Aziridine‐Mediated Ligation at Phenylalanine and Tryptophan Sites

An efficient approach towards peptide synthesis that allows easy access to variety of small peptides via one‐pot aziridine‐mediated ligation/desulfurization strategy has been described. The protocol afforded a library of phenylalanine‐ and tryptophan‐containing α‐peptides in good yields by regioselective ring‐opening of aziridine‐3‐aryl‐2‐carboxylates with peptide thioacids, followed by desulfurization.     

A General Strategy for the Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure Azetidines and Aziridines through Nickel‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling

In this communication, we report a straightforward synthesis of enantiomerically pure 2‐alkyl azetidines. The protocol is based on a highly regioselective nickel‐catalyzed cross‐coupling of aliphatic organozinc reagents with an aziridine that features a tethered thiophenyl group. Activation by methylation transforms the sulfide into an excellent leaving group and triggers the formation of the 2‐substituted azetidine core structure by cyclization. In addition, we have expanded this concept to the synthesis of enantiomerically pure, terminal alkyl aziridines. Coupling of a TMS‐protected aziridine alcohol, followed by acidic work‐up to remove the silyl group, provides 1,2‐amino alcohol products that are readily cyclized to aziridines. Both of these sequences display excellent functional group tolerance and deliver the desired azetidine and aziridine products in good to excellent yields.     

Flow‐Through Synthesis on Teflon‐Patterned Paper To Produce Peptide Arrays for Cell‐Based Assays

A simple method is described for the patterned deposition of Teflon on paper to create an integrated platform for parallel organic synthesis and cell‐based assays. Solvent‐repelling barriers made of Teflon‐impregnated paper confine organic solvents to specific zones of the patterned array and allow for 96 parallel flow‐through syntheses on paper. The confinement and flow‐through mixing significantly improves the peptide yield and simplifies the automation of this synthesis. The synthesis of 100 peptides ranging from 7 to 14 amino acids in length gave over 60 % purity for the majority of the peptides (>95 % yield per coupling/deprotection cycle). The resulting peptide arrays were used in cell‐based screening to identify 14 potent bioactive peptides that support the adhesion or proliferation of breast cancer cells in a 3D environment. In the future, this technology could be used for the screening of more complex phenotypic responses, such as cell migration or differentiation.     

Double Strain‐Promoted Macrocyclization for the Rapid Selection of Cell‐Active Stapled Peptides

Peptide stapling is a method for designing macrocyclic alpha‐helical inhibitors of protein–protein interactions. However, obtaining a cell‐active inhibitor can require significant optimization. We report a novel stapling technique based on a double strain‐promoted azide–alkyne reaction, and exploit its biocompatibility to accelerate the discovery of cell‐active stapled peptides. As a proof of concept, MDM2‐binding peptides were stapled in parallel, directly in cell culture medium in 96‐well plates, and simultaneously evaluated in a p53 reporter assay. This in situ stapling/screening process gave an optimal candidate that showed improved proteolytic stability and nanomolar binding to MDM2 in subsequent biophysical assays. α‐Helicity was confirmed by a crystal structure of the MDM2‐peptide complex. This work introduces in situ stapling as a versatile biocompatible technique with many other potential high‐throughput biological applications.     

Nucleophile‐Directed Selective Transformation of cis‐1‐Tosyl‐2‐tosyloxymethyl‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)aziridine into Aziridines,Azetidines, and Benzo‐Fused Dithianes,Oxathianes, Dioxanes,and (Thio)morpholines

A five‐step procedure for the synthesis of cis‐1‐tosyl‐2‐tosyloxymethyl‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)aziridine was developed, starting from 1‐ethoxy‐2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol, involving imination, aziridination, ester reduction, hydrogenation, and N‐,O‐ditosylation steps. Further synthetic elaborations revealed a remarkable difference in the reactivity of cis‐1‐tosyl‐2‐tosyloxymethyl‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)aziridine with respect to aromatic sulfur and oxygen nucleophiles, thus enabling the selective deployment of this versatile substrate as a building block for the synthesis of functionalized aziridines, azetidines, and benzo‐fused dithianes, oxathianes, dioxanes, and (thio)morpholines.     

