Efficient Route to Canagliflozin via Anhydroketopyranose.

The development of an efficient route for the synthesis of Canagliflozin is reported. The anhydroketopyranose intermediate was isolated as a novel intermediate, which was used to prepare Canagliflozin API in high purity.

Solution NMR Structure and Backbone Dynamics of Partially Disordered Arabidopsis thaliana Phloem Protein 16-1, a Putative mRNA Transporter.

Although RNA-binding proteins in plant phloem are believed to perform long-distance systemic transport of RNA in the phloem conduit, the structure of none of them is known. Arabidopsis thaliana phloem protein 16-1 (AtPP16-1) is such a putative mRNA transporter whose structure and backbone dynamics have been studied at pH 4.1 and 25 °C by high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Benzimidazoles from Aryl Alkyl Ketones and 2-Amino Anilines by an Iodine Catalyzed Oxidative C(CO)-C(alkyl) Bond Cleavage.

Novel molecular iodine catalyzed cyclization reactions of 2-amino anilines with aryl alkyl ketones under oxidant and metal-free conditions are described. The reaction likely involves sequential C-N bond formation followed by C(CO)-C(alkyl) bond cleavage. Various 2-substituted benzimidazoles are obtained in moderate to good yields in a single step from readily available acetophenones, propiophenones, and phenylacetophenones.

Substitution dependent stereoselective construction of bicyclic lactones and its application to the total synthesis of pyranopyran, tetraketide and polyrhacitide A.

A novel bicyclization strategy has been developed for the stereoselective synthesis of bicyclic lactones, i.e. 7-aryl or alkyl-2,6-dioxabicyclo[3.

Solution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies of Sterol Carrier Protein 2 Like 2 (SCP2L2) Reveal the Insecticide Specific Structural Characteristics of SCP2 Proteins in Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes.

Sterol carrier protein 2 like 2 from Aedes aegypti (AeSCP2L2) plays an important role in lipid transport in mosquitoes for its routine metabolic processes. Repeated unsuccessful attempts to crystallize ligand free SCP2L2 prompted us to undertake nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to determine its three-dimensional structure. We report here the three-dimensional structures and dynamics of apo-AeSCP2L2 and its complex with palmitate.

The unique functional role of the C-HS hydrogen bond in the substrate specificity and enzyme catalysis of type 1 methionine aminopeptidase.

It is intriguing how nature attains recognition specificity between molecular interfaces where there is no apparent scope for classical hydrogen bonding or polar interactions. Methionine aminopeptidase (MetAP) is one such enzyme where this fascinating conundrum is at play. In this study, we demonstrate that a unique C-HS hydrogen bond exists between the enzyme methionine aminopeptidase (MetAP) and its N-terminal-methionine polypeptide substrate, which allows specific interaction between apparent apolar interfaces, imposing a strict substrate recognition specificity and efficient catalysis, a feature replicated in Type I MetAPs across all kingdoms of life.

The facile synthesis of 1-benzoazepine derivatives via gold-catalyzed regioselective cycloisomerization reactions of N-(o-alkynylaryl)-N-vinyl sulfonamides.

Gold-catalyzed, regioselective cycloisomerization of N-(o-alkynylaryl)-N-vinyl sulfonamides afforded high yields of 2-sulfonylmethyl-1-benzoazepine derivatives. This 7-endo-dig selective cyclization proceeds via the incorporation of an exocyclic double bond by a labile 1-benzoazepine intermediate. The cyclization substrates were assembled in two steps from readily available materials using Sonogashira coupling and a Cs2CO3-mediated formal vinylic substitution.

Nazarov cyclization of divinyl ketones bearing an ester group at the β-position: a remarkable effect of α-substitution and alkene geometry on regioselectivity.

The Nazarov cyclization of divinyl ketones with an ester at the β-position was examined with particular reference to where the cyclic double bond forms. We observed unprecedented regioselectivity, dictated by the subtle substitution patterns at the α-position and alkene geometry of α,β and mostly, this selectivity is regardless of substitutions at α'- and β'-positions. The major implications of these observations are an aromatic group at the α-position with E-olefin geometry provides a cyclopentenone in which the double bond is not in conjugation with an ester, whereas Z-olefin provides a cyclopentenone in which the double bond is in conjugation with an ester; and divinyl ketones bearing an ester group at the β-position and an alkyl group at the α-position with E-olefin geometry provide a cyclopentenone in which the double bond is in conjugation with the ester.

Structure-function relationships of brazzein variants with altered interactions with the human sweet taste receptor.

