Stephen Caddick

Hydroacylation of α,β-unsaturated esters via aerobic C–H activation

The development of methods for carbon–carbon bond formation under benign conditions is an ongoing challenge for the synthetic chemist. In recent years there has been considerable interest in using selective C–H activation as a direct route for generating reactive intermediates. In this article, we describe the use of aldehyde auto-oxidation as a simple, clean and effective method for C–H activation, resulting in the generation of an acyl radical. This acyl radical can be used for carbon–carbon bond formation and herein we describe the application of this method for the hydroacylation of α,β-unsaturated esters without the requirement of additional catalysts or reagents. This methodology generates unsymmetrical ketones, which have been shown to have broad use in organic synthesis. The development of benign methods for carbon–carbon bond formation is a continuing challenge. Here, a simple procedure for the hydroacylation of α,β-unsaturated esters is described, in which auto-oxidation of aldehydes and subsequent acyl radical addition to α,β-unsaturated esters occurs without the need for additional reagents.

Polymeric Dibromomaleimides As Extremely Efficient Disulfide Bridging Bioconjugation and Pegylation Agents

A series of dibromomaleimides have been shown to be very efficacious at insertion into peptidic disulfide bonds. This conjugation proceeds with a stoichiometric balance of reagents in buffered solutions in less than 15 min to give discrete products while maintaining the disulfide bridge and thus peptide conformation. The insertion is initiated by disulfide reduction using a water-soluble phosphine, tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP) which allows for subsequent substitution of the two maleimide bromides by the generated thiols. Reaction of salmon calcitonin (sCT) with 2,3-dibromomaleimide (1.1 excess) in the presence of TCEP (1.1 equiv) in aqueous solution at pH 6.2 gives complete production of a single conjugate which requires no workup. A linear methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was functionalized via a Mitsunobu reaction and used for the successful site-specific and rapid pegylation of sCT. This reaction occurs in 15 min with a small stoichiometry excess of the pegylating agent to give insertion at the disulfide with HPLC showing a single product and MALDI-ToF confirming conjugation. Attempts to use the group in a functional ATRP polymerization initiator led to polymerization inhibition. Thus, in order to prepare a range of functional polymers an indirect route was chosen via both azide and aniline functional initiators which were converted to 2,3-dibromomaleimides via appropriate reactions. For example, the azide functional polymer was reacted via a Huisgen CuAAC click reaction to an alkyne functional 2,3-dibromomaleimide. This new reagent allowed for the synthesis of conjugates of sCT with comb polymers derived from PEG methacrylic monomers which in addition gave appropriate cloud points. This reaction represents a highly efficient polymer conjugation method which circumvents problems of purification which normally arise from having to use large excesses of the conjugate. In addition, the tertiary structure of the peptide is efficiently maintained.

Recent advances in the construction of antibody–drug conjugates

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) comprise antibodies covalently attached to highly potent drugs using a variety of conjugation technologies. As therapeutics, they combine the exquisite specificity of antibodies, enabling discrimination between healthy and diseased tissue, with the cell-killing ability of cytotoxic drugs. This powerful and exciting class of targeted therapy has shown considerable promise in the treatment of various cancers with two US Food and Drug Administration approved ADCs currently on the market (Adcetris and Kadcyla) and approximately 40 currently undergoing clinical evaluation. However, most of these ADCs exist as heterogeneous mixtures, which can result in a narrow therapeutic window and have major pharmacokinetic implications. In order for ADCs to deliver their full potential, sophisticated site-specific conjugation technologies to connect the drug to the antibody are vital. This Perspective discusses the strategies currently used for the site-specific construction of ADCs and appraises their merits and disadvantages.

Dynamic resolutions in asymmetric synthesis

Asymmetric synthesis is one of the most important challenges facing synthetic organic chemists. Most methods used for the preparation of enantiomerically enriched chiral organic molecules involve stereocontrolled formation of the new stereogenic centre. An alternative is to effect a resolution of a stereochemical mixture of isomers; however this is generally limited to 50% yield. Dynamic resolution can avoid this fundamental limitation and can be a successful method for producing >50% yield of stereochemically pure material. The success of this approach relies on induced substrate lability and product stability under the reaction conditions.

In situ maleimide bridging of disulfides and a new approach to protein PEGylation.

The introduction of non-natural entities into proteins by chemical modification has numerous applications in fundamental biological science and for the development and manipulation of peptide and protein therapeutics. The reduction of native disulfide bonds provides a convenient method to access two nucleophilic cysteine residues that can serve as ideal attachment points for such chemical modification. The optimum bioconjugation strategy utilizing these cysteine residues should include the reconstruction of a bridge to mimic the role of the disulfide bond, maintaining structure and stability of the protein. Furthermore, the bridging chemical modification should be as rapid as possible to prevent problems associated with protein unfolding, aggregation, or disulfide scrambling. This study reports on an in situ disulfide reduction-bridging strategy that ensures rapid sequestration of the free cysteine residues in a bridge, using dithiomaleimides. This approach is then used to PEGylate the peptide hormone somatostatin and retention of biological activity is demonstrated.

A generic approach for the catalytic reduction of nitriles

The scope of nickel boride mediated reduction of nitriles has been extended further to allow the preparation of Boc protected amines via a mild catalytic process. It is noteworthy that the toxicity of this procedure is greatly reduced due to its catalytic nature in nickel(II) chloride used in combination with excess sodium borohydride. The protocol is marked by its resilience towards air and moisture and hence an easy and general practical protocol.

Tunable reagents for multi-functional bioconjugation: reversible or permanent chemical modification of proteins and peptides by control of maleimide hydrolysis

Controlling maleimide hydrolysis allows the modular construction of bromomaleimide-mediated bioconjugates which are either stable or cleavable in an aqueous, thiol-mediated reducing environment.

An improved synthesis of bis(1,3-di-N-tert-butylimidazol-2-ylidene)palladium(0) and its use in C–C and C–N coupling reactions

A new, improved synthesis of [Pd{CN(tBu)(CH)2N(tBu)}2] (1) and its use as a catalyst in coupling reactions, including aminations, is presented. An interesting side product formed in the synthesis of 1, [Pd(?3-C4H7){(CN(tBu)(CH) 2N(tBu)}Cl] (2), is also discussed.

Axial coordination of NHC ligands on dirhodium(II) complexes: Generation of a new family of catalysts

An efficient new methodology for the arylation of aldehydes is disclosed which uses dirhodium(II) catalysts and N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands. Complexes of Rh 2(OAc) 4 with one and two NHCs attached on the axial positions were successfully isolated, fully characterized, and used as catalysts in the reaction. The saturated monocomplex ((NHC 5)Rh 2(OAc) 4) 31 was shown to be the most active catalyst and was particularly efficient in the arylation of alkyl aldehydes. DFT calculations support participation of complexes with one axial NHC in the reaction as the catalysts active species and indicate that hydrogen bonds involving dirhodium unit, reactants, and solvent (alcohol) play an important role on the reaction mechanism.

Observations on the intramolecular Heck reactions of aromatic chlorides using palladium/imidazolium salts

The intramolecular Heck reaction of aromatic amines and ethers using palladium/imidazolium salts is described. The use of tetra-n-butylammonium halide salts facilitates the reactivity of aromatic chlorides. An unexpected and novel palladium-mediated cyclisation is also described leading to the formation of a tricyclic adduct.