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The asymmetric syntheses of all eight tetraponerine alkaloids (T1-T8) were achieved using the diastereoselective conjugate additions of lithium amide reagents in the key stereodefining steps. Conjugate addition of either lithium (R)-N-allyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide or lithium (R)-N-(but-3-en-1-yl)-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to tert-butyl sorbate was followed by ring-closing metathesis of the resultant N-alkenyl β-amino esters, reduction to the corresponding aldehydes, and reaction with tert-butyl (triphenylphosphoranylidene)acetate. Subsequent conjugate addition of the requisite antipode of lithium N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to the resultant α,β-unsaturated esters gave a range of diamines for elaboration to T1-T8 via a sequence involving reduction of the ester moiety to give the corresponding aldehyde, olefination, tandem hydrogenation/hydrogenolysis, and cyclization upon reaction with 4-bromobutanal to give the tricyclic skeleton.

The PIM family of serine/threonine kinases have become an attractive target for anti-cancer drug development, particularly for certain hematological malignancies. Here, we describe the discovery of a series of inhibitors of the PIM kinase family using a high throughput screening strategy. Through a combination of molecular modeling and optimization studies, the intrinsic potencies and molecular properties of this series of compounds was significantly improved. An excellent pan-PIM isoform inhibition profile was observed across the series, while optimized examples show good selectivity over other kinases. Two PIM-expressing leukemic cancer cell lines, MV4-11 and K562, were employed to evaluate the in vitro anti-proliferative effects of selected inhibitors. Encouraging activities were observed for many examples, with the best example (44) giving an IC 50 of 0.75μM against the K562 cell line. These data provide a promising starting point for further development of this series as a new cancer therapy through PIM kinase inhibition., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

(-)-Pseudodistomin E has been prepared for the first time, allowing its structure and absolute configuration to be confirmed. The established conjugate addition of lithium (S)-N-allyl-N-(α-methyl-p-methoxybenzyl)amide to methyl (E,E)-hepta-2,5-dienoate generated the C(2)-stereocenter, and iodolactonisation of a derivative generated the remaining two stereogenic centers. Ensuing iodide displacement was achieved using a tethering strategy, to introduce the nitrogen atom to C(5). Decarboxylative coupling of a carboxylic acid with a dialkylzinc reagent completed construction of the tridecadienyl chain.

The asymmetric syntheses of (-)-ADMJ and (+)-ADANJ, the 2-deoxy-2-amino analogues of (-)-1-deoxymannojirimycin and (+)-1-deoxyallonojirimycin, are described herein. Methodology for the ring-closing iodoamination of bishomoallylic amines followed by in situ ring-expansion (via intramolecular ring-opening of the corresponding aziridinium intermediates with a tethered carbamate moiety) to give oxazolidin-2-ones was initially optimized on a model system. Subsequent application of this methodology to two enantiopure bishomoallylic amines (which were produced via aminohydroxylation of an α,β-unsaturated ester, partial reduction, and reaction of the corresponding aldehyde with vinylmagnesium bromide) also proceeded with concomitant N-debenzylation to afford the corresponding diastereoisomerically pure (>99:1 dr) oxazolidin-2-ones. Subsequent deprotection of these enantiopure templates gave (-)-ADMJ and (+)-ADANJ as single diastereoisomers in 16% and 24% overall yield, respectively.

