Dipolar Quinoidal Acene Analogues as Stable Isoelectronic Structures of Pentacene and Nonacene

Quinoidal thia‐acene analogues, as the respective isoelectronic structures of pentacene and nonacene, were synthesized and an unusual 1,2‐sulfur migration was observed during the Friedel–Crafts alkylation reaction. The analogues display a closed‐shell quinoidal structure in the ground state with a distinctive dipolar character. In contrast to their acene isoelectronic structures, both compounds are stable because of the existence of more aromatic sextet rings, a dipolar character, and kinetic blocking. They exhibit unique packing in single crystals resulting from balanced dipole–dipole and [C? H???π]/[C? H???S] interactions.     

The migrastatin family: discovery of potent cell migration inhibitors by chemical synthesis

The first asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-migrastatin (1), a macrolide natural product with anti-metastatic properties, has been accomplished. Our concise and flexible approach utilized a Lewis acid-catalyzed diene aldehyde condensation (LACDAC) to install the three contiguous stereocenters and the trisubstituted (Z)-alkene of migrastatin (2 + 3 --> 21). Construction of the two remaining stereocenters and incorporation of the glutarimide-containing side chain was achieved by an anti-selective aldol addition of propionyl oxazolidinone 28 to angelic aldehyde 27, followed by a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) coupling of 32 with glutarimide aldehyde 5. Finally, the assembly of the macrocycle was realized by a highly (E)-selective ring-closing metathesis (35 --> 37). Utilizing the power of diverted total synthesis (DTS), a series of otherwise inaccessible analogues was prepared and evaluated for their potential as tumor cell migration inhibitors in several in vitro assays. These studies revealed a dramatic increase in activity when the natural motif was considerably simplified, presenting macrolactones 45 and 48, as well as macrolactam 55, macroketone 60, and CF(3)-alcohol 71 as promising anti-metastatic agents.     

Efficient Total Synthesis of Bongkrekic Acid and Apoptosis Inhibitory Activity of Its Analogues

Bongkrekic acid (BKA), isolated from the bacterium Burkholderia cocovenenans, is an inhibitor of adenine nucleotide translocator, which inhibits apoptosis, and is thus an important tool for the mechanistic investigation of apoptosis. An efficient total synthesis of BKA has been achieved by employing a three‐component convergent strategy based on Kocienski–Julia olefination and Suzuki–Miyaura coupling. It is noteworthy that segment B has been prepared as a new doubly functionalized coupling partner, which contributes to shortening of the number of steps. Torquoselective olefination with an ynolate has also been applied for the efficient construction of an unsaturated ester. Furthermore, it is revealed that 1‐methyl‐2‐azaadamantane N‐oxyl is an excellent reagent for final oxidation to afford BKA in high yield. Based on the total synthesis, several BKA analogues were prepared for structure–activity relationship studies, which indicated that the carboxylic acid moieties were essential for the apoptosis inhibitory activity of BKA. More easily available BKA analogues with potent apoptosis inhibitory activity were also developed.     

A Cell‐Permeable ATP Analogue for Kinase‐Catalyzed Biotinylation

ATP analogues have been powerful compounds for the study of kinase‐catalyzed phosphorylation. However, the cell impermeability of ATP analogues has largely limited their use to in vitro lysate‐based experiments. Herein, we report the first cell‐permeable ATP analogue, ATP–polyamine–biotin (APB). APB is shown to promote biotin labeling of kinase substrates in live cells and has future applications in phosphoprotein purification and analysis. More generally, these studies provide a foundation for the development of additional cell‐permeable ATP analogues for cell‐signaling research.     

Total Syntheses and Biological Reassessment of Lactimidomycin,Isomigrastatin and Congener Glutarimide Antibiotics

Lactimidomycin ( 1 ) was described in the literature as an exquisitely potent cell migration inhibitor. Encouraged by this claim, we developed a concise and scalable synthesis of this bipartite glutarimide‐macrolide antibiotic, which relies on the power of ring‐closing alkyne metathesis (RCAM) for the formation of the unusually strained 12‐membered head group. Subsequent deliberate digression from the successful path to 1 also brought the sister compound isomigrastatin ( 2 ) as well as a series of non‐natural analogues of these macrolides into reach. A careful biological re‐evaluation of this compound collection showed 1 and progeny to be potently cytotoxic against a panel of cancer cell lines, even after one day of compound exposure; therefore any potentially specific effects on tumor cell migration were indistinguishable from the acute effect of cell death. No significant cell migration inhibition was observed at sub‐toxic doses. Although these findings cannot be reconciled with some reports in the literature, they are in accord with the notion that lactimidomycin is primarily a ribosome‐binder able to effectively halt protein biosynthesis at the translation stage.     

