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A straightforward site-selective method for the direct carboxylation of resorcinols (3-hydroxyphenol derivatives), phenols, and indoles is reported. The products were obtained in moderate to high yields using supercritical carbon dioxide as an electrophile and solvent under basic conditions. This method offers solvent and metal free conditions without the cumbersome exclusion of air or water with convenient purification.

An efficient catalyst-free radical cross-coupling reaction between aromatic aldehydes and sulfoximines was developed. The reaction took place in the presence of N-bromosuccinimide as the radical initiator under microwave irradiation to afford the corresponding acylated sulfoximines in moderate to excellent yields (27 examples). This protocol proved to be rapid, easy to handle, and applicable to a broad scope of substrates.

In this study, a significantly improved method for the synthesis of modular meso-BODIPY (boron dipyrromethene) derivatives possessing a free carboxylic acid group (which was subsequently coupled to peptides), is disclosed. This method provides a vastly efficient synthetic route with a > threefold higher overall yield than other reports. The resultant meso-BODIPY acid allowed for further easy incorporation into peptides. The meso-BODIPY peptides showed absorption maxima from 495–498 nm and emission maxima from 504–506 nm, molar absorptivity coefficients from 33 383–80 434 M−1 cm−1 and fluorescent quantum yields from 0.508–0.849. The meso-BODIPY-c(RGDyK) peptide was evaluated for plasma stability and (proved to be durable even up to 4 h) was then assessed for its fluorescence imaging applicability in vivo and ex vivo. The optical imaging in vivo was limited due to autofluorescence, however, the ex vivo tissue analysis displayed BODIPY-c(RGDyK) internalization and cancer detection thereby making it a novel tumor-integrin associated fluorescent probe while displaying the lack of interference the dye has on the properties of this ligand to bind the receptor.

Rationale The complexity of central nervous system (CNS) drug delivery is the main obstacle with the blood-brain barrier (BBB) known to restrict access of most pharmaceutical drugs into the brain. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) offers possibilities for studying drug deposition into the CNS. Methods The deposition and spatial distribution of the two antiretroviral drugs elvitegravir and tenofovir in the brain were investigated in healthy female Sprague-Dawley rats following a single intraperitoneal administration (50 mg/kg). This was achieved by the utilization of quantitative liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) MSI. Results LC/MS/MS showed that elvitegravir has better BBB penetration, reaching maximum concentration in the brain (Cmax brain) of 976.5 ng/g. In contrast, tenofovir displayed relatively lower BBB penetration, reaching Cmax brain of 54.5 ng/g. MALDI-MSI showed the heterogeneous distribution of both drugs in various brain regions including the cerebral cortex. Conclusions LC/MS/MS and MALDI-MSI provided valuable information about the relative concentration and the spatial distribution of the two common antiretroviral drugs. This study has also shown the capability of MALDI-MSI for direct visualization of pharmaceutical drugs in situ.

HIV-1 is an infectious virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and it is one of the major causes of deaths worldwide. The production of HIV-1 protease (PR) on a large scale has been a problem for scientists due to its cytotoxicity, low yield, insolubility, and low activity. HIV-1 C-SA protease has been cloned, expressed, and purified previously, however, with low recovery (0.25 mg/L). Herein we report an optimal expression and solubilisation procedure to recover active HIV-1 C-SA protease enzyme from inclusion bodies. The HIV protease was expressed in seven different vectors (pET11b, pET15b, pET28a pET32a, pET39b, pET41b and pGEX 6P-1). The highest expression was achieved when the vector pET32a (Trx tag) was employed. A total of 19.5 mg of fusion protein was refolded of which 5.5 mg of active protease was obtained after cleavage. The free protease had a high specific activity of 2.81 µmoles/min/mg. Interestingly the Trx-fusion protein also showed activity closer (1.24 µmoles/min/mg) to that of the free protease suggesting that the pET32a vector (Trx tag) expressed in BL21(DE3) pLysS provides a more efficient way to obtain HIV-1 protease.

