Asymmetrically Substituted Quadruplex-Binding Naphthalene Diimide Showing Potent Activity in Pancreatic Cancer Models.

Targeting of genomic quadruplexes is an approach to treating complex human cancers. We describe a series of tetra-substituted naphthalene diimide (ND) derivatives with a phenyl substituent directly attached to the ND core. The lead compound (SOP1812) has 10 times superior cellular and activity compared with previous ND compounds and nanomolar binding to human quadruplexes.

Oxidative spirocyclisation routes towards the sawaranospirolides. Synthesis of ent-sawaranospirolides C and D.

Two routes are described for the synthesis of the sawaranospirolides, stereoisomeric spirolactone ascorbigenins isolated from Chamaecyparis pisifera. Trapping of the keto enal formed by oxidation of a functionalised 2-(4-hydroxybutyl)furan affords a potential butenolide spiroacetal precursor to sawaranospirolides A and C. Alternatively, epoxidation of protected 3-(dihydropyran-2-yl)-3-arylpropanoic acids results in spirolactonisation to generate ent-sawaranospirolide C; a related acid-mediated spirocyclisation gave access to ent-sawaranospirolide D.

Synthesis and Claisen rearrangement of bridged bicyclic enol ethers of relevance to the course of ketene s-cis-diene cycloaddition.

The synthesis is described of a range of 3-alkylidene-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene and 3-alkylidene-2-oxabicyclo[2.