Total synthesis of caerulomycin C via the halogen dance reaction

[reaction: see text] The total synthesis of caerulomycin C is described. Key steps in this synthesis utilize 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-halogen dance reactions for the functionalization of the pyridine ring.     

Identification of caerulomycin A gene cluster implicates a tailoring amidohydrolase

The biosynthetic gene cluster for caerulomycin A (1) was cloned and characterized from the marine actinomycete Actinoalloteichus cyanogriseus WH1-2216-6, which revealed an unusual hybrid polyketide synthase (PKS)/nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) system. The crmL disruption mutant accumulated caerulomycin L (2) with an extended L-leucine at C-7, implicating an amidohydrolase activity for CrmL. The leucine-removing activity was confirmed for crude CrmL enzymes. Heterologous expression of the 1 gene cluster led to 1 production in Streptomyces coelicolor.     

First Synthesis of Caerulomycin C

The first synthesis of caerulomycin C (1), an antibiotic produced by Streptomyces caeruleus, is reported. This molecule, which exhibits a 2,3,4,6-tetrasubstituted pyridine structure, was prepared from 3,4-dimethoxypyridine in a five-step sequence. The methodology involves metalation, transmetalation, aromatic cross-coupling, and halogen migration reactions.     

The (2-phenyl-2-trimethylsilyl)ethyl-(PTMSEL)-linker in the synthesis of glycopeptide partial structures of complex cell surface glycoproteins

The (2-phenyl-2-trimethylsilyl)ethyl-(PTMSEL) linker represents a novel fluoride-sensitive anchor for the solid-phase synthesis of protected peptides and glycopeptides. Its cleavage is achieved under almost neutral conditions using tetrabutylammonium fluoride trihydrate in dichloromethane thus allowing the construction of complex molecules sensitive to basic and acidic media commonly required for the cleavage of standard linker systems. The advantages of the PTMSEL linker are demonstrated in the synthesis of glycopeptides from the liver intestine (LI)-cadherin and the mucin MUC1, bearing carbohydrate moieties such as N-linked chitobiose or O-linked sialyl-T(N)-residues. The synthesis of these types of glycopeptides is difficult because they are prone to secondary structure formation during the synthesis on the solid phase as well as in the completely deprotected form. Using the PTMSEL linker these molecules are accessible by automated synthesis according to the Fmoc strategy without frequently observed side reactions such as aspartimide or diketopiperazine formation.     

Shorter and modular synthesis of hemicryptophane-tren derivatives

Hemicryptophanes are host molecules with many applications as supramolecular catalysts or in ion selective recognition. A very convenient and efficient modular approach for the synthesis of hemicryptophane-tren (tren, tris(2-aminoethyl)-amine) derivatives has been developed. For instance, hemicryptophane 1 was synthesized at the gram scale in four steps from vanillyl alcohol compared to the previous seven-step procedure. The size, shape, and functionalities of the molecular cavity were also easily modified.     

Total synthesis of (+)-alpha-onocerin in four steps via four-component coupling and tetracyclization steps

A remarkably short (four steps, 31% overall yield) enantioselective synthesis of the structurally unique C2-symmetric tetracyclic triterpene (+)-alpha-onocerin (1) has been developed. The brevity of this mechanism depends on the assembly of four fragments (two molecules of a chiral epoxy ketone and two molecules of vinyllithium) to generate the chiral bis-epoxide 4 in one step, and on the efficient formation of all four carbocyclic rings in one step by cation-olefin tetracyclization. New and general methodology for the conversion of vinyl tert-butyldimethylsilyl ethers to vinyl triflates with retention of E or Z olefinic geometry also was utilized in the synthesis of 1. A short enantioselective synthesis of a non-C2-symmetric diastereomer of 1 is also described which uses the new methodology.     

Selective palladium-catalyzed cocyclotrimerization of arynes with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate: A versatile method for the synthesis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Benzyne (1a) and the substituted derivatives 4,5-difluorobenzyne (1b) and 3-methoxybenzyne (2) undergo chemoselective palladium-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2]-cocyclotrimerization with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) to afford the corresponding phenanthrenes and/or naphthalenes. The major products are phenanthrenes if Pd(PPh(3))(4) is used as the catalyst, naphthalenes if Pd(2)(dba)(3) is used. When the method is applied to polycyclic arynes 3-6, which are generated from the corresponding o-trimethylsilylaryl triflates, the same reactivity pattern is observed: the reaction can be selectively directed either toward the cocyclization of one molecule of aryne and two molecules of alkyne or to the reaction of two molecules of aryne with one molecule of alkyne, by appropriate choice of the palladium catalyst. The synthesis of polycyclic aromatic compounds 33-39 using this methodology is reported.     

