Identification of Potent and Selective Inhibitors of Fat Mass Obesity-Associated Protein Using a Fragment-Merging Approach.

Fat mass obesity-associated protein (FTO) is a DNA/RNA demethylase involved in the epigenetic regulation of various genes and is considered a therapeutic target for obesity, cancer, and neurological disorders. Here, we aimed to design novel FTO-selective inhibitors by merging fragments of previously reported FTO inhibitors. Among the synthesized analogues, compound , which merges key fragments of Hz () and MA (), inhibited FTO selectively over alkylation repair homologue 5 (ALKBH5), another DNA/RNA demethylase.

DHQZ-17, a potent inhibitor of the transcription factor HNF4A, suppresses tumorigenicity of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in vivo.

A series of 2, 3-dihydroquinazolinone derivatives were synthesized, characterized and their anticancer activity was determined. Among the compounds synthesized and screened, one compound (17) showed potent anticancer activity against human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell line, SCC131 and was non-toxic to normal cells. The compound inhibited the growth of SCC131 cells, with an IC of 1.

Palladium catalyzed asymmetric allylation of 3-OBoc-oxindoles: an efficient synthesis of 3-allyl-3-hydroxyoxindoles.

3-Allyl-3-hydroxyoxindoles were synthesized in very good enantio- (up to 97% ee) and diastereoselectivities (dr up to 7.6:1) with contiguous quaternary and tertiary stereogenic centers by employing tartrate derived bi(oxazoline) in Pd-catalyzed allylation of 3-OBoc-oxindole. Synthetic utility of 3-allyl-3-hydroxyoxindole was demonstrated by synthesizing a highly substituted spiro(oxindole-3,2'-tetrahydrofuran) derivative in good yield and stereoselectivity.

Copper(I) bromide catalyzed arylation of cyclic enamides and naphthyl-1-acetamides using diaryliodonium salts.

Copper(I) bromide catalyzed direct C-H arylation of cyclic enamides was achieved using diaryliodonium salts in the absence of base/additive at ambient temperature with high yields. A biologically active dihydro[a]benzocarbazole scaffold was synthesized using the established protocol. The scope of the current methodology was further extended for the synthesis of C4-, C7-aryl-substituted 1-naphthyl acetamides in good yields.

Highly enantioselective synthesis of 2,3-dihydroquinazolinones through intramolecular amidation of imines.

Enantioselective synthesis of 2,3-dihydroquinazolinones (DHQZs) was accomplished using readily available Sc(III)-inda-pybox as the catalyst. This is the first report on the metal catalyzed asymmetric intramolecular amidation of imines to synthesize DHQZs.