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A protocol for the carbonylative synthesis of acyl amidines from aryl halides, amidines, and carbon monoxide catalyzed by Pd(0) is reported herein. Notably, carbon monoxide is generated ex situ from a solid CO source, and several productive palladium ligands were identified with complementary benefits and substrate scope. Furthermore, sequential one-pot, two-step protocols for the synthesis of 1,2,4-triazoles and 1,2,4-oxadiazoles via acyl amidine intermediates are reported. In addition, this approach was extended to isotopic labeling using [11C]carbon monoxide to allow, for the first time, synthesis of 11C-labeled acyl amidines as well as a 11C-labeled 1,2,4-oxadiazole.

Regional brain distribution and metabolism of neurotransmitters and their response to drug treatment are fundamentally important for understanding the central effects of neuroactive substances. We used matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging in combination with multivariate analysis to visualize in anatomical detail metabolic effects of aging and tacrine-mediated acetylcholinesterase inhibition on comprehensive neurotransmitter systems in multiple mouse brain regions of 12-week-old and 14-month-old mice. We detected age-related increases in 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde and histamine, indicating oxidative stress and aging deficits in astrocytes. Tacrine had a significant impact on the metabolism of neurotransmitters in both age groups; predominantly, there was an increased norepinephrine turnover throughout the brain and decreased 3-methoxy tyramine, a marker for dopamine release, in the striatum. The striatal levels of histamine were only elevated after tacrine administration in the older animals. Our results demonstrated that tacrine is a multitarget and region-specific neuroactive agent, inducing age-specific responses. Although well-studied, the complete mechanisms of the action of tacrine are not fully understood, and the current findings reveal features that may help explain its treatment-related effectiveness and central side effects.

The visualization of small metabolites by MALDI mass spectrometry imaging in brain tissue sections is challenging due to low detection sensitivity and high background interference. We present an on-tissue chemical derivatization MALDI mass spectrometry imaging approach for the comprehensive mapping of carboxyls and aldehydes in brain tissue sections. In this approach, the AMPP (1-(4-(aminomethyl)phenyl)pyridin-1-ium chloride) derivatization reagent is used for the covalent charge-tagging of molecules containing carboxylic acid (in the presence of peptide coupling reagents) and aldehydes. This includes free fatty acids and the associated metabolites, fatty aldehydes, dipeptides, neurotoxic reactive aldehydes, amino acids, neurotransmitters and associated metabolites, as well as tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolites. We performed sensitive ultrahigh mass resolution MALDI-MS detection and imaging of various carboxyl-and aldehyde containing endogenous metabolites simultaneously in rodent brain tissue sections. We verified the AMPP-derivatized metabolites by tandem MS for structural elucidation. This approach allowed us to image numerous aldehydes and carboxyls, including certain metabolites which had been undetectable in brain tissue sections. We also demonstrated the application of on-tissue derivatization to carboxyls and aldehydes in coronal brain tissue sections of a nonhuman primate Parkinson's disease model. Our methodology provides a powerful tool for the sensitive, simultaneous spatial molecular imaging of numerous aldehydes and carboxylic acids during pathological states, including neurodegeneration, in brain tissue.

We show that dansylcadaverine (1) a known in-cell inhibitor of clathrin mediated endocytosis (CME), moderately inhibits dynamin I (dynI) GTPase activity (IC50 45 μM) and transferrin (Tfn) endocytosis in U2OS...

The Bis-T series of compounds comprise some of the most potent inhibitors of dynamin GTPase activity yet reported, e. g., (2E,2 ' E)-N,N '-(propane-1,3-diyl)bis(2-cyano-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)acrylamide) (2), Bis-T-22. The catechol moieties are believed to limit cell permeability, rendering these compounds largely inactive in cells. To solve this problem, a prodrug strategy was envisaged and eight ester analogues were synthesised. The shortest and bulkiest esters (acetate and butyl/tert-butyl) were found to be insoluble under physiological conditions, whilst the remaining five were soluble and stable under these conditions. These five were analysed for plasma stability and half-lives ranged from similar to 2.3 min (propionic ester 4), increasing with size and bulk, to greater than 24 hr (dimethyl carbamate 10). Similar profiles where observed with the rate of formation of Bis-T-22 with half-lives ranging from similar to 25 mins (propionic ester 4). Propionic ester 4 was chosen to undergo further testing and was found to inhibit endocytosis in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 similar to 8 mu M, suggesting this compound is able to effectively cross the cell membrane where it is rapidly hydrolysed to the desired Bis-T-22 parent compound.

