18F-Radiolabeling and Preliminary Evaluation of a HSP90 ligand.

PURPOSE: With the ambition of improving the management of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (P-NETs), we developed and preliminary validated a novel fluorine-18 labelled HSP90 ligand. METHODS: A precursor containing methoxymethyl ethers protecting groups and a tosyl as leaving group was synthesized. The target compound was labeled with nucleophilic 18F-fluoride and the protecting groups was subsequently removed with hydrochloric acid before purification. In vitro cell- and frozen section autoradiography and in vivo animal studies were performed. RESULTS: The precursor was successfully synthesized and utilized in the 18F-radiolabeling giving 0.5-1.0 GBq of pure product with a synthesis time of 70 min. In vitro experiments indicated a high specific binding, but in vivo studies showed no tumor uptake due to fast hepatobiliary metabolism and excretion. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the unfavorable in vivo properties of the tracer, the promising results from in vitro autoradiography experiments in frozen sections of P-NETs from surgical resection encourage us to continue the project aiming the improvement of in vivo properties of the tracer.

Highly regioselective, sequential, and multiple palladium-catalyzed arylations of vinyl ethers carrying a coordinating auxiliary: an example of a Heck triarylation process.

This article describes the development of new auxiliary-accelerated Heck multiarylations by intramolecular presentation of the oxidative addition complex. The introduction of a specific, palladium-coordinating dimethylamino group allows for the desired chelation-accelerated and chelation-controlled tri- and diarylation reactions. We report (a) the first example of a Heck triarylation process, (b) highly selective palladium-catalyzed diarylations of alkyl vinyl ethers, and (c) a very rapid two-phase protocol for the microwave-assisted hydrolysis of amino-substituted, arylated vinyl ethers constituting an entry to diarylated ethanals and substituted desoxybenzoins. X-ray structures and product patterns support the suggested substrate-controlled Heck reaction pathway. The catalyst-directing alkyl dimethylamino functionality was rapidly (1-2 min) and efficiently released by microwave hydrolysis after Heck multiarylation reactions. The liberated aromatic carbonyl compounds were thereafter isolated and fully characterized.

Regioselective palladium-catalyzed synthesis of beta-arylated primary allylamine equivalents by an efficient Pd-N coordination.

A highly regioselective Heck arylation, utilizing aryl triflates and a palladium/dppf catalytic system, can be performed at the internal, beta-carbon of Boc- and phthalimido-protected allylamines, yielding arylated primary allylamine equivalents. The very high regioselectivity obtained with secondary Boc-protected allylamides is suggested to be caused by an efficient coordination between an anionic nitrogen and palladium. Single-mode microwave irradiation has been utilized to shorten the reaction times and, in the case of Boc-protected allylamides, to improve the yields of two electron-poor aryl triflates.

Aqueous DMF-potassium carbonate as a substitute for thallium and silver additives in the palladium-catalyzed conversion of aryl bromides to acetyl arenes.

Highly selective palladium-catalyzed internal alpha-arylations of alkyl vinyl ethers with aryl and heteroaryl bromides were conveniently conducted in aqueous DMF with potassium carbonate as base and with DPPP as bidentate ligand. The corresponding acetyl arene products were, after hydrolysis, isolated in good to excellent yields. This Heck reaction procedure does not require toxic thallium or expensive silver salt additives, is promoted by water, and is suggested to proceed via charged organopalladium intermediates. Single-mode microwave irradiation was utilized in one example to shorten the reaction time.

Microwave-assisted high-speed chemistry: a new technique in drug discovery.

In both lead identification and lead optimization processes there is an acute need for new organic small molecules. Traditional methods of organic synthesis are orders of magnitude too slow to satisfy the demand for these compounds. The fields of combinatorial and automated medicinal chemistry have been developed to meet the increasing requirement of new compounds for drug discovery; within these fields, speed is of the essence. The efficiency of microwave flash-heating chemistry in dramatically reducing reaction times (reduced from days and hours to minutes and seconds) has recently been proven in several different fields of organic chemistry. We believe that the time saved by using focused microwaves is potentially important in traditional organic synthesis but could be of even greater importance in high-speed combinatorial and medicinal chemistry.

Highly selective palladium-catalyzed synthesis of protected alpha,beta-unsaturated methyl ketones and 2-alkoxy-1,3-butadienes. High-speed chemistry by microwave flash heating

A selective and mild procedure is described for the direct synthesis of 2-alkene-2-methyl-1,3-dioxolanes via regiocontrolled Heck vinylation of commercially available 2-hydroxyethyl vinyl ether. The procedure permits chemoselective transformation of a vinylic triflate or bromide into a blocked alpha,beta-unsaturated methyl ketone. Furthermore, a significantly improved and highly regioselective synthesis of 2-alkoxy-1,3-butadienes has been developed. Flash heating by microwave irradiation promotes the palladium-catalyzed reactions, and the starting materials are fully converted after reaction times of 5-7 min.