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By means of docking studies, seventeen compounds T.1-T17 have been designed and evaluated as multitarget inhibitors of VEGFR-2 and PD-L1 proteins in order to overcome resistance phenomena offered by cancer. All these designed molecules display a urea moiety as a common structural feature and eight of them (T.1-T8) further contain a 1,2,3-triazol moiety. The antiproliferative activity of these molecules on several tumor cell lines (HT-29, MCF-7, HeLa, A549, HL-60), on the endothelial cell line HMEC-1 and on the non-tumor cell line HEK-293 has been determined. The urea derivatives were also evaluated for their antiangiogenic properties, whereby their ability to inhibit tubulogenesis and kinase activity employing flow cytometry, ELISA, immunofluorescence and western blot techniques was measured. In addition, these techniques were also employed to investigate the immunomodulator action of the synthetic compounds on the inhibition of PD-L1 and c-Myc proteins. Compound T.2, 1-(3-chlorophenyl)-3-(2-(4-(4-methoxybenzyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)ethyl)urea, has shown similar results to sorafenib in both down-regulation of VEGFR-2 and inhibition of the kinase activity of this receptor. Furthermore, compound T.14, (E)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-(3-(4-methoxystyryl)phenyl)urea, improves the effect of T.2 as regards tube formation of endothelial cells and inhibition of VEGFR-2 tyrosine kinase activity. In addition, T.14 improves the effect of the experimental drug BMS-8 in the inhibition of PD-L1 and c-Myc proteins.

Twenty-six compounds derived from 3′-aminocombretastatin A-4 (AmCA-4) containing a urea fragment mimicking the structure of Sorafenib, have been synthesized and evaluated as antiangiogenic compounds. Antiproliferative activity of all the synthetic ureas has been measured on tumor cell lines HT-29, MCF-7, HeLa, A-549 and HL-60 as well as on the endothelial cell line HMEC-1 and on the non-tumor cell line HEK-293. Preliminary docking studies were developed in order to predict which ureas show better interactions with the protein VEGFR-2. Then, the selected derivatives were evaluated in terms of their apoptotic effect and antiangiogenic properties. In this regard, VEGFR-2/ligand interactions were determined by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence techniques. Inhibition of VEGFR-2 tyrosine kinase activity in both the A-549 and HMEC-1 cell lines was also carried out. In addition, tube formation inhibition was studied in endothelial cells. Ortho-chloro substituted urea 5 and ortho-bromo substituted urea 8 were the most active ones in both down-regulation of VEGFR-2 and inhibition of the kinase activity of this receptor, with better results than those obtained with sunitinib and sorafenib.

11 p.-9 fig.-4 tab., Background: Six N-acyl derivatives of aminocombretastatin A-4 have been synthesized and evaluated according to their interaction with tubulin and as c-Myc downregulators., Aims: In search of new promising anti-cancer agents., Objective: This study is focused on the synthesis and the biological evaluation of N-acyl derivatives of aminocombretastatin A-4 (CA-4). Docking studies were carried out to find out whether the synthetic derivatives could bind to tubulin at the colchicine site in a conformation similar to that of CA- 4. The synthetic derivatives' effect on the proliferation of several cancer cells and non-cancer cells has been measured. Their effect on tubulin polymerization, cell cycle distribution, the microtubule network and c-Myc expression has also been evaluated., Methods: A set of six N-acyl derivatives was achieved by means of a peptide-type coupling of aminocombretastatin A-4 and the corresponding carboxylic acid. The synthetic compounds' ability to inhibit cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay against three human carcinoma cell lines (colorectal HT-29, lung A549, and breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7) and one non-tumor cell line (HEK- 293). Turbidimetry time-course measurements evaluated the inhibition of tubulin polymerization. The action of the synthetic derivatives on cell cycle distribution was measured by flow cytometry and their effects on the microtubule network were determined by immunofluorescence microscopy. Finally, the downregulation of the synthetic derivatives on c-Myc protein was quantified by ELISA assay, while the effect on c-Myc gene was measured by RT-qPCR analysis., Results: Derivatives bearing pentanoyl (compound 2), hexanoyl (compound 3), and heptanoyl (compound 4) side chains show anti-proliferative activities on the HT-29 line in the low nanomolar range, with values similar to that exhibited by AmCA-4 but far exceeding those of CA-4. Compounds 1 (butanoyl side chain) and 2-3 inhibit tubulin polymerization in vitro in a manner similar to that of CA-4 and AmCA-4 whereas compounds 4, 5 (octanoyl side chain) and 6 (dodecanoyl side chain) may be considered as partial inhibitors of tubulin polymerization. While all derivatives are able to accumulate cells in G2/M phase, compounds with the longest acyl chains (5 and 6) are the least active ones in this particular action. Moreover, compounds 2-3 were the most active ones as c-Myc downregulators., Conclusion: Our studies show that the most active compounds in the disruption of the microtubule network are also the most potent ones in the downregulation of c-Myc expression. Other: Compounds 2 and 3 are good candidates for in vivo studies as they combine the best antimitotic and c-Myc downregulation activities at low doses., This research has been funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (project CTQ2014-52949-P) by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (project RTI2018-097345-B-I00) and by Jaume I University (project UJI-B2018-38).

