Bartolo Gabriele

A Simple and Mild Synthesis of 1H-Isochromenes and (Z)-1-Alkylidene-1,3-dihydroisobenzofurans by the Iodocyclization of 2-(1-Alkynyl)benzylic Alcohols

A variety of iodo-substituted isochromenes, dihydroisobenzofurans, and pyranopyridines are readily prepared in good to excellent yields under mild conditions by the iodocyclization of readily available 2-(1-alkynyl)benzylic alcohols or 2-(1-alkynyl)-3-(hydroxymethyl)pyridines. Reactions are carried out in MeCN at 25 degrees C with 3 equiv of I(2) as the iodine source and NaHCO(3) (3 equiv) as the base. The regiochemical outcome of the reaction strongly depends on the substitution pattern of the starting material. In particular, the 5-exo-dig cyclization mode, leading to dihydroisobenzofurans, is observed in the case of substrates bearing a tertiary alcoholic group, owing to the gem-dialkyl effect, while the 6-endo-dig cyclization mode, leading to isochromene or pyranopyridines, is the usually preferred pathway in the case of substrates bearing a primary or secondary alcoholic group.

Versatile Synthesis of Quinoline-3-Carboxylic Esters and Indol-2-Acetic Esters by Palladium-Catalyzed Carbonylation of 1-(2-Aminoaryl)-2-Yn-1-Ols

1-(2-Aminoaryl)-2-yn-1-ols, easily obtained by the Grignard reaction between 1-(2-aminoaryl)ketones and alkynylmagnesium bromides, were subjected to carbonylative conditions in the presence of the PdI2-KI catalytic system, in the presence and in the absence of an external oxidant. Under oxidative conditions (80 atm of a 4:1 mixture of CO-air, in MeOH as the solvent at 100 degrees C and in the presence of 2 mol % of PdI2 and 20 mol % of KI), 1-(2-aminoaryl)-2-yn-1-ols bearing a primary amino group were selectively converted into quinoline-3-carboxylic esters in fair to good yields [45-70%, based on starting 1-(2-aminoaryl)ketones], ensuing from 6-endo-dig cyclization followed by dehydration and oxidative methoxycarbonylation. On the other hand, indol-2-acetic esters, deriving from 5-exo-dig cyclization followed by dehydrating methoxycarbonylation, were selectively obtained in moderate to good yields [42-88%, based on starting 1-(2-aminoaryl)ketones] under nonoxidative conditions (90 atm of CO, in MeOH as the solvent at 100 degrees C and in the presence of 2 mol % of PdI2 and 20 mol % of KI), in the case of 1-(2-aminoaryl)-2-yn-1-ols bearing either a primary or secondary amino group and substituted with a bulky group on the triple bond.

Identification of bioactive constituents of Ziziphus jujube fruit extracts exerting antiproliferative and apoptotic effects in human breast cancer cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Ziziphus extracts have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for the treatment of cancer. AIM OF THE STUDY In the present study we have investigated the effects of Ziziphus jujube extracts (ZEs) on breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS We evaluated the effects of increasing concentrations of ZEs on ERα positive MCF-7 and ERα negative SKBR3 breast cancer cell proliferation using MTT assays. Apoptosis was analyzed by evaluating the involvement of some pro-apoptotic proteins, including Bax, Bad, Bid and PARP cleavage by immunoblotting analysis. Moreover, the effects of ZEs treatment on apoptosis were tested by both DNA fragmentation and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) staining. By using chromatographic techniques, we identified the constituents of the effective extracts. RESULTS ZE1, ZE2, and ZE4 exerted significant antiproliferative effects on estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) positive MCF-7 (IC(50) values of 14.42, 7.64, 1.69μg/mL) and ERα negative SKBR3 (IC(50) values of 14.06, 6.21, 3.70μg/mL) human breast cancer cells. Remarkably, ZEs did not affect cell viability of both normal human fibroblasts BJ1-hTERT and nonmalignant breast epithelial MCF-10A cells. Treatment with ZEs induced cell death by apoptosis in both malignant breast cells. We found that the most effective extracts ZE2 and ZE4 shared a number of triterpenic acids, already known for their anticancer activities. CONCLUSIONS Our data provide a rational base for the use of Ziziphus extracts in the treatment of breast cancer in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Recent developments in the synthesis of heterocyclic derivatives by PdI2-catalyzed oxidative carbonylation reactions

Abstract A simple catalytic system, consisting of PdI2 in conjunction with an excess of KI, has proven to be very valuable for the direct one-step synthesis of a variety of heterocyclic derivatives by oxidative carbonylation of suitably functionalized alkynes. The same catalyst also promoted the oxidative carbonylation of β-amino alcohols to oxazolidin-2-ones with unprecedented catalytic efficiencies for this kind of reaction.

Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Indanes and Indenes

Indanes and indenes are among the most important carbocycles. Many indane and indene derivatives have shown important pharmacological activities, and the indane and indene nuclei are structural motifs present in several natural products of biological relevance. In spite of their importance, only a few reviews on their preparation methods have appeared so far in the literature, the most recent ones being published about ten years ago. The present Review is aimed at filling this gap, presenting some of the most important and innovative approaches to indanes and indenes that have been published in the course of the last ten years (coverage: from 2005 to May, 2015).

Geometrically directed selective steroid hydroxylation with high turnover by a fluorinated artificial cytochrome P-450

Abstract A metalloporphyrin has been synthesized carrying a beta-cyclodextrin group on tetrafluorophenyl rings at the four meso positions of the porphyrin. It performs the selective hydroxylation of an androstanediol derivative with complete positional selectivity and 187 turnovers.

Stereoselective Synthesis of (E)‐3‐(Methoxycarbonyl)methylene‐1,3‐dihydroindol‐2‐ones by Palladium‐Catalyzed Oxidative Carbonylation of 2‐Ethynylanilines

A direct synthesis of (E)-3-(methoxycarbonyl)methylene-1,3-dihydroindol-2-ones 2 by palladium-catalyzed oxidative carbonylation of 2-ethynylanilines 1 is reported. Reactions were carried out in MeOH as the solvent at 50−70 °C in the presence of catalytic amounts of PdI2 in conjunction with KI under a 4:1 CO/air mixture (20 atm total pressure at 25 °C). When the reaction was applied to 2-alkynylanilines with internal triple bonds, the reaction course changed completely, with formation of carbamates 4.

An Iodocyclization Approach to Substituted 3-Iodothiophenes

A novel approach to 3-iodothiophenes by direct iodocyclization of alkynylthiol derivatives is presented. A variety of 1-mercapto-3-yn-2-ols 5 (readily available from alkynylation of the corresponding alpha-mercapto ketones or alpha-mercapto esters) were smoothly converted into the corresponding 3-iodothiophene derivatives 6 in good yields by reaction with molecular iodine in the presence of NaHCO(3) at room temperature in MeCN as the solvent.

Synthesis of 2-ynamides by direct palladium-catalyzed oxidative aminocarbonylation of alk-1-ynes

Abstract A novel synthesis of 2-ynamides (3) by palladium-catalyzed oxidative aminocarbonylation of alk-1-ynes (1) is reported. Reactions are catalyzed by PdI2/KI and are carried out at 100°C in dioxane as the solvent in the presence of dialkylamines (2) as nucleophiles (amine/alk-1-yne molar ratio=1/1) using a 4/1 CO/air mixture (20 atm total pressure at 25°C).

A Novel Synthesis of 2-Functionalized Benzofurans by Palladium-Catalyzed Cycloisomerization of 2-(1-Hydroxyprop-2-ynyl)phenols Followed by Acid-Catalyzed Allylic Isomerization or Allylic Nucleophilic Substitution

A novel two-step synthesis of 2-hydroxymethylbenzofurans 3 and 2-alkoxymethylbenzofurans 4-6, based on palladium-catalyzed cycloisomerization of 2-(1-hydroxyprop-2-ynyl)phenols 1 under basic conditions to give 2-methylene-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-3-ols 2, followed by acid-catalyzed isomerization or allylic nucleophilic substitution with alcohols as nucleophiles, is reported. Cycloisomerization reactions leading to 2 (80-98% yields) were carried out at 40 degrees C in MeOH as the solvent, in the presence of a base and catalytic amounts of PdX2 + 2KX (X = Cl, I). Isomerization reactions of 2 readily occurred at 25-60 degrees C in DME as the solvent, with H2SO4 as the proton source, to give 2-hydroxymethylbenzofurans 3 in 65-90% yields. In a similar manner, allylic nucleophilic substitution reactions of 2 with ROH as nucleophiles [carried out at 25-40 degrees C in ROH (R = Me) or ROH-DME mixtures (R = Bu, Bn) in the presence of H2SO4] afforded 2-alkoxymethylbenzofurans 4, 5, and 6 (R = Me, Bu, and Bn, respectively), in 65-98% yields.