An organometallic inhibitor for glycogen synthase kinase 3.

Replacing natural products with kinetically inert metal complexes may lead to a new class of therapeutics in which a metal center plays the role of an innocent bystander, organizing the orientation of the organic ligands in the receptor space. As an example of this approach, a ruthenium complex is described that copies the binding mode of indolocarbazole protein kinase inhibitors and serves as a reversible, low-nanomolar inhibitor for glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3).

Dynamic kinetic resolution of atropisomeric amides.

[reaction: see text] Using L-proline as catalyst in the asymmetric aldol reaction and a series of benzamides and naphthamides, we have accomplished a dynamic kinetic resolution that simultaneously establishes the stereochemistry of the atropisomeric amide's chiral axis and a stereogenic center. The enantioselectivities ranged from 82% to 95% and the diastereoselectivities from 2.1:1 to 7.

Syntheses of functionalized ferratricarbadecaboranyl complexes.

The reactions of nitriles (RCN) with arachno-4,6-C(2)B(7)H(12)(-) provide a general route to functionalized tricarbadecaboranyl anions, 6-R-nido-5,6,9-C(3)B(7)H(9)(-), R = C(6)H(5) (2(-)), NC(CH(2))(4) (4(-)), (p-BrC(6)H(4))(Me(3)SiO)CH (6(-)), C(14)H(11) (8(-)), and H(3)BNMe(2)(CH(2))(2) (10(-)). Further reaction of these anions with (eta(5)-C(5)H(5))Fe(CO)(2)I yields the functionalized ferratricarbadecaboranyl complexes 1-(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))-2-C(6)H(5)-closo-1,2,3,4-FeC(3)B(7)H(9) (3), 1-(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))-2-NC(CH(2))(4)-closo-1,2,3,4-FeC(3)B(7)H(9) (5), 1-(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))-2-[(p-BrC(6)H(4))(Me(3)SiO)CH]-closo-1,2,3,4-FeC(3)B(7)H(9) (7), 1-(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))-2-C(14)H(11)-closo-1,2,3,4-FeC(3)B(7)H(9) (9), and 1-(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))-2-H(3)BNMe(2)(CH(2))(2)-closo-1,2,3,4-FeC(3)B(7)H(9) (11). Reaction of 11 with DABCO (triethylenediamine) resulted in removal of the BH(3) group coordinated to the nitrogen of the side chain, giving 1-(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))-2-NMe(2)(CH(2))(2)-closo-1,2,3,4-FeC(3)B(7)H(9) (12).

Synthesis of a pondaplin dimer and trimer. Aromatic interactions in novel macrocycles.

Synthetic challenges in the use of an oxabicyclo[2.2.2]octenone moiety as a masked arene for the synthesis of pondaplin are disclosed.

Reactions of arachno-6,8-C2B7H12- with electron deficient olefins: syntheses of cyano-substituted carboranes.

The syntheses of new cyano-substituted derivatives of arachno-6,8-C(2)B(7)H(13) have been achieved through the addition reactions of the arachno-6,8-C(2)B(7)H(12)(-) (1-) anion with cyano-activated olefins. The reaction of PSH+1- with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) yielded the unusual bridging compound PSH(+)endo-6-endo-7-[micro(2)-(C(CN)(2))(2)]-arachno-6,8-C(2)B(7)H(12)(-) (PSH+2-)) resulting from cycloaddition of the TCNE at the C6-B7 edge of the anion. Consistent with its hypho skeletal electron count, an X-ray crystallographic study and DFT/GIAO calculations confirm 2(-) has a more open structure than 1-.

Novel versatile synthesis of substituted tetrabenzoporphyrins.

A novel general synthetic route to tetraaryltetrabenzoporphyrins (Ar(4)TBP) with various peripheral functional groups is developed. The procedure includes (i) Barton-Zard condensation of 1-nitro- or 1-phenylsulfonylcyclohexenes with isocyanoacetic acid esters, (ii) condensation of the resulting 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoindoles with aromatic aldehydes to give fused tetraaryltetracylohexenoporphyrins (Ar(4)TCHP), and (iii) aromatization of the metal complexes of Ar(4)TCHP's into the corresponding Ar(4)TBP's. Cu and Zn complexes of Ar(4)TBP's are further demetalated to give the corresponding Ar(4)TBP free bases.

