Triazinium Ligation: Bioorthogonal Reaction of N1-Alkyl 1,2,4-Triazinium Salts.

The development of reagents that can selectively react in complex biological media is an important challenge. Here we show that N1-alkylation of 1,2,4-triazines yields the corresponding triazinium salts, which are three orders of magnitude more reactive in reactions with strained alkynes than the parent 1,2,4-triazines. This powerful bioorthogonal ligation enables efficient modification of peptides and proteins.

Acid-Promoted Iso-Nazarov Cyclization of Conjugated -Dienones and Dienals for the Synthesis of 2-Cyclopentenones.

The acid-promoted cyclization of all- linearly conjugated dienones and dienals constitutes a synthetic strategy for the construction of 2-cyclopentenones.

Biomimetic Domino Knoevenagel/Cycloisomerization Strategy for the Synthesis of Citridone A and Derivatives.

Studies on Knoevenagel condensations between conjugated dienals and 4-hydroxy-2-pyridone/quinolone-type 1,3-dicarbonyl equivalents led to the development of a simple one-pot strategy to access citridone A and related synthetic cyclopenta[]furopyridones/quinolones. The present work highlights the power of domino cascades in the synthesis of natural product frameworks and may help promote future studies on this promising new class of pyridone alkaloids.

An Optimized Protocol for the Synthesis of Peptides Containing trans-Cyclooctene and Bicyclononyne Dienophiles as Useful Multifunctional Bioorthogonal Probes.

Despite the great advances in solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), the incorporation of certain functional groups into peptide sequences is restricted by the compatibility of the building blocks with conditions used during SPPS. In particular, the introduction of highly reactive groups used in modern bioorthogonal reactions into peptides remains elusive. Here, we present an optimized synthetic protocol enabling installation of two strained dienophiles, trans-cyclooctene (TCO) and bicyclononyne (BCN), into different peptide sequences.

Expanding the scope of synthetic 1,2,4-trioxanes towards Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania donovani.

A series of synthetic 1,2,4-trioxanes related to artemisinin was tested against L. donovani and T. cruzi parasites.

Metal-mediated synthesis of pyrrolines.

The five-membered, nitrogen-containing pyrroline ring is a privileged structure. This ring is present in many bioactive compounds from natural sources. Pyrrolines-the dihydro derivatives of pyrroles-have three structural isomer classes, depending on the location of the double bond: 1-pyrrolines (3,4-dihydro-2-pyrroles), 2-pyrrolines (2,3-dihydro-1-pyrroles) and 3-pyrrolines (2,5-dihydro-1-pyrroles).

Configuration-Dependent Medium-Sized Ring Formation: Chiral Molecular Framework with Three-Dimensional Architecture.

This report describes a configuration-dependent [6 + 8 + 5] fused ring formation via a tandem cyclic N-acyliminium nucleophilic addition reaction. Cyclization of the acyclic precursor prepared on a solid phase using l-Ser and a racemic mixture of Fmoc- trans-2-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid predominantly yielded the cyclic diastereomer with the (1 R,2 R)-2-aminocyclohexane moiety rather than the tricyclic diastereomer from the (1 S,2 S)-enantiomer. In contrast, the model compound prepared with d-Ser predominantly cyclized with the (1 S,2 S)-2-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid substrate.

Multicomponent Domino Synthesis of Cyclopenta[ b]furan-2-ones.

A stereoselective multicomponent reaction involving Meldrum's acid, a conjugated dienal, and an alcohol is reported. Valuable cyclopenta[ b]furan-2-ones are obtained as products of this straightforward transformation, which is accompanied by the formation of four stereocenters, two new cycles, and four new bonds (two C-C and two C-heteroatom). A reaction mechanism was elaborated involving an initial Knoevenagel condensation followed by cycloisomerization and eventual fragmentation.

Gold-Catalyzed Addition of β-Ketoesters to Alkenes: Influence of Electronic and Steric Effects in the Reaction Outcome.

The gold-catalyzed intermolecular hydroalkylation of olefins with β-ketoesters represents a conceptually attractive and useful synthetic tool; however, it has been scarcely applied, remaining a challenge for chemists. The aim of the current study was to investigate the addition of these 1,3-diketo-compounds to alkenes under gold catalysis conditions, in order to establish the electronic and steric effects of the alkenyl substrates in the reaction outcome. The screening of different catalyst systems and diverse olefins enabled defining the alkenyl requirements and the best reaction conditions to efficiently achieve the coupled products.

Rewiring Chemical Networks Based on Dynamic Dithioacetal and Disulfide Bonds.

The control of the connectivity between nodes of synthetic networks is still largely unexplored. To address this point we take advantage of a simple dynamic chemical system with two exchange levels that are mutually connected and can be activated simultaneously or sequentially. Dithioacetals and disulfides can be exchanged simultaneously under UV light in the presence of a sensitizer.

Pericyclic Cascade toward Isochromenes: Application to the Synthesis of Alkaloid Benzosimuline.

The synthesis of biologically active alkaloid benzosimuline, isolated from the shrub Zanthoxylum simulans, is reported. Key transformation involves an oxa-6π electrocyclic ring-opening/hetero-Diels-Alder pericyclic cascade. Although the last aromatization step proved to be cumbersome, this work unfolds a unique route to access interesting molecules from simple precursors.

