The development of an approach toward sterically-hindered chiral 2′-aryl-1,1′-binaphthalenes functionalized at position 2

Several approaches were examined for the preparation of 1,1′-binaphthalene derivatives bearing sterically demanding ortho-substituted aryl at position 2′ which are suitable for further functionalization at position 2. Steric hindrance of ortho-substituted aryl groups was critical for the approach through BINOL monotriflate. Among variations of cross-coupling reactions of 2,2′-dihalo-1,1′-binaphthalenes, Negishi arylation of an enantiopure 2,2′-dibromide was found to be the method of choice for regioselective and stereoconservative preparation of the target 2′-monoarylated precursor. Functionalization of the latter at position 2 was demonstrated by bromine substitution via lithiation followed by the reaction with several electrophiles.     

Regioselective arylation of 2′-deoxyribonucleosides on amido or imino sites by copper(II)-mediated direct coupling with arylboronic acids

N¹-Aryl derivatives of 2′-deoxyguanosine (dG) were synthesized by copper(II)-mediated coupling of dG with arylboronic acids. Analogous aryl derivatives of 2′-deoxyinosine (dIn), 2′-deoxyuridine (dU), thymidine (T), 2′-deoxyadenosine (dA), and 2′-deoxycytidine (dC) were also conveniently synthesized by this method. Arylation took place preferentially on the amido functions in dG and dIn and the imino functions in dU or T. Remarkably, the nucleosides themselves served as internal ligands as well as reactants.     

Synthesis, in vitro and in silico assessment of organometallic Rhenium(I) and Technetium(I) thymidine complexes

Thymidine kinases have been identified as suitable targets for non-invasive imaging of gene therapy and cancer. Thus, there is a high interest in new, reliable and inexpensive radiolabeled thymidine analogues for these applications. In this study we present the synthesis and in vitro evaluation of M(CO)₃-complexes of thymidine (M = ^99mTc, Re) for potential use in SPECT tumor imaging. 5′-amino-5′-deoxythymidine was derivatized at position C5′ with spacers of various lengths (∼0-30 Å) carrying tridentate metal chelating entities such as iminodiacetic acid and picolylamine-N-monoacetic acid. The nucleoside derivatives were reacted with the precursors [ReBr₃(CO)₃]²⁻ and [^99mTc(OH₂)₃(CO)₃]⁺, respectively. The organometallic thymidine complexes have been fully characterized by means of IR, NMR and mass spectrometry. Enzyme kinetic studies revealed mixed inhibition of the human cytosolic thymidine kinase with K_i values ranging from 4.4 to 334 μM for all thymidine complexes. Competitive inhibition of herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase was only achieved when thymidine and the metal core were separated by a spacer of approximately 30 Å length. These findings were supported by in silico molecular docking and molecular dynamic experiments.     

Synthesis of tricarbonyl rhenium and technetium complexes of a 5′-carboxamide 5-ethyl-2′-deoxyuridine for selective inhibition of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase 1

Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase type 1 (HSV1-TK) is frequently used as reporter protein in gene therapy. Our aim is to produce single photon emitting reporter probe based on technetium-99m. The synthesis of organometallic technetium and rhenium complexes of a 5′-carboxamide 5-ethyl-2′-deoxyuridine derivative able to selectively inhibit HSV1-TK is presented. The 5-ethyl-2′-deoxyuridine functionalized with a suitable tridentate chelating system at position 5′ was synthesized from commercial 2′-deoxyuridine in seven steps. The 5-ethyl-2′-deoxyuridine derivative was labeled with the fac-M(CO)₃-core (M = Tc, Re). The resulting rhenium complex was found to be a selective competitive inhibitor of HSV1-TK (K_i = 4.56 μM). Inhibition of the human cytosolic thymidine kinase (hTK1) previously reported with organometallic rhenium and technetium complexes of 5′-carboxamide thymidine derivative was not observed. The uptake of the technetium-99m complex in transfected cells expressing HSV1-TK has been evaluated to assess its possible use as reporter.     

Preparation of C5-substituted O,5′-cyclouridine

The synthesis of hitherto unknown C5-substituted O⁶,5′-cyclouridines is described. The 2′,3′-isopropylidene-uridine was treated with N-halogenosuccinimides forming appropriate bridged 5-halogeno derivatives. Using lithiation method, bromine substituent at C5 position was exchanged into various alkyl and alkenyl derivatives.     

Clarithromycin-adenine and related conjugates

Macrolide-nucleoside and macrolide-nucleobase conjugates (chimeras) have been synthesised by linking erythromycin A oxime derivatives and clarithromycin C11,C12-oxazolidinone derivatives with 3′-amino-3′-deoxythymidine or adenine through different spacers; clarithromycin-adenine conjugate 16a is the most active species against Micrococcus luteus.     

