Pyrrolidine PNA: a novel conformationally restricted PNA analogue

[reaction:see text] A new conformationally restricted PNA adenine monomer has been synthesized in 13 steps from cis-4-hydroxy-D-proline. A fully modified adenine decamer displayed improved binding affinity toward complementary DNA and RNA oligonucleotides as compared to that of the parent PNA adenine decamer.     

Synthesis of novel pyrrolidin-2-ones: γ-aminobutyric acid cyclic analogues

Some new N-substituted pyrrolidin-2-ones, cyclic analogues of baclofen and of 3-(5-methoxybenzo-[b]furan-2-yl)-γ-aminobutyric acid, have been prepared and characterized, starting from 4-(4-chlorophenyl)-pyrrolidin-2-one and 4-(5-methoxybenzo[b]furan-2-yl)pyrrolidin-2-one.     

Synthesis of 5-methoxylated 3-pyrrolin-2-ones via the rearrangement of chlorinated pyrrolidin-2-ones

The reaction of N-substituted 4-methyl-2-pyrrolidinones or 4-diethoxyphosphoryl analogues, carrying at least two chlorine atoms between the C(3) and C(6) carbons, with alkaline methoxide in methanol afforded the corresponding 5-methoxylated 3-pyrrolin-2-ones, useful adducts for the preparation of agrochemicals or medicinal compounds.     

1-amino-2-phenylcyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid: a conformationally restricted phenylalanine analogue

DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level have been used to investigate the intrinsic conformational preferences of 1-amino-2-phenylcyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid (c5Phe), a constrained analogue of phenylalanine in which the alpha and beta carbons are included in a cyclopentane ring. Specifically, the N-acetyl-N'-methylamide derivatives of the cis and trans stereoisomers, where cis and trans refer to the relative position between the amino group and the phenyl ring, have been calculated. Solvent effects have been examined using a self-consistent reaction field (SCRF) method. Results indicate that the conformational space of the cis stereoisomer is much more restricted than that of the trans derivative both in the gas phase and in solution.     

Synthesis of pyrrolidinone PNA: a novel conformationally restricted PNA analogue

To preorganize PNA for duplex formation, a new cyclic pyrrolidinone PNA analogue has been designed. In this analogue the aminoethylglycine backbone and the methylenecarbonyl linker are connected, introducing two chiral centers compared to PNA. The four stereoisomers of the adenine analogue were synthesized, and the hybridization properties of PNA decamers containing one analogue were measured against complementary DNA, RNA, and PNA strands. The (3S,5R) isomer was shown to have the highest affinity toward RNA, and to recognize RNA and PNA better than DNA. The (3S,5R) isomer was used to prepare a fully modified decamer which bound to rU10 with only a small decrease in Tm (delta Tm/mod = 1 degree C) relative to aminoethylglycine PNA.     

Design of novel conformationally restricted analogues of glutamic acid

Stereomeric 3-carboxy-Δ²-isoxazoline-cyclopentane amino acids, which represent restricted conformations of glutamic acid, have been prepared through a strategy based on the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of ethoxycarbonylformonitrile oxide to a suitably protected 1-amino-cyclopent-2-enecarboxylic acid. These amino acids, assayed at iGluRs and mGluRs, proved to be inactive. The biological data have been accounted for through the comparison of their conformational profile with that of a 3-carboxy-Δ²-isoxazolinyl proline (CIP-A) and (±)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid.     

Rational design,synthesis, and pharmacological evaluation of 2-azanorbornane-3-exo,5-endo-dicarboxylic acid: a novel conformationally restricted glutamic acid analogue

The design and synthesis of conformationally restricted analogues of alpha-amino acids is an often used strategy in medicinal chemistry research. Here we present the rational design, synthesis, and pharmacological evaluation of 2-azanorbornane-3-exo,5-endo-dicarboxylic acid (1), a novel conformationally restricted (S)-glutamic acid (Glu) analogue intended as a mimic of the folded Glu conformation. The synthesis of 1 was completed in its racemic form in eight steps from commercially available starting materials. As a key step, the first facially selective hydroboration of a 5-methylidene[2.2.1]bicyclic intermediate was investigated. In this transformation, the catalytic methodology of Wilkinson's/catechol borane proved superior to stoichiometric borane or dialkyl borane reagents, in terms of higher diastereomeric excess and chemical yield. To our surprise (+/-)-1 did not show affinity in binding studies on native 2-amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolyl)propionic acid (AMPA) (IC(50) > 300 microM, [(3)H]AMPA) or kainic acid (IC(50) > 160 microM, [(3)H]kainic acid) receptors nor in binding studies on the cloned iGluR5,6 subtypes (IC(50) > 300 microM, [(3)H]kainic acid).     

Efficient microwave-assisted synthesis of 4-amino-2-benzazepin-3-ones as conformationally restricted dipeptide mimetics

In this paper, we describe the synthesis of conformationally constrained dipeptide mimetic derivatives. Microwave flash heating was used in several synthetic steps providing the opportunity to perform the reactions in dramatically shortened time as well as to increase the obtained yields. The efficiency of the methodology makes it useful in order to prepare other dipeptides containing the 4-amino-tetrahydro-2-benzazepin-3-one motif.     