Alpha-hydroxylation at C-15 and C-16 in cholesterol: synthesis of (25R)-5alpha-cholesta-3beta,15alpha,26-triol and (25R)-5alpha-cholesta-3beta,16alpha,26-triol from diosgenin.

[reaction: see text] (25R)-5alpha-cholesta-3beta,16alpha,26-triol 7b and (25R)-5alpha-cholesta-3beta,15alpha,26-triol 10b were synthesized, via (25R)-5alpha-cholesta-3beta,16beta,26-triol 5a, from diosgenin 3 in 52% yield over six steps and 47% yield over eight steps, respectively. An efficient method for inversion of a C-16beta hydroxyl to the C-16alpha position and a short method for transposition of a C-16beta hydroxyl to the C-15alpha position via the unexpected beta-reduction of a C-15 ketone in a steroid are reported.

Syntheses, characterizations, and coordination chemistry of the 10-vertex phosphadicarbaboranes 6-R-arachno-6,8,9-PC2B7H11 and 6-R-arachno-6,5,7-PC2B7H11.

The 10-vertex phosphadicarbaboranes, 6-R-arachno-6,8,9-PC(2)B(7)H(11) (1) (R = Ph 1a or Me 1b) and 6-R-arachno-6,5,7-PC(2)B(7)H(11) (2) (R = Ph 2a or Me 2b) have been synthesized using in situ dehydrohalogenation reactions of RPCl(2) (R = Ph or Me) with the arachno-4,5-C(2)B(7)H(13) and arachno-4,6-C(2)B(7)H(13) carboranes, respectively. X-ray crystallographic determinations in conjunction with DFT/GIAO/NMR calculations and NMR spectroscopic studies have established that both 1 and 2 have open cage structures based on an icosahedron missing two vertexes. The two isomeric compounds differ in the positions of the carbons and bridging hydrogens on the open face.

Asymmetric synthesis of functionalized trans-2,6-disubstituted piperidines with N-sulfinyl delta-amino beta-ketoesters. Synthesis of (-)-lasubine I.

[reaction: see text] The hydroxy-directed reduction of 1,2-dehydropiperidines with the "ate" complex of DIBAL-H and n-BuLi affords functionalized trans-2,6-disubstituted piperidines. This methodology was employed in the asymmetric synthesis of the quinolizidine alkaloid (-)-lasubine I.

Convenient preparations of 2,4-methanopyrrolidine and 5-carboxy-2,4-methanopyrrolidines.

An efficient four-step synthesis of N-BOC-5-syn- and 5-anti-carboxymethanopyrrolidines (12 and 13) and the conversion of 12 to N-BOC-methanopyrrolidine (2) are described.

Novel route to functionalized tetraaryltetra[2,3]naphthaloporphyrins via oxidative aromatization.

A novel general route to substituted meso-tetraaryltetra[2,3]naphthaloporphyrins (Ar(4)TNP) and meso-tetraaryloctamethoxytetra[2,3]naphthaloporphyrins (Ar(4)(MeO)(8)TNP) via oxidative aromatization of nonaromatically fused porphyrin precursors is described. Ar(4)(MeO)(8)TNPs exhibit more red-shifted absorption bands than Ar(4)TNPs and differ dramatically in solubility. The first X-ray crystallographic structure of tetranaphthaloporphyrin, i.

Structure and reactivity of bis(silyl) dihydride complexes (PMe(3))(3)Ru(SiR(3))(2)(H)(2): model compounds and real intermediates in a dehydrogenative C-Si bond forming reaction.

A series of stable complexes, (PMe(3))(3)Ru(SiR(3))(2)(H)(2) ((SiR(3))(2) = (SiH(2)Ph)(2), 3a; (SiHPh(2))(2), 3b; (SiMe(2)CH(2)CH(2)SiMe(2)), 3c), has been synthesized by the reaction of hydridosilanes with (PMe(3))(3)Ru(SiMe(3))H(3) or (PMe(3))(4)Ru(SiMe(3))H. Compounds 3a and 3c adopt overall pentagonal bipyramidal geometries in solution and the solid state, with phosphine and silyl ligands defining trigonal bipyramids and ruthenium hydrides arranged in the equatorial plane. Compound 3a exhibits meridional phosphines, with both silyl ligands equatorial, whereas the constraints of the chelate in 3c result in both axial and equatorial silyl environments and facial phosphines.

Atropisomeric amides: Achiral ligands with chiral conformations.

