Azasugar inhibitors as pharmacological chaperones for Krabbe disease

Krabbe disease is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by rapid demyelination of nerve fibers. This disease is caused by defects in the lysosomal enzyme β-galactocerebrosidase (GALC), which hydrolyzes the terminal galactose from glycosphingolipids. These lipids are essential components of eukaryotic cell membranes: substrates of GALC include galactocerebroside, the primary lipid component of myelin, and psychosine, a cytotoxic metabolite. Mutations of GALC that cause misfolding of the protein may be responsive to pharmacological chaperone therapy (PCT), whereby small molecules are used to stabilize these mutant proteins, thus correcting trafficking defects and increasing residual catabolic activity in cells. Here we describe a new approach for the synthesis of galacto-configured azasugars and the characterization of their interaction with GALC using biophysical, biochemical and crystallographic methods. We identify that the global stabilization of GALC conferred by azasugar derivatives, measured by fluorescence-based thermal shift assays, is directly related to their binding affinity, measured by enzyme inhibition. X-ray crystal structures of these molecules bound in the GALC active site reveal which residues participate in stabilizing interactions, show how potency is achieved and illustrate the penalties of aza/iminosugar ring distortion. The structure–activity relationships described here identify the key physical properties required of pharmacological chaperones for Krabbe disease and highlight the potential of azasugars as stabilizing agents for future enzyme replacement therapies. This work lays the foundation for new drug-based treatments of Krabbe disease.     

alpha-thiocyanation of carbonyl and beta-dicarbonyl compounds using (dichloroiodo)benzene-lead(II) thiocyanate

The combination reagent (dichloroiodo)benzene and lead(II) thiocyanate in dichloromethane effects oxidation of various enol silyl ethers, ketene silyl acetals, and beta-dicarbonyl compounds, thereby providing an efficient and convenient method for alpha-thiocyanation of carbonyl and beta-dicarbonyl compounds.     

Ferromagnetic spin alignment in head-to-tail coupled oligo(1, 4-phenyleneethynylene)s and Oligo(1,4-phenylenevinylene)s bearing pendant p-phenylenediamine radical cations

The intramolecular and long-range ferromagnetic coupling between p-phenylenediamine radical cations in head-to-tail coupled oligo(1, 4-phenyleneethynylene)s and oligo(1,4-phenylenvinylene)s between neighbors and next-nearest neighbors is described. UV/vis/near-IR experiments show that the radical cations are localized in the pendant p-phenylenediamine units of the conjugated oligomers. The ESR spectra of these oligo(1,4-phenyleneethynylene) and oligo(1, 4-phenylenvinylene) di(radical cation)s are consistent with those of a triplet state. A linear behavior is observed for the doubly integrated ESR intensity of the DeltaM(s) = +/-1 and DeltaM(s) = +/-2 signals with the inverse temperature (I approximately 1/T), consistent with Curie's law. This behavior indicates a triplet ground-state diradical with a large triplet-singlet energy gap or possibly a degeneracy of singlet and triplet states.     

The intramolecular asymmetric Pauson-Khand cyclization as a novel and general stereoselective route to benzindene prostacyclins: synthesis of UT-15 (treprostinil)

A general and novel solution to the synthesis of biologically important stable analogues of prostacyclin PGI(2), namely benzindene prostacyclins, has been achieved via the stereoselective intramolecular Pauson-Khand cyclization (PKC). This work illustrates for the first time the synthetic utility and reliability of the asymmetric PKC route for synthesis and subsequent manufacture of a complex drug substance on a multikilogram scale. The synthetic route surmounts issues of individual step stereoselectivity and scalability. The key step in the synthesis involves efficient stereoselection effected in the PKC of a benzoenyne under the agency of the benzylic OTBDMS group, which serves as a temporary stereodirecting group that is conveniently removed via benzylic hydrogenolysis concomitantly with the catalytic hydrogenation of the enone PKC product. Thus the benzylic chiral center dictates the subsequent stereochemistry of the stereogenic centers at three carbon atoms (C(3a), C(9a), and C(1)).     

Supramolecular phthalocyanine dimers based on the secondary dialkylammonium cation/dibenzo-24-crown-8 recognition motif

[formula: see text] New unsymmetrically substituted DB24C8-phthalocyanines, which are able to form complexes with suitable dialkylammonium cations, have been prepared. These complexes most probably have a pseudorotaxane geometry.