Laura Trulli

Discovery of a PCAF Bromodomain Chemical Probe.

Abstract The p300/CBP‐associated factor (PCAF) and related GCN5 bromodomain‐containing lysine acetyl transferases are members of subfamily I of the bromodomain phylogenetic tree. Iterative cycles of rational inhibitor design and biophysical characterization led to the discovery of the triazolopthalazine‐based L‐45 (dubbed L‐Moses) as the first potent, selective, and cell‐active PCAF bromodomain (Brd) inhibitor. Synthesis from readily available (1R,2S)‐(−)‐norephedrine furnished L‐45 in enantiopure form. L‐45 was shown to disrupt PCAF‐Brd histone H3.3 interaction in cells using a nanoBRET assay, and a co‐crystal structure of L‐45 with the homologous Brd PfGCN5 from Plasmodium falciparum rationalizes the high selectivity for PCAF and GCN5 bromodomains. Compound L‐45 shows no observable cytotoxicity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), good cell‐permeability, and metabolic stability in human and mouse liver microsomes, supporting its potential for in vivo use.

New Synthesis of Trifluoromethyl Aldimines Containing L-α-Amino Ester Moieties and Their Use in Mannich-Type Reactions

L-α-amino esters were considered valuable chiral starting materials in the condensation reaction with trifluoroacetaldehyde (fluoral) ethyl hemiacetal to obtain new functionalized trifluoromethyl aldimines. Starting from these latter compounds, isovaleraldehyde was used in proline-catalyzed Mannich-type addition reactions to give trifluoromethyl syn- or anti-γ-amino alcohols bearing the L-α-amino ester function, simply by changing the reaction temperature.

Trifluoromethyl syn- or anti-γ-amino alcohols by one-pot solvent-free Mannich-type reactions under temperature control

Starting from trifluoroacetaldehyde ethyl hemiacetal, chiral amines and suitable aldehydes, diastereomerically pure fluorinated syn- or anti-γ-amino alcohols can be obtained by a friendly one-pot solvent-free L-proline catalysed Mannich-type reaction only by changing the temperature.

Water-controlled chiral inversion of a nitrogen atom during the synthesis of diaziridines from α-branched N,N'-dialkyl α-diimines

Desymmetrization of chiral α-diimines by ethyl nosyloxycarbamate using water as a co-solvent takes place with very high diastereoselectivity, the nucleophilic attack occurring only on the less hindered side of the CN double bond. Interestingly, the presence of water in the reaction medium likely stabilizes the anion intermediate slowing down the successive cyclization reaction and favoring the rotation around the C–N single bond. In fact, as confirmed by ROESY experiments, only the two diastereomeric 3-(iminomethyl)diaziridine-1-carboxylates that differ in the absolute configuration of the alkyl substituted nitrogen atoms were always obtained in equimolar ratios. Finally, all compounds were easily obtained in optically pure form through HPLC separation and can be considered as interesting chiral synthons.

β,β-Dialkyl γ-amino γ-trifluoromethyl alcohols from trifluoromethyl (E)-aldimines by a one-pot solvent-free Mannich-type reaction and subsequent reduction

The synthesis of trifluoromethylated γ-amino alcohols through an eco-friendly one-pot self-catalysed Mannich-type reaction between N-protected trifluoromethyl aldimines and suitable cyclic or acyclic α,α-dialkyl aldehydes has been developed. Good yields, mild reaction conditions and simple experimental work-up procedures are some of the advantages of this method. Starting from optically pure trifluoromethyl aldimines, target compounds, also having a quaternary stereocentre, can be obtained in good to excellent diastereoselectivities.