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Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (Tdp1) is one of the important DNA repair enzymes responsible for the repair of DNA damage caused by anticancer drugs, such as topotecan. In this regard, enzyme activity is one of the possible causes of tumor resistance to chemotherapy, and the use of inhibitors of this enzyme is considered as a promising adjuvant therapy. We have obtained a number of new isomeric naphthyl derivatives of thiophenyl octahydro-2H-chromene, the structure of one of which is confirmed by X-ray structural analysis. Based on molecular modeling data, the structure of the ligand-Tdp1 complex has been proposed. All compounds obtained inhibit Tdp1 at a concentration of about 2 μM. Low toxicity of three compounds was shown, which makes them promising candidates for the development of accompanying cancer therapy.

Two novel structural types of tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (TDP1) inhibitors with hexahydroisobenzofuran 11 and 3-oxabicyclo [3.3.1]nonane 12 scaffolds were discovered. These monoterpene-derived compounds were synthesized through preliminary isomerization of (+)-3-carene to (+)-2-carene followed by reaction with heteroaromatic aldehydes. All the compounds inhibit the TDP1 enzyme at micro- and submicromolar levels, with the most potent compound having an IC50 value of 0.65 &mu, M. TDP1 is an important DNA repair enzyme and a promising target for the development of new chemosensitizing agents. A panel of isogenic clones of the HEK293FT cell line knockout for the TDP1 gene was created using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Cytotoxic effects of topotecan (Tpc) and non-cytotoxic compounds of the new structures were investigated separately and jointly in the TDP1 gene knockout cells. For two TDP1 inhibitors, 11h and 12k, a synergistic effect was observed with Tpc in the HEK293FT cells but was not found in TDP1 &minus, /&minus, cells. Thus, it is likely that the synergistic effect is caused by inhibition of TDP1. Synergy was also found for 11h in other cancer cell lines. Thus, sensitizing cancer cells using a non-cytotoxic drug can enhance the efficacy of currently used pharmaceuticals and, concomitantly, reduce toxic side effects.

The Prins/Friedel-Crafts cascade reactions of the terpenoid trans-4-hydroxymethyl-2-carene (synthesized from 3-carene) with aromatic aldehydes were systematically studied for the first time on acidic mesoporous clays (halloysite, illite, montmorillonites). Both the reaction rate and selectivity to the desired polycyclic product with tetrahydrofuran moiety increased with an increase in the catalyst acidity and their drying temperature, indicating that relatively strong Bronsted and Lewis acid sites favored their formation. The best activity and selectivity (up to 97%) was demonstrated over commercial montmorillonite K-10 with acidity of ca. 100 μmol/g. In contrast, on strongest acids (resin Amberlyst-15), dehydration/aromatization of the substrate was observed. It was shown, that mesoporosity of the catalyst is one of the key factors governing catalytic behavior. The presence of at least one an electron-donor substituent at the meta-position of benzaldehyde is critical for the Prins-Friedel-Crafts reaction. Overall, available montmorillonites are an effective replacement for homogeneous catalysts for the Prins/Friedel-Crafts cascade reactions.

Isomerization of 3-carene to the reaction mixture, containing 2-carene and its further utilization in the synthesis of chiral isobenzofurans, was investigated in the presence of acid-modified clays at 140 °C. The catalysts were characterized by XRF, FTIR with pyridine and nitrogen adsorption. Quantification of the effect of the type and concentration of acid sites in different clays comprising commercial montmorillonite and natural illite on the yield of 2-carene as well as by-products was obtained for the first time. It was established that selectivity to 2-carene decreased with an increase of the Lewis to Bronsted acid sites ratio. The largest amount of 2-carene in the mixture (15.0 wt.%) with the highest ratio of 2-carene to menthadienes (0.63) was observed at 50% 3-carene conversion over a commercial montmorillonite K-30 clay, which has a moderate (100 μmol/g) acidity. It was demonstrated for the first time that the mixture containing 2-carene can be effectively used as a starting material in the reaction with vanillin resulting in chiral isobenzofurans. The products obtained in this reaction exhibit neuroprotective activity in an animal Parkinson’s disease model. It was established that isobenzofurans yield decreased with an increase in the Lewis to Bronsted acid sites ratio. The largest yield of these products was obtained in the presence of a commercial K-10 clay (59.8%), which is higher than using 2-carene per se. Catalytic synthesis of isobenzofurans based on a readily available monoterpene 3-carene instead of expensive 2-carene was thus developed.

We previously showed that monoterpenoid (1R,2R,6S)-3-methyl-6-(prop-1-en-2-yl)cyclohex-3-ene-1,2-diol 1 alleviates motor manifestations of Parkinson's disease in animal models. In the present study, we designed and synthesized monoepoxides of (1R,2R,6S)-3-methyl-6-(prop-1-en-2-yl)cyclohex-3-ene-1,2-diol 1 and evaluated their biological activity in the MPTP mouse model of Parkinson's disease. We also assessed the ability of these compounds to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB). According to these data, we chose epoxide 4, which potently restored the locomotor activity in MPTP-treated mice and efficiently penetrated the BBB, to further explore its potential mechanism of action. Epoxide 4 was found to robustly promote the survival of cultured dopamine neurons, protect dopamine neurons against toxin-induced degeneration, and trigger the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade in cells of neuronal origin. Meanwhile, neither the survival-promoting effect nor MAPK activation was observed in non-neuronal cells treated with epoxide 4. In the MPTP mouse model of Parkinson's disease, compound 4 increased the density of dopamine neuron fibers in the striatum, which can highlight its potential to stimulate striatal reinnervation and thus halt disease progression. Taken together, these data indicate that epoxide 4 can be a promising compound for further development, not only as a symptomatic but also as a neuroprotective and neurorestorative drug for Parkinson's disease.

Condensation of α-pinene derived p-menta-1,8-diene-5,6-diol (diol) with decanal was studied for the first time over modified halloysite nanotubes (HNT). The yield of the desired hexahydro-2H-chromene-4,8-diol with analgesic activity was 76–80 % practically not depending on the catalyst type, while selectivity to 4S-isomer decreased, and to 4R-isomer increased with increasing acidity. The highest selectivity to 4S-diastereomer (48.1 %) on halloysite is a result of weak acidity of this catalyst. DFT optimization of the key intermediate structure shows that the nucleophile attack proceeds at the equatorial position with the 4S-diastereomer formation, which was preferred on halloysite. On strong Bronsted (Amberlyst-15) and Lewis (scandium triflate) acids the target product yield did not exceed 37 % because of dehydration. Halloysite nanocatalysts displayed a stable performance. In the case of diol reaction with a set of carbonyl compounds, the yields of hexahydro-2H-chromene-4,8-diols (up to 88.0%) and the ratio of its 4S/4R isomers (up to 21.0) were significantly higher than on other catalysts.