Brazzein (Brz) is a small (54 amino acid residue) sweet tasting protein with physical and taste properties superior to other non-carbohydrate sweeteners. In an investigation of sequence-dependent functional properties of the protein, we used NMR spectroscopy to determine the three-dimensional structures and dynamic properties of two Brz variants: one with a single-site substitution (D40K), which is three-fold sweeter than wild-type Brz, and one with a two-residue insertion between residues 18 and 19 (ins18 RI19 ), which is devoid of sweetness. Although the three-dimensional folds of the two variants were very similar to wild-type Brz, they exhibited local conformational and dynamic differences.

Sequential aza-Piancatelli rearrangement/Friedel-Crafts alkylation for the synthesis of pyrrolo[1,2-d]benzodiazepine derivatives.

2-Furylcarbinols undergo a smooth aza-Piancatelli rearrangement followed by Friedel-Crafts alkylation with a bifunctional substrate, (1H-pyrrol-1-yl)aniline, in the presence of 10 mol% In(OTf)3 in acetonitrile at room temperature to afford the corresponding hexahydrobenzo[b]cyclopenta[f]pyrrolo[1,2-d][1,4]diazepin-11(4aH)-one scaffolds in good yields. This method offers significant advantages such as high conversions, mild reaction conditions, short reaction times, and high selectivity. The relative stereochemistry of the product was established by nOe studies.

Total synthesis of a piperidine alkaloid, microcosamine A.

The first asymmetric total synthesis of a new natural piperidine alkaloid, microcosamine A, has been accomplished from d-serine and d-methyl lactate as chiral pool starting materials. Key features of the strategy include the utility of Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction, Luche reduction, intramolecular carbamate N-alkylation to form the piperidine framework and Julia-Kocienski olefination to install the triene side-chain.

Domino Strategy for the Stereoselective Construction of Angularly Fused Tricyclic Ethers.

A stereoselective synthesis of decahydrofuro[3,2-d]isochromene derivatives has been achieved by the condensation of 2-cyclohexenylbutane-1,4-diol with aldehydes in the presence of a stochiometric amount of BF3·OEt2 in dichloromethane at -78 °C. Similarly, the condensation of 2-cyclopentenylbutan-1,4-diol with aldehydes provides the corresponding octahydro-2H-cyclopenta[c]furo[2,3-d]pyran derivatives in good yields with high diastereoselectivity. It is an elegant strategy for the quick construction of tricyclic architectures with four contiguous stereogenic centers in a single step.

Solution Structural Studies of GTP:Adenosylcobinamide-Phosphateguanylyl Transferase (CobY) from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii.

GTP:adenosylcobinamide-phosphate (AdoCbi-P) guanylyl transferase (CobY) is an enzyme that transfers the GMP moiety of GTP to AdoCbi yielding AdoCbi-GDP in the late steps of the assembly of Ado-cobamides in archaea. The failure of repeated attempts to crystallize ligand-free (apo) CobY prompted us to explore its 3D structure by solution NMR spectroscopy. As reported here, the solution structure has a mixed α/β fold consisting of seven β-strands and five α-helices, which is very similar to a Rossmann fold.

Human Cancer Antigen Globo H Is a Cell-Surface Ligand for Human Ribonuclease 1.

Pancreatic-type ribonucleases are secretory enzymes that catalyze the cleavage of RNA. Recent efforts have endowed the homologues from cow (RNase A) and human (RNase 1) with toxicity for cancer cells, leading to a clinical trial. The basis for the selective toxicity of ribonuclease variants for cancerous versus noncancerous cells has, however, been unclear.

Catalyst-controlled divergence in cycloisomerisation reactions of N-propargyl-N-vinyl sulfonamides: gold-catalysed synthesis of 2-sulfonylmethyl pyrroles and dihydropyridines.

Gold-catalysed, divergent synthesis of 2-sulfonylmethyl pyrroles and dihydropyridines from N-propargyl-N-vinyl sulfonamides has been achieved. Echavarren's gold(I) catalyst promoted the formation of pyrrole derivatives whereas the combination of PPh3AuCl and AgSbF6 afforded dihydropyridines. The aza-enyne precursors for the cycloisomerisation reaction were prepared by a base-mediated formal vinylic substitution reaction of 2-bromoallyl sulfones.

Cu(OAc)2-Et3N mediated oxidative coupling of α-azido ketones with pyridinium ylides: utilizing in situ generated imines for regioselective synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.

Phenacyl azides were reacted with pyridinium ylides in the presence of Cu(OAc)2 (2 mol%) and Et3N utilizing molecular oxygen as a green oxidant to yield imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines in exclusive regioselectivity. Following the optimized protocol, 28 different fused heterocycles were synthesized in high yields (71-92%). In order to get mechanistic insight into the reaction, a few control experiments were carried out and the role of the copper salt was discussed.

Chemical shift assignments of zinc finger domain of methionine aminopeptidase 1 (MetAP1) from Homo sapiens.

