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The cultivar Bianchera is an autochthonous variety from the eastern part of northern Italy, but it is also cultivated in the Slovenian and Croatian peninsula of Istria where it is named Belica (Slovenia) and Bjelica (Croatia). The properties of oleocanthal, a natural anti-inflammatory ibuprofen-like compound found in commercial monocultivar extra virgin olive oils, were determined by means of both quantitative 1HNMR (qNMR) and HPLC analyses, where qNMR was identified as a rapid and reliable method for determining the oleocanthal content. The total phenolic content (TPC) was determined by means of the Folin&ndash, Ciocalteau method and the major phenols present in the olive oils were also quantified by means of HPLC analyses. All these analyses confirmed that the cultivar Bianchera was very rich in polyphenols and satisfied the health claim provided by the EU Commission Regulation on the polyphenols content of olive oils and their beneficial effects on human health.

Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) represent very interesting tools to reach eco-friendly and sustainable transformations in organic chemistry. In particular, the Biginelli reaction furnishes a very easy approach to the synthesis of a library of biological active compounds in an academic course. Here we describe the realization of several experiments involving the synthesis of potential inhibitors of β-secretase by the Biginelli reaction. All of the obtained compounds were tested with a FRET fluorimetric assay. The experiments were proposed to students either at entry level or during advanced laboratory courses of organic and bioorganic chemistry. The learning objectives at the advanced level were to introduce the students to the practice of combinatorial synthesis and to the evaluation of biological activity of combinatorial libraries by enzyme inhibition assays. The meeting of the learning objectives was probed first by analyzing their daily performance in the laboratory and their increasing proactive attitude, and the contents of their final presentations. The resulting marks obtained by the students were compared with the average evaluation of their career. Second, the students were asked to evaluate the course and their own experience, and the outcome of their evaluation was compared with that of the teachers.

A library of dihydropyrimidinones was synthesized via a &ldquo, one-pot&rdquo, three component Biginelli reaction using different aldehydes in combination with &beta, dicarbonyl compounds and urea. Selected 2-thiooxo and 2-imino analogs were also obtained with the Biginelli reaction from thiourea and guanidine hydrochloride, respectively. The products were screened in vitro for their &beta, secretase inhibitory activity. The majority of the compounds resulted to be active, with IC50 in the range 100 nM&ndash, 50 &mu, M.

A practical and general method for the Biginelli cyclocondensation of guanidine with aldehydes and β-dicarbonyl compounds is described and illustrated with the synthesis of a set of 26 functionalized 2-amino-3,4-dihydropyrimidines. The simple protocol involves the ­microwave-mediated reaction of a twofold excess of guanidine hydrochloride with the required reaction partners in an alcohol at 120 °C. Yields are generally good, with short reaction times and a simple workup. The scope is considerably wider than that of similar reactions ­carried out under conventional heating.

The main coffee diterpenes cafestol, kahweol, and 16-O-methylcafestol, present in the bean lipid fraction, are mostly esterified with fatty acids. They are believed to induce dyslipidaemia and hypercholesterolemia when taken with certain types of coffee brews. The study of their binding to serum albumins could help explain their interactions with biologically active xenobiotics. We investigated the interactions occurring between cafestol and 16-O-methylcafestol palmitates with Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), Human Serum Albumin (HSA), and Fatty Free Human Serum Albumin (ffHSA) by means of circular dichroism and fluorimetry. Circular Dichroism (CD) revealed a slight change (up to 3%) in the secondary structure of fatty-free human albumin in the presence of the diterpene esters, suggesting that the aliphatic chain of the palmitate partly occupies one of the fatty acid sites of the protein. A warfarin displacement experiment was performed to identify the binding site, which is probably close but not coincident with Sudlow site I, as the affinity for warfarin is enhanced. Fluorescence quenching titrations revealed a complex behaviour, with Stern&ndash, Volmer constants in the order of 103&ndash, 104 Lmol&minus, 1. A model of the HSA-warfarin-cafestol palmitate complex was obtained by docking, and the most favourable solution was found with the terpene palmitate chain inside the FA4 fatty acid site and the cafestol moiety fronting warfarin at the interface with site I.

