Structural Requirements for the Antiprotozoal Activity of 4-Aminobicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-ols

Summary. Several 4-aminobicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-ones and -ols were synthesized using different pathways. The new compounds were investigated for their activity against Trypanosoma b. rhodesiense, the causative organism of East African sleeping sickness and Plasmodium falciparum the protozoan parasite which causes Malaria tropica. The results are compared to the activities of known compounds and the influence of the substitution of the bicyclo[2.2.2]octane skeleton on the biological activities is discussed.     

Rapid identification of allergen-encoding cDNA clones by phage display and high-density arrays

We describe a high-throughput, quantitative technology for fast identification of all different clones present in selectively enriched phage surface-displayed cDNA libraries. The strategy is based on a combination of phage display and high-density arrays. To demonstrate the utility of the method cDNAs of Aspergillus fumigatus cloned into phagemid pJuFo were expressed on the tip of filamentous M13 phage and affinity-selected on solid phase-immobilized serum IgE from allergic patients. Enriched phagemid libraries were amplified in bacteria, plated and arrayed into 384-well microtitre plates by robotic colony picking. cDNA inserts were amplified by high-throughput PCR and gridded onto high-density filter membranes. Filters were iteratively probed with randomly-sequenced inserts until all clones were identified. Eighty-one different sequences encoding IgE-binding proteins likely to cover a large part of the allergen repertoire of the mould were found. This approach represents a widely applicable method for rapid high-throughput identification of all individual cDNAs present in selectively enriched libraries.     

New 4-Amino-2-azabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane Derivatives and their Antiprotozoal Potencies

Summary. Several 2-substituted 4-amino-2-azabicyclo [3.2.2]nonane derivatives were synthesized. The new compounds were investigated for their activities against the causative organism of East African sleeping sickness, Trypanosoma b. rhodesiense, and a protozoan parasite which causes Malaria tropica, Plasmodium falciparum K₁, a strain which is resistant to chloroquine and pyrimethamine. The results are compared to the activities of 2-unsubstituted 4-amino-2-azabicyclo[3.2.2]nonanes.     

Design,scope and mechanism of highly active and selective chiral NHC–iridium catalysts for the intramolecular hydroamination of a variety of unactivated aminoalkenes

Chiral, cationic NHC–iridium complexes are introduced as catalysts for the intramolecular hydroamination reaction of unactivated aminoalkenes. The catalysts show high activity in the construction of a range of 5- and 6-membered N-heterocycles, which are accessed in excellent optical purity, with various functional groups being tolerated with this system. A major deactivation pathway is presented and eliminated by using alternative reaction conditions. A detailed experimental and computational study on the reaction mechanism is performed providing valuable insights into the mode of action of the catalytic system and pointing to future modifications to be made for this catalytic platform.

Chiral, cationic NHC–iridium complexes are introduced as catalysts for the intramolecular hydroamination reaction of unactivated aminoalkenes.     

Synthese optisch aktiver 2-Methyl- und 2-Äthyl-1, 6-dioxaspiro [4.4]-nonan- und -[4.5]decan-Pheromone aus einem gemeinsamen chiralen Vorläufer

Synthesis of Optically Active 2-Methyl- and 2-Ethyl-1, 6-dioxaspiro [4.4]nonane- and -[4.5]decane Pheromones from a Common Chiral Precursor The versatility of the bromoepoxide 6 as chiral building block, which is readily available in both enantiomeric forms from malic acid, and which has previously been used for a vermiculine synthesis, is further demonstrated by the preparation of the title compounds 1, 3, 4 and 5 . Alkylation of 1,3-dithiane, first with the 1-ethoxyethyl-protected ω-chloroalcohols 8b or 9b and then with the (S)-(?)-bromoepoxide 6 , followed by oxirane opening with Selectride or methyl Gilman-reagent creates the desired carbon skeletons and functionality patterns 14–17 , in overall yields of 60–80%. Acetal and thioacetal hydrolyses directly furnish the spiroacetal target structures 1 and 3–5 as 3:2-diastereomeric mixtures; the E/Z-epimers 3 are separated by preparative GC. (Fig.).     

A Reinvestigation of the Oxidative Rearrangement of Yohimbane-Type Alkaloids. Part B. Formation of Oxindol (= 1,3-Dihydro-2H-indol-2-one) Derivatives

The methanolysis of the epimeric 7-chloro-7H-yohimbine derivatives 2 and 3 was reinvestigated. In case of the 7α-epimer 2 , the reaction was uneventful and conformed with earlier observations, i.e., under sufficiently mild conditions, only the imino ether 4 (= imino ether A) was produced. Under the same conditions, the less reactive β-isomer 3 furnished a mixture of both imino ethers 4 and 5 , accompanied by the elimination product 11 , and by equal amounts of yohimbine ( 1 ) and 3,4,5,6-tetradehydroyohimbine ( 12 ), which are believed to arise through a disproportionation process of the putative intermediate 5,6-didehydroyhimbine ( 23 ). The nature of this divergent reactivity and of the ready equilibration of 4 and 5 was investigated by means of extensive force-field and semi-empirical calculations (AM1 and PM3) of various conformers of the compounds 2–5 and of some possible reaction intermediates.     

