A broad range quorum sensing inhibitor working through sRNA inhibition.

For the last decade, chemical control of bacterial virulence has received considerable attention. Ajoene, a sulfur-rich molecule from garlic has been shown to reduce expression of key quorum sensing regulated virulence factors in the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Here we show that the repressing effect of ajoene on quorum sensing occurs by inhibition of small regulatory RNAs (sRNA) in P. aeruginosa as well as in Staphylococcus aureus, another important human pathogen that employs quorum sensing to control virulence gene expression. Using various reporter constructs, we found that ajoene lowered expression of the sRNAs RsmY and RsmZ in P. aeruginosa and the small dual-function regulatory RNA, RNAIII in S. aureus, that controls expression of key virulence factors. We confirmed the modulation of RNAIII by RNA sequencing and found that the expression of many QS regulated genes encoding virulence factors such as hemolysins and proteases were lowered in the presence of ajoene in S. aureus. Importantly, our findings show that sRNAs across bacterial species potentially may qualify as targets of anti-virulence therapy and that ajoene could be a lead structure in search of broad-spectrum compounds transcending the Gram negative-positive borderline.

Diastereoselective synthesis of novel heterocyclic scaffolds through tandem Petasis 3-component/intramolecular Diels-Alder and ROM-RCM reactions.

A high-yielding, stereoselective and extraordinarily complexity-generating Petasis 3-component/intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction has been developed. In combination with ROM-RCM, rapid access to complex sp3-rich heterocyclic scaffolds amenable to subsequent functionalization and library synthesis is provided.

Solvent-Controlled Chemoselectivity in the Photolytic Release of Hydroxamic Acids and Carboxamides from Solid Support.

The synthetic utility and theoretical basis of a photolabile hydroxylamine-linker are presented. The developed protocols enable the efficient synthesis and chemoselective photolytic release of either hydroxamates or carboxamides from solid support. The bidetachable mode of the linker unit is uniquely dependent on the solvent. Hydroxamic acids are obtained by performing photolysis in protic solvents, whereas photolysis in aprotic solvents enables the selective release of carboxamides.

A metal-catalyzed enyne-cyclization step for the synthesis of bi- and tricyclic scaffolds amenable to molecular library production.

A facile metal-catalyzed diversification step for the synthesis of novel bi- and tricyclic scaffolds from enyne substrates is reported in this study. From a single starting material, topologically diverse scaffolds for library synthesis can be generated and decorated in a few steps. The methodology was used to produce a library of 490 compounds within the European Lead Factory (ELF) Consortium.

Synthesis of hexahydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline compound libraries through a Pictet-Spengler cyclization/metal-catalyzed cross coupling/amidation sequence.

Molecular libraries of natural product-like and structurally diverse compounds are attractive in early drug discovery campaigns. In here, we present synthetic methodology for library production of hexahydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline (HPIQ) compounds. Two advanced HPIQ intermediates, both incorporating two handles for diversification, were synthesized through an oxidative cleavage/Pictet-Spengler reaction sequence in high overall yields. A subsequent metal-catalyzed cross coupling/amidation protocol was developed and its utility in library synthesis was validated by construction of a 20-membered natural product-like molecular library in good overall yields.

Synthesis of 1,4,5 trisubstituted γ-lactams via a 3-component cascade reaction.

A three component one-pot cascade reaction was developed for the synthesis of 1,4,5-trisubstituted γ-lactams. The resulting scaffold can be modified independently at three positions, two of which are conveniently accessed by changing the components of the one-pot reaction. The phases of building block generation, scaffold synthesis and subsequent appendage modification were adapted to library production, which resulted in a screening library of 500 compounds.

Synthesis of a natural product-like compound collection through oxidative cleavage and cyclization of linear peptides.

Massive efforts in molecular library synthesis have strived for the development of synthesis methodology which systematically delivers natural product-like compounds of high spatial complexity. Herein, we present a conceptually simple approach that builds on the power of solid-phase peptide synthesis to assemble precursor peptides (oligomers) designed to undergo oxidative cascade reactions. By harnessing the structural side-chain diversity and inherent stereochemical features offered by readily available amino acids (monomers), a proof-of-concept collection of 54 skeletally and stereochemically diverse compounds was generated, and selected compounds were elaborated into isoform-selective metalloprotease inhibitors.

Synthesis of oxacyclic scaffolds via dual ruthenium hydride/Brønsted acid-catalyzed isomerization/cyclization of allylic ethers.

A ruthenium hydride/Brønsted acid-catalyzed tandem sequence is reported for the synthesis of 1,3,4,9-tetrahydropyrano[3,4-b]indoles (THPIs) and related oxacyclic scaffolds. The process was designed on the premise that readily available allylic ethers would undergo sequential isomerization, first to enol ethers (Ru catalysis), then to oxocarbenium ions (Brønsted acid catalysis) amenable to endo cyclization with tethered nucleophiles. This methodology provides not only an attractive alternative to the traditional oxa-Pictet-Spengler reaction for the synthesis of THPIs, but also convenient access to THPI congeners and other important oxacycles such as acetals.

N-acyliminium intermediates in solid-phase synthesis.

N-Acyliminium ions are powerful intermediates in synthetic organic chemistry. Examples of their use are numerous in solution-phase synthesis, but there are unmerited few reports on these highly reactive electrophiles in solid-phase synthesis. The present review covers the literature to date and illustrates the methods used to generate N-acyliminium intermediates on solid support and their further elaboration to a range of pharmacologically interesting peptidomimetics, heterocycles, and other small molecules.