Comparing Cyclophellitol N‐Alkyl and N‐Acyl Cyclophellitol Aziridines as Activity‐Based Glycosidase Probes

The synthesis and evaluation as activity‐based probes (ABPs) of three configurationally distinct, fluorescent N‐alkyl cyclophellitol aziridine isosteres for profiling GH1 β‐glucosidase (GBA), GH27 α‐galactosidase (GLA) and GH29 α‐fucosidase (FUCA) is described. In comparison with the corresponding acyl aziridine ABPs reported previously, the alkyl aziridine ABPs are synthesized easily and are more stable in mild acidic and basic media, and are thus easier to handle. The β‐glucose‐configured alkyl aziridine ABP proves equally effective in labeling GBA as its N‐acyl counterpart, whereas the N‐acyl aziridines targeting GLA and FUCA outperform their N‐alkyl counterparts. Alkyl aziridines can therefore be an attractive alternative in retaining glycosidase ABP design, but in targeting a new retaining glycosidase both N‐alkyl and N‐acyl aziridines are best considered at the onset of a new study.     

Synthesis of Functionalized Novel α‐Amino‐β‐alkoxyphosphonates through Regioselective Ring Opening of Aziridine‐2‐phosphonates

Aziridines are highly useful compounds as building blocks for the synthesis of important organic compounds. Amino acid synthesis by aziridine ring opening reaction is a good example to the use of aziridines. Although this reaction is studied by many groups, the synthesis of amino phosphonic acids is less explored. In this study, we have carried out the ring opening reaction of aziridinyl phosphonates with a variety of alcohols including the more functional propargylic and allylic alcohols. These reactions provided functionalized α‐amino‐β‐alkoxyphosphonates in 40–91 % yield.     

Constrained Peptides with Target‐Adapted Cross‐Links as Inhibitors of a Pathogenic Protein–Protein Interaction

Bioactive conformations of peptides can be stabilized by macrocyclization, resulting in increased target affinity and activity. Such macrocyclic peptides proved useful as modulators of biological functions, in particular as inhibitors of protein–protein interactions (PPI). However, most peptide‐derived PPI inhibitors involve stabilized α‐helices, leaving a large number of secondary structures unaddressed. Herein, we present a rational approach towards stabilization of an irregular peptide structure, using hydrophobic cross‐links that replace residues crucially involved in target binding. The molecular basis of this interaction was elucidated by X‐ray crystallography and isothermal titration calorimetry. The resulting cross‐linked peptides inhibit the interaction between human adaptor protein 14‐3‐3 and virulence factor exoenzyme S. Taking into consideration that irregular peptide structures participate widely in PPIs, this approach provides access to novel peptide‐derived inhibitors.     

Continuous‐Flow Synthesis and Derivatization of Aziridines through Palladium‐Catalyzed C(sp3)−H Activation

A continuous‐flow synthesis of aziridines by palladium‐catalyzed C(sp³)?H activation is described. The new flow reaction could be combined with an aziridine‐ring‐opening reaction to give highly functionalized aliphatic amines through a consecutive process. A predictive mechanistic model was developed and used to design the C?H activation flow process and illustrates an approach towards first‐principles design based on novel catalytic reactions.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Structure of Bis‐ and Tetrakis‐Aziridine‐Nickel(II) and Copper(II) Complexes

The synthesis and characterization of mononuclear tetrakis‐aziridine nickel(II ) and copper(II ) complexes as well as of a dinuclear bis‐aziridine copper(II ) complex are described. The reactions of anhydrous MCl₂ (M = Ni^II, Cu^II) with aziridine (= az = C₂H₄NH, C₂H₃MeNH, CH₂CMe₂NH) in CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature in a 1:5 and 1:2 molar ratio, respectively, afforded the tetrakis‐aziridine complexes [M(az)₄Cl₂] (M = Ni, Cu) or the dimeric bis‐aziridine complex [Cu(az)₂Cl₂]₂. After purification, all of the complexes were fully characterized. The single crystal structure analysis revealed two different coordination modes. Whereas both nickel(II ) complexes can be classified as showing an elongated octahedral structure, copper(II ) complexes show either an elongated octahedral or a square pyramidal arrangement forming dimers with chlorido bridges in axial positions. Furthermore, the results of magnetic measurements of the nickel(II ) and copper(II ) compounds are presented.     

