Synthetic Steps Research Articles

Synthesis of benzothienofuranones and dihydrobenzothienopyranones by palladium iodide-catalyzed carbonylative double cyclization

3-(2-(Methylthio)phenyl)prop-2-yn-1-ols have been successfully converted in one synthetic step into benzo[4,5]thieno[2,3-c]furan-1-ones by a PdI2/KI-catalyzed oxidative carbonylative double cyclization process, performed in MeCN under relative mild conditions (1–10 mol % PdI2, 7 equiv of KI, 80 °C, 60 atm of a 4:1 mixture CO–air). The process takes place through an ordered sequence of steps, involving 5-endo-dig S-cyclization, iodide-promoted demethylation of the ensuing sulfonium salt, CO insertion, a second cyclization (possibly, through the formation of a palladacycle intermediate followed by reductive elimination), and Pd(0) reoxidation by oxygen (from air) used as external benign oxidant. Under similar conditions, 4-(2-(methylthio)phenyl)but-3-yn-1-ols, bearing a butynol moiety ortho to the methylthio group, led to a mixture of double cyclization and dicarbonylation products, however, by slightly tuning the reaction conditions, dihydrobenzo[4,5]thieno[3,2-c]pyran-1-ones could be selectively obtained with no formation of the dicarbonylated byproduct. The structures of four representative products, including two tetracyclic derivatives, have been confirmed by XRD analysis.

Regioselective Direct C-H Bond Heteroarylation of Thiazoles Enabled by an Iminopyridine-Based α-Diimine Nickel(II) Complex Evaluated by DFT Studies.

Direct C-H bond arylation is a highly effective method for synthesizing arylated heteroaromatics. This method reduces the number of synthetic steps and minimizes the formation of impurities. We report an air- and moisture-stable iminopyridine-based α-diimine nickel(II) complex for direct C5-H bond arylation of thiazole derivatives. Under a low catalyst loading and performing the reactions at lower temperatures (80 °C) under aerobic conditions, we produced mono- and diarylated thiazole units. Competition experiments and density functional theory calculations revealed that the mechanism of C-H activation in 4-methylthiazole involves an electrophilic aromatic substitution.

A detailed insight into the adsorption efficiency of Cr(VI) by a novel polypyrrole modified kendu (Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb) seed biochar

The occurrence of heavy metals in drinking water is a foremost health concern in today’s world. The use of naturally occurring biomass for the removal of toxic pollutants from water is a proficient and inexpensive treatment method. Based on a comprehensive study of the pyrolysis features, pore configuration, chemical functionality, and carbon framework, we report a cost-effective polypyrrole-modified kendu (Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb) seed-derived biochar (PPY-KSC) via oxidative polymerization. The potentiality of hexavalent chromium decontamination from an aqueous solution was assessed by applying PPY-KSC as a bio-adsorbent. Synthetic steps were designed and the reusability of biomass was investigated by taking the minimum toxicity of the environment into account. The 1:1 V/W (volume/weight) ratio of pyrrole and KSC was optimized for the production of PPY-KSC considering the effectiveness of Cr(VI) removal. All the synthesized biochar were characterized following several techniques such as TEM, SEM, FTIR, XRD, Raman, Zeta potential, BET, and TGA analysis. SEM, TEM, and BET analysis proposes that PPY-KSC exhibited a spherical polypyrrole chain with an uneven microporous structure having an elevated surface area (81.55 m2/g) than KSC. PPY-KSC showed efficient Cr(VI) adsorption (98.8%) for 30 mg adsorbent dose in 100 mL of 10 ppm of Cr(VI) solution in 70 min at room temperature. Cr(VI) adsorption was following the pseudo-second-order kinetic model besides obeying the Langmuir isotherm model with R2 = 0.99 and a Langmuir adsorption capacity of 81.96 mg/g. Furthermore, a simultaneous physio-chemical process along with microporous capture governs adsorption. The Intraparticle diffusion model demonstrates the chemical interaction between polypyrrole and chromium through the electrostatic force of attraction. The thermodynamic parameters signify the remediation of Cr(VI) was irreversible, spontaneous, feasible and endothermic. The present approach allows reusability and studies showed that PPY-KSC owes the sorption property being 81.5% efficient up to five consecutive cycles.

