Dorota Gryko

Effective and mild method for preparation of optically active α-amino aldehydes via TEMPO oxidation

Abstract The TEMPO oxidation method is successfully applied to preparation of variously protected, optically active α-amino aldehydes without racemization and in very good yield.

Meso-Substituted Liquid Porphyrins

Meso-substituted A(4)-porphyrins bearing 3,4,5-trialkoxyphenyl substituents are efficiently synthesized and characterized. Porphyrins bearing twelve C10 and C11 alkyl chains turned out to be liquid at room temperature. The remaining porphyrins, bearing C8, C9, C12, and C18 alkyl chains, have low melting points and high solubility in nonpolar solvents. Their differential scanning calorimetry distinctly shows, in most cases, only one phase transition.

Palladium-catalyzed 2-arylation of pyrroles.

A methodology that affords N-alkyl-2-arylpyrroles and N-aryl-2-arylpyrroles via direct coupling from aryl iodides has been developed. After examining various reaction parameters: solvent, ratio of reagents, catalyst, base and additives the optimal conditions for the condensation were identified. Two crucial factors, (a) anhydrous DMSO as solvent and (b) 5 M excess of pyrrole counterpart, were found to strongly influence the reaction outcome. The conditions identified (PdCl(2)(PPh(3))(2), AgOAc, anhyd DMSO, KF, 100 degrees C, 5 h) resulted in the formation of 2-arylpyrroles in 14-80% yield. Furthermore, the synthesis is compatible with electron-withdrawing and electron-donating groups on the aryl moiety.

Naphthalene-fused metallo-porphyrins–synthesis and spectroscopy

Oxidative aromatic coupling of meso-substituted porphyrins bearing one electron-rich naphthalene unit has been studied in detail. After thorough optimization of oxidant, naphthalene-fused porphyrins were prepared in high yield without contamination from chlorinated side-products using Fe(ClO(4))(3)·2H(2)O. Copper and nickel complexes were successfully transformed into π-expanded porphyrins in 40-83% yield.

Cobinamides Are Novel Coactivators of Nitric Oxide Receptor That Target Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase Catalytic Domain

Soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), a ubiquitously expressed heme-containing receptor for nitric oxide (NO), is a key mediator of NO-dependent processes. In addition to NO, a number of synthetic compounds that target the heme-binding region of sGC and activate it in a NO-independent fashion have been described. We report here that dicyanocobinamide (CN2-Cbi), a naturally occurring intermediate of vitamin B12 synthesis, acts as a sGC coactivator both in vitro and in intact cells. Heme depletion or heme oxidation does not affect CN2-Cbi-dependent activation. Deletion mutagenesis demonstrates that CN2-Cbi targets a new regulatory site and functions though a novel mechanism of sGC activation. Unlike all known sGC regulators that target the N-terminal regulatory regions, CN2-Cbi directly targets the catalytic domain of sGC, resembling the effect of forskolin on adenylyl cyclases. CN2-Cbi synergistically enhances sGC activation by NO-independent regulators 3-(4-amino-5-cyclopropylpyrimidine-2-yl)-1-(2-fluorobenzyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine (BAY41-2272), 4-[((4-carboxybutyl){2-[(4-phenethylbenzyl)oxy]phenethyl}amino) methyl [benzoic]-acid (cinaciguat or BAY58-2667), and 5-chloro-2-(5-chloro-thiophene-2-sulfonylamino-N-(4-(morpholine-4-sulfonyl)-phenyl)-benzamide sodium salt (ataciguat or HMR-1766). BAY41-2272 and CN2-Cbi act reciprocally by decreasing the EC50 values. CN2-Cbi increases intracellular cGMP levels and displays vasorelaxing activity in phenylephrine-constricted rat aortic rings in an endothelium-independent manner. Both effects are synergistically potentiated by BAY41-2272. These studies uncover a new mode of sGC regulation and provide a new tool for understanding the mechanism of sGC activation and function. CN2-Cbi also offers new possibilities for its therapeutic applications in augmenting the effect of other sGC-targeting drugs.

Reduction-free synthesis of stable acetylide cobalamins

A straightforward, reduction-free method for the synthesis of organometallic cobalamins has been developed. Stable phenylacetylide derivatives were characterized by X-ray analysis, showing a pronounced influence of the electronic nature of substituents on their structure.

Diastereoselective addition of vinylmagnesium halides to variously N-mono- and N,N-diprotected l-alaninals

Abstract Diastereoselective C2-elongation processes of N-mono- 1a-c and N,N-diprotected 1d-f l -alaninals, using vinylmagnesium bromide and chloride, are described. A substantial difference between effects of the N-protecting groups replacing either one or two amino protons was observed.

Prolinethioamides versus Prolinamides in Organocatalyzed Aldol Reactions—A Comparative Study

Various organocatalysts have been developed for the aldol reaction but particular attention has been paid to prolinamide derivatives. They are easy to prepare and their catalytic activity can be readily tuned through structural modification. In this review, the comparison of catalytic activities between prolinethioamides and their respective amides in direct asymmetric aldol reactions is presented.

Synthesis of trans-A2B2-porphyrins bearing phenylethynyl substituents.

Efficient and convenient conditions for the preparation of trans-A(2)B(2)-porphyrins bearing two phenylethynyl moieties directly from phenylpropargyl aldehydes and dipyrromethanes of diversified lipophilicity and reactivity have been developed. This new procedure allows the preparation of a library of porphyrins of this architecture with a wide range of substituents. Thanks to the identification of the reagent solubility as one of the key factors influencing the yield of the porphyrinogens, we were able to improve yields to ca. 30%. The scope and limitations of two sets of conditions have been explored. The methodological advantage of this approach is its straightforward access to building blocks and the formation of the porphyrin core in the last step without the need for deprotection of the triple bond or bromination and consecutive coupling reaction, which often demands copper salts to proceed smoothly, especially with electron-deficient alkyne partners. Therefore, it prevents undesired copper porphyrin formation, as well as the need for utilizing expensive alkynes. A two-step method for the preparation of phenylpropargyl aldehydes has also been refined.

New hydrophobic vitamin B12 derivatives via ring-opening reactions of c-lactone.

A selective synthesis of new hydrophobic cobalamin derivatives bearing two different spacers has been accomplished via ring-opening reaction of c-lactone. The reaction of c-lactone with various amines afforded three types of amides (a, b, and c) depending on the reaction conditions. The structure of lactone b was determined by the X-ray analysis confirming the position of ring closure. It also reveals the presence of a hydrogen bond between the terminal hydroxy group and one of the axial cyanide ligands.