Mild oxidation of tosylmethylisocyanide to tosylmethylisocyanate: utility in synthetic and medicinal chemistry.

A convenient and efficient (one-step) oxidation is reported of commercially available tosylmethylisocyanide (TOSMIC) to form tosylmethylisocyanate, making this highly reactive bifunctional molecule a readily available synthetic reagent. Besides engaging in nucleophilic addition reactions with alcohols, amines and thiols, tosylmethylisocyanate also reacts with carboxylic acids to form tosylmethylamides, which undergo substitution reactions in the presence of organocopper and organomagnesium reagents.

A Simple, General Synthesis of Carbonimidic Dichlorides.

The reaction of aliphatic and aromatic isonitriles with sulfuryl chloride provides an efficient, general route to the corresponding dichlorides without byproducts of free-radical substitution.

Trifluoroacetic anhydride-catalyzed oxidation of isonitriles by DMSO: a rapid, convenient synthesis of isocyanates.

A smooth and efficient oxidation of isonitriles to isocyanates by sulfoxides is catalyzed by trifluoroacetic anhydride. With use of DMSO as the oxidant and 5 mol·% TFAA (dichloromethane, -60 to 0 °C), the process is complete in a few minutes, forming dimethyl sulfide as the only byproduct. The newly formed isocyanates may be used directly or isolated in high purity by solvent evaporation.

Use of multicomponent reactions in developing small-molecule tools to study GABAA receptor mechanism and function.

We discuss the potential use of multicomponent reactions in developing small-molecule probes of GABA(A) receptor function. Two examples that illustrate this approach are presented: the synthesis of a class of compounds that specifically modulate the function of GABA(A) receptors containing the δ-subunit, and also 'caged' GABA derivatives. A caged GABA is a photolabile precursor of GABA that releases GABA upon photolysis.

Studies on the synthesis of amidoximes from nitroalkanes.

The reaction of primary nitroalkanes with magnesium or lithium amides provides a convenient, one-step synthesis of substituted amidoximes.

Dihydropyrimidinone positive modulation of delta-subunit-containing gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptors, including an epilepsy-linked mutant variant.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABA(A) receptors) are ligand-gated chloride channels that play a central role in signal transmission within the mammalian central nervous system. Compounds that modulate specific GABA(A) receptor subtypes containing the delta-subunit are scarce but would be valuable research tools and starting points for potential therapeutic agents. Here we report a class of dihydropyrimidinone (DHPM) heterocycles that preferentially potentiate peak currents of recombinant GABA(A) receptor subtypes containing the delta-subunit expressed in HEK293T cells. Using the three-component Biginelli reaction, 13 DHPMs with structural features similar to those of the barbiturate phenobarbital were synthesized; one DHPM used (monastrol) is commercially available. An up to approximately 3-fold increase in the current from recombinant alpha1beta2delta receptors was observed with the DHPM compound JM-II-43A or monastrol when co-applied with saturating GABA concentrations, similar to the current potentiation observed with the nonselective potentiating compounds phenobarbital and tracazolate. No agonist activity was observed for the DHPMs at the concentrations tested. A kinetic model was used in conjunction with dose-dependent measurements to calculate apparent dissociation constant values for JM-II-43A (400 muM) and monastrol (200 microM) at saturating GABA concentrations. We examined recombinant receptors composed of combinations of subunits alpha1, alpha4, alpha5, alpha6, beta2, beta3, gamma2L, and delta with JM-II-43A to demonstrate the preference for potentiation of delta-subunit-containing receptors. Lastly, reduced currents from receptors containing the mutated delta(E177A) subunit, described by Dibbens et al. [(2004) Hum. Mol. Genet. 13, 1315-1319] as a heritable susceptibility allele for generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus, are also potentiated by these DHPMs.

A new synthesis of caged GABA compounds for studying GABAA receptors.

A short and convergent synthetic approach to new photoactivatable precursors of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is described. When photolyzed, the 'caged' GABA precursor efficiently releases GABA, as judged by depolarization measurements on the mammalian GABA(A) receptor.

Strategies for innovation in multicomponent reaction design.