A simple laboratory procedure for the isolation of pure cafestol and 16-O-methylcafestol together with β-sitosterol from coffee is disclosed. Cafestol and 16-O-methylcafestol have been exhaustively characterized through 1D and 2D 1H, 13C NMR, CD and X-ray diffraction. For the first time, the molecular structure of cafestol is reported and the assignment of the absolute configuration is unequivocally given by exploiting anomalous scattering of a brominated derivative.

New heteroaryl HIV-protease inhibitors bearing a carbamoyl spacer were synthesized in few steps and high yield, from commercially available homochiral epoxides. Different substitution patterns were introduced onto a given isopropanoyl-sulfonamide core that can have either H or benzyl group. The in vitro inhibition activity against recombinant protease showed a general beneficial effect of both carbamoyl moiety and the benzyl group, ranging the IC50 values between 11 and 0.6 nM. In particular, benzofuryl and indolyl derivatives showed IC50 values among the best for such structurally simple inhibitors. Docking analysis allowed to identify the favorable situation of such derivatives in terms of number of interactions in the active site, supporting the experimental results. The inhibition activity was also confirmed in HEK293 mammalian cells and was maintained against protease mutants. Furthermore, the metabolic stability was comparable with that of the commercially available inhibitors.

Estrogens play a key role in cellular proliferation of estrogen-receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancers (BCs). Suppression of estrogen production by competitive inhibitors of the enzyme aromatase (AIs) is currently one of the most effective therapies against ER + BC. Yet, the development of acquired resistance, after prolonged treatments with AIs, represents a clinical major concern. Serendipitous findings indicate that aromatase may be non-competitively inhibited by clinically employed drugs and/or industrial chemicals. Here, by performing in silico screening on two putative allosteric sites, molecular dynamics and free energy simulations, supported by enzymatic and cell-based assays, we identified five leads inhibiting the enzyme via a non-active site-directed mechanism. This study provides new compelling evidences for the existence of an allosteric regulation of aromatase and for the possibility of exploiting it to modulate estrogens biosynthesis. Such modulation can aptly reduce side effects caused by the complete estrogen deprivation therapy, and, possibly, delay/avoid the onset of resistance. (C) 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Chlorogenic acids are secondary metabolites in diverse plants. Some chlorogenic acids extracted from traditional medicinal plants are known for their healing properties, e.g., against viral infections. Also, green coffee beans are a rich source of chlorogenic acids, with 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid being the most abundant chlorogenic acid in coffee. We previously reported the synthesis of the regioisomers of lactones, bearing different substituents on the quinidic core. Here, 3,4-O-dicaffeoyl-1,5-γ-quinide and three dimethoxycinnamoyl-γ-quinides were investigated for in vitro antiviral activities against a panel of 14 human viruses. Whereas the dimethoxycinnamoyl-γ-quinides did not show any antiviral potency in cytopathogenic effect reduction assays, 3,4-O-dicaffeoyl-1,5-γ-quinide exerted mild antiviral activity against herpes simplex viruses, adenovirus, and influenza virus. Interestingly, when the compounds were evaluated against respiratory syncytial virus, a potent antiviral effect of 3,4-O-dicaffeoyl-1,5-γ-quinide was observed against both subtypes of respiratory syncytial virus, with EC50 values in the submicromolar range. Time-of-addition experiments revealed that this compound acts on an intracellular post-entry replication step. Our data show that 3,4-O-dicaffeoyl-1,5-γ-quinide is a relevant candidate for lead optimization and further mechanistic studies, and warrants clinical development as a potential anti-respiratory syncytial virus drug.

The four-step conversion of a series of N-Boc-protected l-amino acid methyl esters into enantiopure N-Boc allylamines by a modified Julia olefination is described. Key steps include the reaction of a lithiated phenylalkylsulfone with amino esters, giving chiral β-ketosulfones, and the reductive elimination of related α-acetoxysulfones. The overall transformation takes place under mild conditions, with good yields, and without loss of stereochemical integrity, being in this respect superior to the conventional Julia reaction of α-amino aldehydes.

