Synthesis of Optically Active 2‐Amino‐1,3,4‐oxadiazoles and their Hybrid Peptides

Synthesis of 2‐amino‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole derivatives of N^α‐Cbz(benzyloxycarbonyl)/Boc‐protected amino/peptide acids under sonication is described. The conditions involved in the present protocol are simple, mild, and racemization free. The utility of 2‐amino group in the substituted oxadiazoles for the incorporation of peptide and ureido bonds to obtain hybrid peptidomimetics is also delineated. The 2‐amino‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole 3b was obtained as a single crystal, and its molecular structure has been confirmed through X‐ray crystallographic study.     

Beta strand peptidomimetics as potent PDZ domain ligands

The search for general strategies for inhibiting protein-protein interactions has been stimulated by recognition of the key role they play in virtually every process of living systems. Multiprotein complex assembly and localization by PDZ domain-containing proteins exemplify processes critical to cell physiology and function that are mediated by beta strand association. Here we describe the development of substituted "@-tides," protease-resistant peptidomimetics incorporating conformationally restricted amino acid surrogates that reproduce the hydrogen-bonding pattern and side-chain functionality of a beta strand. The synthetic flexibility and generality of the substituted @-tide design was demonstrated by the synthesis of a panel of ligands for the alpha1-syntrophin PDZ domain. The rational design of a small molecule of unprecedented affinity for the PDZ domain suggests that these peptidomimetics may provide a general method for inhibiting protein-protein interactions involving extended peptide chains.     

Design and structure of peptide and peptidomimetic antagonists of protein-protein interaction

Peptides based on the amino acid sequences found at protein-protein interaction sites make excellent leads for antagonist development. A statistical picture of amino acids involved in protein-protein interactions indicates that proteins recognize and interact with one another through the restricted set of specialized interface amino acid residues, Pro, Ile, Tyr, Trp, Asp and Arg. These amino acids represent residues from each of the three classes of amino acids, hydrophobic, aromatic and charged, with one anionic and one cationic residue at neutral pH. The use of peptides as drug leads has been successfully used to search for antagonists of cell-surface receptors. Peptide, peptidomimetic, and non-peptide organic inhibitors of a class of cell surface receptors, the integrins, currently serve as therapeutic and diagnostic imaging agents. In this review, we discuss the structural features of protein-protein interactions as well as the design of peptides, peptidomimetics, and small organic molecules for the inhibition of protein-protein interactions. Information gained from studying inhibitors of integrin functions is now being applied to the design and testing of inhibitors of other protein-protein interactions. Most drug development progress in the past several decades has been made using the enzyme binding-pocket model of drug targets. Small molecules are designed to fit into the substrate-binding pockets of proteins based on a lock-and-key, induced-fit, or conformational ensemble model of the protein binding site. Traditionally, enzymes have been used as therapeutic drug targets because it was easier to develop rapid, sensitive screening assays, and to find low molecular weight inhibitors that blocked the active site. However, for proteins which interact with other proteins, rather than with small substrate molecules, the lack of binding pockets means that this approach will not generally succeed. There exist many diseases in which the inhibition of protein-protein interactions would provide therapeutic benefit, but there are no general methods available to address such problems. The focus of the first part of this review is to discuss the features of protein-protein interactions which may serve as general guidelines for the development and design of inhibitors for protein-protein interactions. In the second part we focus on the design of peptides (lead compounds) and their conversion into peptidomimetics or small organic molecules for the inhibition of protein-protein interactions. We draw examples from the important and emerging area of integrin-based cell adhesion and show how the principles of protein-protein interactions are followed in the discovery, optimization and usage of specific protein interface peptides as drug leads.     

Facile N-derivatization of alpha-amino esters and amides via benzotriazolylmethyl derivatives

Alpha-(N-substituted amino)esters were prepared in a two-step procedure from available unsubstituted alpha-amino esters. alpha-Amino esters are first converted into the corresponding N-benzotriazolylmethyl derivatives; in the second step, the benzotriazole group is substituted by various nucleophiles with or without the presence of a Lewis acid to give substituted alpha-amino esters in high overall yield under mild conditions with no signs of racemization. Boc-protected amino acids were converted into alpha-amino amides; subsequent deprotection allowed the conversion into N-substituted derivatives analogously to the alpha-amino esters, without racemization in high yields under mild conditions.     