Efficient de novo asymmetric syntheses of (+)-preussin B, the C(2)-epimer of (-)-preussin B, and 3-deoxy-(+)-preussin B have been developed, using the diastereoselective conjugate addition of lithium (S)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to tert-butyl 4-phenylbut-2-enoate and diastereoselective reductive cyclizations of γ-amino ketones as the key steps to set the stereochemistry. Conjugate addition followed by enolate protonation generated the corresponding β-amino ester. Homologation using the ester functionality as a synthetic handle gave the corresponding γ-amino ketone. Hydrogenolytic N-debenzylation was accompanied by diastereoselective reductive cyclization in situ; reductive N-methylation then gave 3-deoxy-(+)-preussin B as the major diastereoisomeric product. Meanwhile, the same conjugate addition but followed by enolate oxidation with (+)-camphorsulfonyloxaziridine gave the corresponding anti-α-hydroxy-β-amino ester. α-Epimerization by oxidation and diastereoselective reduction then gave access to the corresponding syn-α-hydroxy-β-amino ester. Homologation of both of these diastereoisomeric α-hydroxy-β-amino esters gave the corresponding β-hydroxy-γ-amino ketones. N-Debenzylation and concomitant diastereoselective reductive cyclization, followed by reductive N-methylation, provided the C(2)-epimer of (-)-preussin B and (+)-preussin B as the major diastereoisomeric products, respectively. The overall yields (from phenylacetaldehyde) were 19% for 3-deoxy-(+)-preussin B over seven steps, 8% for the C(2)-epimer of (-)-preussin B over nine steps, and 7% for (+)-preussin B over eleven steps.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a lethal, X-linked muscle-wasting disease caused by lack of the cytoskeletal protein dystrophin. There is currently no cure for DMD although various promising approaches are progressing through human clinical trials. By pharmacologically modulating the expression of the dystrophin-related protein utrophin, we have previously demonstrated in dystrophin-deficient mdx studies, daily SMT C1100 treatment significantly reduced muscle degeneration leading to improved muscle function. This manuscript describes the significant disease modifying benefits associated with daily dosing of SMT022357, a second-generation compound in this drug series with improved physicochemical properties and a more robust metabolism profile. These studies in the mdx mouse demonstrate that oral administration of SMT022357 leads to increased utrophin expression in skeletal, respiratory and cardiac muscles. Significantly, utrophin expression is localized along the length of the muscle fibre, not just at the synapse, and is fibre-type independent, suggesting that drug treatment is modulating utrophin transcription in extra-synaptic myonuclei. This results in improved sarcolemmal stability and prevents dystrophic pathology through a significant reduction of regeneration, necrosis and fibrosis. All these improvements combine to protect the mdx muscle from contraction induced damage and enhance physiological function. This detailed evaluation of the SMT C1100 drug series strongly endorses the therapeutic potential of utrophin modulation as a disease modifying therapeutic strategy for all DMD patients irrespective of their dystrophin mutation., (© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Diastereoselective syntheses of dihydroconduramines (±)-B-1, (±)-E-1, and (±)-F-1 have been achieved from N-protected 4-aminocyclohex-2-en-1-ols via two complementary procedures for epoxidation as the key step. Treatment of either trans- or cis-4-N-benzylaminocyclohex-2-en-1-ol with Cl3CCO2H and then m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (m-CPBA) resulted in initial formation of the corresponding ammonium species, followed by epoxidation on the face syn to the ammonium moiety exclusively; chemoselective N-benzylation then provided either (1RS,2SR,3RS,4RS)- or (1RS,2RS,3SR,4SR)-2,3-epoxy-4-N,N-dibenzylaminocyclohexan-1-ol, respectively. Treatment of either trans- or cis-4-N,N-dibenzylaminocyclohex-2-en-1-ol with m-CPBA resulted in initial formation of the corresponding N-oxide, followed by epoxidation on the face syn to the hydroxyl group exclusively; reduction then provided either (1RS,2RS,3SR,4RS)- or an alternative route to (1RS,2RS,3SR,4SR)-2,3-epoxy-4-N,N-dibenzylaminocyclohexan-1-ol, respectively. In all cases, S(N)2-type ring opening of these epoxides upon treatment with aqueous H2SO4 proceeded by nucleophilic attack with inversion at C(2) preferentially, distal to the in situ formed ammonium moiety. Hydrogenolytic N-deprotection then gave the corresponding dihydroconduramines (±)-B-1, (±)-E-1, and (±)-F-1.

A range of substituted anti-β-fluorophenylalanines was produced from the corresponding enantiopure α-hydroxy-β-amino esters using a stereospecific XtalFluor-E promoted rearrangement procedure as the key step. The requisite substrates are readily produced via aminohydroxylation of an α,β-unsaturated ester using our lithium amide conjugate addition methodology and, following rearrangement, deprotection of the resultant enantiopure β-fluoro-α-amino esters gives the corresponding enantiopure anti-β-fluorophenylalanines in good yield and high diastereoisomeric purity.

The syn- and anti-diastereoisomeric forms of the reported structures of the marine alkaloids nakinadines D-F have been synthesized, for the first time in all cases, via an approach involving asymmetric Mannich-type (imino-aldol) reactions of methyl phenylacetate with N-tert-butylsulfinyl imines as the key steps to control the stereochemistry. Comparison of the (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopic data reported for the natural materials with those acquired for these synthetic samples confirms the initially assigned relative (RS,SR)-configurations of these three alkaloids. In the absence of specific rotation (or other diagnostic) data for the natural materials, it is not possible to unambiguously assign their absolute configurations, although given the absolute (2S)-configurations assigned to nakinadines B and C, and the absolute (2S,3R)-configuration previously established for nakinadine A, the data herein uphold our proposal that nakinadines D-F share the absolute (2S,3R)-configuration.

A new paradigm for drug research has emerged, namely the deliberate search for molecules able to selectively affect the proliferation, differentiation, and migration of adult stem cells within the tissues in which they exist. Recently, there has been significant interest in medicinal chemistry toward the discovery and design of low molecular weight molecules that affect stem cells and thus have novel therapeutic activity. We believe that a successful agent from such a discover program would have profound effects on the treatment of many long-term degenerative disorders. Among these conditions are examples such as cardiovascular decay, neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease, and macular degeneration, all of which have significant unmet medical needs. This perspective will review evidence from the literature that indicates that discovery of such agents is achievable and represents a worthwhile pursuit for the skills of the medicinal chemist.