Computer-aided drug design (CADD) is one of the pivotal approaches to contemporary pre-clinical drug discovery, and various computational techniques and software programs are typically used in combination, in a bid to achieve the desired outcome. Several approved drugs have been developed with the aid of CADD. On SciFinder®, we evaluated more than 600 publications through systematic searching and refining, using the terms, virtual screening; software methods; computational studies and publication year, in order to obtain data concerning particular aspects of CADD. The primary focus of this review was on the databases screened, virtual screening and/or molecular docking software program used. Furthermore, we evaluated the studies that subsequently performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and we reviewed the software programs applied, the application of density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experimental assays. To represent the latest trends, the most recent data obtained was between 2015 and 2020, consequently the most frequently employed techniques and software programs were recorded. Among these, the ZINC database was the most widely preferred with an average use of 31.2%. Structure-based virtual screening (SBVS) was the most prominently used type of virtual screening and it accounted for an average of 57.6%, with AutoDock being the preferred virtual screening/molecular docking program with 41.8% usage. Following the screening process, 38.5% of the studies performed MD simulations to complement the virtual screening and GROMACS with 39.3% usage, was the popular MD software program. Among the computational techniques, DFT was the least applied whereby it only accounts for 0.02% average use. An average of 36.5% of the studies included reports on experimental evaluations following virtual screening. Ultimately, since the inception and application of CADD in pre-clinical drug discovery, more than 70 approved drugs have been discovered, and this number is steadily increasing over time.

Bacterial infections are a major concern in the human health sector due to poor diagnosis and development of multidrug-resistant strains. PET/CT provides a means for the non-invasive detection and localization of the infectious foci; however, the radiotracers available are either cumbersome to prepare or their exact contribution toward the imaging is not yet established. Human antimicrobial peptides are of interest for development as PET radiotracers as they are an integral component of the immune system, non-immunogenic toward the recipient, and show selectivity toward pathogens such as bacteria. Herein we report on the potential of LL37, a human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide, as a radiotracer for bacterial imaging. Bifunctional chelator 1,4,7-triazacyclononane,1-glutaric acid-4,7-acetic acid was utilized to functionalize the antimicrobial peptide, which in turn was capable of chelating gallium. The synthesized nat Ga-CDP1 showed bacterial selectivity and low affinity toward hepatic cells, which are favorable characteristics for further preclinical application.

Synthesis and evaluation of structural analogues and isosteres represent a cornerstone methodology among the practitioners of medicinal- and agrochemistry. The sulfonamide functional group represents one of the most important amide isosteres in contemporary drug design, with some 500 compounds that has overcome both the pharmacological and regulatory hurdles that precede studies in humans. We note that mono aza-analogues of sulfonamides, i.e. sulfonimidamides, are rapidly gaining popularity as a novel functional group among molecular architects involved in the design of biologically active compounds for both pharmaceutical- and agrochemical applications. Herein, we review these recent developments with the ambition to showcase the promise of this functional group to the wider chemical community.

Herein, we report an operationally simple, ligand- and additive-free oxidative boron-Heck coupling that is compatible with the ethenesulfonyl fluoride functional group. The protocol proceeds at room temperature with chemoselectivity and E-isomer selectivity and offers facile access to a wide range of β-aryl/heteroaryl ethenesulfonyl fluorides from commercial boronic acids. Furthermore, we demonstrate a "one-pot click" reaction to directly transform the products to aryl-substituted β-sultams.

Three analogues of 3-oxopyrrolidines; (S)-1-tert-butyl 2-ethyl-2-((S)-2-nitro-1-p-tolylethyl)-3-oxopyrrolidine-1,2-dicarboxylate, 1, (S)-1-tert-butyl 2-ethyl 2-((S)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-nitroethyl)-3-oxopyrrolidine-1,2-dicarboxylate 2, and Ethyl 1-((S)-2-(((benzyloxy)carbonyl)amino)-3-phenylpropanoyl)-2-(2-nitro-1-phenylethyl)-3-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylate 3, were synthesized and crystallized in suitable solvents. Crystal structure analysis was carried out by single crystal X-ray diffraction to provide a detailed investigation of the packing and supramolecular arrangement of these analogues. The weak interactions such as C H⋯O/C H⋯π present in the crystal structure of all these analogues (1–3) played a vital role in controlling the conformation of the molecules and construction of dissimilar supramolecular assemblies. This study provides some insight; that even though these oxopyrrolidine analogues, lack a hydrogen bond donor and acceptor system, that upon bulky substitutions, this scaffold can still form fascinating supramolecular assemblies through various weak interactions. The surface interaction was carried out by means of Hirshfeld surface analysis, which depicted the significant intermolecular interactions of a molecule with its neighbor within the structures.