A new class of achiral ligands with atropisomeric conformations has been coordinated to titanium(IV). The ligands are ortho-hydroxy benzamide derivatives which are deprotonated on reaction with titanium tetraisopropoxide to furnish Ti(L)(2)(O-iPr)(2) complexes (L=ortho-phenoxy benzamide). In these octahedral titanium compounds, the ortho-phenoxy benzamide ligands chelate to titanium, bonding through the phenoxide oxygen and the amide carbonyl oxygen.

Synthesis and reactivity of silyl ruthenium complexes: the importance of trans effects in C-H activation, Si-C bond formation, and dehydrogenative coupling of silanes.

A series of octahedral ruthenium silyl hydride complexes, cis-(PMe(3))(4)Ru(SiR(3))H (SiR(3) = SiMe(3), 1a; SiMe(2)CH(2)SiMe(3), 1b; SiEt(3), 1c; SiMe(2)H, 1d), has been synthesized by the reaction of hydrosilanes with (PMe(3))(3)Ru(eta(2)-CH(2)PMe(2))H (5), cis-(PMe(3))(4)RuMe(2) (6), or (PMe(3))(4)RuH(2) (9). Reaction with 6 proceeds via an intermediate product, cis-(PMe(3))(4)Ru(SiR(3))Me (SiR(3) = SiMe(3), 7a; SiMe(2)CH(2)SiMe(3), 7b). Alternatively, 1 and 7 have been synthesized via a fast hydrosilane exchange with another cis-(PMe(3))(4)Ru(SiR(3))H or cis-(PMe(3))(4)Ru(SiR(3))Me, which occurs at a rate approaching the NMR time scale.

A one-pot diastereoselective synthesis of cis-3-hexene-1,6-diols via an unusually reactive organozinc intermediate.

A highly diastereoselective method for the synthesis of cis-3-hexene-1,6-diols has been developed. This new reaction proceeds with excellent control of diastereoselectivity over four stereocenters and the double bond geometry. The diols are made in a one-pot procedure involving hydroboration of a terminal alkyne and transmetalation to zinc to give a divinylzinc intermediate.

Catalysis of the Michael addition reaction by late transition metal complexes of BINOL-derived salens.

Salen metal complexes incorporating two chiral BINOL moieties have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. The X-ray structures show that this new class of Ni-BINOL-salen catalysts contains an unoccupied apical site for potential coordination of an electrophile and naphthoxides that are independent from the Lewis acid center. These characteristics allow independent alteration of the Lewis acidic and Brønsted basic sites.

Chlorosulfonyl isocyanate reactions with N-(alkoxycarbonyl)-2-azabicyclo[2.2.0]hex-5-enes. Regiospecific two-atom insertion pathways.

Addition of the uniparticulate electrophile chlorosulfonyl isocyanate to the nitrogen atom of N-(alkoxycarbonyl)-2-azabicyclo[2.2.0]hex-5-enes 1 is followed by ring cleavage and recombination.

Syntheses and structural characterizations of endo-eta(1)-, exo-eta(1)-, eta(4)-, eta(5)-, and eta(6)-metallaphosphamonocarbaborane complexes derived from a versatile new polyborane ligand: exo-6-R-arachno-6,7-PCB(8)H(12).

Deprotonation of the phosphamonocarbaborane, exo-6-R-arachno-6,7-PCB(8)H(12) (R = Ph 1a or Me 1b), yields exo-6-R-arachno-6,7-PCB(8)H(11)(-), which when reacted with appropriate transition-metal reagents affords new metallaphosphamonocarbaborane complexes in which the metals adopt endo-eta(1), exo-eta(1), eta(4), eta(5), or eta(6) coordination geometries bonded to the formal R-arachno-PCB(8)H(11)(-), R-arachno-PCB(8)H(10)(2-), R-arachno-PCB(8)H(9)(3-), or R-nido-PCB(8)H(9)(-) ligands. The reaction of exo-6-(C(6)H(5))-arachno-6,7-PCB(8)H(11)(-) (1a-) with Mn(CO)(5)Br generated the eta(1)-sigma product exo-6-[Mn(CO)(5)]-endo-6-(C(6)H(5))-arachno-6,7-PCB(8)H(11) (2) having the [Mn(CO)(5)] fragment in the thermodynamically favored exo position at the P6 cage atom. On the other hand, reaction of 1a- with (eta(5)-C(5)H(5))Fe(CO)(2)I resulted in the formation of two products, an eta(1)-sigma complex endo-6-[(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))Fe(CO)(2)]-exo-6-(C(6)H(5))-arachno-6,7-PCB(8)H(11) (3) having the (eta(5)-C(5)H(5))Fe(CO)(2) fragment attached at the endo-P6 position and an eta(6)-closo complex, 1-(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))-2-(C(6)H(5))-closo-1,2,3-FePCB(8)H(9) (4a).

