Stereoselective synthesis of novel dipeptide beta-turn mimetics targeting melanocortin peptide receptors

[reaction: see text] The novel dipeptide beta-turn mimetic, 4,8-disubstituted azabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane amino acid ester (15), has been synthesized to serve as a peptide mimetic of the dipeptide Phe-Arg, which contains two important pharmacophore elements in melanotropin peptides. Introduction of side-chain functionality at C-8 was achieved by using beta-functionalized pyroglutamate (8) as a synthetic precursor. The side chain at C-4 was introduced by bromination of dehydroamino acid intermediate (10) followed by Suzuki cross-coupling.     

Stereoselective synthesis of dipeptide beta-turn mimetics: 7-benzyl and 8-phenyl substituted azabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane amino acid esters

A stereoselective method has been developed for the synthesis of 7- and 8-substituted dipeptide beta-turn mimetic azabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane amino acid esters. The allyl groups were introduced in high diastereoselectivity, controlled by 3-phenyl or 4-benzyl groups in pyroglutamic acid derivatives 3 or 9, respectively. The precursors, dehydroamino acids 7 and 13 derived from 5 or 11, underwent asymmetric hydrogenations with Burk's DuPHOS Rh(I)-based catalysts to furnish alpha-amino acid derivatives in high stereoselectivity. The resulting amino acids 8 and 14 were converted to the beta-turn mimetics 6,5-bicyclic lactams 1a-d in high yields.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (Z)-alkene-containing proline dipeptide mimetics

In peptides and proteins, the peptide bond between an amino acid and proline exists as an equilibrium mixture of the cis-imide and trans-imide due to the low energy barrier in their interconversion. This feature greatly influences the structure and function of the proline-containing peptides and proteins. Therefore, restricting the amide bond with an (E)- or (Z)-alkene should provide a promising method for elucidating the structure-activity relationships of the peptide and the proteins. In this report, the regio- and stereoselective synthesis of cis-alanylproline (Ala-Pro) type (Z)-alkene dipeptide mimetic is described. The key steps of this synthesis are to introduce a C3 unit onto a gamma-phosphoryloxy-alpha,beta-unsaturated-delta-lactam with an organocopper-mediated anti-S(N)2' reaction and subsequently construct a five-membered proline-like cyclic structure with an intramolecular Suzuki coupling reaction. Hydrolysis of the amide bond in the resulting bicyclic lactam yields the desired cis-Ala-Pro type (Z)-alkene dipeptide isostere. The presented synthetic methodology should be applicable to the general syntheses of other cis-aminoacylproline type (Z)-alkene dipeptide mimetics.     

Synthesis of bicyclic dipeptide mimetics for the cholecystokinin and opioid receptors

The cholecystokinin C-terminal octapeptide analogue H-Asp-Tyr-D-Phe-Gly-Trp-(N-Me)-Nle-Asp-Phe-NH₂ (SNF 9007) is a potent and selective ligand for both the CCK-B and δ-opioid receptors. To constrain the peptide into the biologically active conformation(s), bicyclic dipeptide mimetics for Nle-Gly and homoPhe-Gly were designed and synthesized from β-substituted aspartic acids. Alkylation of L-aspartic acid using lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (LHMDS) in the presence of hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA) gave β-substituted aspartic acids, with the major product being the (2S,3R) isomer. Additional isomers of Nle-Gly bicyclic dipeptide mimetic were obtained via the Kazmaier-Claisen rearrangement reaction. The stereochemistries of the bicyclic dipeptide mimetics were assigned by X-ray and NMR.     

Stereoselective synthesis of new bicyclic N,O-iso-homonucleoside analogues

The synthesis of two new bicyclic nucleoside analogues is reported. These compounds are iso-homonucleoside and are synthesised through a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of an enantiopure cyclic nitrone to protected allyl acohol and subsequent introduction of thymine by a Mitsunobu reaction.     

Stereoselective synthesis of substituted piperazines

The treatment of allylarylamines with mercury(II) acetate in tetrahydrofuran followed by a double decomposition reaction with potassium bromide leads to trans-2,5-bis(bromomercuriomethyl)-1,4-diarylpiperazines (2). The stereochemistry of the reaction products has been elucidated by an ¹H-nmr spectroscopic study of the trans-2,5-dimethyl-1,4-diarylpiperazines (3) obtained by sodium borohydride reduction of 2 in alkaline media. The course of the reaction strongly depends on the steric demand of the groups attached to either the allylic group or the ortho-position in the aromatic ring of the starting amine (1).     

Design and synthesis of a new bicyclic dipeptide isostere

The synthesis of a new Gly-Pro turn mimetic and the computational study of its ability to induce beta-turn is reported.     

Solid-phase synthesis of bicyclic dipeptide mimetics by intramolecular cyclization of alcohols, thiols, amines, and amides with N-acyliminium intermediates

A general strategy for the solid-phase synthesis of structurally diverse bicyclic dipeptide mimetics is presented. Depending on the amino acid side-chain (R(1)), peptide-derived N-acyliminium intermediates may undergo nucleophilic attack from either side-chain functional groups (-OH, -NH(2), -SH, and -CONH(2)) or the amide backbone (-CONH-) of the peptide, thus affording a range of aza-, thia-, and oxabicycloalkanes in excellent purity and diastereoselectivity. [reaction: see text]     

Solid-supported synthesis of putative peptide beta-turn mimetics via Ugi reaction for diketopiperazine formation

The scope and limitations of the solid-supported synthesis of a bicyclic diketopiperazine, an internal, putative peptide beta-turn mimetic, are presented. The 4CC multicomponent Ugi reaction of alpha-N-Boc-diaminopropionic acid resin ester (an amine input), optically active alpha-bromoacid, aldehyde, and isocyanide is the key step in the proposed synthetic protocol. Application of cyclitive cleavage as the final step led to desired products in high purity.     

