Synthesis of Novel β‐Lactams from Phenothiazin‐10‐ylacetic Acid

The first synthesis of 3‐phenothiazine‐β‐lactams is herein reported. Thirteen new derivatives of β‐lactams were synthesized using various Schiff bases and (phenothiazin‐10‐yl)acetic acid, which in turn was prepared starting from phenothiazine. The sole product of the Staudinger ketene–imine [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction is the trans‐β‐lactam. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by elemental analyses and spectral (IR, ¹H‐NMR, and ¹³C‐NMR) data.     

Synthesis of 3‐Aryl/methoxycarbonyl‐3,4‐dihydroisocoumarin‐6‐carboxylic Acid Derivatives

3‐Substituted methyl 3,4‐dihydroisocoumarin‐6‐carboxylates were obtained by the intramolecular cyclization of 2,5‐dimethoxycarbonyl benzenediazonium bromides with methyl/ethyl acrylate and styrenes under Meerwein's arylation conditions.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of 3,4‐Dihydroxylated Prolines and Prolinols Starting from L‐Tartaric Acid

A straightforward and stereoselective synthesis of 3,4‐dihydroxyprolines and 3,4‐dihydroxyprolinols is described. The key reaction in this synthesis is a protective group‐controlled diastereoselective cyanation of a chiral acyliminium intermediate derived from l ‐tartaric acid. Methanolysis of the obtained cyanolactam gave methyl 3,4‐dihydroxypyroglutamate that was converted to 3,4‐dihydroxyproline and 3,4‐dihydroxyprolinol by reduction of the lactam carbonyl and ester groups in a stepwise manner.     

Synthesis of Novel 6‐Mercapto‐12‐phenethyl‐quinazolino[3,4‐a]quinazolinones

Novel 6‐mercapto‐12‐phenethyl‐quinazolino[3,4‐a]quinazolinone derivatives were synthesized through a user‐friendly five‐step reaction starting from isatoic anhydride. All products were characterized by IR, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy, and chemical analysis. All of them were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity against two cell lines namely MOLT‐4 (human lymphoblastic leukemia) and MCF‐7 (human breast adenocarcinoma).     

An Antibacterial β‐Lactone Kills Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Disrupting Mycolic Acid Biosynthesis

The spread of antibiotic resistance is a major challenge for the treatment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections. In addition, the efficacy of drugs is often limited by the restricted permeability of the mycomembrane. Frontline antibiotics inhibit mycomembrane biosynthesis, leading to rapid cell death. Inspired by this mechanism, we exploited β‐lactones as putative mycolic acid mimics to block serine hydrolases involved in their biosynthesis. Among a collection of β‐lactones, we found one hit with potent anti‐mycobacterial and bactericidal activity. Chemical proteomics using an alkynylated probe identified Pks13 and Ag85 serine hydrolases as major targets. Validation through enzyme assays and customized ¹³C metabolite profiling showed that both targets are functionally impaired by the β‐lactone. Co‐administration with front‐line antibiotics enhanced the potency against M. tuberculosis by more than 100‐fold, thus demonstrating the therapeutic potential of targeting mycomembrane biosynthesis serine hydrolases.     

Two‐Step Synthesis of Multifunctional γ‐Lactams from γ‐Lactone

We present herein an efficient and rapid method for the synthesis of N,1‐dialkyl‐4‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐5‐oxopyrrolidine‐3‐carboxamides based on the conversion of γ‐lactone to γ‐lactam via the conjugate addition of primary amines to an ethyl α‐functionalized acrylate followed by intramolecular cyclization.     

Two New Cytotoxic Nonsulfated Pentasaccharide Holostane (=20‐Hydroxylanostan‐18‐oic Acid γ‐Lactone) Glycosides from the Sea Cucumber Holothuria grisea

Two new lanostane‐type nonsulfated pentasaccharide triterpene glycosides, 17‐dehydroxyholothurinoside A ( 1 ) and griseaside A ( 2 ), were isolated from the sea cucumber Holothuria grisea. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 2D‐NMR and MS experiments, as well as chemical evidence. Compounds 1 and 2 possess the same pentasaccharide moieties but differ slightly in their side chains of the holostane‐type triterpene aglycone. The structures of the two new glycosides were established as (3β,12α)‐22,25‐epoxy‐3‐{(O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐[O‐3‐O‐methyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐6‐deoxy‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl)oxy}‐12,20‐dihydroxylanost‐9(11)‐en‐18‐oic acid γ‐lactone ( 1 ) and (3β,12α)‐3‐{(O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐[O‐3‐O‐methyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐6‐deoxy‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl)oxy}‐12,20,22‐trihydroxylanost‐9(11)‐en‐18‐oic acid γ‐lactone ( 2 ). The 17‐dehydroxyholothurinoside A ( 1 ) and griseaside A ( 2 ) exhibited significant cytotoxicity against HL‐60, BEL‐7402, Molt‐4, and A‐549 cancer cell lines.     

