Electrophilic Substrates Research Articles

Nickel-Catalyzed Asymmetric Kumada Cross-Coupling of Symmetric Cyclic Sulfates.

Nickel-catalyzed enantioselective cross-couplings between symmetric cyclic sulfates and aromatic Grignard reagents are described. These reactions are effective with a broad range of substituted cyclic sulfates and deliver products with asymmetric tertiary carbon centers. Mechanistic experiments point to a stereoinvertive SN2-like oxidative addition of a nickel complex to the electrophilic substrate.

ChemInform Abstract: Development of a Pseudo‐Intramolecular Process

AbstractReview: [33 refs.

ChemInform Abstract: Isocyanide Based [4 + 1] Cycloaddition Reactions: An Indispensable Tool in Multi‐Component Reactions (MCRs)

AbstractReview: [73 refs.

Development of a Pseudo-Intramolecular Process

A pseudo-intramolecular process is developed. Compounds having both an acidic hydrogen and a functionality serve as substrates in the present method, and immediately form an ammonium salt after the addition of an amine. When the amine is liberated under mild equilibrium conditions, both the nucleophilic amine and the electrophilic substrate are in proximity and react efficiently under mild reaction conditions. Although the reaction actually concerns an intermolecular process, it proceeds as if it were an intramolecular process. Thus, this method represents a novel procedure for synthesizing polyfunctionalized compounds that are not easily available via alternative methods. The transacylation using α-arylated or α-nitrated β-keto esters facilitates the chemoselective or regioselective acylation of amines. α-Nitro-δ-keto nitriles also serve as substrates for the present reaction to afford 1,4-dihydropyridines, diazepines, pyridazines, and diazabicyclic compounds, efficiently. 1 Introduction 2 Transacylation of an α-Arylated β-Keto Ester 3 Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Malonates 4 Transacylation of an α-Nitro-β-keto Ester 5 Reaction of an α-Nitro-δ-keto Nitrile with Amines 6 Reaction of an α-Nitro-δ-keto Nitrile with Hydrazines 7 Reactions of α-Nitro-δ-keto Nitriles with Diamines 8 Reactions of α-Nitro-δ-keto Esters with Diamines 9 Conclusion

Glutathione and its related enzymes in the gonad of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

Glutathione (GSH) concentration, the activity of its metabolizing enzymes, glutathione transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and the antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT) in O. niloticus ovary and testis were examined. GSH concentration of O. niloticus testis exhibited high concentration (129 ± 21 nmol/g tissue) compared with GSH concentration (49.2 ± 8.3 nmol/g tissue) in the ovary. GST, GPx, GR, and CAT activities of O. niloticus testis exhibited high values compared with their corresponding values in ovary homogenates. However, protein concentration in ovary homogenates exhibited higher values (175 ± 40.6 mg) compared with testis homogenates (27.1 ± 3.7 mg). O. niloticus ovary was less effective in excretion of xenobiotices compared with the testis, where its function is mainly in increasing the protein content of the eggs; however, in O. niloticus testis, the glutathione cycle operated in accelerated way in the direction of reduced GSH production in order to protect the maturation stages in a save way. A simple reproducible procedure for the purification of GST from O. niloticus ovary was established. The enzymes proved to be homogenous as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and its molecular weight was calculated to be 25.1 kDa. GST of O. niloticus ovary exhibited maximum activity at pH 7.5. The Michaelis-Menten constant (K(m)) of the purified ovary GST for GSH and CDNB was 0.076 mM and 1.0 mM, respectively. Cibacron blue was the most potent inhibitor of ovary GST activity (IC50 value, concentration of inhibitor that will give 50% inhibition, equal 0.002 μM). The specific activity of GST toward different electrophilic substrates was determined. GST activity toward benzyl isothiocyanate was the highest compared with phenethyl isothiocyanate and allyl isothiocyanate.

Theoretical investigation of the reaction of dialkylzincs with α-alkoxycarbonyl radicals. Evaluation of α-bromoacrylates as radical acceptors in radical-polar crossover processes

The evaluation of ethyl α-bromoacrylate as radical acceptor in dialkylzinc radical-polar cascades addresses the question of the parameters controlling homolytic substitution at zinc by α-alcoxycarbonyl radicals. Under non-degassed medium ethyl α-bromoacrylate reacts with diethylzinc to give a bromocyclopropane. The reaction involves successively radical addition, SH2 at zinc, conjugate addition of the resulting enolate to the electrophilic substrate and ring closure. Theoretical calculations were performed to get a better insight into the detailed mechanism. They highlight the impact of zinc(II) chelation on the formal SH2 step. Additional experiments performed in the presence of other electrophiles–aldehydes and acylsilanes–are discussed.