Methionine aminopeptidase Type I (MetAP1) cleaves the initiator methionine from about 70 % of all newly synthesized proteins in almost every living cell. Human MetAP1 is a two domain protein with a zinc finger on the N-terminus and a catalytic domain on the C-terminus. Here, we report the chemical shift assignments of the amino terminal zinc binding domain (ZBD) (1-83 residues) of the human MetAP1 derived by using advanced NMR spectroscopic methods.

One-pot, three-component approach to the synthesis of 3,4,5-trisubstituted pyrazoles.

An operationally simple and high yielding protocol for the synthesis of polyfunctional pyrazoles has been developed through one-pot, three-component coupling of aldehydes, 1,3-dicarbonyls, and diazo compounds as well as tosyl hydrazones. The reaction proceeds through a tandem Knoevenagel condensation, 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, and transition metal-free oxidative aromatization reaction sequence utilizing molecular oxygen as a green oxidant. The scope of the reaction was studied by varying the aldehyde, 1,3-dicarbonyl, and diazo component individually.

Regioselective synthesis of substituted arenes via aerobic oxidative [3 + 3] benzannulation reactions of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones.

Facile conversion of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones into highly substituted arenes via a base-mediated, completely regioselective, air-oxidative [3 + 3] benzannulation reaction with readily available 4-sulfonylcrotonates or 1,3-bisphenylsulfonylpropene is reported. The reaction can also be carried out as a one-pot, three-component operation using 4-bromocrotonates, aryl sulfinates, and cinnamaldehyde. This open-flask, metal-free reaction does not require anhydrous solvents, proceeds under mild conditions, and uses atmospheric oxygen as the oxidant to afford high yields of the 3-(arylsulfonyl)benzoic acid esters.

Synthesis and determination of absolute configuration of α-pyrones isolated from Penicillium corylophilum.

The first total synthesis of (S)-6-(2,9-dihydroxynonyl)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one, 4-hydroxy-3-methyl-6-((2S,4R)-2,4,11-trihydroxyundecyl)-2H-pyran-2-one, and its unnatural 2R,4R-isomer starting from commercially available 1,8-octanediol is described. The synthesis led to the revision of the proposed structural assignment of the natural product as (R)-6-(2,9-dihydroxynonyl)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one. The key steps include chiral auxiliary mediated asymmetric acetate aldol reaction, dianion addition, and base mediated cyclization to form an α-pyrone ring.

Sequential allylic substitution/Pauson-Khand reaction: a strategy to bicyclic fused cyclopentenones from MBH-acetates of acetylenic aldehydes.

An efficient approach for the construction of novel bicyclic fused cyclopentenones starting from Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) acetates of acetylenic aldehydes with flexible scaffold diversity has been achieved using a two-step reaction sequence involving allylic substitution and the Pauson-Khand reaction. This strategy provided a facile access to various bicyclic cyclopentenones fused with either a carbocyclic or a heterocyclic ring system in good yield.

Solution NMR structures of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis ToxB and its inactive homolog reveal potential determinants of toxin activity.

Pyrenophora tritici-repentis Ptr ToxB (ToxB) is a proteinaceous host-selective toxin produced by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (P. tritici-repentis), a plant pathogenic fungus that causes the disease tan spot of wheat. One feature that distinguishes ToxB from other host-selective toxins is that it has naturally occurring homologs in non-pathogenic P.

Acetal-initiated Prins bicyclization for the synthesis of hexahydrofuro-[3,4-c]furan lignans and octahydropyrano[3,4-c]pyran derivatives.

An acetal-initiated Prins bicyclization approach has been developed for the stereoselective synthesis of hexahydrofuro[3,4-c]furan lignans. This also provides a direct way to generate a new series of octahydropyrano[3,4-c]pyran derivatives in a single-step process.

Synthesis of proposed aglycone of mandelalide A.

A highly convergent synthesis of the proposed mandelalide A aglycone is reported. The cornerstones of the synthetic strategy include the following: E-selective intramolecular Heck cyclization, Masamune-Roush olefination, Stork-Zhao-Wittig olefination, modified Prins cyclization; Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation followed by Williamson-type etherification, Julia-Kocienski olefination, Brown crotylation, and Brown allylation reactions.

Assignments of RNase A by ADAPT-NMR and enhancer.

We report here backbone (1)H and (15)N assignments for ribonuclease A obtained by using ADAPT-NMR, a fully-automated approach for combined data collection, spectral analysis and resonance assignment. ADAPT-NMR was able to assign 98% of the resonances with 93% agreement with traditional data collection and assignment. Further refinement of the automated results with ADAPT-NMR enhancer led to complete (100%) assignments with 96% agreement with assignments by the traditional approach.