Synthesis and biological evaluation of selective Pepstatin based trifluoromethylated inhibitors of Cathepsin D.

Cathepsin D (CD) is overexpressed in several types of cancer and constitutes an important biological target. Pepstatin A, a pentapeptide incorporating two non-proteinogenic statin residues, is among the most potent inhibitor of CD but lacks selectivity and suffers from poor bioavailability. Eight analogues of Pepstatin A, were synthesized, replacing residues in P3 or P1 position by non-canonical (S)- and (R)-α-Trifluoromethyl Alanine (TfmAla), (S)- and (R)-Trifluoromethionine (TFM) or non-natural d-Valine. The biological activities of those analogues were quantified on isolated CD and Pepsin by fluorescence-based assay (FRET) and cytotoxicity of the best fluorinated inhibitors was evaluated on SKOV3 ovarian cancer cell line. (R)-TFM based analog of Pepstatin A (compound 6) returned a sub-nanomolar IC50 against CD and an increased selectivity. Molecular Docking experiments could partially rationalize these results. Stabilized inhibitor 6 in the catalytic pocket of CD showed strong hydrophobic interactions of the long and flexible TFM side chain with lipophilic residues of S1 and S3 sub-pockets of the catalytic pocket. The newly synthesized inhibitors returned no cytotoxicity at IC50 concentrations on SKOV3 cancer cells, however the compounds derived from (S)-TfmAla and (R)-TFM led to modifications of cells morphologies, associated with altered organization of F-actin and extracellular Fibronectin.

(R)-α-Trifluoromethylalanine as a 19 F NMR Probe for the Monitoring of Protease Digestion of Peptides.

Fluorinated non-natural amino acids are useful tools for improving the bioavailability of peptides but can also serve as fluorinated probes in 19 F NMR-based enzymatic assays. We report herein that the use of the non-natural α-quaternarized (R)-α-trifluoromethylalanine ((R)-α-TfmAla) provides convenient and accurate monitoring of trypsin proteolytic activity and increases resistance towards pepsin degradation.

Enantiopure α-Trifluoromethylated Aziridine-2-carboxylic Acid (α-TfmAzy): Synthesis and Peptide Coupling.

A straightforward synthesis of enantiopure α-trifluoromethyl aziridine-2-carboxylic acid (α-TfmAzy) is reported from a trifluoropyruvate derived enantiopure oxazolidine. A key Strecker-type synthetic step and a late cyanide basic hydrolysis gave the target compounds in six steps and 41% yield. A final peptide coupling was performed to demonstrate the usefulness of this highly constrained fluorinated unnatural amino acid.

Trifluoromethylated Proline Surrogates as Part of "Pro-Pro" Turn-Inducing Templates.

Proline is often found as a turn inducer in peptide or protein domains. Exploitation of its restricted conformational freedom led to the development of the d-Pro-l-Pro (corresponding to (R)-Pro-(S)-Pro) segment as a "templating" unit, frequently used in the design of ß-hairpin peptidomimetics, in which conformational stability is, however, inherently linked to the cis-trans isomerization of the prolyl amide bonds. In this context, the stereoelectronic properties of the CF3 group can aid in conformational control. Herein, the impact of α-trifluoromethylated proline analogues is examined for the design of enhanced ß-turn inducers. A theoretical conformational study permitted the dipeptide (R)-Pro-(R)-TfmOxa (TfmOxa: 2-trifluoromethyloxazolidine-2-carboxylic acid) to be selected as a template with an increased trans-cis rotational energy barrier. NMR spectroscopic analysis of the Ac-(R)-Pro-(R)-TfmOxa-(S)-Val-OtBu ß-turn model, obtained through an original synthetic pathway, validated the prevalence of a major trans-trans conformer and indicated the presence of an internal hydrogen bond. Altogether, it was shown that the (R)-Pro-(R)-TfmOxa template fulfilled all crucial ß-turn-inducer criteria.

Probing the Outstanding Local Hydrophobicity Increases in Peptide Sequences Induced by Incorporation of Trifluoromethylated Amino Acids.

