[Development of a therapeutic agent for Menkes disease: solubilization of a copper-disulfiram complex].

Menkes disease (MD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by copper deficiency. It is caused by defective intestinal absorption of copper resulting from a deficiency of a copper-transporting ATPase, ATP7A. We investigated the effects of combination therapy with copper and disulfiram, a known lipophilic chelator.

Crystallization-induced diastereomeric transformation of N-2'-t-butyl-6'-iodobenzoyl-3-bromocarbazole.

We previously reported the atropisomeric properties of 2'-t-butyl-6'-iodo-substituted N-benzoyl-3-bromocarbazole, i.e., the steric or electronic effects of the substituents restricted the rotation about the N-C7' and C7'-C1' bonds to separate four stereoisomers (cis/trans for the N-C7' axis, aR/aS for the C7'-C1' axis).

A complete gear system in N-benzoyl-carbazole derivatives.

2',6'-Disubstituted N-benzoylated carbazole derivatives were found to exhibit atropisomerism. The bulky substituents restricted rotation about the N-C7' and C7'-C1' bonds to separate four atropisomers, in which rotation about the C7'-C1' bond was in perfect concert with rotation about the N-C7' bond. Complete geared rotation without slippage at 37 °C for 7 days was observed for the first time.

Conformation and atropisomeric properties of indometacin derivatives.

The stereochemistry around the N-benzoylated indole moiety of indometacin was studied by restricting the rotation about the N-C7' and/or C7'-C1' bond. In the 2',6'-disubstituted ones, an atropisomeric property was found and the atropoisomers were separated and isolated as stable forms. Their biological abilities to inhibit cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were examined.

Asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-stenine and 9a-epi-stenine.

A route for the asymmetric synthesis of (-)-stenine, a member of the Stemona alkaloid family used as folk medicine in Asian countries, is described. The key features of the sequence employed include stereoselective transformations on a cyclohexane ring controlled by a chiral auxiliary unit and an intramolecular Mitsunobu reaction to construct the perhydroindole ring system. By using an intermediate in the route to (-)-stenine, an asymmetric synthesis of 9a-epi-stenine was also executed.

Stereoselective synthesis of cis-2,5-disubstituted THFs: application to adjacent bis-THF cores of Annonaceous acetogenins.

The iodocyclization of γ,δ-unsaturated alcohols in the presence of a silyl enol ether produced cis-2,5-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans in one pot via siloxy intermediates. N-Iodosuccinimide (NIS) effectively worked as an activator of the double bonds in the substrates and the silyl enol ether. Application to an expedient synthesis of the adjacent bis-tetrahydrofuran core of Annonaceous acetogenins with a cis/threo/cis relative stereochemistry is also described.

Atropisomerism observed in indometacin derivatives.

To elucidate the active conformation of indometacin that differentiates between cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), the stereochemistry around the N-benzoylated indole moiety of indometacin was studied. Resolution of stable atropisomers as representative conformations was found to be possible by restricting rotation about the N-C7' and/or C7'-C1' bond. Only the aR-isomer showed specific inhibition of COX-1, and COX-2 was not inhibited by either atropisomer.