Natural product combretastatin A-4 (CA-4) and its nitrogenated analogue 3&prime, aminocombretastatin A-4 (AmCA-4) have shown promising antitumor activities. In this study, a range of CA-4 and AmCA-4 derivatives containing amino acid pendants have been synthesized in order to compare their biological actions with those of their parent compounds. Thus, inhibition of cell proliferation on tumor cell lines HT-29, MCF-7 and A-549, as well as on the nontumor cell line HEK-273, in vitro tubulin polymerization, mitotic cell arrest, action on the microtubule cell network and inhibition of VEGF, hTERT, and c-Myc genes have been evaluated. Some AmCA-4 derivatives bearing L-amino acids exhibited inhibition of cell proliferation at low nanomolar levels exceeding the values shown by AmCA-4. Furthermore, while CA-4 and AmCA-4 derivatives do not show significant effects on the in vitro tubulin polymerization and cell cycle arrest, some selected CA-4 and AmCA-4 derivatives are able to cause total depolymerization of the microtubule network on A-549 cells. The best results were obtained in the inhibition of gene expression, particularly on the VEGF gene, in which some AmCA-4 derivatives greatly exceeded the inhibition values achieved by the parent compound.

A group of 28 N-benzylidene aniline derivatives structurally related to the natural stilbene resveratrol has been prepared through condensation of anilines with the corresponding aldehydes. The ability of these imines to inhibit proliferation of two tumor cell lines (HT-29 and MCF-7) and one non-tumor cell line (HEK- 293) was first determined. Subsequently, we determined the ability of some of the most cytotoxic compounds to inhibit the secretion of the VEGF-A factor in HT-29 cells and to downregulate the expression of the VEGF and hTERT genes, the latter one being involved in the activation of telomerase.

Twenty-four derivatives structurally related to honokiol have been synthesized and biologically evaluated. IC50 values were determined towards the HT-29, MCF-7 and HEK-293 cell lines. Some of these derivatives exhibited comparable or lower IC50 values than honokiol towards the HT-29 and MCF-7 cell lines or else higher selectivity indexes than the natural product. Twelve selected derivatives were evaluated for their ability to inhibit the expression of the VEGFA, hTERT and c-Myc genes and also to inhibit the production of total c-Myc protein and the secretion of the VEGF protein. One of the most promising compounds, 3-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)pyridine, may be a good candidate for further studies as an anticancer agent as it is able to improve the effect shown by honokiol in downregulating all gene expression and protein production at a safe concentration for non-tumor cells.

Our efforts to get therapeutically useful colchicine derivatives for the treatment of cancer have led us to synthetize and biologically evaluate twenty-seven N,N′-disubstituted ureas containing a colchicine moiety and an aryl fragment. The cytotoxicity of the compounds, their ability to inhibit the expression of oncogenes related to telomerase activation and to the VEGF/VEGFR-2 autocrine process, such as c-MYC, hTERT and VEGF and their capability to downregulate c-MYC and VEGFR-2 proteins and the secretion of VEGF have been measured. In these biological evaluations, we have found that the change of the acetyl group in colchicines for an N-arylurea unit causes a great improvement in anticancer properties. The most promising derivatives were compounds 6 (o-Cl) and 14 (o,o-di-F) as they were able to downregulate all the tested targets at a concentration below their IC50 values. Thus, the arylurea unit enhances the potential of colchicine as an anticancer agent.