Asymmetric synthesis of antimicrotubule biaryl hybrids of allocolchicine and steganacin

The asymmetric synthesis of novel axially chiral biaryl compounds 5 a-f containing a seven- or eight-membered heterocyclic medium ring is described. These molecules can be considered to be structural hybrids of allocolchicine- and steganacin-type natural products. The synthesis featured an atropo-diastereoselective biaryl Suzuki coupling in which a benzylic stereocenter efficiently transferred its stereochemical information to the biaryl axis. The coupling conditions were optimized, and two biphenylphosphane ligands (DavePhos and S-Phos) were found to give the highest yields and diastereoselectivities. A three-element stereochemical model was proposed to explain the observed diastereoselectivities. In a second key step, the medium ring of the target molecules was formed by a stereoselective S(N)1-type cyclodehydration that probably involved a configurationally stable carbocationic intermediate, as supported by calculations. Alternatively, S(N)2-type cyclizations were employed on the same Suzuki coupling products to give the target molecules in a stereodivergent or stereoconvergent manner. These cyclization methods furnished the target hybrid analogues 5 a-f with ee values above 94 %. All analogues were evaluated as antimicrotubule agents and against a panel of cancer-cell lines using colchicine (1) and N-acetylcolchinol (3) as references. Promising activities were found for R,aR-configured compounds 5 a, b and 5 f; in particular, ethyl analogue 5 b showed a twofold antimicrotubule activity relative to colchicine.     

Urease-mediated room-temperature synthesis of nanocrystalline titanium dioxide

Enzymes are an important class of biological molecules whose specific functionalities can be exploited to perform tasks beyond the reach of conventional chemistry. Because they are operational under environmentally friendly, ambient conditions, the adaptation of these biomacromolecules can potentially be used to replace current energy-intensive and environmentally harsh synthesis methods for materials. Here we used a hydrolytic enzyme, urease, to modify the solution environment around a water-soluble and stable TiO(2) precursor to synthesize nanocrystalline titanium dioxide under environmentally benign conditions. This urease-mediated synthesis yields nearly monodisperse TiO(2) nanostructures with high surface area that can be utilized for numerous energy-based applications such as low-cost photovoltaics and photocatalysts.     

Ru2(ap)4(sigma-oligo(phenyleneethynyl)) molecular wires: synthesis and electronic characterization

Reported in this contribution are the synthesis, characterization, and charge transport properties of wire-like Ru2(ap)4(OPEn), where ap is 2-anilinopyridinate and OPE is -(CCC6H4)nSCH2CH2SiMe3 with n = 1 (1) and 2 (2). Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) measurements of compound 2 inserted into a SAM of C11 thiol reveal that molecule 2 exhibits (i) the stochastic switching characteristic of wire molecules embedded in insulating SAMs and (ii) higher conductivity than the C11 thiol SAM. More importantly, analysis of the molecular electronic decay constant (beta) exhibits a decrease of at least 15% as compared to purely organic molecular analogues. Hence, the transport characteristics of molecules can be significantly improved for nanoscale electronics through the incorporation of a Ru2 fragment into conjugated backbone.     

A highly convergent synthesis of myristoyl-carba(dethia)-coenzyme A

Co-translational myristoylation of the N-terminal glycine residue of diverse signaling proteins is required for membrane attachment and proper function of these molecules. The transfer of myristate from myristoyl-coenzyme A (myr-CoA) is catalyzed by the enzyme N-myristoyltransferase (Nmt). Nmt has been implicated in a number of human diseases, including cancer and epilepsy, as well as pathogenic mechanisms such as fungal and virus infections, including HIV and Hepatitis B. Rational design has led to the development of potent competitive inhibitors, including several non-hydrolysable acyl-CoA substrate analogues. However, linear synthetic strategies, following the route of the original CoA synthesis, generate such analogues in very low over all yields that typically are not sufficient for in vivo studies. Here, we present a new, highly convergent synthesis of myristoyl-carba(dethia)-coenzyme A 1 that allows to obtain this substrate analogue in 11-fold increased yield compared to the reported linear synthesis. In addition, enzymatic cleavage of the adenosine-2',3'-cyclophosphate in the last step of the synthesis proved to be an efficient way to obtain the isomerically pure 3'-phosphate 1.     

