Increasing the Antigenicity of Synthetic Tumor‐Associated Carbohydrate Antigens by Targeting Toll‐Like Receptors

Synthetic cancer vaccines : A number of fully synthetic vaccine candidates have been designed, chemically synthesized, and immunologically evaluated to establish a strategy to overcome the poor immunogenicity of tumor‐associated carbohydrates and glycopeptides and to determine the importance of Toll‐like receptor (TLR) engagement for antigenic responses against these compounds.

     

Chemical and Enzymatic Synthesis of Modified Sialyl Lewis X Tetrasaccharides with High Affinity for E and P‐Selectin

A series of sialyl‐Lewis X tetrasaccharide analogs 1a — d was prepared using a combined chemical and enzymatic approach. Sialic acid analogs 5b , c were obtained from 2‐azido mannose 4c or 2‐deoxy mannose 4b and pyruvate by an aldolase reaction and converted to the protected thioglycosides 3b , c that served as sialyl donors for the Lewis X acceptor trisaccharide 2 . The resulting sialyl‐Lewis X tetrasaccharides 8a — c were deprotected by deacylation and saponification of the methyl ester. Debenzylation was achieved by careful transfer hydrogenation in the presence of formic acid or ammonium formate as a hydrogen source. Three sialyl‐Lewis X derivatives 1a — c were thus obtained and the parent compound 1a was further modified by alkaline hydrolysis of the two acetamides to give the lyso sialyl‐Lewis X derivative 1d . The four sialyl‐Lewis X tetrasaccharides 1a — d were tested for their binding affinity to E and P‐selectin with the lyso sialyl‐Lewis X derivative 1d showing the highest inhibitory potency for both lectins.     

Lewis Acid‐Catalyzed Oxidative Allylation: A New Approach for the Synthesis of Homoallylic Alcohols and Amines Directly from Alcohols

A new approach for the synthesis of homoallylic alcohols and amines directly from alcohols via one‐pot sequential oxidation–Barbier reaction and oxidation–condensation–Barbier reactions, respectively, is reported. The protocol involves the one‐pot ferric chloride‐catalyzed oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes with chloramine‐T followed by indium‐mediated Barbier allylation with allyl bromide to afford homoallylic alcohols in 70–90% overall yields. The ferric chloride‐catalyzed condensation of aldehydes and oxidation by‐product p‐toluenesulfonamide followed by indium‐mediated Barbier‐type allylation of the resulting aldimines with allyl bromide affords homoallylic amines in 60–80% overall yields in the same reaction vessel. The present work demonstrates a new one‐pot approach toward homoallylic alcohol and amine synthesis directly from alcohols.     

Stereoselective Lewis Base‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrosilylation of α‐Acetamido‐β‐enamino Esters: Straightforward Approach for the Construction of α,β‐Diamino Acid Derivatives

The Lewis base‐organocatalyzed asymmetric hydrosilylation of α‐acetamido‐β‐enamino esters was investigated. Among various chiral Lewis base catalysts, a novel catalyst derived from L ‐serine was found to be the most efficient one which can promote the reaction to afford a series of α,β‐diamino acid derivatives with high yields (up to 99%), excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee) and moderate diastereoselectivities (up to 80:20 dr). The absolute configuration of one of the products was determined by the X‐ray crystallographic analysis. In addition, the mechanism and the transition state of the reaction were proposed.     

Pyranoside Phosphite‐Oxazoline Ligand Library: Highly Efficient Modular P,N Ligands for Palladium‐Catalyzed Allylic Substitution Reactions. A Study of the Key Palladium Allyl Intermediates

We have screened a library of modular phosphite‐oxazoline ligands for asymmetric allylic substitution reactions. The library is efficiently prepared from the commercially available and cheap D ‐glucosamine. The introduction of a phosphite moiety into the ligand design is highly advantageous for the product outcome. Therefore, this ligand library affords good‐to‐excellent reaction rates [TOFs up to 600 mol substrate×(mol Pd×h)⁻¹] and enantioselectivities (ees up to 99%) and, at the same time, shows a broad scope for mono‐, di‐ and trisubstituted linear hindered and unhindered substrates and cyclic substrates. The NMR studies on the palladium allyl intermediates provide a deeper understanding about the effect of the ligand parameters on the origin of enantioselectivity.     

