Carlos del Pozo

SKP1–SnRK protein kinase interactions mediate proteasomal binding of a plant SCF ubiquitin ligase

Arabidopsis Snf1‐related protein kinases (SnRKs) are implicated in pleiotropic regulation of metabolic, hormonal and stress responses through their interaction with the kinase inhibitor PRL1 WD‐protein. Here we show that SKP1/ASK1, a conserved SCF (Skp1‐cullin‐F‐box) ubiquitin ligase subunit, which suppresses the skp1‐4 mitotic defect in yeast, interacts with the PRL1‐binding C‐terminal domains of SnRKs. The same SnRK domains recruit an SKP1/ASK1‐binding proteasomal protein, α4/PAD1, which enhances the formation of a trimeric SnRK complex with SKP1/ASK1 in vitro. By contrast, PRL1 reduces the interaction of SKP1/ASK1 with SnRKs. SKP1/ASK1 is co‐immunoprecipitated with a cullin SCF subunit (AtCUL1) and an SnRK kinase, but not with PRL1 from Arabidopsis cell extracts. SKP1/ASK1, cullin and proteasomal α‐subunits show nuclear co‐localization in differentiated Arabidopsis cells, and are observed in association with mitotic spindles and phragmoplasts during cell division. Detection of SnRK in purified 26S proteasomes and co‐purification of epitope‐ tagged SKP1/ASK1 with SnRK, cullin and proteasomal α‐subunits indicate that the observed protein interactions between SnRK, SKP1/ASK1 and α4/PAD1 are involved in proteasomal binding of an SCF ubiquitin ligase in Arabidopsis.

Tandem asymmetric Michael reaction-intramolecular Michael addition. An easy entry to chiral fluorinated 1,4-dihydropyridines.

A novel one-pot tandem asymmetric Hantzsch-type process has been employed to generate fluorinated 1,4-dihydropyridines (1,4-DHPs) as single diastereoisomers. It involves the condensation of (R)-(+)-allyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, fluorinated nitriles, and alkyl propiolates, giving access to a new family of enantiomerically pure fluorine-containing 1,4-DHPs.

Cross-Metathesis Reactions as an Efficient Tool in the Synthesis of Fluorinated Cyclic β-Amino Acids§

The synthesis of enantiomerically pure, cyclic, gamma,gamma-difluorinated beta-amino acids with various ring sizes has been carried out with a cross-metathesis (CM) reaction being one of the key steps, followed by a Dieckmann-type condensation to bring about the cyclization. Subsequent catalytic hydrogenation under microwave irradiation with (-)-8-phenylmenthol as a chiral auxiliary led to the successful chemo- and diastereoselective chemical reduction of the resulting cyclic beta-enamino esters. The efficiency and scope of the CM reaction with different types of fluorinated imidoyl chlorides and unsaturated esters has also been studied in order to determine the optimal reaction conditions with regard to selectivity and reactivity.

Asymmetric synthesis of indolines through intramolecular shifting of aromatic sulfinyl groups. Role of the pi,pi-stacking interactions in these unusual S(N)Ar processes.

Cyclization of N-aryl substituted 1-aryl-2[2-p-tolylsulfinyl]phenyl propylamines under LDA, LHMDS, or KHMDS provides a new approach for synthesizing optically pure 2,3-disubstituted indolines. Both the scope and the limitations of this method have been investigated. The pi,pi-stacking interactions are crucial for these unprecedented intramolecular S(N)Ar processes, in which a sulfinyl group located on a slightly deactivated ring is substituted by amide anions under mild conditions. X-ray and NMR proofs supporting these pi,pi-stacking interactions are presented.

A new strategy for the synthesis of optically pure beta-fluoroalkyl beta-amino acid derivatives.

The first general approach for the diastereoselective formation of a variety of optically pure anti-beta-fluoroalkyl beta-amino acid derivatives is described. The process relies on the stereocontrolled reaction, mediated by a remote sulfoxide, of fluorinated imines with sulfinylated benzyl carbanions, which are used as synthetic equivalents of chiral ester enolates.

Asymmetric Intramolecular Aza-Michael Reaction in Desymmetrization Processes. Total Synthesis of Hippodamine and epi-Hippodamine

The use of chiral sulfinyl amines both as nucleophilic nitrogen sources and chiral inducers has been described for the first time in a desymmetrization-type process involving an intramolecular aza-Michael reaction. The resulting product was employed as an advanced intermediate in the total synthesis of the natural product hippodamine and epi-hippodamine, taking advantage of the special symmetry of these molecules. In addition, this is the first asymmetric total synthesis of epi-hippodamine.

1,4-Benzodiazepine N-Nitrosoamidines: Useful Intermediates in the Synthesis of Tricyclic Benzodiazepines

1,4-Benzodiazepine N-nitrosoamidines have been used as scaffolds for the preparation of different tricyclic derivatives. Replacement of the N-nitrosoamidine moiety through treatment with the nucleophiles acetylhydrazine, aminoacetaldehyde dimethylacetal and 1-amino-2-propanol, followed by an acid-catalyzed cyclization step, afforded triazolo and imidazobenzodiazepines 1, 6, and 7, respectively, in good yields. When acetylhydrazine is used as a nucleophile, the overall process provides an alternative route to alprazolam (1b) and triazolam (1c), respectively.

Diastereodivergent Synthesis of Fluorinated Cyclic β3-Amino Acid Derivatives

The ability of 2-p-tolylbenzyl carbanions to behave as a source of chiral benzylic nucleophiles has been shown in its reaction with fluorinated imines. The process takes place with high levels of stereocontrol, rendering the corresponding amines as single diastereoisomers. Subsequent cross-metathesis followed by intramolecular aza-Michael reaction makes the synthesis of fluorinated homoproline derivatives bearing three stereogenic centers possible. Furthermore, the selectivity of the cyclization process can easily be tuned up in a diastereodivergent manner simply by changing the reaction conditions.

Intramolecular Nitrone Cycloaddition of α-(Trifluoromethyl)styrenes. Role of the CF3 Group in the Regioselectivity

The intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of ortho-substituted 1,1,1-trifluoromethylstyrene-derived nitrones is described. Tricyclic fused isoxazolidines were obtained as major or exclusive products, in contrast to the case for nonfluorinated substrates, which rendered the bridged derivatives. This change in the regioselectivity was attributed to the electronic and, particularly, steric requirements of the trifluoromethyl group in comparison to the methyl group. It is worth mentioning that trifluoromethylstyrenes have been employed for the first time as dipolarophiles in a 1,3-dipolar intramolecular cycloaddition reaction, leading to the corresponding isoxazolidines bearing a quaternary trifluoromethyl moiety. Finally, the synthetic utility of the developed methodology has been illustrated with the synthesis of a family of bicyclic fluorinated 1,3-amino alcohols.

Gold-Catalyzed Povarov-Type Reaction of Fluorinated Imino Esters and Furans

A gold-catalyzed Povarov-type reaction of fluorinated imino esters and furans is described. The process, which takes place in dichoromethane at room temperature, gives rise to novel fluorinated tetrahydrofuran-fused tetrahydroquinolines in good yields and moderate levels of diastereoselectivity in a very simple manner. The reported examples expand the versatility of the Povarov reaction to unprecedented fluorinated substrates, generating scaffolds that contain quaternary α-amino acid units.