[Image: see text] Herein we demonstrate the expanded utility of a recently described N-trifluoromethylthiolation protocol to sulfonimidamide containing substances. The novel N-trifluoromethylthio sulfonimidamide derivatives thus obtained were evaluated for antibacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb.) and Mycobacterium abscessus and Gram + Ve (Streptococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis), and Gram – Ve (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria. Two compounds, 13 and 15 showed high antimycobacterial activity with MIC value of 4–8 μg/mL; i.e. comparable to WHO recommended first line antibiotic for TB infection ethambutol. The same compounds were also found to be cytotoxic in HepG2 cells (compound 13 IC(50) = 15 μg/mL; compound 15 IC(50) = 65 μg/mL). A structure activity relationship, using matched pair analysis, gave the unexpected conclusion that the trifluoromethylthio moiety was responsible for the cellular and bacterial toxicity. Given the increasing use of the trifluoromethylthio group in contemporary medicinal chemistry, this observation calls for considerations before implementation of the functionality in drug design.

The β-ketoester structural motif continues to intrigue chemists with its electrophilic and nucleophilic sites. Proven to be a valuable tool within organic synthesis, natural product, and medicinal chemistry, reports on chiral β-ketoester molecular skeletons display a steady increase. With the reignition of organocatalysis in the past decade, asymmetric methods available for the synthesis of this structural unit has significantly expanded, making it one of the most exploited substrates for organocatalytic transformations. This review provides comprehensive information on the plethora of organocatalysts used in stereoselective organocatalyzed construction of β-ketoester-containing compounds.

Herein, we report a mild and efficient synthesis of a NODASA-functionalized peptide, which was initiated with a Michael addition reaction between monomethyl fumarate and 1,4,7-triazacyclononane.

Herein, we report an efficient, ligand-free, and additive-free Suzuki-Miyaura coupling that is compatible with the aromatic sulfonyl fluoride functional group. The protocol proceeds at room temperature, on water, and offers facile access to a wide range of biaryl sulfonyl fluorides as bioorthogonal "click" reagents.

Herein, we report a convenient synthesis of aryl-substituted (E)-vinylic NH-sulfoximines via the Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction without the use of protection–deprotection group strategies.

The first synthesis and biological activity of a teixobactin analogue is reported. Substitution of the unusual L-allo-enduracididine residue by the naturally occurring L-arginine was achieved, and the analogue gave an activity trend similar to that of teixobactin (against Gram-postive bacteria) and meropenem, which was approved by the FDA in 1996. The synthetic route used allows for the synthesis of the natural product as well as the development of a program of medicinal chemistry.

This study explored the rearrangement process which occurred during Grignard reactions of the pentacycloundecane (PCU) dione, 1. This compound was reacted with vinyl and allyl magnesium bromide to afford PCU-vinyl cyclic ether, 2, and PCU-allyl cyclic ether, 4, which upon ozonolysis afforded compounds PCU dilactone, 3 and PCU-cyclic ether monoacid, 5 respectively. This resulted in the discovery of three novel cage compounds, 2, 4 and 5. The Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of 1 was proposed and investigated experimentally as an alternative synthetic route for the PCU dilactone. The unsymmetrical nature of compounds 2, 4 and 5 resulted in overlapping signals of the methine protons and carbons observed in the 1H and 13C NMR spectra, however, the complexity of the spectra was resolved by using 2D NMR techniques to successfully elucidate these compounds. Herein, the three novel cage compounds including compound 3 were fully characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy, HRMS. Single crystal X-ray crystallography analysis was also performed on compounds 3 and 5.

Novel heterocyclic bioactive small molecules bearing thioether moiety, fluorine containing dihydro pyridine and dihydro pyran were synthesized and characterized using spectroscopic methods (FT-IR, 1H, 13C and 19F NMR), LC-MS and SC-XRD. The reaction conducted is highly environment-friendly involving d -α-Tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) - Water binary solvent as reaction medium. All of the synthesized final compounds were evaluated against 2 g-negative [Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853)] and 1 g-positive [Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213)] bacterial strains by in vitro. Molecular docking experiments were carried out against p53-MDM2 tumor suppressor protein to gain more insights into the binding mode of the final compounds. In this study, we discovered potent p53-MDM2 inhibition by 2-thiobenzyl-3-formyl quinoline, 2-thio-1,2-dihydroquinoline-3-formyl N-substituted thiosemi-carbazone and fluorine substituted new pyridine and pyran derivatives by structure-based design.