In order to achieve accurate determination of the local hydrophobicity increases in peptide sequences produced by incorporation of trifluoromethylated amino acids (TfmAAs), the chromatographic hydrophobicity indexes (ϕ0 ) of three series of tripeptides containing three unnatural trifluoromethylated amino acids have been measured and compared with those of their non-fluorinated analogues. The hydrophobic contribution of each fluorinated amino acid was quantified by varying the position and the protection of (R)- and (S)-α-trifluoromethylalanine (TfmAla), (R)-trifluoromethylcysteine (TfmCys), and (S)-trifluoromethionine (TFM) in a short peptide sequence. As a general trend, strong increases in hydrophobicity were precisely measured, even exceeding the high hydrophobic contribution of the natural amino acid isoleucine. This study validates the incorporation of trifluoromethylated amino acids into peptide sequences as a rational strategy for the fine-tuning of hydrophobic peptide-protein interactions.

Homochiral versus Heterochiral Trifluoromethylated Pseudoproline Containing Dipeptides: A Powerful Tool to Switch the Prolyl-Amide Bond Conformation.

The design of constrained peptides is of prime importance in the development of bioactive compounds and for applications in supramolecular chemistry. Due to its nature, the peptide bond undergoes a spontaneous cis-trans isomerism, and the cis isomers are much more difficult to stabilize than the trans forms. By using oxazolidine-based pseudoprolines (ΨPro) substituted by a trifluoromethyl group, we show that the cis peptide bond can be readily switched from 0% to 100% in Xaa-ΨPro dipeptides. Our results prove that changing the configuration of the Cα in Xaa or in ΨPro is sufficient to invert the cis:trans populations while changing the nature of the Xaa side chain finely tuned the conformers ratio. Moreover, a strong correlation is found between the puckering of the oxazolidine ring and the peptide bond conformation. This finding highlights the role of the trifluoromethyl group in the stabilization of the peptide bond geometry. We anticipate that such templates will be very useful to constrain the backbone geometry of longer peptides.

Incorporation of Trifluoromethylated Proline and Surrogates into Peptides: Application to the Synthesis of Fluorinated Analogues of the Neuroprotective Glycine-Proline-Glutamate (GPE) Tripeptide.

The incorporation into a peptide chain of highly hindered and weakly nucleophilic trifluoromethylated prolines, pseudoprolines and oxazolidines has been achieved. As an application, the synthesis of a new class of fluorinated analogues of the neuroprotective tripeptide glycine-proline-glutamate (GPE) is reported. These analogues have been elaborated from a panel of five-membered ring trifluoromethylated amino acids (Tfm-AAs) through the coupling reaction with a glutamate residue at the C-terminus and a glycine at the N-terminus. Although the peptide coupling reaction at the C-terminal position of the fluorinated amino acid was conveniently performed under standard conditions, the very challenging coupling reaction at the highly deactivated N-terminal position proved to be much more problematic. A methodological study was needed to identify suitable reaction conditions for this difficult peptide coupling.

Synthesis of protected enantiopure (R) and (S)-α-trifluoromethylalanine containing dipeptide building blocks ready to use for solid phase peptide synthesis.

Considering the increasing importance of fluorinated peptides, the development of efficient and reliable synthetic methods for the incorporation of unnatural fluorinated amino acids into peptides is a current matter of interest. In this study, we report the convenient Boc/benzyl and Cbz/tert-butyl protection of both enantiomers of the quaternarized amino acid α-trifluoromethylalanine [(R)- and (S)-α-Tfm-Ala]. Because of the deactivation of the nitrogen atom of this synthetic amino acid by the strong electron withdrawing trifluoromethyl group, the peptide coupling on this position is a challenge. In order to provide a robust synthetic methodology for the incorporation of enantiopure (R)- and (S)-α-trifluoromethylalanines into peptides, we report herein the preparation of dipeptides ready to use for solid phase peptide synthesis. The difficult peptide coupling on the nitrogen atom of the α-trifluoromethylalanines was performed in solution phase by means of highly electrophilic amino acid chlorides or mixed anhydrides. The synthetic effectiveness of this fluorinated dipeptide building block strategy is illustrated by the solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) of the Ac-Ala-Phe-(R)-α-Tfm-Ala-Ala-NH2 tetrapeptide.

Synthesis of enantiopure trans-2,5-disubstituted trifluoromethylpyrrolidines and (2S,5R)-5-trifluoromethylproline.

