This report details the synthesis of a thiazolidine prodrug of TD-7, referred to as Pro-7, along with a comprehensive investigation of Pro-7 functional and biological properties. In an in-vitro Hb modification and Hb oxygen affinity studies using normal whole blood, as well as erythrocyte sickling inhibition using sickle whole blood, Pro-7 exhibited a gradual onset but progressive increase in all activities. Additionally, in-vivo pharmacokinetic studies conducted with Sprague Dawley rats demonstrated that Pro-7 can undergo hydrolysis to release TD-7. However, the blood concentration of TD-7 did not reach the desired therapeutic level. These findings suggest that the incorporation of the L-cysteine ethyl ester group to TD-7 represents a promising strategy to enhance the metabolic stability of aromatic aldehydes that could lead to the development of a more effective drug for the treatment of sickle cell disease.

Improving the Solubility and Oral Bioavailability of a Novel Aromatic Aldehyde Antisickling Agent (PP10) for the Treatment of Sickle Cell Disease

BACKGROUND

Aromatic aldehydes, with their ability to increase the oxygen affinity of sickle hemoglobin, have become important therapeutic agents for sickle cell disease (SCD). One such compound, voxelotor, was recently approved for SCD treatment. Methyl 6-((2-formyl-3-hydroxyphenoxy)methyl) picolinate (PP10) is another promising aromatic aldehyde, recently reported by our group. Like voxelotor, PP10 exhibits O2-dependent antisickling activity, but, unlike voxelotor, PP10 shows unique O2-independent antisickling effect. PP10, however, has limited solubility. This study therefore aimed to develop oral and parenteral formulations to improve PP10 solubility and bioavailability.

METHODS

Oral drug tablets with 2-hydroxypropyl beta cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD), polyvinylpyrrolidone, or Eudragit L100-55 PP10-binary system, and an intravenous (IV) formulation with d-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) or HP-β-CD, were developed. The pharmacokinetic behavior of the formulations was studied in Sprague-Dawley rats. PP10, a methylester, and its acid metabolite were also studied in vitro with sickle whole blood to determine their effect on Hb modification, Hb oxygen affinity, and sickle red blood cell inhibition.

RESULTS

Aqueous solubility of PP10 was enhanced ~5 times with the HP-β-CD binary system, while the TPGS aqueous micelle formulation was superior, with a drug concentration of 0.502 ± 0.01 mg/mL and a particle size of 26 ± 3 nm. The oral tablets showed relative and absolute bioavailabilities of 173.4% and 106.34%, respectively. The acid form of PP10 appeared to dominate in vivo, although both PP10 forms demonstrated pharmacologic effect.

CONCLUSION

Oral and IV formulations of PP10 were successfully developed using HP-β-CD binary system and TPGS aqueous micelles, respectively, resulting in significantly improved solubility and bioavailability.

A Brief Synthesis of 2,2'-Arylmethylene Bis(3-hydroxy-5,5-dimethyl-2-cyclohexene-1- one) Catalyzed by TEAOH in Various Solvents

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

2,2'-Arylmethylene bis(3-hydroxy-5,5-dimethyl-2-cyclohexene-1-one) having four carbonyl functionalities along with their tautomeric keto-enol forms, is an important biologically active compound and important synthetic intermediate in the synthesis of xanthenes. This study was conducted in order to develop a new and concise method of synthesis of 2,2'-arylmethylene bis (3-hydroxy-5,5-dimethyl-2- cyclohexene-1-one) derivatives.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

TEAOH (20 mol %) was fond to be as a simple and efficient catalyst for the preparation of 2,2'-arylmethylene bis(3-hydroxy-5,5-dimethyl-2-cyclohexene-1-one) derivatives by the Knoevenagel condensation/Michael addition tandem reactions.

RESULTS

A concise and practical method was developed for one-pot synthesis of 2,2'-arylmethylene bis(3- hydroxy-5,5-dimethyl-2-cyclohexene-1-one) derivatives catalyzed by TEAOH at room temperature in various solvents.

CONCLUSION

This strategy provides several advantages over the traditional synthetic method, and is applicable to a wide variety of aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes at room temperature in various solvents.

Heteroaromatization with 4-Phenyldiazenyl-1-naphthol. Part IV: Synthesis of Some New Heterocyclic Compounds with Potential Biological Activity

BACKGROUND

Synthetic azo compounds and their derivatives have been studied extensively due to their biological and pharmacological activities. Pyranopyridines, pyranopyrimidines and tetrazoles derivatives have emerged as a promising and attractive scaffold in the development of potent biological and pharmacological agents.

OBJECTIVES

To design a series of new benzochromeno(pyridine/pyrimidine/tetrazole) derivatives and evaluate their antimicrobial activity against some bacterial strains (Gram-positive and Gram-negative) and some fungal strains.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The (E)-7-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-(phenyldiazenyl)-10-thioxo-7,9,10,11-tetrahydro-8Hnaptho[ 1,2-b]pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidin-8-one (4) was synthesized by the reaction of 4H-naphtho[1,2-b]pyran-3- carbonitrile (3) with carbon disulfide in alcoholic potassium hydroxide solution. Reaction of 3 with sodium azide in DMF and in presence of ammonium chloride afforded 6-(phenyldiazenyl)-3-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-4Hbenzo[ h]chromen-2-amine (7) while with malononitrile, thiourea or urea gave chromeno[2,3-b]pyridine-9- carbonitrile (8), chromeno[2,3-d]pyrimidine-10-thione (9) and chromeno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-10-one (10), respectively. The assignment structures were established on the basis of spectral data.

RESULTS

In this study, the antimicrobial activity of the synthesized compounds 3-12 was examined for their in vitro antimicrobial activity by using agar diffusion method such as Mueller-Hinton agar medium for bacteria and Sabouraud's agar medium for fungi. Ampicillin and mycostatine were included in the experiments as reference drugs.

CONCLUSION

A series of new benzochromeno(pyridine/pyrimidine/tetrazole) derivatives were synthesized in this work. All compounds were evaluated in antimicrobial activities.

Different specificities of two aldehyde dehydrogenases from Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii

Aldehyde dehydrogenases play crucial roles in the detoxification of exogenous and endogenous aldehydes by catalysing their oxidation to carboxylic acid counterparts. The present study reports characterization of two such isoenzymes from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii (NCYC 3264), one mitochondrial (Ald4p) and one cytosolic (Ald6p). Both Ald4p and Ald6p were oligomeric in solution and demonstrated positive kinetic cooperativity towards aldehyde substrates. Wild-type Ald6p showed activity only with aliphatic aldehydes. Ald4p, on the contrary, showed activity with benzaldehyde along with a limited range of aliphatic aldehydes. Inspection of modelled structure of Ald6p revealed that a bulky amino acid residue (Met177, compared with the equivalent residue Leu196 in Ald4p) might cause steric hindrance of cyclic substrates. Therefore, we hypothesized that specificities of the two isoenzymes towards aldehyde substrates were partly driven by steric hindrance in the active site. A variant of wild-type Ald6p with the Met177 residue replaced by a valine was also characterized to address to the hypothesis. It showed an increased specificity range and a gain of activity towards cyclohexanecarboxaldehyde. It also demonstrated an increased thermal stability when compared with both the wild-types. These data suggest that steric bulk in the active site of yeast aldehyde dehydrogenases is partially responsible for controlling specificity.