Syntheses of 5′-amino-2′,5′-dideoxy-2′,2′-difluorocytidine derivatives as novel anticancer nucleoside analogs

A novel class of 5′-amino-2′,5′-dideoxy-2′,2′-difluorocytidine derivatives has been synthesized in order to identify anticancer nucleoside analogs. Several synthetic routes were devised and implemented which relied upon either S_N2 displacement or reductive amination to provide the desired derivatives.     

Electrophile-promoted addition of hydroxymethylphosphonate to 4′,5′-didehydronucleosides: a way to novel isosteric analogues of 5′-nucleotides

An electrophile-promoted addition of dialkyl-hydroxymethylphosphonate to the protected 4′,5′-didehydronucleosides resulted in an epimeric mixture of 4′-dialkylphosphonomethoxy derivatives of 2′,5′-dideoxynucleosides, novel analogues of 2′-deoxynucleoside 5′-monophosphates. Several types of electrophiles (pyridinium tosylate, NIS, NBS, MCPBA and others) were evaluated in addition reactions with 4′,5′-didehydrothymidine. Out of them, pyridinium tosylate was found to have a practical usefulness in these transformations. Its use has led to the preparation of a series of 4′-phosphonomethoxy derivatives of common 2′-deoxynucleosides. On biological screening, these free phosphonic acids exerted no significant cytostatic or antiviral activity.     

A new route to 2,2′,3,3′-tetrasubstituted binaphthyls

Based on an ortho-lithiation protocol of 2,2′-dibromo-1,1′-binaphthyl four tetrasubstituted binaphthyls, 2,2′-dibromo-3,3′-diiodo-, 3,3′-dibromo-2,2′-diiodo-, 2,2′,3,3′-tetrabromo-, and 2,2′,3,3′-tetraiodo-1,1′-binaphthyls have been prepared in excellent yield which in turn proved to be versatile key intermediates in the synthesis of various 2,2′,3,3′-tetrasubstituted 1,1′-binaphthyl derivatives.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of a triazole-linked 3′-5′ dithymidine using click chemistry

Synthesis of a triazole-linked 3′-5′ thymidine dimer making use of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition is described. The azido-precursor was obtained by regioselective chlorination of thymidine, followed by azidation. The second precursor, a propargyl derivative, was obtained by selective 3′-O-alkylation of thymidine. Two ‘click systems’ were compared to obtain the desired dimer. These reactions were performed by microwave irradiation.     

Synthesis of aminopyrimidylindoles structurally related to meridianins

The synthesis of new meridianin derivatives substituted at the C-5′ position of the 2-aminopyrimidine ring by various aryl groups and substituted or not by a methyl group on the indole nitrogen is described. The 2-aminopyrimidine ring was obtained via a Bredereck synthesis. Aryl groups were introduced by Suzuki cross-coupling after bromination of the 2-aminopyrimidine ring at the C-5′ position.     

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of a novel bridged nucleic acid, 2′,5′-BNA, with S-type sugar conformation fixed by N-O linkage

We designed a novel 2′-O,5′-N bridged nucleic acid, 2′,5′-BNA^ON, whose sugar puckering was fixed to S-type conformation by an N-O linkage. A dimer unit formed from 2′,5′-BNA^ON-U and thymidine was synthesized via a coupling reaction between a protected 2′,5′-BNA^ON-U monomer and a thymidine derivative. Introduction of 2′,5′-BNA^ON-U into DNA was carried out using conventional phosphoramidite chemistry with a DNA synthesizer. The hybridization abilities of 2′,5′-BNA^ON-U-modified oligonucleotides against DNA or RNA complement were evaluated.     

Electrochemical studies of biologically active indolizines

The electrochemical behavior of indolizine ethers, esters, tosylates, sulfonates and other indolizine and azaindolizine derivatives has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry and preparative electrolysis. The cyclic voltammetric data show that the E° values, taken as the midpoints between the anodic and cathodic peak potentials, are sensitive to the identities of the substituents at C-1, C-2 and C-7 positions. The E° values have been correlated with the Hammett substituent parameters. As expected, low E° values are seen for electron donating substituents and higher E° values are seen for electron withdrawing substituents. The cyclic voltammograms of indolizine derivatives with an oxygen atom connected to the C-1 position exhibit a one-electron reversible oxidation and a further, less well-defined, one-electron irreversible oxidation at higher E° values. The cyclic voltammograms of indolizines with hydrogen atom or thienyl substituents connected to the C-1 position exhibit only a one-electron irreversible oxidation. Electrochemical bulk oxidations of indolizines with an oxygen atom at the C-1 position afforded oxoindolizinium salts in decent yields, whereas indolizines with a hydrogen atom at C-1 afforded 1,1′ dimers of indolizines as products in good yields. Bulk oxidation of 1-(α-hydroxybenzyl)-2,3-diphenylindolizine-7-carbonitrile afforded an unexpected ketone product in which the carbonyl group of the indolizine is connected at C-8 instead of at the C-1 position of the starting material. The findings described herein support our hypothesis that certain indolizine derivatives may inhibit lipid peroxidation by an electron transfer mechanism.     

