Synthesis of N‐Acetylglucosamine‐Derived Nagstatin Analogues and Their Evaluation as Glycosidase Inhibitors

The gluco‐configured analogue 15 of nagstatin ( 1 ) and the methyl ester 14 were synthesized via condensation of the thionolactams 17 or 18 with the β‐amino ester 19 . The silyl ethers 20 and 21 resulting from 17 were desilylated to 22 and 23 ; these alcohols were directly obtained by condensing 18 and 19 . The attempted substitution of the C(8)? OH group of 22 by azide under Mitsunobu conditions led unexpectedly to the deoxygenated α‐azido esters 24 . The desired azide 25 was obtained by treating the manno‐configured alcohol 23 with diphenyl phosphorazidate. The azide was transformed to the debenzylated acetamido ester 14 that was hydrolyzed to the nagstatin analogue 15 . The imidazole‐2‐acetates 14 and 15 are nanomolar inhibitors of the N‐acetyl‐β‐glucosaminidases from Jack beans and from bovine kidney, submicromolar to micromolar inhibitors of the β‐glucosidase from Caldocellum saccharolyticum, and rather weak inhibitors of the snail β‐mannosidase. In all cases, the ester was a stronger inhibitor than the corresponding acid. As expected from their gluco‐configuration, both imidazopyridines 14 and 15 are stronger inhibitors of the β‐N‐acetylglucosaminidase from bovine kidney than nagstatin.     

Synthesis of 3,3‐Dimethylglutamic Acid Derivatives as DPP‐IV Inhibitors and Evaluation of Their Chemical Stability

A novel five‐step synthesis of Boc‐3,3‐dimethylglutamic acid α‐ethyl ester 11 is reported. All the steps are high yielding and simple to carry out. By use of the 3,3‐dimethylglutamic acid building block, we successfully discovered a novel class of DPP‐IV inhibitors, Glu‐Pro‐Nitrile dipeptide mimics 2 , with high potency (IC₅₀ < 40 nM). The consequence of 3,3‐dimethyl substituent on the rate of intramolecular cyclization between N‐terminal amine and 5‐position amide bond in different buffer solutions was also evaluated.     

Synthesis and Biological Activities of 3‐Substituted Analogues of Tenuazonic Acid

A series of tenuazonic acid analogues in which the acetyl group was replaced with electron‐withdrawing substituents have been synthesized with the aim of obtaining molecules with various bioactivities. Substituents such as cyano, sulfonyl, and amido were introduced at the 3‐position of the pyrrolidine‐2,4‐dione nucleus of tenuazonic acid. 3‐Cyano and sulfonyl pyrrolidine‐2,4‐dione compounds ( 2 and 6 ) were prepared via a Dieckmann cyclization as key step. 3‐Amido pyrrolidine‐2,4‐dione compounds ( 9 ) were prepared by a microwave‐assisted amidation reaction from corresponding 3‐carboxylate derivative. The target compounds were evaluated; their herbicidal, fungicidal, and insecticidal activities, and the preliminary bioassay data showed that some 3‐cyanopyrrolidine‐2,4‐diones 2 gave good insecticidal activity, whereas some 3‐amido compounds 9 exhibited moderate to strong fungicidal activity against Pythium dissimile at 20 mg/L.     

Biocompatible Infinite‐Coordination‐Polymer Nanoparticle–Nucleic‐Acid Conjugates for Antisense Gene Regulation

Herein, we report the synthesis of DNA‐functionalized infinite‐coordination‐polymer (ICP) nanoparticles as biocompatible gene‐regulation agents. ICP nanoparticles were synthesized from ferric nitrate and a ditopic 3‐hydroxy‐4‐pyridinone (HOPO) ligand bearing a pendant azide. Addition of Fe^III to a solution of the ligand produced nanoparticles, which were colloidally unstable in the presence of salts. Conjugation of DNA to the Fe^III–HOPO ICP particles by copper‐free click chemistry afforded colloidally stable nucleic‐acid nanoconstructs. The DNA–ICP particles, when cross‐linked through sequence‐specific hybridization, exhibited narrow, highly cooperative melting transitions consistent with dense DNA surface loading. The ability of the DNA–ICP particles to enter cells and alter protein expression was also evaluated. Our results indicate that these novel particles carry nucleic acids into mammalian cells without the need for transfection agents and are capable of efficient gene knockdown.     