Antitumour activity of synthetic curcuminoid analogues (1,7‐diaryl‐1,6‐heptadiene‐3,5‐diones) and their copper complexes

Four new curcuminoid analogues, 1,7‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1,6‐heptadiene‐3,5‐dione, 1a ; 1,7‐di(2‐furyl)‐1,6‐heptadiene‐3,5‐dione, 1b ; 1,7‐di(2‐naphthyl)‐1,6‐heptadiene‐3,5‐dione, 1c ; 1,7‐bis(2‐chlorophenyl)‐1,6‐heptadiene‐3,5‐dione, 1d ; and their copper(II) complexes of ML₂ stoichiometry were synthesized and characterized by UV, IR, ¹H NMR, ESR and mass spectral data. The compounds were investigated for their possible cytotoxic and antitumour activities. It was found that copper chelates are remarkably active compared with free curcuminoid analogues. All the compounds were found to be cytotoxic towards Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells and cultured L929 (lung fibroblast cells). In the case of culture studies, concentrations needed for 50% cell death were around 5 µg/ml for copper complexes and 10 µg/ml for curcuminoid analogues. Copper complex of 1a with hydroxyl group in the phenyl ring was found to be most active towards L929cells (1 µg/ml produced 43.3 ± 1.3% cell death). Compound 1b , which possesses a furyl ring system, was found to show least activity towards increase in life span of tumour‐bearing mice (increase in life span 39.31%). Copper chelates of all curcuminoid analogues showed a significant reduction (p < 0.001) of solid tumour volume in mice. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Facile Synthesis and Anticancer Activity Study of Novel Series of Substituted and Fused Coumarin Derivatives

Various new substituted and fused coumarin analogues have been synthesized via different synthetic pathways. Among which are variable substituted coumarin derivatives bearing either biologically active side chains or rings at 5, 6, and 3 positions of the coumarin nucleus as indicated in compounds 10 , 12 , 13 , 16–19 , 21 , 23–32 , 38 , and 42–45 . In addition, different pyranocoumarin derivatives either substituted as in compounds 2 , 3 , and 6 or fused as compounds 33–36 , pyranoxanthene analogues such as compounds 4 and 46 , coumarinotriazolothiadiazine derivative 8 , coumarinonaphthodiazocin analogue 39 and coumarinopyrazolone derivative 40 were synthesized. Thirty‐eight of the synthesized compounds were subjected to in vitro anticancer screening against mammalian liver carcinoma HepG2 and breast carcinoma MCF7 cell lines using Cisplatin as a standard reference. The anticancer activity screening results revealed that, among the tested compounds, compounds 16 , 40 , and 43 bearing 4‐chlorophenyl‐2‐aminopyridine‐3‐carbonitrile attached to C₆ position, fused pyrazolone ring or attached to 4‐chlorophenyl‐2‐oxo‐dihydropyridine‐3‐carbonitrile at C₃ position of the coumarin nucleus, respectively, exhibited moderate to strong activity against both cell lines.     

Synthesis,physico‐chemical and biological study of trialkylsiloxyalkyl amine coated iron oxide/oleic acid magnetic nanoparticles for the treatment of cancer

New original water‐soluble magnetic nanoparticles based on natural components, magnetite–oleic acid–biologically active silyl modified alkanolamine, were synthesized. Physico‐chemical characterization, i.e. magnetic properties, concentration of magnetite, size of iron oxide core, of the nanoparticles synthesized and the corresponding magnetic fluids obtained, was carried out. Magnetic fluids were screened for in vitro cytotoxicity concerning human fibrosarcoma (HT‐1080), mouse hepatoma (MG‐22A) monolayer tumour cell lines and normal mouse fibroblasts (NIH 3T3). They possess low or moderate cytotoxic effects, are non‐toxic, exhibit high NO‐induction ability and strongly change tumour cell morphology. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cellular Cations Control Conformational Switching of Inositol Pyrophosphate Analogues

