Synthesis and bioactivity of propranolol analogues with a rigid skeleton. I

The synthesis of two kinds of propranolol analogues, A and B, with a rigid skeleton was investigated. The compounds were designed to help identify the conformation involved in beta-adrenergic receptor-propranolol interaction. The key intermediate, 2-hydroxy.2,3-dihydronaphtho[1,8-bc]pyran (5), was obtained starting from acenaphthenone (1). On sequential dehydration, hydroboration, and oxidation, 5 gave 2,3-dihydronaphtho[1,8-bc]pyran-3-one (8), which was converted to compound A. Compound 5 was also derived to 2-formyl-2,3-dihydronaphtho[1,8-bc]pyran (13) via the 2-vinyl compound (12). Condensation of nitromethane with 13 followed by reduction and alkylation produced the desired compound B. The beta-blocking activities of A and B were examined.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of a natural iridoid

The first total synthesis of 6-hydroxy-7-(hydroxymethyl)-4-methylenehexahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-1(3H)-one has been accomplished. A key feature of the synthesis includes facile construction of the bicyclic lactone intermediate via intramolecular Pd(0)-catalyzed allylic alkylation and the efficient transformation of this intermediate into the iridoid skeleton employing silicon tethered radical cyclization.     

The Synthesis of (±)-α-Vetispirene Via the Dieckmann Condensation of Ethyl 4-(2,6-Dimethyl-1-Carbethoxycyclohex-2-Enyl)-Butyrate

A new process for the synthesis of (±)-α-vetispirene ( 1 ) starting from 2,4-dimethyl-3-carbethaxycyclohexene ( 2 ) is described. The key steps include the stereoselective alkylation of 2 with ethyl 4-bromo-butyrate to yield ethyl 4-(2,6-dimethyl-1-carbethoxycyctohex-2-enyl)-bytyrate ( 3 ) and spiroannulation of 3 by Dieckmann condensation to give 2-carbethoxy-6,10-dimethyl spiro[4,5] deca-6-en-1-one ( 4 ).     

Rational design, synthesis, and evaluation of key analogues of CC-1065 and the duocarmycins

The design, synthesis, and evaluation of a predictably more potent analogue of CC-1065 entailing the substitution replacement of a single skeleton atom in the alkylation subunit are disclosed and were conducted on the basis of design principles that emerged from a fundamental parabolic relationship between chemical reactivity and cytotoxic potency. Consistent with projections, the 7-methyl-1,2,8,8a-tetrahydrocyclopropa[c]thieno[3,2-e]indol-4-one (MeCTI) alkylation subunit and its isomer 6-methyl-1,2,8,8a-tetrahydrocyclopropa[c]thieno[2,3-e]indol-4-one (iso-MeCTI) were found to be 5-6 times more stable than the MeCPI alkylation subunit found in CC-1065 and slightly more stable than even the DSA alkylation subunit found in duocarmycin SA, placing it at the point of optimally balanced stability and reactivity for this class of antitumor agents. Their incorporation into the key analogues of the natural products provided derivatives that surpassed the potency of MeCPI derivatives (3-10-fold), matching or slightly exceeding the potency of the corresponding DSA derivatives, consistent with projections made on the basis of the parabolic relationship. Notable of these, MeCTI-TMI proved to be as potent as or slightly more potent than the natural product duocarmycin SA (DSA-TMI, IC50 = 5 vs 8 pM), and MeCTI-PDE2 proved to be 3-fold more potent than the natural product CC-1065 (MeCPI-PDE2, IC50 = 7 vs 20 pM). Both exhibited efficiencies of DNA alkylation that correlate with this enhanced potency without impacting the intrinsic selectivity characteristic of this class of antitumor agents.     

Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of benzopyranoxanthone analogues of benz.

Condensation of 3-hydroxy-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid with phloroglucinol afforded 1,3-dihydroxy-12H-benzo[b]xanthen-12-one. Construction of an additional dimethylpyran ring onto this skeleton, by alkylation with 3-chloro-3-methyl-1-butyne followed by Claisen rearrangement, gave access to a series of benzo[b]pyrano[2,3-i]xanthen-6-ones and benzo[b]pyrano[3,2-h]xanthen-7-ones related to psorospermine and benzo[b]acronycine. In contrast with what is observed in the pyridoacridone and benzopyridoacridone series, the linear benzo[b]-pyrano[2,3-i]xanthen-6-one derivatives were more potent than their angular benzo[b]pyrano[3,2-h]xanthen-7-one isomers. cis-3,4-Diacetoxy-5-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H,6H-benzo[b]pyrano[2,3-i]xanthen-6-one, the most active among the new compounds, was more potent than acronycine in inhibiting the proliferation of L1210 murine leukemia cells.     