A practical synthesis of 2′-aminoacylamino-2′-deoxyadenosines

A practical and efficient synthesis of 2′-aminoacylamino-2′-deoxyadenosine derivatives is reported. EDCI/HOBt-mediated coupling of a 3′,5′-diprotected 2′-amino-2′-deoxyadenosine derivative to various N-Cbz-l-amino acid derivatives followed by global deprotection affords analytically pure 2′-aminoacylamino-2′-deoxyadenosine derivatives without the necessity for preparative HPLC purification. These compounds are non-hydrolysable isosteres of 2′-aminoacyladenosines, which are of use in X-ray studies for the elucidation of the editing mechanism of various tRNA synthetases.     

An efficient reagent for 5′-azido oligonucleotide synthesis

A new bromohexyl phosphoramidite was synthesized and used for the introduction of an azide function at the 5′-end of oligonucleotides after a treatment on solid support with sodium azide and sodium iodide. The corresponding 5′-azido oligonucleotide could be further used for ‘Click’ conjugation with alkyne derivatives or by Staudinger ligation.     

Photolabile thymidine cleavable with a 532 nanometer laser

The synthesis and characterization of a novel 3′ p-hydroxyphenacyl-caged thymidine bearing a 5′ N,N-diisopropylcyanoethylphosphoramidite is presented representing a new methodology for the photoregulation of PCR and gene expression. Solid phase oligonucleotide synthesis affords a primer blocked at the 3′ position, which could function as a phototrigger for polymerase activity. The caging group exhibits quantitative photolysis in 15 s using a 532 nm green hand laser.     

Molecular mechanics analysis of the conformations of thymidine and implications for the design of anti-AIDS drugs

The steric energies of a number of the conformations of thymidine, derived from appropriate crystal structures, have been determined with the MM2 molecular mechanics force field. With one exception, these have very similar values which are close to 120 kJ mol^–1. The C2-exo/C3-endo conformation has a far higher value of 240 kJ mol^–1. The C3-endo conformation has previously been associated with thymidine derivatives which do not exhibit anti-HIV activity, and it may be that this is due to the relatively low predicted stability.     

A simple synthetic approach to homochiral 6- and 6′-substituted 1,1′-binaphthyl derivatives

Various homochiral binaphthyl derivatives having functional groups at the 6-position are important key intermediates for the immobilization of binaphthyl compounds on various solid-supports and have been prepared from commercially available 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol via controlled monopivalation of the 2-hydroxyl group and electrophilic aromatic substitution at the 6-position. (S)-2,2′-Bis-((S)-4-alkyloxazol-2-yl)-6-(2-methoxycarbonyl)ethyl-1,1′-binaphthyls (6-functionalized (S,S)-boxax)) were prepared and immobilized on various polymer supports including PS-PEG, PS, PEGA and MeO-PEG resin.     

2′-Lipid-modified oligonucleotides via a ‘Staudinger-Vilarrasa’ reaction

We report a new access to 2′-amido-2′-deoxyuridine via a Staudinger-Vilarrasa coupling reaction for the preparation of lipid-modified oligonucleotides. One or two lipidic moieties were inserted within the oligonucleotidic sequence (LONs) leading to a repertoire of original antagomir-like molecules targeting micro RNA (miRNA or miR). Melting temperature (Tm) experiments revealed that the stability of the duplexes depends on the lipid position and the number of lipid moieties inserted within the oligonucleotide sequence. Single lipid conjugations of positions 11 and 19 of LONs targeting miR-122 do not destabilize the duplexes.     

Hochauflösungs-13C-NMR-Spektroskopie. I—Analyse der Spektren des 1,2,4- und 1,3,5-Triazins sowie ihrer Methyl- und Phenylderivate

Using the pulse Fourier transform technique, the high resolution carbon-13 NMR spectra of 1,2,4- and 1,3,5-triazine and their methyl derivatives as well as the ¹H noise decoupled spectra of phenyl- and methylphenyl substituted triazines, have been recorded and analysed. The chemical shifts of the polysubstituted 1,2,4-triazines normally show additivity; deviations observed with phenyl derivatives are ascribed to steric effects. The ¹³C? H coupling constants are compared to those of benzene, pyridine, the diazines and disubstituted ethylenes. The strong influence on the coupling constants exerted by number and position of the nitrogen atoms is revealed by the observation that geminal couplings in 1,2,4-triazine are larger than vicinal ones, in contrast to the usual sequence.