The anthranilic acid diamides represent the more recent class of nonpeptide CCK(1) receptor antagonists. This class is characterized by the presence of anthranilic acid, used as a molecular scaffold, and two pharmacophores selected from the C-terminal tetrapeptide of CCK. The lead compound coded VL-0395, endowed with sub-micromolar affinity towards CCK(1) receptors, was characterized by the presence of Phe and 2-indole moiety at the C- and N-termini of anthranilic acid, respectively. Herein we describe the first step of the anthranilic acid C-terminal optimization using, instead of Phe, aminoacids belonging to the primary structure of CCK-8 and other not coded residues. Thus we demonstrate that the CCK(1) receptor affinity depends on the nature of the aminoacidic side chain as well as that the free carboxy group of the alpha-aminoacids is crucial for the binding. The R enantiomers of the most active compounds represent the eutomers of this class of antagonists confirming thus the stereo preference of the receptor. Moreover this SAR study demonstrates that the receptor binding pocket, that host the aminoacidic side chain, results much more tolerant respect to that accommodating the indole ring. As a result, an appropriate variation of the aminoacidic side chain could provide a better CCK(1) receptor affinity diorthosis.

Several fluorescent molecularly imprinted nanogels for the detection of the anticancer drug sunitinib were synthesized and characterised. A selection of functional monomers based on different aminoacids and coumarin allowed isolation of polymers with very good rebinding properties and sensitivities. The direct detection of sunitinib in human plasma was successfully demonstrated by fluorescence quenching of the coumarin-based nanogels. The plasma sample simply diluted in DMSO allowed the recovery of various amounts of sunitib, as determined by an averaged calibration curve. The LOD was 400 nM, with within-run variability < 9%, day to day variability < 5%, and good accuracy in the recovery of sunitinib from spiked samples.

A new pseudopeptide epoxide inhibitor, designed for irreversible binding to HIV protease (HIV-PR), has been synthesized and characterized in solution and in the solid state. However, the crystal structure of the complex obtained by inhibitor–enzyme cocrystallization revealed that a minor isomer, with inverted configuration of the epoxide carbons, has been selected by HIV-PR during crystallization. The structural characterization of the well-ordered pseudopeptide, inserted in the catalytic channel with its epoxide group intact, provides deeper insights into inhibitor binding and HIV-PR stereoselectivity, which aids development of future epoxide-based HIV inhibitors.

New structurally simple indolic non peptidic HIV Protease inhibitors were synthesized from (S)- glycidol by regioselective methods. Following the concept of targeting the protein backbone, different substitution patterns were introduced onto the common stereodefined isopropanolamine core modifying the type of functional group on the indole, the position of the functional group on the indole and the type of the nitrogen containing group (sulfonamides or perhydroisoquinoline), alternatively. The systematic study on in vitro inhibition activity of such compounds confirmed the general beneficial effect of the 5-indolyl substituents in presence of arylsulfonamide moieties, which furnished activities in the micromolar range. Preliminary docking analysis allowed to identify several key features of the binding mode of such compounds to the protease.

A computational investigation of the specific optical rotation and of the electronic circular dichroism spectra of two chiral 1,4-dihydropyridazines was performed and compared with existing experimental data to verify a previous assignment of their absolute configuration based on a well-accepted mechanism of catalysis of the organocatalyst used in their synthesis. Both the optical rotation and circular dichroism calculations indicate that the absolute configuration is opposite to the one assigned on the basis of the mechanism originally assumed. An alternative reaction mechanism is therefore suggested.

Multidrug efflux pump inhibitors have a great potential as pharmacological agents that increase the drug susceptibility of bacterial pathogens. Our study was focused on the synthesis and evaluation of the efficiency of resistance-nodulation-division (RND) family efflux pump inhibitors. The efficiency of these inhibitors was investigated on Salmonella enterica ser. typhimurium cells using tetraphenylphosphonium (TPP(+) ) and ethidium cations as the efflux pump substrates. Results of our study indicated that efficiency of the inhibitors depends on the cell outer membrane permeability and method of the assay used. Temperature of the incubation medium and a solvent of the inhibitor used have only minor effect on results of the assay.

