Photochemical pinacol rearrangements of unsymmetrical diols

The photochemical pinacol reaction of a series of nonsymmetrical 9-fluorenyl-substituted vic-diols was investigated and compared with their acid-catalyzed thermal reaction. Unlike the thermal reaction, the radiation-induced processes involve only fluorenyl cations, as is reflected in differences of product distribution between the two reactions. From the product studies, substituent migratory aptitudes are reversed in the photochemical process, suggesting that kinetic control takes place under neutral conditions unlike the acid-catalyzed thermal reactions. The presence of fluorenyl cation intermediates and their lifetimes were established by laser flash spectroscopy studies.     

Alterations in mitochondrial and apoptosis-regulating gene expression in photodynamic therapy-resistant variants of HT29 colon carcinoma cells

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a novel cancer therapy inducing irreversible photodamage to tumor tissue via photosensitizer-mediated oxidative cytotoxicity. The cellular and molecular responses associated with PDT are only partially understood. We have reported previously the generation of several photosensitizer-specific PDT-resistant cell variants of HT29 human colon adenocarcinoma cells by selecting cells from sequential PDT treatment using different photosensitizers. In this report, we describe the use of messenger RNA (mRNA) differential display to identify genes that were differentially expressed in the parental HT29 cells compared with their resistant variants. In comparison with parental HT29 cells, mRNA expression was increased in the PDT-resistant cell variants for BNIP3, estrogen receptor-binding fragment-associated gene 9, Myh-1c, cytoplasmic dynein light chain 1, small membrane protein I and differential dependent protein. In contrast, expression in the PDT-resistant variants was downregulated for NNX3, human HepG2 3' region Mbol complementary DNA, glutamate dehydrogenase, hepatoma-derived growth factor and the mitochondrial genes coding for 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) dehydrogenase subunit 4. The reduction for mitochondrial 16S rRNA in the PDT-resistant variants was confirmed by Northern blotting, and the elevated expression of the proapoptotic BNIP3 in the PDT-resistant variants was confirmed by Northern and Western blotting analysis. We also examined the expression of some additional apoptosis-regulating genes using Western blotting. We show an increased expression of Bcl-2 and heat shock protein 27 and a downregulation of Bax in the PDT-resistant variants. In addition, the mutant p53 levels in the parental HT29 cells were reduced substantially in the PDT-resistant variants. We suggest that the altered expression in several mitochondrial and apoptosis-regulating genes contributes to PDT resistance.     

Photochemistry of arylidene-beta-ionones: a highly efficient route to novel tricyclic ketones through intramolecular, exoselective photochemical (4 + 2) cycloadditions, occurring only in an aqueous-organic solvent

(E,E)-Arylidene-beta-ionones (1a-f) are converted to 1,7,7-trimethyl-3-(E-2'-arylethenyl)-2-oxabicyclo[4.4.0]deca-3,5-dienes (3a-f, approximately 90%) by irradiating in anhydrous solvents. Irradiation of (3a-f) in aqueous methanol results in Z,E-arylidene-beta-ionones (2), through retro-electrocyclization, which undergoes an intramolecular, exo-selective [4 + 2] photocycloaddition leading to 11-(exo)-aryl-1,7,7-trimethyl-tricyclo[4.4.0.1(2,4)]undec-5-ene-3-ones (8a-f, 60-80%). The latter rearrange over silica gel to afford, quantitatively, 5-aryl-7,11,11-trimethyl-tricyclo[5.4.0.0(3,6)]undec-1-ene-4-ones (5a-f). Irradiation of 1a-f in aqueous methanol leads to 8a-f, except in case of 1c,f wherein formation, respectively, of tricyclic ketones 9c (55%) and 9f (80%), derived from photodeconjugation in 2, followed by intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition, is observed.     