Herein we disclose the transformation of maleimides into water-soluble tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphonium ylides and their subsequent application in the bioconjugation of protein- and peptide-linked aldehydes. The new entry into Wittig bioconjugate chemistry proceeds under mild conditions and relies on highly water soluble reagents, which are likely already part of most biochemists’ inventory. Authors in thesis list of papers: Hartmann, R. W., Pijnappel, M., Nilvebrant, J., Nygren, P.-Å., Lehmann, F., Odell, L. R.

In the wake of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, staff and students at universities worldwide were forced to swiftly adapt to distance learning in order to continue with tertiary ed...

Five focused libraries of pyrimidine-based dynamin GTPase inhibitors, in total 69 compounds were synthesised, and their dynamin inhibition and broad-spectrum cytotoxicity examined. Dynamin plays a crucial role in mitosis, and as such inhibition of dynamin was expected to broadly correlate with the observed cytotoxicity. The pyrimidines synthesised ranged from mono-substituted to trisubstituted. The highest levels of dynamin inhibition were noted with di- and tri- substituted pyrimidines, especially those with pendent amino alkyl chains. Short chains and simple heterocyclic rings reduced dynamin activity. There were three levels of dynamin activity noted: 1-10, 10-25 and 25-60 μM. Screening of these compounds in a panel of cancer cell lines: SW480 (colon), HT29 (colon), SMA (spontaneous murine astrocytoma), MCF-7 (breast), BE2-C (glioblastoma), SJ-G2 (neuroblastoma), MIA (pancreas), A2780 (ovarian), A431 (skin), H460 (lung), U87 (glioblastoma) and DU145 (prostate) cell lines reveal a good correlation between the observed dynamin inhibition and the observed cytotoxicity. The most active analogues ( 31a , b ) developed returned average GI 50 values of 1.0 and 0.78 μM across the twelve cell lines examined. These active analogues were: N 2 -(3-dimethylaminopropyl)- N 4 -dodecyl-6-methylpyrimidine-2,4-diamine ( 31a ) and N 4 -(3-dimethylaminopropyl)- N 2 -dodecyl-6-methylpyrimidine-2,4-diamine ( 31b ).

We present a mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) approach for the comprehensive mapping of neurotransmitter networks in specific brain regions. Our fluoromethylpyridinium-based reactive matrices facilitate the covalent charge-tagging of molecules containing phenolic hydroxyl and/or primary or secondary amine groups, including dopaminergic and serotonergic neurotransmitters and their associated metabolites. These matrices improved the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)–MSI detection limit toward low-abundance neurotransmitters and facilitated the simultaneous imaging of neurotransmitters in fine structures of the brain at a lateral resolution of 10 µm. We demonstrate strategies for the identification of unknown molecular species using the innate chemoselectivity of the reactive matrices and the unique isotopic pattern of a brominated reactive matrix. We illustrate the capabilities of the developed method on Parkinsonian brain samples from human post-mortem tissue and animal models. The direct imaging of neurotransmitter systems provides a method for exploring how various neurological diseases affect specific brain regions through neurotransmitter modulation. Mass spectrometry imaging with fluoromethylpyridinium-based reactive matrices allows mapping of neurotransmitters at high resolution and at a low limit of detection. The approach is applied to rat, macaque and human brain tissue samples for probing Parkinson’s disease-related changes.

Herein, a general, solvent-free and straightforward thiomethylation of electron deficient heterocycles using BF3⦁SMe2 as a dual thiomethyl source and Lewis acidic activator is presented. A range of ...

Introduction MK-7246 is a potent and selective antagonist for chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on Th2 cells (CRTH2). Within the pancreas CRTH2 is selectively expressed in pancreatic β-cells where it is believed to play a role in insulin release. Reduction in β-cell mass and insufficient insulin secretion in response to elevated blood glucose levels is a hallmark for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Reported here is the synthesis of [11C]MK-7246 and initial preclinical evaluation towards CRTH2 imaging. The aim is to develop a method to quantify β-cell mass with PET and facilitate non-invasive studies of disease progression in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Methods The precursor N-desmethyl-O-methyl MK-7246 was synthesized in seven steps and subjected to methylation with [11C]methyl iodide followed by hydrolysis to obtain [11C]MK-7246 labelled in the N-methyl position. Preclinical evaluation included in vitro radiography and immune-staining performed in human pancreatic biopsies. Biodistribution studies were performed in rat by PET-MRI and in pig by PET-CT imaging. Saturable tracer binding was examined in pig by scanning before and after administration of MK-7246 (1 mg/kg). Predicted dosimetry of [11C]MK-7246 in human males was estimated based on the biodistribution in rat. Results [11C]MK-7246 was obtained with activities sufficient for the current investigations (270 ± 120 MBq) and a radiochemical purity of 93 ± 2%. The tracer displayed focal binding in areas with insulin positive islet of Langerhans in human pancreas sections. Baseline uptake in pig was reduced in tissues with known expression of CRTH2 after administration of MK-7246; pancreas (66% reduction) and spleen (88% reduction). [11C]MK-7246 exhibited a safe human predicted dosimetry profile as extrapolated from the rat biodistribution data. Conclusions Initial preclinical in vitro and in vivo evaluations of [11C]MK-7246 show binding and biodistribution properties suitable for PET imaging of CRTH2. Further studies are warranted to assess its potential in β-cell mass imaging and CRTH2 drug development.

