An unprecedented intermolecular cyclizative capture of the cyanamide anion and several nitrile oxides enables the synthesis of oxadiazol-5-imines.

Natural products with anti-cancer activity play a vital role in lead and target discovery. We report here the synthesis and biological evaluation of the plant-derived alkaloid, piperlongumine and analogues. Using a Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons coupling approach, a selection of piperlongumine-like compounds were prepared in good overall yield from a novel phosphonoacetamide reagent. A number of the compounds displayed potent anti-cancer activity against colorectal (HCT 116) and ovarian (IGROV-1) carcinoma cell lines, via a mechanism of action which may involve ROS generation. Contrary to previous reports, no selective action in cancer cell (MRC-5) was observed for piperlongumine analogues.

The synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of bifunctional acridine-HSP90 inhibitor ligands as telomerase inhibitors is herein described. Four hybrid acridine-HSP90 inhibitor conjugates were prepared using a click-chemistry approach, and subsequently shown to display comparable results to the established telomerase inhibitor BRACO-19 in the TRAP-LIG telomerase assay. The conjugates also demonstrated significant cyctotoxity against a number of cancer cell lines, in the sub-μM range.

A palladium-catalyzed cyanation of alkenyl halides using acetone cyanohydrin is described. A number of structurally diverse alkenylic nitrile containing compounds was prepared in one step under optimized conditions. The reaction proved to be efficient, chemoselective, easy to perform, and tolerant of a number of functional groups.

The application of electrochemical reactions in natural product synthesis has burgeoned in recent years. We herein report a formal synthesis of the complex and dimeric natural product kingianin A, which employs an electrochemically-mediated radical cation Diels–Alder cycloaddition as the key step.

We report here a new catalytic reaction in which, para-nitro azides are acylated by aldehydes to produce amides and molecular nitrogen in a single step. The transformation is believed to proceed via an electron transfer process mediated by the tert-butoxide ion, and catalysed by a thiazolium salt derived species.

The low thermo-oxidative properties of PU foams somewhat limits their practical application, particularly as heat sensitive materials. The introduction of a covalently linked flame retardant organophosphonate ester into the PU foam was achieved using the CuAAC ‘click’ reaction of an alkyne-polyol and azidoalkylmonophosphonate. These functionalised materials were prepared in four steps: first, a number of azidoalkyl monophosphonate compounds were formed via nucleophilic substitution of bromoalkylphosphonates with NaN3; next, polyols bearing terminal alkyne groups were prepared by anionic ring opening copolymerization between propylene oxide and glycidyl propargyl ether; followed by ‘clicking’ the azidoalkylphosphonate to the polyol and finally, synthesis of the PU foam with 2.4 wt% of “click-polyol”. The functionalised PU foam demonstrated a well-formed polyhedral cell structure and an increase in the fire resistance, according to the SEM and thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. Even after thermal treatment at 400 °C, the new PU foam material displayed enhanced flame resistant properties by forming a char layer on the surface of the polymer, whilst maintaining its polyhedral structure.

The sacoglossan mollusc-derived metabolite, tridachiahydropyrone (3), and its proposed biosynthetic precursors (1 and 2) form part of a complex chemical defence system against predators and harmful UV light. Here, we provide supporting biophysical evidence that the metabolites become selectively localised at cell membranes and outline a binding scheme that accommodates the observed data. The possibility that localised lipid domains within the membrane have an effect on the localisation is also addressed.

A synthetic approach towards the structurally complex dimer, kingianin A is reported. The strategy involved a cascade of complexity generating reactions, inspired through biosynthetic speculation. A concise protecting group free synthesis of the proposed monomeric precursor pre-kingianin A has been achieved using a tandem Stille cross-coupling reaction and electrocyclisation process. However, preliminary studies of the key dimerisation reaction have been conducted, which indicate that the process is not spontaneous, raising questions as to the origin of this complex natural product.

hLDH-5 has emerged as a promising target for anti-glycolytic cancer chemotherapy. Here we report a first generation of bifunctional inhibitors, which show promising activity against hLDH-5.

A silver-mediated one-step procedure to 2,4-disubstituted and 2,4,5-trisubstituted oxazoles has been developed. The method is complementary to existing technologies, yet provides advantages with regard to simplicity, efficiency, and performance. The silver product can be readily recycled, thus minimizing waste.