The inositol pyrophosphate messengers (PP‐InsPs) are emerging as an important class of cellular regulators. These molecules have been linked to numerous biological processes, including insulin secretion and cancer cell migration, but how they trigger such a wide range of cellular responses has remained unanswered in many cases. Here, we show that the PP‐InsPs exhibit complex speciation behaviour and propose that a unique conformational switching mechanism could contribute to their multifunctional effects. We synthesised non‐hydrolysable bisphosphonate analogues and crystallised the analogues in complex with mammalian PPIP5K2 kinase. Subsequently, the bisphosphonate analogues were used to investigate the protonation sequence, metal‐coordination properties, and conformation in solution. Remarkably, the presence of potassium and magnesium ions enabled the analogues to adopt two different conformations near physiological pH. Understanding how the intrinsic chemical properties of the PP‐InsPs can contribute to their complex signalling outputs will be essential to elucidate their regulatory functions.     

Palladium‐mediated polymerization of cyclic diazoketones

Palladium‐mediated polymerization of cyclic diazoketones was investigated. Although cyclic diazoketones 1a,b derived from cyclohexanone and 1‐tetralone did not homopolymerize, they can be used as a comonomer for copolymerization with polymerizable acyclic diazoketones. On the other hand, an α,β‐unsaturated cyclic diazoketone 2a prepared from 2‐cyclohexen‐1‐one polymerized to give a polymer poly 2a ′ with M_n = 1400 in a 23.8% yield. Addition of some nucleophiles to C?C bond in poly 2a ′ was carried out. Copolymerization of 2a and its dimethyl‐substituted analogues 2b,c with acyclic diazoketones was also investigated. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1638–1648, 2008     

Redesigning the DNA‐Targeted Chromophore in Platinum–Acridine Anticancer Agents: A Structure–Activity Relationship Study

Platinum–acridine hybrid agents show low‐nanomolar potency in chemoresistant non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but high systemic toxicity in vivo. To reduce the promiscuous genotoxicity of these agents and improve their pharmacological properties, a modular build–click–screen approach was used to evaluate a small library of twenty hybrid agents containing truncated and extended chromophores of varying basicities. Selected derivatives were resynthesized and tested in five NSCLC cell lines representing large cell, squamous cell, and adenocarcinomas. 7‐Aminobenz[c]acridine was identified as a promising scaffold in a hybrid agent ( P1–B1 ) that maintained submicromolar activity in several of the DNA‐repair proficient and p53‐mutant cancer models, while showing improved tolerability in mice by 32‐fold compared to the parent platinum–acridine ( P1–A1 ). The distribution and DNA/RNA adduct levels produced by the acridine‐ and benz[c]acridine‐based analogues in NCI‐H460 cells (confocal microscopy, ICP‐MS), and their ability to bind G‐quadruplex forming DNA sequences (CD spectroscopy, HR‐ESMS) were studied. P1–B1 emerges as a less genotoxic, more tolerable, and potentially more target‐selective hybrid agent than P1–A1 .     

Reversible Transformation between Amorphous and Crystalline States of Unsaturated Polyesters by Cis–Trans Isomerization

An aliphatic polyester has been prepared from ethylene oxide and maleic anhydride that undergoes reversible transformation between amorphous (T_g=18 °C) and crystalline (T_m=124 °C) states through cis–trans isomerization of the C=C bonds in the polymer backbone without any change in either the molecular weight or dispersity of the polymer. A similar transformation was also observed in chiral unsaturated polyesters formed from enantiopure terminal epoxides, such as epichlorohydrin, phenyl glycidyl ether, and (2,3‐epoxypropyl)benzene. These unsaturated polyesters with 100 % E‐configuration in the crystalline state were prepared by quantitative isomerization of their Z‐configuration analogues in the presence of a catalytic amount of diethylamine, while in the presence of benzophenone, irradiation with 365 nm UV light resulted in the transformation of about 30 % trans‐alkene to cis‐maleate form, thereby affording amorphous polyesters.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of spongistatin/altohyrtin analogues: E-ring dehydration and C46 side-chain truncation

Simplified analogues of the potent antimitotic marine macrolide spongistatin 1/altohyrtin A were synthesised and evaluated as growth inhibitory agents against a range of human tumour cell lines, including Taxol-resistant strains, revealing that E-ring dehydration leads to enhanced cytotoxicity at the low picomolar level while truncation of the side-chain at C46 results in a drastic decrease in activity.     

