Migrastatin and analogues: New anti-metastatic agents

Migrastatin and some migrastatin analogues are potent anti-metastatic agents. The biological activity as well as the chemical syntheses of migrastatin and its analogues is discussed.     

Chemical Strategies towards the Synthesis of Betulinic Acid and Its More Potent Antiprotozoal Analogues

Betulinic acid (BA, 3β-hydroxy-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid) is a pentacyclic triterpene acid present predominantly in Betula ssp. (Betulaceae) and is also widely spread in many species belonging to different plant families. BA presents a wide spectrum of remarkable pharmacological properties, such as cytotoxic, anti-HIV, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and antimicrobial activities, including antiprotozoal effects. The present review first describes the sources of BA and discusses the chemical strategies to produce this molecule starting from betulin, its natural precursor. Next, the antiprotozoal properties of BA are briefly discussed and the chemical strategies for the synthesis of analogues displaying antiplasmodial, antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal activities are systematically presented. The antiplasmodial activity described for BA was moderate, nevertheless, some C-3 position acylated analogues showed an improvement of this activity and the hybrid models—with artesunic acid—showed the most interesting properties. Some analogues also presented more intense antileishmanial activities compared with BA, and, in addition to these, heterocycles fused to C-2/C-3 positions and amide derivatives were the most promising analogues. Regarding the antitrypanosomal activity, some interesting antitrypanosomal derivatives were prepared by amide formation at the C-28 carboxylic group of the lupane skeleton. Considering that BA can be produced either by isolation of different plant extracts or by chemical transformation of betulin, easily obtained from Betula ssp., it could be said that BA is a molecule of great interest as a starting material for the synthesis of novel antiprotozoal agents.     

Solid Supported Liquid–Liquid Extraction of Chemical Warfare Agents and Related Chemicals from Water

Solid-supported liquid–liquid extraction was optimized to extract the chemical warfare agents and their non-toxic analogues from water. The developed method was compared to the conventionally used liquid–liquid extraction. This method yielded high recoveries (70–80%) of non-toxic analogues of chemical warfare agents and good recoveries (65–75%) of the nerve agent sarin and Lewisite-III. The limits of detection of non-toxic analogues of CWAs, and toxic sarin and Lewisite-III, in selected ion monitoring and full scan mode, varied from 0.01 to 0.5 μg mL^?1 and 0.1 to 1.0 μg mL^?1 respectively.     

Development of labelled somatostatin and its analogues for the diagnosis and treatment of tumors

For recent years, the labeling and application of Somatostatin and Its Analogues have been becoming more and more important in the both diagnosis and treatment of a variety of tumors, especially the neuroendocrine tumors. This paper's goals are to deal with the chemical aspects of the radiolabeling of somatostatin and its analogues. It reviews the selected radionuclides and bifunctional chelating agents may be used in the labeling of Somatostatin and its analogues with metal radionuclides. The prospects of application of the Labelled Somatostatin and its analogues are comparatively assessed.     

Multidimensional analytical method based on binary phase shaping of femtosecond pulses

Multidimensional chemical detection and identification based on phase shaped femtosecond laser pulses coupled to mass spectrometry is demonstrated. The method based on binary phase shaping (BPS) takes into account the accuracy and precision standards required by analytical chemistry. It couples multiphoton intrapulse interference of ultrashort laser pulses with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS). We demonstrate that BPS-MS provides a rigorous multidimensional technique for the detection and identification of analogues to chemical agents and mixtures in real time. Experimental results on dimethyl phosphite and pyridine illustrate the new approach toward the real-time accurate detection and identification of chemical compounds including isomers.     

Investigation of substituent effects on the 1H and 13C NMR spectra of ferrocene analogues of chalcones

The transmission of electronic effects across the ferrocene analogues of chalcones [3-aryl-1-ferrocenyl-2-propene-1-ones (series 1) and 1-aryl-3-ferrocenyl-2-propene-1-ones (series 2)], as well as the conformations of both types of ferrocene analogues have been studied. The ferrocene analogues of chalcones of series 1 were found to be in a non-planar conformation. Their H-α and C-α chemical shifts are more sensitive to the resonance than to the inductive effects of substituents. The C-α chemical shifts of the ferrocene analogues of chalcones of series 2 are more sensitive to the inductive than to the resonance effects of substituents. The transmission of the substituent effects to the ferrocene moiety is also briefly discussed.     