Electrochemical Oxidation Enables Regioselective 1,3-Hydroxyfunctionalization of Cyclopropanes.

The direct construction of 1,3-hydroxyfunctionalized molecules is still a significant challenge, as they can currently be obtained through multiple synthetic steps. Herein, we report a general and efficient 1,3-hydroxyfunctionalization of arylcyclopropanes by electrochemical oxidation with a strategic choice of nucleophiles and H2O. 1,3-Amino alcohols, 1,3-alkynyl alcohols, 1,3-hydroxyesters, and 1,3-halo alcohols are achieved with high levels of chemo- and regio-selectivity, opening a new dimension for 1,3-difunctionalization reaction.

Self-Assembling Peptide-Appended Metallomacrocycle Pores for Selective Water Translocation.

Artificial water channels selectively transport water, excluding all ions. Unimolecular channels have been synthesized via complex synthetic steps. Ideally, simpler compounds requesting less synthetic steps should efficiently lead to selective channels by self-assembly. Herein, we report a self-assembled peptide-bound Ni2+ metallomacrocycle, 1, in which rim-peptide-bound units are connected to a central macrocycle obtained via condensation in the presence of Ni2+ ions. Compound 1 achieves a single-channel permeability up to 107-108 water/s/channel and insignificant ion transport, which is 1 order of magnitude lower than those for aquaporins. Molecular simulations probe that spongelike aggregates can form to generate transient cluster water pathways through the bilayer. Altogether, adaptive metallosupramolecular self-assembly is an efficient and simple way to construct selective channel superstructures.

A silicone with one quaternary ammonium salt and three N-halamine sites in the repeating unit for improved antibiotic ability on submicrospheres

A silicone containing one cationic quaternary ammonium salt (QAS) and three N-halamine sites in the repeating unit was developed on SiO2 submicron spheres for better antibacterial performance, larger bactericidal area and easier recyclability. Briefly, a precursor (NDAM) with high content of N-halamine was prepared by the amidation reaction. Then, a SiO2@NDA nanocomposite was synthesized. Chlorination of the three imide NH bonds in the repeat unit finalized the synthesis of the bactericidal silicone (SiO2@NDA-Cl). The synthetic steps and products were characterized and the effect of the contents of NDAM in copolymer on antibacterial activity were systematically assayed. The SiO2@NDA-Cl showed higher deactivation abilities against both E. coli and S. aureus compared with their counterparts that contained only one cationic center or one N-halamine. This study has theoretical and practical application value for the development of new antibacterial materials.

Palladium Iodide‐Catalyzed Selective Carbonylative Double Cyclization of 4‐(2‐Aminophenyl)‐3‐yn‐1‐ols to Dihydrofuroquinolinone Derivatives

Comprehensive SummaryThe PdI2/KI‐catalyzed oxidative carbonylation of 4‐(2‐aminophenyl)‐3‐yn‐1‐ols, bearing two potential nucleophilic groups in suitable position selectively leads to dihydrofuroquinolinone derivatives in fair to high yields (60%—89%) and excellent turnover numbers (180—267 mol of product per mol of Pd) over 19 examples, through a mechanistic pathway involving initial O‐cyclization followed by N‐cyclocarbonylation. In such process, the selective catalytic construction of two rings and three new bonds is achieved in one synthetic step to afford high value added fused heterocyclic structures starting from readily available materials.

Tetradehydro-Diels-Alder Reactions of Flexible Arylalkynes via Folding Inside a Molecular Cage.

The tetradehydro-Diels-Alder (TDDA) reaction is a useful transformation for the rapid assembly of polycyclic scaffolds from simple linear precursors in a single synthetic step. However, the reaction requires careful substrate design and harsh reaction conditions to overcome the inherent entropic cost for this transformation. Herein we report an efficient site-selective TDDA transformation within a self-assembled Pd6L4 cage. Despite the large size, the flexibility of the employed substrates allows for efficient encapsulation within the host cavity. The rate of thermal cyclization of the encapsulated guest was found to be greatly enhanced, and high product selectivity for an unsymmetrical substrate was observed. The efficiency of this system relies on the precise conformational control of the substrate within the confined space of the host cage.

