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Biomimetic oxidation of primary amines to carboxylic acids has been developed where the copper-containing amine oxidase (CuAO)-like o-NQ-catalyzed aerobic oxidation was combined with the aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)-like TBHP-mediated imine oxidation protocol. Notably, the current tandem oxidation strategy provides a new mechanistic insight into the imine intermediate and the seemingly simple TBHP-mediated oxidation pathways of imines. The developed metal-free amine oxidation protocol allows the use of molecular oxygen and TBHP, safe forms of oxidant that may appeal to the industrial application.

A photocatalyst-free visible-light-induced selenofunctionalization of alkenes has been developed using a variety of nucleophiles. The homolytic scission of diselenides under visible-light conditions coupled with the aerobic selenol oxidation to diselenides allowed the successful implementation of three-component selenofunctionalization under visible-light irradiation in open-air conditions. The mechanistic studies revealed the critical role of oxygen content in a reaction medium, where the electron transfer process from the carbon-based radicals to either molecular oxygen or selenyl radicals was controlled.

A biomimetic alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)-like oxidation protocol was developed using an

The generation of aminium radical cation species from N-nitrosoamines is disclosed for the first time through visible-light excitation at 453 nm. The developed visible-light-promoted photoaddition reaction of N-nitrosoamines to alkenes was combined with the o-NQ-catalyzed aerobic oxidation protocol of amines to telescope the direct handling of harmful N-nitroso compounds, where the desired α-amino oxime derivatives were obtained in a one-pot tandem N-nitrosation and photoaddition sequence.

The interplay between copper catalysts and molecular oxygen provides the opportunity to control the promiscuous catalytic behaviors in aerobic Csp3–H bond oxidations without using stoichiometric amounts of oxidants. This mini-review aims to cover the Cu-catalyzed aerobic benzylic and α-carbonyl Csp3–H oxidations and that of the carbon next to an amine group in the past five years. The development of tandem multicomponent reactions employing aerobic Csp3–H bond oxidations will be discussed to highlight the controlled catalyst behaviors and the catalyst interactions between multiple reaction components.

The nitroso group served as a traceless directing group for the C–H functionalization of N-alkylanilines, ultimately removed after functioning either as an internal oxidant or under subsequent redu...

A direct cross-coupling between sodium sulfinates and 2H-indazoles has been developed under electrochemical conditions. The utilization of a graphite anode and platinum cathode in an undivided cell with a constant current of 7 mA allowed the concurrent oxidations of sulfinates and 2H-indazoles to sulfonyl radical and radical cationic 2H-indazoles, facilitating the direct radical-radical coupling strategy to 3-sulfonylated 2H-indazole derivatives. The transition-metal- and redox-reagent-free synthetic approach should serve as a valuable synthetic tool to achieve heteroaromatic compounds.

The photoredox chloroacylation of alkenes has been developed as a substitute for the Friedel-Crafts acylation of alkenes to β-chloroketones. The direct generation of acyl radical species from acid chlorides under the photoredox conditions allows the formation of β-chloroketones without dehydrochlorination with the help of KHCO3. The synthetic utility of the current method is demonstrated in the one-pot synthesis of dihydroisoxazole, dihydropyrazole, and dihydropyrimidine-2-thione in 1 mmol scale.

A facile access to fused pyrimidin-4(3H)-one derivatives has been established by using the metal-free ortho-naphthoquinone-catalyzed aerobic cross-coupling reactions of amines. The utilization of two readily available amines allowed a direct coupling strategy to quinazolinone natural product, bouchardatine, as well as sildenafil (Viagra™) in a highly convergent manner.

A combination of CuCl and DM-SEGPHOS catalyst system has allowed the development of highly enantioselective and diastereoselective conjugate addition of bis(pinacolato)diboron to α-alkylidene-γ-lactams. The key structural feature of conjugate acceptors, α-alkylidene-γ-lactams, was identified as the carbamate group such as N-Boc and N-Cbz, where the typical low reactivity and stereoselectivity issues associated with α,β-unsaturated lactams as conjugate acceptors were resolved.

