Piperine analog PGP-41 treatment overcomes paclitaxel resistance in NCI/ADR-RES ovarian cells by inhibition of MDR1.

Chemoresistance is one of the leading causes of the failure of chemotherapy. Overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in cancer cells is one of the most important contributing factors toward the development of chemoresistance. This study was designed to synthesize the derivatives of dihydronaphthyl and to evaluate the P-gp inhibition activity of these compounds. Among all the compounds, PGP-41 showed the most potent P-gp inhibition activity in colorectal adenocarcinoma LS-180 cells. This compound showed potent P-gp inhibition activity in chemoresistant ovarian cell line NCI/ADR-RES. Paclitaxel is one of the first lines of drugs for treating ovarian cancer and is a substrate of P-gp; therefore, NCI/ADR-RES cells are highly resistant to treatment with paclitaxel. Based on this information, we evaluated PGP-41 to overcome the paclitaxel resistance of NCI/ADR-RES cells. PGP-41 was able to sensitize the NCI/ADR-RES cells to the treatment of paclitaxel, which was evident by the reduced IC50 value of paclitaxel from 6.64 µM to 0.12 µM. The sensitization of NCI/ADR-RES cells by PGP-41 was comparable to that of elacridar and Zosuquidar. Further studies revealed that the PGP-41 exerts its effect by downregulating the expression of P-gp. Reduction of P-gp activity leads to the accumulation of higher intracellular concentration of paclitaxel, and thus allowing it to interact with its targets, which further helps in its increased efficacy. Paclitaxel was able to arrest the sensitized NCI/ADR-RES cells into G2M phase, which ultimately led to the induction of apoptotic proteins and the death of cancer cells. Being a different scaffold from zosuquidar and elacridar, further studies are required to develop PGP-41 into a potential drug to overcome chemoresistance in cancer cells.

Liver-targeted prodrugs of 2'-C-methyladenosine for therapy of hepatitis C virus infection.

2'-C-Methyladenosine exhibits impressive inhibitory activity in the cell-based hepatitis C virus (HCV) subgenomic replicon assay, by virtue of intracellular conversion to the corresponding nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) and inhibition of NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). However, rapid degradation by adenosine deaminase (ADA) limits its overall therapeutic potential. To reduce ADA-mediated deamination, we prepared cyclic 1-aryl-1,3-propanyl prodrugs of the corresponding nucleoside monophosphate (NMP), anticipating cytochrome P450 3A-mediated oxidative cleavage to the NMP in hepatocytes. Lead compounds identified in a primary rat hepatocyte screen were shown to result in liver levels of NTP predictive of efficacy after intravenous dosing to rats. The oral bioavailability of the initial lead was below 5%; therefore, additional analogues were synthesized and screened for liver NTP levels after oral administration to rats. Addition of a 2',3'-carbonate prodrug moiety proved to be a successful strategy, and the 1-(4-pyridyl)-1,3-propanyl prodrug containing a 2',3'-carbonate moiety displayed oral bioavailability of 39%.

Concise synthesis of omega-borono-alpha-amino acids.

A short protocol for the practical scale synthesis of several omega-borono-alpha-amino acids is described via the alkylation of benzophenone glycinimines with various electrophiles.

Synthesis of functionalized carboranes as potential anticancer and BNCT agents.

Carboranyl aldehydes react with alpha,beta-unsaturated esters, ketones, and nitriles in the presence of DABCO to provide functionalized carboranyl alcohols in good yields. Acetates of these alcohols undergo a facile isomerization with a variety of nucleophiles and afford structurally interesting carboranes. Biological evaluation of these molecules exhibited impressive antiproliferative activity for brain and breast cancer cells.

Studies towards the synthesis of epothilone A via organoboranes.

Studies towards the synthesis of epothilone A via organoboranes have been described. A modified procedure for the large-scale preparation of B-gamma,gamma-dimethylallyldiisopinocampheylborane from prenyl alcohol has been developed. This reagent, upon reaction with various aldehydes, provides the corresponding alpha,alpha-dimethylhomoallylic alcohols in high enantioselectivities. The application of this reagent for the synthesis of the C1-C6 subunit of epothilone has been demonstrated. Alternatively, inter- and intramolecular asymmetric reduction protocols have also been utilized for the synthesis of the C1-C6 subunit of epothilone A. The synthesis of the C7-C21 fragment of epothilone A involving asymmetric alkoxyallyl- and crotylboration using alpha-pinene-derived reagents has also been described.

Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of glutamic acid derivatives via tandem conjugate addition-elimination of activated allylic acetates under chiral PTC conditions.

