Thioalkylation of Meldrum's Acid: Protected alkylidene derivatives of isopropylidene malonate

Thioalkylated Meldrum's acid is easily by treatment of Meldrum's acid with an aldehyde and thiophenol in the presence of catalytical amounts of piperidinium acetate (→ 1–6 , Table 1). The adducts 1–6 are crystalline, stable compounds and they can be caused to react directly with nucleophiles and dienes (see 3→7–12 , Scheme 1). The regeneration of the parent olefin is effected thereby by simply dissolving the adduct under neutral or basic conditions. Extension of this method to thiocarboxylic acids allowed the preparation of the corresponding formaldehyde derivatives 13 and 15 (Table 3).     

Structure‐Based Design and Synthesis of the First Weak Non‐Phosphate Inhibitors for IspF,an Enzyme in the Non‐Mevalonate Pathway of Isoprenoid Biosynthesis

In this paper, we describe the structure‐based design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of cytosine derivatives and analogues that inhibit IspF, an enzyme in the non‐mevalonate pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis. This pathway is responsible for the biosynthesis of the C₅ precursors to isoprenoids, isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP, 1 ) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP, 2 ; Scheme 1). The non‐mevalonate pathway is the sole source for 1 and 2 in the protozoan Plasmodium parasites. Since mammals exclusively utilize the alternative mevalonate pathway, the enzymes of the non‐mevalonate pathway have been identified as attractive new drug targets in the fight against malaria. Based on computer modeling (cf. Figs. 2 and 3), new cytosine derivatives and analogues (Fig. 1) were selected as potential drug‐like inhibitors of IspF protein, and synthesized (Schemes 2–5). Determination of the enzyme activity by ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy in the presence of the new ligands showed inhibitory activities for some of the prepared cytosine and pyridine‐2,5‐diamine derivatives in the upper micromolar range (IC₅₀ values; Table). The data suggest that it is possible to inhibit IspF protein without binding to the polar diphosphate binding site and the side chain of Asp56′, which interacts with the ribose moiety of the substrate and substrate analogues. Furthermore, a new spacious sub‐pocket was discovered which accommodates aromatic spacers between cytosine derivatives or analogues (binding to ‘Pocket III’) and rings that occupy the flexible hydrophobic region of ‘Pocket II’. The proposed binding mode remains to be further validated by X‐ray crystallography.     

The preparation of the benzo[4,5]cyclohepta[1,2-b]pyrazine and benzo[4,5]cyclohepta[1,2-b]quinoxaline systems

Benzo[4,5]cyclohepta[1,2-b]quinoxaIine 2 , benzo[4,5]cyclohepta[1,2-b]pyrazine 3a and benzo[4,5]cyclohepta[1,2-b]quinoxaline 4 were prepared from 4,5-benzotropolone and 1,2-phenylenediamine, ethylenediamine and 1,2-diaminocyclohexane, respectively. Compound 3a was methylated to 3b .     

Divergent Melanophore-Dispersing and Tyrosinase-Stimulating Activity of Synthetic Leucine9-α-melanotropin

Leucine⁹-α-melanotropin ([Leu⁹]α-MSH) was synthesized in homogeneous solution by a fragment condensation approach, and it was assayed for its melanophore-dispersing and its tyrosinase-stimulating activity with a reflectometric in vitro frog skin assay and with cultured mouse melanoma cells, respectively. In both assay systems, parallel log dose-response curves were obtained for ([Leu⁹)]α-MSH and α-MSH; however, in the frog skin assay the activity of the title compound was 1 middot; 10¹⁰ Units/mmol, i.e. 25% of the activity of α-MSH, whereas its tyrosinasestimulating potency was only 1% compared to α-MSH (EC₅₀= 2.5 · 10^?7M ). This indicates a major difference in the recognition/stimulation process of the receptors of the two cell types.     

Synthesis and biological properties of p-azidophenylalanine13-β-melanotropin,a potent photoaffinity label for MSH receptors

p-Azidophenylalanine¹³-α-melantropin ([Pap¹³]-α-MSH) was synthesized in homogeneous solution by the fragment condensation method, and its biological activity was determined in three different assay systems. The pigment-dispersing activity relative to α-MSH was 65%, measured with melanophores of Rana pipiens or of Xenopus laevis tadpoles. The tyrosinase-stimulating activity was 50%, determined with cultured mouse melanoma cells. UV. irradiation of solutions containing ≤10^?4_M[Pap¹³]-α-MSH at 338 nm (intensity: 10^?3 W · cm^?2) led to complete photolysis of the photolabel within <20 min. Under these conditions [Pap¹³]-α-MSH was covalently inserted into MSH-receptors which produced a longlasting pigment dispersion in Xenopus melanphores (see [3]). The extent of this prolonged stimulation depended on the hormone concentration used during photolysis. 1.8·10^?9_M [Pap¹³]-α-MSH which produced a full initial response failed to prolong the effect, whereas 1.2·10^?8_M hormone caused irreversible stimulation. It appears that only about 10% of the initially occupied receptors were covalently labelled because the log dose response curve was shifted to ～ 10x higher concentration after a 200 min wash period: EC₅₀ immediately after photolysis was 6 · 10^?10_M; after 200 min EC₅₀ increased to ～8·10^?9_M.     