A catalytic asymmetric desymmetrization of cyclohexadienones was accomplished via Van Leusen pyrrole synthesis in the presence of a chiral silver catalyst. The ready access to chiral-fused pyrrole derivatives is attributed to the identification of a suitable isocyanomethyl sulfone surrogate, NasMIC. The current Ag(I)-chiral phosphino-carboamide ligand system can be extended to the kinetic resolution of racemic cyclohexadienones, capitalizing on the differentiated reactivity of chiral quaternary complexes from AgSbF

SQCC is a major type of NSCLC, which is a major cause of cancer-related deaths, and there were no reports regarding the prediction of metastatic potential of lung SQCC by metabolomic and lipidomic profiling. In this study, metabolomic and lipidomic profiling of lung SQCC were performed to predict its metastatic potential and to suggest potential therapeutic targets for the inhibition of lung SQCC metastasis. Human bronchial epithelial cells and four lung SQCC cell lines with different metastatic potentials were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and direct infusion-mass spectrometry. Based on the obtained metabolic and lipidomic profiles, we constructed models to predict the metastatic potential of lung SQCC, glycerol, putrescine, β-alanine, hypoxanthine, inosine, myo-inositol, phosphatidylinositol (PI) 18:1/18:1, and PI 18:1/20:4 were suggested as characteristic metabolites and intact lipid species associated with lung SQCC metastatic potential. In this study, we established predictive models for the metastatic potential of lung SQCC, furthermore, we identified metabolites and intact lipid species relevant to lung SQCC metastatic potential that may serve as potential therapeutic targets for the inhibition of lung SQCC metastasis.

Two distinctive transition-metal-promoted aerobic oxidation protocols have been developed for the synthesis of isoquinolones from 2-vinylbenzaldehydes and aniline derivatives. Thus, the one-pot tandem reaction sequence of imine formation, thermal 6π-electrocyclization, followed by either Cu(OAc)2-mediated or Pd(OAc)2-catalyzed aerobic oxidation protocol allowed the ready access to isoquinolone derivatives. The control experiments revealed that the 1,2-dihydroisoquinoline intermediates from the 6π-electrocyclization of 1-azatrienes were aerobically oxidized to isoquinolones in the presence of either Cu(OAc)2 or Pd(OAc)2 catalyst.

The synthesis of isoxazoles has been achieved in a continuous flow system composed of two reaction units: the Friedel-Crafts acylation of alkynes and the azide conjugate addition to the resulting β-chlorovinyl ketones followed by a photochemical-thermal reaction sequence. The salient feature of the current flow system includes the safe handling of potentially explosive organic azide species as well as the rapid conversion of batch reactions into flow conditions with the integration of multiple reactor units.

ortho-Naphthoquinone-based organocatalysts have been identified as versatile aerobic oxidation catalysts. Primary amines were readily cross-coupled with primary nitroalkanes via deaminative pathway...

A convenient visible-light photoredox catalysis has been developed for the synthesis of thioesters from two readily available starting materials: acid chlorides and sodium sulfinates. The facile generation of acyl radical species under the visible light photoredox conditions allows the formation of thiyl radical species from sodium sulfinates via multiple single electron transfer reactions, where the final acyl radical-thiyl radical coupling has been accomplished. The direct radical-radical coupling strategy offers a mild and controlled photochemical approach to important synthetic building blocks such as thioesters.

The Friedel–Crafts acylation of alkynes stereoselectively provides (Z)-β-chlorovinyl ketones, whereas the AlCl3-promoted reaction yields a mixture of stereoisomeric β-chlorovinyl ketones. To develop the (E)-selective synthesis of β-chlorovinyl ketones, a flow chemistry approach was devised for the Friedel–Crafts acylation of alkynes that defies the facile (E) → (Z) isomerization under the AlCl3-promoted reaction conditions. Compared to batch reactions, the flow chemistry approach provides a fast, clean, high yielding, and stereoselective synthetic route to (E)-β-chlorovinyl ketones.

Oxidation potential-guided electrochemical radical-radical cross-coupling reactions between N-heteroarenes and sodium sulfinates have been established. Thus, simple cyclic voltammetry measurement of substrates predicts the likelihood of successful radical-radical coupling reactions, allowing the simple and direct synthetic access to 3-sulfonylated imidazopyridines and indolizines. The developed electrochemical radical-radical cross-coupling reactions to sulfonylated N-heteroarenes boast the green synthetic nature of the reactions that are oxidant- and metal-free.

Correction for 'Recent advances in the copper-catalyzed aerobic C

The generation of aminium radical cation species from

Background: Nuclear protein-1 (NUPR1, also known as p8/Com-1) is a transcription factor involved in the regulation of cellular stress responses, including serum starvation and drug stimulation. Methods: We investigated the mechanism of NUPR1 nuclear translocation involving karyopherin β1 (KPNB1), using a single-molecule binding assay and confocal microscopy. The cellular effects associated with NUPR1–KPNB1 inhibition were investigated by gene expression profiling and cell cycle analysis. Results: The single-molecule binding assay revealed that KPNB1 bound to NUPR1 with a binding affinity of 0.75 nM and that this binding was blocked by the aminothiazole ATZ-502. Following doxorubicin-only treatment, NUPR1 was translocated to the nucleus in more than 90% and NUPR1 translocation was blocked by the ATZ-502 combination treatment in MDA-MB-231 with no change in NUPR1 expression, providing strong evidence that NUPR1 nuclear translocation was directly inhibited by the ATZ-502 treatment. Inhibition of KPNB1 and NUPR1 binding was associated with a synergistic anticancer effect (up to 19.6-fold) in various cancer cell lines. NUPR1-related genes were also downregulated following the doxorubicin–ATZ-502 combination treatment. Conclusion: Our current findings clearly demonstrate that NUPR1 translocation into the nucleus requires karyopherin β1 binding. Inhibition of the KPNB1 and NUPR1 interaction may constitute a new cancer therapeutic approach that can increase the drug efficacy while reducing the side effects.

