Publikationen - Natur- und Wirkstoffchemie

Reactions of fac-[PtMe3(4,4′-R2bpy)(Me2CO)][BF4] (R = H, 1a; tBu, 1b) and fac-[PtMe3(OAc-κ2O,O′)(Me2CO)] (2), respectively, with thioglycosides containing thioethyl (ch-SEt) and thioimidate (ch-STaz, Taz = thiazoline-2-yl) anomeric groups led to the formation of the carbohydrate platinum(IV) complexes fac-[PtMe3(4,4′-R2bpy)(ch*)][BF4] (ch* = ch-SEt, 8–14; ch-STaz, 15–23) and fac-[PtMe3(OAc-κ2O,O′)(ch*)] (ch* = ch-SEt, 24–28; ch-STaz = 29–35), respectively. NMR (1H, 13C, 195Pt) spectroscopic investigations and a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of 19 (ch-STaz = 2-thiazolinyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-1-thio-β-D-galactopyranose) revealed the S coordination of the ch-SEt glycosides and the N coordination of the ch-STaz glycosides. Furthermore, X-ray structure analyses of the two decomposition products fac-[PtMe3(bpy)(STazH-κS)][BF4] (21a) and 1,6-anhydro-2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-β-D-glucopyranose (23a), where a cleavage of the anomeric C–S bond had occurred in both cases, gave rise to the assumption that this decomposition was mediated due to coordination of the thioglycosides to the high electrophilic platinum(IV) atom, in non-strictly dried solutions. Reactions of fac-[PtMe3(Me2CO)3][BF4] (3) with ch-SEt as well as with ch-SPT and ch-Sbpy thioglycosides (PT = 4-(pyridine-2-yl)-thiazole-2-yl; bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine-6-yl), having N,S and N,N heteroaryl anomeric groups, respectively, led to the formation of platinum(IV) complexes of the type fac-[PtMe3(ch*)][BF4] (ch* = ch-SEt, 36–40, ch-SPT 42–44, ch-Sbpy45, 46). The thioglycosides were found to be coordinated in a tridentate κS,κ2O,O′, κS,κN,κO and κS,κ2N,N′ coordination mode, respectively. Analogous reactions with ch-STaz ligands succeeded for 2-thiazolinyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-6-O-(2,2′-bipyridine-6-yl)-1-thio-β-D-glucopyranoside (5h) resulting in fac-[PtMe3(ch-STaz)][BF4] (41, ch-STaz = 5h), having a κ3N,N′,N′′coordinated thioglycoside ligand.

Reactions of [PtMe3(bpy)(Me2CO)][BF4] (2) with the thionucleobases 2-thiouracil (s2Ura), 4-thiouracil (s4Ura) and 2,4-dithiouracil (s2s4Ura) resulted in the formation of complexes of the type [PtMe3(bpy)(L-κS)][BF4] (L = s2Ura, 3; s4Ura, 4; s2s4Ura, 5). The complexes were characterized by NMR spectroscopy (1H, 13C, 195Pt), IR spectroscopy as well as microanalyses. The coordination through the C4S groups (4, 5) was additionally confirmed by DFT calculations, where it was shown that these complexes [PtMe3(bpy)(L-κS4)]+ (L = s4Ura, s2s4Ura) are about 5.8 (4b) and 3.3 kcal/mol (5b), respectively, more stable than the respective complexes, having thiouracil ligands bound through the C2X groups (X = O, 4a; S, 5a). For [PtMe3(bpy)(s2Ura-κS2)][BF4] (3) no preferred coordination mode could be assigned solely based on DFT calculations. Analysis of NMR spectra showed the κS2 coordination. In vitro cytotoxic studies of complexes 3−5 on nine different cell lines (8505C, A253, FaDu, A431, A549, A2780, DLD-1, HCT-8, HT-29) revealed in most cases moderate activities. However, 3 and 5 showed significant activity towards A549 and A2780, respectively, possessing IC50 values comparable to those of cisplatin. Cell cycle perturbations and trypan blue exclusion test on cancer cell line A431 using [PtMe3(bpy)(s2s4Ura-κS4)][BF4] (5) showed induction of apoptotic cell death. Furthermore, the reaction of [PtMe3(OAc-κ2O,O′)(Me2CO)] (6) with 4-thiouracil yielded the dinuclear complex [(PtMe3)2(μ-s4Ura–H)2] (7), which has been characterized by microanalysis, NMR (1H, 13C, 195Pt) and IR spectroscopy as well as ESI mass spectrometry. X-ray diffraction analysis of crystals yielded in an isolated case exhibited the presence of a hexanuclear thiouracilato platinum(IV) complex, possessing each three different kinds of methyl platinum(IV) moieties and 4-thiouracilato ligands. This exhibited the ability of 4-thiouracil platinum(IV) complexes to form multinuclear complexes.

Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) that provide in the final product amides are suitable to produce peptides and peptide-like moieties. The Passerini and Staudinger reactions provide one amide bond, and the Ugi-four-component reaction generates two amides from three or even four (or more) components, respectively. The Ugi-reaction thus is most important to produce peptides and peptoids while the Passerini reaction is useful to generate depsipeptoid moieties. In order to produce cyclic peptides and pseudopeptides, the linear peptidic MCR products have to be cyclized, usually with the help of bifunctional or activatable building blocks. Orthogonal but cyclizable secondary functionalities that need no protection in isonitrile MCRs commonly include alkenes (for ring closing metathesis), azide/alkyne (for Huisgen click reactions) or dienes and enoates (Diels-Alder) etc. If MCR-reactive groups are to be used also for the cyclisation, monoprotected bifunctional building blocks are used and deprotected after the MCR, e.g. for Ugi reactions as Ugi-Deprotection-Cyclisation (UDC). Alternatively one of the former building blocks or functional groups generated by the MCR can be activated. Most commonly these are activated amides (from so-called convertible isonitriles) which can be used e.g. for Ugi-Activation-Cyclisation (UAC) protocols, or most recently for a simultaneous use of both strategies Ugi-Deprotection/Activation-Cyclisation (UDAC). These methods mostly lead to small, medicinally relevant peptide turn mimics. In an opposing strategy, the MCR is rather used as ring-closing reaction, thereby introducing a (di-)peptide moiety. Most recently these processes have been combined to use MCRs for both, linear precursor synthesis and cyclisation. These multiple MCR approaches allow the most efficient and versatile one pot synthesis of macrocyclic pseudopeptides known to date.

Acylation is a prevalent chemical modification that to a significant extent accounts for the tremendous diversity of plant metabolites. To catalyze acyl transfer reactions, higher plants have evolved acyltransferases that accept β-acetal esters, typically 1-O-glucose esters, as an alternative to the ubiquitously occurring CoA-thioester-dependent enzymes. Shared homology indicates that the β-acetal ester-dependent acyltransferases are derived from a common hydrolytic ancestor of the Serine CarboxyPeptidase (SCP) type, giving rise to the name Serine CarboxyPeptidase-Like (SCPL) acyltransferases. We have analyzed structure–function relationships, reaction mechanism and sequence evolution of Arabidopsis 1-O-sinapoyl-β-glucose:l-malate sinapoyltransferase (AtSMT) and related enzymes to investigate molecular changes required to impart acyltransferase activity to hydrolytic enzymes. AtSMT has maintained the catalytic triad of the hydrolytic ancestor as well as part of the H-bond network for substrate recognition to bind the acyl acceptor l-malate. A Glu/Asp substitution at the amino acid position preceding the catalytic Ser supports binding of the acyl donor 1-O-sinapoyl-β-glucose and was found highly conserved among SCPL acyltransferases. The AtSMT-catalyzed acyl transfer reaction follows a random sequential bi-bi mechanism that requires both substrates 1-O-sinapoyl-β-glucose and l-malate bound in an enzyme donor–acceptor complex to initiate acyl transfer. Together with the strong fixation of the acyl acceptor l-malate, the acquisition of this reaction mechanism favours transacylation over hydrolysis in AtSMT catalysis. The model structure and enzymatic side activities reveal that the AtSMT-mediated acyl transfer proceeds via a short-lived acyl enzyme complex. With regard to evolution, the SCPL acyltransferase clade most likely represents a recent development. The encoding genes are organized in a tandem-arranged cluster with partly overlapping functions. With other enzymes encoded by the respective gene cluster on Arabidopsis chromosome 2, AtSMT shares the enzymatic side activity to disproportionate 1-O-sinapoyl-β-glucoses to produce 1,2-di-O-sinapoyl-β-glucose. In the absence of the acyl acceptor l-malate, a residual esterase activity became obvious as a remnant of the hydrolytic ancestor. With regard to the evolution of Arabidopsis SCPL acyltransferases, our results suggest early neofunctionalization of the hydrolytic ancestor toward acyltransferase activity and acyl donor specificity for 1-O-sinapoyl-β-glucose followed by subfunctionalization to recognize different acyl acceptors.

Multicomponent Passerini and Ugi reactions enable the fast and efficient synthesis of redox-active multifunctional selenium and tellurium compounds, of which some show considerable cytotoxicity against specific cancer cells.

How can conformationally restricted polyvalent molecules be accessed rapidly? A sequential approach involving two multiple multicomponent macrocyclizations including bifunctional building blocks (MiBs) with up to five Ugi-four-component reactions (Ugi-4CR) has been developed to produce nonsymmetric macromulticycles. Topologically diverse structures, such as nonsymmetric cryptands and clam- and igloo-shaped macromulticycles were obtained in reaction sequences that comprise the incorporation of up to 13 building blocks by forming 20 new bonds without purification of intermediates. Cryptands were produced by a sequential-MiB procedure in which the Ugi-type functional groups of the second MiB are attached to the peptoid backbones from the first multicomponent macrocyclization. These macrobicycles show two completely new features; i.e., three different tether chains can be obtained in one pot, and tertiary amide bonds are used as bridgeheads. Alternatively, the same reaction sequence, i.e., MiB/deprotection/MiB, can be used to produce clam-shaped macrobicycles, demonstrated with a tetrafunctional cholanic steroid as a hinge moiety. Macrotetracycles endowed with igloo-type topologies are accessible by an advanced protocol featuring consecutive double and 3-fold Ugi-4CR-based macrocyclizations. Other building blocks than cholanic steroids employed include aryl, heterocyclic, polyether, and other recognition motifs. The examples given are a first-generation demonstration of an “architectural chemistry” that allows to construct three-dimensional multimotif covalent molecular “buildings” of unprecedented complexity by design.