Solid-phase synthesis of constrained terminal and internal lactam peptidomimetics

Lactams are key components of many peptidomimetic structures. Five- and six-membered lactam peptidomimetics with hydrogen or amino acid side chains at the alpha-position can be constructed from peptide precursors during a solid-phase synthesis. There is no significant racemization of remote stereocenters during synthesis.     

Syntheses and activities of new C10 beta-turn peptidomimetics

A program to identify small molecules that mimic or disrupt protein-protein interactions led us to design the peptidomimetics 1-3. Solid-phase syntheses of 1-3 were developed. The purities of the crude materials isolated from the resin tend to be highest for the S- and N-compounds 2 and 3 and better than in the corresponding syntheses of peptidomimetics A. The particular dipeptide units incorporated were chosen to correspond with the turn regions of the neurotrophins (e.g., nerve growth factor [NGF] and the neurotrophin factor-3 [NT-3]). Preliminary studies were performed to access the binding of these analogues to Trk receptors and their ability to induce cell survival (just as NGF and NT-3 do). Several active compounds were identified. However, poor water solubilities of some of the other compounds preclude reliable testing. Consequently, solid-phase modifications to the synthetic procedures were investigated to provide access to the derivatives 12-14 in which the aromatic nitro group is replaced by amine, guanidine, or sulfonamide functionalities. The latter are more acceptable pharmacophores than nitro groups and also tend to increase the water solubilities of the peptidomimetics.     

Stereoretentive N-Arylation of Amino Acid Esters with Cyclohexanones Utilizing a Continuous-Flow System

The N-arylation of chiral amino acid esters with minimal racemization is a challenging transformation because of the sensitivity of the α-stereocenter. A versatile synthetic method was developed to prepare N-arylated amino acid esters using cyclohexanones as aryl sources under continuous-flow conditions. The designed flow system, which consists of a coil reactor and a packed-bed reactor containing a Pd(OH)₂/C catalyst, efficiently afforded the desired N-arylated amino acids without significant racemization, accompanied by only small amounts of easily removable co-products (i. e., H₂O and alkanes). The efficiency and robustness of this method allowed for the continuous synthesis of the desired product in very high yield and enantiopurity with high space-time yield (74.1 g L⁻¹ h⁻¹) and turnover frequency (5.9 h⁻¹) for at least 3 days.     

Reaction of pyridine N-oxides with Grignard reagents: a stereodefined synthesis of substituted dienal oximes

Rapid addition of Grignard reagents to pyridine N-oxides under mild conditions gave stereodefined dienal oximes in good to excellent yields. This reaction provides an efficient access to substituted olefins with defined stereochemistry that are potentially of interest as bioactives themselves or as versatile synthetic intermediates.     

Unusual coupling reactions of aldehydes and alkynes: a novel preparation of substituted phthalic acid derivatives by automated synthesis

Based upon a highly versatile multicomponent methodology, a new one-pot synthesis of substituted phthalic acid derivatives from alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes was developed. The reaction involves the intermediacy of an acetamidodiene species which undergoes Diels-Alder addition to diethyl acetylenedicarboxylate. The resultant acetamidocyclohexadiene is subject to elimination of acetamide under the reaction conditions to give rise to substituted diethyl phthalates in good yields. This domino condensation-cycloaddition-elimination sequence has been applied to a variety of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes. Furthermore, we demonstrated the exploitation of parallelized and automated synthesis technology for the rapid screening of reaction conditions and compositions. Detailed studies revealed the catalytic role of the employed acetamide and the occurrence of a stereoselective 1,4-syn elimination pathway under standard conditions.     

A compendium of sugar amino acids (SAA): scaffolds,peptide- and glyco-mimetics

Sugar amino acids (SAAs) are carbohydrate derivatives bearing both amino and carboxylic acid functionalities. SAAs are very versatile conformationally biased building blocks amenable to serve as glyco- or peptidomimetics. The stereochemical arrangement of the substituents of the sugar ring, its ring-size as well as the presence of additional functional groups provides a plethora of possible combinations. In this overview the structures of oxygen heterocylic SAAs that have been reported thus far are provided, having 3, 4, 5, 6-membered rings as well as several bicyclic counterparts.     