Synthesis of 1‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenylmethyl)‐3‐phenyl‐6,7,8‐trimethoxy‐3,4‐dihydroisoquinoline

In an attempt to ascertain the scope of using ethyl polyphosphate in the Bischler‐Napieralsky annelation reaction, a title compound was synthesized and reduced to the respective 1‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenylmethyl)‐3‐phenyl‐6,7,8‐trimethoxy‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinoline.     

Synthesis of a Novel Double Salt: Ammonium 3,4‐Diamino‐1,2,4‐triazolium Styphnate

Nitrogen‐rich double salt ammonium 3,4‐diamino‐1,2,4‐triazoliumstyphnate (NH₄ · DATr · TNR) ( 2 ) with good thermal stability was successfully synthesized by reacting 3,4‐diamino‐1,2,4‐triazolium chloride aqueous solution with styphnic acid methanol solution under the reaction medium of aqueous ammonia. The title double salt was characterized by elemental analysis (EA), Fourier transformation infrared spectrum (FT‐IR), and X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction. It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system with space group P2₁/n. Its density is 1.780 g · cm^–3. Compound 2 is thermal stable below 200 °C by the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) test. The non‐isothermal kinetics parameters were calculated by the Kissinger's method and Ozawa‐Doyle's method, respectively. In addition, compound 2 showed low friction and impact sensitivities.     

Oxalic Acid Catalyzed Three Component One Pot Synthesis of 3,4‐Dihydroquinazolin‐4‐ones

An efficient one-pot method for synthesis of an array of 3,4-dihydroquinazolin-4-ones from anthranilicacid, triethyl orthoformate, and anilines using oxalic acid as a catalyst was described. The present protocol offers improvements for the synthesis of 3,4-dihydroquinazolin-4-ones with regard to short reaction time, high yields of products, and simplicity in operation.     

A diaryl‐terminated hexa‐1,5‐diyne‐3,4‐dione

The structure of bis­(4‐tert‐butyl‐2,6‐dimethyl­phenyl)hexa‐1,5‐diyne‐3,4‐dione, C₃₀H₃₄O₂, has been determined, revealing an extended s‐trans conformation of the dione and the two ynone moieties, which are shielded by the flanking methyl substituents. The structural parameters and the packing arrangement suggest little electronic delocalization between the two ynone moieties.     

Novel Bisphosphonates Derived from 1H‐Indazole, 1H‐Pyrazolo[3,4‐b]Pyridine,and 1H‐Pyrazolo[3,4‐b]Quinoline

Novel tetraethyl ethylene‐1,1‐bisphosphonate esters derived from 1H‐indazole, 1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐b]pyridine, and 1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐b]quinoline were synthesized by a Michael addition reaction of tetraethyl ethylidene‐1,1‐bisphosphonate with the corresponding heterocycle, using conventional heating and microwave‐assisted methods. The microwave‐assisted method provides shorter reaction times and better yields. The hydrolysis of bisphosphonates afforded the corresponding bisphosphonic acids or salt, using concentrated hydrochloric acid or TMSBr/collidine, respectively. All new compounds were fully characterized, and their structures were assigned using ¹H, ³¹P, and ¹³C NMR and IR spectroscopies and mass spectrometry. The molecular structure of compound 6 was confirmed by X‐ray diffraction studies.     

A Simple Multistep Conversion of 1,2‐Dihydro‐1,1‐dimethoxynaphthalen‐2‐ones to (3,4‐Dihydro‐3,4‐dioxonaphthalen‐2‐yl)acetates

On irradiation (λ=350 nm) in the presence of 1,1‐dimethoxyethene, naphthalene‐1,2‐dionemonoacetals 1 regioselectively afford 1,1,4,4‐tetramethoxycyclobuta[a]naphthalen‐3‐ones 3 . Sequential deprotection of these bis‐acetals first lead to 1,1‐dimethoxycyclobuta[a]naphthalene‐3,4‐diones 4 and then to cyclobuta[a]naphthalene‐1,3,4‐triones 6 , which, in turn, are converted into (3,4‐dihydro‐3,4‐dioxonaphthalen‐2‐yl)acetates 7 by treatment with SiO₂/MeOH/air.