Convenient and Controllable Synthesis of Poly(2-oxazoline)-Conjugated Doxorubicin for Regulating Anti-Tumor Selectivity.

Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-doxorubicin (DOX) conjugation is an important strategy to improve toxicity and enhance clinically therapeutic efficacy. However, with the frequent use of PEG-modified drugs, the accumulation of anti-PEG antibodies has become a tough issue, which limits the application of PEG-drug conjugation. As an alternative solution, poly(2-oxazoline) (POX)-DOX conjugation has shown great potential in the anti-tumor field, but the reported conjugation process of POX with DOX has drawbacks such as complex synthetic steps and purification. Herein, we propose a convenient and controllable strategy for the synthesis of POX-DOX conjugation with different chain lengths and narrow dispersity by N-boc-2-bromoacetohydrazide-initiated 2-ethyl-oxazoline polymerization and the subsequent deprotection of the N-Boc group and direct reaction with DOX. The DOX-PEtOx conjugates were firstly purified, and the successful conjugations were confirmed through various characterization methods. The synthetic DOX-PEtOxn conjugates reduce the toxicity of DOX and increase the selectivity to tumor cells, reflecting the promising application of this POX-DOX conjugation strategy in drug modification and development.

Oxetane Synthesis via Alcohol C-H Functionalization.

Oxetanes are strained heterocycles with unique properties that have triggered significant advances in medicinal chemistry. However, their synthesis still presents significant challenges that limit the use of this class of compounds in practical applications. In this Letter, we present a methodology that introduces a new synthetic disconnection to access oxetanes from native alcohol substrates. The generality of the approach is demonstrated by the application in late-stage functionalization chemistry, which is further exploited to develop a single-step synthesis of a known bioactive synthetic steroid derivative that previously required at least four synthetic steps from available precursors.

Synthesis of Oxo-Bridged Dibenzoazocines through Ruthenium-Catalyzed [4 + 3]-Cycloannulation of Aza-ortho-quinone Methides with Carbonyl Ylides.

Oxo-bridged dibenzoazocines are furnished within a single synthetic step at room temperature via ruthenium-catalyzed [4 + 3]-cycloannulation of aza-ortho-quinone methides with carbonyl ylides. Exclusive diastereoselectivity, excellent yield, mild reaction conditions, and broad substrate scope are distinguishing features of this protocol. The product could be prepared on a gram scale and could be further functionalized into diverse substituted dihydroisobenzofuran derivatives and a dibenzoazocine scaffold.

A 4‐Arm PEG‐Thiodepsipeptide Precursor Enables Gelatinase‐Promoted Hydrogel Formation

AbstractIn situ hydrogelation of injectable precursors upon biological stimulus is relevant to generate hydrogels under mild conditions and, potentially, at a biological side of interest. Here, it is shown that hydrolytic enzymes can be used to initiate the formation of covalent hydrogel networks, realizing a cleavage‐leading‐to‐gelation strategy. For this purpose, a two‐component system is used, consisting of a 4‐arm polyethylene glycol‐thiodepsipeptide conjugate, PEG4TDPo containing the matrix metalloproteinases MMP‐2‐ and MMP‐9‐cleavable Ac‐Pro‐Leu‐Gly#SLeu‐Leu‐Gly‐ thiodepsipeptide sequence releasing a thiol upon hydrolysis, and a maleimide functionalized 4‐armed PEG (PEG4MAL). PEG4TDPo is synthesized in a PEG‐functionalization protocol involving convergent and divergent synthetic steps without the need for rigorous purification procedures. In a fluorometric assay, it is shown that the construct is in fact cleaved by both investigated MMPs. PEG4TDPo in the presence of 10 wt.% PEG4MAL formed hydrogels upon addition of MMP‐2 or ‐9 with average gelation times of 28 and 40 min, respectively, as is investigated by rheology. The much faster gelation times compared to the enzyme‐free system showed the specific input of the enzymatic reactions. The MMP‐assisted activation and crosslinking strategy can potentially become useful by targeting tissues showing an increased expression of MMPs, such as cancers, or to detect MMPs.