The extension of our simple model for predicting the propeller configuration of a triphenylphosphine ligand co-ordinated to achiral metal centres to include stereogenic metal systems is described. By considering nadir energy planes (NEP's) and a series of rigid-body calculations, a model has been developed to reliably predict the configuration of the triphenylphosphine rotor of stereogenic metal complexes. For complexes of the form [M(η(5)-C5H5)(PPh3)(L(1))(L(2))], where it is assumed that L(1) is larger than L(2), the configuration of the triphenylphosphine rotor may be predicted by viewing a Newman projection along the L(1)-M bond. In the orientation where the PPh3 unit is pointing vertically downwards and the orthogonal L(2) ligand is pointing to the right [i.e., an (RM)-configured complex, assuming that L(2) is ranked higher priority than L(1)], the conformation of L(1) can be expected to place the most sterically demanding substituent in the top-right quadrant. In cases where ligand L(1) still presents a steric incursion towards the PPh3 ligand (any part of L(1) other than H proximal to the PPh3 in the approximate zone -30° to +60° from the M-P bond) an (M)-configured rotor is expected, and when this interaction is not present a (P)-configured propeller is predicted. Without exception, these rules are consistent with all empirical data (>140 known crystal structures).

We report the selective electrochemical detection of cysteine in the presence of homocysteine and glutathione with the use of an electrode modified with cyclotricatechylene (CTC). A carbon electrode was first modified with cyclotriveratrylene (CTV) and then electrochemically converted into CTC. Using cyclic voltammetry, the redox activity of CTC was investigated along with its electrochemical response to cysteine and the closely related compounds, glutathione and homocysteine which are commonly found in biological media alongside cysteine. The selective detection of cysteine was achieved with the use of the electrocatalytic oxidation reaction and exploiting the different rates of reaction of each thiol with the oxidized CTC via variable scan rate studies. The analytical parameters consisting of sensitivity, range of linear detection, and limit of detection were determined for selective cysteine detection in phosphate buffer solution and tissue culture media where the sensitivity of the system is ca. 0.023 μA μM(-1) and ca. 0.031 μA μM(-1) with a limit of detection of ca. 0.6 μM and ca. 0.9 μM for buffer solution and tissue culture media respectively. Practical assessment of this analytical method was carried out in mixed solutions containing a combination of cysteine, homocysteine and glutathione in both media. The determined results agree well with the added cysteine content. This work presents a novel way of utilizing CTC into detecting cysteine, and is well-suited for bio-marker sensing.

The structurally related natural products (-)-homaline, (-)-hopromine, (-)-hoprominol, and (-)-hopromalinol have been collectively termed the homalium alkaloids. All four alkaloids possess bis-ζ-azalactam structures, but differ only by the identities of the side chain on each lactam ring. Since their isolation (from the leaves of Homalium pronyense Guillaum found in the forests of New Caledonia), there have been several syntheses of homaline, hopromine, hoprominol, and hopromalinol in both racemic and enantiopure forms. The most highly yielding and versatile strategy for their synthesis employs the conjugate addition of an enantiopure lithium amide reagent to an α,β-unsaturated ester as the key stereodefining step. This methodology has been used in the syntheses of all four members of the homalium alkaloid family and their stereoisomers.

Concise asymmetric syntheses of (-)-lupinine, (+)-isoretronecanol, (+)-5-epi-tashiromine and (R,R)-1-(hydroxymethyl)octahydroindolizine (the azabicyclic core within stellettamides A-C) have been achieved in 8 steps or fewer from commercially available starting materials. The key steps in these syntheses involved the preparation of enantiopure β-amino esters, upon conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-(p-methoxybenzyl)-N-(α-methyl-p-methoxybenzyl)amide to either ζ-chloro or ζ-hydroxy substituted tert-butyl (E)-hept-2-enoate, or ε-chloro or ε-hydroxy substituted tert-butyl (E)-hex-2-enoate. Activation of the ω-substituent as a leaving group led to SN2-type ring-closure, which occurred with concomitant N-debenzylation via an E1-type deprotection step, to give the corresponding pyrrolidine or piperidine in good yield. Subsequent alkylation of these enantiopure azacycles, followed by a second ring-closure/concomitant N-debenzylation step formed the pyrrolizidine, indolizidine or quinolizidine motif, and reduction with LiAlH4 gave the target compounds in diastereoisomerically and enantiomerically pure form.

A range of enantiopure polyhydroxylated piperidines, including (2R,3S,4R)-dihydroxypipecolic acid, (-)-3-epi-fagomine, (2S,3S,4R)-dihydroxyhomopipecolic acid, (2S,3R,4R)-dihydroxyhomopipecolic acid, and two trihydroxy-substituted homopipecolic acids, have been prepared using diastereoselective olefinic oxidations of a range of enantiopure tetrahydropyridines as the key step. The requisite substrates were readily prepared from tert-butyl sorbate using our diastereoselective hydroamination or aminohydroxylation protocols followed by ring-closing metathesis. After diastereoselective olefinic oxidation of the resultant enantiopure tetrahydropyridines and deprotection, enantiopure polyhydroxylated piperidines were isolated as single diastereoisomers (>99:1 dr) in good overall yield.