Synthesis of a conformationally restricted substrate analogue of siderophore biosynthetases

[reaction: see text] A conformationally restricted analogue (5) of N(omega)-acetyl-N(omega)-hydroxyornithine and -lysine was synthesized. The synthesis features an efficient acylnitroso hetero-Diels-Alder cycloadduct (1) ring opening with palladium(0) and methylnitroacetate.     

Preparation of 1,5-disubstituted pyrrolidin-2-ones

1,5-Disubstituted pyrrolidin-2-ones 18a-g, 19a-h, and 20a-f were synthesized in good to excellent yields via the nucleophilic substitution of 5-(benzotriazol-1-yl)-1-substituted-pyrrolidin-2-ones 9 with allylsilanes, organozinc reagents, and phosphorus compounds. Compounds 9 and 5-(benzotriazol-2-yl)-1-substituted-pyrrolidin-2-one isomers 10 are readily prepared in total 70-84% yields from 2, 5-dimethoxy-2,5-dihydrofuran (7), primary amines 8, and benzotriazole; 9 and 10 react identically with nucleophiles.     

Synthesis of an analogue of lavendamycin and of conformationally restricted derivatives by cyclization via a hemiaminal intermediate

Quinoline 12 was obtained by a Friedländer reaction from 2-aminobenzaldehyde and methyl acetoacetate. Reduction, silylation then oxidation provided compound 8a. A Pictet-Spengler reaction between the latter and tryptophan methyl ester yielded compound 14, then compound 7 by desilylation. Numerous attempts to prepare a cyclized derivative of this analogue of lavendamycin 7 by conventional ways failed. Fortunately, a good result was obtained via a hemiaminal intermediate and compound 21 was thus obtained in satisfactory yield. A conjugate addition occurred in the course of its reduction which led to compound 22. Biological tests were carried out with compound 7 and the conformationally restricted analogues 21 and 22.     

Synthesis of conformationally restricted sulfonamides via radical cyclisation

A convenient synthesis of conformationally restricted sulfonamides such as compounds (12) and (40) with seven- and eight-membered ring structures has been achieved using radical reaction. These compounds and their analogs are expected to serve as important pharmacophores in drug discovery.     

Preferred 3D-structure of peptides rich in a severely conformationally restricted cyclopropane analogue of phenylalanine

Terminally blocked, homo-peptide amides of (R,R)-1-amino-2,3-diphenylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (c3diPhe), a chiral member of the family of Calpha-tetrasubstituted alpha-amino acids, from the dimer to the tetramer, and diastereomeric co-oligopeptides of (R,R)- or (S,S)-c3diPhe with (S)-alanine residues to the trimer level were prepared in solution and fully characterized. The synthetic effort was extended to terminally protected co-oligopeptide esters to the hexamer, where c3diPhe residues are combined with achiral alpha-aminoisobutyric acid residues. The preferred conformations of the peptides were assessed in solution by FT-IR absorption, NMR, and CD techniques, and for seven oligomers in the crystal state (by X-ray diffraction) as well. This study clearly indicates that c3diPhe, a sterically demanding cyclopropane analogue of phenylalanine, tends to fold peptides into beta-turn and 3(10)-helix conformations. However, when c3diPhe is in combination with other chiral residues, the conformation preferred by the resulting peptides is also dictated by the chiral sequence of the amino acid building blocks. The (S,S)-enantiomer of this alpha-amino acid, unusually lacking asymmetry in the main chain, strongly favors the left-handedness of the turn/helical peptides formed.     

A novel synthesis of 3-hydroxypiperidin-2-ones via site-selective difunctionalization of piperidine derivatives

An efficient and novel synthesis of 3-hydroxypiperidin-2-ones via site-selective difunctionalization of the inert C(sp³)?H bonds of N-substituted piperidine derivatives is presented. Mechanistically, the formation of the title compounds is believed to go through a cascade process featuring with the sequential formation of cyclic enamine, oxiranium and iminium as key intermediates.     

A novel route to substituted 3-methylidenechroman-2-ones and 3-methylchromen-2-ones

3-Methylidenechroman-2-ones, or their rearrangement products 3-methylchromen-2-ones, were efficiently synthesized by Michael addition of various nucleophiles to 3-diethoxyphosphorylchromen-2-ones followed by Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction of the adducts with formaldehyde. Relative configuration and conformation of the intermediate adducts were studied using NMR spectroscopy and semiempirical PM3 calculations.     

Chemistry of vinyl sulfones. Approach to novel conformationally restricted analogues of glutamic acid

A totally different approach to conformationally restricted glutamic acid analogues is described, in which one of the acid functions is replaced by a cyclopropanol. The reactivity of cyclopropanol vinyl sulfones toward addition of lithiated Schöllkopf bislactim ether provides a facile synthesis of α-amino acid diastereoisomers. Conformational analysis of these analogues, incorporating solvation effects, and docking to a glutamate receptor model, are used to show the relevance of the conformational restrictions employed.     

Synthesis of pyrrolidin-2-ones via tandem reactions of vinyl sulfonium salts under mild conditions

A novel and efficient synthesis of pyrrolidin-2-ones through the tandem reactions of vinyl sulfonium salts with malonyl amides under very mild conditions is reported. The reaction demonstrates a wide tolerance toward various aryls, acyl, sulfonyl, and benzyl while aliphatic groups delivering the tetrahydro-2-oxofuran product.