The nitroso group served as a traceless directing group for the C-H functionalization of

A direct cross-coupling between sodium sulfinates and 2

Background Blending micellar systems of different types of polymers has been proposed as an efficient approach for tailor-made drug formulations. The lamellar structure of hydrophobic polymers may provide a high drug loading capacity, and hydrophilic polymers may provide good colloidal stability. Methods In this study, the anticancer model drug docetaxel was loaded onto a nanosized blending micellar system with two pluronics (L121/F127). To achieve increased antitumor activity, the cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic acid tripeptide (cRGD) as an active tumor targeting ligand was conjugated to the blending system. Results The docetaxel-loaded Pluronic blending system exhibited a higher drug loading capacity than that of F127 and showed high colloidal stability with a spherical structure. cRGD conjugates demonstrated enhanced drug cellular uptake and anticancer activity against αvβ3 integrin-overexpressing U87MG cancer cells. In vivo animal imaging also revealed that the prepared cRGD-conjugated nanoparticles effectively accumulated at the targeted tumor site through an active and passive targeting strategy. Conclusion Accordingly, the prepared nanosized system shows potential as a tailor-made, active targeting, nanomedicinal platform for anticancer therapy. We believe that this novel nanoplatform will provide insights for advancement of tumor therapy.

An ortho-naphthoquinone-catalyzed oxidative deamination reaction has been developed where the molecular oxygen and water serve as the sole oxidant and nucleophile. The current aerobic deamination reaction proceeds via the ketimine formation between ortho-naphthoquinones and amines followed by the prototropic rearrangement and hydrolysis by water, representing a biomimetic oxidative deamination of amine species in the human body by the liver and kidneys. The compatibility of ortho-naphthoquinone organocatalysts with molecular oxygen and water opens up a new biomimetic catalyst system that can function as versatile deaminases for a variety of amine-containing molecules such as amino acids and DNA nuclear bases.

A rhodium-catalyzed decarbonylative aerobic oxidation of cyclic α-diketones has been developed for the first time, where the regioselective formations of α-pyrones and isocoumarins have been achieved. The current decarbonylative aerobic oxidation pathway proceeds via the C-C bond cleavage followed by a C-O bond formation, representing a biomimetic oxidation approach to unsaturated six-membered cyclic lactones. The unique ability of rhodium catalysts to induce the decarbonylative aerobic oxidation opens up a new synthetic toolbox that utilizes the "regioselective single carbon" extrusion strategy.

A palladium-catalyzed intermolecular hydroamination of vinylarene derivatives using anilines has been developed for the first time under aerobic conditions, where the regioselective formation of N-arylketimines is accomplished. The current aerobic oxidative hydroamination pathway of anilines is distinct from that of palladium-catalyzed hydroamination reactions that proceed to give sec-arylethylamine and arylethylamine derivatives, identifying a longstanding missing reaction pathway, Wacker-type amination, to N-arylketimines using anilines. The ready availability of both starting materials, vinylarenes and anilines, offers an attractive and facile synthetic route to N-arylketimines in good to excellent yields.

In this study, the effect of particle size of genistein-loaded solid lipid particulate systems on drug dissolution behavior and oral bioavailability was investigated. Genistein-loaded solid lipid microparticles and nanoparticles were prepared with glyceryl palmitostearate. Except for the particle size, other properties of genistein-loaded solid lipid microparticles and nanoparticles such as particle composition and drug loading efficiency and amount were similarly controlled to mainly evaluate the effect of different particle sizes of the solid lipid particulate systems on drug dissolution behavior and oral bioavailability. The results showed that genistein-loaded solid lipid microparticles and nanoparticles exhibited a considerably increased drug dissolution rate compared to that of genistein bulk powder and suspension. The microparticles gradually released genistein as a function of time while the nanoparticles exhibited a biphasic drug release pattern, showing an initial burst drug release, followed by a sustained release. The oral bioavailability of genistein loaded in solid lipid microparticles and nanoparticles in rats was also significantly enhanced compared to that in bulk powders and the suspension. However, the bioavailability from the microparticles increased more than that from the nanoparticles mainly because the rapid drug dissolution rate and rapid absorption of genistein because of the large surface area of the genistein-solid lipid nanoparticles cleared the drug to a greater extent than the genistein-solid lipid microparticles did. Therefore, the findings of this study suggest that controlling the particle size of solid-lipid particulate systems at a micro-scale would be a promising strategy to increase the oral bioavailability of genistein.