A new scaffold for dipeptide β-turn mimetics: Expeditious synthesis of an unsaturated 6,5-fused bicyclic lactam

Reported here is an easy and short synthesis of 6-acetamido-5-oxo-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydro-3-indolizine-carboxylic acid, originating from β-enaminoesters derived from pyroglutamic acid. This key compound has been used as a scaffold in the synthesis of dipeptido mimetics.     

Novel design of bicyclic beta-turn dipeptides on solid-phase supports and synthesis of [3.3.0]-Bicyclo([2,3])-leu-enkephalin analogues

[structure: see text] External bicyclic beta-turn dipeptide mimetics provide an excellent design approach that can offer a rich chiral ensemble of structures with different backbone conformations. We report herein a novel design of a convergent combinatorial synthetic methodology, which is illustrated by the solid-phase synthesis of a series of [3.3.0]-bicyclo([2,3])-Leu-enkephalin analogues. The reactions were optimized and the epimeric configurations were determined by 2D NMR spectroscopy. Biological assays show that these analogues have more potent delta binding affinity and bioactivity for delta vs micro opioid receptor, which may be related to the different conformations preferred by these analogues in our modeling studies.     

Oxazolopiperidin-2-ones as type II' beta-turn mimetics: synthesis and conformational analysis

We describe a straightforward synthesis of 9-substituted 3-aminooxazolidinopiperidin-2-ones 4. Some derivatives were prepared for use in peptide synthesis as rigidified surrogates of the Ala-Pro dipeptide. Analysis of the amide derivatives 14 by NMR experiments and molecular mechanics/dynamics calculations shows that the major isomer 14a has a stronger propensity than the minor isomer 14b to adopt beta-turn conformations, and the calculations indicate that in water 14a adopts a stable betaII' turn conformation.     

Stereoselective synthesis of cytoxazone and its analogues

A variety of synthetic routes to (−)-cytoxazone 1, a cytokine modulator isolated from Streptomyces cultures, and its stereomers 2 and regioisomers 3 have been reviewed.     

Stereoselective synthesis of bicyclic lactones by annelation with functionalized orthoesters

An efficient two-step annelation of functionalized orthoesters with trimethylsilyloxyfuran derivatives, which delivers suitably decorated bicyclo[3.n.0]lactones in high overall yields and with complete diastereocontrol of up to three contiguous stereocenters, is reported.     

Spiro beta-lactams as beta-turn mimetics. Design, synthesis, and NMR conformational analysis

Molecular modeling calculations using high-level ab initio methods (MP2/6-31+G) of a new type of spiro beta-lactams predict that these systems could adopt a beta-turn secondary structure in solution. Strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds stabilize the beta-turn conformation with a geometry that is very close to the ideal type II beta-turns. The synthesis of the spiro beta-lactams is achieved by Staudinger reaction of a cyclic ketene derived from N-bencyloxycarbonyl-L-proline acid chloride with an imine. This reaction allows the formation of the spiranic backbone in a single-step with high diastereoselectivity and good yields. The new spiro beta-lactams obtained are the core for the preparation of different types of peptidomimetics using well-established peptide chemistry. The NMR conformational analysis shows that these compounds adopt beta-turn conformation as predicted by the theoretical studies.     

Stereoselective one-pot synthesis of highly differently substituted thiochromans

A highly stereoselective one-pot procedure to anti-configured thiochromans is described. This reaction functions at room temperature in the presence of catalytic amounts of trifluoroacetic acid. The transformation gives a selective but optional access to highly substituted thiochromans, which have been not attainable until now.     

Stereoselective synthesis and anticancer activity of broussonetine analogues

The stereoselective synthesis of two broussonetine analogues 14·HCl and ent-14·HCl with differing stereochemistry of the polyhydroxylated pyrrolidine core and a simple C₁₃ alkyl fragment has been achieved. For their construction, the known oxazolidinones 15 and 16 were chosen as appropriate advanced scaffolds. The common hydrophobic side chain was incorporated at an early stage of the synthesis through Grubbs’ cross metathesis chemistry. The required pyrrolidine skeleton was then formed by the cyclization of open chain intermediates 17 and 18. Four synthesized compounds were screened in vitro for antiproliferative/cytotoxic activity against six cancer cell lines by MTT assay. Compounds 14·HCl (HeLa and A-549) and ent-14·HCl (Caco-2 and Jurkat) showed comparable or higher potency than conventional anticancer agent cisplatin on at least two evaluated cancer cells, respectively.     

Short and efficient diastereoselective synthesis of pyrrolidinone-containing dipeptide analogues

The pyrrolidine-2,4-diones have been identified as a convenient starting point for the synthesis of peptide analogues. Herein we describe an optimized two-step reductive amination procedure, which provides a small library of pyrrolidinone-containing dipeptide analogues in high yield and excellent diastereoselectivity.     

Synthesis of substituted conformationally constrained 6,5- and 7,5-fused bicyclic lactams as dipeptide mimics

Using a convenient and practical route we report the preparation of a series of rigid surrogates of amino acids and dipeptides for application within constrained peptide analogues, and for employment as input for combinatorial science. These substituted 2-oxo-1-azabicycloalkane amino acids have the potential of replicating the backbone geometry and side-chain function of dipeptide residues like serine, lysine, glutamate, and related amino acids.