Olga Bakulina

New Heterocyclic Product Space for the Castagnoli–Cushman Three-Component Reaction

Significant expansion of heterocyclic product space accessible by the Castagnoli-Cushman reaction (CCR) has been achieved via the use of glutaric anhydride analogues containing endocyclic substitutions with oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur. Incorporation of these heteroatoms in the anhydrides backbone results in enhanced reactivity and generally lower temperatures that are required for the reactions to go to completion. These findings are particularly significant in light of the CCR recently recognized as an efficient tool for lead-oriented synthesis.

The rare cis-configured trisubstituted lactam products obtained by the Castagnoli–Cushman reaction in N,N-dimethylformamide

Unlike its trans counterpart, the cis-configured scaffold derived from the Castagnoli–Cushman reaction (CCR) is scarce and has not been explored in bioactive compound design. We found that conducting this reaction in DMF (in contrast to conventional toluene or xylene) led to a significantly higher proportion of cis-configured lactams in the diastereomeric product mixture. This allowed us, for the first time, to obtain and thoroughly characterize both stereoisomers of a significant number of lead-like CCR lactams. Simple rules for 1H NMR-based stereochemical assignment have been devised and correlated with the single-crystal X-ray structures obtained for pure cis- and trans-configured lactams.

A speedy route to sterically encumbered, benzene-fused derivatives of privileged, naturally occurring hexahydropyrrolo[1,2-b]isoquinoline

A series of 15 benzene-fused hexahydropyrrolo[1,2-b]isoquinolonic acids with substantial degree of steric encumbrance has been prepared via a novel variant of the Castagnoli–Cushman reaction of homophthalic anhydride (HPA) and various indolenines. The employment of a special kind of a cyclic imine component reaction allowed, for the first time, isolating a Mannich-type adduct between HPA and an imine component which has been postulated but never obtained in similar reactions.

Skeletal Diversity in Combinatorial Fashion: A New Format for the Castagnoli–Cushman Reaction

A new format for the Castagnoli-Cushman reaction of structurally diverse dicarboxylic acids, amines, and aldehydes in the presence of acetic anhydride as dehydrating agent is described. The reaction is distinctly amenable to parallel format: the combinatorial array of 180 reactions delivered 157 products of >85% purity without chromatographic purification (of this number, 143 compounds had >94% purity). The new method offers a convenient preparation of the skeletally and peripherally diverse, lead- and druglike γ- and δ-lactam carboxylic acids with high diastereoselectivity in combinatorial fashion.

The first solvent-free synthesis of privileged γ- and δ-lactams via the Castagnoli–Cushman reaction

The first solvent-free protocol for the atom-economical Castagnoli–Cushman reaction is reported. It substantially broadens the reaction scope with respect to achievable substitution patterns around the privileged lactam cores compared to the traditional reaction format employing aromatic hydrocarbon solvents. The convenient product isolation protocol involves the use of aqueous base and acid solutions.

Cyclic Hydroxamic Acid Analogues of Bacterial Siderophores as Iron-Complexing Agents prepared through the Castagnoli–Cushman Reaction of Unprotected Oximes

The first application of multicomponent chemistry (the Castagnoli-Cushman reaction) toward the convenient one-step preparation of cyclic hydroxamic acids is described. Cyclic hydroxamic acids are close analogues of bacterial siderophores (iron-binding compounds) and form stable complexes with Fe3+ ions as confirmed by spectrophotometric measurements. These compounds are potential components for the design of chelating agents for iron overload disease therapy, as well as siderophore-based carrier systems for antibiotic delivery across the bacterial cell wall.

Design, in silico prioritization and biological profiling of apoptosis-inducing lactams amenable by the Castagnoli-Cushman reaction

Five lactam chemotypes amenable by the Castagnoli-Cushman reaction of imines and cyclic anhydrides have been investigated for their ability to activate p53 tumor suppressing transcription factor thus induce apoptosis in p53+ cancer cells. A virtual library of 1.07 million chemically diverse compounds based on these scaffolds was subjected to in silico screening first. The compounds displaying high docking score were visually prioritized to identify the best-fitting compounds, i. e. the ones which adequately mimic the interactions of clinical candidate inhibitor Nutlin-3a. These 38 compounds were synthesized and tested for apoptosis induction in p53+ H116 cancer cells to identify 9 potent apoptosis-inducers (two of them exceeding the activity of Nutlin-3a) which belonged to four different chemotypes. The activation of p53 involved in the proapoptotic activity observed was supported by effective induction of EGFP expression in human osteocarcinoma U2OS-pLV reporter cell line. Moreover, the two most potent apoptosis inducers displayed antiproliferative profile identical to several known advanced p53 activators: they inhibited the growth of p53+/+ HCT116 cells in much lower concentration range compared to p53-/- HCT116 cells.

Spontaneous formation of tricyclic lactones following the Castagnoli–Cushman reaction

Castagnoli–Cushman reaction of imines derived from 2-chloropyridine-3-carboxaldehyde with a cyclic anhydride (4-(methylsulfonyl)-morpholine-2,6-dione) conducted at 110°C in DMF over 1 h, as expected, led to a mixture of trans- and cis-configured carboxylic acids. However, the latter underwent a spontaneous intramolecular reaction of the carboxylic functionality onto the labile nearby 2-chloropyridine moiety to give the respective tricyclic lactones in 17–23% yield, along with 41–68% yield of the uncyclized trans-configured products (isolated as methyl esters).