Synthesis of substituted 5-aminomethyl tetrahydro-isoquinolines and dihydro-isoindoles

The synthesis of ten substituted aminomethylene tetrahydro-isoquinolines is described, proceeding in eight steps from 5-hydroxyisoquinoline via reductive amination of N-Boc tetrahydro-isoquinoline 5-carboxaldehyde. Likewise, reductive amination was used to prepare four substituted dihydro-isoindoles from the corresponding aldehyde. The dihydro-isoindole ring system was conveniently accessed via a 2+2+2 cycloaddition reaction.     

Isolation and Crystal Structure of Novel by-products Observed During the Formation of bis(thiosemicarbazones)

During the condensation of 4-methyl-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazide (3) with 2,3-butanedione an unexpected by-product, 8a-methyl-6,8a-dihydro-8-methyl-2-[N-methyl-N-phenylamino]-5H-1,3,4-thiadiazolo[3,2-d][1,2,4]triazine-5-thione, (5) was obtained in addition to the desired bis(thiosemicarbazone) (4). An X-ray crystal structure was obtained and is presented together with a proposed mechanism for its formation. A brief investigation of the coordination chemistry of bicycle (5) was carried out. The formation of cyclic compounds during the synthesis of analogues with extended backbones is also described.     

Combination of anti-angiogenic therapy and immune checkpoint blockade normalizes vascular-immune crosstalk to potentiate cancer immunity

Cancer immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has revolutionized the treatment of advanced cancers. However, the tumor microenvironment (TME) functions as a formidable barrier that severely impairs the efficacy of ICIs. While the crosstalk between tumor vessels and immune cells determines the nature of anti-tumor immunity, it is skewed toward a destructive cycle in growing tumors. First, the disorganized tumor vessels hinder CD8⁺ T cell trafficking into the TME, disable effector functions, and even kill T cells. Moreover, VEGF, the key driver of angiogenesis, interferes with the maturation of dendritic cells, thereby suppressing T cell priming, and VEGF also induces TOX-mediated exhaustion of CD8⁺ T cells. Meanwhile, a variety of innate and adaptive immune cells contribute to the malformation of tumor vessels. Protumoral M2-like macrophages as well as T_H2 and Treg cells secrete pro-angiogenic factors that accelerate uncontrolled angiogenesis and promote vascular immaturity. While CD8⁺ T and CD4⁺ T_H1 cells suppress angiogenesis and induce vascular maturation by secreting IFN-γ, they are unable to infiltrate the TME due to malformed tumor vessels. These findings led to preclinical studies that demonstrated that simultaneous targeting of tumor vessels and immunity is a viable strategy to normalize aberrant vascular-immune crosstalk and potentiate cancer immunotherapy. Furthermore, this combination strategy has been evidently demonstrated through recent pivotal clinical trials, granted approval from FDA, and is now being used in patients with kidney, liver, lung, or uterine cancer. Overall, combining anti-angiogenic therapy and ICI is a valid therapeutic strategy that can enhance cancer immunity and will further expand the landscape of cancer treatment.Subject terms: Cancer immunotherapy, Cancer microenvironment, Tumour angiogenesis, Tumour immunology, Targeted therapies     

Magnetic circular dichroism studies XXXII

CNDO calculations of the MCD spectra of 7- and 9-methyladenine have been carried out in two approximations. A minor modification of the CNDO/S method of Jaffé and coworkers shows an improvement over Jaffé's parameterization with respect to band separations and the signs of the MCDB terms, but is not applicable ton→ π* transitions.     

A direct route for the preparation of Fmoc/OtBu protected iodotyrosine

Herein the synthesis of an Fmoc/O^tBu orthogonally protected iodotyrosine derivative is reported. This has been achieved via a simple two-step process in an overall 58% yield from commercially available Fmoc-Tyr(^tBu)-OH. The Fmoc/O^tBu orthogonally protected iodotyrosine was also shown to be amenable to Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling to deliver a novel bi-aryl tyrosine derivative.     

Metal Oxide Assisted Preparation of Core–Shell Beads with Dense Metal–Organic Framework Coatings for the Enhanced Extraction of Organic Pollutants

Dense and homogeneous metal–organic framework (MOF) coatings on functional bead surfaces are easily prepared by using intermediate sacrificial metal oxide coatings containing the metal precursor of the MOF. Polystyrene (PS) beads are coated with a ZnO layer to give ZnO@PS core–shell beads. The ZnO@PS beads are reactive in the presence of 2‐methylimidazole to transform part of the ZnO coating into a porous zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) external shell positioned above the internal ZnO precursor shell. The obtained ZIF‐8@ZnO@PS beads can be easily packed in column format for flow‐through applications, such as the solid‐phase extraction of trace priority‐listed environmental pollutants. The prepared material shows an excellent permeance to flow when packed as a column to give high enrichment factors, facile regeneration, and excellent reusability for the extraction of the pollutant bisphenol A. It also shows an outstanding performance for the simultaneous enrichment of mixtures of endocrine disrupting chemicals (bisphenol A, 4‐tert‐octylphenol and 4‐n‐nonylphenol), facilitating their analysis when present at very low levels (<1 μg L^?1) in drinking waters. For the extraction of the pollutant bisphenol A, the prepared ZIF‐8@ZnO@PS beads also show a superior extraction and preconcentration capacity to that of the PS beads used as precursors and the composite materials obtained by the direct growth of ZIF‐8 on the surface of the PS beads in the absence of metal oxide intermediate coatings.     

One-pot synthesis of 3-arylaminomaleimides from terminal alkynes and isocyanates

The reaction of aryl acetylide anions with phenyl isocyanate and subsequent addition of a protonating agent such as ethanol affords good yields of 3-aminomaleimides, formed by the cyclization of one molecule of alkyne with two isocyanates. When the reaction is quenched with water instead, cyclopentadienone imines are formed as the major products.     

Fast,Facile and Solvent-Free Dry-Melt Synthesis of Oxovanadium(IV) Complexes: Simple Design with High Potency towards Cancerous Cells

A range of oxobis(phenyl-1,3-butanedione) vanadium(IV) complexes have been successfully synthesized from cheap starting materials and a simple and solvent-free one-pot dry-melt reaction. This direct, straightforward, fast and alternative approach to inorganic synthesis has the potential for a wide range of applications. Analytical studies confirm their successful synthesis, purity and solid-state coordination, and we report the use of such complexes as potential drug candidates for the treatment of cancer. After a 24 hour incubation of A549 lung carcinoma cells with the compounds, they reveal cytotoxicity values elevenfold greater than cisplatin and remain non-toxic towards normal cell types. Additionally, the complexes are stable over a range of physiological pH values and show the potential for interactions with bovine serum albumin.