Functionalized S-perfluorinated sulfoximines: Preparation and evaluation in catalytic processes

N-substituted S-perfluoroalkylated sulfoximines were synthesized from the NH sulfoximines either by a copper coupling reaction with aryl halides or by a reaction with electrophilic substrates. The procedure allowed the preparation of N,N′-bridged bis sulfoximines and of thioureas. The potential of these new sulfoximines was evaluated in different catalytic processes.

Characterisation of Dermanyssus gallinae glutathione S-transferases and their potential as acaricide detoxification proteins.

BackgroundGlutathione S-transferases (GSTs) facilitate detoxification of drugs by catalysing the conjugation of the reduced glutathione (GSH) to electrophilic xenobiotic substrates and therefore have a function in multi-drug resistance. As a result, knowledge of GSTs can inform both drug resistance in, and novel interventions for, the control of endo- and ectoparasite species. Acaricide resistance and the need for novel control methods are both pressing needs for Dermanyssus gallinae, a highly economically important haematophagous ectoparasite of poultry.MethodsA transcriptomic database representing D. gallinae was examined and 11 contig sequences were identified with GST BlastX identities. The transcripts represented by 3 contigs, designated Deg-GST-1, −2 and −3, were fully sequenced and further characterized by phylogenetic analysis. Recombinant versions of Deg-GST-1, −2 and −3 (rDeg-GST) were enzymically active and acaricide-binding properties of the rDeg-GSTs were established by evaluating the ability of selected acaricides to inhibit the enzymatic activity of rDeg-GSTs.Results6 of the identified GSTs belonged to the mu class, followed by 3 kappa, 1 omega and 1 delta class molecules. Deg-GST-1 and −3 clearly partitioned with orthologous mu class GSTs and Deg-GST-2 partitioned with delta class GSTs. Phoxim, permethrin and abamectin significantly inhibited rDeg-GST-1 activity by 56, 35 and 17 % respectively. Phoxim also inhibited rDeg-2-GST (14.8 %) and rDeg-GST-3 (20.6 %) activities.ConclusionsDeg-GSTs may have important roles in the detoxification of pesticides and, with the increased occurrence of acaricide resistance in this species worldwide, Deg-GSTs are attractive targets for novel interventions.

Trimeric microsomal glutathione transferase 2 displays one third of the sites reactivity

Human microsomal glutathione transferase 2 (MGST2) is a trimeric integral membrane protein that belongs to the membrane-associated proteins in eicosanoid and glutathione metabolism (MAPEG) family. The mammalian MAPEG family consists of six members where four have been structurally determined. MGST2 activates glutathione to form a thiolate that is crucial for GSH peroxidase activity and GSH conjugation reactions with electrophilic substrates, such as 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB). Several studies have shown that MGST2 is able to catalyze a GSH conjugation reaction with the epoxide LTA4 forming the pro-inflammatory LTC4. Unlike its closest homologue leukotriene C4 synthase (LTC4S), MGST2 appears to activate its substrate GSH using only one of the three potential active sites [Ahmad S, et al. (2013) Biochemistry. 52, 1755–1764]. In order to demonstrate and detail the mechanism of one-third of the sites reactivity of MGST2, we have determined the enzyme oligomeric state, by Blue native PAGE and Differential Scanning Calorimetry, as well as the stoichiometry of substrate and substrate analog inhibitor binding to MGST2, using equilibrium dialysis and Isothermal Titration Calorimetry, respectively. Global simulations were used to fit kinetic data to determine the catalytic mechanism of MGST2 with GSH and CDNB (1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene) as substrates. The best fit was observed with 1/3 of the sites catalysis as compared with a simulation where all three sites were active. In contrast to LTC4S, MGST2 displays a 1/3 the sites reactivity, a mechanism shared with the more distant family member MGST1 and recently suggested also for microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1.

Some novel features of glutathione transferase from juvenile catfish (Clarias gariepinus) exposed to lindane-contaminated water

Catfish are hardy in nature and it is not known whether the presence of efficient detoxication enzymes is partly responsible for this trait. To investigate this, we have assessed induction of glutathione transferase (GST) in 10-week-old juvenile catfish (Clarias gariepinus) exposed to graded concentrations of lindane, an organochlorine insecticide, and characterised the purified enzyme from groups having the highest and statistically significant induction. Some of the unique properties observed for the purified enzyme are a high Km (1.72±0.21mM) for the electrophilic model substrate, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and a very low catalytic rate (Vmax=0.130±0.010units/mg protein). The kcat/Km being 55.4±0.2M−1s−1. The enzyme is present in high concentration in the organism, the main isoform accounts for about 5.6% of the total soluble protein, probably to compensate for the observed kinetic imperfection. Since these properties are generally not known for a detoxication enzyme, we suggest that they may form part of the organism׳s own adaptation to its polluted environment.