A range of biologically significant imino and amino sugars [1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-D-allitol, 3,6-dideoxy-3,6-imino-L-allonic acid, (3R,4S)-3,4-dihydroxy-L-proline, 1,5-anhydro-4-deoxy-4-amino-D-glucitol, and 1,5-anhydro-4-deoxy-4-amino-L-iditol] has been prepared via stereospecific cyclization of α,ε-dihydroxy-β-amino esters. These substrates are readily prepared via conjugate addition of lithium (S)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to enantiopure α,β-unsaturated esters (β-substituted with cis- and trans-dioxolane units) coupled with in situ enolate oxidation with camphorsulfonyloxaziridine (CSO). Activation of the ε-hydroxyl group allowed cyclization to either the corresponding pyrrolidine or the tetrahydropyran scaffold, with the course of the cyclization process being dictated by the relative configuration of the dioxolane unit. When the α,ε-dihydroxy-β-amino ester bears a cis-dioxolane unit, cyclization occurs upon attack of the β-amino substituent to give the corresponding pyrrolidine after in situ N-debenzylation. In contrast, when the α,ε-dihydroxy-β-amino ester bears a trans-dioxolane unit, cyclization occurs upon attack of the α-hydroxyl substituent to give the corresponding tetrahydropyran.

The asymmetric synthesis of (-)-lupinine was achieved in 8 steps, 15% overall yield and >99 : 1 dr from commercially available starting materials. The strategy used for the construction of the quinolizidine scaffold involved reaction of an enantiopure tertiary dibenzylamine via two sequential ring-closures which both occurred with concomitant N-debenzylation.

This article compares the diastereoselective epoxidation of acyclic and cyclic allylic alcohols, with the chemo- and diastereoselective olefinic oxidation of a range of acyclic and cyclic allylic amines. The diastereoselectivity in these systems is compared and a discussion about the origin of this high diastereocontrol is also presented. The ammonium directed epoxidation methodology has been extended to more complex substrates and representative applications of this protocol in natural product synthesis are also summarised.

The diastereoselective Ireland-Claisen rearrangement of a range of substituted allyl β-amino esters gave the corresponding enantiopure α-substituted-β-amino esters with good diastereoselectivity. The application of this methodology in the asymmetric synthesis of a range of C(5)-substituted 1,2-anti-1,5-syn-transpentacins was demonstrated by the rearrangement of a range of β-amino esters derived from sorbic acid, followed by esterification, ring-closing metathesis, hydrogenolytic deprotection/reduction, and hydrolysis, which gave the C(5)-substituted transpentacins in only 9 steps from commercially available starting materials.

Mannich-type reaction of methyl phenylacetate with the N-tert-butylsulfinyl imine derived from (R)-tert-butylsulfinamide and (Z)-14-(pyridin-3'-yl)tetradec-11-enal has been used as the key step in the first asymmetric synthesis of (-)-nakinadine A. Both the 2,3-syn- and 2,3-anti-diastereoisomers were prepared; comparison of spectroscopic and specific rotation data facilitated assignment of the absolute (2S,3R,Z)-configuration within the natural product. (-)-(2S,3R,Z)-Nakinadine A was prepared in 10 steps from 11-bromoundecan-1-ol, in 10% overall yield, 97:3 dr [(Z):(E) ratio], and >98% ee.

Ab initio asymmetric syntheses of methyl N,O-diacetyl-D-3-epi-daunosaminide and methyl N,O-diacetyl-D-ristosaminide, employing diastereoselective epoxidation and dihydroxylation, respectively, of alkyl (3S,αR,Z)-3-[N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amino]hex-4-enoates as the key steps, are reported. The requisite substrates were readily prepared using the conjugate additions of lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to methyl and tert-butyl (E)-hexa-2-en-4-ynoates followed by diastereoselective alkyne reduction. syn-Dihydroxylation using OsO4 proceeded under steric control on the 4Re,5Re face of the olefin to give the corresponding diol, which subsequently underwent lactonization. Meanwhile, epoxidation using F3CCO3H in conjunction with F3CCO2H proceeded on the opposite 4Si,5Si face of the olefin under hydrogen-bonding control from the in situ formed ammonium ion. Treatment of the intermediate epoxide with concd aq H2SO4 promoted highly regioselective ring-opening (distal to the in situ formed ammonium moiety) to give the corresponding diol (completing overall the formal anti-dihydroxylation of the olefin), which then underwent lactonization under the reaction conditions. Elaboration of these diastereoisomeric lactones through hydrogenolysis, N-Boc protection, reduction, methanolysis, and acetate protection gave methyl N,O-diacetyl-D-3-epi-daunosaminide and methyl N,O-diacetyl-D-ristosaminide.

This article covers N-acyl chiral auxiliary-based approaches to the asymmetric synthesis of enantiopure aldehydes and ketones. The use of diastereoisomerically pure N-acyl derivatives of chiral auxiliaries (including chiral Weinreb amide equivalents) and their conversion to the corresponding enantiopure aldehydes and ketones in a single synthetic operation by treatment with a hydride reducing agent or an organometallic reagent, respectively, are highlighted.

Asymmetric syntheses of (S,S,S)-2-amino-5-methylcyclopentanecarboxylic acid and (S,S,S)-2-amino-5-phenylcyclopentanecarboxylic acid were achieved in 9 steps from commercially available starting materials via the Ireland-Claisen rearrangement of two enantiopure β-amino allyl esters, followed by ring-closing metathesis, reduction and deprotection.