Prismarene: An Emerging Naphthol‐Based Macrocyclic Arene

Phenol‐based macrocyclic arenes have been widely used in supramolecular chemistry, significantly enriching the toolbox of the field. In contrast, naphthol‐based macrocyclic arenes are rather underdeveloped. Very recently, Gaeta and co‐workers successfully synthesized such macrocycles (referred to as prism[n]arenes) with good guest‐binding ability by reacting 2,6‐dimethoxynaphthalene with paraformaldehyde under optimized conditions. In view of the simple synthesis and good host–guest chemistry, we anticipate that this macrocycle will find similar success and wide applications as the phenol‐based macrocyclic arenes.     

The Sequential Building of Chiral Macrocyclic Bis‐β‐Lactams by Double Staudinger–Cu‐Catalyzed Azide–Alkyne Cycloadditions

A novel approach for the synthesis of macrocyclic bis‐β‐lactams based on the Cu‐catalyzed alkyne–azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) is reported. The procedure is general and allows access to a full range of diastereomerically or enantiomerically pure macrocyclic cavities in good yields. The incorporation of chiral oxazolidinone fragments at C3 in the β‐lactam rings allows the total enantiocontrol of the process.     

Chemical Synthesis of Native S‐Palmitoylated Membrane Proteins through Removable‐Backbone‐Modification‐Assisted Ser/Thr Ligation

The preparation of native S‐palmitoylated (S‐palm) membrane proteins is one of the unsolved challenges in chemical protein synthesis. Herein, we report the first chemical synthesis of S‐palm membrane proteins by removable‐backbone‐modification‐assisted Ser/Thr ligation (RBM^GABA‐assisted STL). This method involves two critical steps: 1) synthesis of S‐palm peptides by a new γ‐aminobutyric acid based RBM (RBM^GABA) strategy, and 2) ligation of the S‐palm RBM‐modified peptides to give the desired S‐palm product by the STL method. The utility of the RBM^GABA‐assisted STL method was demonstrated by the synthesis of rabbit S‐palm sarcolipin (SLN) and S‐palm matrix‐2 (M2) ion channel. The synthesis of S‐palm membrane proteins highlights the importance of developing non‐NCL methods for chemical protein synthesis.     

Structure Investigation of Bridgehead Aziridine: Synthesis,Theoretical, and Crystallographic Study of 2,4,6‐Triphenyl‐1,3‐diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hex‐3‐ene

A one‐pot three‐component procedure to efficiently create the 1,3‐diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hex‐3‐ene system is reported. The molecular structure of 2,4,6‐triphenyl‐1,3‐diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hex‐3‐ene ( 3 ) was studied by X‐ray diffraction and compared to ab initio and density‐functional‐theory (DFT) calculations restricted to the core moiety. Geometry optimizations for structural isomers and tautomeric forms of this aziridine fragment, taken as simplified models, were carried out at high calculation levels. Moreover, the same methods were utilized to evaluate the proton affinity of two crucial aziridine tautomers.     

Divergent Synthesis of Heteroatom‐Centered 4,8,12‐Triazatriangulenes

The increasing attention devoted to triangulenes and their heteroatom derivatives inspired us to explore a divergent synthesis of heteroatom‐centered 4,8,12‐triazatriangulenes, which involved the preparation of a nitrogen‐containing macrocyclic precursor and subsequent central heteroatom introduction by electrophilic C−Li and C−H substitution. The boron‐centered triangulene has a planar structure unlike the bowl‐shaped phosphorus‐ and silicon‐centered triangulenes. The described synthetic procedure can be used to fabricate a broad range of attractive functional materials, for example, for organic light‐emitting diodes, based on heteroatom‐centered triangulenes.     