Synthesis of 2′‐Deoxynucleosides by Transglycosylation with New Immobilized and Stabilized Uridine Phosphorylase and Purine Nucleoside Phosphorylase

Multimeric uridine phosphorylase (UP) and purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) of Bacillus subtilis have been expressed from genes cloned in Escherichia coli, purified, characterized, immobilized and stabilized on solid support. A new immobilization strategy has been developed for UP onto Sepabeads coated with polyethyleneamine followed by cross‐linking with aldehyde‐dextran. PNP has been immobilized onto glyoxyl‐agarose. At pH 10 and 45 °C these derivatives catalyzed the transglycosylation of 2′‐deoxyuridine to 2′‐deoxyguanosine in high yield (92%). Under the same conditions the not immobilized enzymes were promptly inactivated.     

Alkynylboranes: A Practical Approach by Zinc‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Coupling of Terminal Alkynes with 1,8‐Naphthalenediaminatoborane

Under zinc Lewis acid catalysis, terminal alkynes coupled dehydrogenatively with 1,8‐naphthalenediaminatoborane [HB(dan)]. It is important to note that the resulting alkynylboranes with an C(sp) B(dan) bond are isolable by column chromatography on silica gel (SiO₂) and are usable as coupling partners for palladium‐ and copper‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions with (hetero)aryl halides.

     

Chiral Dirhodium(II) Carboxamidate‐Catalyzed [2+2]‐Cycloaddition of TMS‐Ketene and Ethyl Glyoxylate

The [2+2]‐cycloaddition reaction between ethyl glyoxylate and trimethylsilylketene is reported. Enantiomeric excesses up to 83% have been achieved with the use of only 1.0 mol % of a previously unreported chiral imidazolidinone‐ligated dirhodium(II) carboxamidate catalyst. An extensive survey of chiral catalysts has shown that enantiocontrol for cycloaddition increases as the steric bulk of the ligand is increased. However, enantioselectivity is increased to 99% ee by the addition of 10 mol % of quinine as a co‐catalyst with a chiral dirhodium(II) azetidinone‐ligated catalyst, and there is a significant decrease in reaction time.     

Acid‐Catalyzed Synthesis of α,β‐Disubstituted Conjugated Enones by a Meyer–Schuster‐Type Rearrangement in Allenols

A novel, direct and simple methodology to gain access to α,β‐disubstituted conjugated enones from α‐allenols in a sustainable metal catalysis context, considering the inexpensiveness and environmentally friendliness of iron(III) species and protons, has been developed.

     

From Type I to Type II: Design,Synthesis, and Characterization of Potent Pyrazin‐2‐ones as DFG‐Out Inhibitors of PDGFRβ

Reversible protein kinase inhibitors that bind in the ATP cleft can be classified as type I or type II binders. Of these, type I inhibitors address the active form, whereas type II inhibitors typically lock the kinase in an inactive form. At the molecular level, the conformation of the flexible activation loop holding the key DFG motif controls access to the ATP site, thereby determining an active or inactive kinase state. Accordingly, type I and type II kinase inhibitors bind to so‐called DFG‐in or DFG‐out conformations, respectively. Based on our former study on highly selective platelet‐derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ) pyrazin‐2‐one type I inhibitors, we expanded this scaffold toward the deep pocket, yielding the highly potent and effective type II inhibitor 5 (4‐[(4‐methylpiperazin‐1‐yl)methyl]‐N‐[3‐[[6‐oxo‐5‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenyl)‐1H‐pyrazin‐3‐yl]methyl]phenyl]benzamide). In vitro characterization, including selectivity panel data from activity‐based assays (300 kinases) and affinity‐based assays (97 kinases) of these PDGFRβ type I ( 1 ; 5‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxy‐phenyl)‐3‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenyl)‐1H‐pyrazin‐2‐one) and II ( 5 ) inhibitors showing the same pyrazin‐2‐one chemotype are compared. Implications are discussed regarding the data for selectivity and efficacy of type I and type II ligands.     