The transannular iodoamination of substituted 1,2,3,4,7,8-hexahydroazocine scaffolds has been developed into a versatile, diastereodivergent route to enable the synthesis of a range of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, as demonstrated by the syntheses of (-)-hyacinthacine A1, (-)-7a-epi-hyacinthacine A1, (-)-hyacinthacine A2, and (-)-1-epi-alexine. The requisite 1,2,3,4,7,8-hexahydroazocines (bearing either an N-α-methyl-p-methoxybenzyl group or no N-substituent) were readily prepared via conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-but-3-enyl-N-(α-methyl-p-methoxybenzyl)amide to either tert-butyl (4S,5R,E)-4,5-dihydroxy-4,5-O-isopropylidene-2,7-dienoate (derived from d-ribose) or tert-butyl (S,S,E)-4,5-dihydroxy-4,5-O-isopropylidene-2,7-dienoate (derived from l-tartaric acid) coupled with in situ enolate oxidation with (-)-camphorsulfonyloxaziridine, followed by ring-closing metathesis with Grubbs I catalyst. Subsequent reaction with I2 resulted in transannular iodoamination (accompanied by concomitant loss of the N-α-methyl-p-methoxybenzyl group for tertiary amine substrates) to give the corresponding pyrrolizidine scaffolds.

The synthesis and inhibitory potencies of a novel series of 3,5-diaryl-1H-pyrazoles as specific inhibitors of prokaryotic arylamine N-acetyltransferase enzymes is described. The series is based on hit compound 1 3,5-diaryl-1H-pyrazole identified from a high-throughout screen that has been carried out previously and found to inhibit the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The asymmetric syntheses of (-)-1-deoxymannojirimycin and (+)-1-deoxyallonojirimycin are described herein. The ring-closing iodoamination of two epimeric bishomoallylic amines to give the corresponding 5-iodomethylpyrrolidines was followed by in situ ring-expansion to give two diastereoisomerically pure (>99:1 dr) cyclic carbonates. Subsequent deprotection gave (-)-1-deoxymannojirimycin and (+)-1-deoxyallonojirimycin as single diastereoisomers in 7.4 and 3.3% overall yield, respectively, from commercially available starting materials.

A high-yielding total asymmetric synthesis of (-)-martinellic acid is reported. The conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-allyl-N-(α-methyl-4-methoxybenzyl)amide to tert-butyl (E)-3-[2'-(N,N-diallylamino)-5'-bromophenyl]propenoate and alkylation of the resultant β-amino ester have been used as the key steps to install the C(9b) and C(3a) stereogenic centers, respectively, and a highly diastereoselective Wittig reaction/intramolecular Michael addition was then used to create the C(4) stereogenic center within this tricyclic molecular architecture.

Efficient asymmetric syntheses of APTO and AETD, the highly functionalized β-amino acid fragments within microsclerodermins C, D, and E, are reported. The conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to tert-butyl (E,E)-7-(triisopropylsilyloxy)hepta-2,4-dienoate and in situ enolate oxidation with (-)-camphorsulfonyloxaziridine, diastereoselective dihydroxylation of a 2,3-syn-γ,δ-unsaturated-α-hydroxy-β-amino ester derivative under Donohoe conditions, and a Julia-Kocieński olefination were used as the key steps.

We report the simultaneous measurement of temperature and humidity by analysing square wave voltammetric responses of two ferrocene derivatives, decamethylferrocene (DmFc) and 1,2-diferrocenylethylene (bisferrocene, BisFc) in 1-(2-methoxyethyl)-1-methyl-pyrrolidinium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate ([Moepyrr][FAP]). These two molecules produce three peaks in square wave voltammetry. Through study of the peak potentials of BisFc/BisFc(+) (vs. DmFc/DmFc(+)) and BisFc(+)/BisFc(2+) (vs. DmFc/DmFc(+)) over a temperature range of 298 K to 318 K and humidity range of 1% to 50% using square wave voltammetry, the temperature and humidity dependences of the relative peak potentials were investigated. A reliable method to calculate the humidity and temperature based on the voltammetric experiment is characterised and demonstrated.

The conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-(3-chloropropyl)-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to α,β-unsaturated esters was used as the key step in the syntheses of all possible diastereoisomers of the homalium alkaloids hoprominol and hopromalinol. Comparison of the specific rotation data for these synthetic samples with those of samples isolated from the natural source enabled the absolute configurations within these alkaloids to be confidently assigned for the first time as (-)-(R,R,R)-hoprominol and (-)-(4'S,4″R,2‴R)-hopromalinol. The asymmetric syntheses of (-)-(R,R,R)-hoprominol (in 10 steps and 4.0% overall yield) and (-)-(4'S,4″R,2‴R)-hopromalinol (in 10 steps and 9.3% overall yield), from commercially available starting materials in each case, therefore represent the first total asymmetric syntheses of these alkaloids to be reported.

