Flow Synthesis of L-α-Glycerylphosphorylcholine: Studies on Synthetic Routes Applicable to a Flow Reactor and Optimization of Reaction Conditions.

L-α-Glycerylphosphorylcholine (L-α-GPC) has mainly been produced by two methods: extraction from plants rich in phosphatidylcholine and chemical synthesis. However, production through extraction involves difficult processes, such as fermentation, extractions and ripening, and conventional chemical synthesis methods with high-cost reactants and a batch reactor. These methods are not ideal for large-quantity production. Thus, it is important to develop a simple production method of L-α-GPC, which is suitable for mass production without the need for expensive reactants. Here, we studied synthetic L-α-GPC methods that are applicable to a flow synthesis system, which can provide selectivity, reproducibility, scalability, and a high yield in short reaction time using inexpensive starting materials. We developed a two-step synthetic route to produce L-α-GPC, including the synthesis of phosphoryl choline using choline chloride and phosphoryl oxychloride (POCl3) as a first step and synthesis of L-α-GPC by reacting phosphoryl choline with (R)-(-)-3-chloro-1,2-propanediol (CPD) as a second step under basic conditions. Both steps were separately performed in a customized flow reactor, and reaction conditions were optimized. Finally, phosphoryl choline and L-α-GPC, the products first and second reactions, were successfully synthesized with high conversion yields of 97% and 79%, respectively.

Enteroviral replication inhibition by N-Alkyl triazolopyrimidinone derivatives through a non-capsid binding mode.

Small-molecule inhibitors exhibiting broad-spectrum enteroviral inhibition by targeting viral replication proteins are highly desirable in antiviral drug discovery. We used the previously identified antiviral compound 1 as the starting material to develop a novel compound series with high efficacy against human rhinovirus (hRV). Further optimization of N-substituted triazolopyrimidinone derivatives revealed that the N-alkyl triazolopyrimidinone derivatives (2) had more potent antiviral activity against hRVs than compound 1. The new compounds showed improved selectivity index values, and compound 2c (KR-25210) displayed broad anti-hRV activity, with half-maximal effective concentration values ≤ 2 µM against all tested hRVs. In addition, 2c showed notable activity against other enteroviruses. Drug-likeness elucidation showed that 2c exhibited reasonable human and rat liver microsomal phase-I stability and safe CYP inhibition. Replication studies revealed that 2c is not a capsid inhibitor, and a time-of-addition assay indicated that 2c targets the virus replication stages.

Novel tacrine-pyridinium hybrid reactivators of organophosphorus-inhibited acetylcholinesterase: Synthesis, molecular docking, and in vitro reactivation study.

First-line medical treatment against nerve agents consists of co-administration of anticholinergic agents and oxime reactivators, which reactivate inhibited AChE. Pralidoxime, a commonly used oxime reactivator, is effective against some nerve agents but not against others; thus, new oxime reactivators are needed. Novel tacrine-pyridinium hybrid reactivators in which 4-pyridinealdoxime derivatives are connected to tacrine moieties by linear carbon chains of different lengths (C2-C7) were prepared (Scheme 1, 5a-f). Their binding affinities to electric eel AChE were tested because oximes can inhibit free AChE, and the highest AChE activity (95%, 92%, and 90%) was observed at 1 µM concentrations of the oximes (5a, 5b, and 5c, respectively). Based on their inhibitory affinities towards free AChE, 1 µM concentrations of the oxime derivatives (5) were used to examine reactivation of paraoxon-inhibited AChE. Reactivation ability increased as the carbon linker chains lengthened (n = 2-5), and 5c and 5d showed remarkable reactivation ability (41%) compared to that of 2-PAM (16%) and HI-6 (4%) against paraoxon-inhibited electric eel AChE at 1 µM concentrations. Molecular docking simulation showed that the most stable binding free energy was observed in 5c at 73.79 kcal⋅mol-1, and the binding mode of 5c is acceptable for the oxygen atom of oximate to attack the phosphorus atom of paraoxon and reactivate paraoxon-inhibited eel AChE model structure.

Multicomponent Oxidative Trifluoromethylation of Alkynes with Photoredox Catalysis: Synthesis of α-Trifluoromethyl Ketones.

The direct oxidative addition of CF3 and H2O to alkynes was achieved with photoredox catalysis to obtain α-trifluoromethyl ketones via rapid enol-keto tautomerization. The reaction exhibits high functional group tolerance and regioselectivity. Heterocycles of various sizes containing CF3 were synthesized from the α-CF3-substituted diketones obtained through the protocol, thereby demonstrating the versatile applicability of the method. Mechanistic studies of the reaction with isotopes provided insight into the reaction pathway.

Enterovirus inhibitory activity of C-8-tert-butyl substituted 4-aryl-6,7,8,9-tetrahydrobenzo[4,5]thieno[3,2-e][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyrimidin-5(4H)-ones.

