Exquisite Selectivity For Human Toll-like Receptor 8 in Substituted Furo[2,3-c]quinolines

Toll-like receptor (TLR)-8 agonists activate adaptive immune responses by inducing robust production of T helper 1-polarizing cytokines, suggesting that TLR8-active compounds may be promising candidate adjuvants. We synthesized and evaluated hitherto unexplored furo[2,3-c]quinolines and its regioisomeric furo[3,2-c]quinolines, derived via a tandem, one-pot Sonogashira coupling and intramolecular 5 endo-dig cyclization strategy, in a panel of primary screens. We observed a pure TLR8 agonistic activity profile in select furo[2,3-c]quinolines, with maximal potency conferred by a C2-butyl group (EC50: 1.6 µM); shorter, longer, or substituted homologues, as well as compounds bearing C1 substitutions were inactive, which was rationalized by docking studies using the recently-described crystal structure of human TLR8. The best-in-class compound displayed prominent proinflammatory cytokine induction (including interleukin-12 and interleukin-18), but was bereft of interferon-α inducing properties, confirming its high selectivity for human TLR8

Toll-like Receptor-8 Agonistic Activities in C2, C4, and C8 Modified Thiazolo[4,5-c]quinolines

Toll-like receptor (TLR)-8 agonists typified by the 2-alkylthiazolo[4,5-c]quinolin-4-amine (CL075) chemotype are uniquely potent in activating adaptive immune responses by inducing robust production of T helper 1-polarizing cytokines, suggesting that TLR8-active compounds could be promising candidate vaccine adjuvants, especially for neonatal vaccines. Alkylthiazoloquinolines with methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl groups at C2 displayed comparable TLR8-agonistic potencies; activity diminished precipitously in the C2-pentyl compound, and higher homologues were inactive. The C2-butyl compound was unique in possessing substantial TLR7-agonistic activity. Analogues with branched alkyl groups at C2 displayed poor tolerance of terminal steric bulk. Virtually all modifications at C8 led to abrogation of agonistic activity. Alkylation on the C4-amine was not tolerated, whereas N-acyl analogues with short acyl groups (other than acetyl) retained TLR8 agonistic activity, but were substantially less water-soluble. Immunization in rabbits with a model subunit antigen adjuvanted with the lead C2-butyl thiazoloquinoline showed enhancements of antigen-specific antibody titers

An improved method of ring closing metathesis in the presence of basic amines: application to the formal synthesis of (+)-lentiginosine and other piperidines and carbamino sugar analogs

A generalized method for performing ring closing metathesis in the presence of basic amines has been established and successfully used in the formal synthesis of (+)-lentiginosine as well as some valuable intermediates for the synthesis of several other azasugars and aminocyclitols

Stereoselective synthesis of safingol and its natural stereoisomer from D-glycals

Efficient and convenient syntheses of (2S,3S)-safingol and its natural (2S,3R)-isomer have been developed from 3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl glycals. The key step is the one-pot reduction of an azide, saturation of the double bonds and debenzylation under catalytic hydrogenation

Synthesis of (−)-deoxoprosophylline, (+)-2-epi-deoxoprosopinine, and (2R,3R)- and (2R,3S)-3-hydroxypipecolic acids from D-glycals

New syntheses of (−)-deoxoprosophylline, (+)-2-epi-deoxoprosopinine, and (2R,3R)- and (2R,3S)-3-hydroxypipecolic acids are reported. Utilization of the chiral functionalities of Perlin aldehydes, derived from 3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl glycals, has been done along with chemoselective saturation of olefins and reductive aminations as key steps

Synthesis of hybrids of D-glucose and D-galactose with pyrrolidine-based iminosugars as glycosidase inhibitors

Sugar-iminosugar hybrid molecules made up of D-glucose and D-galactose with pyrrolidine-based iminosugars, viz. 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-L-xylitol and 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-L-lyxitol, are synthesized from glycal epoxides and found to be moderate glycosidase inhibitors