Divergent Synthesis of Primary Amides via Modular Dearomative Carbamoylations of Areneπ-Systems

In sharp contrast to the well researched and well developed aminocarbonylation of alkenes,the dearomative carbamoylation of abundant areneπ-systems has scarcely been studied despite its great potential to enrich the diversity-oriented synthesis of high-value amides.The formidable challenges associated with such dearomatization include the low reactivity of stable aromaticπ-systems and intricate selectivity issues.Herein,we disclose a general approach toward highly selective dearomative carbamoylations of areneπ-bonds under CO-gas-free conditions.Its extraordinary versatility was demonstrated by tolerating a broad range of nucleophilic partners with high yields and excellent selectivities,thus providing modular access to the divergent synthesis ofβ-functionalized primary amides.In addition,diverse downstream derivatizations including a formal C–H 1,2-olefination/carbamoylation reaction were conducted,exhibiting great potential in synthetic and medicinal chemistry.

Nickel-Catalyzed Reductive Asymmetric Aryl-Acylation and Aryl-Carbamoylation of Unactivated Alkenes

Herein we report a nickel-catalyzed asymmetric two-component reductive aryl-acylation and arylcarbamoylation of aryl-iodide-tethered unactivated alkenes,which utilize ortho-pyridinyl esters and isocyanates as the electrophilic acyl sources,respectively.Under the catalysis of a nickel–pyrox complex with zinc powder as the reductant,a variety of chiral indanes,indolines,and dihydrobenzofurans bearing a quaternary stereogenic center were prepared in moderate to high efficiency and good to excellent enantioselectivities.The utility of this method is demonstrated by various simple derivatizations of the attached carbonyl group,particularly the sequential benzylic oxidation and pinacol coupling,which provide a concise entry to the benzene-fused bicyclic bridged ring framework containing three challenging tetrasubstituted stereocenters in high stereocontrol.

Improved method increases sensitivity for circulating hepatocellular carcinoma cells

AIM:To improve an asialoglycoprotein receptor(ASGPR)-based enrichment method for detection of circulating tumor cells(CTCs)of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS:Peripheral blood samples were collected from healthy subjects,patients with HCC or various other cancers,and patients with hepatic lesions or hepatitis.CTCs were enriched from whole blood by extracting CD45-expressing leukocytes with monoclonal antibody coated-beads following density gradient centrifugation.The remaining cells were cytocentrifuged on polylysine-coated slides.Isolated cells were treated by triple immunofluorescence staining with CD45antibody and a combination of antibodies against ASGPR and carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1(CPS1),used as liver-specific markers,and costained with DAPI.The cell slide was imaged and stained tumor cells that met preset criteria were counted.Recovery,sensitivity and specificity of the detection methods were determined and compared by spiking experiments with various types of cultured human tumor cell lines.Expression of ASGPR and CPS1 in cultured tumor cells and tumor tissue specimens was analyzed by flow cytometry and triple immunofluorescence staining,respectively.RESULTS:CD45 depletion of leukocytes resulted in a significantly greater recovery of multiple amounts of spiked HCC cells than the ASGPR+selection(P s<0.05).The expression rates of either ASGPR or CPS1were different in various liver cancer cell lines,ranging between 18%and 99%for ASGPR and between 9%and 98%for CPS1.In both human HCC tissues and liver cancer cell lines,there were a few HCC cells that did not stain positive for ASGPR or CPS1.The mixture of monoclonal antibodies against ASGPR and CPS1identified more HCC cells than either antibody alone.However,these antibodies did not detect any tumor cells in blood samples spiked with the human breastcancer cell line MCF-7 and the human renal cancer cell line A498.ASGPR+or/and CPS1+CTCs were detected in 29/32(91%)patients with HCC,but not in patients with any other kind of cancer or any of the other test subjects.Furthermore,the improved method detected a higher CTC count in all patients examined than did the previous method(P=0.001),and consistently achieved 12%-21%higher sensitivity of CTC detection in all seven HCC patients with more than 40 CTCs.CONCLUSION:Negative depletion enrichment combined with identification using a mixture of antibodies against ASGPR and CPS1 improves sensitivity and specificity for detecting circulating HCC cells.

Synthesis and anti-inflammatory-analgesic activity of 2',4'-difluoro-3-(carbamoyl)biphenyl-4-yl benzoates

Eighteen 2′,4′-difluoro-3-（carbamoyl）biphenyl-4-yl benzoates were synthesized from diflunisal in three steps with total yields from 72% to 86%. All compounds were identified by IR, 1^H NMR, MS and elemental analysis. The anti-inflammatory activity and analgesic activity for 18 compounds were evaluated. The preliminary assay results showed that compounds 4a and 4p exhibited potent anti-inflammatory-analgesic activity.