Syntheses, crystallographic/computational characterizations, and reactions of the first 10-vertex arachno- and nido-phosphamonocarbaboranes.

A synthetic sequence involving the initial reaction of a substituted phosphorus dihalide (RPCl(2), R = CH(3), C(6)H(5)) with the arachno-CB(8)H(13)(-) (1-) monoanion followed by an in situ dehydrohalogenation reaction initiated by Proton Sponge, resulted in phosphorus cage insertion to yield the first 10-vertex arachno- and nido-phosphamonocarbaboranes, exo-6-R-arachno-6,7-PCB(8)H(12) (2a, 2b) and PSH(+)6-R-nido-6,9-PCB(8)H(9)(-) (PSH+3a-, PSH+3b-) (R = C(6)H(5) (a), CH(3) (b)). Alternatively, 2a and 2b were synthesized in high yield as the sole product of the reaction of the arachno-4-CB(8)H(12)(2-) (1(2-)) dianion with RPCl(2). Crystallographic determinations of PSH+3a- and PSH+3b- in conjunction with DFT/GIAO computational studies of the anions have confirmed the expected nido cage framework based on an octadecahedron missing the six-coordinate vertex.

Influence of nonplanarity and extended conjugation on porphyrin basicity.

Thermodynamic basicities of several new nonplanar water soluble tetraaryltetracyclohexano- (Ar(4)TCHP) and tetraaryltetrabenzoporphyrins (Ar(4)TBP) have been measured and correlated with their structural parameters. While the degrees of nonplanarity in these porphyrins are similar, Ar(4)TCHPs exhibit significantly higher basicities than Ar(4)TBPs and than planar tetraarylporphyrins. Low basicities of distorted Ar(4)TBPs are believed to be due to extended pi-conjugation, which causes delocalization of the core electron density in these porphyrins and reduces negative charges at the protonation site.

Asymmetric synthesis of polyhydroxy alpha-amino acids with the sulfinimine-mediated asymmetric strecker reaction: 2-amino 2-deoxy L-xylono-1,5-lactone (polyoxamic acid lactone).

Polyhydroxylated sulfinimines derived from protected 1,2-O-isopropyliden-L-threoses undergo the sulfinimine-mediated Strecker syntheses to give alpha-amino nitriles in good yield and de. A double stereodifferentiation effect was not observed and the diastereoselectivity is controlled by the absolute configuration of the sulfinyl group. Hydrolysis of the amino nitriles afforded the lactone rather than polyoxamic acid.

Kinetic resolution of atropisomeric amides.

We have demonstrated the feasibility of the kinetic resolution of atropisomeric amides using the commercially avaliable AD-mix. To our knowledge, this methodology represents the first catalytic kinetic resolution of such compounds. Relative rates of up to 32 have been found for the kinetic resolution processes.

Optimization of catalyst enantioselectivity and activity using achiral and meso ligands.

The optimization of asymmetric catalysts for enantioselective synthesis has conventionally revolved around the synthesis and screening of enantiopure ligands. In contrast, we have optimized an asymmetric reaction by modification of a series of achiral ligands. Thus, employing (S)-3,3'-diphenyl BINOL [(S)-Ph(2)-BINOL] and a series of achiral diimine and diamine activators in the asymmetric addition of alkyl groups to benzaldehyde, we have observed enantiomeric excesses between 96% (R) and 75% (S) of 1-phenyl-1-propanol.

De novo design of biomimetic antimicrobial polymers.

The design of polymers and oligomers that mimic the complex structures and remarkable biological properties of proteins is an important endeavor with both fundamental and practical implications. Recently, a number of nonnatural peptides with designed sequences have been elaborated to provide biologically active structures; in particular, facially amphiphilic peptides built from beta-amino acids have been shown to mimic both the structures as well as the biological function of natural antimicrobial peptides such as magainins and cecropins. However, these natural peptides as well as their beta-peptide analogues are expensive to prepare and difficult to produce on a large scale, limiting their potential use to certain pharmaceutical applications.