Several tricyclic compounds inspired by the structure of combretastatin A-4 and bearing group 14 elements have been synthesized by homocoupling lithiated aryl fragments followed by ring-closing metathesis. These tricyclic compounds and their diolefin precursors were evaluated for their antiproliferative action on the tumor cell lines HT-29, MCF-7, HeLa and A-549 and on the non-tumor cell line HEK-293. In addition, their effects on the cell cycle were also measured. The tricyclic compounds show antiproliferative activity similar to that of combretastatin A-4, even though they are not so active in arresting the cell cycle. However, some diolefin precursors are able to cause accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase in a higher percentage than combretastatin A-4 itself. Inhibition of endothelial tube formation and VEGFR-2 phosphorylation of some selected compounds is comparable to that of combretastatin A-4, particularly those of tin-containing compounds 23c and 26c, whose actions exceed those of sorafenib, a clinically used VEGFR-2 inhibitor.

A group of thirty-nine stilbene derivatives, prepared by means of Heck coupling reactions, has been investigated for their cytotoxicity, as well as for their ability to inhibit the production of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the activation of telomerase. The ability of these compounds to inhibit proliferation of two tumoral cell lines (HT-29 and MCF-7) and one non tumoral cell line (HEK-293) was first determined. Subsequently, we determined the capacity of the compounds to inhibit the secretion of VEGF in the aforementioned cell lines and to downregulate the expression of the VEGF, hTERT and c-Myc genes, the two latter involved in the control of the activation of telomerase. One of the synthetic stilbenes, (E)-4-(4-methoxystyryl)aniline, showed strong cytotoxicity and proved able to cause a marked decrease both in the secretion of VEGF and in the expression of the hTERT and c-Myc genes, in all cases at concentrations in the low nanomolar range.

A group of 21 nitrogen-containing heterocyclic stilbene derivatives, prepared by means of Heck coupling reactions, has been investigated for their cytotoxicity as well as their ability to inhibit the production of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the activation of telomerase. The ability of these compounds to inhibit proliferation of two tumoral cell lines (HT-29 and MCF-7) and one non-tumoral cell line (HEK-293) was first determined. Subsequently, we determined the capacity of the compounds to inhibit the secretion of VEGF in the aforementioned cell lines and downregulate the expression of the VEGF, hTERT and c-Myc genes, of which the latter two are involved in controlling the activation of telomerase. Financial support has been granted by the Spanish Government (MINECO, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, project CTQ2011-27560), the Consellería d'Empresa, Universitat i Ciencia de la Generalitat Valenciana (projects PROMETEO/2013/027 and ACOMP/2014/272) and the Universitat Jaume I (PI-1B-2011-37). R. M.-C. thanks the Universitat Jaume I for a pre-doctoral fellowship.

Several colchicine analogues in which the N-acetyl residue has been replaced by haloacetyl, cyclohexylacetyl, phenylacetyl and various aroyl moieties have been synthesized. The cytotoxic activities of the synthesized compounds have been measured on three tumor cell lines (HT-29, MCF-7 and A549) and on one non-tumor cell line (HEK-293). These compounds exhibit high antiproliferative activities at the nanomolar level, in many cases with a higher potency than colchicine itself. Some of the compounds, particularly the haloacetyl derivatives, inhibit the polymerization of tubulin in a similar manner as colchicine. As regards the cell cycle, the most active compounds are the chlorobenzoyl and bromobenzoyl derivatives, which cause cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase when tested at 20 nM, and the bromoacetyl derivative, which arrests the cell cycle at 15 nM. In addition, these colchicine derivatives have shown fairly active downregulating the expression of the c-Myc, hTERT and VEGF genes, as well as VEGF protein secretion, at very low concentrations.

