DNA-Compatible Cyclization Reaction to Access 1,3,4-Oxadiazoles and 1,2,4-Triazoles.

DNA-encoded chemical library (DECL) technology is a commonly employed screening platform in both the pharmaceutical industry and academia. To expand the chemical space of DECLs, new and robust DNA-compatible reactions are sought after. In particular, DNA-compatible cyclization reactions are highly valued, as these reactions tend to be atom economical and thus may provide lead- and drug-like molecules.

DNA-Encoded Macrocyclic Peptide Libraries Enable the Discovery of a Neutral MDM2-p53 Inhibitor.

Synthetic macrocyclic peptides are an emerging molecular class for both targeting intracellular protein-protein interactions (PPIs) and providing an oral modality for drug targets typically addressed by biologics. Display technologies, such as mRNA and phage display, often yield peptides that are too large and too polar to achieve passive permeability or oral bioavailability without substantial off-platform medicinal chemistry. Herein, we use DNA-encoded cyclic peptide libraries to discover a neutral nonapeptide, UNP-6457, that inhibits MDM2-p53 interaction with an IC of 8.

Nickel-Catalyzed β-Regioselective Amination/Cyclization of Ynamide-Nitriles with Amines: Synthesis of Functionalized 3-Aminoindoles and 4-Aminoisoquinolines.

A highly regioselective nickel/Lewis acid catalyzed amination/cyclization of ynamide-nitriles with amines involving β-addition has been developed. The reaction offers an attractive and efficient route for the synthesis of 3-aminoindoles and 4-aminoisoquinoline derivatives. The Ts-group on the ynamide acts as a directing group to produce the alkenyl nickel species with high regioselectivity.

Nickel-Catalyzed Cyanation of Phenol Derivatives with Zn(CN) Involving C-O Bond Cleavage.

An efficient nickel-catalyzed cyanation of aryl sulfonates, fluorosulfonates, and sulfamates with Zn(CN) was developed, which provides a facile access to the nitrile products in generally good to excellent yields. The reaction is accomplished by using Ni complex as the precatalyst and DMAP as the additive. The method also displays wide functional group compatibility; for example, keto, methoxy, N, N-dimethylamino, cyano, ester, and pyridyl groups are well-tolerated during the reaction process.

Gold(I)-Catalyzed Formal Intramolecular Dehydro-Diels-Alder Reaction of Ynamide-ynes: Synthesis of Functionalized Benzo[ b]carbazoles.

A gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of ynamide-ynes via a formal dehydro-Diels-Alder reaction has been developed, providing an attractive route to diversely substituted benzo[ b]carbazoles. The reaction likely proceeds via regioselective attack of the pendant alkyne moiety to a keteniminium ion intermediate followed by benzannulation. The method offers several advantages such as high efficiency, mild reaction conditions, and wide functional group tolerance and serves as a highly useful complement to the thermal DDA reactions of ynamide-ynes.

Gold-Catalyzed Formal [3 + 2] Cycloaddition of Ynamides with 4,5-Dihydro-1,2,4-oxadiazoles: Synthesis of Functionalized 4-Aminoimidazoles.

A gold-catalyzed formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition of ynamides with 4,5-dihydro-1,2,4-oxadiazoles has been developed. The reaction provides a concise and regioselective access to highly functionalized 4-aminoimidazoles likely via the formation of an α-imino gold carbene intermediate followed by cyclization. 4,5-Dihydro-1,2,4-oxadiazole was found to act as an efficient N-iminonitrene equivalent in these reactions.

Synthesis of δ- and α-Carbolines via Nickel-Catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] Cycloaddition of Functionalized Alkyne-Nitriles with Alkynes.

A new method for the synthesis of δ- and α-carbolines through Ni-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of ynamide-nitriles or alkyne-cyanamides with alkynes has been developed. The catalytic system of NiCl(DME)/dppp/Zn with a low-cost Ni(II)-precursor was first utilized in Ni-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions, and the in situ generated Lewis acid may play an important role for the successful transformation. Not only internal alkynes but also terminal alkynes undergo the desired cycloaddition reactions efficiently to furnish the carboline derivatives with wide diversity and functional group tolerance.

