A new synthesis of phosphoramidates: inhibitors of the key bacterial enzyme aspartate semi-aldehyde dehydrogenase

A new, mild and high yielding synthesis of phosphoramidates is described: potassium salts of carboxylic acids are treated with ethylchloroformate and the resulting activated anhydride-carbonates are then treated with LiNH-P(O)(OEt)2 in situ--the methodology is especially suited to acid sensitive systems featuring BOC, tBu or acetal protecting groups.     

Development of inhibitors of the aspartyl protease renin for the treatment of hypertension

Renin is the rate-limiting enzyme in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAS) which controls blood pressure and volume. The biological function of renin is to cleave the N-terminus of angiotensinogen releasing the decapeptide, angiotensin I (ANGI). Subsequently, angiotensin I is further processed by the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) to produce angiotensin II (ANGII). The RAS cascade is a major target for the clinical management of hypertension. Current clinical treatments include angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and ANGII receptor blockers (ARBs). As the rate-limiting enzyme in ANGII production, renin inhibitors have been pursued as an additional class of anti-hypertensives. Clinical studies conducted with renin inhibitors have shown them to be as effective as ACE inhibitors in lowering blood pressure. Most importantly, inhibitors of renin may have a number of potential advantages over ACEi and ARBs. Renin is specific for angiotensinogen and will not carry the ancillary pharmacology associated with ACEi or ARBs. To date, no renin inhibitors have made it to market. The development of these inhibitors has been hindered by poor bioavailability and complex synthesis. However, despite the pharmacokinetic challenges of designing renin inhibitors, the enzyme remains a promising target for the development of novel treatments for hypertension. This review will consist of an overview of renin biology, the pharmacology of renin and RAS and focus in on renin as a target for blood pressure regulation. We also cover the evaluation of renin inhibitors in animal models and clinical studies. Presently a number of new generation inhibitors of renin are in development with at least one in the clinic and these will be discussed. Finally we will discuss what might distinguish renin inhibitors from current therapeutic options and discuss other therapeutic indications renin inhibitors might have.     

Arachidonate epoxygenase: inhibitors and metabolite analogues

The preparation and initial $\text{in vitro}$ evaluation of a series of potent arachidonate epoxygenase inhibitors and heteroatom analogues of epoxyeicosatrienoic acid are described.     

Analogues of key precursors of aspartyl protease inhibitors: synthesis of trifluoromethyl amino epoxides

The synthesis of the title compound is described through original and tailored synthetic protocols. The addition of vinylmagnesium bromide to CF(3)-N-aryl and N-alkyl aldimines was efficient and did not require an activating N-substituent. The resultant CF3-allylamines were converted in an efficient and completely stereoselective route to syn CF3-epoxides 3 via formation of bromhydrins 8. The same sequence performed from the aldimine substituted with the methyl ether of the (R)-phenylglycinol provided the homochiral (R,R)-amino epoxide (de >98%). This study has allowed access to the novel racemic and homochiral trifluoromethyl beta-amino epoxides, analogues of key precursors of various HIV protease inhibitors.     

Synthesis and evaluation of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate analogues as chelation-based inhibitors of methylerythritol phosphate synthase

[structures: see text] A series of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate (DXP) analogues were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of E. coli methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) synthase. In analogues 1-4, the methyl group in DXP was replaced by hydroxyl, hydroxylamino, methoxy, and amino moieties, respectively. In analogues 5 and 6, the acetyl moiety in DXP was replaced by hydroxymethyl and aminomethyl groups. These compounds were designed to coordinate to the active site divalent metal in MEP synthase. The carboxylate (1), methyl ester (3), amide (4), and alcohol (5) analogues were inhibitors with IC50's ranging from 0.25 to 1.0 mM. The hydroxamic acid (2) and amino (6) analogues did not inhibit the enzyme.     

Difluoromethylene exchange in the preparation of fluorinated bis-phosphonates

The application of the Michaelis-Becker variation to the preparation of unsymmetrical $\text{F}$-methylene $\text{bis}$-phosphonates gives a mixture of both symmetrical and unsymmetrical $\text{bis}$-phosphonates. The reaction is best explained by dissociation of the intermediate $\text{F}$-methylene phosphonate ylide and carbene scrambling among the potential dialkyl phosphite anions.     

Asymmetric synthetic study of macrolactin analogues

We designed two aromatic analogues 1a and 1b of macrolactin A with expectation of enhancing biological activity and metabolical stability. As a result of retrosynthetic analysis of these compounds 1a-b, two synthetic strategies have been examined. The first strategy includes the enantioselective addition of nonadienyl anion, derived from 3, to aldehyde 4 as a key step. The second one includes epimerization of ynone 7 to (E,E)-conjugated dienone 31 and subsequent diastereoselective hydride-reduction of 31. Although the former route furnished no desired target, the latter one was revealed to work well for the synthesis of 1. Unfortunately, the aimed (2Z,4E)-analogue 1a could not be synthesized due to an epimerization of the (2Z)-olefin into the (2E)-olefin. However, these methods could be applied to the total asymmetric synthesis of the (2E,4E)-analogue 1b. Overall, control of all of the four stereocenters was achieved by means of asymmetric and diastereoselective reactions without using any chiral natural sources.     

