Synthesis of (2S,4S)-2-Substituted-3- (3-Sulfanylpropanoyl)-6- Oxohexahydropyrimidine-4-Carboxylic Acids as Potential Antihypertensive Drugs

Proceeding from natural amino acid L-asparagine and commercially available aldehydes a stereoselective synthesis was developed of (2S,4S)-2-alkyl(aryl)-3-(3-sulfanylpropanoyl)-6-oxohexahy- dropyrimidine-4-carboxylic acids, potential antihypertensive drugs, inhibitors of the angiotensin converting enzyme.

Crystal Structures of 2-Aminobenzothiazole-based Inhibitors in Complexes with Urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator （uPA） plays a crucial role in the regulation of plasminogen activation, tumor cell adhesion and migration. The inhibition of uPA activity is a promising mechanism for anti-cancer therapy. Most current uPA inhibitors employ a highly basic group （either amidine or guanidine group） to target the S1 pocket of uPA active site, which leads to poor oral bioavailability. Here we study the possibility of using less basic 2-aminobenzothiazole （ABT） as S1 pocket binding group. We report the crystal structures of uPA complexes with ABT or 2-amino-benzothiazole-6-carboxylic acid ethyl ester （ABTCE）. The inhibitory constants of these two inhibitors were measured by a chromogenic competitive assay, and it was found that ABTCE is a better inhibitor for uPA （Ki = 656 μM） than ABT （Ki = 5.03 mM）. This work shows that 2-amniobenzothiazole can be used as P1 group which may have better oral bioavailability than the commonly used amidine or guanidine group. We also found the ethyl ester group occupies the characteristic oxyanion hole and contacts to uPA 37- and 60-loops. Such work provides structural information for further improvements of potency and selectivity of this new class of uPA inhibitor.

Regioselective Direct Carboxylation of 2-Naphthol with Supercritical CO₂in the Presence of K₂CO₃

A direct regioselective preparation of 2-hydroxynaphthalene-6-carboxylic acid, a useful industrial intermediate of aro-matic polyester from 2-naphthol was conducted by use of excess amount of K2CO3 (10-fold molar to 2-naphthol) under supercritical CO2 at 10 MPa and 473 K. The obtained yield under this condition was ca. 20 mol% to 2-naphthol. The further investigations may provide an alternative process to the conventional Kolbe-Schmitt reaction, because of no use of strong alkali and recoverability of K2CO3. Theoretical explanation about the regioselectivity was achieved by means of DFT calculations.

A Facile Synthesis of 9,10-Dimethoxybenzo[6,7]- ox-epino[3,4-<i>b</i>]quinolin-13(6<i>H</i>)-one and Its Derivatives

A concise and efficient method for the synthesis of novel 9,10-imethoxybenzo[6,7]oxepino[3,4-b]quinolin13(6H)-one and its derivatives 7a-p has been developed via the intramolecular Friedel-Crafts acylation reactions of 6,7-dimethoxy-2-(phenoxymethyl)quinoline-3-carboxylic acids 6a-p with polyphosphoric acid (PPA) as catalyst and solvent under mild conditions. The key intermediates 6a-p were prepared through the in situ formation of ethyl 6,7-dimethoxy-2-(phenoxymethyl)quinoline-3-carboxylates 5a-p followed by hydrolysis with aqueous ethanolic sodium hydroxide solution. The novel synthetic method has the advantages of good yields, easy work-up, and environmentally friendly character, which may provide a novel highly efficient process for making quinoline and related azaheterocycle libraries.