A series of t wenty-six carbamates derived from aminocombretastatin A- 4 (AmCA-4 ) were syn thesized and evaluated for their capacity to affect cell proliferation, tubulin polymerization, mitotic cell arrest, microtubule network organization, apoptos is and endothelial tubular structures in vitro. The anti- pro liferative activity of the synthetic carbamates was measured on several human tumor cell lines (i.e. HT-29, MCF-7, HeLa, A-549, MDA-MB-231, H L-60) as well as on the endothelial cell line HMEC-1 and the non-tumor cell line H EK-293. The compounds showed anti-proliferative activity in the nanomolar range thereby exceeding by far the activity of combretastatin A-4 (CA-4 ) and, in some cases, the activity of AmCA-4. The most active compounds proved to be the carbamates bearing chloro, bromo or methoxy groups in the meta position of the phenyl ring. Moreover, all carbamates inhibited in vitro tubulin polymerization, in a similar manne r to that of CA-4 and Am CA-4 by interacting with the colchicine binding site in tubulin. The synthetic carbamates proved as active as AmCA-4 in causing mitotic arrest, as asses sed in A549 human lung cancer cells, and disruption of the microtubule ce llular network. Some selected carbamates induced apoptosis at concentrations as low as 10 nM, being more active than AmCA-4. Final ly, these selected carbamates displayed a vascular disrupting activity on endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, our data indicate that carbamates derived from aminocombretastatin A-4 represent interesting lead compounds for the design of vascular dis- rupting agents

The preparation of several new analogues of the natural dihydropyrone pironetin is described. They differ from the natural product mainly in the nature of the side chain and the lactone ring. Their cytotoxic activity has been measured. In addition, their interaction with tubulin, their ability to inhibit the secretion of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the expression of angiogenesis and telomeraserelated genes have been determined. Unexpectedly, and unlike pironetin, the lactones studied in this work do not interact with tubulin. Two of the compounds have been found to downregulate the expression of the hTERT and VEGF genes. Furthermore, one of them causes an appreciably decrease in the secretion of the VEGF protein.

We describe the preparation of a series of hybrid molecules containing a combretastatin A-4 moiety and a pironetin analogue fragment linked by an ester spacer of variable length. The cytotoxic activities of these compounds have been measured and the relationship between the structure and cytotoxicity is discussed. Some of the tested compounds showed cytotoxicity values of the same order of magnitude as those of the parental molecules, combretastatin A-4 and pironetin, and were less toxic than the latter for normal cells.

Financial support has been granted to M. C. by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (project numbers CTQ2008-02800 and CTQ2011-27560), by the Conselleria d'Empresa, Universitat i Ciencia de la Generalitat Valenciana (ACOMP09/113) and by the BANCAJA-UJI Foundation (P1-1B2002-06, P1-1B-2008-14 and PI-1B2011-37). The biological work has been supported in part by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (grant number BIO2010-16351) and from the Comunidad de Madrid (grant number S2010/BMD-2457 BIPEDD2-CM), both to J. F. D. We further thank the Matadero Municipal Vicente de Lucas in Segovia for providing the calf brains, which were the source of tubulin.

As part of our medicinal chemistry program’s ongoing search for compounds with antimalarial activity, we prepared a series of thiazole analogs and conducted a SAR study analyzing their in vitro activities against the chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 strain. The results indicate that modifications of the N-aryl amide group linked to the thiazole ring are the most significant in terms of in vitro antimalarial activity, leading to compounds with high antimalarial potency and low cytotoxicity in HepG2 cell lines. Furthermore, the observed SAR implies that non-bulky, electron-withdrawing groups are preferred at ortho position on the phenyl ring, whereas small atoms such as H or F are preferred at para position. Finally, replacement of the phenyl ring by a pyridine affords a compound with similar potency, but with potentially better physicochemical properties which could constitute a new line of research for further studies. M.C., A.C.C., J.A.M., N.R. and J.F.S.-C. thank the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación of Spain (research grant CTQ2011-27560) and the Consellería d’Educació, Investigació, Cultura i Esport de la Generalitat Valenciana (research grant PROMETEO/2013/027) for financial support.

A group of 47 biphenyl functionalized compounds, prepared by means of Suzuki couplings, has been investigated for their cytotoxicity on two tumoral cell lines (HT-29 and MCF-7) and one non tumoral cell line (HEK-293). 29 selected compounds have been investigated for their ability to inhibit the production of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Subsequently, the capacity of the compounds to downregulate the expression of the VEGF, h-TERT and c-Myc genes, the two latter involved in the control of the activation of telomerase, has also been determined. Financial support has been granted to M.C. by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Spain (project CTQ2014- 52949-P), by the Consellería d´Empresa, Universitat i Ciencia de la Generalitat Valenciana (projects PROMETEO/2013/027 and ACOMP/2014/ 274) and by the University Jaume I (project PI- 1B2011-37). M. S.-P. thanks the University Jaume I for a predoctoral fellowship.