Functionalized 2-azabicyclo[3.3.1] nonanes. vii.: A new synthesis of 4-azatricyclo[5.2.2.04,8]undecan-11-one

An improved method for the synthesis of 4-azatricyclo [5.2.2.0⁴,⁸] undecan-11-one (1) is reported. The synthesis involves hydrogenolysis of 8-hydroxyethyl-2-azabicyclo [3.3.1] nonan-7-one 3 followed by intramolecular alkylation of the resulting secondary amine 7. The required azabicyclic alcohol 3 was obtained by oxidative cyclization with mercuric acetate of the α-alkylated methyl 4-piperidineacetoacetate 5.     

An efficient and expeditious synthesis of di- and trisubstituted amino-phenyl and -benzyl derivatives of tetrazole and [1,3,4]oxadiazol-2-one

A practical protocol for the parallel synthesis and purification of amino tetrazole and [1,3,4]oxadiazol-2-one derivatives as carboxylic acid bioisosteres is described. Phenyl- and benzyl-amines, substituted with tetrazole or [1,3,4]oxadiazol-2-one, were transformed into functionally diverse and novel compounds, with p K a values ranging from 4.9 to 8.4, by two sequential reductive alkylation reactions. These series of di- and trisubstituted amino-phenyl and -benzyl derivatives were produced in solution using solid-supported reagents and were purified by solid-phase extraction (SPE) techniques.     

Synthesis of 2-amino-3-hydroxy-4-substituted pyridines via regioselective metalation of 3-(1-ethylpropyl)-[1,3]oxazolo[4,5-b]pyridin-2(3H)-one and application to corticotropin releasing factor1 receptor ligands

An efficient route to the preparation of 2-amino-3-hydroxy-4-substituted pyridines is described. The key step involves the regioselective metalation and subsequent alkylation of the [1,3]oxazolo[4,5-b]pyridin-2(3H)-one ring system. Base hydrolysis provides access to a variety of 4-substituted pyridines. This chemistry is proved to be useful for the synthesis of corticotropin releasing factor₁ receptor ligands.     

Palladium-catalyzed potassium enoxyborate alkylation of enantiopure Hajos-Parrish indenone to construct rearranged steroid ring systems

Here we report the stereo- and regiospecific C-6 alkylation of a trans-inden-5-one (from optically pure Hajos-Parrish ketone) with allylic electrophiles. Use of this alkylation procedure has led to an improved synthesis of the benz[f]indene ring system and the first enantiospecific total syntheses of the cyclopenta[b]anthracene and cyclopenta[b]phenanthrene ring systems (two synthetic routes).     

Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of benzo[a]pyrano[3,2-h] and [2,3-i]xanthone analogues of psorospermine, acronycine, and benzo[a]acronycine

Condensation of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthalenecarboxylic acid with phloroglucinol afforded 9,11-dihydroxy-12H-benzo[a]xanthen-12-one (6). Construction of an additional dimethylpyran ring onto this skeleton, by alkylation with 3-chloro-3-methyl-1-butyne followed by Claisen rearrangement, gave access to 6-hydroxy-3,3-dimethyl-3H,7H-benzo[a]pyrano[3,2-h]xanthen-7-one (12) and 5-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H,6H-benzo[a]pyrano[2,3-i]xanthen-6-one (13), which were methylated into 6-methoxy-3,3-dimethyl-3H,7H-benzo[a]pyrano[3,2-h]xanthen-7-one (14) and 5-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H,6H-benzo[a]pyrano[2,3-i]xanthen-6-one (15), respectively. Osmium tetroxide oxidation of 14 and 15 gave the corresponding (+/-)-cis-diols 16 and 17, which afforded the corresponding esters 18-21 upon acylation. Similarly, condensation of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthalenecarboxylic acid with 3,5-dimethoxyaniline gave 11-amino-9-methoxy-12H-benzo[a]xanthen-12-one (23) which was converted into 11-amino-9-hydroxy-12H-benzo[a]xanthen-12-one (24) upon treatment with hydrogen bromide in acetic acid. Alkylation with 3-chloro-3-methyl-1-butyne followed by Claisen rearrangement afforded 6-amino-3,3-dimethyl-3H,7H-benzo[a]pyrano[3,2-h]xanthen-7-one (25) and 5-amino-2,2-dimethyl-2H,6H-benzo[a]pyrano[2,3-i]xanthen-6-one (26). The new benzopyranoxanthone derivatives only displayed marginal antiproliferative activity when tested against L1210 and KB-3-1 cell lines. The only compounds found significantly active against L1210 cell line, 16 and 20, belong to the benzo[a]pyrano[3,2-h]xanthen-7-one series, which possess a pyran ring fused angularly onto the xanthone basic core.     