(-)-(S)-Nakinadine B has been synthesized for the first time (in 9 steps and 17% overall yield from commercially available atropic acid) using the conjugate addition of lithium dibenzyl-amide to an N-α-phenylacryloyl SuperQuat derivative with in situ diastereoselective enolate protonation as the key step.

The ammonium-directed olefinic epoxidations of a range of differentially N-substituted cyclic allylic and homoallylic amines (derived from cyclopentene, cyclohexene, and cycloheptene) have been investigated, and the reaction kinetics have been analyzed. The results of these studies suggest that both the ring size and the identity of the substituents on nitrogen are important in determining both the overall rate and the stereochemical outcome of the epoxidation reaction. In general, secondary amines or tertiary amines with nonsterically demanding substituents on nitrogen are superior to tertiary amines with sterically demanding substituents on nitrogen in their ability to promote the oxidation reaction. Furthermore, in all cases examined, the ability of the (in situ formed) ammonium substituent to direct the stereochemical course of the epoxidation reaction is either comparable or superior to that of the analogous hydroxyl substituent. Much slower rates of ring-opening of the intermediate epoxides are observed in cyclopentene-derived and cycloheptene-derived allylic amines as compared with their cyclohexene-derived allylic and homoallylic amine counterparts, allowing for isolation of these intermediates in both of the former cases.

A diastereodivergent hydroxyfluorination protocol enabling the direct conversion of some conformationally biased allylic amines to the corresponding diastereoisomeric amino fluorohydrins has been developed. Sequential treatment of a conformationally biased allylic amine with 2 equiv of HBF(4)·OEt(2) followed by m-CPBA promotes epoxidation of the olefin on the face proximal to the amino group under hydrogen-bonded direction from the in situ formed ammonium ion. Regioselective and stereospecific epoxide ring-opening by transfer of fluoride from a BF(4)(-) ion (an S(N)2-type process at the carbon atom distal to the ammonium moiety) then occurs in situ to give the corresponding amino fluorohydrin. Alternatively, an analogous reaction using 20 equiv of HBF(4)·OEt(2) results in preferential epoxidation of the opposite face of the olefin, which is followed by regioselective and stereospecific epoxide ring-opening by transfer of fluoride from a BF(4)(-) ion (an S(N)2-type process at the carbon atom distal to the ammonium moiety). The synthetic utility of this methodology is demonstrated via its application to a synthesis of 4-deoxy-4-fluoro-L-xylo-phytosphingosine and 4-deoxy-4-fluoro-L-lyxo-phytosphingosine, each in five steps from Garner's aldehyde.

The highly diastereoselective conjugate additions of the novel lithium amide reagents lithium (R)-N-(3-chloropropyl)-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide and lithium (R)-N-(3-chloropropyl)-N-(α-methyl-p-methoxybenzyl)amide to α,β-unsaturated esters were used as the key steps in syntheses of the homalium alkaloids (-)-(S,S)-homaline and (-)-(R,R)-hopromine. The asymmetric synthesis of (-)-(S,S)-homaline was achieved in 8 steps and 18% overall yield, and the asymmetric synthesis of (-)-(R,R)-hopromine was achieved in 9 steps and 23% overall yield, from commercially available starting materials in each case. These syntheses therefore represent by far the most efficient total asymmetric syntheses of these alkaloids reported to date. A sample of the (4'R,4''S)-epimer of hopromine was also produced using this approach, which provided the first unambiguous confirmation of its absolute configuration and therefore that of natural (-)-(R,R)-hopromine.

Ring-closing iodoamination of tert-butyl 2-hydroxy-7-[N-methyl-N-(α-methyl-p-methoxybenzyl)amino]cyclohept-3-ene-1-carboxylates proceeds with concomitant loss of the N-α-methyl-p-methoxybenzyl group to give the corresponding 8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane scaffolds in >99:1 dr. Subsequent elaboration of one of these templates provided access to (+)-pseudococaine hydrochloride, in seven steps and 31% overall yield from commercially available starting materials.

"Matching" and "mismatching" effects in the doubly diastereoselective conjugate additions of the antipodes of lithium N-benzyl-(N-α-methylbenzyl)amide to enantiopure cis- and trans-dioxolane containing α,β-unsaturated esters have been investigated. High levels of substrate control were established first upon conjugate addition of achiral lithium N-benzyl-N-isopropylamide to both tert-butyl (S,S,E)-4,5-O-isopropylidene-4,5-dihydroxyhex-2-enoate and tert-butyl (4R,5S,E)-4,5-O-isopropylidene-4,5-dihydroxyhex-2-enoate. However, upon conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-benzyl-(N-α-methylbenzyl)amide and lithium (S)-N-benzyl-(N-α-methylbenzyl)amide to these substrates, neither reaction pairing reinforced the apparent sense of substrate control. These reactions do not, therefore, conform to the classical doubly diastereoselective "matching" or "mismatching" pattern usually exhibited by this class of reaction. A comparison of these reactions with the previously reported doubly diastereoselective conjugate addition reactions of lithium amide reagents to analogous substrates is also discussed.

