Publications by authors named "Joshua S Alford"

Rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of 1-phenoxycyclopropane-1-carbaldehydes by intermolecular cyclopropanation of terminal alkenes followed by imine hydrolysis is described. This methodology utilizes 4-aryloxy-1-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles as the carbene precursors and the chiral dirhodium(II) tetracarboxylates Rh(-NTTL) or Rh(-DPCP) as the catalysts. These reactions are considered to proceed rhodium-stabilized donor/acceptor carbene intermediates, and these studies demonstrate that a heteroatom donor group is compatible with an enantioselective transformation.

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SETD2, a lysine -methyltransferase, is a histone methyltransferase that plays an important role in various cellular processes and was identified as a target of interest in multiple myeloma that features a t(4,14) translocation. We recently reported the discovery of a novel small-molecule SETD2 inhibitor tool compound that is suitable for preclinical studies. Herein we describe the conformational-design-driven evolution of the advanced chemistry lead, which resulted in compounds appropriate for clinical evaluation.

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SET domain-containing protein 2 (SETD2), a histone methyltransferase, has been identified as a target of interest in certain hematological malignancies, including multiple myeloma. This account details the discovery of , a novel and potent SETD2 inhibitor with a high selectivity over other histone methyltransferases. A screening campaign of the Epizyme proprietary histone methyltransferase-biased library identified potential leads based on a 2-amidoindole core.

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A remarkable aspect of enzyme evolution is the portability of catalytic mechanisms for fundamentally different chemical reactions. For example, aspartyl proteases, which contain two active site carboxylic acid groups, catalyze the hydrolysis of amide bonds, while glycosyltransferases (and glycosyl hydrolases), which often also contain two active site carboxylates, have evolved to form (or break) glycosidic bonds. However, neither catalyst exhibits cross-reactivity in the intracellular environment.

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The enantioselective intermolecular sp(3) C-H functionalization at the allylic and benzylic positions was achieved using rhodium-catalyzed reactions with 4-phenyl-N-(methanesulfonyl)-1,2,3-triazole. The optimum dirhodium tetracarboxylate catalyst for these reactions was Rh2(S-NTTL)4. The rhodium-bound α-imino carbene intermediates preferentially reacted with tertiary over primary C-H bonds in good yields and moderate levels of enantioselectivity (66-82% ee).

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An effective method for aminoacylation of indoles and pyrroles has been achieved. The transformation involves a multicomponent one-pot cascade reaction between indoles or pyrroles, ynol ethers, and sulfonyl azides, creating four different bonds regioselectively through N-sulfonyltriazole intermediates. The oxo-tryptamines and oxo-pyrroloethanamines are generated in moderate to high yields under mild reaction conditions.

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Metal-stabilized carbenes derived from diazo compounds have become broadly useful reactive intermediates for organic synthesis. This tutorial review will describe the recent advances in using N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles as precursors for the formation of metal-bound imino carbene intermediates. These intermediates undergo a variety of synthetically useful transformations, which include transannulation reactions to generate new heterocycles, cyclopropanation and subsequent ring expansions, ylide formation with subsequent rearrangements, and C-H functionalization.

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Catalytic enantioselective methods for the generation of cyclopropanes has been of longstanding pharmaceutical interest. Chiral dirhodium(II) catalysts prove to be an effective means for the generation of diverse cyclopropane libraries. Rh(-DOSP) is generaally the most effective catalyst for asymmetric intermolecular cyclopropanation of methyl aryldiazoacetates with styrene.

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A highly effective synthesis of 2,3-fused pyrroles from cyclic ketones has been achieved. The transformation includes a rhodium-catalyzed reaction of 4-alkenyl-1-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles featuring an unusual 4π electrocyclization. The methodology was further extended to the synthesis of indoles using a one-pot reaction starting from 1-ethynylcyclohexenes.

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Warming of 4-phthalimido-N-mesyl-1,2,3-triazole in the presence of alkenes followed by silica gel induced hydrolysis results in a highly diastereoselective and catalyst-free entry to N-phthalimidocyclopropanecarboxaldehydes.

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