We report a mild and efficient Cu(OAc)2-catalysed protocol for the oxidative C–N cross-coupling of terminal alkynes and N-deprotected sulfonimidamides. The reaction leads to hitherto unknown N-alkynylated sulfonimidamides. Furthermore, we found that the synthesised N-alkynylated sulfonimidamides could undergo silica-gel-mediated hydrolysis to give the corresponding N-acyl-sulfonimidamides, as well as borane–dimethyl sulfide-mediated reduction to give the corresponding N-alkylated sulfonimidamides.

The carbapenem (β-lactam antibiotic) scaffold serves as a useful nucleophile in organocatalytic diarylprolinol trimethylsilyl ether mediated α-heterofunctionalization reactions leading to the formation of diverse products that bear multiple stereocenters in high diastereoselectivity and moderate to good yields.

This present review provides an account on the available synthetic strategies employed to radiolabel commercial and potential bacteria-selective probes for tomographic imaging. These molecular probes encompass leukocytes, antibodies, small molecules, peptides, antibiotics, macrolides, vitamins, oligomers and siderophores. Although this technique has shown to be a valuable tool for non-invasive infection imaging, more development is required to create easy-to-radiolabel kit solutions/procedures for the preparation of the probes.

Herein, we report the development of mild, organocatalyzed routes to novel β-lactam carbapenem derivatives through Michael type C C bond forming reactions. The same methodology, followed by a retro-Dieckmann reaction, provides a pathway to novel and highly functionalized monobactam derivatives, another class of valuable β-lactam antibiotics.

An efficient diastereoselective synthesis of carbapenem Mannich bases was developed using organocatalysis. This method also provides a route to new highly functionalized diazabicyclo[4.2.1]nonanes of proposed biological significance.

A mild organocatalytic protocol for the syntheses of α,α-disubstituted proline analogues has been developed. The 3-ketoproline scaffold was functionalised using various aromatic nitrostyrenes in the presence of a bifunctional organocatalyst. The resulting quaternary proline derivatives could easily be transformed into α-alkyl-β-hydroxyproline analogues. Furthermore, the methodology could also be applied to the synthesis of 3-ketoproline functionalised peptides with high selectivity and good yields.

The direct organocatalytic enantioselective benzylation by using toluenes and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes is presented. The reaction is catalyzed by tert-butyldimethylsilyl-protected diphenylprolinol in the presence of a mild organic base and proceeds with excellent yields and enantioselectivities up to >99 % ee. This reactivity is based on a synergistic effect between the iminium ion intermediate and the base-activated toluene. Toluene derivatives having various electron-withdrawing substituents were also applied in this unprecedented transformation. The synthetic potential is demonstrated by manipulations of the products to, for example, biologically active phenylbenzazepines.

Organocatalysis is shown to expand the classical reactivity pattern for conjugate addition reactions. It is demonstrated that the site selectivity can be extended from 1,4- to 1,6-additions for the enantioselective vinylogous additions of methyl-substituted vinylogous lactones to enals and 2,4-dienals. This novel reactivity is demonstrated for methyl-substituted olefinic azlactones and butyrolactones. Their synthetic potential is first highlighted by the development of the organocatalytic regioselective vinylogous 1,4-addition to enals which proceeds with a very high level of double-bond geometry control and excellent enantioselectivity. The concept is developed further for the unprecedented intermolecular enantioselective organocatalyzed vinylogous 1,6-addition to linear 2,4-dienals, by which the site selectivity of the process is extended from the β-position to the remote δ-position of the 2,4-dienal. The organocatalyst controls the newly generated stereocenter six bonds away from the stereocenter of the catalyst with a high level of enantiocontrol, and the products are obtained with full control of double-bonds configuration. The scope of these new reaction concepts is demonstrated for a series of aliphatic and aryl-substituted enals and 2,4-dienals undergoing enantioselective vinylogous reactions with methyl-substituted olefinic azlactones and butyrolactones. Furthermore, mechanistic considerations are presented which can account for the change from 1,4- to 1,6-selectivity. Finally, a number of different transformations of the optically active 1,4- and 1,6-addition products are demonstrated.

