Solution- and solid-phase, modular approaches for obtaining different natural product-like polycyclic architectures from an aminoindoline scaffold for combinatorial chemistry

With the goal of developing a modular approach leading to different indoline alkaloid natural-product-like tricyclic derivatives having an unsaturated lactam (see compounds 13, 14, and 16), an aminoindoline-based bicyclic scaffold 10 was obtained from 9. The selective deprotection of the indoline NTeoc or benzylic NHAlloc in compound 10, followed by N-acryloylation and then subjection to a ring-closing metathesis reaction, successfully led to obtaining two different architectures (13/14 and 16) having an unsaturated lactam functionality. This modular solution-phase methodology was then developed on solid phase. To achieve this objective, the aminoindoline bicyclic scaffold having an additional hydroxyl group could be immobilized onto the solid support using alkylsilyl linker-based polystyrene macrobeads, giving 18. By applying a ring-closing metathesis approach, 20 (tricyclic derivative with seven-membered-ring unsaturated lactam) and 23 (tricyclic derivative with eight-membered-ring unsaturated lactam) were then obtained from 18 in a number of steps.     

Benzofuran-derived cyclic beta-amino acid scaffold for building a diverse set of flavonoid-like probes and the discovery of a cell motility inhibitor

We report here a practical, enantioselective synthesis of benzofuran-derived, cyclic trans-beta-amino acid scaffold. In two cases, tricyclic derivatives having six- and eight-membered unsaturated lactams were obtained from this versatile scaffold. To explore the biological applications, these compounds were subjected to cell-based assays, using NIH3T3 mouse cells to examine their potency as cell motility inhibitors and identified 18 as a potent cell motility inhibitor (IC50 approximately 40 microM in chamber cell migration assay).     

A modular approach for the synthesis of oligosaccharide mimetics

To allow modular syntheses of oligosaccharide mimetics, the potentially trifunctional glycoside 7 was synthesized and used as a scaffold for the successive attachment of further monosaccharide derivatives to lead to the di-, tri-, and tetrasaccharide mimetics 11, 13, and 16. This synthetic strategy can also be used to prepare oligovalent neoglycoconjugates, e.g., 18, which contains nine mannosyl units. The applied concept implies numerous options for the synthesis of a wide array of structural variations, biolabeling, or solid-phase synthesis as well as combinatorial approaches.     

Stereoselective diversity-oriented solution and solid-phase synthesis of tetrahydroquinoline-based polycyclic derivatives

A diversity-oriented solution and solid-phase synthesis of tetrahydroquinoline-based tricyclic derivatives has been achieved from enantiomerically pure, natural product-like bicyclic scaffold. The solution synthesis of enantiopure bicyclic scaffold was developed by asymmetric hetero Michael reaction. Our approach for the synthesis of polycyclic derivatives utilized regio- and stereoselective hetero Michael reaction and ring-closing metathesis as key steps in solution and on solid phase.     

A solid phase library synthesis of hydroxyindoline-derived tricyclic derivatives by Mitsunobu approach

Hydroxyindoline-derived scaffold, 9, was synthesized with the goal of generating a library of indoline-based natural product-like tricyclic derivatives to be utilized as small-molecule chemical probes. The tricyclic ring was obtained by a Mitsunobu reaction of the N-nosyl amino acid conjugate with the primary hydroxyl group. The solid-phase synthesis was achieved by immobilizing scaffold 9 onto the solid support giving a compound, 15. This was then subjected to a series of reactions on solid phase, including the Mitsunobu reaction, leading to the desired indoline-derived tricyclic derivative. The final product has two diversity sites: (i) amino acid as the first diversity and (ii) amidation of the secondary amine for the second diversity. These two diversity sites were utilized in the library generation by IRORI split-and-mix approach.     

Ring closure reactions of 2,6-diazaheptatrienyl metal compounds: synthesis of 3-aminoindole derivatives and 14-membered macrocyclic dimers

2,6-Diazaheptatrienyl metal compounds 6(-)K(+) are easily accessible from the corresponding diimines 6 by deprotonation using KO-t-Bu as base. According to quantum chemical calculations, they are, in comparison to other isomeric species with nitrogen atoms in other positions, highly reactive intermediates, which undergo in dilute solution at 50 °C ring closure reactions to form 3-aminoindole derivatives 8/10. In contrast, in more concentrated solution at room temperature, the formation of 14-membered macrocyclces 13 as a result of formal dimerization is observed. The 3-aminoindole derivatives obtained in this work possess rare substitution patterns, and the macrocyclic compounds are essentially unknown. Two-fold vinylogous derivatives 7 give rise to tricyclic systems with δ-carboline backbone 12. The experimental results are interpreted using high-level DFT calculations with regard to the possible reaction mechanism and the nature of the transition state of the five-membered ring formation. The molecular structures in the solid state of all types of compounds were elucidated by X-ray diffraction.     

