Christine B. Baltus

Microwave-mediated synthesis of an arylboronate library

A series of arylboronates has been synthesized from the reaction of 2-(2-, (3-, or (4-(bromomethyl)phenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolane 1{1-3} respectively with a range of N-, S-, and O-nucleophiles, using microwave-mediated chemistry. For the synthesis of N- and S-substituted boronates, a supported base, PS-NMM, was employed, and many reactions were complete within 15 min. With O-nucleophiles, a mixture of tetrabutylammonium bromide, potassium carbonate, and sodium hydroxide was employed. The resulting aminomethyl, mercaptomethyl, or alkoxy-/phenoxymethyl-arylboronates were subjected to microwave-mediated Suzuki Miyaura coupling reactions to afford a range of biaryls in moderate to good yields. The X-ray structures of five boronates were determined.

A synthetic, catalytic and theoretical investigation of an unsymmetrical SCN pincer palladacycle

The SCN ligand 2-{3-[(methylsulfanyl)methyl]phenyl}pyridine, 1, has been synthesized starting from an initial Suzuki–Miyaura (SM) coupling between 3-((hydroxymethyl)phenyl)boronic acid and 2-bromopyridine. The C–H activation of 1 with in situ formed Pd(MeCN)4(BF4)2 has been studied and leads to a mixture of palladacycles, which were characterized by X-ray crystallography. The monomeric palladacycle LPdCl 6, where L-H = 1, has been synthesized, and tested in SM couplings of aryl bromides, where it showed moderate activity. Density functional theory and the atoms in molecules (AIM) method have been used to investigate the formation and bonding of 6, revealing a difference in the nature of the Pd–S and Pd–N bonds. It was found that S-coordination to the metal in the rate determining C–H bond activation step leads to better stabilization of the Pd(II) centre (by 13–28 kJ mol−1) than with N-coordination. This is attributed to the electron donating ability of the donor atoms determined by Bader charges. The AIM analysis also revealed that the Pd–N bonds are stronger than the Pd–S bonds influencing the stability of key intermediates in the palladacycle formation reaction pathway.

Cytotoxicity of the Urokinase-Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor Carbamimidothioic Acid (4-Boronophenyl) Methyl Ester Hydrobromide (BC-11) on Triple-Negative MDA-MB231 Breast Cancer Cells.

BC-11 is an easily synthesized simple thiouronium-substituted phenylboronic acid, which has been shown to be cytotoxic on triple negative MDA-MB231 breast cancer cells by inducing a perturbation of cell cycle when administered at a concentration equal to its ED50 at 72 h (117 μM). Exposure of cells to BC-11, either pre-absorbed with a soluble preparation of the N-terminal fragment of urokinase-plasminogen activator (uPa), or in co-treatment with two different EGFR inhibitors, indicated that: (i) BC-11 acts via binding to the N-terminus of the enzyme where uPa- and EGF receptor-recognizing sites are present, thereby abrogating the growth-sustaining effect resulting from receptor binding; and (ii) the co-presence of the EGFR inhibitor PD153035 potentiates BC-11’s cytotoxicity. Exposure of cells to a higher concentration of BC-11 corresponding to its ED75 at 72 h (250 μM) caused additional impairment of mitochondrial activity, the production of reactive oxygen species and promotion of apoptosis. Therefore, BC-11 treatment appears to show potential for the development of this class of compounds in the prevention and/or therapy of “aggressive” breast carcinoma.

CCDC 1033101: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

Related Article: Gavin W. Roffe, Sarote Boonseng, Christine B. Baltus, Simon J. Coles, Iain J. Day, Rhiannon N. Jones, Neil J. Press, Mario Ruiz, Graham J. Tizzard, Hazel Cox, John Spencer|2016|RSOS|3|150656|doi:10.1098/rsos.150656

CCDC 1033102: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

Related Article: Gavin W. Roffe, Sarote Boonseng, Christine B. Baltus, Simon J. Coles, Iain J. Day, Rhiannon N. Jones, Neil J. Press, Mario Ruiz, Graham J. Tizzard, Hazel Cox, John Spencer|2016|RSOS|3|150656|doi:10.1098/rsos.150656

CCDC 1033103: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

Related Article: Gavin W. Roffe, Sarote Boonseng, Christine B. Baltus, Simon J. Coles, Iain J. Day, Rhiannon N. Jones, Neil J. Press, Mario Ruiz, Graham J. Tizzard, Hazel Cox, John Spencer|2016|RSOS|3|150656|doi:10.1098/rsos.150656