Synthesis of a Small Library of Imidazolidin-2-ones using Gold Catalysis on Solid Phase.

An efficient and high-yielding solid phase synthesis of a small library of imidazolidin-2-ones and imidazol-2-ones was carried out employing a high chemo- and regioselective gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization as a key step. Polymer-supported amino acids derivatized with several alkyne functionalities combined with tosyl- and phenylureas have been subjected to gold-catalysis exhibiting exclusively C-N bond formation. The present work proves the potential of solid phase synthesis and homogeneous gold catalysis as an efficient and powerful synthetic tool for the generation of drug-like heterocycles.

Synthesis of Nature-Inspired Medium-Sized Fused Heterocycles from Amino Acids.

Herein, we describe the synthesis of molecular scaffolds consisting of medium-sized fused heterocycles using amino acids, which are some of the most useful building blocks used by nature as well as chemists to create structural diversity. The acyclic precursors were assembled by using traditional Merrifield solid-phase peptide synthesis, and cyclization was carried out through acid-mediated tandem endocyclic N-acyliminium ion formation, followed by nucleophilic addition with internal nucleophiles. The synthesis of molecular scaffolds consisting of seven-, eight-, and nine-membered rings proceeded with full stereocontrol of the newly generated stereogenic center in most cases.

From amino acids to nature-inspired molecular scaffolds: incorporation of medium-sized bridged heterocycles into a peptide backbone.

Novel molecular scaffolds comprising two to four bridged and fused heterocycles were synthesized from amino acids using seven-membered endocyclic N-acyliminium ions as key intermediates in acid-mediated tandem reactions with internal nucleophiles. This complexity-generating synthesis proceeds with high efficiency and with full stereocontrol of the newly generated stereogenic center. These results have extended the scope of medium-sized cyclic iminium ion chemistry, making it applicable as a regio- and stereoselective synthetic strategy for the generation of complex polycyclic structures.

Polymer-supported stereoselective synthesis of tetrahydrobenzopyrazino-thiadiazinone dioxides via N-sulfonyl iminiums.

The stereoselective synthesis of 1,2,11,11a-tetrahydrobenzo[e]pyrazino[1,2-b][1,2,4]thiadiazin-3(4H)-one 6,6-dioxides on a solid support via tandem N-sulfonyl iminium ion cyclization, followed by nucleophilic addition is reported. The synthesis proceeded with full control of stereoselectivity at the newly formed asymmetric carbon, under mild conditions, and using commercially available building blocks. The synthetic route provided high-purity crude products.

Polymer-supported stereoselective synthesis of tetrahydro-2H-oxazolo[3,2-a]pyrazin-5(3H)-ones from N-(2-oxo-ethyl)-derivatized dipeptides via eastbound iminiums.

Polymer-supported N-(2-oxo-ethyl)-derivatized Ser/Thr/Cys-containing dipeptides were synthesized and subjected to acid-mediated tandem N-acylium ion cyclization-nucleophilic addition to yield tetrahydro-2H-oxazolo[3,2-a]pyrazin-5(3H)-ones. The reaction conditions and building-block combinations for stereoselective synthesis of the newly formed asymmetric carbon were developed. The synthesis was fully compatible with solid-phase peptide synthesis, and the products serve as conformationally constrained peptidomimetics.

Regioselective incorporation of backbone constraints compatible with traditional solid-phase peptide synthesis.

A protected aldehyde was attached via a two-carbon spacer to a peptide backbone amide nitrogen during a traditional Merrifield solid-phase synthesis. Acid-mediated unmasking of the aldehyde triggered the regioselective formation of cyclic N-acyliminiums between the aldehyde and the neighboring peptide amide nitrogen. In the absence of an internal nucleophile, the cyclic iminiums formed dihydropyrazinones, a six-membered peptide backbone constraint between two peptide amides.

Gold catalysis on immobilized substrates: a heteroannulation approach to the solid-supported synthesis of indoles.

A gold-catalyzed cyclization of immobilized 2-alkynylanilines was developed as the key step in the synthetic sequence for the preparation of 2-substituted indoles. These results demonstrate the potential of the unexplored combination of gold catalysis and solid-phase organic synthesis.

New strategy for the construction of epoxy-bridged tetrahydropyran frameworks from trioxane precursors: application to a concise synthesis of a Riesling acetal.

A simple one-pot method to prepare dioxabicyclo[2.2.1] heptane derivatives, from readily available 1,2,4-trioxane frameworks, under catalytic hydrogenation conditions over a platinum surface is reported.

UVA self-photosensitized oxygenation of beta-ionone.

The steady-state UVA (350 nm) photolysis of (E)-beta-ionone (1) in aerated toluene solutions was studied by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The formation of the 1,2,4-trioxane (2) and 5,8-endoperoxide (5) derivatives in the ratio of 4:1 was observed. Time-resolved laser induced experiments at 355 nm, such as laser-flash photolysis, photoacoustic and singlet oxygen (1)O(2) phosphorescence detection, confirmed the formation of the excited triplet state of 1 with a quantum yield Phi(T) = 0.