RNA synthetic activity of glutamate dehydrogenase

The activity of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), an important enzyme in carbon and nitrogen metabolism, is routinely assayed by photometry. The RNA synthetic activity of the enzyme provides new technologies for assaying its activity. The enzyme was made to synthesize RNAs in the absence of DNA and total RNA but with different mixes of the four nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs) in order to investigate the RNA characteristics. RNase VI (hydrolyzes base-paired residues) digested the poly (U,A) RNA completely because the U and A residues were evenly distributed to produce many base-paired regions. Therefore, the synthesis of RNA by GDH was by random addition of NTPs. The RNA synthetic activity of the enzyme was at least 50-fold more active in the deamination than in the amination direction, thus providing a robust technology for assay of the enzyme's activity. cDNAs prepared from the RNAs were subjected to restriction fragment differential display polymerase chain reaction analyses. Sequencing of the cDNA fragments showed that some of the RNA synthesized by GDH shared sequence homology with total RNA. Database searches showed that the RNA fragments shared sequence homologies with the G proteins, adenosine triphosphatase, calmodulin, phosphoenol pyruvate (PEP) carboxylase, and PEP carboxykinase, thus explaining the molecular mode of their functions in signal transduction.     

Cyclononitols: a flexible synthetic approach towards nine-membered carbasugar analogues

A novel, concise, stereocontrolled approach to nine-membered carbasugar analogues (cyclononitols) from a bicyclo[4.3.1]deca-2,4-dien-10-one scaffold, harbouring a ‘locked’ cyclononane ring and latent functionalities, is described.     

Overview of the synthetic routes to sildenafil and its analogues

The biological and medicinal properties of sildenafil and its analogues have prompted enormous research aimed at developing synthetic routes to these heterocycles. This review focuses on the chemical properties associated with this system.     

Overview of the synthetic routes to tadalafil and its analogues

The biological and medicinal properties of tadalafil and its analogues have prompted enormous research aimed at developing synthetic routes to these heterocyclic analogues. This review focuses on the chemical properties associated with this system.     

Synthesis of stemofoline analogues as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

Thirty-two new stemofoline analogues were prepared from didehydrostemofoline for studies as AChE inhibitors. C-3 Side-chain modified amino, carbamate, triazole and oxazole stemofoline derivatives were prepared. In general the amine derivatives were found to be stronger inhibitors of AChE than their alcohol analogues that we previously reported. Compounds 5 and 26, with small C-3 side-chain substituents, were two of the most active inhibitors. Preliminary molecular docking studies suggested that these compounds may inhibit AChE by binding horizontally along the passage of the active-site gorge and block access to acetylcholine.     

New synthetic approach to enantiopure bicyclic sulfonium salts: swainsonine analogues

The enantioselective synthesis of bicyclic sulfonium salts 8 or 9, thioanalogues of swainsonine derivatives, is described. The synthetic strategy is based on a stereo- and regiospecific transannular cyclization reaction of nine-membered cyclic sulfides, mediated by Me(3)SiI or carried out under acidic catalysis.     

Cucurbit[n]uril analogues: synthetic and mechanistic studies

[reaction: see text] The synthesis of cucurbit[n]uril analogues (18, 19, (+/-)-20, 33, 34, 35, 36, and 37) is presented. These CB[5], CB[6], and CB[7] analogues all contain bis(phthalhydrazide) walls that are incorporated into the macrocycle. The tailor-made synthesis of these CB[n] analogues proceeds by the condensation of the appropriate bis(electrophile) (4, 7, or 9) with bis(phthalhydrazide) (17), which delivers the CB[6] and CB[7] analogues in good yield, whereas the CB[5] analogue is formed in low yield. To improve the solubility characteristics of the CB[n] analogues for recognition studies in water or organic solution, the CO2Et groups were transformed to CO2H and CO2(CH2)9CH3 groups. On the basis of the results of product resubmission experiments, we conclude that these macrocycles are kinetic products. To help rationalize the good yields obtained in the CB[6] and CB[7] analogue macrocyclization reactions, we performed mechanistic studies of model methylene bridged glycoluril dimers, which suggest an intramolecular isomerization during CB[n] analogue formation.     

Deoxynucleoside H-Phosphonate diester intermediates in the synthesis of internucleotide phosphate analogues

Polymer bound deoxynucleoside H-phosphonate diesters are used as precursors to phosphoramidate, thiophosphate and phosphate triester analogues of DNA.     

Synthesis of thiophosphate analogues of DL-myo-inositol 1.2-Cyclic phosphate

Pure diastereomers of DL-myo-Inositol-1,2-cyclothiophosphate and their acetates, butyrates and benzylethers were synthesized by a new direct cyclothiophosphorylation method.     

Stereoselective synthesis of azetidine-derived glutamate and aspartate analogues from chiral azetidin-3-ones

The stereoselective syntheses of cis conformationally constrained glutamate and aspartate analogues, containing an azetidine framework were accomplished from (S)-N-tosyl-2-phenylglycine in moderate overall yields. The key steps in these syntheses involved an efficient Wittig olefination of an azetidin-3-one, followed by a highly stereoselective rhodium catalyzed hydrogenation. The route could also be applied to the synthesis of a trans glutamate analogue, since epimerization of cis to trans isomer could be performed using DBU in toluene at reflux.     

Synthetic studies on the bryostatins: synthetic routes to analogues containing the tricyclic macrolactone core

[reaction: see text]. Synthesis of the first of a projected series of bryostatin analogues has been accomplished in 26 steps and 2.2% overall yield. In this letter, we detail two approaches to the structural core of these tricyclic macrolactone bryostatin analogues. The key features of the route include BITIP-catalyzed asymmetric allylation reactions and Mukaiyama aldol reactions, a chelation-controlled allylation, pyran annulation reactions, and macrolactonization.