Asymmetric synthesis of a chiral building block for cyclopentanoids: a novel enantioselective synthesis of preclavulone A

A new asymmetric approach to the hydroxylactone (+)-(3aR,4R,6aS)-4-(hydroxymethyl)-3a,4-dihydro-3H-cyclopenta[b]furan-2(6aH)-one (1), a key synthetic building block for cis-1,2-disubstituted five-membered ring derivatives (i.e., isoprostanes, jasmonates, and clavulones), has been described. A remarkable control of the absolute and relative configuration of the three stereocenters was achieved. Thus, the use of the Trost's asymmetric allylic alkylation strategy secured highly enantioenriched (R)-3-(nitromethyl)cyclopent-1-ene (13), which was smoothly converted to (R)-cyclopent-2-enecarboxylic acid (15) in excellent yield and high enantiomeric purity (>98% ee). 6-exo-trig atom-transfer radical cyclizations of ((R)-cyclopent-2-enyl)methyl 2-iodoacetate (12) produced exclusively the desired cis-fused delta-lactone (4aR,7aR)-hexahydro-5-iodocyclopenta[c]pyran-3(1H)-one (11), which was subsequently elaborated to hydroxylactone 1 through a stereocontrolled Pd(II)-mediated lactonization reaction. En route to preclavulone A, a putative elusive intermediate in the biosynthesis of clavulones, the synthetic utility of compound 1 was demonstrated. The key feature in this synthesis was the installation of the lower side chain via the Knochel organozinc sp3-sp C-C coupling protocol.     

An efficient synthesis of novel benzo[b]pyrido[3',2':4,5] thieno[2,3-e][1,6]naphthy-ridine-8-ones

An efficient method for the synthesis of novel benzo[b]pyrido[3',2':4,5] thieno[2,3-e][1,6] naphthyridine-8-one derivatives has been developed using a Pictet-Spengler reaction between 4-(3-aminothieno[2,3-b]pyridin-2-yl)quinoline-2-ones, which could be obtained from the alkylation of 4-bromomethylquinoline-2-ones with 3-cyanopyridine-2-thione followed by a Thorpe-Ziegler isomerization, and aromatic aldehydes under p-TsOH as catalysis in good yields.     

Synthesis and X-ray analysis of an unprecedented and stable 2-aza-4,4-spirocyclopropacyclohexadienone

[structure: see text] An efficient eight-step synthesis (54% overall) and the subsequent X-ray characterization of 1,2,9,9a-tetrahydrocyclopropa[c]benz[e]-3-azaindol-4-one (CBA) containing an aza variant of the CC-1065/duocarmycin alkylation subunit are detailed. Despite the unique deep-seated aza modification providing an unprecedented and stable 2-aza-4,4-spirocyclopropacyclohexadienone, CBA proved to be structurally identical with CBI, the carbon analogue, in terms of the stereoelectronic alignment of the key cyclopropane, its bond lengths, and the length of the diagnostic C3a-N2 bond reflecting the extent of vinylogous amide conjugation.     

Chirally N-Substituted Indole-2-carbaldehydes. Preparation and Use in Asymmetric Synthesis

A simple method is proposed for the synthesis of optically active indole-2-carbaldehydes via alkylation of 2-cyanoindole by optically active secondary alcohols and subsequent reduction of the cyano group to an aldehyde. Reaction of the aldehydes obtained with aromatic amines gave imines whose reaction with the Danishefsky diene was studied. The structure of the major diastereomer of (2R′)-1-phenyl-2-[1-((1R′)-1-phenylethyl)indol-2-yl]-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine-4-one and minor diastereomer (2S)-2-[1-((1S)-2-methoxy-1-phenylethyl)indol-2-yl]-1-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine-4-one respectively were established by X-ray analysis. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 10, pp. 1540–1550, October, 2005.     

An efficient synthesis of benzo[b]benzofurano[2,3-e]-[1,6]naphthyridine-8-ones

An efficient method for the synthesis of benzo[b]benzofurano[2,3-e][1,6]naphthyridine-8-one derivatives has been developed via Pictet-Spengler reaction of 4-(3-aminobenzofuran-2-yl)quinoline-2-ones,which could be obtained from alkylation of 4-bromomethylquinoline-2-ones with salicylonitrile and subsequent Thorpe-Ziegier isomerization,with aromatic aldehydes under p-TsOH as catalyst in good yields.     

Synthesis and evaluation of a series of C3-substituted CBI analogues of CC-1065 and the duocarmycins.