8 páginas, 4 figuras, 1 tabla, 2 esquemas -- PAGS nros. 1630-1637, The preparation of a series of pironetin analogues with simplified structure is described. Their cytotoxic activity and their interactions with tubulin have been investigated. It has been found that, while less active than the parent molecule, the pironetin analogues still share the mechanism of action of the latter and compete for the same binding site to α-tubulin. Variations in the configurations of their stereocenters do not translate into relevant differences between biological activities, Financial support has been granted by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (CTQ2008-02800), by the Consellería d'Empresa, Universitat i Ciencia de la Generalitat Valenciana (ACOMP09/113) and by the BANCAJA-UJI Foundation (P1-1B2002-06 and P1-1B-2008-14). The biological work has been supported in part by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (BIO2007-61336 and BIO2010-16351) and from the Comunidad de Madrid (BIPPED-CM) (both to J.F.D.)

A convergent synthesis of the structure proposed for the naturally occurring lactone stagonolide G is described. All three stereocenters were created with the aid of asymmetric Brown allylations. The lactone ring was built by means of a ring-closing metathesis (RCM). The synthetic and the natural compound differed in their spectral properties. A new structure is now proposed for stagonolide G and demonstrated by means of a chemical transformation.

A short, formal stereoselective synthesis of the naturally occurring tetrahydropyran derivative ophiocerin D is reported. The four stereocenters of the molecule were created with the aid of two Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylations. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Stereoselective syntheses of the naturally occurring glycosidase inhibitors hyacinthacines A2 and A3 are reported. In the case of hyacinthacine A2, the pyrrolizidine system was created from an acyclic precursor via a double cyclization procedure with a one-pot formation of two C–N bonds. In the case of hyacinthacine A3, the two C–N bonds were created in separate steps. In addition, the non-natural epimer at C-5 of hyacinthacine A3 was obtained.

Both matched and mismatched diastereoselection have been observed in aldol reactions of a boron enolate of a protected l-erythrulose derivative with several chiral α-fluoro and α-Amino aldehydes. Strict adherence to the Felkin–Anh model for the respective transition structures does not account satisfactorily for all the observed results, as previously observed in the case of α-oxygenatedaldehydes. In some cases, only the Cornforth model provides a good explanation. The factors that influence this dichotomy are discussed and a general mechanistic model is proposed for aldol reactions with a-heteroatom-substituted aldehydes. Additional support for the model was obtained from density functional calculations

A short, stereoselective synthesis of the naturally occurring pyrrolidine radicamine B is reported. Garner's (R)-aldehyde, prepared from D-serine, was the chiral starting material. The pyrrolidine ring was stereoselectively created in a very efficient way through a five-step, one-pot transformation. In addition, an intermediate of this synthesis was transformed into an intermediate of a previously published synthesis of the potent alpha-glucosidase inhibitor nectrisine.

A convergent stereoselective synthesis of the bacterial DNA primase inhibitor Sch 642305 and its non-natural epimer at C-4 is described. A key aspect was the construction of a trans-2,3-disubstituted cyclohexanone system by means of a stereoselective Michael addition/α-alkylation sequence. The macrolactone ring of either stereoisomer was created using the Mitsunobu and Yamaguchi procedures, respectively.

A small group of hybrid molecules composed of a colchicine moiety and a pironetin analogue fragment have been investigated for their ability to inhibit the expression of the VEGF, hTERT and c-Myc genes. The VEGF gene is involved in the generation of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and thus in the angiogenic process whereas the two latter ones are related to the activation of telomerase. All three genes therefore may be of paramount importance in the cancer generation process. It has been found that colchicine and some of its derivatives display a measurable ability to inhibit the expression of the VEGF and the two other telomerase-related genes. In the case of some of the hybrids, the available data point to the colchicine fragment being responsible for the observed biological activities. It is the first time that the last biological feature has been reported for colchicine or derivatives thereof. We thank the Spanish Government (MINECO, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, research grants CTQ2008-02800 and CTQ2011-27560), by the Consellería d’Empresa, Universitat i Ciencia de la Generalitat Valenciana (research grants PROMETEO/2013/027, ACOMP09/113 and ACOMP/2014/272) and by the Universitat Jaume I (research grants P1-1B-2008-14 and PI-1B-2011-37) for financial support. C.V. further thanks the MINECO for a predoctoral fellowship of the FPI program. The authors thank Prof. C. M. Cerda García-Rojas, from the Departamento de Química, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico, for the kind sending of pironetin samples.