Members of a series of 4-aryl-6,7,8,9-tetrahydrobenzo[4,5]thieno[3,2-e][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyrimidin-5(4H)-ones (1, Fig. 2) were prepared and tested against representative enteroviruses including Human Coxsackievirus B1 (Cox B1), Human Coxsackievirus B3 (Cox B3), human Poliovirus 3 (PV3), human Rhinovirus 14 (HRV14), human Rhinovirus 21 (HRV 21) and human Rhinovirus 71 (HRV 71). The C-8-tert-butyl group on the tetrahydrobenzene ring in these substances was found to be crucial for their enterovirus activity. One member of this group, 1e, showed single digit micromolar activities (1.6-8.85µM) against a spectrum of viruses screened, and the highest selectivity index (SI) values for Cox B1 (>11.2), for Cox B3 (>11.5), and for PV3 (>51.2), respectively. In contrast, 1p, was the most active analog against the selected HRVs (1.8-2.6µM), and showed the highest selectivity indices among the group of compounds tested. The SI values for 1p were 11.5 for HRV14, 8.4 for HRV21, and 12.1 for HRV71, respectively.

Antiviral activity of KR-23502 targeting nuclear export of influenza B virus ribonucleoproteins.

The spiro compound 5,6-dimethyl-3H,3'H-spiro(benzofuran-2,1'-isobenzofuran)-3,3'-dione (KR-23502) has antiviral activity against influenza A and more potently B viruses. The aim of this study is to elucidate its mechanism of action. Subcellular localization and time-course expression of influenza B viral proteins, nucleoprotein (NP) and matrix protein 1 (M1), showed that KR-23502 reduced their amounts within 5 h post-infection. Early steps of virus life cycle, including virus entry, nuclear localization of NP and viral RNA-dependent RNA replication, were not affected by KR-23502. Instead it interrupted a later event corresponding to nuclear export of NP and M1 proteins. Delivery of viral ribonucleoprotein (vRNP)-M1 complex has been known to be mediated by the viral nuclear export protein (NEP) through interaction with cellular chromosomal maintenance 1 (CRM1) protein. In this study, we experimentally demonstrated that the compound targets the nuclear export of vRNP. Moreover, a single mutation (aspartate to glycine) at amino acid position 54 in M1 [M1(D54G)] was detected after 18 passages in the presence of KR-23502 with a 2-fold increase in 50% effective concentration indicating that this compound has a relatively high genetic barrier to resistance. Interestingly, it was observed that proteasome-mediated degradation of M1(D54G) was attenuated by KR-23502. In conclusion, we suggest that KR-23502 shows its anti-influenza activity by downregulating NEP/CRM1-mediated nuclear export of influenza vRNP and M1. KR-23502 provides a core chemical skeleton for further structure-based design of novel antivirals against influenza viruses.

Vicinal difunctionalization of alkenes: chlorotrifluoromethylation with CF3SO2Cl by photoredox catalysis.

Photoredox-catalyzed vicinal chlorotrifluoromethylation of alkene is described. In the presence of Ru(Phen)3Cl2, CF3SO2Cl was used as a source for the CF3 radical and chloride ion under visible light irradiation. Various terminal and internal alkenes were transformed to their vicinal chlorotrifluoromethylated derivatives. Biologically active compounds were applied under the condition to obtain desired products, suggesting that the method could be feasible for late-stage modification in drug discovery.

Stimulus-responsive azobenzene supramolecules: fibers, gels, and hollow spheres.

Novel, stimulus-responsive supramolecular structures in the form of fibers, gels, and spheres, derived from an azobenzene-containing benzenetricarboxamide derivative, are described. Self-assembly of tris(4-((E)-phenyldiazenyl)phenyl)benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide (Azo-1) in aqueous organic solvent systems results in solvent dependent generation of microfibers (aq DMSO), gels (aq DMF), and hollow spheres (aq THF). The results of a single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of Azo-1 (crystallized from a mixture of DMSO and H2O) reveal that it possesses supramolecular columnar packing along the b axis. Data obtained from FTIR analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculation suggest that multiple hydrogen bonding modes exist in the Azo-1 fibers. UV irradiation of the microfibers, formed in aq DMSO, causes complete melting while regeneration of new fibers occurs upon visible light irradiation. In addition to this photoinduced and reversible phase transition, the Azo-1 supramolecules display a reversible, fiber-to-sphere morphological transition upon exposure to pure DMSO or aq THF. The role played by amide hydrogen bonds in the morphological changes occurring in Azo-1 is demonstrated by the behavior of the analogous, ester-containing tris(4-((E)-phenyldiazenyl)phenyl)benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate (Azo-2) and by the hydrogen abstraction in the presence of fluoride anions.

Efficient synthesis of 3H,3'H-spiro[benzofuran-2,1'-isobenzofuran]-3,3'-dione as novel skeletons specifically for influenza virus type B inhibition.

An efficient and novel two step synthetic procedure to prepare various substituted 3H,3'H-spiro[benzofuran-2,1'-isobenzofuran]-3,3'-diones A, was established from very simple and easily available starting materials. The developed method is a robust and general approach for the synthesis of these structures. The prepared compounds were tested against influenza virus type A viz., A/Taiwan/1/86 (H1N1), A/Hong Kong/8/68 (H3N2) and type B viz., B/Panama/45/90, B/Taiwan/2/62, B/Lee/40, B/Brisbane/60/2008. Among 31 compounds tested, some of them showed good activity (selective index values >10) against these influenza viruses preferentially for type B. The most active compound 3b showed activity in 3.0-16.1 µM range with a selectivity index value between 30 and 166 against these type B viruses, in which it was comparable to the antiviral agent favipiravir. Also, 3b is found to be inactive against other enveloped viruses (viz., HIV and HSV) showing its specificity for influenza viruses.