Hari Nair

Tailored α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones and their effects on growth suppression in pancreatic carcinoma cells.

A selected series of racemic α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones (AMGBL) were synthesized via allylboration and screened against three human pancreatic cancer cell lines (Panc-1, MIA PaCa-2, and BxPC-3). This systematic study established a discernible relationship between the substitution pattern of AMGBL and their anti-proliferative activity. β,γ-diaryl-AMGBLs, particularly those with a trans-relationship exhibited higher potency than parthenolide and LC-1 against all three cell lines.

Synthetic α-(aminomethyl)-γ-butyrolactones and their anti-pancreatic cancer activities

Aminated α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones, which are readily synthesized with facile control of the diastereoisomerism, provide an economical and commercially-viable alternative to the use of aminated natural products. These aminoloactones, which exhibit excellent activity against three pancreatic cancer cell lines when measured at 10 μM-Panc-1, MIA PaCa-2, and BxPC-3-and are comparable to or better than parthenolide and dimethylaminoparthenolide (DMAPT, LC-1). It has also been shown that there is an effect on the biological activity depending on the identity of the amine.

One-Pot Asymmetric Synthesis of 2- and 2,3-Disubstituted Tetrahydrofuran Derivatives

A novel and convenient one-pot asymmetric synthesis of 2- and 2,3-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans has been achieved in 56-81% yields and 86-99% ee from aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes via an allyl/crotyl/alkoxyallylboration-hydroboration-iodination-cyclization reaction sequence.