Synthesis of Spirocyclopropane-Containing 4H-Pyrazolo[1,5-a]indoles via Alkylative Dearomatization and Intramolecular N-Imination of an Indole-O-(Methylsulfonyl)oxime.

In this paper, we report the synthesis of spirocyclopropane-containing 4H-pyrazolo[1,5-a]indoles 6a-e via alkylative dearomatization and intramolecular N-imination of indole-O-(methylsulfonyl)oxime 11. Starting materials tryptophol (7) and 2-bromocyclopetanone (8) were reacted in the presence of HBF4·OEt2, providing 1,2,3,5,6,11-hexahydrocyclopenta[2,3]oxepino[4,5-b]indole (9) in a 63% yield. Compound 9 was reacted with hydroxylamine hydrochloride to afford oxime 10 (65% yield), which was subsequently bis-methanesulfonated to form 11 in a 85% yield. Heating 11 with various alcohols in the presence of N,N-diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA) triggered the alkylative dearomatization and intramolecular N-imination, forming the spirocyclopropane and 4H-pyrazolo[1,5-a]indole structures in the targets 6a-e with 67-84% yields.

Copper(I)-Catalyzed Nitrile-Addition/N-Arylation Ring-Closure Cascade: Synthesis of 5,11-Dihydro-6H-indolo[3,2-c]quinolin-6-ones as Potent Topoisomerase-I Inhibitors.

In this paper, we present a copper(I)-catalyzed nitrile-addition/N-arylation ring-closure cascade for the synthesis of 5,11-dihydro-6H-indolo[3,2-c]quinolin-6-ones from 2-(2-bromophenyl)-N-(2-cyanophenyl)acetamides. Using CuBr and t-BuONa in dimethylformamide (DMF) as the optimal reaction conditions, the cascade reaction gave the target products, in high yields, with a good substrate scope. Application of the cascade reaction was demonstrated on the concise total syntheses of alkaloid isocryptolepine. Further optimization of the products from the cascade reaction led to 3-chloro-5,12-bis[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-5,12-dihydro-6H-[1,3]dioxolo[4',5':5,6]indolo[3,2-c]quinolin-6-one (2k), which exhibited the characteristic DNA topoisomerase-I inhibitory mechanism of action with potent in vitro anticancer activity. Compound 2k actively inhibited ARC-111- and SN-38-resistant HCT-116 cells and showed in vivo activity in mice bearing human HCT-116 and SJCRH30 xenografts. The interaction of 2k with the Top-DNA cleavable complex was revealed by docking simulations to guide the future optimization of 5,11-dihydro-6H-indolo[3,2-c]quinolin-6-ones as topoisomerase-I inhibitors.

A novel hydroxyfuroic acid compound as an insulin receptor activator. Structure and activity relationship of a prenylindole moiety to insulin receptor activation.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease and many patients of which require frequent subcutaneous insulin injection to maintain proper blood glucose levels. Due to the inconvenience of insulin administration, an orally active insulin replacement has long been a prime target for many pharmaceutical companies. Demethylasterriquinone (DMAQ) B1, extracted from tropical fungus, Pseudomassaria sp., has been reported to be an orally effective agent at lowering circulating glucose levels in diabetic (db/db) mice; however, the cytotoxicity associated with the quinone moiety has not been addressed thus far. METHODS: A series of hydroxyfuroic acid compounds were synthesized and tested for their efficacies at activating human insulin receptor. Cytotoxicity to Chinese hamster ovary cells, selectivities over insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors were examined in this study. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: This study reports a new non-quinone DMAQ B1 derivative, a hydroxyfuroic acid compound (D-410639), which is 128 fold less cytotoxic as DMAQ B1 and as potent as compound 2, a DMAQ B1 synthetic derivative from Merck, at activating human insulin receptor. D-410639 has little activation potential on IGF-1 receptor but is a moderate inhibitor to EGF receptor. Structure and activity relationship of the prenylindole moiety to insulin receptor activation is discussed.

Linker-modified triamine-linked acridine dimers: synthesis and cytotoxicity properties in vitro and in vivo.

The preparation and cytotoxicity properties of a series of N(epsilon)-substituted triamine-linked acridine dimers are described. Most acridine dimer derivatives reveal highly potent in vitro cytotoxicity properties and DNA binding activity. Several acridine dimers were selected to study their action in vivo. These acridine dimers have demonstrated a narrow safe margin, as has adriamycin, but higher maximum tolerate dose (MTD) in comparison with that of adriamycin in ICR mice. The acridine dimers also demonstrated various anit-COLO 205 solid tumor activities in vivo. Compound 1 has shown the most potent solid tumor inhibition.

The mechanism investigation in substitution of 21-bromo-3alpha-hydroxyl-3beta-methoxymethyl-5alpha-pregnan-20-one with nucleophiles.

A mechanistic study on the nucleophilic substitution of a strictly geometric 21-bromo-3alpha-hydroxyl-3beta-methoxymethyl-5alpha-pregnan-20-one was described. Reaction of the alpha-bromoketone with excess lithium imidazole followed by the addition of extra bases including n-butyllithium, methyllithium, lithium piperidine, and lithium pyrrolidine provided unexpected alpha-nucleophilic carbonyl adducts that derived from strong base. Data from HPLC and proton NMR suggested an epoxide as the intermediate. Two possible reaction pathways were proposed for the nucleophilic substitution reaction. One pathway is the normal SN2 substitution reaction, directly provided the imidazoly product without the formation of the unexpected alpha-substituted products. The other pathway went through an epoxide intermediate, in which imidazole anion or the strong bases added would attack from the less hindered site of the epoxide to give the substitution product.

Synthesis and evaluation of isatin derivatives as effective SARS coronavirus 3CL protease inhibitors.

N-Substituted isatin derivatives were prepared from the reaction of isatin and various bromides via two steps. Bioactivity assay results (in vitro tests) demonstrated that some of these compounds are potent and selective inhibitors against SARS coronavirus 3CL protease with IC50 values ranging from 0.95 to 17.50 microM. Additionally, isatin 4o exhibited more potent inhibition for SARS coronavirus protease than for other proteases including papain, chymotrypsin, and trypsin.