Mineralized Collagen Regulates Macrophage Polarization During Bone Regeneration.

The host immune response to bone biomaterials is vital in determining the fate of scaffolds and also the outcomes of bone regeneration. Mineralized collagen is an ideal tissue-engineering scaffold for bone repair; however, little is known about its immunomodulatory properties after implantation. In this study, extrafibrillarly-mineralized collagen (EMC) and intrafibrillarly-mineralized collagen (IMC) scaffolds with different nanostructures were fabricated and their immunomodulatory properties via macrophage polarization during bone regeneration were investigated.

Nickel-Catalyzed [2+2+2] Cycloaddition of Alkyne-Nitriles with Alkynes Assisted by Lewis Acids: Efficient Synthesis of Fused Pyridines.

A Ni/BPh catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of alkyne-nitriles with alkynes has been developed, which provides an efficient route to fused pyridines under mild reaction conditions. Mechanistic studies indicate that an azanickelacycle via heterocoupling of an alkyne with a nitrile moiety is possibly formed as a key reaction intermediate. The Lewis acid catalyst is crucial to the successful transformation, which is suggested to promote the oxidative cyclization process.

Bioinspired Collagen-Apatite Nanocomposites for Bone Regeneration.

Introduction: Natural bone has a complex hierarchical nanostructure composed of well-organized collagen fibrils embedded with apatite crystallites. Bone tissue engineering requires scaffolds with structural properties and functionality similar to the natural bone. Inspired by bone, a collagen-apatite (Col-Ap) nanocomposite was fabricated with bonelike subfibrillar nanostructures using a modified bottom-up biomimetic approach and has a potential role in the healing of large bone defects in unresolved apical periodontitis.

Surface Chemistry of Nanoscale Mineralized Collagen Regulates Periodontal Ligament Stem Cell Fate.

The interplay between stem cells and their extracellular microenvironment is of critical importance to the stem cell-based therapeutics in regenerative medicine. Mineralized collagen is the main component of bone extracellular matrix, but the effect of interfacial properties of mineralized collagen on subsequent cellular behaviors is unclear. This study examined the role of surface chemistry of nanoscale mineralized collagen on human periodontal ligament stem cell (hPDLSC) fate decisions.

Gold-Catalyzed Ring Expansion of Alkynyl Heterocycles through 1,2-Migration of an Endocyclic Carbon-Heteroatom Bond.

A mild and efficient gold-catalyzed oxidative ring-expansion of a series of alkynyl heterocycles using pyridine-N-oxide as the oxidant has been developed, which affords highly valuable six- or seven-membered heterocycles with wide functional group toleration. The reaction consists of a regioselective oxidation and a chemoselective migration of an endocyclic carbon-heteroatom bond (favored over C-H migration) with the order of migratory aptitude for carbon-heteroatom bonds being C-S>C-N>C-O. In the absence of an oxidant, polycyclic products are readily constructed through a ring-expansion/Nazarov cyclization reaction sequence.

Cobalt-catalyzed oxidative isocyanide insertion to amine-based bisnucleophiles: diverse synthesis of substituted 2-aminobenzimidazoles, 2-aminobenzothiazoles, and 2-aminobenzoxazoles.

Cobalt catalysis: Synthesis of substituted 2-aminobenzimidazoles, 2-aminobenzothiazoles, and 2-aminobenzoxazoles was achieved by using cobalt(II) acetate catalyzed isocyanide insertion to o-diaminobenzene, 2-aminobenzenethiol, and 2-aminophenol derivatives in 1,4-dioxane (see scheme). It was found that the reaction proceeded efficiently to give the desired products in up to 95 % isolated yields by C-N and C-S (O, N) formation in a single step.