Base-Modulated 1,3-Regio- and Stereoselective Carboboration of Cyclohexenes

While chain-walking stimulates wide interest in both polymerization and organic synthesis, site- and stereoselective control of chain-walking on rings is still a challenging task in the realm of organometallic catalysis. Inspired by a controllable chain-walking on cyclohexane rings in olefin polymerization, we have developed a set of chain-walking carboborations of cyclohexenes based on nickel catalysis. Different from the 1,4-trans-selectivity disclosed in polymer science, a high level of 1,3-regio- and cis-stereoselectivity is obtained in our reactions. Mechanistically, we discovery that the base affects the reduction ability of B₂pin₂ and different bases lead to different catalytic cycles and different regioselective products (1,2- Vs 1,3-addition). This study provides a concise and modular method for the synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted cyclohexylboron compounds. The incorporation of a readily modifiable boronate group greatly enhances the value of this method, the synthetic potential of which was highlighted by the synthesis of a series of high-valued commercial chemicals and pharmaceutically interesting molecules.     

Palladium-mediated intramolecular aryl amination on furanose derivatives: an expedient approach to the synthesis of chiral benzoxazocine derivatives and tricyclic nucleosides

Pd-catalyzed intramolecular arylamination on sugar derivatives has been accomplished by using bulky biaryl phosphine ligands. An application of this methodology on a variety of D-glucose-derived substrates, 2a-f, led to the synthesis of highly functionalized cis-fused tricyclic oxazocines, 3a-e. The products could subsequently be transformed to the optically active benzoxazocine derivative 4 and tricyclic nucleoside 6. This is the first example of the synthesis of eight-membered rings via intramolecular cycloamination of furanose derivatives, which provides a very useful method for the catalytic synthesis of medium-ring heterocycles.     

PdO-Catalyzed Synthesis of Tricyclic Compounds Using Biginelli-Like Reaction

An efficient method has been successfully developed for the synthesis of oxygen-bridged pyrimidine tricyclic derivatives from salicylaldehyde, ethyl acetoacete, and urea catalyzed by PdO in very good yield. A series of different oxygen-bridged pyrimidine tricyclic derivatives has been synthesized, in which two compounds’ x-ray crystal structure were obtained.     

Preparation of cyclic molecules bearing “strained” olefins using olefin metathesis

Recent advancements in metathesis catalyst design have allowed chemists to re-examine olefin metathesis as a route to systems bearing strained olefins embedded in their skeletons. Such ring systems include various azabicyclo [3.3.1] and [4.2.1] rings systems, the unique tricyclic ring system of the natural product ingenol, and strained macrocyclic systems exhibiting atropisomerism. Several examples of forming strained aromatic systems is also presented. The variety of different catalysts that have been developed allows for the possibility to select a catalyst having the necessary level of reactivity to access a strained system but also to avoid catalysts which may be so reactive as to favour ring-opening of the desired ring system.     

Synthesis and reactions of 7-fluoro-4-methyl-6-nitro-2-oxo-2H-1-benzopyran-3-carboxylic acid: a novel scaffold for combinatorial synthesis of coumarins

7-Fluoro-4-methyl-6-nitro-2-oxo-2H-1-benzopyran-3-carboxylic acid has been prepared as a novel scaffold for combinatorial synthesis of coumarins. The scaffold has three points of diversity. The optimal conditions for its reactions with different nucleophiles in solid phase were obtained. Sixteen coumarin derivatives with different structures were designed and synthesized in solid phase to demonstrate its application as a scaffold for combinatorial synthesis of coumarins. Thirteen of these derivatives were obtained in high yields. Many of these model compounds fluoresce. Combinatorial libraries constructed with this novel scaffold may have interesting biological or physical properties.     