The 3,4-dihydroquinazolinone (DHQ) moiety is a highly valued scaffold in medicinal chemistry due to the vast number of biologically-active compounds based on this core structure. Current synthetic methods to access these compounds are limited in terms of diversity and flexibility and often require the use of toxic reagents or expensive transition-metal catalysts. Herein, we describe the discovery and development of a novel cascade cyclization/Leuckart–Wallach type strategy to prepare substituted DHQs in a modular and efficient process using readily-available starting materials. Notably, the reaction requires only the addition of formic acid or acetic acid/formic acid and produces H2O, CO2 and methanol as the sole reaction byproducts. Overall, the reaction provides an attractive entry point into this important class of compounds and could even be extended to isotopic labelling via the site-selective incorporation of a deuterium atom.

The 3,4-dihydroquinazolinone (DHQ) moiety is a highly valued scaffold in medicinal chemistry due to the vast number of biologically-active compounds based on this core structure. Current synthetic methods to access these compounds are limited in terms of diversity and flexibility and often require the use of toxic reagents or expensive transition-metal catalysts. Herein, we describe the discovery and development of a novel cascade cyclization/Leuckart-Wallach type strategy to prepare substituted DHQs in a modular and efficient process using readily-available starting materials. Notably, the reaction requires only the addition of formic acid or acetic acid/formic acid and produces H

This account summarizes Pd(0)-catalyzed Mo(CO)6-mediated gas-free carbonylative reactions published in the period October 2011 to May 2018. Presented reactions include inter- and intramolecular carbonylations, carbonylative cross-couplings, and carbonylative multicomponent reactions using Mo(CO)6 as a solid source of CO. The presented methodologies were developed mainly for small-scale applications, avoiding the problematic use of gaseous CO in a standard laboratory. In most cases, the reported Mo(CO)6-mediated carbonylations were conducted in sealed vials or by using two-chamber solutions.1 Introduction2 Recent Developments2.1 New CO Sources2.2 Two-Chamber System for ex Situ CO Generation2.3 Multicomponent Carbonylations3 Carbonylations with N and O Nucleophiles4 Carbonylative Cross-Coupling Reactions with Organometallics5 Carbonylative Cascade Reactions6 Carbonylative Cascade, Multistep Reactions7 Summary and Outlook

A one-pot microwave-assisted aza-Friedel-Crafts arylation of N-acyliminium ions, generated in situ from o-formyl carbamates and different amines, is reported. This metal-free protocol provides rapid access to diverse 4-aryl 3,4-dihydroquinazolinones in excellent yield without any aqueous workup. A solvent-directed process for the selective aza-Friedel-Crafts arylation of electron-rich aryl/heteroaryl/butenyl-tethered N-acyliminium ions is also described.

We report a facile synthesis of 3-amidino indoles from indoles and cyanamides. The reaction is Pd(II)-catalyzed and proceeds via C-H bond activation of the indole in its 3-position followed by a 1,2-addition of the resulting indole-palladium σ-complex to a cyanamide, which provides the corresponding amidine. The preference for 4,5-diazafluoren-9-one (DAF) as the ligand is investigated using DFT calculations, and a plausible reaction pathway is presented.

The palladium(0)-catalyzed intramolecular annulation of 12 1,3-disubstituted cyclopentenes, derived from (+)-vincelactam, resulted in 5-exo cyclizations which furnished a series of 2,5-dimethyl-14(3R,4'S)-2H-spiro[benzofuran-3,1'-cyclopentan]2'-en-4'-yl)-1H-pyrroles in excellent diastereoselectivities and useful isolated yields. The double bond migration process that followed the arylpalladium insertion was controlled by a fine-tuning of the reaction system, which provided regioselectivities of up to 98:2. The selective Mizoroki-Heck reaction was used as the key transformation for preparing two new spirocyclic monoprotected amino acids as single stereoisomers.