The electrode potentials for the two one electron oxidations of 1,2-diferrocenylethylene (bisferrocene, BF) were studied relative to that of the one electrode oxidation of decamethylferrocene in a variety of RTILs. The difference in these potentials was found to be very sensitive to the anion component of the ionic liquid showing the scope of these solutes as 'designer media' to tune the thermodynamic properties of solutes dissolved in them.

We report a temperature sensing system incorporated into an amperometric oxygen sensor. In the first part of this work, we introduce temperature sensing systems based upon voltammetric responses of both single molecule (1,2-diferrocenylethylene in 1-propyl-3-methylimidazolium bistrifluoromethylsulfonylimide) and two independent molecules (decamethylferrocene and N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetracyanoborate) respectively. In both systems, the difference in the formal potentials of two redox centres was measured as a function of temperature. The former was recorded as the peak difference in square wave voltammetry with the peak potential difference increases linearly with the increasing temperature. In order to show proof-of-concept in relation to a gas sensor, the latter system was investigated in the presence of oxygen, where the concentration and diffusion coefficient of oxygen varied with temperature, as well as the peak difference discussed previously, were studied in the presence of pure oxygen and dried air using chronoamperometry. A negligible variation of concentration of oxygen from both sources with temperature over the range 298 K to 318 K is demonstrated. These results obtained from pure oxygen and dried air were compared and a ca. 79% drop of cathodic signal from pure oxygen to dried air was found which is consistent with the percentage of oxygen in air. The diffusion coefficient of oxygen was related to temperature using an Arrhenius plot (natural log of diffusion coefficient as a function of reciprocal temperature), yielding a linear graph with high correlation. All experiments gave a high reproducibility.

Conjugate addition of lithium (S)-N-allyl-N-(α-methyl-p-methoxybenzyl)amide to methyl (E,E)-hepta-2,5-dienoate furnished the corresponding β-amino ester. N-Protecting group manipulation, ring-closing metathesis, and ester hydrolysis gave enantiopure [N(1')-tert-butoxycarbonyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-2'-yl]ethanoic acid. Subsequent iodolactonization gave a bicyclic iodolactone scaffold. This key intermediate was elaborated to (+)-pseudodistomin D [in >99% ee and 7% yield over 16 steps from methyl (E,E)-hepta-2,5-dienoate].

Conjugate addition of a 50:50 pseudoenantiomeric mixture of lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide and lithium (S)-N-3,4-dimethoxybenzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to a range of racemic acyclic γ-amino-α,β-unsaturated esters (derived from the corresponding α-amino acids) effects their efficient parallel kinetic resolution, allowing the preparation of enantiopure β,γ-diamino esters. The β,γ-diamino ester products of these reactions are readily converted into the corresponding substituted 4-aminopyrrolidin-2-ones via N-debenzylation and cyclization., (© 2011 American Chemical Society)

Latent M. tuberculosis infection presents one of the major obstacles in the global eradication of tuberculosis (TB). Cholesterol plays a critical role in the persistence of M. tuberculosis within the macrophage during latent infection. Catabolism of cholesterol contributes to the pool of propionyl-CoA, a precursor that is incorporated into cell-wall lipids. Arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT) is encoded within a gene cluster that is involved in the cholesterol sterol-ring degradation and is essential for intracellular survival. The ability of the NAT from M. tuberculosis (TBNAT) to utilise propionyl-CoA links it to the cholesterol-catabolism pathway. Deleting the nat gene or inhibiting the NAT enzyme prevents intracellular survival and results in depletion of cell-wall lipids. TBNAT has been investigated as a potential target for TB therapies. From a previous high-throughput screen, 3-benzoyl-4-phenyl-1-methylpiperidinol was identified as a selective inhibitor of prokaryotic NAT that exhibited antimycobacterial activity. The compound resulted in time-dependent irreversible inhibition of the NAT activity when tested against NAT from M. marinum (MMNAT). To further evaluate the antimycobacterial activity and the NAT inhibition of this compound, four piperidinol analogues were tested. All five compounds exert potent antimycobacterial activity against M. tuberculosis with MIC values of 2.3-16.9 µM. Treatment of the MMNAT enzyme with this set of inhibitors resulted in an irreversible time-dependent inhibition of NAT activity. Here we investigate the mechanism of NAT inhibition by studying protein-ligand interactions using mass spectrometry in combination with enzyme analysis and structure determination. We propose a covalent mechanism of NAT inhibition that involves the formation of a reactive intermediate and selective cysteine residue modification. These piperidinols present a unique class of antimycobacterial compounds that have a novel mode of action different from known anti-tubercular drugs.

Treatment of a range of 2,3- and 3,4-epoxy amines with HBF(4)·OEt(2) at room temperature results in fast and efficient S(N)2-type ring-opening hydrofluorination to give stereodefined amino fluorohydrins. Operational simplicity, scalability, and short reaction time at ambient temperature are notable features of this method. The utility of this methodology is exemplified in a concise asymmetric synthesis of (S,S)-3-deoxy-3-fluorosafingol.