Molecular Basis for the Stereoselective Ammoniolysis of N‐Alkyl Aziridine‐2‐Carboxylates Catalyzed by Candida antarctica Lipase B

Candida antarctica lipase B catalyzed the stereoselective ammoniolysis of N‐alkyl aziridine‐2‐carboxylates in tBuOH saturated with ammonia and yielded the (2S)‐aziridine‐2‐carboxamide and unreacted (2R)‐aziridine‐2‐carboxylate. Varying the N‐1 substituent on the aziridine ring changed the rate and stereoselectivity of the reaction. Substrates with a benzyl substituent or a (1′R)‐1‐phenylethyl substituent reacted approximately ten times faster than substrates with a (1′S)‐1‐phenylethyl substituent. Substrates with a benzyl substituent showed little stereoselectivity (E=5–7) while substrates with either a (1′R)‐ or (1′S)‐1‐phenylethyl substituent showed high stereoselectivity (D>50). Molecular modeling by using the current paradigm for enantioselectivity—binding of the slow enantiomer by an exchange‐of‐substituents orientation—could not account for the experimental results. However, modeling an umbrella‐like‐inversion orientation for the slow enantiomer could account for the experimental results. Steric hindrance between the methyl in the (1′S)‐1‐phenylethyl substituent and Thr138 and Ile189 in the acyl‐binding site likely accounts for the slow reaction. Enantioselectivity likely stems from an unfavorable interaction of the methine hydrogen with Thr40 for the slow enantiomer and from subtle differences in the orientations of the other three substituents. This success in rationalizing the enantioselectivity supports the notion that an umbrella‐like‐inversion orientation can contribute to enantioselectivity in lipases.     

Synthesis,Pharmacological Evaluation,and Docking Studies of Novel Pyridazinone‐Based Cannabinoid Receptor Type 2 Ligands

In recent years, cannabinoid type 2 receptors (CB₂R) have emerged as promising therapeutic targets in a wide variety of diseases. Selective ligands of CB₂R are devoid of the psychoactive effects typically observed for CB₁R ligands. Based on our recent studies on a class of pyridazinone 4‐carboxamides, further structural modifications of the pyridazinone core were made to better investigate the structure–activity relationships for this promising scaffold with the aim to develop potent CB₂R ligands. In binding assays, two of the new synthesized compounds [6‐(3,4‐dichlorophenyl)‐2‐(4‐fluorobenzyl)‐cis‐N‐(4‐methylcyclohexyl)‐3‐oxo‐2,3‐dihydropyridazine‐4‐carboxamide ( 2 ) and 6‐(4‐chloro‐3‐methylphenyl)‐cis‐N‐(4‐methylcyclohexyl)‐3‐oxo‐2‐pentyl‐2,3‐dihydropyridazine‐4‐carboxamide ( 22 )] showed high CB₂R affinity, with K_i values of 2.1 and 1.6 nm , respectively. In addition, functional assays of these compounds and other new active related derivatives revealed their pharmacological profiles as CB₂R inverse agonists. Compound 22 displayed the highest CB₂R selectivity and potency, presenting a favorable in silico pharmacokinetic profile. Furthermore, a molecular modeling study revealed how 22 produces inverse agonism through blocking the movement of the toggle‐switch residue, W6.48.     

Bioreduction of α‐Acetoxymethyl Enones: Proposal for an SN2′ Mechanism Catalyzed by Enereductase

(Z)‐3‐Acetoxymethyl‐4‐R‐3‐buten‐2‐ones (R=aryl, alkyl) and (Z)‐3‐methyl‐4‐R‐3‐buten‐2‐ones (R=aryl) were synthesized and submitted to reduction by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae producing the (R)‐ and (S)‐4‐R‐3‐methybutan‐2‐ones, respectively. This stereochemistry control strategy was applied in the syntheses of (R)‐ and (S)‐Tropional® with moderate to high enantiomeric excesses. Other (Z)‐3‐acyloxymethyl‐4‐phenyl‐3‐buten‐2‐ones showed similar behavior to the (Z)‐3‐acetoxymethyl counterpart, and the acylated Morita–Baylis–Hillman adduct 1‐acetoxy‐2‐methylene‐1‐phenylbutan‐3‐one produced a mixture of products, with and without the acetoxy group, via three different reaction pathways. In addition to experiments employing whole cells, those in which isolated enereductases were used suggested that the main pathway through which the loss of the acetoxy group occurs during the biocatalytic cascade is an S_N2′‐type reaction, rather than formal hydrogen addition followed by acetic acid elimination. Finally, related ethyl enones were reduced enantioselectively by the yeast Candida albicans, producing both (R)‐ and (S)‐reduction products, depending on the presence of the acetoxy group in the starting material.