Toward a 6pi+6pi zwitterion or a bioinhibitors-related OH-substituted aminoquinone: identification of a key intermediate in their pH controlled synthesis

Their pH-controlled reactivity places the N,N'-dialkyl-2-amino-5-lithium alcoholate-1,4-benzoquinonemonoimines [C(6)H(2)(NHCH(2)R') (=NCH(2)R')(=O)(OLi)] 7 (R'=tBu) and 8 (R'=p-C(6)H(4)-tBu) at the crossroads of a new versatile strategy for the preparation of two very different classes of substituted quinones. We describe new 2-(N-alkyl)amino-5-hydroxy-1,4-benzoquinones, which are parent molecules to biologically active substituted aminobenzoquinones, for which changes of the N-substituent will become readily possible. The results of the first X-ray structural determination of such compounds ([C(6)H(2)(NHCH(2)tBu)(OH)(=O)(2)] 13) are also reported and we compare the influence of the number of N-substituents of the C(6) ring on the supramolecular networks resulting from self-assembling of 13, zwitterionic N,N'-dineopentyl-2-amino-5-alcoholate-1,4-benzoquinonemonoiminium [C(6)H(2)(=NHCH(2)tBu)(2)(=O)(2)] 9 and N,N',N",N"'-tetraneopentyl-2,5-diamino-1,4-benzoquinone diimine [C(6)H(2)(NHCH(2)tBu)(2)(=NCH(2)tBu)(2)] 15.     

Dynamic Kinetic Asymmetric Transformations of β‐Stereogenic α‐Ketoesters by Direct Aldolization

Dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformations (DyKAT) of racemic β‐bromo‐α‐keto esters by direct aldolization of nitromethane and acetone provide access to fully substituted α‐glycolic acid derivatives bearing a β‐stereocenter. The aldol adducts are obtained in excellent yield with high relative and absolute stereocontrol under mild reaction conditions. Mechanistic studies determined that the reactions proceed through a facile catalyst‐mediated racemization of the β‐bromo‐α‐keto esters under a DyKAT Type I manifold.     

Synthesis of sterically-hindered peptidomimetics using 4-(4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazine-2-yl)-4-methyl-morpholinium chloride

Our study demonstrated that 4-(4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazine-2-yl)-4-methyl-morpholinium chloride (DMTMM) is a versatile coupling reagent for the synthesis of sterically-hindered peptidomimetics. It is superior to HBTU/HOBt and CDMT in controlling racemization and N-arylation, respectively.     

Synthesis of Sequence-Selective C8-Linked Pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine DNA Interstrand Cross-Linking Agents

An efficient convergent synthesis of a homologous series of C8-linked pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimers with remarkable DNA interstrand cross-linking activity and potent in vitro cytotoxicity is reported. The "amino thioacetal" cyclization procedure was used to produce the electrophilic DNA-interactive N10-C11 imine moiety during the final synthetic step. In order to construct the key A-ring fragments (9a-d), a versatile convergent approach has been developed to join two units of vanillic acid with alpha,omega-dihaloalkanes of varying length to provide the required bis(4-carboxy-2-methoxyphenoxy)alkanes while avoiding the formation of mixtures of monoalkylated and bisalkylated products.     

一种氨基酸衍生物消旋的新方法

报道了一种氨基酸衍生物消旋的新方法。以苯甘氨酸甲酯为反应模板,考察了催化剂、反应时间、反应温度和溶剂对氨基酸酯消旋的影响。在最优反应条件［甲苯为溶剂,DABCO 20 mol%和邻羧基苯甲醛20 mol%为催化剂,于50 ℃反应6 h］下,消旋率可达100%。     

Small ring constrained peptidomimetics. Synthesis of epoxy peptidomimetics, inhibitors of cysteine proteases.