Precursor directed biosynthesis of an orthogonally functional erythromycin analogue: selectivity in the ribosome macrolide binding pocket

The macrolide antibiotic erythromycin A and its semisynthetic analogues have been among the most useful antibacterial agents for the treatment of infectious diseases. Using a recently developed chemical genetic strategy for precursor-directed biosynthesis and colony bioassay of 6-deoxyerythromycin D analogues, we identified a new class of alkynyl- and alkenyl-substituted macrolides with activities comparable to that of the natural product. Further analysis revealed a marked and unexpected dependence of antibiotic activity on the size and degree of unsaturation of the precursor. Based on these leads, we also report the precursor-directed biosynthesis of 15-propargyl erythromycin A, a novel antibiotic that not only is as potent as erythromycin A with respect to its ability to inhibit bacterial growth and cell-free ribosomal protein biosynthesis but also harbors an orthogonal functional group that is capable of facile chemical modification.     

Chemical synthesis and molecular recognition of phosphatase-resistant analogues of phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate

The remodeling of phosphatidylinositol polyphosphates in cellular membranes by phosphatases and kinases orchestrates the signaling by these lipids in space and time. To provide chemical tools to study the changes in cell physiology mediated by these lipids, three new metabolically stabilized (ms) analogues of phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PtdIns(3)P) were synthesized. We describe herein the total asymmetric synthesis of 3-methylphosphonate, 3-(monofluoromethyl)phosphonate and 3-phosphorothioate analogues of PtdIns(3)P. From differentially protected D-myo-inositol key intermediates, a versatile phosphoramidite reagent was employed in the synthesis of PtdIns(3)P analogues with diacylglyceryl moieties containing dioleoyl, dipalmitoyl, and dibutyryl chains. In addition, we introduce a new phosphorylation reagent, (monofluoromethyl)phosphonyl chloride, which has general applications for the preparation of "pKa-matched" monofluorophosphonates. These ms-PtdIns(3)P analogues exhibited reduced binding activities with 15N-labeled FYVE and PX domains, as significant 1H and 15N chemical shift changes in the FYVE domain were induced by titrating ms-PtdIns(3)P analogues into membrane-mimetic dodecylphosphocholine micelles. In addition, the PtdIns(3)P analogues with dioleoyl and dipalmitoyl chains were substrates for the 5-kinase enzyme PIKfyve; the corresponding phosphorylated ms-PI(3,5)P2 products were detected by radio-TLC analysis.     

Microwave promoted C6-alkylation of purines through S(N)Ar-based reaction of 6-chloropurines with 3-alkyl-acetylacetone

C6-Alkylated purine analogues were obtained in good to excellent isolated yields by S(N)Ar reaction of 6-chloropurine derivatives with 3-alkyl-acetylacetone. 3-Alkyl-acetylacetones were employed as alkylating agents and C6-alkylated purines were obtained highly selectively within short reaction time under microwave irradiation conditions. This work is complementary to the classical coupling reactions for the synthesis of C6-alkylated purine analogues.     

Targeting the Hsp90 Chaperone: Synthesis of Novel Resorcylic Acid Macrolactone Inhibitors of Hsp90

A series of benzo‐macrolactones has been prepared by chemical synthesis, and evaluated as inhibitors of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), an emerging attractive target for novel cancer therapeutic agents. A new synthesis of these resorcylic acid macrolactone analogues of the natural product radicicol is described in which the key steps are the acylation and ring opening of a homophthalic anhydride to give an isocoumarin, followed by a ring‐closing metathesis to form the macrocycle. The methodology has been extended to a novel series of macrolactones incorporating a 1,2,3‐triazole ring.     

