John H. Ryan

Small Molecule Inhibitors of the Ledgf Site of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Integrase Identified by Fragment Screening and Structure Based Design.

A fragment-based screen against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) integrase led to a number of compounds that bound to the lens epithelium derived growth factor (LEDGF) binding site of the integrase catalytic core domain. We determined the crystallographic structures of complexes of the HIV integrase catalytic core domain for 10 of these compounds and quantitated the binding by surface plasmon resonance. We demonstrate that the compounds inhibit the interaction of LEDGF with HIV integrase in a proximity AlphaScreen assay, an assay for the LEDGF enhancement of HIV integrase strand transfer and in a cell based assay. The compounds identified represent a potential framework for the development of a new series of HIV integrase inhibitors that do not bind to the catalytic site of the enzyme.

Structural basis for a new mechanism of inhibition of HIV-1 integrase identified by fragment screening and structure-based design

Background: HIV-1 integrase is a clinically validated therapeutic target for the treatment of HIV-1 infection, with one approved therapeutic currently on the market. This enzyme represents an attractive target for the development of new inhibitors to HIV-1 that are effective against the current resistance mutations. Methods: A fragment-based screening method employing surface plasmon resonance and NMR was initially used to detect interactions between integrase and fragments. The binding sites of the fragments were elucidated by crystallography and the structural information used to design and synthesize improved ligands. Results: The location of binding of fragments to the catalytic core of integrase was found to be in a previously undescribed binding site, adjacent to the mobile loop. Enzyme assays confirmed that formation of enzyme–fragment complexes inhibits the catalytic activity of integrase and the structural data was utilized to further develop these fragments into more potent novel enzyme inhibitors. Conclusions: We have defined a new site in integrase as a valid region for the structure-based design of allosteric integrase inhibitors. Using a structure-based design process we have improved the activity of the initial fragments 45-fold.

A gram-scale batch and flow total synthesis of perhydrohistrionicotoxin.

The total synthesis of the spiropiperidine alkaloid (-)-perhydrohistrionicotoxin (perhydro-HTX) 2 has been accomplished on a gram scale by employing both conventional batch chemistry as well as microreactor techniques. (S)-(-)-6-Pentyltetrahydro-pyran-2-one 8 underwent nucleophilic ring opening to afford the alcohol 10, which was elaborated to the nitrone 13. Protection of the nitrone as the 1,3-adduct of styrene and side-chain extension to the unsaturated nitrile afforded a precursor 17, which underwent dipolar cycloreversion and 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to give the core spirocyclic precursor 18 that was converted into perhydro-HTX 2. The principal steps to the spirocycle 18 have successfully been transferred into flow mode by using different types of microreactors and in a telescoped fashion, allowing for a more rapid access to the histrionicotoxins and their analogues by continuous processing.

1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition−Decarboxylation Reactions of an Azomethine Ylide with Isatoic Anhydrides: Formation of Novel Benzodiazepinones

A nonstabilized azomethine ylide reacts with a wide range of substituted isatoic anhydrides to afford novel 1,3-benzodiazepin-5-one derivatives, which are generally isolated in high yield. The transformations involve 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of the ylide with the anhydrides to give transient, and in a representative case spectroscopically observable, oxazolidine intermediates that undergo ring-opening-decarboxylation-ring-closing reaction cascades to yield the 1,3-benzodiazepin-5-one products.

Arylation of palladium(II) and platinum(II) by diphenyliodonium triflate to form metal(IV) species, and a structural analysis of an isomer of PtIMe2Ph(bpy) (bpy = 2,2’-bipyridine)

Abstract The first example of aryl transfer to palladium(II) with concomitant oxidation to palladium(IV) is reported, utilising the reaction of PdMe2(bpy) (bpy=2,2’-bipyridine) with [IPh2][O3SCF3], together with studies of an analogous platinum system and a structural analysis of trans-PtIMe2Ph(bpy) (bpy=2,2’-bipyridine).

Total Synthesis of (−)-Histrionicotoxin 285A and (−)-Perhydrohistrionicotoxin

Starting from commercially available ( S)-glycidol, and via a common intermediate, the total synthesis of (-)-histrionicotoxin 285A and (-)-perhydrohistrionicotoxin has been achieved. Key to this synthesis was the efficient construction of a six-membered, chiral, cyclic nitrone.

1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions of Azomethine Ylides with Carbonyl Dipolarophiles Yielding Oxazolidine Derivatives

We provide a comprehensive account of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of azomethine ylides with carbonyl dipolarophiles. Many different azomethine ylides have been studied, including stabilized and non-stabilized ylides. Of the carbonyl dipolarophiles, aldehydes including formaldehyde are the most studied, although there are now examples of cycloadditions with ketones, ketenes and carboxyl systems, in particular isatoic anhydrides and phthalic anhydrides. Intramolecular cycloadditions with esters can also occur under certain circumstances. The oxazolidine cycloadducts undergo a range of reactions triggered by the ring-opening of the oxazolidine ring system.

Synthesis of 5-Aryloxazolidines via 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reaction of a Non-Stabilized Azomethine Ylide with Aromatic Aldehydes

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of a non-stabilized azomethine ylide 4a, formed in situ from N-(methoxymethyl)-N-(trimethylsilylmethyl)benzylamine 5 and a catalytic amount of trifluoroacetic acid, with aromatic aldehydes 3 gives rise to N-benzyl-5-aryloxazolidines 1. Under these conditions, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde 3p undergoes two-fold addition of azomethine ylide 4a to afford bis adduct 11.

Knorr-Rabe partial reduction of pyrroles: Application to the synthesis of indolizidine alkaloids

Background The Birch reduction of electron rich pyrroles does not occur readily. However, dissolving metal reduction with zinc under acidic conditions gives 3-pyrrolines (2,5-dihydropyrroles) in reasonable yield. This dissolving metal reduction was first reported by Knorr and Rabe in 1901 but since then has only been reported for the reduction of electron rich pyrroles. Results The partial reduction of bicyclic α-ketopyrrole derivatives has been performed under dissolving metal conditions with zinc and hydrochloric acid to give excellent yields of hexahydroindolizidines. This reduction method has been utilised for the diastereoselective synthesis of 5-alkylindolizidines and the stereoselectivity obtained is opposite to that of catalytic hydrogenation. Conclusion An efficient stereoselective synthesis of indolizidine alkaloids has been developed from α-ketopyrrole intermediates using a modified version of Knorr and Rabes pyrrole reduction.

Transition Metal Organometallic Synthesis Utilising Diorganoiodine(III) Reagents

Hypervalent iodine reagents have a prominent role in organic synthesis, but there is only a slowly emerging chemistry employing these reagents for transition metal organometallic synthesis, despite the early promising results reported in the 1960s, and extensive reports of the application of diorganoiodine(III) reagents in organic synthesis involving metal centres. This review summarises the fundamental aspects of mechanisms proposed for organic chemistry applications, reviews representative reports in organometallic chemistry with this perspective, and highlights the potential for further developments in the field.