Search Results (12)

Nucleophilic ring-opening of bis(oxiranes), containing several reactive centers, can be used to elaborate straightforward atom-economy and stereoselective approaches to polyfunctionalized compounds. In the present work, ring-opening of cis- and trans-diastereomers of a spirocyclic bis(oxirane), containing a cyclooctane core (namely, 1,8-dioxadispiro[2.3.2.3]dodecane), upon treatment with various amines, was studied. Trans-isomer afforded aminoalcohols with 9-oxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane moiety, formed via domino-process, including opening of an oxirane ring followed by intramolecular cyclization. Ring-opening of cis-isomer gave aminosubstituted cis-cyclooctane-1,5-diols, derived from independent reaction of two oxirane moieties. Activation of oxirane rings by the addition of LiClO₄, acting as a Lewis acid, allowed the involvement of a number of primary and secondary aliphatic amines as well as aniline derivatives in the reaction. Scope and limitations of the reaction were studied and a series of aminoalcohols with a 9-oxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane core and symmetric diaminodiols with a cyclooctane core were obtained. Full article

In pursuit of unsymmetrical precursors for the novel series of anthracenyl-isoxazole amide (AIM) antitumor agents, a series of substituted anthracenes were subjected to bromination and re-aromatization in our study, during which we solved four single crystal X-ray diffractometry (Sc-xrd) structures which we report herein. The C-9 nitrile oxide, after its reaction with bromine, was isolated, but when subjected to re-aromatization, it returned to the starting 10-bromo nitrile oxide 1, which did provide an accurate crystal structure, with R = 0.018. The 10-halogenated 3-(9’-anthryl)-isoxazole esters were subjected to bromination and re-aromatization. Surprisingly, the yields obtained in the presence of the isoxazole were reasonably good (62–68% isolated yields), and the major diastereomers allowed for the characterization using Sc-xrd. The penta bromo product 2 showed a trans, trans, cis relationship for the four bromines on the A-ring of the anthracene, and we observed that for the unit cell, the atropisomers displayed a 1:1 ratio at the chiral axis between the isoxazole and anthrancene rings. Similarly, the 10-chloro 3 indicated a ratio of 1:1 at the chiral axis in the crystal structure. A base-induced re-aromatization afforded 3,10-dihalogenated analogues selectively in very good yields (X = Cl, 89%; X = Br 92%), of which the dibromo 4 was characterized using Sc-xrd. The improved yields of the unique diastereomeric bromination products suggested the consideration of a novel electrophilic aromatic substitution mechanism driven by the stereo-electronic environment, imposed by the isoxazole ester substituent. The promise of the application of this chemistry in the future development of AIM antitumor agents is suggested. Full article

The preparation of new, enantiomerically pure, α-amino acids from easily available starting materials is an ongoing challenge in synthetic organic chemistry. Here, we describe the syntheses and crystal structures of three chiral oxazolidinone derivatives prepared from L-alanine and pivalaldehyde to form a Schiff base intermediate and then reaction with the appropriate acid chloride to form the heterocycle. In each compound, the methyl and tert-butyl substituents lie to the same side of the molecule: these homochiral ‘cis’ structures were separated from their trans diastereomers by fractional crystallisation. The five-membered rings in these structures adopt various conformations including envelopes with either a C or O atom as the flap and twisted about a C–O bond. The extended structures of two of these compounds feature C(6) chains of molecules linked by C–H···O hydrogen bonds: one of these has a notably short H···O separation of 2.24 (3) Å. Full article

Natural products are an excellent source of inspiration for the development of new drugs. Among them, betalains have been extensively studied for their antioxidant properties and potential application as natural food dyes. Herein, we describe the seven-step synthesis of new betalamic acid analogs without carboxy groups in the 2- and 6-position with an overall yield of ~70%. The Folin–Ciocalteu assay was used to determine the antioxidant properties of protected intermediate 21. Additionally, the five-step synthesis of betalamic acid analog 35 with three ester moieties was performed. Using NMR techniques, the stability of the obtained compounds towards oxygen was analyzed. Full article

Reactions of oxirane ring opening provide a powerful tool for regio- and stereoselective synthesis of polyfunctional and heterocyclic compounds, widely used in organic chemistry and drug design. Cyclooctane, alongside other medium-sized rings, is of interest as a novel molecular platform for the construction of target-oriented leads. Additionally, cyclooctane derivatives are well known to be prone to transannular reactions, which makes them a promising object in the search for novel approaches to polycyclic structures. In the present work, a series of cyclooctanediones was studied in Corey-Chaykovsky reactions, and novel spirocyclic bis(oxiranes) containing cyclooctane core, namely, 1,5-dioxadispiro[2.0.2.6]dodecane and 1,8-dioxadispiro[2.3.2.3]dodecane, were synthesized. Ring opening of the obtained bis(oxiranes) upon treatment with sodium azide was investigated, and it was found that the reaction path is determined by the reciprocal orientation of oxygen atoms in the oxirane moieties. Diastereomers of the bis(oxiranes) with cis-orientation underwent independent ring opening, supplying corresponding diazidodiols, while in the case of stereoisomers with trans-orientation, domino-like reactions occurred, including intramolecular nucleophilic attack and the formation of a novel three- or six-membered O-containing ring. Summarily, a straightforward approach to polyfunctional compounds containing cyclooctane or oxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane cores, employing bis(oxiranes), was elaborated. Full article