Oxidation of Difluorocarbene by Pyridine N-Oxide and Ensuing Access to Carbamoyl Fluorides

A practical one-pot preparation of carbamoyl fluorides from easily obtained pyridine N-oxide,commercially available secondary amines and synthetically versatile difluorocarbene precursors(Ruppert-Prakash reagent or Chen's reagent)was developed herein,which dexterously resorted to the oxidation of difluorocarbene by external pyridine N-oxide to produce the toxic and gaseous fluorophosgene in situ.Notable features of this method include nice functionality tolerance,late-stage modification of drug molecules and the recoveryand recycle of quinoline.

The Study of Carbamoyl Phosphate Synthetase 1 Deficiency Sheds Light on the Mechanism for Switching On/Off the Urea Cycle

Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase i （CPS1） deficiency （CPS1D） is an inborn error of the urea cycle having autosomal （2q34） recessive inheritance that can cause hyperammonemia and neonatal death or mental retardation. We analyzed the effects on CPS1 activity, kinetic parameters and enzyme stability of missense mutations reported in patients with CPS1 deficiency that map in the 20-kDa C-terminal domain of the enzyme. This domain turns on or off the enzyme depending on whether the essential allosteric activator of CPS 1, N-acetyl- L-glutamate （NAG）, is bound or is not bound to it. To carry out the present studies, we exploited a novel system that allows the expression in vitro and the purification of human CPS1, thus permitting site-directed mutagenesis. These studies have clarified disease causation by individual mutations, identifying functionally important residues, and revealing that a number of mutations decrease the affinity of the enzyme for NAG. Patients with NAG affinity-decreasing mutations might benefit from NAG site saturation therapy with N-carbamyl-L- glutamate （a registered drug, the analog of NAG）. Our results, together with additional present and prior site-directed mutagenesis data for other residues mapping in this domain, suggest an NAG-triggered conformational change in the 134-~4 loop of the C-terminal domain of this enzyme. This change might be an early event in the NAG activation process. Molecular dynamics simulations that were restrained according to the observed effects of the mutations are consistent with this hypothesis, providing further backing for this structurally plausible signaling mechanism by which NAG could trigger urea cycle activation via CPS1.

Regulation of the urea cycle by CPS1 O-GlcNAcylation in response to dietary restriction and aging

O-linked N-acetyl-glucosamine glycosylation(O-GlcNAcylation)of intracellular proteins is a dynamic process broadly implicated in age-related disease,yet it remains uncharacterized whether and how O-GlcNAcylation contributes to the natural aging process.O-GlcNAc transferase(OGT)and the opposing enzyme O-GlcNAcase(OGA)control this nutrient-sensing protein modification in cells.Here,we show that global O-GlcNAc levels are increased in multiple tissues of aged mice.In aged liver,carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1(CPS1)is among the most heavilyO-GlcNAcylated proteins.CPS1O-GlcNAcylation is reversed by calorie restriction and is sensitive to genetic and pharmacological manipulations of theO-GlcNAc pathway.High glucose stimulates CPS1O-GlcNAcylation and inhibits CPS1 activity.Liver-specific deletion of OGT potentiates CPS1 activity and renders CPS1 irresponsive to further stimulation by a prolonged fasting.Our results identify CPS1 O-GlcNAcylation as a key nutrient-sensing regulatory step in the urea cycle during aging and dietary restriction,implying a role for mitochondrial O-GlcNAcylation in nutritional regulation of longevity.

A novel and efficient strategy for the synthesis of various carbamates using carbamoyl chlorides under solvent-free and grinding conditions using microwave irradiation

We present an efficient, fast and simple strategy of generating the intermediate carbamoyl chlorides from secondary amines using stoichiometric amounts of bis（trichloromethyl）carbonate （BTC） in solution and solvent-free conditions with excellent yields. The results obtained showed the yield increasing on whether a base was used. Finally, an efficient and rapid synthesis of variety carbamate derivatives was developed by the reaction with a high variety of different alcohols, phenols, diols and this intermediate at room temperature with grinding and in solvent-free conditions under microwave irradiation. The presence of various safe bases is shown to be effective in reducing the reaction times, increasing the yields and easing purification. The present method does not involve any hazardous phosgene.

KI Catalyzed Nitrogenation of Aldehydes and Alcohols： Direct Synthesis of Carbamoyl Azides and Ureas

An efficient KI catalyzed nitrogenation of aldehydes and alcohols for the direct synthesis of carbamoyl azides and ureas via a radical process has been developed. The simple operating procedures, the readily available starting materials including aldehydes, alcohols and amines, as well as the utility of the products all make this strategy very attractive.

Copper catalyzed borylative cyclization of 3-arylallyl carbamoyl chloride with B_(2)pin_(2):stereoselective synthesis of cis-2-aryl-3-boryl-γ-lactams

Borylative cyclization of E-3-arylallyl carbamoyl chlorides is achieved through copper catalyzed intramolecular carboboration with B_(2)pin_(2).2-Aryl-3-boryl-γ-lactams are formed with exclusive cisdiastereoselectivity.CuBr-Dppp combination gives the best outcomes.The substrate scope is profiled.