New Cisplatin Analogues—On the Way to Better Antitumor Agents

The clinical success of cisplatin (cis -diamminedichloroplatinum(II )) in antitumor chemotherapy has encouraged an all-out search for analogues with lower toxicity, improved therapeutic index and increased activity. Literally thousands of analogues, obtained by replacement of the ammine- and chloro-ligands by other amines and anionic ligands, respectively, have been systematically screened for activity in experimental tumor models. Some of these analogues have been selected for clinical evaluation, but only very few of them appear to be promising antitumor agents. More recently, cisplatin analogues have been designed and synthesized on the basis of, inter alia, the following considerations: 1) platinum complexes with carrier molecules as ligands should prove useful for achieving increasing drug concentration in tumor tissues; 2) platinum complexes with chemotherapeutic agents as ligands could afford polyfunctional drugs with synergistic action; 3) complexes containing more than one platinum atom might be more effective than complexes containing only one platinum atom; 4) platinum complexes could be used as sensitizers in radiation therapy. In this paper, we shall give a brief account of the “traditional” analogues, and then critically discuss what we believe could be the new trends in the design of cisplatin analogues.     

Synthesis and conformational analysis of new cyclobutane-fused nucleosides

[structure: see text]. A stereselective synthesis of 3-oxabicyclo[3.2.0]heptane nucleoside analogues, which were designed as conformational mimics of the anti-HIV agents 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxythimidine (stavudine, d4T) and 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxyadenosine (d4A), is described. The target compounds were prepared by condensation of a common intermediate bicyclic acetate, derived from a homochiral 2(5H)-furanone, with pyrimidine and purine bases under modified Vorbrüggen conditions. The conformational behavior of the synthesized nucleoside analogues was studied by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.     

L-核苷类抗HIV、HBV活性化合物研究进展

抗病毒新试剂的不断涌现,为HIV、HBV感染者的临床治疗提供了有效的方法.在抗病毒试剂中,核苷类化合物占据了十分重要的地位.本文阐述了核苷类化合物抗病毒的作用机理,介绍了L型核苷的发展历史及一些新型具有抗HIV、HBV生物活性的L型核苷类化合物的分类.同时,通过对一些新型具有抗HIV、HBV生物活性的核苷类化合物如BCH、FTC、OddC、d4A、Fd4C等,D型和L型不同对映异构体抗病毒活性及生物毒性的对比发现,L型异构体比其相应的D型异构体具有抗病毒活性更高、生物毒性更低的特点.药物化学家们对此产生了极大的兴趣,进一步开展了新型L型核苷类化合物设计、合成的相关研究,以便筛选出更安全有效的抗病毒试剂.     

Structure and Aromaticity of AlCO-substituted Semibullvalene

The structures, energies and aromaticity (the nuclear-independent chemical shifts, NICS) of AlCO-substituted semibullvalenes were investigated at the B3LYP/6-311+G** level. Similar to BCO-substituted analogues, [2,6]-AlCO-semibullvalene is neutral bishomoaromatic. The NICS values reveal that the aromaticity of AlCO-substituted structures is smaller than that of BCO analogues.     

Synthesis and properties of novel l-isonucleoside modified oligonucleotides and siRNAs

Antisense oligonucleotides and siRNAs are potential therapeutic agents and their chemical modifications play an important role to improve the properties and activities of oligonucleotides. Isonucleoside is a type of nucleoside analogue, in which the nucleobase is moved from C-1 to other positions of ribose. In this report, a novel isonucleoside containing a 5'-CH(2)-extended chain at the sugar moiety was synthesized, thus isoadenosine and isothymidine were incorporated into a DNA single strand and siRNA. It was found that isonucleoside modified oligonucleotides can form stable double helical structures with their complementary DNA and RNA and the stability towards nuclease and ability to activate RNase H are more promising compared with the unmodified, natural analogues. In siRNA, passenger strand modified with isonucleoside () at 3' or 5' terminal can retain the silencing activity and minimize the passenger strand specific off-target effect.     