We have identified a 101-amino-acid polypeptide derived from the sequence surrounding the IIA binding site of human albumin. The polypeptide contains residues that make contact with ligands as warfarin in the parent protein, and eight cysteine residues to form disulfide bridges, which stabilize the polypeptide structure. Seventy-four amino acids are located in six [alpha]-helical regions, with the remaining amino acids forming six connecting coil/loop regions. Codon usage optimization was used to express a GST fusion protein in E. coli in yields as high as 4 mg/l. This fusion protein retains its structural integrity and aldolase activity, the ability to direct the stereochemical outcome of a diketone reduction, and its binding capacity to warfarin and efavirenz. Notably, this newly cloned polypeptide represents a valuable starting point for the construction of libraries of binders and catalysts with improved proficiency.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of a new series of potential HIV-1 protease inhibitors incorporating different heterocycles are described. The variation of heteroatom in such molecules has displayed totally different biological activities and a benzothiophene containing inhibitor has shown high potency against wild type HIV-1 protease with IC50 = 60 nM, thanks to the lower desolvation penalty to be payed by such hydrophobic moiety.

The reduction of 1,3-diketones and beta-hydroxyketones with NaBH4 in aqueous acetonitrile is highly stereoselective in the presence of stoichiometric amounts of bovine or human albumin, giving anti 1,3-diols with d.e. up to 96%. The same reaction, without albumin, gives syn and anti 1,3-diols in approximately 1 : 1 ratios. The presence of an aromatic carbonyl group is essential for diastereoselectivity in the NaBH4/albumin reduction of both 1,3-diketones and beta-hydroxyketones. Thus, 3-hydroxy-1-(p-tolyl)-1-butanone is stereoselectively reduced in the presence of albumin, while reduction of its isomer 4-(p-tolyl)-4-hydroxy-2-butanone is not stereoselective. The albumin-controlled reduction is not stereospecific as both enantiomers of 1-aryl-3-hydroxy-1-butanones are reduced to diols with identical stereoselectivities. Circular dichroism of the bound substrates confirms that aromatic ketones are recognized by the protein’s IIA binding site. Binding studies also suggest that 1,3-diketones are recognized in their enol form. From the effect of pH on binding of a diketone it is concluded that, in the complex with the substrate, ionizable residues His242 and Lys199 are in the neutral and protonated forms, respectively. A homology model of BSA was obtained and docking of model substrates confirms the preference of the protein for aromatic ketones. Modelling of the complexes with the substrates also allows to propose a mechanism for the reduction of 1,3-diketones in which the chemoselective reduction of the first (aliphatic) carbonyl is followed by the diastereoselective reduction of the second (aromatic) carbonyl. The role of albumin is thus a combination of chemo- and stereocontrol.

We have synthesized and evaluated a small set of dual action HIV-Protease inhibitors, consisting of a catalytic site reversible inhibitor conjugated with a dimerization peptidic inhibitor, linked via a suitable selective end-modified poly(ethylene glycol), in an effort to obtain a synergistic effect with improved biological behaviour and more powerful pharmacological features, such as water solubility and cell permeability. Low nanomolar activity and synergism were obtained by coupling a Phenylalanine – Proline pseudopeptide catalytic site inhibitor and the Val-Val-Phe tripeptide dimerization inhibitor.

The cis - and trans -4-benzylparaconic acids and their ethyl esters were synthesized with high enantiomeric excess by hydrolysis of the corresponding diastereomeric lactonic esters using α-chymotrypsin. Thus, at low conversion values, cis - and trans -4-benzyl-5-oxo-3-tetrahydrofurancarboxylic acids were separately isolated with 99% ee and 92% ee, respectively. Both ethyl ester diastereomers were also obtained in enantiopure form. The absolute configuration of the trans -lactonic acid was assigned by 1 H NMR analysis of its ester derivatives with both enantiomers of 1-(9-anthryl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, while that of the cis -lactonic acid was assigned by means of X-ray analysis of a crystalline derivative. The circular dichroism curves of the products obtained are also reported.

Discovery by co-crystallization: High-resolution electron-density maps of HIV-1 aspartyl protease complexed with a potent Phe–Pro isostere-based inhibitor (shown) allowed the determination of the stereochemistry of the inhibitor and an initial assessment of the inhibition properties of this compound without its purification from the epimeric mixture.

An efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of a versatile intermediate bearing azido, hydroxyl and ester functions, a useful precursor for peptidomimetic compounds. The two main features for this synthesis were the use of the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation on thiophene acrylate and the subsequent regioselective ring opening by sodium azide of the cyclic sulfite. Highly chemoselective reduction of the azido alcohol led to a key compound which was utilized for the synthesis of two analogues of commercial anti HIV PR such as nelfinavir and saquinavir. The biological activity and molecular modelling study on these two new potential drugs have been evaluated.