Different dipeptide analogues containing an oxirane ring in the place of the peptidic bond were prepared starting from naturally occurring amino acids. N-Fmoc-amino aldehydes were transformed into the corresponding methoxyvinyl derivatives through a Wittig reaction, and the addition of PhSeCl gave a series of different alpha-phenylselenyl aldehydes. Mukajiama reaction with silylketene acetals gave an intermediate product that was finally transformed into the desired oxiranyl peptidomimetics. Following this strategy we were able to control three new contiguous stereocenters starting from the enantiomerically pure amino acid. The dipeptide analogues could be used in SPPS on a SASRIN resin as the final epoxides were relatively unstable under acidic conditions. Moreover the synthesis of the single dipeptide mimetics was carried out on solid phase to generate a small library of epoxy peptidomimetics. Some of the products prepared in this work resulted as time-dependent reversible inhibitors of cysteine protease.     

N-Aminosulfamide peptide mimic synthesis by alkylation of aza-sulfurylglycinyl peptides

N-Aminosulfamides are peptidomimetics in which the C(α)H and the carbonyl of an amino acid residue are both respectively replaced by a nitrogen atom and a sulfonyl group. Aza-sulfurylglycinyl tripeptide analogs were effectively synthesized from amino acid building blocks by condensations of N-protected amino hydrazides and p-nitrophenylsulfamidate esters. The installation of N-alkyl chains and access to other aza-sulfuryl amino acid residues were effectively achieved by chemoselective alkylation.     

Rapid approach to 3,5-disubstituted 1,4-benzodiazepines via the photo-fries rearrangement of anilides

Different anilides derived from carboxylic acids and substituted anilines have been submitted to the photochemically induced Fries rearrangement giving the corresponding o-amino phenones under conditions that are compatible with the presence of acid-labile groups (such as N-Boc or TBDMSO) on R1 and R3. These compounds, not easily obtained in other ways, are useful building blocks for the preparation of benzocondensated heterocycles. After coupling with N-Boc amino acids and TFA-mediated deprotection, the products cyclized to the corresponding 3,5-disubstituted 1,4-benzodiazepin-2-ones, privileged structures predominantly active in the central nervous system. The same results were obtained by coupling with N-Cbz-protected alpha-amino acids followed by microwave assisted hydrogenolysis. When the Fries rearrangement was carried out on the anilide derived from N-Boc-Ala-OH and the further coupling done with N-Cbz-(OMe)Asp-OH, the formed benzodiazepines could be inserted in a peptide chain for the preparation of conformationally constrained peptidomimetics.     

An alternative synthetic approach for the synthesis of biologically relevant 1,4-disubstituted pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines

A versatile approach for the synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines has been developed. Starting from commercially available allopurinol, TBAF mediated N1-functionalization and subsequent C4 nucleophilic substitution, under microwave assisted- or standard heating conditions, granted access to highly functionalized pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines of potential biological interest.     

A versatile amino acid analogue of the solvatochromic fluorophore 4-N,N-dimethylamino-1,8-naphthalimide: a powerful tool for the study of dynamic protein interactions

We have developed a new unnatural amino acid based on the solvatochromic fluorophore 4-N,N-dimethylamino-1,8-naphthalimide (4-DMN) for application in the study of protein-protein interactions. The fluorescence quantum yield of this chromophore is highly sensitive to changes in the local solvent environment, demonstrating "switch-like" emission properties characteristic of the dimethylaminophthalimide family of fluorophores. In particular, this new species possesses a number of significant advantages over related fluorophores, including greater chemical stability under a wide range of conditions, a longer wavelength of excitation (408 nm), and improved synthetic accessibility. This amino acid has been prepared as an Fmoc-protected building block and may readily be incorporated into peptides via standard solid-phase peptide synthesis. A series of comparative studies are presented to demonstrate the advantageous properties of the 4-DMN amino acid relative to those of the previously reported 4-N,N-dimethylaminophthalimidoalanine and 6-N,N-dimethylamino-2,3-naphthalimidoalanine amino acids. Other commercially available solvatochromic fluorophores are also include in these studies. The potential of this new probe as a tool for the study of protein-protein interactions is demonstrated by introducing it into a peptide that is recognized by calcium-activated calmodulin. The binding interaction between these two components yields an increase in fluorescence emission greater than 900-fold.