N-Acylsulfonamides represent an important bioisostere of carboxylic acids that allow for greater molecular elaboration and enhanced hydrogen bonding capabilities. Herein, we present a mild and convenient palladium(0)-catalyzed synthesis of N-acylsulfonamides via the carbonylative coupling of sulfonyl azides and electron-rich heterocycles. The reaction proceeds via in situ generation of a sulfonyl isocyanate followed by regioselective acylation of an indole or pyrrole nucleophile. This approach has been used to synthesize 34 indole- and pyrrole-substituted N-acylsulfonamides in yields of up to 95%. Importantly, this process is ligand-free and compatible with an ex situ solid CO source and requires only slightly elevated temperatures, making it a highly attractive method for the preparation of this important class of compounds. This study further investigated the possibility of labeling N-acylsulfonamides with carbon-11 to facilitate biological evaluation and in vivo studies with positron emission tomography.

Over the past decade, visible-light photocatalysis has emerged as one of the brightest and most dynamic fields in modern organic chemistry. By employing a transition-metal- or organic-dye-based photocatalyst in conjunction with a low-energy visible-light source, this synthetic manifold allows the facile generation of radical intermediates that can subsequently be directed through a wide range of transformations. Although initial studies focused largely on the functionalization of stabilized radical intermediates, over the past few years significant efforts have been directed towards the functionalization of challenging unactivated radical precursors. In this review we summarize the recent developments in the use of visible-light photocatalysis for the functionalization of unactivated C(sp3)-substrates.

A Pd-catalyzed and ligand-free carbonylation/cycloaddition/decarboxylation cascade synthesis of sulfonyl amidines from sulfonyl azides and substituted amides at low CO pressure is reported. The reaction proceeds via an initial Pd-catalyzed carbonylative generation of sulfonyl isocyanates from sulfonyl azides, followed by a [2 + 2] cycloaddition with amides and subsequent decarboxylation, which liberates the desired sulfonyl amidines, generating N2 and CO2 as the only reaction byproducts. Using this simple protocol, a diverse range of sulfonyl amidines was obtained in moderate to excellent yields. In addition, the reaction can also be directed through a more conventional amidocarbonylation pathway by employing N-monosubstituted amide nucleophiles to afford acyl sulfonyl ureas in good yields.

A novel acetic acid-promoted metal-free cascade N-acyliminium ion/aza-Prins cyclization of o-formyl carbamates and homoallylamines is reported. This one-pot protocol provides efficient and rapid access to masked cis-hydroxyhexahydropyrido[1,2-c]quinazolin-6-ones with concomitant generation of two stereogenic centers, four C-C/C-O/C-N bonds and two new rings in good yield and excellent diastereoselectivity.

Herein, we describe a convenient and efficient synthesis of 2-aminoquinazolin-4(3H)-ones and N1-substituted 2-aminoquinazolin-4(1H)-ones by a domino carbonylation/cyclization process. The reaction proceeds via carbonylative coupling of readily available ortho-iodoanilines with cyanamide followed by in situ ring closure of an N-cyanobenzamide intermediate. The products were easily isolated by precipitation in moderate to excellent yields for a wide range of substrates, making this a highly attractive method for the synthesis of 2-aminoquinazolinones.

We present a mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) approach for the comprehensive mapping of neurotransmitter networks in specific brain regions. Our fluoromethylpyridinium-based reactive matrices facilitate the covalent charge-tagging of molecules containing phenolic hydroxyl and/or primary or secondary amine groups, including dopaminergic and serotonergic neurotransmitters and their associated metabolites. These matrices improved the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-MSI detection limit toward low-abundance neurotransmitters and facilitated the simultaneous imaging of neurotransmitters in fine structures of the brain at a lateral resolution of 10 µm. We demonstrate strategies for the identification of unknown molecular species using the innate chemoselectivity of the reactive matrices and the unique isotopic pattern of a brominated reactive matrix. We illustrate the capabilities of the developed method on Parkinsonian brain samples from human post-mortem tissue and animal models. The direct imaging of neurotransmitter systems provides a method for exploring how various neurological diseases affect specific brain regions through neurotransmitter modulation.

MK-7246 is a potent and selective antagonist for chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on TThe precursor N-desmethyl-O-methyl MK-7246 was synthesized in seven steps and subjected to methylation with [[Initial preclinical in vitro and in vivo evaluations of [

A convenient two-step protocol for the synthesis of sodium aryl sulfinates from aryl bromides and the SO2 surrogate 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane bis(sulfur dioxide) adduct (DABSO) has bee ...