Lipase PS acetylation of diastereomeric dihydro-4-hydroxymethyl-2(3H)-furanones bearing a methyl or a pentyl group at C-5 have been studied. Higher enantioselectivities were found for the cis-isomers with respect to the trans-isomers. They were also higher for the systems bearing the longer alkyl chain. Lipase PS-catalyzed hydrolyses of racemic acetates were found to follow the same trend, although the efficiency of the enzyme was lower than in the acetylation reactions. These results were supported by molecular modelling studies that correctly predicted the maximum stereoselectivity for the cis-isomer of 5-pentyl substituted lactones both in acetylation and in hydrolysis reactions.

Here we report the results of a docking analysis carried out on the homology model of the variable fragment (Fv) region of antibody 312d6. A novel catalytic motif based on an arginine dyad, unprecedented in antibody hydrolases, is identified by this study.

The synthesis of a novel hapten containing a 1,4-diamino-2,3-diolbutane core unit is described. The molecule contains four stereogenic centres and has been synthesised via a stereoselective route. The absolute stereochemistry of each stereogenic carbon atom has been assigned by nuclear Overhauser effect experiments carried out on a number of derivatives. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[reaction: see text] The stereoselective synthesis of a novel proline-containing dipeptide isostere is described. Starting from l-valine, three new contiguous stereocenters are generated by asymmetric induction and epoxide chemistry, while the pyrrolidine ring of proline is introduced in the final step via intramolecular ring opening of the amino acid derived epoxyamine. Proline-containing peptidomimetics are potentially attractive as selective inhibitors of proline-specific enzymes, such as PPIases and retroviral proteases, and as analogues of bioactive peptides.

Recently we described an innovative class of non-peptide CCK 1 antagonists keeping appropriate pharmacophoric groups on the anthranilic acid employed as a molecular scaffold. The lead compound obtained, VL-0395 , characterized by the presence of Phe and the 2-indole moiety at the C- and N-termini of anthranilic acid, respectively, is endowed with submicromolar affinity towards CCK 1 receptors. Thus, we have prepared and tested on CCK receptors a library of VL-0395 analogues in order to investigate the precise topological and essential key interactions of the 2-indole group of the lead with the CCK 1 receptor. The obtained results confirm that this group establishes very specific interactions with this receptor sub-site and may be viewed as a “needle” group.

Having successfully obtained new CCK 1 ligands holding appropriate groups on the anthranilic acid dimer used as molecular scaffold we were interested in increasing their micromolar affinity for the CCK 1 receptors by modifying the spatial relationship of the main pharmacophoric groups. Since, we have proposed simplified analogues reducing the anthranilic acid dimer to a monomer. In this stage of our research program we have prepared and tested on CCK receptors a series of N -substituted anthranilic acid derivatives keeping a Phe residue at the C-terminal site. The indole-2-carbonyl group imparts the best CCK 1 receptor binding affinity (compound 1 : IC 50 =197.5 nM) while a sharp decrease in binding affinity is observed for the other indole containing derivatives. Moreover, in order to support the different binding behaviour observed for the synthesized compounds, a conformational investigation was carried out. Finally, on the basis of the main pharmacophoric groups of the obtained new lead compound ( 1 ) (coded VL-0395 ) a receptor binding hypothesis has been provided.

4-Acyl-1H-1,2,3-triazoles are formed from diethylaluminum azide and α′-(N,N-dibenzylamino)-α,β-unsaturated ketones by [3+2] cycloaddition of azide, followed by 1,5 hydride transfer to the β carbon of the triazoline side chain and fragmentation of the tertiary amino group promoted by coordination of the latter to the Lewis acid. The structure of a triazole product is confirmed by X-ray crystallography.