A new silyl-based reagent has been developed for “catch and release” immobilization, combining click chemistry with silyl protection. The traditional “all carbon” attachment to solid supports in a silyl type linker was substituted with a stable triazole, easily assembled using the CuAAC reaction. The methodology introduces a novel ethynyldiiospropylchlorosilane reagent (EDIPS-Cl) as a functionalized protecting group linker.

Described is the first modular construction of a G-quadruplex chiral catalyst. The key objective was to use G-quadruplex structures to act as chiral ligands that would allow access to either enantiomer of the product of a Diels–Alder reaction.

An efficient synthesis of a range of 1,2-benzisoxazoles using an improved 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides and benzyne is described. Key to the procedure is the in situ generation of the reactive nitrile oxide and benzyne reaction partners mediated by TBAF. Reactions are complete within 30 s, giving the target products in good to excellent yield.

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of a range of 1,2-benzisoxazoles using an improved 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides and benzyne is described. Key to the procedure is the in situ generation of the reactive nitrile oxide and benzyne reactants simultaneously.

Described is the structure-based design and synthesis of a series of tris-triazole G-quadruplex binding ligands utilising the copper catalysed azide–alkyne ‘click’ reaction. The results of G-quadruplex stabilisation by the ligands are reported and discussed.

An efficient synthesis of substituted benzotriazoles using an azide−alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition “click reaction” is described. Key to the procedure is the in situ generation of the reactive aromatic azide and benzyne reaction partners.

We report CD, ESI-MS and molecular modelling studies of ligand binding interactions with DNA quadruplex structures derived from the human telomeric repeat sequence (h-Tel) and the proto-oncogenic c-kit promoter sequence. These sequences form anti-parallel (both 2 + 2 and 3 + 1) and parallel conformations, respectively, and demonstrate distinctively different degrees of structural plasticity in binding ligands. With h-Tel, we show that an extended heteroaromatic 1,4-triazole (TRZ), designed to exploit π-stacking interactions and groove-specific contacts, shows some selectivity for parallel folds, however, the polycyclic fluorinated acridinium cation (RHPS4), which is a similarly potent telomerase inhibitor, shows selectivity for anti-parallel conformations implicating favourable interactions with lateral and diagonal loops. In contrast, the unique c-kit parallel-stranded quadruplex shows none of the structural plasticity of h-Tel with either ligand. We show by quantitative ESI-MS analysis that both sequences are able to bind a ligand on either end of the quadruplex. In the case of h-Tel the two sites have similar affinities, however, in the case of the c-kit quadruplex the affinities of the two sites are different and ligand-dependent. We demonstrate that two different small molecule architectures result in significant differences in selectivity for parallel and anti-parallel quadruplex structures that may guide quadruplex targeted drug-design.

Maintenance of telomeres—specialized complexes that protect the ends of chromosomes, is undertaken by the enzyme complex telomerase, which is a key factor that is activated in more than 80% of cancer cells, but is absent in most normal cells. Targeting telomere maintenance mechanisms could potentially halt tumour growth across a broad spectrum of cancer types, with little cytotoxic effect outside cancer cells. Here, we describe in detail a new class of G-quadruplex binding ligands synthesized using a click chemistry approach. These ligands comprise a 1,3-di(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)benzene pharmacophore, and display high levels of selectivity for interaction with G-quadruplex DNA vs. duplex DNA. The ability of these ligands to inhibit the enzymatic activity of telomerase correlates with their ability to stabilize quadruplex DNA, and with estimates of affinity calculated by molecular modeling.

An efficient silver mediated one-step synthesis/construction of oxazoles using α-haloketones and primary amides is herein described. The methodology is efficient and simple to perform, giving the desired oxazoles in good to excellent yields.

