Editorial to the Special Issue "Total Synthesis of Natural Products: A Themed Issue Dedicated to Professor Dr. Dieter Schinzer for His 65th Birthday".

Natural products have intrigued humans throughout history [...].

Discovery of MINC1, a GTPase-activating protein small molecule inhibitor, targeting MgcRacGAP.

The Rho family of Ras superfamily small GTPases regulates a broad range of biological processes such as migration, differentiation, cell growth and cell survival. Therefore, the availability of small molecule modulators as tool compounds could greatly enhance research on these proteins and their biological function. To this end, we designed a biochemical, high throughput screening assay with complementary follow-up assays to identify small molecule compounds inhibiting MgcRacGAP, a Rho family GTPase activating protein involved in cytokinesis and transcriptionally upregulated in many cancers. We first performed an in-house screen of 20,480 compounds, and later we tested the assay against 342,046 compounds from the NIH Molecular Libraries Small Molecule Repository. Primary screening hit rates were about 1% with the majority of those affecting the primary readout, an enzyme-coupled GDP detection assay. After orthogonal and counter screens, we identified two hits with high selectivity towards MgcRacGAP, compared with other RhoGAPs, and potencies in the low micromolar range. The most promising hit, termed MINC1, was then examined with cell-based testing where it was observed to induce an increased rate of cytokinetic failure and multinucleation in addition to other cell division defects, suggesting that it may act as an MgcRacGAP inhibitor also in cells.

Concise, stereodivergent and highly stereoselective synthesis of cis- and trans-2-substituted 3-hydroxypiperidines - development of a phosphite-driven cyclodehydration.

A concise (5 to 6 steps), stereodivergent, highly diastereoselective (dr up to >19:1 for both stereoisomers) and scalable synthesis (up to 14 g) of cis- and trans-2-substituted 3-piperidinols, a core motif in numerous bioactive compounds, is presented. This sequence allowed an efficient synthesis of the NK-1 inhibitor L-733,060 in 8 steps. Additionally, a cyclodehydration-realizing simple triethylphosphite as a substitute for triphenylphosphine is developed. Here the stoichiometric oxidized P(V)-byproduct (triethylphosphate) is easily removed during the work up through saponification overcoming separation difficulties usually associated to triphenylphosphine oxide.

Pharmacological importance of optically active tetrahydro-ß-carbolines and synthetic approaches to create the C1 stereocenter.

1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-ß-carbolines (THßCs) are a pharmacologically important group of compounds belonging to the indole alkaloids. C1-Substituted optically active THßCs have been the target of extensive synthetic efforts due to the presence of the scaffold in numerous natural products and synthetic targets. This review briefly summarizes the methods to obtain the C1 stereocenter and concentrates on evaluating the pharmacological importance of optically active C1-substituted THßCs, including their PDE5-inhibitory, antimalarial, antiviral and antitumor activities.

Boron enolate chemistry toward the syntheses of polyketide stereotetrads.

In 1976 Mukaiyama published a paper that was to make a major impact on the development of the aldol reaction in the future. Mild enolate formation by treatment of a ketone with dibutylboron triflate in the presence of a tertiary amine generates a relatively stable boron enolate, which can subsequently react with an aldehyde to give the cross-aldol product in good yields. This reaction has become a reliable tool for the practicing synthetic chemist. Nearly 10000 polyketides are known, and of these about 600 contain the tripropionate unit with a stereotetrad, four contiguous stereocenters with alternating methyl and hydroxyl substituents in the main chain. The versatility of the boron enolate aldol reaction is showcased with selected applications in the synthesis of these structural motifs.

Garner's aldehyde as a versatile intermediate in the synthesis of enantiopure natural products.

Since its introduction to the synthetic community in 1984, Garner's aldehyde has gained substantial attention as a chiral intermediate for the synthesis of numerous amino alcohol derivatives. This review presents some of the most successful carbon chain elongation reactions, namely carbonyl alkylations and olefinations. The literature is reviewed with particular attention on understanding how to avoid the deleterious epimerization of the existing stereocenter in Garner's aldehyde.

Efficient, stereodivergent access to 3-piperidinols by traceless P(OEt)3 cyclodehydration.