Synthesis of New Macrocyclic Polyaza Compounds Containing 1-Methylpyrazole

New macrocyclic polyaza compoundscontaining the 1-methylpyrazole moiety are synthesizedin high yield by [2+2]dipodal condensation andreduction. The ring contracted structure of the Schiffbase has been elucidated by NMR. Two of thesemacrocycles form dinuclear complexes with copper andsilver. Macrocyclic Schiff base 5a extracts74.5% silver from aqueous to organic phase.     

Pericyclic Transformations at the Periphery of Chromen‐4‐one (=4H‐1‐Benzopyran‐4‐one): An Unusual Preference for a 1,5‐Shift of Allylic Moieties over the Ene Reaction

Quite unlike the reported facile ene reactions on the periphery of many related heterocyclic systems, similarly disposed moieties on the periphery of the chromen‐4‐one (=4H‐1‐benzopyran‐4‐one) system fail to undergo an ene reaction and display a rather unusual preference for an overall [1,5] shift of the allylic C‐atom. Thus, heating xylene solutions of 2‐(N‐allylanilino)‐, 2‐(N‐crotylanilino)‐, and 2‐(N‐cinnamylamino)‐substituted (E)‐(oxochromenyl)propenoates 9a – c and 2‐[allyl(benzyl)amino]‐, 2‐[benzyl(crotyl)amino]‐, and 2‐[benzyl(cinnamyl)amino]‐substituted (E)‐(oxochromenyl)propenoates 16a – c in a sealed tube at 220–230° leads to a [1,5] shift of the allylic moieties (allyl, crotyl, cinnamyl), which is followed by intramolecular cyclization involving the N‐atom and the ester function, to give the 3‐allyl‐3‐crotyl‐, and 3‐cinnamyl‐substituted‐1‐phenyl‐ or 1‐benzyl‐2H‐[1]benzopyrano[2,3‐b]pyridine‐2,5(1H)‐diones 10a – c and 17a – c . The anticipated carbonyl–ene reaction in the 2‐(N‐allylanilino)‐, 2‐(N‐crotylanilino)‐, 2‐(N‐cinnamylanilino)‐, 2‐[allyl(benzyl)amino]‐, 2‐[benzyl(crotyl)amino]‐, and 2‐[benzyl(cinnamyl)amino]‐substituted 4‐oxochromene‐3‐carboxaldehydes 8a – c and 15a – c is also not observed, and these molecules remain untransformed under identical conditions. No [1,5] shifts of benzyl, phenyl, or methyl groups are observed, even in the absence of allylic moieties, though facile [1,5]‐H shift occurs in 2‐(benzylamino)‐ and 2‐(phenylamino)‐substituted (E)‐(oxochromenyl)propenoates 23a , b , which is followed by a similar intramolecular cyclization leading to the 2H‐[1]benzopyrano[2,3‐b]pyridine‐2,5(1H)‐diones 24a , b .     

Activation of the stress-activated JNK and p38 MAP kinases in human cells by Photofrin-mediated photodynamic therapy

We have examined the possible role of the stress-activated JNK and p38 protein kinases in cellular sensitivity following Photofrin-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT). Previously we reported that immortalized Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) cells are more resistant to Photofrin-mediated PDT compared to normal human fibroblasts (NHF) at equivalent cellular Photofrin levels. In the current work we report that Photofrin-mediated PDT increased the activity of JNK1 and p38 within 30 min in both cell types. However, the increased activity of JNK1 and p38 was transient in the sensitive NHF cells and returned back to near basal levels by 3 h after PDT. In contrast, the resistant LFS cells exhibited a more prolonged activation of JNK and p38, which lasted for at least 11 h and 7 h after PDT, respectively. Blocking of the p38 pathway in LFS cells by transient infection with a recombinant adenovirus expressing a dominant negative mutant of p38 or in HeLa cells by stable transfection with a dominant negative mutant of p38 had no effect on cell survival following PDT. These data suggest that although Photofrin-mediated PDT is able to induce JNK1 and p38 in human cells, the p38 pathway alone does not play a major role in the sensitivity of LFS cells to Photofrin-mediated PDT.     