[reaction: see text] A stereocontrolled, convergent synthesis of the alkaloid australine, a glycosidase inhibitor of the pyrrolizidine class, is described. The chiral starting materials were ketone 3, derived from L-erythrulose, and alpha-alkoxy aldehyde 4, prepared from L-malic acid. A key step of the synthesis was the highly stereoselective aldol reaction between 4 and a Z boron enolate derived from 3. Another key step was the one-pot construction of the bicyclic pyrrolizidine system by means of a three-step sequence of SN2 displacements induced by benzylamine on a trimesylate precursor.

[reaction: see text] A total synthesis of the naturally occurring, cytotoxic macrolide FD-891 is described. Three fragments were first stereoselectively constructed using mainly asymmetric aldol and allylation reactions. The complete framework was then assembled using two Julia-Kocienski olefinations to connect the three fragments and a Yamaguchi reaction to close the macrolactone ring.

The two naturally occuring, bioactive spiroacetals aculeatins A and B have been synthesized for the first time in enantiopure form using an asymmetric allylation as the only chirality source. A further key step was a stereoselective aldol reaction with remote induction. The absolute configurations of the natural products have been established and the previously assigned relative configurations have been corrected.

[reaction: see text] Convergent, stereoselective syntheses of the pharmacologically active, naturally occurring lactones (-)-microcarpalide and (+)-lethaloxin have been achieved from the commercially available, chiral reagents (R)-glycidol, (S,S)-tartaric acid, and d-ribose as the starting materials. These syntheses have further served to establish the hitherto unknown absolute configuration of (+)-lethaloxin and to show its identity with (+)-pinolidoxin.

Both matched and mismatched diastereoselections have been observed in the aldol reactions of a range of chiral aldehydes with the dicyclohexylboron enolate of a chiral ethyl ketone related to l-erythrulose. As was previously observed in the corresponding aldol reactions with l-erythrulose derivatives, the Felkin−Anh model provides an adequate explanation for the stereochemical outcome of reactions with chiral α-methyl aldehydes. However, a satisfactory account of the results observed with α-oxygenated aldehydes was only possible with the Cornforth model. As a practical application of the methodology described herein, a C1−C9 fragment of the structure of the antifungal macrolide soraphen A1α has been prepared in a convergent and stereoselective way.

The aerial parts of two subspecies of Centaurea aspera L. (Asteraceae) yielded the germacranolides 1a – h , 2 , 3 , 4 and 5 , the elemane derivatives 6d and 6f , the lignan matairesinol, the degraded terpene loliolide, and the onopordopicrin–valine dimeric adduct 7 . From these, compounds 1e , 3 and 6d are natural products. The chemical composition of the two subspecies is very similar, a circumstance which does not support a taxonomic subdivision of the species.

The additions of various organolithium and organomagnesium reagents to a chiral nitrone prepared from l -erythrulose took place with variable diastereoselectivity. The degree and strength of the facial selectivity can be modified if the reaction is performed in the presence of Lewis acid additives: zinc bromide enhances the attack to the Si face of the C N bond whereas diethyl aluminium chloride promotes attack to the Re face. The obtained adducts can be then transformed into protected N -hydroxy-α,α-disubstituted-α-amino acid derivatives as well as into the corresponding α,α-disubstituted α-amino acids.

The conjugated delta-lactone passifloricin A, a natural product with antiprotozoal activity, and seven isomers thereof have been synthesized in enantiopure form. It has been shown in this way that the proposed structure for the natural compound was erroneous. The correct structure is now evidenced. Key steps of the syntheses were asymmetric Brown-type aldehyde allylations and ring-closing metatheses.

A stereoselective synthesis of the naturally occurring, α,β-unsaturated lactone anamarine is described. The key step was a highly stereoselective aldol reaction of a protected erythrulose derivative with a chiral aldehyde. Another relevant step was an asymmetric aldehyde allylation with a chiral allylborane. The lactone ring was made by means of a ring-closing metathesis.

Nucleophilic C-vinylation and C-allylation of aldehydes and ketones followed by O-allylation of the obtained carbinols gave the corresponding allyl or homoallyl ethers, respectively. Ring-closing metathesis of these compounds afforded in many cases cyclic ethers (dihydrofurans and dihydropyrans, respectively) bearing disubstituted and trisubstituted CC bonds. These were then subjected to allylic oxidation to yield conjugated γ- and δ-lactones. Reasons for the observed failures are presented and discussed.