A stereodivergent and highly diastereoselective (dr up to >19:1 for both isomers), step economic (5-6 steps), and scalable synthesis (up to 14 g) of cis- and trans-2-substituted 3-piperidinols, the core motif of numerous bioactive compounds, providing efficient access to the NK-1 inhibitor L-733,060 is presented. Additionally, a "traceless" (referring to the simplified byproduct separation) cyclodehydration realizing simple P(OEt)3 as a substitute for PPh3 is developed.

Diastereoselective intramolecular allyl transfer from allyl carbamate accompanied by 5-endo-trig ring closure.

To All(oc) involved: A palladium-catalyzed formal 5-endo-trig heteroannulation of enones generated in situ from amino acid derived ß-keto nitriles has been realized (see scheme; Alloc=allyl carbamate). The reaction proceeds with allyl-group transfer from the carbamate protecting group to generate two new contiguous stereocenters, including one quaternary center, with high selectivity.

Diastereoselective synthesis of vicinal amino alcohols.

The vicinal amino alcohol is a common motif in natural products and pharmaceuticals. Amino acids constitute a natural, inexpensive, and enantiopure choice of starting material for the synthesis of such functionalities. However, the matters concerning diastereoselectivity are not obvious. This Perspective takes a look in the field of diastereoselective synthesis of vicinal amino alcohols starting from amino acids using various methods.

Asymmetric synthesis of Pachastrissamine (Jaspine B) and its diastereomers via η3-allylpalladium intermediates.

A short route for the synthesis of Pachastrissamine (Jaspine B), an anhydrosphingosine derivative, and all three of its diastereomers is presented. The route consists of only 9 steps from the commercially available Garner's aldehyde. The furan framework is formed via an η(3)-allylpalladium intermediate.

Rapid and practical synthesis of (-)-1-deoxyaltronojirimycin.

Herein a practical and scalable route to 1-deoxyaltronojirimycin is presented. The target is achieved in 9 steps and 43% yield featuring only two chromatographic purifications.

The 9-phenyl-9-fluorenyl group for nitrogen protection in enantiospecific synthesis.

One of the biggest challenges in asymmetric synthesis is to prevent racemization of enantiopure starting materials. However, at least some of the enantiopurity is lost in most of the existing reactions used in synthetic organic chemistry. This translates into unnecessary material losses. Naturally enantiopure proteinogenic amino acids that can be transformed into many useful intermediates in drug syntheses, for example, are especially vulnerable to this. The phenylfluoren-9-yl (Pf) group, a relatively rarely used protecting group, has proven to be able to prevent racemization in α-amino compounds. This review article showcases the use of Pf-protected amino acid derivatives in enantiospecific synthesis.

Towards the total synthesis of calyculin C: preparation of the C(9)-C(25) spiroketal-dipropionate unit.

An asymmetric synthesis of the C(9)-C(25) spiroketal fragment of calyculin C is described. Key steps include two crotylation reactions using successively Brown's reagent and (Z)-crotyltrifluorosilane for the formation of the anti, anti, anti stereotetrad, ynone formation by a Pd-catalyzed coupling of a thiol ester with a terminal alkyne and a double intramolecular hetero-Michael addition for the stereoselective construction of the spiroketal framework.

Conversion of carbonyl compounds to alkynes: general overview and recent developments.

The preparation of alkynes from carbonyl compounds via a one-carbon homologation has become a very useful pathway for the synthesis of acetylenic compounds, both internal and terminal. This tutorial review provides an overview of the different methods available for this transformation, including their scope and limitations, recent developments and applications in total syntheses.

Conformational ensembles of flexible beta-turn mimetics in DMSO-d6.

Beta-turns play an important role in peptide and protein chemistry, biophysics, and bioinformatics. The aim of this research was to study short linear peptides that have a high propensity to form beta-turn structures in solution. In particular, we examined conformational ensembles of beta-turn forming peptides with a general sequence CBz-L-Ala-L-Xaa-Gly-L-Ala-OtBu. These tetrapeptides, APGA, A(4R)MePGA, and A(4S)MePGA, incorporate proline, (4R)-methylproline, and (4S)-methylproline, respectively, at the Xaa position. To determine the influence of the 4-methyl substituted prolines on the beta-turn populations, the NAMFIS (NMR analysis of molecular flexibility in solution) deconvolution analysis for these three peptides were performed in DMSO-d(6) solution. The NBO (natural bond orbital) method was employed to gain further insight into the results obtained from the NAMFIS analysis. The emphasis in the NBO analysis was to characterize remote intramolecular interactions that could influence the backbone-backbone interactions contributing to beta-turn stability. NAMFIS results indicate that the enantiospecific incorporation of the methyl substituent at the C(gamma) (C4) position of the proline residue can be used to selectively control the pyrrolidine ring puckering propensities and, consequently, the preferred varphi,psi angles associated with the proline residue in beta-turn forming peptides. The NAMFIS analyses show that the presence of (4S)-methylproline in A(4S)MePGA considerably increased the type II beta-turn population with respect to APGA and A(4R)MePGA. The NBO calculations suggest that this observation can be rationalized based on an n-->pi* interaction between the N-terminus alanine carbonyl oxygen and the proline carbonyl group. Several other interactions between remote orbitals in these peptides provide a more detailed explanation for the observed population distributions.

