Guillermo Gerona-Navarro

Memory of chirality in the stereoselective synthesis of β-lactams: importance of the starting amino acid derivative

Abstract The enantioselectivity of the base-promoted cyclization of N -alkyl- N -chloroacetyl amino acid derivatives to β-lactams is dependent on the substituents on the starting material. While t Bu esters are preferred over Me esters, and N -Bzl-, N -Pmb, N -Nph and N -Mom groups gave similar e.e. values, only amino acid derivatives with branched side-chains at the γ-position were able to show a good memory of chirality.

Azetidine-Derived Amino Acids versus Proline Derivatives. Alternative Trends in Reverse Turn Induction

The influence of 2-alkyl-2-carboxyazetidines (Aze) on the 3D structure of model tetrapeptides R2CO-2-R1Aze-l-Ala-NHMe has been analyzed by molecular modeling, 1H NMR, and FT-IR studies. The conformational constraints introduced by the four-membered ring resulted in an effective way to stabilize gamma-turn-like conformations in these short peptides. The conformational preferences of these Aze-containing peptides have been compared to those of the corresponding peptide analogues containing Pro or alpha-MePro in the place of 2-alkyl-Aze residue. In the model studied, both Pro and Aze derivatives are able to induce reverse turns, but the nature of the turn is different as a function of the ring size. While the five-membered ring of Pro tends to induce beta-turns, as previously suggested by different authors, the four-membered ring of Aze residues forces the peptide to preferentially adopt gamma-turn conformations. In both cases, the presence of an alkyl group at the alpha-position of Pro or the azetidine-2-carboxylate ring enhances significantly the turn-inducing ability. These results might open the opportunity of using 2-alkyl-Aze residues as versatile tools in defining the role of gamma-turn structures within the bioactive conformation of selected peptides, and represent an alternative to Pro derivatives as turn inducers.

Further Evidence for 2-Alkyl-2-carboxyazetidines as γ-Turn Inducers

Reverse turns, a common motif in proteins and peptides, have attracted attention due to their relevance in a wide variety of biological processes. In an attempt to artificially imitate and stabilize these turns in short peptides, we have developed versatile synthetic methodologies for the preparation of 2-alkyl-2-carboxyazetidines and incorporated them into the i + 1 position of model tetrapeptides, where they have shown a tendency to induce gamma-turns. However, to ascertain the general utility of these restricted amino acids as gamma-type reverse turn inducers, it was then required to study the conformational preferences when located at other positions. To this end, model tetrapeptides R-CO-Ala-Xaa-NHMe, containing differently substituted azetidine moieties (Xaa = Aze, 2-MeAze, 2-BnAze) at the i + 2 position, were synthesized and subjected to a thorough conformational analysis. The theoretical and experimental results obtained, including the X-ray diffraction structure of a dipeptide derivative containing this skeleton, provide evidence that the 2-alkyl-2-carboxyazetidine scaffold is able to efficiently induce gamma-turns when incorporated into these short peptides, irrespective of their localization in the peptide chain.

Easy access to orthogonally protected α-alkyl aspartic acid and α-alkyl asparagine derivatives by controlled opening of β-lactams

Abstract The controlled opening of the N1C2 bond in 1-carbamate-substituted 2-azetidinones derived from amino acids by O - and N -nucleophiles provided a straightforward access to orthogonally protected α-alkyl aspartic acid and asparagine derivatives. The use of DBU or sodium azide as additive is essential for expedient cleavage by amino acids to the corresponding β-aspartic acid dipeptides.

Solid-phase synthesis of a library of amphipatic hydantoins. Discovery of new hits for TRPV1 blockade

Some heterocyclic systems, called privileged scaffolds, appear frequently in bioactive products and marketed drugs. The combination of a recognized privileged scaffold (hydantoin) and a functional group with high incidence in bioactive molecules (guanidine) guided the design of a library of amphipatic compounds, which allowed the discovery of novel TRPV1 ion channel blockers. The library was synthesized by parallel solid-phase synthesis from an orthogonally protected resin-bound Lys-Lys skeleton. Key steps of the synthetic procedure were the construction of the hydantoin ring, by reaction of the N-terminal amino group with N,N-disuccinimidyl carbonate (DSC) and subsequent base-induced cyclization, and the guanidinylation of the C-terminal Lys side-chain after removal of the Alloc protecting-group. The preliminary biological studies have allowed the identification of some of the key structural features directing the blockage of capsaicin-induced Ca(2+) influx through TRPV1 channels, particularly, the strong preference showed for highly lipophilic acyl groups and substituted guanidine moieties. Active compounds based on this new pharmacophoric scaffold that display in vitro and in vivo inhibitory activity.

Exploring solid-phase approaches for the preparation of new β-lactams from amino acids

Two solid-phase approaches, involving the base-assisted intramolecularalkylation of N-chloroacetyl-Phe derivatives anchored to appropriatesolid supports, were investigated for the preparation of novel β-lactams. When a BAL-type strategy was used, the resin-bound azetidinones were easily formed, as established by MAS-NMR, but final compounds could not be removed from the resin, unless a suitable two linkers system was used. In the second approach, in which the Phe residue is anchored to a Wang-type resin through the carboxylate group, the corresponding 1,4,4-trisubstituted 2-azetidinone was obtained in moderate to good yield and high purity.

Amino Acid-derived 4-Alkyl-4-carboxy-2-azetidinones. New Insights into b-Lactam Ring Formation and N-Deprotection

The preparation and N-deprotection of a series of phenylalanine-derived 2-azetidinones incorporating 2,4-dimethoxybenzyl (Dmb), 2,3,4-, 2,4,6- and 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl (Tmb) groups at 1 position are described. The base-promoted cyclization of the corresponding methoxy-substituted N α -benzyl-N α -chloroacetyl derivatives to the 1,4,4-trisubstituted azetidinones proceeded with moderate to good yields, except for the 2,4,6-Tmb analogue. In spite of the number and position of the OMe groups, N-unsubstituted β-lactams were obtained by oxidative debenzylation using potassium peroxodisulfate. Alternatively, debenzylation of Pmb, Dmb and Tmb 2-azetidinones with TFA/anisole resulted in concomitant β-lactam opening to α-benzylaspartic acid derivatives.

Modulating Mineralocorticoid Receptor with Non-steroidal Antagonists. New Opportunities for the Development of Potent and Selective Ligands without Off-Target Side Effects

Steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonists are used for treatment of a range of human diseases, but they present challenging issues of complex chemical synthesis, undesirable physical properties, and poor selectivity along with unwanted side effects. Therefore, there is a great interest in the discovery of non-steroidal ligands able to bind to the ligand-binding domain of the MR and recruit different co-regulators to produce tissue-specific therapeutic effects. Several academic groups and pharmaceutical companies have been developing a series of non-steroidal ligands that consist of different chemical scaffolds, yielding MR antagonists currently evaluated in clinical studies for the treatment of congestive heart failure, hypertension, or diabetic nephropathy. The main focus of this Perspective is to review the reported structure-activity relationships of the different series of compounds, as well as the structural studies that contribute to a better understanding of the receptor active site and are also helpful for optimization processes.