A new, general, and practical procedure for the asymmetric synthesis of 4-alkylidenyl glutamic acid derivatives via a catalytic enantioselective tandem conjugate addition-elimination on allylic acetates under chiral phase-transfer conditions is reported. A variety of structural types of allylic acetates have been reacted with the benzophenone imine of glycine tert-butyl ester to give the products in good to excellent yields and enantioselectivities (63-92% yield, 80-97% ee, 8 cases).

Asymmetric allylboration of alpha,beta-enals as a surrogate for the enantioselective synthesis of allylic amines and alpha-amino acids.

[reaction: see text] Optically pure allylic amines have been synthesized from alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes via allylboration with (-)-B-allyldiisopinocampheylborane, followed by Overman rearrangement. By incorporating crotyl and alkoxyallylboration, functionalization at delta-position was readily accomplished. By applying this methodology, the synthesis of several chiral alpha-amino acids has been achieved.

Diastereoselective dihydroxylation and regioselective deoxygenation of dihydropyranones: a novel protocol for the stereoselective synthesis of C1-C8 and C15-C21 subunits of (+)-discodermolide.

Diastereoselective dihydroxylation of dihydropyranones and subsequent regioselective alpha-deoxygenation provides 1,3-trans-beta-hydroxy-delta-lactones stereoselectively. This protocol has been applied for the synthesis of C(1)-C(8) and C(15)-C(21) subunits of (+)-discodermolide.

Novel functionalized trisubstituted allylboronates via Hosomi-Miyaura borylation of functionalized allyl acetates.

[reaction: see text] A series of novel functionalized achiral and chiral allylboronates have been synthesized via the nucleophilic addition of boronates on allyl acetates derived via vinylalumination or Baylis-Hillman reaction of aldehydes. These reagents, upon allylboration with aldehydes, furnish beta-substituted-alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactones stereoselectively.

Vinylalumination for the synthesis of functionalized allyl alcohols, vinylepoxides, and alpha-alkylidene-beta-hydroxy-gamma-lactones.

A modified hydroalumination protocol for the preparation of [alpha-(ethoxycarbonyl)vinyl]diisobutylaluminum and its beta-methyl or -phenyl analogues was developed. These vinylaluminum reagents react with aldehydes and ketones to provide the corresponding functionalized allyl alcohols in good to excellent yields. Perfluoroalkyl and -aryl carbonyl compounds, alpha-keto esters, alpha-acyl cyanides, and alpha-acetylenic ketones provide the corresponding alpha-hydroxyalkenes in high yields. The allyl alcohol product ratios from the vinylalumination of unsymmetrical alpha-diketones with [alpha-(ethoxycarbonyl)vinyl]diisobutylaluminum and its beta-methyl or -phenyl analogues depend on the steric and electronic environments of the ketones as well as the reagents. The products from the vinylalumination of alpha-bromoaldehydes and -ketones were cyclized with K2CO3 or KF under nonaqueous conditions to provide functionalized vinylepoxides in high yields. Vinylaluminations of keto-protected pyruvaldehyde provided the products, which were converted to alpha-alkylidene-beta-hydroxy-gamma-lactones.

Synthesis of homoallylic chiral tertiary alcohols via chelation-controlled diastereoselective nucleophilic addition on alpha-alkoxyketones: application for the synthesis of the C(1)-C(11) subunit of 8-epi-fostriecin.

[reaction: see text] Chiral beta-syn-alkoxyhomoallylic alcohols derived from alkoxyallylboration of aldehydes upon oxidation provided the corresponding chiral ketones. Chelation-controlled nucleophilic addition to these ketones occurred in a highly stereoselective manner to afford anti-homoallylic tertiary alcohols. This methodology has been applied for the synthesis of the C(1)-C(11) subunit of C(8)-epi-fostriecin.

Solid-phase synthesis of isoxazolines.

The polymer-supported synthesis of isoxazolines is described via nitrile oxide intermediates, starting from primary nitroalkanes in a one-pot process.

Stereoselective syntheses of (+)-goniodiol, (-)-8-epigoniodiol, and (+)-9-deoxygoniopypyrone via alkoxyallylboration and ring-closing metathesis.

A convenient synthesis of (+)-goniodiol, (-)-8-epigoniodiol, and (+)-9-deoxygoniopypyrone has been developed via asymmetric alkoxyallylboration and ring-closing metathesis pathways.

Study of fluorocarbonyls for the Baylis-Hillman reaction.

A study of the effect of fluorine substitution in Baylis-Hillman reactions of various fluorocarbonyl partners with acrolein, methyl vinyl ketone, ethyl acrylate, and acrylonitrile has been made.