A growing number of inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) have been identified that manifest 3-methylglutaconic (3MGC) aciduria as a phenotypic feature. In primary 3MGC aciduria, IEM-dependent deficiencies in leucine pathway enzymes prevent catabolism of trans-3MGC CoA. Consequently, this metabolite is converted to 3MGC acid and excreted in urine. In secondary 3MGC aciduria, however, no leucine metabolism pathway enzyme deficiencies exist. These IEMs affect mitochondrial membrane structure, electron transport chain function or ATP synthase subunits. As a result, acetyl CoA oxidation via the TCA cycle slows and acetyl CoA is diverted to trans-3MGC CoA, and then to 3MGC acid. Whereas the trans diastereomer of 3MGC CoA is the only biologically relevant diastereomer, the urine of affected subjects contains both cis- and trans-3MGC acids. Studies have revealed that trans-3MGC CoA is susceptible to isomerization to cis-3MGC CoA. Once formed, cis-3MGC CoA undergoes intramolecular cyclization, forming an anhydride that, upon hydrolysis, yields cis-3MGC acid. Alternatively, cis-3MGC anhydride can acylate protein lysine side chains. Once formed, cis-3MGCylated proteins can be deacylated by the NAD⁺-dependent enzyme, sirtuin 4. Taken together, the excretion of 3MGC acid in secondary 3MGC aciduria represents a barometer of defective mitochondrial function. Full article

Schiff bases encompassing a 1,2,3-triazole motif were synthesized using an efficient multi-step synthesis. The formations of targeted Schiff base ligands were confirmed by different spectroscopic techniques (FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and CHN analysis). The spectral data analysis revealed that the newly designed hydrazones exist as a mixture of trans-E and cis-E diastereomers. Densityfunctional theory calculations (DFT) for the Schiff bases showed that the trans-trans form has the lowest energy structure with maximum stability compared to the other possible geometrical isomers that could be present due to the orientation of the amidic NH–C=O group. The energy differences between the trans-trans on one side and syn-syn and syn-trans isomers on the other side were 9.26 and 5.56 kcal/mol, respectively. A quantitative structure-activity relationship investigation was also performed in terms of density functional theory. The binding affinities of the newly synthesized bases are, maybe, attributed to the presence of hydrogen bonds together with many hydrophobic interactions between the ligands and the active amino acid residue of the receptor. The superposition of the inhibitor N3 and an example ligand into the binding pocket of 7BQY is also presented. Further interesting comparative docking analyses were performed. Quantitative structure-activity relationship calculations are presented, illustrating possible inhibitory activity. Further computer-aided cytotoxicity analysis by Drug2Way and PASS online software was carried out for Schiff base ligands against various cancer cell lines. Overall, the results of this study suggest that these Schiff base derivatives may be considered for further investigation as possible therapeutic agents for COVID-19. Full article

The ring rearrangement metathesis (RRM) of a trans-cis diastereomer mixture of methyl 3-allyl-3a,6-epoxyisoindole-7-carboxylates derived from cheap, accessible and renewable furan-based precursors in the presence of a new class of Hoveyda–Grubbs-type catalysts, comprising an N→Ru coordinate bond in a six-membered ring, results in the difficult-to-obtain natural product-like cyclopenta[b]furo[2,3-c]pyrroles. In this process, only one diastereomer with a trans-arrangement of the 3-allyl fragment relative to the 3a,6-epoxy bridge enters into the rearrangement, while the cis-isomers polymerize almost completely under the same conditions. The tested catalysts are active in the temperature range from 60 to 120 °C at a concentration of 0.5 mol % and provide better yields of the target tricycles compared to the most popular commercially available second-generation Hoveyda–Grubbs catalyst. The diastereoselectivity of the intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction furan (IMDAF) reaction between starting 1-(furan-2-yl)but-3-en-1-amines and maleic anhydride, leading to 3a,6-epoxyisoindole-7-carboxylates, was studied as well. Full article

Racemic chiral O,N-heterocycles containing 2-arylchroman or 2-aryl-2H-chromene subunit condensed with morpholine, thiazole, or pyrrole moieties at the C-3-C-4 bond were synthesized with various substitution patterns of the aryl group by the cyclization of cis- or trans-3-aminoflavanone analogues. The 3-aminoflavanone precursors were obtained in a Neber rearrangement of oxime tosylates of flavanones, which provided the trans diastereomer as the major product and enabled the isolation of both the cis- and trans-diastereomers. The cis- and trans-aminoflavanones were utilized to prepare three diastereomers of 5-aryl-chromeno[4,3-b][1,4]oxazines. Antiproliferative activity of the condensed heterocycles and precursors was evaluated against A2780 and WM35 cancer cell lines. For a 3-(N-chloroacetylamino)-flavan-4-ol derivative, showing structural analogy with acyclic acid ceramidase inhibitors, 0.15 μM, 3.50 μM, and 6.06 μM IC₅₀ values were measured against A2780, WM35, and HaCat cell lines, and apoptotic mechanism was confirmed. Low micromolar IC₅₀ values down to 2.14 μM were identified for the thiazole- and pyrrole-condensed 2H-chromene derivatives. Enantiomers of the condensed heterocycles were separated by HPLC using chiral stationary phase, HPLC-ECD spectra were recorded and TDDFT-ECD calculations were performed to determine the absolute configuration and solution conformation. Characteristic ECD transitions of the separated enantiomers were correlated with the absolute configuration and effect of substitution pattern on the HPLC elution order was determined. Full article

