The first example of a chiral cinchona-squaramide catalyzed enantioselective intramolecular aza-Michael addition for the synthesis of dihydroisoquinolines and tetrahydropyridines has been developed. In general, good yields and excellent enantioselctivities were observed. Broad classes of Michael acceptors, such as enones, esters, thioesters, and Weinreb amides, were successful substrates. The possibility of recycling the catalysts has also been demonstrated. An oxidation of combined enamine and keto functionalities on chiral dihydroisoquinolines leads to a single diastereomer of an architecturally unprecedented tetracyclic core without loss in enantioselectivity.
The first example of a chiral cinchona-squaramide catalyzed enantioselective intramolecular aza-Michael addition for the synthesis of dihydroisoquinolines and tetrahydropyridines has been developed. In general, good yields and excellent enantioselctivities were observed. Broad classes of Michael acceptors, such as enones, esters, thioesters, and Weinreb amides, were successful substrates.
Naturally occurring low-molecular weight compounds with a chemical structure like that of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, such as 1-benzyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline(1BnTIQ), are candidates for the endogenous neurotoxins that cause Parkinson's disease (PD). 1BnTIQ is an endogenous amine in human CSF and increases in the CSF of patients with PD. It inhibits complex Iand elicits PD-like behavioral abnormalities in monkey and mouse.
Solifenacin succinate [YM905; (3R)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-3-yl(1S)-1-phenyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline-2(1H)-carboxylate monosuccinate] is a new muscarinic receptor antagonist developed for the treatment of overactive bladder.
The rhodium and iridium Lewis-acid cations [(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))M{(R)-Prophos}(H(2)O)](2+) ((R)-Prophos = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane) efficiently catalyze the enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrones to methacrolein. Reactions occur with perfect endo selectivity and with enantiomeric excesses up to 96%. Intermediates [(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))M{(R)-Prophos}(methacrolein)](SbF(6))(2) (M = Rh (3), Ir (4)) have been spectroscopically and crystallographically characterized.
Endogenous isoquinoline (IQ) derivatives structurally related to the selective dopaminergic neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and its active metabolite 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine (MPP(+)) may contribute to dopaminergic neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease. We addressed the importance of the DAT molecule for selective dopaminergic toxicity by testing the differential cytotoxicity of 22 neutral and quaternary compounds from three classes of isoquinoline derivatives (3, IQs; 4,3,4-dihydroisoquinolines and 15, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines) as well as MPP(+) in non-neuronal and neuronal heterologous expression systems of the DAT gene (human embryonic kidney HEK-293 and mouse neuroblastoma Neuro-2A cells, respectively). Cell death was estimated using the MTT assay and the Trypan blue exclusion method.