Difluoromethylene phosphabetaine as an equivalent of difluoromethyl carbanion.

A method for nucleophilic difluoromethylation of reactive Michael acceptors, aldehydes, and azomethines is described. The reaction is performed using the readily available and air-stable reagent difluoromethylene phosphabetaine. The process involves interaction of an electrophilic substrate with in situ generated difluorinated phosphonium ylide followed by hydrolysis of the carbon-phosphorus bond under mild conditions.

Long‐Lived Trifluoromethanide Anion: A Key Intermediate in Nucleophilic Trifluoromethylations

AbstractThe trifluoromethanide anion is the postulated key intermediate in nucleophilic trifluoromethylation reactions. However, for more than six decades, the trifluoromethanide anion was widely believed to exist only as a short‐lived transient species in the condensed phase. It has now been prepared in bulk for the first time in THF solution. The trifluoromethanide anion with the [K(18‐crown‐6)]+ cation was unequivocally characterized by low‐temperature 19F and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Its intermediacy in nucleophilic trifluoromethylation reactions was directly evident by its reaction chemistry with various electrophilic substrates. Variable‐temperature NMR spectroscopy, along with quantum mechanical calculations, support the persistence of the trifluoromethanide anion.

Long-lived trifluoromethanide anion: a key intermediate in nucleophilic trifluoromethylations.

The trifluoromethanide anion is the postulated key intermediate in nucleophilic trifluoromethylation reactions. However, for more than six decades, the trifluoromethanide anion was widely believed to exist only as a short-lived transient species in the condensed phase. It has now been prepared in bulk for the first time in THF solution. The trifluoromethanide anion with the [K(18-crown-6)](+) cation was unequivocally characterized by low-temperature (19)F and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. Its intermediacy in nucleophilic trifluoromethylation reactions was directly evident by its reaction chemistry with various electrophilic substrates. Variable-temperature NMR spectroscopy, along with quantum mechanical calculations, support the persistence of the trifluoromethanide anion.

Regulation of epigenetic traits of the glutathione S-transferase P1 gene: from detoxification toward cancer prevention and diagnosis.

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are phase II drug detoxifying enzymes that play an essential role in the maintenance of cell integrity and protection against DNA damage by catalyzing the conjugation of glutathione to a wide variety of exo- and endogenous electrophilic substrates. Glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1), the gene encoding the pi-class GST, is frequently inactivated by acquired somatic CpG island promoter hypermethylation in multiple cancer subtypes including prostate, breast, liver, and blood cancers. Epigenetically mediated GSTP1 silencing is associated with enhanced cancer susceptibility by decreasing its “caretaker” gene function, which tends to promote neoplastic transformation allowing cells to acquire additional alterations. Thus, this epigenetic alteration is now considered as a cancer biomarker but could as well play a driving role in multistep cancer development, especially well documented in prostate cancer development. The present review discusses applications of epigenetic alterations affecting GSTP1 in cancer medicine used alone or in combination with other biomarkers for cancer detection and diagnosis as well as for future targeted preventive and therapeutic interventions including by dietary agents.

Tertiary amide-based Knoevenagel-type reactions: a direct, general, and chemoselective approach to enaminones.

We report one-pot and chemoselective Knoevenagel-type reactions using highly stable amides and lactams as the electrophilic substrates. The method is based on the in situ activation of amide carbonyl with triflic anhydride and a subsequent reaction with carbanions generated in situ from carbonyl compounds. The amide-based method is an alternative to the versatile thioamide-based Eschenmoser sulfide contraction.

Efficient Synthesis of Secondary Alkyl Fluorides via Suzuki Cross-Coupling Reaction of 1-Halo-1-fluoroalkanes

Organofluorine compounds have found extensive applications in various areas of science. Consequently, the development of new efficient and selective methods for their synthesis is an important goal in organic chemistry. Here, we present the first Suzuki cross-coupling reaction which utilizes dihalo compounds for the preparation of secondary alkyl fluorides. Namely, an unprecedented use of simple 1-halo-1-fluoroalkanes as electrophiles in C(sp(3))-C(sp(3)) and C(sp(3))-C(sp(2)) cross-couplings allows for the formal site-selective incorporation of F-group in the alkyl chain with no adjacent activating functional groups. Highly effective approach to the electrophilic substrates, 1-halo-1-fluoroalkanes, via iododecarboxylation of the corresponding α-fluorocarboxylic acids is also presented. The conceptually new route to organofluorides was used for the facile preparation of biomedically valuable compounds. In addition, we demonstrated that an asymmetric version of the developed reaction for the stereoconvergent synthesis of chiral secondary alkyl fluorides is feasible.