Structural Snapshots for Mechanism‐Based Inactivation of a Glycoside Hydrolase by Cyclopropyl Carbasugars

Glycoside hydrolases (GHs) have attracted considerable attention as targets for therapeutic agents, and thus mechanism‐based inhibitors are of great interest. We report the first structural analysis of a carbocyclic mechanism‐based GH inactivator, the results of which show that the two Michaelis complexes are in ²H₃ conformations. We also report the synthesis and reactivity of a fluorinated analogue and the structure of its covalently linked intermediate (flattened ²H₃ half‐chair). We conclude that these inactivator reactions mainly involve motion of the pseudo‐anomeric carbon atom, knowledge that should stimulate the design of new transition‐state analogues for use as chemical biology tools.     

Inhibition of Hsp90 with Resorcylic Acid Macrolactones: Synthesis and Binding Studies

A series of resorcylic acid macrolactones, analogues of the natural product radicicol has been prepared by chemical synthesis, and evaluated as inhibitors of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), an emerging attractive target for novel cancer therapeutic agents. The synthesis involves acylation of an ortho‐toluic acid dianion, esterification, followed by a ring‐closing metathesis to form the macrocycle. Subsequent manipulation of the protected hydroxymethyl side chain allows access to a range of new analogues following deprotection of the two phenolic groups. Co‐crystallization of one of the new macrolactones with the N‐terminal domain of yeast Hsp90 confirms that it binds in a similar way to the natural product radicicol and to our previous synthetic analogues, but that the introduction of the additional hydroxymethyl substituent appears to result in an unexpected change in conformation of the macrocyclic ring. As a result of this conformational change, the compounds bound less favorably to Hsp90.     

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes as efficient adsorbent for solid-phase extraction of chemical warfare agents and related chemicals from water

Optimization of extraction and enrichment parameters of chemical warfare agents and their related chemicals from water are presented using multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as solid-phase extractant. Selected analytes were O,O'-dialkyl alkylphosphonates, nerve agent and mustards. Extraction parameters, including sample volume, nature and volume of washing and eluting solvent, were optimized. Recoveries of analytes were determined by GC-MS and ranged from 81 to 104%. A comparison with C(18), hydrophilic-lipophilic balance and active carbon sorbents demonstrated the superiority of MWCNTs for non-toxic analogues of nerve agents. Optimized conditions involve 40?mg MWCNTs as the sorbent, 5.0?mL water as the washing solvent, 3?mL ethyl acetate as the eluent and sample loading of 10?mL water spiked at 0.1?μg/mL. The limits of detection (LOD) were achieved down to 1 and 0.05?ng/mL in full scan and selected ion-monitoring modes, respectively.     

Chemical synthesis and biological evaluation of cis- and trans-12,13-cyclopropyl and 12,13-cyclobutyl epothilones and related pyridine side chain analogues

The design, chemical synthesis, and biological evaluation of a series of cyclopropyl and cyclobutyl epothilone analogues (3-12, Figure 1) are described. The synthetic strategies toward these epothilones involved a Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi coupling to form the C15-C16 carbon-carbon bond, an aldol reaction to construct the C6-C7 carbon-carbon bond, and a Yamaguchi macrolactonization to complete the required skeletal framework. Biological studies with the synthesized compounds led to the identification of epothilone analogues 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, and 11 as potent tubulin polymerization promoters and cytotoxic agents with (12R,13S,15S)-cyclopropyl 5-methylpyridine epothilone A (11) as the most powerful compound whose potencies (e.g. IC(50) = 0.6 nM against the 1A9 ovarian carcinoma cell line) approach those of epothilone B. These investigations led to a number of important structure-activity relationships, including the conclusion that neither the epoxide nor the stereochemistry at C12 are essential, while the stereochemistry at both C13 and C15 are crucial for biological activity. These studies also confirmed the importance of both the cyclopropyl and 5-methylpyridine moieties in conferring potent and potentially clinically useful biological properties to the epothilone scaffold.     

Synthesis of analogues of ochratoxin A

Four analogues of ochratoxin A (OTA) differing for the aminoacidic moiety were synthesised using ochratoxin α (OTα) as the starting material. The condensation reaction between protected amino acids and OTα, carried out in the presence of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC???HCl) and N-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) as coupling agents, followed by deprotection and PTLC purification afforded OTA alanine, leucine, serine and tryptophane analogues in satisfactory yields (33-47%, based on OTα).