We report CD, ESI-MS and molecular modelling studies of ligand binding interactions with DNA quadruplex structures derived from the human telomeric repeat sequence (h-Tel) and the proto-oncogenic c-kit promoter sequence. These sequences form anti-parallel (both 2 + 2 and 3 + 1) and parallel conformations, respectively, and demonstrate distinctively different degrees of structural plasticity in binding ligands. With h-Tel, we show that an extended heteroaromatic 1,4-triazole (TRZ), designed to exploit π-stacking interactions and groove-specific contacts, shows some selectivity for parallel folds, however, the polycyclic fluorinated acridinium cation (RHPS4), which is a similarly potent telomerase inhibitor, shows selectivity for anti-parallel conformations implicating favourable interactions with lateral and diagonal loops. In contrast, the unique c-kit parallel-stranded quadruplex shows none of the structural plasticity of h-Tel with either ligand. We show by quantitative ESI-MS analysis that both sequences are able to bind a ligand on either end of the quadruplex. In the case of h-Tel the two sites have similar affinities, however, in the case of the c-kit quadruplex the affinities of the two sites are different and ligand-dependent. We demonstrate that two different small molecule architectures result in significant differences in selectivity for parallel and anti-parallel quadruplex structures that may guide quadruplex targeted drug-design.

Described is the structure-based design and synthesis of a series of tris-triazole G-quadruplex binding ligands utilising the copper catalysed azide–alkyne ‘click’ reaction. The results of G-quadruplex stabilisation by the ligands are reported and discussed.

The sacoglossan mollusc-derived metabolite, tridachiahydropyrone (3), and its proposed biosynthetic precursors (1 and 2) form part of a complex chemical defence system against predators and harmful UV light. Here, we provide supporting biophysical evidence that the metabolites become selectively localised at cell membranes and outline a binding scheme that accommodates the observed data. The possibility that localised lipid domains within the membrane have an effect on the localisation is also addressed.

We report here a new catalytic reaction in which, para-nitro azides are acylated by aldehydes to produce amides and molecular nitrogen in a single step. The transformation is believed to proceed via an electron transfer process mediated by the tert-butoxide ion, and catalysed by a thiazolium salt derived species.

The synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of bifunctional acridine-HSP90 inhibitor ligands as telomerase inhibitors is herein described. Four hybrid acridine-HSP90 inhibitor conjugates were prepared using a click-chemistry approach, and subsequently shown to display comparable results to the established telomerase inhibitor BRACO-19 in the TRAP-LIG telomerase assay. The conjugates also demonstrated significant cyctotoxity against a number of cancer cell lines, in the sub-μM range.

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of a range of 1,2-benzisoxazoles using an improved 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides and benzyne is described. Key to the procedure is the in situ generation of the reactive nitrile oxide and benzyne reactants simultaneously.

A synthetic approach towards the structurally complex dimer, kingianin A is reported. The strategy involved a cascade of complexity generating reactions, inspired through biosynthetic speculation. A concise protecting group free synthesis of the proposed monomeric precursor pre-kingianin A has been achieved using a tandem Stille cross-coupling reaction and electrocyclisation process. However, preliminary studies of the key dimerisation reaction have been conducted, which indicate that the process is not spontaneous, raising questions as to the origin of this complex natural product.

An efficient synthesis of a range of 1,2-benzisoxazoles using an improved 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides and benzyne is described. Key to the procedure is the in situ generation of the reactive nitrile oxide and benzyne reaction partners mediated by TBAF. Reactions are complete within 30 s, giving the target products in good to excellent yield.

The application of electrochemical reactions in natural product synthesis has burgeoned in recent years. We herein report a formal synthesis of the complex and dimeric natural product kingianin A, which employs an electrochemically-mediated radical cation Diels–Alder cycloaddition as the key step.

Described is the first modular construction of a G-quadruplex chiral catalyst. The key objective was to use G-quadruplex structures to act as chiral ligands that would allow access to either enantiomer of the product of a Diels–Alder reaction.

Natural products with anti-cancer activity play a vital role in lead and target discovery. We report here the synthesis and biological evaluation of the plant-derived alkaloid, piperlongumine and analogues. Using a Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons coupling approach, a selection of piperlongumine-like compounds were prepared in good overall yield from a novel phosphonoacetamide reagent. A number of the compounds displayed potent anti-cancer activity against colorectal (HCT 116) and ovarian (IGROV-1) carcinoma cell lines, via a mechanism of action which may involve ROS generation. Contrary to previous reports, no selective action in cancer cell (MRC-5) was observed for piperlongumine analogues.

hLDH-5 has emerged as a promising target for anti-glycolytic cancer chemotherapy. Here we report a first generation of bifunctional inhibitors, which show promising activity against hLDH-5.