A microwave-promoted one-pot, three-component sequential cyclization-Mannich reaction of unactivated ketones, o-formyl carbamates and primary amines has been developed. Cyclic N-acyliminium ions are generated in situ from the carbamate and amine starting materials. This metal-free cascade protocol provides rapid access to structurally diverse 3,4-dihydroquinazolinones in good to excellent yields with high regioselectivity for the terminal methyl group, in the case of unsymmetrical methyl alkyl ketones. Key features of the developed protocol include its operational simplicity, ease of product purification, and wide functional group tolerance.

A palladium-catalyzed CO gas-free carbonylative Sonogashira/cyclization sequence for the preparation of functionalized 4-quinolones from 2-iodoanilines and alkynes via two different protocols is described. The first method (A) yields the cyclized products after only 20 min of microwave (MW) heating at 120 °C. The second method (B) is a gas-free one-pot two-step sequence which runs at room temperature, allowing the use of sensitive substituents (e.g., nitro and bromide groups). For both protocols, molybdenum hexacarbonyl was used as a solid source of CO.

Fragment-based in silico screening against dynamin I (dynI) GTPase activity identified the 1,8-naphthalimide framework as a potential scaffold for the design of new inhibitors targeting the GTP binding pocket of dynI. Structure-based design, synthesis and subsequent optimization resulted in the development of a library of 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives, called the Naphthaladyn™ series, with compounds 23 and 29 being the most active (IC50 of 19.1 ± 0.3 and 18.5 ± 1.7 μM respectively). Compound 29 showed effective inhibition of clathrin-mediated endocytosis (IC50(CME) 66 μM). The results introduce 29 as an optimised GTP-competitive lead Naphthaladyn™ compound for the further development of naphthalimide-based dynI GTPase inhibitors.

Aspartic proteases (APs) are a class of enzymes engaged in the proteolytic digestion of peptide substrates. APs play important roles in physiological and infectious pathways, making them plausible drug targets. For instance in the treatment of HIV infections, access to an efficient combination of protease and reverse transcriptase inhibitors have changed a terminal illness to a chronic but manageable disease. However, the benefits have been limited due to the emergence of drug resistant viral strains, poor pharmacokinetic properties of peptidomimetic inhibitors and adverse effects associated with the treatment. In the 1980s, D. Rich and co-workers proposed a novel strategy for the development of AP inhibitors by replacing the secondary hydroxyl group with a tertiary alcohol as part of the transition state (TS) mimicking moiety. This strategy has been extensively explored over the last decade with a common belief that masking of the polar group, e.g. by intramolecular hydrogen bonding, has the potential to enhance transcellular transport. This is the first review presenting the advances of AP inhibitors comprising a tertiary hydroxyl group. The inhibitors have been classified into different tert-hydroxy TS mimics and their design strategies, synthesis, biological activities, structure-activity-relationships and X-ray structures are discussed.

A convenient synthetic strategy toward N-acylguanidines via a sequential one-pot multicomponent carbonylation/amination reaction has been developed. The compounds were readily obtained via an N-cyanobenzamide intermediate formed from the Pd(0)-catalyzed carbonylative coupling of cyanamide and aryl iodides or bromides. Subsequent amination with a large variety of amines provided the final N-acylguanidines, with the overall formation of one C–C and two C–N bonds, in moderate to excellent yields. The substrate scope was found to be wide and the methodology was used to produce over 50 compounds, including 29 novel molecules. Furthermore, three separate nitrogen-containing heterocycles were prepared from the N-acylguanidines synthesized using the developed multicomponent, carbonylative method.

Herein, a simple and efficient method for the palladium-catalyzed carbonylation of aryl boronic acids with unactivated alkyl iodides and bromides under visible-light irradiation, ambient temperature and low CO-pressure is presented. Notably, the procedure uses readily available equipment and an inexpensive palladium catalyst to generate the key alkyl radical intermediate. These mild conditions enabled the synthesis of a range of functionalized aryl alkyl ketones including the antipsychotic drug, melperone.

A robust and high-yielding radiochemical synthesis of 11C-N-cyanobenzamides using a palladium-mediated aminocarbonylation with 11C-CO, aryl halides and cyanamide is described. The bidentate ligand 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene provided 11C-N-cyanobenzamides from aryl-iodides, bromides, triflates and even chlorides in 28-79% radiochemical yield after semi-preparative HPLC. To further highlight the utility of this method, novel 11C-N-cyanobenzamide analogs of flufenamic acid, meflanamic acid, dazoxiben and tamibarotene were synthesized in 34-71% radiochemical yields.