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) has been validated as a predictive or prognostic biomarker protein, and mesupron is considered the first-in-class anticancer agent to inhibit uPA activity in human breast cancer. In the present study, we showed that the synergism between mesupron and auranofin, a thioredoxin reductase inhibitor, for inducing of apoptosis in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Our results demonstrated that mesupron and auranofin significantly lead to inhibition of the cancer cells proliferation; cell cycle arrest at the G1/S phase of the cell cycle, and apoptosis as indicated by caspase 3 activation, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, and annexin V staining. Isobologram analyses of MCF-7 cells showed a clear synergism between mesupron and auranofin. This combined treatment decreased the levels of mitochondrial anti-apoptotic factors, such as BCL-2, BCL-xL, and MCL-1 and caused nuclear translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor. Mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ m ) was found to be strongly disrupted in combination-treated cells. In addition, combination treatment significantly enhanced the overproduction of reactive oxygen species, which was rescued by N-acetylcysteine treatment. The combination treatment suppressed phosphorylation of Akt, thus contributing to apoptosis. Taken together, our data suggest that the use of mesupron in combination with auranofin may be important in achieving high anticancer synergy.

The one-pot sulfenylation of (E)-β-chlorovinyl ketones was investigated under soft α-vinyl enolization conditions. Modulating the nature of nucleophilic species using a “hard” base the regioselective formation of α,γ-dithio-allenyl ketones has been achieved, where the thermodynamic control was mimicked by the presence of Et3N·HCl. The sulfenylated products, α,γ-dithio-allenyl and α,α-dithio-propargyl ketones, smoothly underwent cycloisomerization to 3,4-dimercaptofurans via a novel 1,2-sulfur migration in excellent yields.

A tandem aerobic oxidation protocol has been developed for the facile synthesis of indole-3-carboxylates. Two readily available starting materials, anilines and benzylamines, were efficiently cross-coupled under the o-naphthoquinone-catalyzed aerobic oxidation conditions to the corresponding 2-arylmethyleneaminophenylacetates that in turn smoothly underwent the Cu(II)-catalyzed intramolecular Mannich reaction. The resulting indoline derivatives were aerobically oxidized to indole-3-carboxylates, providing a ready access to indole derivatives from two simple amine derivatives.

A tandem three-component reaction has been developed for the synthesis of spirocyclic 2-indolinylformamidines through a cooperative action of palladium and copper catalysts. The Pd-catalyzed benzylation of α-isocyano lactams with 2-bromobenzyl bromides allows efficient formation of α-substituted α-isocyano lactams. A subsequent in situ Cu-catalyzed amine addition to the isocyanide moiety provides amidine intermediates that readily undergo intramolecular N-arylation via the cooperative action of Pd/Cu catalysis, allowing a facile chiral resolution of the spirocyclic 2-indolines.

A tandem synthetic route to a diverse array of cyclic compounds has been developed from Friedel-Crafts acylation of alkynes followed by the microwave irradiation of β-chlorovinyl ketone intermediates. The stereoisomeric β-chlorovinyl ketone intermediates smoothly underwent a thermal α-vinyl enolization and ring expansion to vinyl and carbocyclic furans as well as cyclopetene derivatives in good to excellent yields without the need for any catalysts.

With the increasing prevalence of obesity, the use of counterfeit drugs for weight loss is widespread owing to their easy and rapid availability. Since counterfeit weight-loss drugs are not prepared under the rigorous standard of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), they pose a risk to public health and cause significant side effects. To counteract the risk posed by counterfeit drugs, we investigated counterfeit weight-loss drugs seized by the Incheon Customs Services using UHPLC-PDA. Five of 23 confiscated samples with distinctive pink-coloured coating contained levothyroxine, sennoside A and B, and phenolphthalein in amounts ranging from 0.03–132.40 mg/g. In addition, three unknown compounds in one of the adulterated samples containing phenolphthalein were structurally elucidated by several analytical techniques. Their accurate masses corresponded to molecular formula of C34H22O7, C34H20O6, and C20H12O3, respectively. These compounds were identified as impurities, possibly produced during the synthesis of phenolphthalein or by improper removal during purification. These impurities were detected for the first time in counterfeit drugs.