Cross metathesis assisted solid-phase synthesis of glycopeptoids

A solid-phase synthesis of glycopeptoids was explored through olefin cross metathesis (CM). Peptoids and sugar derivatives with appropriate olefin moieties were coupled in the presence of an olefin metathesis catalyst to afford glycopeptoids in good yields. This systematic solid-phase CM study can provide facile access to the molecular sources of glycopeptidomimetics and postchemical modifications on various molecular scaffolds.     

Recent Advances in Macrocyclic Drugs and Microwave-Assisted and/or Solid-Supported Synthesis of Macrocycles

Macrocycles represent attractive candidates in organic synthesis and drug discovery. Since 2014, nineteen macrocyclic drugs, including three radiopharmaceuticals, have been approved by FDA for the treatment of bacterial and viral infections, cancer, obesity, immunosuppression, etc. As such, new synthetic methodologies and high throughput chemistry (e.g., microwave-assisted and/or solid-phase synthesis) to access various macrocycle entities have attracted great interest in this chemical space. This article serves as an update on our previous review related to macrocyclic drugs and new synthetic strategies toward macrocycles (Molecules, 2013, 18, 6230). In this work, I first reviewed recent FDA-approved macrocyclic drugs since 2014, followed by new advances in macrocycle synthesis using high throughput chemistry, including microwave-assisted and/or solid-supported macrocyclization strategies. Examples and highlights of macrocyclization include macrolactonization and macrolactamization, transition-metal catalyzed olefin ring-closure metathesis, intramolecular C–C and C–heteroatom cross-coupling, copper- or ruthenium-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition, intramolecular S_NAr or S_N2 nucleophilic substitution, condensation reaction, and multi-component reaction-mediated macrocyclization, and covering the literature since 2010.     

Synthesis of 3,4‐Fused Tricyclic Indoles Using 3‐Alkylidene Indolines as Versatile Precursors

In this personal account, our recent studies of novel synthetic methods of 3,4‐fused tricyclic indole derivatives using 3‐alkylidene indoline derivatives as versatile precursors are discussed. Two types of cascade reactions producing 3,4‐fused tricyclic 3‐alkylidene indolines were developed based on a palladium‐catalyzed intramolecular Heck insertion to an allene‐allylic amination cascade and a platinum‐catalyzed intramolecular Friedel‐Crafts type C?H coupling‐allylic amination cascade. Furthermore, three types of 3,4‐fused tricyclic indoles were accessible from a single 3‐alkylidene indoline precursor via acid‐promoted olefin isomerization or oxidative treatments. The application of the developed methods to the synthesis of natural products bearing a 3,4‐fused tricyclic indole skeleton, (?)‐aurantioclavine, fargesine, and synthetic studies of dragmacidin E are also highlighted.     

New dimensions in triazolo[4,3-a]pyrazine derivatives: The land of opportunity in organic and medicinal chemistry

Synthesis of novel and potent hit molecules have endless demand. The triazolo[4,3-a]pyrazine scaffold is used as an essential building block/scaffold in organic synthesis, which works as a key template for the development of various therapeutic agents. It displays a wide spectrum of potential biological activities that have been progressively studied in recent years on account of their versatile structure and the diverse derivatives that can be synthesized from it to ensure functional motifs. This review article gives an inclusive account of the synthetic utility of triazolo[4,3-a] pyrazine derivatives employed in the design and synthesis of different types of compounds containing various active heterocyclic rings with greater emphasis in recent literature.     

Synthesis of New Crown Ethers Containing Appended Pyridine, 10-hydroxybenzoquinoline, 8-hydroxyquinoline and 2-amino-1-hydroxybiphenyl Sidearms

Twelve crown ethers containing one or two arms were synthesized. Two methods were used to attach arms to the azacrown ethers. Ligands 4 - 12 were prepared by a nucleophilic substitution of secondary macrocyclic amine functions on RX ( X=bromide or tosylate groups). Ligands 13 - 15 were obtained via a Mannich reaction of secondary macrocyclic amines with 5-chloro-8-hydroxyquinoline or a substituted-phenol. Diaza-18-crown-6 was treated with 2-bromomethyl-9-methyl-1,10-phenanthroline at the same conditions in which 4 - 8 and 10 - 12 were prepared. In this case, the main product was the diazacrown ether containing one arm. Twelve new aza-crown ethers bearing aromatic and aliphatic side arms were prepared by nucleophilic substitution by secondary macrocyclic amine functions on halide or tosylates or via a Mannich reaction of the macrocyclic secondary amines with phenolic compounds. R=derivatives of pyridine, 8-hydroxyquiniline, and 1-hydroxybiphenyl. Crown ether include aza-15-crown-5 diaza-18-crown-6 diazatrithia-15 (and 16)-crown-6 and diaza-21-crown-7     