Chiral crystals were discovered due to spontaneous resolution when enantiomers of 4-phenyldiazenyl-2-[(R or S)-(1-phenylethyl)-iminomethyl]phenol and its racemic mixture were prepared. Using two ligands per molecule, optically active R,R and S,S enantiomers and meso R,S diastereomer of Cu(II) complexes were prepared. Strong chiral recognition was expected for them. Laccase has attracted attention as a catalyst that reduces oxygen to water in a cathode of biofuel cells, which can be effectively mediated by metal complexes. Furthermore, azobenzene can align perpendicularly to the polarization direction of irradiating linearly polarized ultraviolet light (Weigert effect) as well as to the conventional cis-trans photoisomerization accompanying the shift of redox potential. Thus, we also studied the photo-induced control of cis-trans forms and the alignment of these Cu(II) complexes as a mediator to fit laccase appropriately. We discuss photo-induced control on not only electronically but also sterically-favored redox conditions. The meso(R,S)-form of the Cu(II) complex in cis-form was found to be the best at increasing the current of cyclic voltammetry (CV) among the three R,R and S,S enantiomers and the R,S diastereomer of the Cu(II) complexes. Full article

From the aerial parts of Acmella ciliata (H.B.K.) Cassini (basionym Spilanthes ciliata Kunth; Asteraceae), three alkamides were isolated and identified by mass- and NMR spectroscopic methods as (2E,6E,8E)-N-isobutyl-2,6,8-decatrienamide (spilanthol, (1)), N-(2-phenethyl)-2E-en-6,8-nonadiynamide (2) and (2E,7Z)-6,9-endoperoxy-N-isobutyl-2,7-decadienamide (3). While 1 and 2 are known alkamides, compound 3 has not been described until now. It was found that the unusual cyclic peroxide 3 exists as a racemate of both enantiomers of each alkamide; the 6,9-cis- as well as the 6,9-trans-configured diastereomers, the former represents the major, the latter the minor constituent of the mixture. In vitro tests for activity against the human pathogenic parasites Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and Plasmodium falciparum revealed that 1 and 3 possess activity against the NF54 strain of the latter (IC₅₀ values of 4.5 and 5.1 µM, respectively) while 2 was almost inactive. Compound 3 was also tested against multiresistant P. falciparum K1 and was found to be even more active against this parasite strain (IC₅₀ = 2.1 µM) with considerable selectivity (IC₅₀ against L6 rat skeletal myoblasts = 168 µM). Full article

The study of the reactivity of the enantiopure ferrocenyl Schiff base (S_C)-[FcCH=N–CH(Me)(C₆H₅)] (1) (Fc = (η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)) with cis-[PtCl₂(dmso)₂] under different experimental conditions is reported. Four different types of chiral Pt(II) have been isolated and characterized. One of them is the enantiomerically pure trans-(S_C)-[Pt{κ¹-N[FcCH=N–CH(Me)(C₆H₅)]}Cl₂(dmso)] (2a) in which the imine acts as a neutral N-donor ligand; while the other three are the cycloplatinated complexes: [Pt{κ²-C,N [(C₆H₄)–N=CHFc]}Cl(dmso)] (7a) and the two diastereomers {(S_p,S_C) and (R_p,S_C)} of [Pt{κ²-C,N[(η⁵-C₅H₃)–CH=N–{CH(Me)(C₆H₅)}]Fe(η⁵-C₅H₅)}Cl(dmso)] (8a and 9a, respectively). Isomers 7a-9a, differ in the nature of the metallated carbon atom [C^Ph (in 7a) or C^Fc (in 8a and 9a)] or the planar chirality of the 1,2-disubstituted ferrocenyl unit (8a and 9a). Reactions of 7a–9a with PPh₃ gave [Pt{κ²-C,N[(C₆H₄)–N=CHFc]}Cl(PPh₃)] (in 7b) and the diastereomers (S_p,S_C) and (R_p,S_C) of [Pt{κ²-C,N[(η⁵-C₅H₃)–CH=N–{CH(Me)(C₆H₅)}] Fe(η⁵-C₅H₅)}Cl(PPh₃)] (8b and 9b, respectively). Comparative studies of the electrochemical properties and cytotoxic activities on MCF7 and MDA-MB231 breast cancer cell lines of 2a and cycloplatinated complexes 7b-9b are also reported. Theoretical studies based on DFT calculations have also been carried out in order to rationalize the results obtained from the cycloplatination of 1, the stability of the Pt(II) complexes and their electrochemical properties. Full article