Orally Bioavailable Proteolysis-Targeting Chimeras: An Innovative Approach in the Golden Era of Discovering Small-Molecule Cancer Drugs.

Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are an emerging therapeutic modality that show promise to open a target space not accessible to conventional small molecules via a degradation-based mechanism. PROTAC degraders, due to their bifunctional nature, which is categorized as 'beyond the Rule of Five', have gained attention as a distinctive therapeutic approach for oral administration in clinical settings. However, the development of PROTACs with adequate oral bioavailability remains a significant hurdle, largely due to their large size and less than ideal physical and chemical properties. This review encapsulates the latest advancements in orally delivered PROTACs that have entered clinical evaluation as well as developments highlighted in recent scholarly articles. The insights and methodologies elaborated upon in this review could be instrumental in supporting the discovery and refinement of novel PROTAC degraders aimed at the treatment of various human cancers.

Nickel-Catalyzed Deaminative Ketone Synthesis: Coupling of Alkylpyridinium Salts with Thiopyridine Esters via C-N Bond Activation.

A direct synthesis of ketones by the nickel-catalyzed deaminative cross-coupling of alkylpyridinium salts with thiopyridine esters has been reported. The reaction works well for both primary and secondary amines. This approach affords a highly valuable vista for the facile synthesis of ketones from easily accessible feedstock chemicals. The utility of this method is demonstrated through the functionalization of complex bioactives and pharmaceuticals.

Water, an Essential Element for a ZnII -Catalyzed Asymmetric Quinone Diels-Alder Reaction: Multi-Selective Construction of Highly Functionalized cis-Decalins.

A ZnII complex of a C2 -chiral bisamidine-type sp2 N bidentate ligand (LR ) possessing two dioxolane rings at both ends catalyzes a highly efficient quinone asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction (qADA) between o-alkoxy-p-benzoquinones and 1-alkoxy-1,3-butadienes to construct highly functionalized chiral cis-decalins, proceeding in up to a >99:1 enantiomer ratio with a high generality in the presence of H2 O (H2 O:ZnII =4-6:1). In the absence of water, little reaction occurs. The loading amount of the chiral ligand can be minimized to 0.02 mol % with a higher Zn/LR ratio. This first success is ascribed to a supramolecular 3D arrangement of substrates, in which two protons of an "H2 O-ZnII " reactive species make a linear hydrogen bond network with a dioxolane oxygen atom and one-point-binding diene; the ZnII atom captures the electron-accepting two-points-binding quinone fixed on the other dioxolane oxygen atom via an n-π* attractive interaction. The mechanisms has been supported by 1 H NMR study, kinetics, X-ray crystallographic analyses of the related ZnLR complexes, and ligand and substrate structure-reactivity-selectivity relationship.

Selective Aza Diels-Alder and Domino [4+2]/[2+2] Cycloaddition Reactions of Arynes with N-Sulfonyl Ketimines.

Transition-metal-free inverse electron-demand aza Diels-Alder and domino [4+2]/[2+2] cycloaddition reaction of arynes and N-sulfonyl ketimines has been demonstrated. This novel, mild, and efficient protocol allows rapid access to isothiazole dioxide-fused dihydroquinoline or dihydrocyclobutaquinoline derivatives selectively by simply varying the equivalents of aryne precursors. The application of this method has been amply illustrated in the synthesis of 2,4-diarylquinolines.

Synthesis of Dihydrophenanthridines and Oxoimidazolidines from Anilines and Ethylglyoxylate via Aza Diels-Alder Reaction of Arynes and KF-Induced Annulation.

The transition-metal-free multicomponent coupling of arynes, anilines, and ethylglyoxylate, proceeding via an inverse electron-demand aza Diels-Alder cycloaddition and N-arylation, has been demonstrated. This protocol allows rapid access to N-aryl dihydrophenanthridine derivatives in moderate to high yields at room temperature from readily available starting materials. In addition, an unprecedented fluoride induced annulation of ethyl(arylimino)acetates led to the formation of highly functionalized oxoimidazolidine derivatives in good yields under mild conditions.

Transition-Metal-Free Cascade Synthesis of 4-Quinolones: Umpolung of Michael Acceptors via Ene Reaction with Arynes.

A novel "one-pot" aryne transformation is described that affords various 4-quinolone derivatives without recourse to transition-metal catalysis. Arynes react with aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman (AMBH) adducts through a cascade sequence involving an insertion/cyclization/ene reaction process to afford 4-quinolones in high yields with a broad substrate scope under mild reaction conditions. Essentially, an umpolung of reactivity at the ß carbon of α,ß-unsaturated ketone has been achieved by an inverse electron demand aryne-ene reaction to provide a C-arylated product.

Synthesis of Carbazolequinones by Formal [3 + 2] Cycloaddition of Arynes and 2-Aminoquinones.

A formal cycloaddition reaction for the synthesis of biologically and pharmaceutically important carbazolequinones via the annulation of aminoquinones with arynes has been developed. This practical and metal-free cascade reaction proceeds through successive C-C/C-N bond formations. Moreover, this novel method has been utilized for the concise synthesis of bioactive murrayaquinone A and koeniginequinone B and their analogues.

Efficient Synthesis of Dimeric Oxazoles, Piperidines and Tetrahydroisoquinolines from N-Substituted 2-Oxazolones.

A mild and practical method for the construction of heterocycles from N-substituted 2-oxazolones through cascade, BF3 ⋅Et2 O/H2 O-catalyzed reactions involving iminium ion generation and trapping by external or internal olefinic and aryl moieties is described. Mechanistic and computational studies revealed the strong protic acid HBF4 as the initiating catalyst for these cascade reactions. Providing access to novel molecular diversity, these processes may facilitate chemical biology studies, drug discovery efforts and natural products synthesis.

CN-assisted oxidative cyclization of cyano cinnamates and styrene derivatives: a facile entry to 3-substituted chiral phthalides.

The asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD) of o-cyano cinnamates and styrene derivatives leads to efficient construction of chiral phthalide frameworks in high optical purities. This unique reaction is characterized by unusual synergism between CN and osmate groups resulting in rate enhancement of the AD process. The method is amply demonstrated by the synthesis and the structural/stereochemical assignment of the natural products.