Synthesis of tricyclic indole-2-carboxylic [correction of caboxylic] acids as potent NMDA-glycine antagonists

The practical synthesis of a series of tricyclic indole-2-carboxylic acids, 7-chloro-3-arylaminocarbonylmethyl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydrobenz[cd]indole-2-carboxylic acids, as a new class of potent NMDA-glycine antagonists is described. The synthetic route to the key intermediate 12a comprises a regioselective iodination of 4-chloro-2-nitrotoluene, modified Reissert indole synthesis, Jeffery's Heck-type reaction with allyl alcohol, Wittig-Horner-Emmons reaction, and iodination at the indole C-3 position. The key step in the route is an intramolecular cyclization of 12a to give the tricyclic indole structure. Two methods of cyclization, (1) an intramolecular radical cyclization of 12a and (2) a sequence of intramolecular Heck reaction of 12a followed by a 1,4-reduction, were performed. The resulting tricyclic indole diester 13a was selectively hydrolyzed to afford the desired tricyclic indole monocarboxylic acid 16 on a multihundred gram scale without any chromatographic purifications. Optical resolution of 16 to (-)-isomer 17 and (+)-isomer 18 was carried out, and the resulting isomers were derivatized, respectively. Evaluation of the optically active derivatives for affinity to the NMDA-glycine binding site using the radio ligand binding assay with [(3)H]-5,7-dichlorokynurenic acid revealed that the derivatives of (-)-isomer 17 were more potent than the others and that especially substituted anilide (-)-isomer 24 (K(i) = 0.8 nM) showed high affinity.     

Solid-phase synthesis of a peptide-based P,S-ligand system designed for generation of combinatorial catalyst libraries

An efficient methodology for the solid-phase synthesis of diverse combinatorial peptide-based P,S-ligand libraries based on a modular approach was developed. Chiral thioethers were introduced into a series of peptide scaffolds using commercially available Fmoc-protected cysteine derivatives, and secondary amines were incorporated into the peptide backbones by reductive alkylation using readily available Fmoc-protected amino aldehydes. Phosphinylation of the secondary amines of the scaffolds, applying two different reagents, yielded two different types of ligands. Subsequent complexation with palladium afforded six- or seven-membered chelates, respectively. The selectivity, in an asymmetric allylic substitution reaction, of the two different types of chelates, derived from the same peptide scaffold, was complementary in all cases studied, affording the product as opposite stereoisomers with up to 60% ee. These results hold great promise for the identification of highly selective catalysts upon screening of larger P,S-based catalyst libraries.     

A versatile thiouronium-based solid-phase synthesis of 1,3,5-triazines

A thiouronium-based solid-phase synthesis of a 1,3,5-triazine scaffold has been developed. The key feature of the synthesis is the use of a readily accessible solid-supported thiouronium salt as a primary precursor for the stepwise assembly of the 1,3,5-triazine substrate. The sulfur linker employed in the synthesis is stable under both acidic and basic conditions and is versatile enough to provide access to monocyclic, bicyclic, and spirocyclic compounds with the 1,3,5-triazine scaffold. By using this synthetic strategy, a representative set of 79 compounds containing the 1,3,5-triazine scaffold were prepared.     

Cascade Metathesis Reactions for the Synthesis of Taxane and Isotaxane Derivatives

Tricyclic isotaxane and taxane derivatives have been synthesized by a very efficient cascade ring‐closing dienyne metathesis (RCDEYM) reaction, which formed the A and B rings in one operation. When the alkyne is present at C13 (with no neighboring gem‐dimethyl group), the RCEDYM reaction leads to 14,15‐isotaxanes 16 a , b and 18 b with the gem‐dimethyl group on the A ring. If the alkyne is at the C11 position (and thus flanked by a gem‐dimethyl group), RCEDYM reaction only proceeds in the presence of a trisubstituted olefin at C13, which disfavors the competing diene ring‐closing metathesis reaction, to give the tricyclic core of Taxol 44 .