The solid-phase Nicholas reaction: scope and limitations

Two libraries of alpha-substituted alkynes has been prepared on solid phase using a sequential Sonogashira/Nicholas reaction approach. The scope of nucleophiles in the Nicholas reaction on solid phase has been investigated, including carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, fluoride, and hydride nucleophiles. The conditions for the reaction sequence have been optimized in terms of Lewis acid, catalyst for the Sonogashira step, temperature, reaction time, and decomplexation method, enabling the five-step sequence to be performed in 1 day.     

Bridging Ligand Length Controls AT Selectivity and Enantioselectivity of Binuclear Ruthenium Threading Intercalators

The slow dissociation of DNA threading intercalators makes them interesting as model compounds in the search for new DNA targeting drugs, as there appears to be a correlation between slow dissociation and biological activity. Thus, it would be of great value to understand the mechanisms controlling threading intercalation, and for this purpose we have investigated how the length of the bridging ligand of binuclear ruthenium threading intercalators affects their DNA binding properties. We have synthesised a new binuclear ruthenium threading intercalator with slower dissociation kinetics from ct‐DNA than has ever been observed for any ruthenium complex with any type of DNA, a property that we attribute to the increased distance between the ruthenium centres of the new complex. By comparison with previously studied ruthenium complexes, we further conclude that elongation of the bridging ligand reduces the sensitivity of the threading interaction to DNA flexibility, resulting in a decreased AT selectivity for the new complex. We also find that the length of the bridging ligand affects the enantioselectivity with increasing preference for the ΔΔ enantiomer as the bridging ligand becomes longer.     

An iron carbonyl approach to the influenza neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir

A novel synthetic route towards oseltamivir, an influenza neuraminidase inhibitor, has been achieved employing a cationic iron carbonyl complex, providing an alternate pathway with the potential to access diverse analogues.     

2,4-Disubstituted Pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine α-D- and β-D-Ribofuranosides Related to 7-Deazaguanosine

Nucleobase-anion glycosylation (KOH, tris[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl]amine (TDA-1), MeCN) of the pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines 4a – d with 5-O-[(1,1-dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl]-2,3-O-(1-methylethylidene)-α-D -ribo-furanosyl chloride ( 5 ) gave the protected β-D -nucleosides 6a – d stereoselectively (Scheme 1). Contrary, the β-D -halogenose 8 yielded the corresponding α-D -nucleosides ( 9a and 9b ) apart from minor amounts of the β-D -anomers. The deprotected nucleosides 10a and 11a were converted into 4-substituted 2-aminopyrrolo[2,3-d]-pyrimidine β-D -ribofuranosides 1 . 10c , 12 , 14 , and 16 and into their α-D -anomers, respectively (Scheme 2). From the reaction of 4b with 5 , the glycosylation product 7 was isolated, containing two nucleobase moieties.     

Cobalt-mediated solid phase synthesis of 3-O-alkynylbenzyl galactosides and their evaluation as galectin inhibitors

Methyl β-d-galactoside was converted to the corresponding 3,4-O-stannylene acetal, which was selectively benzylated with 3-iodobenzyl bromide and coupled to a polymer-bound propargylic ether via a Sonogashira reaction. The polymer-bound carbohydrate substrate was cleaved from the resin with different carbon nucleophiles in a cobalt-mediated Nicholas reaction. The product 3-O-alkynylbenzyl galactosides were screened towards galectin-1, -3, -7, -8N and -9N in a competitive fluorescence polarisation assay. Particularly potent inhibitors were identified against galectin-7 with affinity enhancements up to one order of magnitude due to the 3-O-alkynylbenzyl moiety.     

Tissue characterization of brain tumors during and after pion radiation therapy

Negative Pi-mesons (pions) are applied at the Paul Scherrer Institute in the radiotherapy of highly malignant gliomas using a dose escalation program. The therapy effects of 7 randomly selected patients were followed up by 62 MRI examinations. The quantification of the effects is based on the relaxation times T1 and T2, which are acquired by a new designed multi-echo multiple saturation recovery imaging technique. As a summary of the results, roughly two reaction types are observed. For both types the relaxation times increase up to two to three months after the radiation therapy. Then in one type (two patients) the T1 and T2 values of the tumors, and of the edemas surrounding the tumors, further increase, indicating an unfavorable prognosis. In the other type (five patients) the relaxation times drop down towards, or even below, their initial values, reflecting the onset of the reparation processes in the tissue. This later behaviour reflects an at least temporary control of the disease; that is, the short term prognosis for these patients is more favorable. It further can be concluded, with respect to our MR parameters, that the radiotolerance of healthy brain tissue is much higher than that of malignant glioma tissue, despite the fact that these tumors are very seldom definitively radiosensible.