Competitive activity-based protein profiling identifies aza-β-lactams as a versatile chemotype for serine hydrolase inhibition.

Serine hydrolases are one of the largest and most diverse enzyme classes in Nature. Most serine hydrolases lack selective inhibitors, which are valuable probes for assigning functions to these enzymes. We recently discovered a set of aza-β-lactams (ABLs) that act as potent and selective inhibitors of the mammalian serine hydrolase protein-phosphatase methylesterase-1 (PME-1).

Catalytic asymmetric cycloaddition of ketenes and nitroso compounds: enantioselective synthesis of alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acid derivatives.

The appropriate choice of chiral catalyst and starting materials leads to the synthesis of 1,2-oxazetidin-3-ones by cycloadditions of ketenes with nitroso compounds with very good regioselectivity and enantioselectivity. In addition to serving as potentially bioactive target molecules, the products can be transformed into other important classes of compounds, such as alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acid derivatives.

Electronic modification of an aminotroponiminate zinc complex leading to an increased reactivity in the hydroamination of alkenes.

The electronically modified zinc complex 5-phenylsulfanyl-N-isopropyl-2-(isopropylamino)troponiminate zinc methyl, [(PhS-ATI(iPr)2)ZnMe], was synthesized. It showed an increased reactivity in the intramolecular hydroamination reaction of non-activated alkenes compared to a previously-reported, non-substituted complex.

Intramolecular hydroamination with homogeneous zinc catalysts: evaluation of substituent effects in N,N'-disubstituted aminotroponiminate zinc complexes.

A series of symmetrical and unsymmetrical N,N'-disubstituted aminotroponimines (ATIHs) have been prepared. Substituents ranging from linear to cyclic alkyl groups, chelating ethers, and aryl groups were employed. The corresponding aminotroponiminate zinc complexes were then synthesized and characterized by a number of techniques, including by X-ray crystallography.

A new homogeneous zinc complex with increased reactivity for the intramolecular hydroamination of alkenes.

The new zinc compound N-cyclohexyl-2-(cyclohexylamino)troponiminate zinc methyl, [(Cy)2ATI]ZnMe, was synthesized and showed a superior reactivity in the intramolecular hydroamination reaction of non-activated alkenes compared to previously reported homogeneous zinc complexes.