By generating structural complexity in a single step from three or more reactants, multicomponent reactions (MCRs) make it possible to synthesize target compounds with greater efficiency and atom economy. The history of such reactions can be traced to the mid-19th century when Strecker first produced alpha-aminonitriles from the condensation of aldehydes with ammonia and hydrogen cyanide. Recently, academic chemists have renewed their interest in MCRs. In part, the pharmaceutical industry has fueled this resurgence because of the growing need to assemble libraries of structurally complex substances for evaluation as lead compounds in drug discovery and development programs. The application of MCRs to that increasingly important objective remains limited by the relatively small number of such reactions that can be broadly applied to prepare biologically relevant or natural-product-like molecular frameworks. We were interested in applying logic-based approaches, such as our single reactant replacement (SRR) approach, as a way both to improve known MCRs and to design new multiple-component routes to bioactive structures. This Account provides several examples that illustrate the use of SRR with known MCRs as starting points for synthetic innovation in this area. As part of our working hypothesis, we initially explored strategies for engineering improvements into known MCRs, either by increasing the dimensionality--that is, changing an n-component to an (n + 1)-component reaction--or broadening the scope of useful input structures, or both. By exhaustively applying retrosynthetic analysis to the cognate MCR to identify and exploit alternative entry points into the overall reaction manifold, we have devised several such re-engineered MCRs. Serendipitous findings have also augmented the yield of useful developments from our logic-inspired approach. In some cases, we have identified surprising links between different compound families that provide useful new entry points for chemical library synthesis. In other cases, the same re-engineering logic made it possible (sometimes in unexpected ways) to transform certain nonelementary two-component reactions into higher order MCRs. While logic may also inspire the search for new MCRs, the design process requires added chemical creativity, which cannot be reduced to a simple formula. The long-term goal of our research is to expand the useful repertoire of such reactions, which are important as complexity-generating tools in both combinatorial and diversity-oriented synthesis.

Studies on the chemistry and reactivity of alpha-substituted ketones in isonitrile-based multicomponent reactions.

Using the Passerini and Ugi reactions as representative tests, the utility of several alpha-substituted ketones R-CO-CH(2)-X (X = sulfonyloxy, acyloxy, azido, halo, hydroxy, and sulfonyl) in isonitrile-based multicomponent reactions was explored. In a relative rate study (R = PhCH(2)CH(2)), each of the alpha-substituted ketones underwent Passerini condensation more rapidly than the parent ketone. Short, highly convergent routes to oxazoline, beta-lactam, di-O-acylglyceramides, and other molecular frameworks were developed.

A three-component Fischer indole synthesis.

This protocol describes a three-component approach to multiply-substituted indoles from nitriles, organometallic reagents and arylhydrazine hydrochloride salts. The condensation of organolithium or Grignard reagents with nitriles produces metalloimines, which under acidic conditions and in the presence of arylhydrazines lead to arylhydrazones, the starting materials for the Fischer indole reaction. Combining this approach with the Fischer indole reaction produces indoles in an efficient, one-pot process. The procedure takes approximately 20 h to complete: 3 h for metalloimine formation, 15 h for the Fischer indole reaction and 2 h for isolation and purification.

Bioactive 2-oxazolines: a new approach via one-pot, four-component reaction.

Substituted 2-oxazolines of the general structure shown above are found in several families of bioactive natural products and can be prepared in an efficient and general one-pot, four-component condensation.

Paclitaxel from primary taxanes: a perspective on creative invention in organozirconium chemistry.

In this Perspective, which describes the achievements recognized by the 2007 ACS Award for Creative Invention, we discuss the discovery of a new synthetic reaction and its translation into a substantially improved method for manufacturing a major pharmaceutical product--the blockbuster anticancer drug, paclitaxel. The role of creativity in the discovery and invention processes is also discussed. As is often the case, chance discovery and serendipitous findings played a role in the evolution of this work. Translation of the basic research into a commercially viable paclitaxel semisynthesis is also described. The final manufacturing process illustrates the enormous impact that the globalization of markets has had on chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

One-pot synthesis of polysubstituted indoles from aliphatic nitro compounds under mild conditions.

Polysubstituted indoles can be prepared directly from functionalized nitroalkanes under very mildly acidic conditions in a simple, one-pot, two-stage procedure.

Synthesis and evaluation of multisubstrate bicyclic pyrimidine nucleoside inhibitors of human thymidine phosphorylase.