New diazadi(and tri)thia‐21‐crown‐7 ethers containing 8‐hydroxyquinoline side arms

A series of macrocyclic diazadi(and tri)thiacrown ethers containing two 5‐substituent‐8‐hydroxyquinoline side arms have been synthesized from the corresponding macrocyclic diazadi(and tri)thiacrown ethers. The crown ethers were obtained by reduction of the proper macrocyclic di(and tri)thiadiamides by borane‐tetrahydrofuran or by sodium borohydride‐boron trifluoride ethyl etherate‐tetrahydrofuran. The yields for the reduction of diamides by sodium borohydride‐boron trifluoride ethyl etherate‐tetrahydrofuran were higher than those by borane‐tetrahydrofuran. The following four methods were used to prepare macrocycles bearing two 8‐hydroxyquinoline side arms: (1) Mannich reaction with 8‐hydroxyquinoline; (2) Reductive animation with 8‐hydroxyquinoline‐2‐carboxaldehyde using sodium triacetoxyborohydride as the reducing agent; (3) Cyclization of N,N'‐bis(8‐hydroxyquinolin‐2‐ylmethyl)‐1,2‐bis(2‐aminoethoxy)ethane (38) with bis(α‐chloroamide) 5 ; and ( 4 ) A step‐by‐step process wherein macrocyclic trithiadiamide 11 was reduced by lithium aluminum hydride‐tetrahydrofuran to the cyclic monoamide 36 , which smoothly reacted with 5‐chloro‐8‐hydroxyquinoline to produce monosubstituted‐macrocyclic monoamide 39 .     

Diversity‐Oriented Synthesis of Drug‐Like Macrocyclic Scaffolds Using an Orthogonal Organo‐ and Metal Catalysis Strategy

Small‐molecule modulators of biological targets play a crucial role in biology and medicine. In this context, diversity‐oriented synthesis (DOS) provides strategies toward generating small molecules with a broad range of unique scaffolds, and hence three‐dimensionality, to target a broad area of biological space. In this study, an organocatalysis‐derived DOS library of macrocycles was synthesized by exploiting the pluripotency of aldehydes. The orthogonal combination of multiple diversity‐generating organocatalytic steps with alkene metathesis enabled the synthesis of 51 distinct macrocyclic structures bearing 48 unique scaffolds in only two to four steps without the need for protecting groups. Furthermore, merging organocatalysis and alkene metathesis in a one‐pot protocol facilitated the synthesis of drug‐like macrocycles with natural‐product‐like levels of shape diversity in a single step.     

Palladium‐Catalzyed Atroposelective 16‐Membered Macrocyclization: Total Synthesis of Isoplagiochin D†

Isoplagiochin D is a ring‐strained macrocyclic bisbibenzylis, which showed stable axial chirality in one biaryl structure, and semistable axial chirality in the other biaryl moiety. We reported here an unprecedented example for the catalytically asymmetric synthesis of ring‐strained atropisomers via Pd‐catalyzed macrocyclization between benzyl halides and carbenes. This newly developed Pd‐catalyzed asymmetric macrocyclization protocol enabled us a quick synthesis of isoplagiochin D in a highly enantioselective manner.     

Synthesis and Extended Activity of Triazole‐Containing Macrocyclic Protease Inhibitors

Peptide‐derived protease inhibitors are an important class of compounds with the potential to treat a wide range of diseases. Herein, we describe the synthesis of a series of triazole‐containing macrocyclic protease inhibitors pre‐organized into a β‐strand conformation and an evaluation of their activity against a panel of proteases. Acyclic azido–alkyne‐based aldehydes are also evaluated for comparison. The macrocyclic peptidomimetics showed considerable activity towards calpain II, cathepsin L and S, and the 20S proteasome chymotrypsin‐like activity. Some of the first examples of highly potent macrocyclic inhibitors of cathepsin S were identified. These adopt a well‐defined β‐strand geometry as shown by NMR spectroscopy, X‐ray analysis, and molecular docking studies.     

Construction of a combinatorial library of 2‐(4‐oxo‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐3‐yl)‐4‐thiazolidinones by microwave‐assisted one‐pot parallel syntheses

A one‐pot liquid‐phase combinatorial synthesis of 2‐(4‐oxo‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐3‐yl)‐4‐thiazolidinones bearing diverse substituents at the 3‐position under microwave irradiation was successfully performed using 3‐formyl chromone, primary amine, and mercaptoacetic acid as reactants. Compared to an identical library generated by conventional parallel synthesis, the microwave‐assisted parallel synthesis approach dramatically decreased the reaction time from an average of 9 h to 5 min, and substantially increased the product yields. The coupling of microwave technology with liquid‐phase combinatorial synthesis constitutes a novel and particularly attractive avenue for the rapid generation of structurally diverse libraries. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 18:381–389, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20309