Julia Deschamp

Efficient Construction of Polycyclic Derivatives via a Highly Selective Cu(I)-Catalyzed Domino Reductive-Aldol Cyclization.

A versatile methodology for the diastereo- and enantioselective domino reductive-aldol cyclizations is reported. By using a copper (I)/diphosphane ligand, various five- and six-membered rings were generated with good to excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities (cis:trans up to 100:0 and ee up to 95%).

Towards a stable noeuromycin analog with a D-manno configuration: synthesis and glycosidase inhibition of D-manno-like tri- and tetrahydroxylated azepanes.

Noeuromycin is a highly potent albeit unstable glycosidase inhibitor due to its hemiaminal function. While stable D-gluco-like analogs have been reported, no data are available for D-manno-like structures. A series of tri- and tetrahydroxylated seven-membered iminosugars displaying either a D-manno-or a L-gulo-like configuration, were synthesized from methyl α-D-mannopyranoside using a reductive amination-mediated ring expansion as the key step. Screening towards a range of commercial glycosidases demonstrated their potency as competitive glycosidase inhibitors while cellular assay showed selective albeit weak glycoprotein processing mannosidase inactivation.

Towards potential nanoparticle contrast agents: Synthesis of new functionalized PEG bisphosphonates

Summary The use of nanotechnologies for biomedical applications took a real development during these last years. To allow an effective targeting for biomedical imaging applications, the adsorption of plasmatic proteins on the surface of nanoparticles must be prevented to reduce the hepatic capture and increase the plasmatic time life. In biologic media, metal oxide nanoparticles are not stable and must be coated by biocompatible organic ligands. The use of phosphonate ligands to modify the nanoparticle surface drew a lot of attention in the last years for the design of highly functional hybrid materials. Here, we report a methodology to synthesize bisphosphonates having functionalized PEG side chains with different lengths. The key step is a procedure developed in our laboratory to introduce the bisphosphonate from acyl chloride and tris(trimethylsilyl)phosphite in one step.

Bifunctional Tripeptide with a Phosphonic Acid as a Bronsted Acid for Michael Addition: Mechanistic Insights

Enamine catalysis is a widespread activation mode in the field of organocatalysis and is often encountered in bifunctional organocatalysts. We previously described H-Pro-Pro-pAla-OMe as a bifunctional catalyst for Michael addition between aldehydes and aromatic nitroalkenes. Considering that opposite selectivities were observed when compared to H-Pro-Pro-Glu-NH2 , an analogue described by Wennemers, the activation mode of H-Pro-Pro-pAla-OMe was investigated through kinetic, linear effect studies, NMR analyses, and structural modifications. It appeared that only one bifunctional catalyst was involved in the catalytic cycle, by activating aldehyde through an (E)-enamine and nitroalkene through an acidic interaction. A restrained tripeptide structure was optimal in terms of distance and rigidity for better selectivities and fast reaction rates. Transition-state modeling unveiled the particular selectivity of this phosphonopeptide.

Peptides holding a phosphonic acid: Easily recyclable organocatalysts for enantioselective C–C bond creation

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT ABSTRACT A novel bifunctional organocatalysts library was developed as efficient tool for the stereoselective Michael addition of aldehydes with several aromatic nitroalkenes. Therefore, a phosphonic acid was used for the very first time as activating moiety in the field of organocatalysis. H-R-Pro-S-Pro-R-pAla-OMe (pAla stands for phosphonoalanine) was identified as the most effective one with up to 95:5 d.r. and 93:7 e.r over 12 GABA precursors examples. This catalyst was easily recycled and reused over 10 cycles without any significant loss of selectivity.