Asymmetric Michael addition of ketoproline derivative (I) to nitrostyrenes affords the title products with excellent diastereoselectivities and high enantioselectivities.

Herein, we report the development of a mild synthetic route towards novel minocycline derivatives using the proline-catalyzed three-component Mannich reaction. The reaction conditions were optimized and was then screened for its tolerance to the other popular organocatalysts as well as variation of the ketone and aldehyde substrates. The Mannich adducts were evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial efficacies against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.

Preparation of 2-(indol-3-yl)-3-nitriloquinolines via Friedlander quinoline synthesis using 3-cyanoacetylindoles possessing an α-methylene group and ortho-amino arylketones have been described. This reaction took place in PEG-400 as a green solvent and it is catalyzed with polyphosphoric acid (PPA) to give novel types of quinolines containing both indoles and cyano functions in one step under thermal and microwave conditions.

Arylidenepyruvic acids (APAs) have been successfully employed in an Ugi-four component condensation reaction which yielded polyfunctional amides. Condensation of various APAs, aldehydes, amines, and isocyanides at room temperature in 96% ethanol as a green solvent proceeded in good yields. The extension of the reaction to diamines, formaldehyde, and isocyanides to form more complex molecules is also reported. These novel products may have potential in various pharmaceutical applications.

The simple and practical syntheses of chiral guanidine organocatalysts and their evaluation in the asymmetric Michael addition reaction of malonates and beta-keto esters with nitro-olefins is reported. These organocatalysts are the first of their kind based on a tetrahydroisoquinoline framework. In addition, a microwave-assisted procedure for introducing the guanidine unit onto amino amide derivatives is reported. The chiral products were obtained with quantitative chemical efficiency (up to 99 % yield) and excellent enantioselectivity (up to 97 % ee).

C9H13FO5S, triclinic, P1̅ (no. 2), a = 5.9390(3) Å, b = 8.1581(4) Å, c = 11.3823(8) Å, α = 89.498(3)°, β = 85.314(5)°, γ = 84.916(5)°, V = 547.48(5) Å3, Z = 2, R gt(F) = 0.0303, wRref(F2 ) = 0.0811, T = 293 K.

The short synthesis of a series of novel chiral N-oxideorganocatalysts and their evaluation in the asymmetric allylation reaction of aromatic and α-β-unsaturated aldehydes with allyltrichlorosilane is reported. These readily modifiable organocatalysts are the first of their kind based on the tetrahydroisoquinoline framework. The chiral homoallyl products were obtained with good chemical efficiency (up to 93 % yield) and high enantioselectivity (up to 91 % ee) under mild reaction conditions (23 °C).

For the first time an organocatalyst bearing a secondary nitrogen within a cyclohexane ring has been evaluated in the asymmetric Diels–Alder reaction. This organocatalyst is also the first of its kind based on a (1R,3S)-6,7-dimethoxy-1-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline backbone. These catalysts were tested over a range of dienes and dienophiles and displayed promising chemical conversions of up to 100% with up to 64% ee with triflic acid as the cocatalyst. Density functional theory computational studies and 2D NMR spectroscopy were used to determine the structure of the intermediate iminium ion formed between the most efficient catalyst and cinnamaldehyde. The reaction profile for each of the four possibilities in this reaction were calculated and it was found that the iminium intermediate leading to the major product is higher in energy but kinetically preferred. The activation energies of all possible reaction paths were calculated and the results correlated with the observed products. These experiments revealed that the presence of both (E)- and (Z)-isomers of the cinnamaldehyde were contributing factors for the low enantioselectivity of the reaction products.

The use of the tetrahydroisoquinoline scaffold is well documented in biologically active compounds. However, reports of the utilisation of tetrahydroisoquinoline compounds in asymmetric catalysis a ...

The new concept presented here is developed for the unprecedented intermolecular enantioselective organocatalyzed vinylogous 1,6-addition to linear 2,4-dienals.

A multi-step one-pot procedure for the synthesis of the title compounds is reported in relative short reaction times.

A simple protocol allows for the synthesis of the title compounds (V) by Ugi-four component reaction of arylidenepyruvic acids, amines, aldehydes, and isocyanides.

Novel Lewis base N-oxide organocatalysts possessing tetrahydroisoquinoline as a readily tunable backbone are synthesized and evaluated in asymmetric allylation reactions of aromatic and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes.