Synthesis of Dibenzocyclooctyne-Dicobalt Hexacarbonyl and Dibenzocycloheptyne-Dicobalt Hexacarbonyl Complexes by Intramolecular Nicholas Reactions: Synthesis of Isoschizandrin, Schizandrin A and Tenuifolin

Biaryl propargyl acetate dicobalt hexacarbonyl complexes readily undergo Lewis acid mediated intramolecular Nicholas reactions to afford dibenzocycloheptyne complexes. This thesis describes the extension of this protocol towards studies of intramolecular Nicholas reactions with similar biaryl complexes to form dibenzocyclooctyne-Co 2 (CO) 6 complexes. These investigations have been performed on several different derivatives of biaryl systems and have afforded fair to good yields of dibenzocyclooctyne-Co 2 (CO) 6 complexes. One of the major factors governing the yield of intramolecular Nicholas reactions was found to be the amount of Lewis acid employed along with absence or presence of EtN i Pr 2 . The studies conducted have also shown that in some cases, upon the cyclization there is restriction of the biaryl axial rotation due to the four ortho substituents, which constitutes formation of an axis of chirality. In addition, we have also exploited intramolecular Nicholas reactions of biaryl propargyl acetate dicobalt hexacarbonyl complexes towards the synthesis of tenuifolin

Synthesis of Tenuifolin via Intramolecular Nicholas Reaction

The synthesis of the Cinnamomum homosesquiterpenoid tenuifolin has been accomplished by way of an intramolecular Nicholas reaction of the [Co2(CO)6] complex of an alkyne-substituted biaryl for construction of the seven-membered ring. The cyclization features the reaction of a nonactivated arene ring with the propargyldicobalt cation to give the dibenzocycloheptyne-Co2(CO)6

Nicholas Reactions in the Synthesis of Dicobalt Dibenzocyclooctyne Complexes

Hexacarbonyldicobalt complexes of biaryl-substituted 4-methoxybutynones and 4-methoxy-2-butynes undergo intramolecular Nicholas reactions to form dibenzocyclooctyne–Co2(CO)6 complexes in good yields. Reductive decomplexation of the cyclization products is possible, and the method has been applied to a formal synthesis of isoschizandrin

Intramolecular Nicholas Reactions in the Synthesis of Dibenzocycloheptanes. Synthesis of Allocolchicine NSC 51046 and Analogues and the Formal Synthesis of (−)-Allocolchicine

The preparation of dibenzocycloheptyne-Co2(CO)6 complexes by intramolecular Nicholas reactions of biaryl-2-propargyl alcohol-Co2(CO)6 derivatives is described. Reductive decomplexation of the dibenzocycloheptyne-Co2(CO)6 complexes affords the corresponding dibenzocycloheptenes, individual members of which have been employed in a formal total synthesis of (−)-allocolchicine, the preparation of 6,7-dihydro-3,4,9,10,11-pentamethoxy-5H-dibenzo[a,c]cyclohepten-5-one, and the enantioselective total syntheses of NSC 51046 and its 3,8,9,10-tetramethoxy regioisomer

Novel Analogue of Colchicine Induces Selective Pro-Death Autophagy and Necrosis in Human Cancer Cells

Colchicine, a natural product of Colchicum autumnae currently used for gout treatment, is a tubulin targeting compound which inhibits microtubule formation by targeting fast dividing cells. This tubulin-targeting property has lead researchers to investigate the potential of colchicine and analogs as possible cancer therapies. One major study conducted on an analogue of allocolchicine, ZD 6126, was halted in phase 2 clinical trials due to severe cardio-toxicity associated with treatment. This study involves the development and testing of novel allocolchicine analogues that hold non-toxic anti-cancer properties. Currently we have synthesized and evaluated the anti-cancer activities of two analogues; N-acetyl-O-methylcolchinol (NSC 51046 or NCME), which is structurally similar to ZD 6126, and (S)-3,8,9,10-tetramethoxyallocolchicine (Green 1), which is a novel derivative of allocolchicine that is isomeric in the A ring. NSC 51046 was found to be non-selective as it induced apoptosis in both BxPC-3 and PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells and in normal human fibroblasts. Interestingly, we found that Green 1 was able to modestly induce pro-death autophagy in these pancreatic cancer cells and E6-1 leukemia cells but not in normal human fibroblasts. Unlike colchicine and NSC 51046, Green 1 does not appear to affect tubulin polymerization indicating that it has a different molecular target. Green 1 also caused increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in mitochondria isolated from pancreatic cancer cells. Furthermore, in vivo studies revealed that Green 1 was well tolerated in mice. Our findings suggest that a small change in the structure of colchicine has apparently changed the mechanism of action and lead to improved selectivity. This may lead to better selective treatments in cancer therapy

Nicholas Reactions in the Synthesis of Dicobalt Dibenzocyclooctyne Complexes

Hexacarbonyldicobalt complexes of biaryl-substituted 4-methoxybutynones and 4-methoxy-2-butynes undergo intramolecular Nicholas reactions to form dibenzocyclooctyne–Co₂(CO)₆ complexes in good yields. Reductive decomplexation of the cyclization products is possible, and the method has been applied to a formal synthesis of isoschizandrin

Novel analogue of colchicine induces selective pro-death autophagy and necrosis in human cancer cells.

Colchicine, a natural product of Colchicum autumnae currently used for gout treatment, is a tubulin targeting compound which inhibits microtubule formation by targeting fast dividing cells. This tubulin-targeting property has lead researchers to investigate the potential of colchicine and analogs as possible cancer therapies. One major study conducted on an analogue of allocolchicine, ZD 6126, was halted in phase 2 clinical trials due to severe cardio-toxicity associated with treatment. This study involves the development and testing of novel allocolchicine analogues that hold non-toxic anti-cancer properties. Currently we have synthesized and evaluated the anti-cancer activities of two analogues; N-acetyl-O-methylcolchinol (NSC 51046 or NCME), which is structurally similar to ZD 6126, and (S)-3,8,9,10-tetramethoxyallocolchicine (Green 1), which is a novel derivative of allocolchicine that is isomeric in the A ring. NSC 51046 was found to be non-selective as it induced apoptosis in both BxPC-3 and PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells and in normal human fibroblasts. Interestingly, we found that Green 1 was able to modestly induce pro-death autophagy in these pancreatic cancer cells and E6-1 leukemia cells but not in normal human fibroblasts. Unlike colchicine and NSC 51046, Green 1 does not appear to affect tubulin polymerization indicating that it has a different molecular target. Green 1 also caused increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in mitochondria isolated from pancreatic cancer cells. Furthermore, in vivo studies revealed that Green 1 was well tolerated in mice. Our findings suggest that a small change in the structure of colchicine has apparently changed the mechanism of action and lead to improved selectivity. This may lead to better selective treatments in cancer therapy

DFT Structures of NSC 51046 and Green 1.

<p>DFT Structures of NSC 51046 and Green 1.</p