Synlett

The synthesis of biomimetic thioesters for enzymatic studies of ketoreductase (KR) domains from polyketide synthases is described. A TBS-protected dihydroxyalkene fragment was synthesised by a sequence involving a Nagao acetate aldol reaction, a Mukaiyama propionate aldol reaction, and a methylene Wittig olefination. Fragment coupling to N-acetylcysteamine (SNAC) (E)-3-hydroxyhex-4-enethioates by an olefin cross-metathesis (OCM) and subsequent deprotection gave the potential KR product stereoisomers. An analogous OCM with a SNAC (E)-3-ketohex-4-enethioate did not give the desired KR precursor, but the reaction could successfully be replaced by a Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons olefination between a SNAC 3-ketothioester phosphonate and a TBS-protected dihydroxy aldehyde. After deprotection, an intramolecular cyclisation was observed that needs to be considered as a spontaneous side reactivity in the enzymatic assays.

Molecules with a π-system that can be mapped onto a Möbius strip may display Möbius aromaticity. Such molecules are difficult to synthesize because they have a twisted structure. Recently, we combined chiral [6]helicene and fluorescent [7]cycloparaphenylene, and synthesized the first helicene para-phenylene ([6,7]HPP) carbon nanohoop. We have demonstrated that this design strategy ultimately provides a Möbius topology of the molecular π-electron system and, therefore, offers the potential to study Möbius aromaticity experimentally. In addition, the synthesized nanohoop exists as a mixture of conformers in solution. Some of the conformers possess a different orientability of their π-systems, i.e., they differ in their topology. As a result, the recorded circularly polarized luminescence of isolated enantiomers displays both left- and right-handedness of the emitted light, each emanating from a conformer with a different π-system topology. Therefore, [6,7]HPP provided the first experimental evidence of such topological bistability in carbon nanohoops.

Acetal substitution reactions can proceed by a number of mechanisms, but oxocarbenium ion intermediates are involved in many of these reactions. Our research has focused on understanding the conformational preferences, structures, and reactions of these intermediates. This account summarizes our observations that electrostatic effects play a significant role in defining the preferred conformations, and that torsional effects determine how those intermediates react. Neighboring-group effects are not as straightforward as they might seem, considering that oxocarbenium ion intermediates are in equilibrium with structures that involve stabilization by a nearby substituent.1 Introduction2 Unexpected Stereoselectivities3 Determining Conformational Preferences of Oxocarbenium Ions4 Structures of Carbocations by NMR Spectroscopy and X-ray Crystallography5 Stereoelectronic Models for Reactions Involving Other Oxocarbenium Ions6 Stereoselectivity and Reactivity: When They Correlate, When They Do Not7 Neighboring–Group Participation Is Not as Simple as It Seems8 What Is True for Carbocations Is True for Carbonyl Compounds9 Stereoelectronic and Torsional Effects in Reactions of Enolates10 Summary of Expected Selectivities for Reactions of Cyclic Acetals11 Conclusion

Bioorthogonal reactions hold significant promise for applications in chemical biology. Despite their potential, nitriles have often been overlooked as reactive functional groups for selective bioconjugation. The condensation reaction between cyanopyridines and 1,2-aminothiols stands out as a particularly favorable nitrile modification strategy that proceeds under biocompatible conditions. Cyanopyridines can be seamlessly incorporated into peptides and proteins through both chemical and biotechnological approaches. Similarly, the selective integration of 1,2-aminothiols into peptides and proteins is achievable, leveraging the uniquely reactive N-terminal cysteine functional group.1 Introduction2 The Biocompatible Condensation Reaction3 Peptide Macrocyclisation4 Orthogonality to Cysteine5 Combination with Genetic Encoding6 Conclusion

A silver-promoted nucleophilic radiofluorination of α-bromoamides has been developed for the radiosynthesis of α-[18F]fluoroamides. The reaction conditions are straightforward and compatible with primary, secondary, and tertiary α-bromoamides. Furthermore, the methodology has been successfully applied to the synthesis of bioactive radiotracers with good radiochemical conversion (RCC) and radiochemical yield (RCY).

Glycans control various biological processes, depending on their structures. Particularly, core fucose, formed by α1,6-fucosyltransferase (FUT8), has a substantial influence on multiple biological processes. In this study, we investigated the development of FUT8 inhibitors with structural elements encompassing both the glycosyl donor (GDP-fucose) and acceptor (N-glycan) of FUT8. To efficiently optimize the structure of FUT8 inhibitors, we employed a strategy involving fragmentation of the target structure, followed by a structure optimization using a diversity-oriented synthesis approach. This study proposes an efficient strategy to accelerate the structural optimization of middle molecules.

The synthesis of volicitin involved the condensation of l-(+)-glutamine with 17(S)-hydroxylinolenoic acid, derived from a Wittig reaction between the C10–C18 phosphonium salt and the C1–C9 aldehyde. The phosphonium salt was prepared through the alkynylation of a (Z)-allylic phosphate with an alkyne derived from (2S)-but-3-yn-2-ol. The deuterated aldehyde was derived with a 96% deuteration ratio by reduction of the C1–C9 methyl ester with NaBD4, followed by oxidation. Subsequently, 9-D
1-volicitin was synthesized from the monodeuterated aldehyde by using the Wittig reaction and condensation with l-(+)-glutamine.

A nickel-catalyzed aminomethylation of aryl or heteroaryl iodides or bromides for the preparation of protected primary benzylamines is reported. This cross-electrophile reductive protocol engages carbamate-protected, glycine-derived N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHP) esters in an efficient decarboxylative cross-coupling in only two hours. The catalyst and NHP ester reagents are commercially available or can be synthesized in one step on a decagram scale with no chromatography.

A new method for the intramolecular electrophilic ipso-cyclization of alkynes with triflic anhydride-activated sulfoxides, followed by demethylation with triethylamine in one pot, is described for the synthesis of 3-thiospiro[4.5]-decatrienones in moderate to good yields. This method provides a facile strategy for assembling the sulfur-substituted spirocyclic compounds.

α-Aminoboronic acids and their derivatives are important synthetic targets. Our research interest has been focused on the synthesis and applications of MIDA (N-methyliminodiacetic acid) protected aminoboronates. Herein we report syntheses of regioisomeric β-borylated azidoalcohols. The geminal azidoboronate represents a rare example of an α-azidoalcohol and is produced through trapping of oxonium ions that develop during the rearrangement of α-boryl aldehydes. The vicinal azidoboronate can be obtained from α-bromoacetyl MIDA boronate and enables the preparation of aziridine MIDA boronate through the Staudinger reaction.