MITOCHONDRIAL PHOTOSENSITIZATION BY PHOTOFRIN II

Abstract V-79 Chinese hamster cells grown as monolayers or as multicell spheroids were treated with Photofrin II (10 μ.g m⁻¹ for 16 h) and various doses of red light irradiation. The resulting biochemical and functional damage to cell mitochondria was studied. The activities of both succinic dehydrogenese and cytochrome c oxidase were found to decrease in a light dose-dependent manner. The respiratory control quotient (RC) decreased in parallel with a decrease in the activities of the respiratory chain proteins. Our data also showed a distinct temporal difference in the relative progression of mitochondrial damage and cell death as assessed by loss of discrete Rhodamine-123 (Rh-123) localization and trypan blue infiltration, respectively. Mitochondrial damage was detected immediately, as seen by derealization of Rh-123 resulting from dissipation of the electrochemical gradient in damaged mitochondria. Trypan blue infiltration occurs with a distinct time lag. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that, at least for long Photofrin II incubation times, the mitochondrion is a primary target of photosensitization. The subsequent changes in cell membrane permeability may be a delayed result of decreased bioenergetics of the Photofrin II photosensitized cell.     

A robust strategy for the preparation of libraries of metallopeptides. A new paradigm for the discovery of targeted molecular imaging and therapy agents

A robust method for synthesizing structurally diverse metallopeptide libraries using a Re(i) complex of a non-natural amino acid was developed as a way to accelerate the discovery of novel molecular imaging probes.     

A stereoselective synthesis of 6,6,6-trifluoro-L-daunosamine and 6,6,6-trifluoro-L-acosamine

A short synthesis of 6,6,6-trifluoro-L-acosamine 15 and 6,6,6-trifluoro-L-daunosamine 19 has been accomplished. The pyranose ring system of these carbohydrate analogues was formed by a hetero-Diels-Alder reaction of vinylogous imide 11 and ethyl vinyl ether which gave adduct 12a in 40% yield. Hydroboration gave 13 and subsequent hydrogenolytic removal of the (R)-2-phenylethyl chiral auxiliary gave ethyl 6,6,6-trifluoro-L-acosaminide 14. Acid hydrolysis furnished target 15. Glycoside 13 was N-trifluoroacetylated to give 16, the structure was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The C-4 stereochemistry of 16 was inverted by Swern oxidation of the 4-OH group, and subsequent borohydride reduction to give 17. Hydrogenolytic removal of the auxiliary gave ethyl-6,6,6-trifluoro-L-daunosaminide 18. Acid hydrolysis provided 19.     

In vitro survival of nonsmall cell lung cancer cells following combined treatment with ionizing radiation and photofrin-mediated photodynamic therapy

It has been suggested that combination high dose rate (HDR) intraluminal brachytherapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT) in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may improve efficacy of treatment, reduce toxicity and enhance quality of life for patients. To provide a cellular basis for this we examined the in vitro sensitivity of MRC5 normal lung fibroblasts and four NSCLC cell lines following HDR radiation, PDT and combined HDR radiation and PDT. HDR radiation was cobalt-60 gamma rays (1.5–1.9 Gy min⁻¹). For PDT treatment, cells were exposed to 2.5 μg mL⁻¹ Photofrin for 18–24 h followed by light exposure (20 mW cm⁻²). For combined treatment cells were exposed to Photofrin and then either exposed to light and 15–30 min later exposed to HDR radiation or exposed to HDR radiation and 15–30 min later exposed to light. D₃₇ values calculated from clonogenic survival curves indicated a six-fold difference in HDR radiation sensitivity and an eight-fold difference in PDT sensitivity. The effect of combined treatment was not significantly different from an additive effect of the individual treatment modalities for the NSCLC cells, but was significantly less than additive for the MRC5 cells. These results suggest an equivalent tumor cell kill may be possible at reduced systemic effects to patients.