Metal‐Organic Gels Based on Carboxyl‐Functionalized Benzimidazole and Their Stimuli Responsivenesses

Three multi‐responsiveness supramolecular metal‐organic gels (MOGs) have been prepared upon Ba(OAc)₂, CdSO₄·8H₂O and Pb(NO₃)₂ with a simple ligand (G17) based on a carboxyl‐functionalized benzimidazole derivative in alcoholic‐water solutions. The MOGs display the formation of well‐developed nanofibrillar networks composed of intertwined fibers which provide stability to gels structures through coordination, hydrogen bonding and π‐ π interactions characterized by using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), the fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy and powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. MOG‐1 shows good stimuli responsiveness toward the changes in K₂CrO₄, both MOG‐2 and MOG‐3 do good job toward the changes in Na₂S. Moreover, because these MOGs were formed easily by gelator with some heavy metal ion, such as Cd(II) and Pb(II), it might provide the basis for heavy metal ion capture and removal.     

藤黄酸氧化类似物的合成及抗肿瘤活性的二维定量构效关系

报道了35,40-二羟基-6-甲氧基-藤黄酸甲酯(1)、9,10-二羟基-6-甲氧基-藤黄酸甲酯(2)和2-去异己烯-2-(2-甲酰基)乙基-6-甲氧基-藤黄酸甲酯(3)的化学合成和抗肿瘤活性. 采用二维定量构效关系方法经计算机模拟与统计分析, 获得定量构效关系方程. 结果显示, 藤黄酸氧化衍生物的极性体积比、零阶价分子连接性指数、总电荷绝对值和体积与抗肿瘤活性间表现出了良好的线性关系.     

Synthesis and Anti‐tumor Evaluation of B‐ring Modified Caged Xanthone Analogues of Gambogic Acid

Gambogic acid (GA, 1 ), the most prominent member of Garcinia natural products, has been reported to be a promising anti‐tumor agent. Previous studies have suggested that the planar B ring and the unique 4‐oxa‐tricyclo[4.3.1.0^3,7]dec‐2‐one caged motif were essential for anti‐tumor activity. To further explore the structure‐activity relationship (SAR) of caged Garcinia xanthones, two new series of B‐ring modified caged GA analogues 13a – 13e and 15a – 15e were synthesized utilizing a Claisen/Diel‐Alder cascade reaction. Subsequently, these compounds were evaluated for their in vitro anti‐tumor activities against A549, MCF‐7, SMMC‐7721 and BGC‐823 cancer cell lines by MTT assay. Among them, 13b – 13e exhibited micromolar inhibition against several cancer cell lines, being approximately 2–4 fold less potent in comparison to GA. SAR analysis revealed that the peripheral gem‐dimethyl groups are essential for maintaining anti‐tumor activity and substituent group on C1 position of B‐ring has a significant effect on potency, while modifications at C‐2, C‐3 and C‐4 positions are relatively tolerated. These findings will enhance our understanding of the SAR of Garcinia xanthones and lead to the development of simplified analogues as potential anti‐tumor agents.     

Conventional and Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of Benzimidazole Derivatives and Their In Vitro Inhibition of Human Cyclooxygenase

A large series of 1,2‐diaryl‐benzimidazole and 2‐aryl‐1H‐benzimidazole derivatives were synthesized with slight differences using both microwave irradiation and conventional heating methods. Usually higher yields and time reactions reduction were obtained with the former method. All compounds were assayed for their in vitro ability to inhibit human cyclooxygenases, and most of them showed an encouraging inhibitory activity and isoform selectivity in the micromolar range.     

Total Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of (+)‐Gambieric Acid A and Its Analogues

In this study, we report the first total synthesis and complete stereostructure of gambieric acid A, a potent antifungal polycyclic ether metabolite, in detail. The A/B‐ring exocyclic enol ether 32 was prepared through a Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of the B‐ring vinyl iodide 18 and the alkylborate 33 and subsequent closure of the A‐ring by using diastereoselective bromoetherification as the key transformation. Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of 32 with acetate‐derived enol phosphate 49 , followed by ring‐closing metathesis of the derived diene, produced the D‐ring. Subsequent closure of the C‐ring through a mixed thioacetalization completed the synthesis of the A/BCD‐ring fragment 8 . The A/BCD‐ and F′GHIJ‐ring fragments (i.e., 8 and 9 ) were assembled through Suzuki–Miyaura coupling. The C25 stereogenic center was elaborated by exploiting the intrinsic conformational property of the seven‐membered F′‐ring. After the oxidative cleavage of the F′‐ring, the E‐ring was formed as a cyclic mixed thioacetal (i.e., 70 ) and then stereoselectively allylated by using glycosylation chemistry. Ring‐closing metathesis of the diene 3 thus obtained closed the F‐ring and completed the polycyclic ether skeleton. Finally, the J‐ring side chain was introduced by using a Julia–Kocienski olefination in the presence of CeCl₃ to complete the total synthesis of gambieric acid A ( 1 ), thereby unambiguously establishing its complete stereostructure. The present total synthesis enabled us to evaluate the antifungal and antiproliferative activities of 1 and several synthetic analogues.     