We have extended a highly flexible method for rapidly assembling aspartic protease inhibitors to produce symmetric and asymmetric monohydroxyethylene peptidomimetics. This method is based on the prior synthesis of the central non-cleavable peptide-bond isostere [NH(2)-P(1)psiP1'-NH(2); psi=hydroxyethylene isostere, HNCH(Bz)CHOHCH(2)CH(Bz)NH], with the possibility of accurately controlling its stereochemistry (S,S,S or S,R,S), and subsequently adding appropriate flanking units, chosen from commercially available amino acids, aromatic carboxylic acids, or phenoxyacetic acid (Poa) derivatives. The method was used to make asymmetric inhibitors of general formula Kyn-Xaa-PhepsiPhe-dmPoa, (Kyn=kynurenic acid, Xaa=Val, Thr or D-thienylglycine, M(r)=716-754) and symmetric inhibitors of formula xPoa-PhepsiPhe-xPoa (xPoa=Poa or dimethyl-, hydroxy-, formyl- or acetyl-Poa, M(r)=553-609), with logP(o/w) values ranging from 4.1 to 7.6. Inhibition of HIV-PR did not depend on the stereochemistry of the hydroxyl group, while it depended markedly on the substituents present on the Poa residues, with dmPoa being preferred over Poa or its more hydrophilic derivatives. Conversely, inhibition of Candida albicans Sap2 was higher for the S,S,S epimers, and Poa or its hydrophilic derivatives were preferred over dmPoa.

Amidase antibody 312d6, obtained against the sulfonamide hapten 4 a that mimics the transition state for hydrolysis of a distorted amide, accelerates the hydrolysis of the corresponding amides 1 a-3 a by a factor of 10(3) at pH 8. The mechanisms of both the uncatalyzed and antibody-catalyzed reactions were studied. Between pH 8 and 12 the uncatalyzed hydrolysis of N-toluoylindoles 1 a and 3 a shows a simple first-order dependence on [OH(-)], while hydrolysis of 3 a is zeroth-order in [OH(-)] below pH 8. The pH profile for hydrolysis of the corresponding tryptophan amide 2 a is more complex due to the dissociation of the zwitterion into an anion with pK(a) 9.74; hydrolysis of the zwitterionic and the anionic form of 2 a both show simple first-order dependence on [OH(-)]. Absence of (18)O exchange between H(2) (18)O/(18)OH(-) and the substrate, a normal SKIE for both 1 a (k(H)/k(D)=1.12) and 3 a (k(H)/k(D)=1.24) and the value of the Hammett constant rho for hydrolysis of p-substituted amides 3 a-e are consistent with an ester-like mechanism in which formation of the tetrahedral intermediate is rate-determining and the amine departs as anion. The 312d6-catalyzed hydrolysis of 3 a was studied between pH 7.5 and 9, and its independence of pH in this range indicates that water is the reacting nucleophile. Hydrolysis of 3 a is only partially inhibited by the sulfonamide hapten, and this indicates that non-specific catalysis by the protein accompanies the specific process. Only the nonspecific process is observed in the hydrolysis of amides 3 with para substituents other than methyl. Binding studies on the corresponding series of p-substituted sulfonamides 5 a-e confirm the high specificity of antibody 312d6 for p-methyl substituted substrates.

A stereoselective synthesis of hydroxyethylene dipeptide isosteres based on the 1,4-diamino-2-hydroxybutane structure is described. Horner-Emmons olefination of phosphonates derived from alpha-amino acids, stereoselective reduction of the resulting enones to allylic alcohols, and syn epoxidation of the latter lead to enantiomerically pure 1-amino-2-hydroxy-3,4-epoxybutanes, key intermediates in the synthesis. Reductive cleavage of the epoxy alcohols with Red-Al proceeds in a highly regioselective way, giving 1-amino-2,4-dihydroxybutanes, from which diamino alcohol hydroxyethylene isosteres are obtained by selective protection of the secondary 2-hydroxy group, via cyclization to 1,3-oxazolidinone, and further elaboration of the 4-hydroxy. Both C-2 epimers of 1,4-diamino-2-hydroxybutanes are accessible by appropriate choice of the conditions for cyclization. The approach is demonstrated by the synthesis of a series of six hydroxyethylene dipeptide isosteres, including the diamino alcohol core of potent HIV-protease inhibitor ritonavir 18 and its C-2 epimer 11a.

Diethylaluminium cyanide is a highly selective reagent for the ring opening of 2,3-epoxyalcohols under mild conditions; the reaction takes place at C-3, with inversion of configuration, to give 1-cyano-2,3-diols.