Six diterpenes isolated from the latex of Euphorbia obtusifolia Poir. (Euphorbiaceae) were evaluated for their inhibition of the NADH oxidase activity in submitochondrial particles from beef heart. 4,20-Dideoxyphorbol-12,13-bis(isobutyrate) was the most potent inhibitor and showed an inhibitory concentration with IC 50 value of 2.6±0.3 mM. In the present study, some structure–activity trends are suggested for the inhibitory activity of the mammalian mitochondrial respiratory chain of these natural product derivatives of 4-deoxyphorbol esters.

The stereoselective syntheses of the naturally occurring δ-lactones (+)-tanikolide and (−)-malyngolide as well as of the unnatural (+)-enantiomer of the latter are described. Key steps in each of these syntheses were stereoselective additions of organometallic reagents to α-oxygenated ketones and olefin ring-closing metatheses.

Protected erythrulose derivatives have been shown to undergo highly stereoselective dicyclohexylboron chloride-mediated aldol reactions. After suitable synthetic manipulation of the resulting aldol adducts, chiral polyoxygenated molecules can be obtained in which either three or all four carbon atoms of the starting erythrulose molecule have been incorporated. Erythrulose derivatives may therefore behave, according to convenience, as chiral, functionalized d 3 or d 4 synthons. As an example, this methodology has been applied to a stereoselective synthesis of the naturally occurring, pharmacologically active lactone (+)-boronolide.

The delta-lactone boronolide (+)-1, a pharmacologically active, naturally occurring product, has been synthesized in enantiopure form with L-erythrulose as the chiral starting material. The key steps of the synthesis were a highly stereoselective aldol-reduction one-pot sequence, an indium-mediated diastereoselective aldehyde allylation, and a ring-closing metathesis.

The stereoselective synthesis of the cytokine modulator (−)-cytoxazone in enantiopure form is described. Key steps of the process are a syn -stereoselective aldol addition of a chiral ketone mediated by chlorodicyclohexylborane, and a Curtius rearrangement.

Silphinene sesquiterpenes are established chrysomelid antifeedants. In this work, nine silphinene analogs, 11β-acetoxy-5α-angeloyloxysilphinen-3-one (1), 11β-acetoxy-5α-tigloyloxysilphinen-3-one (2), 11β-acetoxy-5α-iso- butyryloxysilphinen-3-one (3), 11β-hydroxy-5α-angeloyloxysilphinen-3-one (4), 11β,5α-dihydroxysilphinen-3-one (5), 11β,5α-diacetoxysilphinen-3-one (6), 5α,11β-diisobutyryloxysilphinen-3-one (7), silphinen-3,5,11-trione (8), and O-methyl-5-epicantabrenolic acid methyl ester (10), and a presilphiperfolane sesquiterpene (9) were tested against several divergent insect species, including the lepidopteran Spodoptera littoralis, the chrysomelid Leptinotarsa decemlineata, and five aphid species, and their antifeedant effects were compared with those of picrotoxinin, a GABA-antagonist, and thymol, an allosteric modulator for insect GABA receptors. All insects tested responded to at least one silphinene analog and/or GABA antagonist. Compound 3 and thymol were effective antifeedants against all species tested except S. littoralis, with varying potencies according to their feeding ecologies. The toxicity of these compounds was species-dependent and did not correlate with their antifeedant effect.

We here report the synthesis of a series of 12 hybrid molecules composed of a colchicine moiety and a pironetin analogue fragment. The two fragments are connected through an ester-amide spacer of variable length. The cytotoxic activities of these compounds and their interactions with tubulin have been investigated. Relations between the structure and activity are discussed. Since the spacer is not long enough to permit a simultaneous binding of the hybrid molecules to the colchicine and pironetin sites on tubulin, a further feature investigated was whether these molecules would interact with the latter through the pironetin end (irreversible covalent binding) or through the colchicine end (reversible noncovalent binding). It has been found that binding to tubulin may take place preferentially at either of these ends depending on the length of the connecting spacer., Financial support has been granted by the Spanish Government (MINECO, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad; Research Grants CTQ2008-02800 and CTQ2011-27560), by the Consellería d’Empresa, Universitat i Ciencia de la Generalitat Valenciana (Research Grants PROMETEO/2013/027, ACOMP09/113, and ACOMP/2014/272), and by the Universitat Jaume I (Research Grants P1-1B-2008-14 and PI-1B-2011-37). C.V. thanks the MINECO for a predoctoral fellowship of the FPI program. Part of the biological work has been supported by the BIPPED2 (Grant S2010/BMD-2457 to J.F.D.), by the Comunidad de Madrid, and by the MINECO (Grant BIO2013-42984-R to J.F.D.). We further thank Prof. C. M. Cerda García-Rojas, from the Departamento de Química, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico, for kindly sending the pironetin samples, P. Lastres for his help with flow cytometry, and the Matadero Municipal Vicente de Lucas in Segovia for providing the calf brains which were the source of tubulin.