Gas‐Phase Oxidation of Methyl‐10‐undecenoate in a Jet‐Stirred Reactor

To better understand the chemistry of biodiesel surrogates, the gas‐phase oxidation of a C₁₂ unsaturated methyl ester, methyl‐10‐undecenoate, has been studied in a jet‐stirred reactor in the temperature range 500–1100 K. These experiments were performed using neat fuel synthesized in the laboratory, with an initial fuel mole fraction set as 0.0021, at quasi‐atmospheric pressure (1.07 bar), at a residence time of 1.5 s with dilute mixtures in helium of equivalence ratios of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0. The maximum obtained conversion was shown to be more than twice lower than that of methyl decanoate under the same conditions. This difference cannot be reproduced by the only published model for an unsaturated ester with a close number of carbon atoms (methyl‐9‐decenoate). A large range of products was quantified in addition to common oxidation products: saturated and unsaturated aldehydes, saturated and unsaturated methyl esters with a second carbonyl function, C₂–C₁₀ alkenes, C₄–C₁₀ dienes, C₄–C₁₀ unsaturated methyl esters, C₈–C₉ saturated methyl esters, and saturated, unsaturated, and hydroxyl methyl esters involving a cyclic ether. Pathways of formation for the products specific to unsaturated ester oxidation were proposed, and possible model improvements were discussed.     

A Gram‐Scale Batch and Flow Total Synthesis of Perhydrohistrionicotoxin

The total synthesis of the spiropiperidine alkaloid (?)‐perhydrohistrionicotoxin (perhydro‐HTX) 2 has been accomplished on a gram scale by employing both conventional batch chemistry as well as microreactor techniques. (S)‐(?)‐6‐Pentyltetrahydro‐pyran‐2‐one 8 underwent nucleophilic ring opening to afford the alcohol 10 , which was elaborated to the nitrone 13 . Protection of the nitrone as the 1,3‐adduct of styrene and side‐chain extension to the unsaturated nitrile afforded a precursor 17 , which underwent dipolar cycloreversion and 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition to give the core spirocyclic precursor 18 that was converted into perhydro‐HTX 2 . The principal steps to the spirocycle 18 have successfully been transferred into flow mode by using different types of microreactors and in a telescoped fashion, allowing for a more rapid access to the histrionicotoxins and their analogues by continuous processing.     

Asymmetric Diels–Alder and Inverse‐Electron‐Demand Hetero‐Diels–Alder Reactions of β,γ‐Unsaturated α‐Ketoesters with Cyclopentadiene Catalyzed by N,N′‐Dioxide Copper(II) Complex

Highly enantioselective Diels–Alder (DA) and inverse‐electron‐demand hetero‐Diels–Alder (HDA) reactions of β,γ‐unsaturated α‐ketoesters with cyclopentadiene catalyzed by chiral N,N′‐dioxide–Cu(OTf)₂ (Tf=triflate) complexes have been developed. Quantitative conversion of β,γ‐unsaturated α‐ketoesters and excellent diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1) and enantioselectivities (up to >99 % ee) were observed for a broad range of substrates. Both aromatic and aliphatic β,γ‐unsaturated α‐ketoesters were found to be suitable substrates for the reactions. Moreover, the chemoselectivity of the DA and HDA adducts were improved by regulating the reaction temperature. Good to high chemoselectivity (up to 94 %) of the DA adducts were obtained at room temperature, and moderate chemoselectivity (up to 65 %) of the HDA adducts were achieved at low temperature. The reaction also featured mild reaction conditions, a simple procedure, and remarkably low catalyst loading (0.1–1.5 mol %). A strong positive nonlinear effect was observed.     