Acetyl group for proper protection of β-sugar-amino acids used in SPPS.

The synthesis of D-glucosamine-1-carboxylic acid based β-sugar amino acids (β-SAAs) is typically performed in nine consecutive steps via an inefficient OAc → Br → CN conversion protocol with low overall yield. Here, we present the improved and more efficient synthesis of both Fmoc-GlcAPC-OH and Fmoc-GlcAPC(Ac)-OH, β-SAAs consisting of only 4-5 synthetic steps. Their active ester and amide bond formation with glycine methyl ester (H-Gly-OMe) was completed and monitored by 1H NMR. The stability of the pyranoid OHs protecting the acetyl groups was investigated under three different Fmoc cleavage conditions and was found to be satisfactory even at high piperidine concentration (e.g. 40%). We designed a SPPS protocol using Fmoc-GlcAPC(Ac)-OH to produce model peptides Gly-β-SAA-Gly as well as Gly-β-SAA-β-SAA-Gly with high coupling efficiency. The products were deacetylated using the Zemplén method, which allows the hydrophilicity of a building block and/or chimera to be fine-tuned, even after the polypeptide chain has already been synthesized.

Biorenewable Solvents for High-Performance Organic Solar Cells.

With the advent of nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs), organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices are now achieving high enough power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) for commercialization. However, these high performances rely on active layers processed from petroleum-based and toxic solvents, which are undesirable for mass manufacturing. Here, we demonstrate the use of biorenewable 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (2MeTHF) and cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME) solvents to process donor: NFA-based OPVs with no additional additives in the active layer. Furthermore, to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the manufacturing cycle of the OPVs, we use polymeric donors that require a few synthetic steps for their synthesis, namely, PTQ10 and FO6-T, which are blended with the Y-series NFA Y12. High performance was achieved using 2MeTHF as the processing solvent, reaching PCEs of 14.5% and 11.4% for PTQ10:Y12 and FO6-T:Y12 blends, respectively. This work demonstrates the potential of using biorenewable solvents without additives for the processing of OPV active layers, opening the door to large-scale and green manufacturing of organic solar cells.

Digitizing protocols into single reactors for the one-pot synthesis of nanomaterials

Digitizing protocols into single reactors for the one-pot synthesis of nanomaterials

Phosphorus fluoride exchange: Multidimensional catalytic click chemistry from phosphorus connective hubs

Phosphorus Fluoride Exchange (PFEx) represents a cutting-edge advancement in catalytic click-reaction technology. Drawing inspiration from Nature's phosphate connectors, PFEx facilitates the reliable coupling of P(V)-F loaded hubs with aryl alcohols, alkyl alcohols, and amines to produce stable, multidimensional P(V)-O and P(V)-N linked products. The rate of P-F exchange is significantly enhanced by Lewis amine base catalysis, such as 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD). PFEx substrates containing multiple P-F bonds are capable of selective, serial exchange reactions via judicious catalyst selection. In fewer than four synthetic steps, controlled projections can be deliberately incorporated along three of the four tetrahedral axes departing from the P(V) central hub, thus taking full advantage of the potential for generating three-dimensional diversity. Furthermore, late-stage functionalization of drugs and drug fragments can be achieved with the polyvalent PFEx hub, hexafluorocyclotriphosphazene (HFP), as has been demonstrated in prior research.