We have investigated a number of nucleophilic additions of allylating reagents to several α,α′,β-trioxygenated ketones ( O -protected erythrulose derivatives). Reagents based on lithium, magnesium, copper and titanium gave low to medium stereoselectivities and did not display any recognizable trend in the sense of stereoselection. In contrast, reactions involving silicon and tin derivatives were highly stereoselective and gave rise to essentially a single diastereoisomer, the structure of which depended on the type of protecting group. Thus, α,β-di- O -benzylated derivatives experienced almost exclusive addition to the carbonyl Si side, whereas α,β- O , O -alkylidene derivatives (dioxolane acetals) yielded the opposite diastereoisomers as a result of addition to the Re side. These results suggest the intermediacy of α-chelates in the additions of silicon and tin reagents to the di- O -benzylated derivatives. In contrast, the opposite stereoisomers, formed in the reactions of dioxolanes, are believed to be formed through Felkin–Anh transition states, pointing again to the reluctance of acetal oxygens to participate in chelated intermediates.

We have investigated several 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of a chiral nitrone prepared from L-erythrulose. While cycloadditions to carbon-carbon multiple bonds of dipolarophiles such as ethyl acrylate, ethyl propiolate, or dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate were poorly stereoselective, reaction with acrylonitrile provided predominantly one diastereomeric adduct. Furthermore, the regioselectivity exhibited by the two structurally similar dipolarophiles ethyl acrylate and ethyl propiolate was found to be opposite. The molecular mechanisms of these cycloadditions have thus been investigated by means of density functional theory (DFT) methods with the B3LYP functional and the 6-31G and 6-31+G basis sets. A simplified achiral version of nitrone 1 as the dipole, and methyl propiolate or acrylonitrile as the dipolarophiles, were chosen as computational models. The cycloadditions have been shown to take place through one-step pathways in which the C-C and C-O sigma bonds are formed in a nonsynchronous way. For the reaction with methyl propiolate, DFT calculations predict the experimentally observed meta regioselectivity. For the reaction with acrylonitrile, however, the predicted regioselectivity has been found to depend on the computational level used. The calculations further indicate the exo approach to be energetically favored in the case of the latter dipolarophile, in agreement with experimental findings. The main reason for this is the steric repulsion between the nitrile function and one of the methyl groups on the nitrone that progressively develops in the alternative endo approach.

The reactivity of model systems for the proposed [4+2] cycloaddition in the biosynthesis of the brevianamides, paraherquamides, and marcfortines is explored. The model for the intermolecular reaction reveals that the cycloaddition takes place under mild conditions only if activated, very reactive dienophiles are used. When relatively unreactive dienophiles such as cyclopentene and cyclohexene are used, harsh reaction conditions and/or a Lewis acid catalyst are necessary for the reaction. In contrast, the model for the intramolecular reaction demonstrates that the cycloaddition takes place within a few hours at room temperature, even in the absence of a Lewis acid catalyst. Conclusions drawn from these results are discussed in relation to the biosynthesis of the aforementioned metabolites.

Boron aldol additions of 1- O -silylated 3,4-di- O -benzyl- and 3,4-di- O -benzoyl- l -erythrulose and achiral aldehydes using dicyclohexylboron chloride have been investigated. The dibenzyl derivative gave syn/syn stereoisomers with high stereoselectivity, whereas the dibenzoyl derivative gave syn/anti stereoisomers. It is believed that, while the dibenzoyl erythrulose gives rise to the E enolate in the presence of dicyclohexylboron chloride, as usually observed with this reagent, only the Z enolate is formed in the case of the dibenzyl derivative.