     

Catalyzed Reactions of Enol Ethers with SN1 Active Groups: A Novel Method for the Preparation of α‐Alkylated Ketones

The performance of tert‐alkylations, alkoxyalkylations, and aldehyde enolate allylations proceeding with low catalyst loading (0.1 mol %–5 mol %) is described. The reactions are complete within short times and can even be performed without solvent and under ambient conditions. The mechanism of the reaction was investigated by deuterium labeling and cross‐over studies.     

Phenylalanine Ammonia‐Lyase‐Catalyzed Deamination of an Acyclic Amino Acid: Enzyme Mechanistic Studies Aided by a Novel Microreactor Filled with Magnetic Nanoparticles

Phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase (PAL), found in many organisms, catalyzes the deamination of l ‐phenylalanine (Phe) to (E)‐cinnamate by the aid of its MIO prosthetic group. By using PAL immobilized on magnetic nanoparticles and fixed in a microfluidic reactor with an in‐line UV detector, we demonstrated that PAL can catalyze ammonia elimination from the acyclic propargylglycine (PG) to yield (E)‐pent‐2‐ene‐4‐ynoate. This highlights new opportunities to extend MIO enzymes towards acyclic substrates. As PG is acyclic, its deamination cannot involve a Friedel–Crafts‐type attack at an aromatic ring. The reversibility of the PAL reaction, demonstrated by the ammonia addition to (E)‐pent‐2‐ene‐4‐ynoate yielding enantiopure l ‐PG, contradicts the proposed highly exothermic single‐step mechanism. Computations with the QM/MM models of the N‐MIO intermediates from l ‐PG and l ‐Phe in PAL show similar arrangements within the active site, thus supporting a mechanism via the N‐MIO intermediate.     

Synthesis of Functionalized Indolizines by Lewis Acid‐Mediated Cyclocondensation of 3‐(Pyridin‐2‐yl)‐propiolates with Enones

Functionalized indolizines were prepared by Lewis acid‐catalyzed cyclizations of 3‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐propiolates with enones. This new type of reaction provides a convenient and regioselective approach to ester‐substituted indolizine derivatives which are not readily available by other methods. Based on density function theory (DFT) calculations, a mechanism of the reaction has been suggested.     

A Ruthenium Complex‐Catalyzed Cyclotrimerization of Halodiynes with Nitriles. Synthesis of 2‐ and 3‐Halopyridines

Monohalo‐ and dihalodiynes efficiently undergo [2+2+2] cyclotrimerization with nitriles in the presence of a catalytic amount of the ruthenium complex Cp*RuCl(cod) (10 mol%) to afford the corresponding halopyridines under ambient conditions in good isolated yields (up to 90%). The halopyridines are formed as two separable regioisomers. This is the first example of a direct synthesis of halopyridines from haloalkynes and nitriles.

     

Stereoselective Synthesis of Pyrroloquinolines by a Brønsted Acid Catalyzed [4+2]‐Heterocyclization of Indole‐7‐Carbaldehydes,Anilines and Electron‐Rich Alkenes

The pyrrolo[3,2,1‐ij]quinoline heterocyclic core is found in the structure of a variety of compounds with interesting applications and then, new efficient and flexible strategies to construct this skeleton are required. Here, a new diastereoselective tetrafluoroboric acid (HBF₄)‐catalyzed three‐component coupling reaction of 1H‐indole‐7‐carbaldehyde derivatives, anilines and electron‐rich alkenes to give pyrrolo[3,2,1‐ij]quinolines is described. The reaction involves an unusual [4+2]‐heterocyclization between an in situ formed imine and an alkene. The new catalytic method, where water is the only by‐product, is efficient, robust and flexible, and allows for multigram‐scale synthesis.