Solid‐Phase Synthesis of Dipeptide‐Conjugated Nucleosides and Their Interaction with RNA

Dipeptide‐conjugated nucleosides were efficiently synthesized from the intermediates of 3′‐amino‐3′‐deoxy‐nucleosides by using the solid‐phase synthetic strategy with HOBt/HBTU (1‐hydroxy‐1H‐benzotriazole/2‐(1H‐benzotriazol‐1‐yl)‐1,1,3,3‐tetramethyluronium hexafluoroborate) as the coupling reagents (Schemes 1–3). CD Spectra and thermal melting studies showed that the synthesized hydrophobic dipeptide? thymidine and ? uridine derivatives 8a – 8d, 13a – d , and 18 had a mild affinity with the polyA?polyU duplex and could induce the change of RNA conformation. The results also implied that the interaction of conjugates with RNA might be related to the sugar pucker conformation of the nucleoside.     

Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of Some Novel Benzimidazole Derivatives Containing Imine Function and Evaluation of Their Antimicrobial Activity

4‐Bromo‐o‐phenylenediamine and ethylimido‐p‐bromophenylacetate, 1 , were subjected to microwave irradiation to synthesize benzimidazole derivative, compound 2 . Ester derivative, 3 , and hydrazide derivative, 4 , of compound 2 were also synthesized, respectively. Finally, compound 4 was treated with 11 different aromatic aldehydes to obtain benzimidazole derivatives containing imine function. All reactions were carried out with microwave irradiation and conventional heating, and results were compared. Some of the newly synthesized compounds showed moderate antimicrobial activity against some tested organisms.     

新型苯并咪唑杂多酸盐离子液体的制备及其在催化合成己二酸中的应用

以1-丁基苯并咪唑为起始原料,合成了1-丁基-3-(4-磺酸基丁基)苯并咪唑內盐(1),1-丁基-3-羧甲基苯并咪唑氯盐(2)和1,3-二丁基苯并咪唑溴盐(3);1~3分别与硅钨酸、磷钨酸和磷钼酸在水或者乙醇中反应,合成了5种新型的杂多酸盐离子液体——1-丁基-3-(4-磺酸基丁基)苯并咪唑硅钨酸盐(4a),1-丁基-3-(4-磺酸基丁基)苯并咪唑磷钨酸盐(4b),1-丁基-3-(4-磺酸基丁基)苯并咪唑磷钼酸盐(4c),1-丁基-3-羧甲基苯并咪唑硅钨酸盐(5)和1,3-二丁基苯并咪唑硅钨酸盐(6),其结构经1H NMR,13C NMR和IR表征。并考察了4~6在30%H_2O_2催化氧化环己烯制备己二酸反应中的催化效果。实验结果表明:4b的催化效果最好。在最佳反应条件[环己烯20 mmol,4b 0.16 mmol,n(环己烯)∶n(H2O2)∶n(ILs)=1∶4.4∶0.008]下,己二酸产率71%。     

Synthesis and Anticoagulant Activity of Bioisosteric Sulfonic‐Acid Analogues of the Antithrombin‐Binding Pentasaccharide Domain of Heparin