Aminohydroxylation of tert-butyl sorbate [tert-butyl (E,E)-hexa-2,4-dienoate] using enantiopure lithium (R)-N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide and (-)-camphorsulfonyloxaziridine gives tert-butyl (R,R,R,E)-2-hydroxy-3-[N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amino]hex-4-enoate in >99:1 dr. Subsequent dihydroxylation under Upjohn conditions (OsO(4)/NMO) gives tert-butyl (2R,3R,4S,5S,αR)-2,4,5-trihydroxy-3-[N-benzyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amino]hexanoate (in 95:5 dr) while dihydroxylation under Donohoe conditions (OsO(4)/TMEDA) proceeds with antipodal diastereofacial selectivity to give the (R,R,R,R,R)-diastereoisomer (in 95:5 dr). The amino triols resulting from these dihydroxylation reactions are useful for further elaboration, as demonstrated by the asymmetric synthesis of 3,6-dideoxy-3-amino-L-talose.

The conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-phenyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to a range of α,β-unsaturated 4-methoxyphenyl esters proceeds with excellent levels of diastereoselectivity to give the corresponding β-amino esters in good yield and as single diastereoisomers (>99:1 dr). The synthetic utility of this methodology has been demonstrated via the short and concise asymmetric synthesis of the tetrahydroquinoline alkaloid (R)-(-)-angustureine in six steps and 32% overall yield from commercially available oct-2-enoic acid.

The doubly diastereoselective "matched" conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-but-3-enyl-N-(α-methyl-p-methoxybenzyl)amide to tert-butyl (4S,5R,E)-4,5-O-isopropylidene-2,7-dienoate (derived from d-ribose in 3 steps) and in situ enolate oxidation with (-)-camphorsulfonyloxaziridine was followed by ring-closing metathesis with Grubbs I to give a hexahydroazocine scaffold. Subsequent treatment with I(2) resulted in transannular iodoamination accompanied by loss of the α-methyl-p-methoxybenzyl group to give the corresponding pyrrolizidine scaffold as a single diastereoisomer upon direct crystallization from the crude reaction mixture. Further functional group manipulations enabled the preparation of (-)-7a-epi-hyacinthacine A1.

The synthesis and inhibitory potencies of a novel series of β-amino alcohols, based on the hit-compound 3-[3'-(4''-cyclopent-2'''-en-1'''-ylphenoxy)-2'-hydroxypropyl]-5,5 dimethylimidazolidine-2,4-dione as specific inhibitors of mycobacterial N-acetyltransferase (NAT) enzymes are reported. Effects of synthesised compounds on growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis have been determined., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Arylamine N-acetyltransferases (NATs) are a family of enzymes found in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. While the precise endogenous function of NAT remains unknown for most organisms, recent evidence has shown that the expression of human NAT1 is up-regulated in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. Additionally, NAT in mycobacteria is required for mycobacterial cell wall biosynthesis and survival of the organisms within macrophage. It is therefore important to develop small molecule inhibitors of NATs as molecular tools to study the function of NATs in various organisms. Such inhibitors may also prove useful in future drug design, for example in the development of anti tubercular agents. We describe a high-throughput screen of a proprietary library of 5016 drug-like compounds against three prokaryotic NAT enzymes and two eukaryotic NAT enzymes.

Oxidation of enantiomerically pure (R)-N(1)-1'-(1''-naphthyl)ethyl-2,7-dihydro-1H-azepine with m-CPBA in the presence of HBF(4) and BnOH gave (3S,4R,5S,6S,1'R)-N(1)-1'-(1''-naphthyl)ethyl-3-hydroxy-4-benzyloxy-5,6-epoxyazepane as the major product and as a single diastereoisomer after chromatography. Elaboration of this highly functionalized intermediate via ring contraction to (2S,3R,4S,5S,1'R)-N(1)-benzyl-2-chloromethyl-3-benzyloxy-4,5-epoxypiperidine followed by regioselective epoxide ring opening, functional group manipulation, and deprotection gave (+)-1-deoxyaltronojirimycin. Alternatively, resolution of (RS,RS)-N(1)-benzyl-3-hydroxy-4-benzyloxy-2,3,4,7-tetrahydro-1H-azepine or (3RS,4SR,5RS,6RS)-N(1)-benzyl-3-hydroxy-4-benzyloxy-5,6-epoxyazepane by preparative chiral HPLC and subsequent elaboration allows access to the enantiomers of 1-deoxynojirimycin and 1-deoxyaltronojirimycin, respectively.

Sequential treatment of a 1,2-disubstituted olefin with m-CPBA, Br3CCO2H, and DBU results in the one-pot, stereospecific conversion of the olefin to the corresponding disubstituted cyclic carbonate (1,3-dioxolan-2-one). The reaction proceeds via an initial epoxidation followed by S(N)2-type epoxide ring opening by Br3CCO2H and subsequent base-promoted carbonate formation upon elimination of bromoform. When a solution of a secondary allylic or homoallylic amine and Br3CCO2H is sequentially treated with m-CPBA then DBU, the product of the reaction is a cyclic carbamate (1,3-oxazolidin-2-one or 1,3-oxazinan-2-one).