Enantiopure trans-2,5-disubstituted trifluoromethylpyrrolidines were prepared on a several gram scale starting from a readily available chiral fluorinated oxazolidine (Fox). A pure oxazolopyrrolidine intermediate could be obtained after an efficient separation by selective diastereomer destruction. The addition of various Grignard reagents on this oxazolopyrrolidine provided disubstituted pyrrolidines with moderate to complete trans diastereoselectivity. The highly valuable compound (2S,5R)-5-trifluoromethylproline could be synthesized from the same oxazolopyrrolidine intermediate via a Strecker-type reaction.

Crystallization-induced dynamic resolution of Fox chiral auxiliary and application to the diastereoselective electrophilic fluorination of amide enolates.

A highly efficient crystallization-induced dynamic resolution (CIDR) of trans-Fox (fluorinated oxazolidine) chiral auxiliary is reported. This chiral auxiliary was used for highly diastereoselective (>98% de) electrophilic fluorination of amide enolates. After removal of the chiral auxiliary, highly valuable enantiopure α-fluorocarboxylic acids and ß-fluoroalcohols are obtained.

Straightforward synthesis of enantiopure (R)- and (S)-trifluoroalaninol.

Two efficient routes are reported for the synthesis of both enantiomers of trifluoroalaninol in enantiopure form. The first pathway involves a Strecker-type reaction performed from a chiral trifluoromethyloxazolidine (Fox). The second route, which is more direct, involves, as a key step, the reduction of chiral oxazolidines or imines derived from ethyl trifluoropyruvate.

Highly diastereoselective alpha-hydroxylation of Fox chiral auxiliary-based amide enolates with molecular oxygen.

Using a trifluoromethylated oxazolidine (Fox) chiral auxiliary, the hydroxylation reaction of enolates was very efficiently performed under smooth and friendly conditions with molecular oxygen as oxidizer. This reaction occurred with an extremely high diastereoselectivity. After cleavage, the chiral auxiliary is efficiently recovered and highly valuable enantiopure oxygenated carboxylic acids and alcohols are released.

Highly diastereoselective synthetic route to enantiopure beta(2)-amino acids and gamma-amino alcohols using a fluorinated oxazolidine (Fox) as chiral auxiliary.

The alkylation reactions of an amide enolate derived from a trifluoromethylated oxazolidine (Fox) chiral auxiliary occur with a complete diastereoselectivity and in good yields with various electrophiles. This reaction provides a versatile and straightforward strategy for the synthesis of beta(2)-amino acids and gamma-amino alcohols in enantiopure form.

Fluorine... and pi...alkali metal interactions control in the stereoselective amide enolate alkylation with fluorinated oxazolidines (Fox) as a chiral auxiliary: an experimental and theoretical study.

The alpha-alkylation of amide enolates by using a pseudo-C(2) symmetry trans 4-phenyl-2-trifluoromethyloxazolidine (trans-Fox) as a chiral auxiliary occurs with an extremely high diastereoselectivity (>99 % de). The origin of this excellent stereocontrol was investigated by an experimental and theoretical (DFT) study. With this trans chiral auxiliary, both F...metal and pi...metal interactions compete to give the same diastereomer through Re face alkylation of the enolate. A 5.5 kcal mol(-1) energy difference found between the Re face and the Si face attack transition states is consistent with the complete diastereoselectivity that has been experimentally achieved. On the other hand, in the case of the cis chiral auxiliary (cis-Fox) the competition between the F...metal and pi...metal interactions is unfavourable to the diastereoselectivity. In this case, the Re face and the Si face attack transition states were found to be nearly isoenergetic (0.3 kcal mol(-1) difference), which is in good agreement with the very low diastereoselectivity observed.

Asymmetric, catalytic synthesis of alpha-chiral amines using a novel bis(phosphine) monoxide chiral ligand.

We have shown that Me-DuPHOS monoxide (BozPHOS) is a very effective ligand in the copper-catalyzed addition of dialkylzinc to N-phosphinoylimines providing access to alpha-chiral amines. The new ligand is particularly effective for the addition of the lesser reactive dimethylzinc. The major advantages of this process are high yields, broad substrate scope, and high enantioselectivities with low catalyst loading (3 mol %).