A new one-Pot synthesis of alkynylphosphonates

A method for the palladium-catalyzed synthesis of alkynylphosphonates from 1,1-dibromo-1-alkenes has been developed. In general, the best catalyst system for this transformation was found to be Pd(OAc)(2), dppf, H-phosphonate, propylene oxide, DMF, 80 degrees C. The reaction appears tolerant of a range of functional groups in both the 1,1-dibromo-1-alkene and H-phosphonate coupling partners. The synthesis of a backbone-modified thymidine dimer is used to illustrate the application of this methodology in the synthesis of complex target molecules.     

Cyclizations of substituted benzylidene-3-alkenylamines: synthesis of the tricyclic core of the martinellines

The martinellines (1 and 2) are natural products that possess both interesting biological activity and chemical structure. During the investigation of a hetero Diels-Alder route to these molecules, alternate Lewis acid-dependent cyclizations of (2'-amino-N'-tert-butoxycarbonyl-5'-chlorobenzylidene)-3-butenylamine (10) were observed. The reaction of a variety of imines with TMSOTf or TiCl(4) led to the formation of different heterocycles including iminodibenzo[b,f][1,5]diazocines, hexahydropyrido[1, 2-c]quinazolin-6-ones, tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2-c]quinazolin-5-ones, 2-arylpiperidines, and 2-arylpyrrolidines. Tetrahydropyrrolo[1, 2-c]quinazolin-5-one 54, obtained via this new methodology, was used as an intermediate in the synthesis of the tricyclic ring system (65) of the martinellines.     

Recent developments in the synthesis of prosophylline and its derivatives

Several synthetic efforts are reported towards the optically active (?)-prosophylline and (+)-prosophylline, and their derivatives. Interestingly and surprisingly, although only a few synthesis are reported for the parent molecules, there are more reports for the synthesis of their derivatives such as deoxoprosophyllines, deoxoprosopinines, deoxocassines etc. The three main strategies to procure these molecules in optically pure forms are by using (i) chiral synthons (ii) chiral auxiliaries and (iii) asymmetric catalysis. Among these, the chiral synthons are mainly utilized by a number of researchers. This review summarizes the recent developments in the synthesis of optically active prosophyllines and their derivatives, and covers the literature from the year 2000 onwards.     

Facile synthesis of caerulomycin E by the formation of 2,2′-bipyridine core via a 2-pyridyl substituted 4H-pyran-4-one. Formal synthesis of caerulomycin A

A new approach to caerulomycins A and E via a 6-methyl-2-(2-pyridyl)-4H-pyran-4-one is described. The pyranone precursor is prepared by Claisen condensation of acetylacetone enol ether with ethyl picolinate.     

New n-type organic semiconductors: synthesis, single crystal structures, cyclic voltammetry, photophysics, electron transport, and electroluminescence of a series of diphenylanthrazolines

The synthesis, properties, and electroluminescent device applications of a series of five new diphenylanthrazoline molecules 1a-1e are reported. Compounds 1b, 1c, and 1d crystallized in the monoclinic system with the space groups P2(1)/c, C2/c, and P2(1)/c, respectively, revealing highly planar molecules. Diphenylanthrazolines 1a-1e have a formal reduction potential in the range -1.39 to -1.58 V (versus SCE) and estimated electron affinities (LUMO levels) of 2.90-3.10 eV. Compounds 1a-1e emit blue light with fluorescence quantum yields of 58-76% in dilute solution, whereas they emit yellow-green light as thin films. The diphenylanthrazoline molecules as the emissive layers in light-emitting diodes gave yellow light with a maximum brightness of 133 cd/m(2) and an external quantum efficiency of up to 0.07% in ambient air. Bilayer light-emitting diodes using compounds 1a-1e as the electron-transport layer and poly(2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene) as the emissive layer had a maximum external efficiency of 3.1% and 2.0 lm/W and a brightness of up to 965 cd/m(2) in ambient air. These results represent enhancements of up to 50 times in external quantum efficiency and 17 times in brightness when using 1a-1e as the electron-transport materials in polymer light-emitting diodes. These results demonstrate that the new diphenylanthrazolines are promising n-type semiconductors for organic electronics.     