A series of novel, multisubstrate, bicyclic pyrimidine nucleoside inhibitors of human thymidine phosphorylase (TP) is described. Thymidine phosphorylase has been implicated in angiogenesis and plays a significant role in tumor progression and metastasis. The presence and orientation of the phosphonate moiety (acting as a phosphate mimic) in these derivatives were critical for inhibitory activity. The most active compounds possessed a phosphonate group in an endo orientation. This was consistent with molecular modeling results that showed the endo isomer protein-ligand complex to be lower in energy than the exo complex.

Selective inhibition of MCF-7(piGST) breast tumors using glutathione transferase-derived 2-methylene-cycloalkenones.

Human glutathione (GSH) transferase (hGSTP1-1) catalyzes the conversion of antitumor 2-crotonyloxymethyl-2-cycloalkenones (COMCs) to highly reactive exocyclic enone alkylating agents. In vitro efficacy studies show that the cytotoxicities of the COMCs directly correlate with the level of expression of GSTP1-1 in MCF-7(piGST) versus MCF-7wt breast tumors, indicating that the exocyclic enones are the actual cytotoxic species. The COMCs are a potentially important new class of prodrugs, which can specifically target multi-drug-resistant tumors overexpressing hGSTP1-1.

Novel multisubstrate inhibitors of mammalian purine nucleoside phosphorylase.

In an effort to develop potent multisubstrate-analog inhibitors of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP), three nucleoside phosphonates were designed utilizing structural information from the previously reported structures of complexes of bovine PNP with substrates and products. The nucleoside phosphonates contain an acetal linkage at the O2' and O3' positions and a two-C-atom spacer between the ribose and phosphate moieties. The linkage enables the compounds to simultaneously occupy the purine-, ribose- and phosphate-binding sites. The chemical syntheses, inhibition profiles and structural characterization of these novel multisubstrate analog inhibitors with bovine PNP are described.

Three-component condensation leading to beta-amino acid diamides: convergent assembly of beta-peptide analogues.

A Passerini condensation of acyl cyanides, carboxylic acids, and isonitriles has been developed that affords efficient access to functionalized diamides as well as beta-peptides of alpha-hydroxy-beta-amino acids. Such compounds are protease-resistant and form stable helical and sheet structures when incorporated into larger peptides. N-Protected alpha-amino acids and isocyanoesters derived from alpha-amino acids participate in the condensation, leading to alpha/beta peptides embodying the heterogeneous alpha/beta/alpha backbone motif, recent examples of which display antibiotic activity.

Mechanism of the glutathione transferase-catalyzed conversion of antitumor 2-crotonyloxymethyl-2-cycloalkenones to GSH adducts.

Human glutathione (GSH) transferase (hGSTP1-1) processes with similar kinetic efficiencies the antitumor agents 2-crotonyloxymethyl-2-cyclohexenone (COMC-6), 2-crotonyloxymethyl-2-cycloheptenone (COMC-7), and 2-crotonyloxymethyl-2-cyclopentenone (COMC-5) to 2-glutathionylmethyl-2-cyclohexenone, 2-glutathionylmethyl-3-glutathionyl-2-cycloheptenone, and 2-glutathionylmethyl-2-cyclopentenone, respectively. This process likely involves initial enzyme-catalyzed Michael addition of GSH to the COMC derivative to give a glutathionylated enol(ate), which undergoes nonstereospecific ketonization, either while bound to the active site or free in solution, to a glutathionylated exocyclic enone. Free in solution, GSH reacts at the exomethylene carbon of the exocyclic enone, displacing the first GSH to give the final product. This mechanism is supported by the observation of multiphasic kinetics in the presence of high concentrations of hGSTP1-1 and the ability to trap kinetically competent exocyclic enones in aqueous acid using COMC-6 and COMC-7 as substrates. That the exocyclic enone is formed by nonstereospecific ketonization of an enol(ate) species is indicated by the observation that COMC-6 (chirally labeled with deuterium at the exomethylene carbon) gives stereorandomly labeled exocyclic enone. The isozymes hGSTP1-1, hGSTA1-1, hGSTA4-4, and hGSTM2-2 catalyze the conversion of COMC-6 to final product with similar efficiencies (K(m) = 0.08-0.34 mM, k(cat) = 1.5-6.1 s(-)(1)); no activity was detected with the rat rGSTT2-2 isozyme. Molecular docking studies indicate that in hGSTP1-1, the hydroxyl group of Tyr108 might serve as a general acid catalyst during substrate turnover. The possible significance of these observations with respect to the metabolism of COMC derivatives in multidrug resistant tumors is discussed.