Pyrones Identified as LuxR Signal Molecules in Photorhabdus and Their Synthetic Analogues Can Alter Multicellular Phenotypic Behavior of Bacillus atropheaus.

Individual bacteria communicate by the release and interpretation of small molecules, a phenomenon known as quorum sensing (QS). We hypothesized that QS compounds extruded by Photorhabdus could be interpreted by Bacillus-a form of interspecies communication. We interrogate the structure-activity relationship within the recently discovered pyrone QS network and reveal the exquisite structural features required for targeted phenotypic behavior. The interruption of QS is an exciting, nonbiocidal approach to tackling infection, and understanding its nuances can only be achieved by studies such as this.

A Novel Non-Peptidic Agonist of the Ghrelin Receptor with Orexigenic Activity In vivo.

Loss of appetite in the medically ill and ageing populations is a major health problem and a significant symptom in cachexia syndromes, which is the loss of muscle and fat mass. Ghrelin is a gut-derived hormone which can stimulate appetite. Herein we describe a novel, simple, non-peptidic, 2-pyridone which acts as a selective agonist for the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a). The small 2-pyridone demonstrated clear agonistic activity in both transfected human cells and mouse hypothalamic cells with endogenous GHS-R1a receptor expression. In vivo tests with the hit compound showed significant increased food intake following peripheral administration, which highlights the potent orexigenic effect of this novel GHS-R1a receptor ligand.

Synthesis and electrochemical detection of a thiazolyl-indole natural product isolated from the nosocomial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen, capable of surviving in a broad range of natural environments and quickly acquiring resistance. It is associated with hospital-acquired infections, particularly in patients with compromised immunity, and is the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. P. aeruginosa is also of nosocomial importance on dairy farms and veterinary hospitals, where it is a key morbidity factor in bovine mastitis. P. aeruginosa uses a cell-cell communication system consisting of signalling molecules to coordinate bacterial secondary metabolites, biofilm formation, and virulence. Simple and sensitive methods for the detection of biomolecules as indicators of P. aeruginosa infection would be of great clinical importance. Here, we report the synthesis of the P. aeruginosa natural product, barakacin, which was recently isolated from the bovine ruminal strain ZIO. A simple and sensitive electrochemical method was used for barakacin detection using a boron-doped diamond (BDD) and glassy carbon (GC) electrodes, based on cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The influence of electrolyte pH on the peak potential and peak currents was also investigated. At pH 2.0, the peak current was linearly dependent on barakacin concentration (in the range used, 1-10 µM), with correlation coefficients greater than 0.98 on both electrodes. The detection limit (S/N = 3) on the BDD electrode was 100-fold lower than that obtained on the GC electrode. The optimized method using the BDD electrode was extended to bovine (cow feces) and human (sputum of a CF patient) samples. Spiked barakacin was easily detected in these matrices at a limit of 0.5 and 0.05 µM, respectively. Graphical abstract Electrochemical detection of barakacin.

Cyclization of 4-Phenoxy-2-coumarins and 2-Pyrones via a Double C-H Activation.

Aryl-heteroaryl coupling via double C-H activation is a powerful transformation that avoids the installation of activating groups. A double C-H activation of privileged biological scaffolds, 2-coumarins and 2-pyrones, is reported. Despite the rich chemistry of these molecular frameworks, the yields are very good. Excellent regioselectivity was achieved on the pyrones. This methodology was applied to the synthesis of flemichapparin C in three steps. Isotope effect experiments were carried out, and a mechanism is proposed.

Intramolecular Direct Arylation of 3-Halo-2-pyrones and 2-Coumarins.

Direct arylation represents a favorable alternative to traditional cross-coupling and has found widespread use with simple aryls and robust heterocycles. Herein a direct arylation protocol has been optimized and applied to 2-pyrones, which are delicate and privileged biological motifs. Regioselective halogenation at the 3-position allows intramolecular coupling by activation of a pyrone C-Br or C-Cl bond and a phenoxy C-H bond. Importantly, electron-poor phenoxy substrates also worked well. The methodology was extended to 2-coumarins and applied to the synthesis of flemichapparin C and a novel analogue. Deuterium isotope effects, typical of a concerted metalation-deprotonation (CMD) mechanism, were observed in the case of a bromopyrone, but a highly unusual, inverse kinetic isotope effect was evident using a chlorocoumarin, implying that a different mechanism is operating.

One-pot synthesis and applications of N-heteroaryl iodonium salts.

An efficient one-pot synthesis of N-heteroaryl iodonium triflates from the corresponding N-heteroaryl iodide and arene has been developed. The reaction conditions resemble our previous one-pot syntheses, with suitable modifications to allow N-heteroaryl groups. The reaction time is only 30 min, and no anion exchange is required. The obtained iodonium salts were isolated in a protonated form, these salts can either be employed directly in applications or be deprotonated prior to use. The aryl groups were chosen to induce chemoselective transfer of the heteroaryl moiety to various nucleophiles. The reactivity and chemoselectivity of these iodonium salts were demonstrated by selectively introducing a pyridyl moiety onto both oxygen and carbon nucleophiles in good yields.

A diastereocontrolled route to 10-arylpyrrolo[1,2-b]isoquinolines.

The diastereocontrolled preparation of a series of 10-aryl-substituted pyrroloisoquinolines is achieved through a synthetic design that involves two key cyclization steps. First, the iodine(III)-mediated reaction of a series of N-benzylpentynamides leads to the generation of the 5-aroylpyrrolidinone skeletons. Finally, after reduction of the generated ketone group into the corresponding carbinol, the effect of a number of different acidic conditions was studied to assist the second cyclization step that occurs through an aromatic electrophilic substitution process. The study of the stereochemical course of this step led us to conclude that it takes place through a S(N)1 mechanism with very high (>95% anti) diastereocontrol.