Organocatalytic synthesis of carbohydrates

The key role of carbohydrates in biological processes and their visible existence in our everyday life have stimulated the interest of leading research groups on the smart and simple synthesis of common and rare sugar molecules. Now, more than 120 years after Fischer's first synthesis of (D)-glucose (1890), we are witnessing important development in this field of total synthesis. Using modern methods of direct activation of carbonyl compounds chemists can prepare sugars in an elegant and efficient way similar to that of Nature. This tutorial review presents recent impressive progress in the area of de novo synthesis of carbohydrates by using organocatalytic direct aldol reaction as a key step.     

Design and the synthesis of 1-heteroaryl-1,2,3-triazoles connected to coumarins via ether linker

In this paper, we report an efficient and versatile methodology for the synthesis of a series of novel heteroaryl-1,2,3-triazoles connected to 4-methylcoumarin (4-methyl-2H-chromen-2-one) via oxymethylene linker. The desired molecules were accessed by both two-step synthesis and the one-pot copper catalyzed cycloaddition reaction of heteroaromatic azides with coumarin containing acetylenes. The developed protocol was found to be facile and effective for preparing a series of novel heteroaryl-1,2,3-triazole-coumarin conjugates in excellent yields. Practical utility of one-pot protocol has been confirmed by the successful gram-scale synthesis of 1,3-Dimethyl-6-(4-[([4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-chromen-7-yl]oxy)methyl]-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione.     

Hemicyanine dye as a surfactant for the synthesis of bicontinuous cubic mesostructured silica

In this paper, we developed a facile way to synthesize highly ordered optically active MCM-48 at room temperature, by using mixtures of hemicyanine dye N-alkyl-2-[p-(N,N-diethylamino)-o-(alkyloxy)]pyridinium bromide (denoted as o-CnPOCm, Scheme 1) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as the structure-directing agents. The mesoporous materials were systematically characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen sorption, and thermogravimetry. The resultant MCM-48 exhibits unusually high thermal stability. For example, in the case of o-C(2)POC(14), it can retain its cubic structure even under calcinations at 900 degrees C for 5 h, although the pore size is shifted to the micropore region because of shrinkage of the framework. The typical surface area and pore volume are 980 m(2)/g and 0.44 cm(3)/g, respectively, for the powder calcined under such a high temperature. This is the first report of room-temperature synthesis of MCM-48 with such good thermal stability using cationic-cationic mixed surfactant as the structure-directing agent. The fluorescence lifetimes of the as-synthesized mesostructured MCM-48 were also measured, and the result showed that the incorporated dye molecules have a 1 order of magnitude longer lifetime than that of free species in solution, showing that the hemicyanine dye molecules are well dispersed within the CTAB surfactant matrix. Furthermore, we compared eight other dye congeners (Scheme 1) to fully investigate the mesophase resulting from the dye-CTAB system. The results show that, upon addition of the dye surfactant to the starting mixtures, the mesostructured silica undergoes an intrinsic phase-transition process; however, specific dye geometry is required to obtain MCM-48 at room temperature. Those functionalities as well as the designed synthesis of this novel mesostructured MCM-48 material promise a bright future in multifunctional optical and electric nano- and microdevices (e.g., waveguides, laser, light-emitting diodes, etc.) and also shed light on the self-assembly behavior in complex colloidal system.     

β,β-Dinitrostyrenes: Specificity of synthesis and structure

An improved procedure was developed for the synthesis of β,β-dinitrostyrenes, which increased the yield and reproducibility and made the products more accessible from the preparative viewpoint. Complex analysis of the spectral data (IR, UV, ¹H and ¹³C NMR) and results of quantum-chemical calculations showed that 2-aryl-1,1-dinitroethene molecules have a structure in which one nitro group resides in the C=C bond plane while the other deviates from this plane. The C=C bond in 2-aryl-1,1-dinitroethene molecules was found to possess enhanced polarization and electrophilicity as compared to the corresponding bond in model mononitrostyrenes.