Hormone-receptor interactions. Syntheses of alpha-melanotropin and of informational sequences thereof with the aid of alcali-labile protecting groups (author's transl)]

Hormone-Receptor Interactions. Synthesses of α-Melanotropin and of Informational Sequences thereof with the Aid of Alcali-Labile Protecting Groups. The aim of this investigation was to prepare α-melanotropin and partial sequences thereof for biological investigations in as pure a state as possible. Classical synthesis in solution was chosen as the general approach, because it allows for extensive purification and identification of all intermediates, thus warranting the chemical identity of the products (in contrast to the solidphase methods). The scheme of protection was as follows: for the N^α-amino groups mostly t-butoxycarbonyl (BOC-), sometimes benzyloxycarbonyl (Z-), for the N^?-amino group of lysine-(11) 2-(methylsulfonyl)-ethoxycarbonyl (MSOC-), and for the carboxylic acid group of C-terminal glycine-(10) 2-(4-tolyl-sulfonyl)-ethoxy (-OTSE). This provides for facile and mild selective deprotection of either the α-amino groups by acidolysis or of the ?-amino group (α-carboxyl group) by β-elimination in alcali. A slight molar excess of 0.12N HCl in HCOOH proved to be the method of choice for removing BOC-; MSOC- is stable in acid (even for 30 min in liquid HF) and easily removed in a few minutes by 0.05--0.1N Ba(OH)₂; -OTSE is removed similarly. Condensation of amino-acid and peptide derivatives (formation of the peptide link) was performed using active esters (-ONP; -OSU), dicyclohexyl-carbodiimide (DCCI) with or without 1-hydroxy-benzotriazole (HOBT), or carboxylic acid azides wherever histidine was the carboxylic component. More than 50 compounds are described. Those characterized by arabic numerals served to prove that α-MSH contains two message sequences that are able to trigger melanocyte response: one in the central region -His-Phe-Arg-Trp-, the other in the C-terminal portion -Gly-Lys-Pro-Val · NH₂ of the molecule [3].     

Tritiation of Peptides to High Specific Radioactivity. Part 1. Synthesis and Biological Properties of [13-(3H4)Norvaline]-α-MSH and of [2,23-Bis((3H2)tyrosine)]ACTH(1–24)

α-MSH and ACTH(1–24) were tritiated to high specific radioactivity (> 100 Ci/mmol) using a new tritiation apparatus with which the tritiation reaction can be performed at slightly elevated pressure. This allows short reaction times with the least possible damage to the molecule. The starting compounds for the tritiation were [13-propargylglycine]α-MSH and [2,23-Bis(3′,5′-diiodotyrosine)]ACTH(1–24). Both tritiations were quantitative and yielded products of high purity, full biological activity, and with a specific radioactivity of 115 Ci/mmol and 100 Ci/mmol, respectively.     

L-o-Carboranylalanine,a Boron Analogue of Phenylalanine

The synthesis of a new, boron-containing analogue of phenylalanine is described. Carboranylalanine (Car) carries a 1,2-carborane cage in place of the benzene ring of phenylalanine. It is obtained by the reaction of derivatives of propargylglycine with decaborane. Possibilities of practical application derive from the facile neutron activation of boron nuclei with mass number 10.     

Synthesis of 1,4,6,7-tetrahydroimidazo[2,1-c] [1,2,4] triazines

From 2-methylthioimidazoline and phenaeylbromides in DMF there were obtained the 2-(2-methylthio-2-imidazolin-1-yl)aeetopht'nones 3a-3f . From these the substituted 3-phenyl-1,4,6,7-tetrahytlroimidazo[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazines 4a-4n were prepared upon reaction with hydrazine and methylhydrazine respectively. Compound 4a was degraded to the triazine 6. From the (2-methylthio-2-imidazolin-l-yl)-acetie acid ester 10, the imidazo[2,1-c] [1,2,4]triazines 11a-11c were prepared. Selective ethylation on the oxygen was achieved with 11b in the presence of Meerwein' salt.