Synthesis and evaluation of pyrazole‐incorporated monocarbonyl curcumin analogues as antiproliferative and antioxidant agents

A series of pyrazole‐incorporated monocarbonyl analogues of curcumin were synthesized via Clasien–Schimidt‐type condensation and subsequently screened for in vitro antiproliferative and antioxidant activity. The analogues 4c, 5d, 5e, 5g, 6e, and 6f showed potential activity against the MDA‐MB‐231 cell line. The synthesized analogues were also screened for their antioxidant activity. Compounds 5a , 5e , 6d, and 6f exhibit comparable radical scavenging activity with respect to the standard drug ascorbic acid. Furthermore, a molecular docking study has been conducted for 5d and 5g and suggests that these compounds have a potential to become lead molecules in drug discovery and process.     

Investigation of the surfactant type and concentration effect on the retention factors of glutathione and its analogues by micellar electrokinetic chromatography

In the present study, a micellar electrokinetic chromatographic method was used to determine the retention factors of hydrophilic monomeric and homodimeric forms of glutathione analogues. Ionic‐liquid‐based surfactant, 1‐tetradecyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride, as well as cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) were employed in the experiments. Since the studied peptides possess a negative charge under physiological conditions, it is expected that the peptides interact with the oppositely charged 1‐tetradecyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide micelles via hydrophobically assisted electrostatic forces. The dependence of the retention factor on the micellar concentration of 1‐tetradecyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide is nonlinear and the obtained curves converge to a limiting value. The retention factor values of GSH analogues were in the range of 0.36–2.22 for glutathione analogues and –1.21 to 0.37 for glutathione when 1‐tetradecyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride was used. When cetyltrimethylammonium bromide was employed, the retention factor values were in the range of 0.27–2.17 for glutathione analogues and –1.22 to 0.06 for glutathione. If sodium dodecyl sulfate was used, the retention factor values of glutathione analogues with carnosine moiety were in the range of –1.54 to 0.38.     

Reaction pathways of Sc+ (3D, 1D) and Fe+ (6D, 4F) with acetone in the gas phase: metal ion oxidation and acetone deethanization

The reactions of Sc⁺ (³D, ¹D) and Fe⁺ (⁶D, ⁴ F) with acetone have been investigated in both high‐ and low‐spin states using density functional theory. Our calculations have indicated that oxidation of Sc⁺ by acetone can take place by (1) metal‐mediated H migration, (2) direct methyl‐H shift and/or (3) C = O insertion. The most energetically favorable pathway is metal‐mediated H migration followed by intramolecular ScO⁺ rotation and dissociation. For the deethanization of acetone mediated by Fe⁺, the reaction occurs on either the quartet or sextet surfaces through five elementary steps, i.e. encounter complexation, C–C bond activation, methyl migration, C–C coupling and non‐reactive dissociation. The rate‐determining step along the quartet‐state potential‐energy surface (PES) is similar to that in the case of Ni⁺ (² F, 3d⁹), namely the methyl‐migration step. For the sextet‐state PES, however, the energy barrier for methyl migration is lower than that for C–C bond activation, and the rate‐determining step is C–C coupling. In general, the low‐spin‐state pathways are lower in energy than the high‐spin‐state pathways; therefore, the reaction pathways for the oxidation of Sc⁺ and the Fe⁺‐mediated deethanization of acetone mostly involve the low‐spin states. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Intraframework Migration of Tetrahedral Atoms in a Zeolite

The transformation from a disordered into an ordered version of the zeolite natrolite occurs on prolonged heating of this material in the crystallizing medium, but not if the mother liquor is replaced by water or an alkaline solution. This process occurs for both aluminosilicate and gallosilicate analogues of natrolite. In cross experiments, the disordered Al‐containing (or Ga‐containing) analogue is heated while in contact with the mother liquor of the opposite analogue, that is, the Ga‐containing (or Al‐containing) liquor. Therefore, strong evidence for the mechanism of the ordering process was obtained, which was thus proposed to proceed by intraframework migration of tetrahedral atoms without diffusion along the pores. Migration is first triggered, then fuelled by surface rearrangement through reactions with the mother liquor, and stops when an almost fully ordered state is attained. Classical dissolution–recrystallization and Ostwald ripening processes do not appear to be relevant for this phase transformation.