CH-alkylation of furan derivatives under photoinduced Pd catalysis

A new method for selective C(5)–H alkylation of 2-substituted furans with tertiary and secondary alkyl bromides under photoinduced by visible light (∼460 nm) palladium catalysis has been developed. The method is relied on the use of available Pd(PPh₃)₄ catalyst under mild conditions (30 ± 5 °C, K₂CO₃ as base), tolerates to various functional groups in furanic substrates and provides from good to excellent yields of alkylated products.     

Photo-and thermochromic spiranes 30*. Comparative study by X-ray structural analysis of the structure of spiropyrans of the indoline series containing a condensed furan fragment

The structure of an indoline spiropyran of molecular formula C₂₉H₃₃NO₂ has been studied by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Structural parameters have been determined for this spiropyran, containing a condensed furan fragment with a tert-butyl group, in comparison with the structure of other spiropyrans of this series. The observation in the absorption spectrum of a photoinduced cis-cis isomer is linked with its stabilization by the steric effect of the bulky tert-butyl group and the strength of barriers at 77 K. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 221–228, February, 2008.     

Dibenzofuran Derivatives Inspired from Cercosporamide as Dual Inhibitors of Pim and CLK1 Kinases

Pim kinases (proviral integration site for Moloney murine leukemia virus kinases) are overexpressed in various types of hematological malignancies and solid carcinomas, and promote cell proliferation and survival. Thus, Pim kinases are validated as targets for antitumor therapy. In this context, our combined efforts in natural product-inspired library generation and screening furnished very promising dibenzo[b,d]furan derivatives derived from cercosporamide. Among them, lead compound 44 was highlighted as a potent Pim-1/2 kinases inhibitor with an additional nanomolar IC₅₀ value against CLK1 (cdc2-like kinases 1) and displayed a low micromolar anticancer potency towards the MV4-11 (AML) cell line, expressing high endogenous levels of Pim-1/2 kinases. The design, synthesis, structure–activity relationship, and docking studies are reported herein and supported by enzyme, cellular assays, and Galleria mellonella larvae testing for acute toxicity.