The most efficient diversity generating approaches to heterocycles are combinations of a multicomponent (MCR) with a cyclization reaction, for example, by Ugi-deprotection-cylization (UDC) protocols. If the desired post-Ugi reaction requires more than one deprotection, for example of two initially protected Ugi-reactive groups, or if it requires additional activation, for example, by an Ugi-activation-cyclization (UAC), either the isolation of intermediates or a sequential process or both become necessary. A recently introduced convertible isonitrile reagent allows a mild and chemoselective in situ post-Ugi activation of the isonitrile-born carboxylate with simultaneous deprotection of the nucleophilic amine, that is, liberation and activation of two Ugi-reactive groups, if desired also under subsequent lactam formation. This is exemplified by the synthesis of peptide-peptoid diketopiperazines.

The benzylisoquinoline alkaloids are a highly diverse group of about 2500 compounds which accumulate in a species‐specific manner. Despite the numerous compounds which could be identified, the biosynthetic pathways and the participating enzymes or cDNAs could be characterized only for a few selected members, whereas the biosynthesis of the majority of the compounds is still largely unknown. In an attempt to characterize additional biosynthetic steps at the molecular level, integration of alkaloid and transcript profiling across Papaver species was performed. This analysis showed high expression of an expressed sequence tag (EST) of unknown function only in Papaver somniferum varieties. After full‐length cloning of the open reading frame and sequence analysis, this EST could be classified as a member of the class II type O ‐methyltransferase protein family. It was related to O ‐methyltransferases from benzylisoquinoline biosynthesis, and the amino acid sequence showed 68% identical residues to norcoclaurine 6‐O ‐methyltransferase. However, rather than methylating norcoclaurine, the recombinant protein methylated norreticuline at position seven with a K m of 44 μm using S ‐adenosyl‐l ‐methionine as a cofactor. Of all substrates tested, only norreticuline was converted. Even minor changes in the benzylisoquinoline backbone were not tolerated by the enzyme. Accordingly, the enzyme was named norreticuline 7–O ‐methyltransferase (N7OMT). This enzyme represents a novel O ‐methyltransferase in benzylisoquinoline metabolism. Expression analysis showed slightly increased expression of N7OMT in P. somniferum varieties containing papaverine, suggesting its involvement in the partially unknown biosynthesis of this pharmaceutically important compound.

The first total synthesis of tubulysin B is described. The aziridine route to tubuphenylalanine (Tup) of the tubulysin D/U-series could not be transferred to the synthesis of tubutyrosine (blue moiety). Therefore, tubutyrosine (Tut) was synthesized by a Wittig olefination/diastereoselective catalytic reduction sequence. Interestingly, the C-2 epimer of tubulysin B has a cytotoxic activity almost identical to the natural diastereomer.

The phytosterol, tocopherol, and tocotrienol profiles for mkukubuyo, Sterculia africana, manketti, Ricinodendron rautanenni, mokolwane, Hyphaene petersiana, morama, Tylosema esculentum, and moretologa‐kgomo, Ximenia caffra, seed oils from Botswana have been determined. Normal‐phase HPLC analysis of the unsaponifiable matter showed that among the selected oils, the most abundant tocopherol and tocotrienol were γ‐tocopherol (2232.99 μg/g) and γ‐tocotrienol (246.19 μg/g), detected in manketti and mkukubuyo, respectively. Mokolwane oil, however, contained the largest total tocotrienol (258.47 μg/g). Total tocol contents found in manketti, mokolwane, mkukubuyo, morama, and moretologa‐kgomo oils were 2238.60, 262.40, 246.20, 199.10, and 128.0 μg/g, respectively. GC–MS determination of the relative percentage composition of phytosterols showed 4‐desmethylsterols as the most abundant phytosterols in the oils, by occurring up to 90% in moretologa‐kgomo, mkukubuyo, and manketti seed oils, with β‐sitosterol being the most abundant. Mokolwane seed oil contained the largest percentage composition of 4,4‐dimethylsterols (45.93%). Besides 4‐desmethylsterols (75%), morama oil also contained significant amounts of 4,4‐dimethylsterols and 4‐monomethylsterols (15.72% total). GC–MS determination of the absolute amounts of 4‐desmethylsterols, after SPE fractionation of the unsaponifiable matter, confirmed that β‐sitosterol was the most abundant phytosterol in the test seed oils, with manketti seed oil being the richest source (1326.74 μg/g). The analysis showed total 4‐desmethylsterols content as 1617.41, 1291.88, 861.47, 149.15, and 109.11 μg/g for manketti, mokolwane, mkukubuyo, morama, and moretologa‐kgomo seed oils, respectively.