Two pentasaccharide sulfonic acids that were related to the antithrombin‐binding domain of heparin were prepared, in which two or three primary sulfate esters were replaced by sodium‐sulfonatomethyl moieties. The sulfonic‐acid groups were formed on a monosaccharide level and the obtained carbohydrate sulfonic‐acid esters were found to be excellent donors and acceptors in the glycosylation reactions. Throughout the synthesis, the hydroxy groups to be methylated were masked in the form of acetates and the hydroxy groups to be sulfated were masked with benzyl groups. The disulfonic‐acid analogue was prepared in a [2+3] block synthesis by using a trisaccharide disulfonic acid as an acceptor and a glucuronide disaccharide as a donor. For the synthesis of the pentasaccharide trisulfonic acid, a more‐efficient approach, which involved elongation of the trisaccharide acceptor with a non‐oxidized precursor of the glucuronic acid followed by post‐glycosidation oxidation at the tetrasaccharide level and a subsequent [1+4] coupling reaction, was elaborated. In vitro evaluation of the anticoagulant activity of these new sulfonic‐acid derivatives revealed that the disulfonate analogue inhibited the blood‐coagulation‐proteinase factor Xa with outstanding efficacy; however, the introduction of the third sulfonic‐acid moiety resulted in a notable decrease in the anti‐Xa activity. The difference in the biological activity of the disulfonic‐ and trisulfonic‐acid counterparts could be explained by the different conformation of their L ‐iduronic‐acid residues.     

Synthesis of Some Newer Analogues of 4‐Hydroxyphenyl Acetic Acid as Potent Anti‐Inflammatory Agents

A series of 1,3,4‐oxadiazole and 1,2,4‐triazole derivatives of 4‐hydroxyphenyl acetic acid have been synthesized and evaluated for their anti‐inflammatory activity by carrageenan induced rat paw edema method. The compounds, which showed good anti‐inflammatory activity, were screened for their ulcerogenic and lipid peroxidation activities.     

A Short Synthesis of Fusaric Acid and Analogues

Fusaric acid (5-n-butyl-pyridine-2-carboxylic acid) and other substituted picolinic acid derivatives are synthesized in two steps from readily available α,β-unsaturated hydrazones and 2-chloroacrylonitrile in high yield.     

Theoretical Study of the Stability of the DNA Duplexes Modified by a Series of Hydrophobic Base Analogues

The geometries of a 13 mer of a DNA double helix (5′‐GCGTAC A CATGCG‐3′) were determined by molecular dynamics simulations using a Cornell et al. empirical force field. The bases in the central base pair (shown in bold) were replaced (one or both) by a series of hydrophobic base analogues (phenyl, biphenyl, phenylnaphathalene, phenylanthracene and phenylphenanthrene). Due to the large fluctuations of the systems, an average geometry could not be determined. The interaction energies of the Model A, which consisted of three central steps of a duplex without a sugar phosphate backbone, taken from molecular dynamics simulations (geometry sampled every 1 ps), were calculated by the self‐consistent charge density functional based tight‐binding (SCC‐DFTB‐D) method and were subsequently averaged. The higher the stability of the systems the higher the aromaticity of the base analogues. To estimate the desolvation energy of the duplex, the COSMO continuum solvent model was used and the calculations were provided on a larger model, Model B (the three central steps of the duplex with a sugar phosphate backbone neutralised by H atoms), taken from molecular dynamics simulations (geometry sampled every 200 ps) and subsequently averaged. The selectivity of the base analogue pairs was ascertained (Model B) by including the desolvation energy and the interaction energy of both strands, as determined by the SCC‐DFTB‐D method. The highest selectivity was found for a phenylphenanthrene. Replacing the nucleic acid bases with a base analogue leads to structural changes of the central pair. Only with the smallest base analogues (phenyl) does the central base pair stay planar. When passing to larger base analogues the central base pair is usually stacked.     

Flexible Total Synthesis of 11‐Deoxylandomycins and Their Non‐Natural Analogues by Way of Asymmetric Metal Catalysis

A de novo first collective total synthesis of 11‐deoxylandomycins is reported. A signature step is featured by the Pd‐catalyzed asymmetric addition of alcohol to ene‐alkoxyallenes that assembles oligomeric 2,3,6‐trideoxyoligosaccharides. The unique feature of the protocol is illustrated by a flexible access to various natural 11‐deoxylandomycins as well as non‐natural analogues.     

Synthesis and MMP‐Inhibitory Activity of Gelastatin Analogues

Gelastatin A and B, isolated from culture broth of Westerdykella multispora F50733, have been reported to exhibit MMP‐inhibitory activities at a sub‐micromolar level. In an effort to exploit this lead, we synthesized gelastatin analogues in which the conjugated triene unit of natural gelastatins was replaced by the benzylidene group. The (Z)‐isomeric synthetic benzylidene‐gelastatin exhibited MMP‐inhibitory activities comparable to those reported for the natural products. Therefore, this compound appears to be a viable lead in searching for therapeutically useful MMP inhibitors.