Prediction of substrates for glutathione transferases by covalent docking.

Enzymes in the glutathione transferase (GST) superfamily catalyze the conjugation of glutathione (GSH) to electrophilic substrates. As a consequence they are involved in a number of key biological processes, including protection of cells against chemical damage, steroid and prostaglandin biosynthesis, tyrosine catabolism, and cell apoptosis. Although virtual screening has been used widely to discover substrates by docking potential noncovalent ligands into active site clefts of enzymes, docking has been rarely constrained by a covalent bond between the enzyme and ligand. In this study, we investigate the accuracy of docking poses and substrate discovery in the GST superfamily, by docking 6738 potential ligands from the KEGG and MetaCyc compound libraries into 14 representative GST enzymes with known structures and substrates using the PLOP program [JacobsonProteins2004, 55, 35115048827]. For X-ray structures as receptors, one of the top 3 ranked models is within 3 Å all-atom root mean square deviation (RMSD) of the native complex in 11 of the 14 cases; the enrichment LogAUC value is better than random in all cases, and better than 25 in 7 of 11 cases. For comparative models as receptors, near-native ligand–enzyme configurations are often sampled but difficult to rank highly. For models based on templates with the highest sequence identity, the enrichment LogAUC is better than 25 in 5 of 11 cases, not significantly different from the crystal structures. In conclusion, we show that covalent docking can be a useful tool for substrate discovery and point out specific challenges for future method improvement.

Formal SN‐Type Reactions in Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed CH Bond Activation

Abstract(Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)rhodium (RhCp*)‐catalyzed CH transformations have emerged as a prosperous field in CH bond activation. Recent advances in this area have significantly focused on the development of new strategies for CC and Cheteroatom bond formation that are characterized by the novel reactivity of the RhCp* catalyst to undergo formal SN‐type reactions with electrophilic substrates. This review is intended to give an overview on this rather new class of RhCp*‐catalyzed CH transformations, covering recent CC and Cheteroatom bond‐forming reactions. The nature of the reaction partner in these CH functionalization reactions serves as a guideline throughout this article and, combined with selected descriptions of mechanistic proposals, should emphasize general characteristics of transformations within this novel reaction class.magnified image

Mice Lacking Three Loci Encoding 14 Glutathione Transferase Genes: A Novel Tool for Assigning Function to the GSTP, GSTM, and GSTT Families

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) form a superfamily defined by their ability to catalyze the conjugation of glutathione with electrophilic substrates. These enzymes are proposed to play a critical role in protection of cellular components from damage mediated by reactive metabolites. Twenty-two cytosolic GSTs, grouped into seven families, are recognized in mice. This complexity hinders the assignment of function to a subset or family of these genes. We report generation of a mouse line in which the locus encoding three GST gene families is deleted. This includes the four Gstt genes spanning 65 kb on chromosome 10 and the seven Gstm genes found on a 150 kb segment of DNA chromosome 3. In addition, we delete two Gstp genes on chromosome 19 as well as a third related gene located 15 kb telomeric to Gstp1 and Gstp2, which we identify as a potential new member of this gene family. We show that, despite the loss of up to 75% of total GST activity in some tissues from these animals, the mice are healthy and fertile, with normal life expectancy. The normal development and health of these animals make them an appropriate model for defining the role of these families in redox homeostasis and metabolism of drugs and environmental pollutants.

Chapter Four - Pleiotropic Functions of Glutathione S-Transferase P

Glutathione S-transferase P (GSTP) is one member of the GST superfamily that is prevalently expressed in mammals. Known to possess catalytic activity through deprotonating glutathione allowing formation of thioether bonds with electrophilic substrates, more recent discoveries have broadened our understanding of the biological roles of this protein. In addition to catalytic detoxification, other properties so far ascribed to GSTP include chaperone functions, regulation of nitric oxide pathways, regulation of a variety of kinase signaling pathways, and participation in the forward reaction of protein S-glutathionylation. The expression of GSTP has been linked with cancer and other human pathologies and more recently even with drug addiction. With respect to human health, polymorphic variants of GSTP may determine individual susceptibility to oxidative stress and/or be critical in the design and development of drugs that have used redox pathways as a discovery platform.