The synthesis and evaluation of a series of C3-substituted 1,2,9,9a-tetrahydrocyclopropa[c]benz[e]indol-4-one (CBI) analogues of the CC-1065 and duocarmycin alkylation subunits are detailed, including methyl and the full series of halogens. Introduction of the key substituent was accomplished through directed metalation of the seco-CBI core followed by reaction of the resultant aryllithium with an appropriate electrophile. C3-Bromo and iodo substituents were only effectively installed on the hindered aryllithium intermediate using a novel halogen source, 1-bromo- and 1-iodophenylacetylene, that should prove generally useful beyond the studies we describe. X-ray crystal structures of the series show substantial distortion in the vinylogous amide due to unfavorable steric interactions between the C3-substituent and the N(2)-carbamate. In the halogen series, the N2-C2a bond length and the torsional angle chi(1) smoothly increase with the increasing size of the C3 substituent indicative of decreasing vinylogous amide conjugation through the series (H > F > Cl > Br > I). Unlike N-Boc-CBI, this series of substituted CBI analogues proved remarkably reactive toward solvolysis even at pH 7, where the reaction is uncatalyzed and the reactivity order (I > Br > Cl > F > H) follows a trend consistent with the extent of vinylogous amide conjugation and stabilization. The implications of these observations on the source of catalysis for the DNA alkylation reaction of the natural products are discussed.     

Total synthesis of (+/-)-gleenol and (+/-)-axenol via a functionalized spiro[4.5]decane

Total synthesis of the biologically important axane sesquiterpenes, gleenol (1) and axenol (2), was accomplished through a readily available spiro[4.5]decane. The key features of the synthesis of 1 and 2 include Claisen rearrangement to afford the multi-functionalized spiro[4.5]decane 4 as a single diastereomer in excellent yield, installation of the C7 isopropyl group via ketene dithioacetal instead of direct alkylation and a diastereoselective reduction of ketone under the Birch conditions.     

3,8-Diazabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-2-one peptide mimetics: synthesis of a conformationally restricted inhibitor of farnesyltransferase

A new synthesis of the 3,8-diazabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-2-one framework is described. Transannular enolate alkylation of piperazinone derivatives provides a flexible route to highly constrained bicyclic peptidomimetic synthons with substitution at the Calpha position. The chemistry was used to produce a conformationally constrained farnesyltransferase inhibitor, which aided the elucidation of enzyme-bound conformation.     

Synthesis of a rotenone-like benzopyranobenzopyranone

The synthesis of a novel rotenone-like molecule, 9-methoxy-8-methyl-6,6a,12,12a-tetrahydro[1]benzopyrano-[3,4-b][1]benzopyran-12-one ( 2 ) is described. Efficient syntheses of 3,4-dihydro-2H-[1]benzopyran-3-one ( 9 ) from ethyl 3-hydroxy-2H-[1]benzopyran-4-carboxylate ( 6 ), an intermediate in the synthesis of 2 , were developed. Thermolysis of 6 and 9 in decalin yielded 6,8-dihydro-14H-bis[1]benzopyrano[3,4-b:4′,3′-e]pyran-14-one ( 8 ), which has previously been described. Also produced in the thermolysis was the isomeric 1H-bis[1]-benzopyrano[3,4-b:3′,4′-á]pyran-7-(9H)one ( 10 ), the first member of a novel, pentacyclic ring system.     

A Tandem Horner-Emmons Olefination-Conjugate Addition Approach to the Synthesis of 1,5-Disubstituted-6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes Based on the AE Ring Structure of the Norditerpenoid Alkaloid Methyllycaconitine

A novel Horner-Emmons olefination conjugate addition reaction of N-acetylamides to form 1,5-disubstituted-6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes with two bridgehead quarternary carbon centers is reported. This reaction is a key step in an approach to the synthesis of small ring analogues based on the AE ring structure of the Delphinium norditerpenoid, methyllycaconitine (MLA) (1). Initially, 3-(hydroxymethyl)cyclohex-2-en-1-one (10) was selected as the starting material to these structures, but its generation proved inefficient. In contrast, the synthesis of 3-[(phenylthio)methyl]cyclohex-2-en-1-one (6) and 3-(1,3-dithian-2-yl)cyclohex-2-en-1-one (11) proceeded in good yield. Subsequent hydrocyanation, ketalization, reduction, acetylation, deprotection of the acetal, and Horner-Emmons olefination-conjugate addition reaction to form 1-[(phenylthio)methyl]-5-[(ethoxycarbonyl)methyl]-6-acetamido-6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane (28), 1-(1,3-dithian-2-yl)-5-[(ethoxycarbonyl)methyl]-6-acetyl-6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane (29), respectively, are reported, as well as for readily available 3-methylcyclohex-2-en-1-one (12). Studies on the Pummerer rearrangement of 28 and subsequent desulfurization and reduction to form an hydroxymethyl-substituted azabicyclo[3.2.1.]octane (40) and then selective protection to form a protected hydroxyethyl N-ethyl (hydroxymethyl)azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane (3) are also described.