γ,δ‐ and δ,ε‐Unsaturated Aldehydes from γ‐ and δ‐Lactones in One Step. Preliminary Communication

A one‐step transformation of γ‐ and δ‐(spiro)lactones into γ,δ‐ and δ,ε‐unsaturated aldehydes with an excess of formic acid in the vapor phase over a supported manganese catalyst is described for the first time. The scope and limitations of this new reaction are shown with different lactones as substrate, and a mechanistic rationale is proposed.     

Synthesis of novel piperazine based building blocks: 3,7,9-triazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane, 3,6,8-triazabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane, 3-oxa-7,9-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane and 3-oxa-6,8-diazabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane

The preparation of four novel bridged piperazine building blocks is described: 3,7,9-triazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane 1, 3-oxa-7,9-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane 2, 3,6,8-triazabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane 3 and 3-oxa-6,8-diazabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane 4. The scaffold of 1 was synthesized from N,N′-dibromobenzenesulfonamide and ethyl acrylate. Compound 2 may be prepared from identical starting materials or alternatively from α,α′-diglycerol. Compounds 3 and 4 were identified as side products from possible aziridinium intermediates.     

Steric and electronic properties of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC): a detailed study on their interaction with Ni(CO)4

N-heterocyclic carbene ligands IMes (1), SIMes (2), IPr (3), SIPr (4), and ICy (5) react with Ni(CO)(4) to give the saturated tricarbonyl complexes Ni(CO)(3)(IMes) (8), Ni(CO)(3)(SIMes) (9), Ni(CO)(3)(IPr) (10), Ni(CO)(3)(SIPr) (11), and Ni(CO)(3)(ICy) (12), respectively. The electronic properties of these complexes have been compared to their phosphine analogues of general formula Ni(CO)(3)(PR(3)) by recording their nu(CO) stretching frequencies. While all of these NHCs are better donors than tertiary phosphines, the differences in donor properties between ligands 1-5 are surprisingly small. Novel, unsaturated Ni(CO)(2)(IAd) (13) and Ni(CO)(2)(I(t)()Bu) (14) compounds are obtained from the reaction of Ni(CO)(4) with IAd (6) and I(t)()Bu (7). Complexes 13 and 14 are highly active toward substitution of the NHC as well as the carbonyl ligands. This has allowed the determination of Ni-C(NHC) bond dissociation energies and the synthesis of various unsaturated Ni(0) and Ni(II) complexes. Computational studies on compounds 8-14 are in line with the experimental findings and show that IAd (6) and I(t)()Bu (7) are more bulky than IMes (1), SIMes (2), IPr (3), SIPr (4), and ICy (5). Furthermore, a method based on %V(bur) values has been developed for the direct comparison of steric requirements of NHCs and tertiary phosphines. Complexes 8-14, as well as NiCl(C(3)H(5))(I(t)()Bu) (16) and NiBr(C(3)H(5))(I(t)()Bu) (17), have been characterized by X-ray crystallography.     

A structural study of model peptides derived from HIV-1 integrase central domain

The HIV-1 integrase (IN) catalyzes the integration of viral DNA in the human genome. In vitro the enzyme displays an equilibrium of monomers, dimers, tetramers and larger oligomers. However, its functional oligomeric form in vivo is not known. We report a study of the auto-associative properties of three peptides denoted K156, E156 and E159. These derive from the alpha4 helix of the IN catalytic core. The alpha4 helix is an amphipatic helix exposed at the surface of the protein and could be involved in the oligomerization process through its hydrophobic face. The peptides were obtained from the replacement of several amino acid residues by more helicogenic ones in the alpha4 helix peptide. K156 carries the basic residues Lys156 and Lys159, which have been shown important for the binding of IN to viral DNA. In E156 and E159 they are replaced with the acidic residue Glu. A fourth peptide K(E)156 obtained from the replacement of hydrophobic residues with Glu in K156 in order to abolish the auto-associative properties is used as a negative control. The capacity shown by peptides for alpha-helical formation is demonstrated by circular dichroism (CD) analysis performed in aqueous solution and in aqueous trifluoroethanol (TFE) mixtures. Both electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and glutaraldehyde chemical cross-linking show that peptides adopt different solvent-dependent equilibriums of monomers, dimers, trimers and tetramers. Oligomerization of peptides in aqueous solution is related to their ability to form helical structures. Addition of a small amount of TFE (<10%) stimulates helix stabilization and the interhelical hydrophobic contacts. Higher amounts of TFE alter the hydrophobic contacts and disrupt the oligomeric species. In addition to hydrophobic interactions, the patterns indicate that the biologically important Lys156 and Lys159 residues also participate in helix association. K(E)156 despite its ability to adopt a helical structure is unable to associate into oligomers, demonstrating the importance of hydrophobic contacts for oligomerization. Thus, the designed peptides provide us information on the functional properties of the alpha4 IN that seems to hold a dual role in DNA recognition and protein oligomerization.