Scale-Up Synthesis of Site-Specific Antibody–Drug Conjugates Using AJICAP Second-Generation Technology

Chemical site-specific conjugation technology utilizing immunoglobulin-G (IgG) Fc-affinity reagents is a versatile and promising tool for producing next-generation antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs). Our research group recently reported a novel Fc-affinity peptide-mediated conjugation method, termed AJICAP second-generation. This technology, based on thioester chemistry, produces site-specific ADCs with low aggregation. Herein, we report further investigations into the AJICAP second-generation technology. By varying the parameters of the peptide conjugation step, it was found that this reaction is feasible under a wide range of reaction conditions. All synthetic intermediates of the AJICAP-ADCs were sufficiently stable, indicating that each synthetic step is a possible holding point in ADC manufacturing. The Lys248- and Lys288-conjugated ADCs were prepared on a gram-scale using two different Fc-affinity peptide reagents, employing a scale-down manufacturing approach involving tangential flow filtration. The overall product yield was >80%, and ultimately, 13.2 g of trastuzumab-Lys248-MMAE and 1.26 g of trastuzumab-Lys288-MMAE were obtained with target drug to antibody ratios (DARs). Moreover, ADCs were synthesized at various scales, and it was verified that the DAR and aggregation rates could be replicated consistently across different scales. The results strongly indicate that the AJICAP second-generation process is a robust and practical approach for the manufacture of ADCs.

Accessing Phase-Transfer Catalysts and a Phosphoramidite Ligand via the Asymmetric Intramolecular Hydroamination Reaction

Within the last few years, our group has developed the intramolecular, asymmetric hydroamination (HA) reaction to a point where essentially enantiopure products can be obtained. The question then arose as to whether we can apply the reaction in useful ways beyond the synthesis of natural/pharmaceutically relevant products. In the present paper, we incorporate a select few HA products for the production of new chiral phase-transfer catalysts. These species are synthesized in one or two synthetic steps from new spirocyclic HA products and are applied in a classical substitution reaction, showing negligible enantioselectivity. In a second application, we introduce a novel phosphoramidite ligand, obtained by combining BINOL (1,1′-bi-2-naphthol) and an optically pure HA product with phosphorous trichloride. The representative ligand shows high enantioselectivity and activity in the rhodium-catalyzed conjugate addition reaction (Hayashi–Miyaura reaction).

Straightforward synthesis of the hexasaccharide repeating unit of the O-specific polysaccharide of Salmonella arizonae O62.

A straightforward synthesis of the hexasaccharide repeating unit of the O-specific polysaccharide of Salmonella arizonae O62 was achieved in very good yield applying sequential glycosylation strategy. Successful regioselective glycosylation of the di-hydroxylated L-rhamnose moiety allowed achieving the desired compound in minimum number of synthetic steps. TEMPO catalyzed and [bis(acetoxy)iodo]benzene (BAIB) mediated late stage regioselective oxidation of a primary hydroxyl group into carboxylic acid was achieved in the hexasaccharide derivative. The glycosylation steps were high yielding with high stereochemical outcome. The desired hexasaccharide was obtained in 7% over all yield in fourteen steps starting from suitably functionalized monosaccharide intermediates.

Lysosomes Targeting pH Activable Imaging-Guided Photodynamic Agents.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a photochemistry-based medical treatment combining light at a specific wavelength and a photosensitizer (PS) in the presence of oxygen. Application of PDT as a conventional treatment is limited and clearly the approval in clinics of new PS is challenging. The selective accumulation of the PS in the targeted malignant cells is of paramount importance to reduce the side effects that are typical of the current worldwide approved PS. Here we report a new series of aniline- and iodine-substituted BODIPY derivatives (1-3) as promising lysosome-targeting and pH-responsive theranostic PS, which displayed a significant in vitro light-induced cytotoxicity, efficient imaging properties and low dark toxicity (for 2 and 3). These compounds were obtained in few reproducible synthetic steps and good yields. Spectroscopic and electrochemical measurements along with computational calculations confirmed the quenching of the emissive properties of the PS, while both fluorescence and 1 O2 emission were obtained only under acidic conditions inducing amine protonation. The pKa values and pH-dependent emissive properties of 1-3 being established, their cellular uptake and activation in the lysosomal vesicles (pH≈4-5) were confirmed by their co-localization with the commercial LysoTracker deep red and light-induced cytotoxicity (IC50 between 0.16 and 0.06 μM) against HeLa cancer cells.