Short and straightforward synthesis of (-)-1-deoxygalactonojirimycin.

The mildness and low basicity of vinylzinc species functioning as a nucleophile in addition to alpha-chiral aldehydes is characterized by lack of epimerization of the vulnerable stereogenic center. This is demonstrated by a highly diastereoselective synthesis of 1-deoxygalactonojirimycin in eight steps from commercial starting materials with overall yield of 35%.

Calyculins and related marine natural products as serine-threonine protein phosphatase PP1 and PP2A inhibitors and total syntheses of calyculin A, B, and C.

Calyculins, highly cytotoxic polyketides, originally isolated from the marine sponge Discodermia calyx by Fusetani and co-workers, belong to the lithistid sponges group. These molecules have become interesting targets for cell biologists and synthetic organic chemists. The serine/threonine protein phosphatases play an essential role in the cellular signalling, metabolism, and cell cycle control. Calyculins express potent protein phosphatase 1 and 2A inhibitory activity, and have therefore become valuable tools for cellular biologists studying intracellular processes and their control by reversible phosphorylation. Calyculins might also play an important role in the development of several diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and type 2-diabetes mellitus. The fascinating structures of calyculins have inspired various groups of synthetic organic chemists to develop total syntheses of the most abundant calyculins A and C. However, with fifteen chiral centres, a cyano-capped tetraene unit, a phosphate-bearing spiroketal, an anti, anti, anti dipropionate segment, an alpha-chiral oxazole, and a trihydroxylated gamma-amino acid, calyculins reach versatility that only few natural products can surpass, and truly challenge modern chemists' asymmetric synthesis skills.

3-Heterocycle-phenyl N-alkylcarbamates as FAAH inhibitors: design, synthesis and 3D-QSAR studies.

Carbamates are a well-established class of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitors. Here we describe the synthesis of meta-substituted phenolic N-alkyl/aryl carbamates and their in vitro FAAH inhibitory activities. The most potent compound, 3-(oxazol-2yl)phenyl cyclohexylcarbamate (2 a), inhibited FAAH with a sub-nanomolar IC(50) value (IC(50)=0.74 nM). Additionally, we developed and validated three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) models of FAAH inhibition combining the newly disclosed carbamates with our previously published inhibitors to give a total set of 99 compounds. Prior to 3D-QSAR modeling, the degree of correlation between FAAH inhibition and in silico reactivity was also established. Both 3D-QSAR methods used, CoMSIA and GRID/GOLPE, produced statistically significant models with coefficient of correlation for external prediction (R(2) (PRED)) values of 0.732 and 0.760, respectively. These models could be of high value in further FAAH inhibitor design.

Highly chemoselective copper-catalyzed conjugate reduction of stereochemically labile alpha,beta-unsaturated amino ketones.

Highly chemoselective conjugate reduction of chiral alpha,beta-unsaturated amino ketones has been developed by using triisopropyl phosphite ligated copper hydride complex. The highlights of the method are wide substrate compatibility and exceptional chemoselectivity.

Catalytic activity dependency on catalyst components in aerobic copper-TEMPO oxidation.

The influence of catalyst components in the copper-TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine N-oxide) catalysed aerobic oxidation of alcohols was investigated. The type and amount of base greatly influences reactivity. The bipyridyl ligand concentration had no major influence on catalysis, but excessive amounts led to a decrease in activity for longer reaction times. The kinetic dependency for TEMPO was found to be 1.15, and for copper 2.25, which is an indication of a binuclear catalytic system. Optimised conditions with various allylic and aliphatic alcohols give good to excellent rapid oxidations.