Deactivation of Mcl‐1 by Dual‐Function Small‐Molecule Inhibitors Targeting the Bcl‐2 Homology 3 Domain and Facilitating Mcl‐1 Ubiquitination

By means of limited proteolysis assay, three‐dimensional NMR, X‐ray crystallography and alanine mutations, a dynamic region at the Q221R222N223 motif in the Bcl‐2 homology 3 (BH3) domain of Mcl‐1 has been identified as a conformational switch which controls Mcl‐1 ubiquitination. Noxa^BH3 binding biases the QRN motif toward a helical conformation, thus leading to an enhanced in vitro ubiquitination of Mcl‐1. In contrast, Bim^BH3 binding biases the QRN motif toward a nonhelical conformation, thus leading to the inhibition of ubiquitination. A dual function Mcl‐1 inhibitor, which locates at the BH3 domain of Mcl‐1 and forms hydrogen bond with His224 to drive a helical QRN conformation, so that it not only interferes with the pro‐apoptotic partners, but also facilitates Mcl‐1 ubiquitination in living cells, is described. As a result, this inhibitor manifests a more effective apoptosis induction in Mcl‐1‐dependent cancer cells than other inhibitors exhibiting a similar binding affinity with it.     

Peptide‐Directed Binding for the Discovery of Modulators of α‐Helix‐Mediated Protein–Protein Interactions: Proof‐of‐Concept Studies with the Apoptosis Regulator Mcl‐1

Targeting PPIs with small molecules can be challenging owing to large, hydrophobic binding surfaces. Herein, we describe a strategy that exploits selective α‐helical PPIs, transferring these characteristics to small molecules. The proof of concept is demonstrated with the apoptosis regulator Mcl‐1, commonly exploited by cancers to avoid cell death. Peptide‐directed binding uses few synthetic transformations, requires the production of a small number of compounds, and generates a high percentage of hits. In this example, about 50 % of the small molecules prepared showed an IC₅₀ value of less than 100 μm, and approximately 25 % had IC₅₀ values below 1 μm to Mcl‐1. Compounds show selectivity for Mcl‐1 over other anti‐apoptotic proteins, possess cytotoxicity to cancer cell lines, and induce hallmarks of apoptosis. This approach represents a novel and economic process for the rapid discovery of new α‐helical PPI modulators.     

Ferrocene compounds. XXXIV. 1′‐(tert‐Butoxycarbonylamino)ferrocene‐1‐carboxylic acid

Heteroannularly substituted ferrocene derivatives can act as model systems for various hydrogen‐bonded assemblies of biomol­ecules formed, for instance, by means of O—H⋯O and N—H⋯O hydrogen bonding. The crystal structure analysis of 1′‐(tert‐butoxy­carbonyl­amino)­ferrocene‐1‐carbox­ylic acid, [Fe(C₁₀H₁₄NO₂)(C₆H₅O₂)] or (C₅H₄COOH)Fe(C₅­H₄NHCOOC(CH₃)₃, reveals two independent mol­ecules within the asymmetric unit, and these are joined into discrete dimers by two types of intermolecular hydrogen bonds, viz. O—H⋯O and N—H⋯O. The –COOH and –NHCOOR groups are archetypes for dimer formation via two eight‐membered rings. The O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds [2.656 (3) and 2.663 (3) Å] form a cyclic carboxylic acid dimer motif. Another eight‐membered ring is formed by N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds [2.827 (3) and 2.854 (3) Å] between the N—H group and an O atom of another carbamoyl moiety. The dimers are assembled in a herring‐bone fashion in the bc plane.     

New trans/cis tetrahydroisoquinolines. 1. trans‐2‐benzyl‐3‐(l‐methyl‐1h‐pyrrol‐2‐yl)‐4‐substituted‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinolin‐1‐ones and corresponding tetrahydroisoquinolines

The reaction of homophthalic anhydride and N‐(1‐methyl‐1H‐pyrrol‐2‐yl‐methylidene)‐benzylamine in boiling benzene afforded as a main product the expected substituted trans‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinoline‐4‐carboxylic acid 5 . The carboxylic group of 5 was transformed in four steps into cyclic amino‐methyl groups yielding numerous new tetrahydroisoquinolinones 11a‐j incorporating a given fragment of pharmacological interest. Reduction of 11a‐j was studied.     

Metallation reactions. XXXIV. Synthesis of 2‐(1‐hydroxy‐1‐arylethyl)‐1,3‐benzoxathiol‐3‐oxide derivatives

The reaction of benzoxathiole‐3‐oxide with lithiumdiisopropylamide in tetrahydrofuran gave an anion, which was reacted with various aryl‐methyl‐ketones to give 2‐(1‐hydroxy‐1‐arylethyl)‐1,3‐benzoxathiol‐3‐oxide derivatives. The reaction was carried out in different temperature conditions: at ‐88 °C the trans addition stereoisomers to the sulfoxide oxygen atom were the main products.     

4‐Phenyl‐1H‐imidazole (a low‐temperature redetermination), 1‐benzyl‐1H‐imidazole and 1‐mesityl‐1H‐imidazole

Low‐temperature studies of the simple variously substituted imidazole types 4‐phenyl‐1H‐imidazole, C₉H₈N₂, 1‐benzyl‐1H‐imidazole, C₁₀H₁₀N₂, and 1‐mesityl‐1H‐imidazole, C₁₂H₁₄N₂, extend comparisons between parent imidazole species and their derivatives, the pronounced double‐bond localization opposite the substituted N atom common to simple neutral species being redistributed aromatically on protonation.     

Bifunktionalisierte 1 H‐Phosphiren‐ und g1‐1‐Phosphaallen‐Wolframkomplexe

Bifunctionalized 1 H‐Phosphirene and g¹‐1‐Phosphaallene Tungsten Complexes The tungsten(0) complex [{(Me₃Si)₂HCPC(Ph)=N}W(CO)₅] 1 reacts upon heating with acetylene derivatives 2 a–d in toluene to form benzonitrile and the complexes [{(Me₃Si)₂HCPC(R)=COEt} · W(CO)₅] 5 a–d ( 5 a : R = SiMe₃; 5 b : R = SiPh₃; 5 c : R = SnMe₃; 5 d : R = SnPh₃) and [{(Me₃Si)₂HCP=C=C(OEt)R} · W(CO)₅] 6 a, b ( 6 a : R = SnMe₃; 6 b : R = SnPh₃), which have been isolated by chromatography; complexes 5 c and 6 a have been characterized as mixtures. Spectroscopic and mass spectrometric data are discussed. The crystal structure of the compound 5 a was determined by X‐ray single crystal structure analysis ( 5 a : space group P2₁/n, Z = 4, a = 977.6(2) pm, b = 1814.6(4) pm, c = 1628.0(4) pm, β = 93.95(2)°).