2,3-Epoxyalcohols react with diethylaluminium azide under mild conditions to give 3-azido-1,2-diols resulting from the regio- and stereoselective attack of the nucleophile at the epoxide C-3. The high regioselectivity (>25:1) observed with both cis and trans substituted epoxides is not affected by bulky substituents at C-3. The method has been successfully applied also to the synthesis of diaminodiol dipeptide isosteres.

the effects of water and hydrophobic solvents on the stability of the open and closed forms of R. miehei lipase were evaluated with different solvent models. Desolvation of arginine 86 at the water-lipid interface plays a key role in the activation process, while the contribution from hydrophobic stabilization of the open form is less important.

A quantitative study on the effect of ring size in the intramolecular ring opening of epoxides by carbanions is described. Two series of substrates were examined a,a-bis-sulfonyl w-epoxides 1 and a-cyano-a-sulfonyl w-epoxides 2; in each series the carbanion is tethered to the epoxide by a chain of variable length from one to four methylene groups. The nucleophile can attack either electrophilic position of the oxirane ring, or both; exo ring opening of cyano sulfonyl epoxides 2 is followed by a second cyclization leading eventually to bicyclic, fused y-lactones. Both series of epoxides show the same trend of reactivity as a function of ring size, in the formation of three- to seven-membered rings, with reactivity maxima corresponding to the formation of cyclopropane and cyclopentane derivatives. Unlike 8 N 2 ring closure of w-halogeno carbanions, cyclization to a five-membered ring is the fastest process in this case. The ratio kdk5 between formation of three- and five-membered rings drops from over 100, in the SN2 cyclization of w-iodo bis-sulfones, to less than 0.5, in the cyclization of w-epoxy bis-sulfones 1. The difference is discussed in terms of trajectory of approach of the carbanion to the nucleophilic center. Cyclization of cyano sulfonyl epoxide 2a, in which the nucleophilic center and the epoxide are spaced by a single methylene group, is diastereoselective and leads to a bicyclic product with a cis fusion between the y-lactone and the cyclopropane ring.

Bovine and human serum albumins catalyze the aldol reaction of aromatic aldehyedes and acetone, with saturation kinetics and moderate and opposite enantioselectivity. The reaction occurs at the binding site in domain IIa, and is inhibited by warfarin. Kinetic data are consistent with an enamine mechanism. The activity is conserved in a 103 aminoacid peptide derived from the albumin sequence.

A quantitative study on the effects of methyl and gem-dimethyl groups in the intramolecular ring opening of epoxides by bis-sulfonyl carbanions is reported for the formation of cyclopropanes. Reaction rates are increased by methyl groups on the chain connecting the nucleophile with the oxirane and depressed by methyl substitution in the epoxide ring. When gem-dimethyl groups are present on the epoxide, ring opening is apparently inhibited. It will be shown that in this case the reaction is reversible and the apparent stabilization of the gem-dimethyl- substituted oxirane is actually due to a combination of effects on both the forward and the reverse reactions. On the basis of current theories on intramolecular reactions, it is suggested that release of ground-state strain and van der Waals repulsions in the transition state can account for the observed reactivity.

The synthesis of four isomers of p -coumaroylquinic acids was performed by esterification of p -acetylcoumaroylchloride with a suitably protected (−)-quinic acid. All isomers have been characterized by means of NMR spectroscopy and circular dichroism. Acyl migration was observed in the synthesis of 3- O - p -coumaroylquinic acid and 4- O - p -coumaroylquinic acid. Calculations on the most stable conformations of all isomers have also been performed to explain the acyl migration observed during the synthesis procedure.

Two peptidomimetic inhibitors based on a novel epoxyalcohol core were designed to target the epoxide ring at the catalytic aspartates of HIV-protease for irreversible inhibition of the enzyme. The inhibitors were synthesized with a multi-step approach which includes Horner-Emmons olefination of a phenylalanine-derived phosphono ketone, stereoselective reduction of the resulting trans-enones to allylic alcohols and syn-epoxidation of the latters. The epoxyalcohols thus obtained were assayed for their ability to inhibit HIV-PR and were shown to inhibit the protease with IC50 values of 39 and 150 µM, respectively. This confirms that the designed epoxides are recognised with fairly good affinity by the enzyme’s active site, a pre-requisite for selective irreversible inhibition.