The lithiation of 3-sulfolene followed by subsequent treatment with an alkyl halide electrophile has been previously established as a method to produce 2-substituted-3-sulfolenes. Tandem reactivity with bis-alkyl halides has been observed to afford relatively simple bicyclic products. We hypothesized that it may be possible to access more complex bicyclic systems through use of bis-vinyl ketones as the electrophilic component. Herein, we present the outcome and mechanistic insights for the reaction between a variety of 3-sulfolene and substituted-3-sulfolene anions with bis-vinyl ketones to afford a variety of stereochemically complex fused, bridged and spiro bicyclic archetypes. The potential of these bicyclic-sulfone frameworks to act as molecular scaffolds for the generation of conformationally-restricted enzyme inhibitors is explored. Potent monocyclic small molecules that inhibit influenza’s neuraminidase enzyme have been developed as commercially successful antivirals. Similarly potent inhibitors against prokaryotic or eukaryotic neuraminidases have yet to be described. Selective inhibitors of these latter neuraminidase isozymes may provide useful treatments for bacterial infections (such as cholera and pneumonia) as well as a variety of cancers and metabolic disorders. A conformationally-restricted scaffold may prove ideal for designing selective (and potent) inhibitors against these underexplored enzymes. As a proof of principle, one of our rigid bicyclic-sulfone archetypes is elaborated to a drug-like scaffold that is shown to inhibit viral, bacterial and human neuraminidase enzymes. / Graduate / mgbrant@uvic.ca

No description available.

Antibodies have become a well-established tool in the fields of diagnostics and treatments, especially within oncology, immunology, and infectious diseases. Despite their effectiveness, antibodies are limited by their size, high production costs, and immunogenicity, which in the long run can lead to significant challenges in the medical field. Some well-researched options to antibodies are non-antibody proteins and peptide scaffolds. In this report, focus lies on providing an overview of designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins), Ankyrons, Affibodies, Anticalins, Adnectins and bicyclic peptides, all different formats of non-antibody proteins and peptide scaffolds. Ranging from 1-20 kDa, these non-antibodies feature stable structural elements and modifiable regions for highly specific bonds with high affinity. While originating from natural sources, non-antibodies can be produced synthetically at a low cost, while also decreasing immunogenicity. This report presents the structures of the chosen six formats, and also their function in various applications, as well as their potential to overcome the hurdles of regular antibodies. With the increasing risks of emerging diseases and other health-related issues, non-antibody proteins and peptide scaffolds show great potential for replacing or assisting conventional antibodies in healthcare and biomedical research.

Ce travail de thèse est consacré à la synthèse et la caractérisation structurale par spectroscopies RMN, IR, CD et RX de nouveaux oligomères non naturels qui s'inscrivent dans la famille des foldamères. Ils sont construits en particulier à partir d'un β-aminoacide bicyclique chiral original: l'acide (S)- ou (R)-aminobicyclo[2.2.2]octane-2-carboxylique ((S)- et (R) ABOC) que nous avons développé. Ce motif est issu d'une synthèse stéréocontrollée, dont l'étape clef est une réaction de Diels-Alder asymétrique. Après avoir montré que ce motif est un mime de coude peptidique il a été utilisé pour la synthèse de plusieurs séries d'oligomères. Deux grandes familles ont été développées: des oligourées et des oligoamides. A l'intérieur de ces familles, des homo- et des hétéro-oligomères ont été synthétisés et leur préférence conformationnelle a été définie. Les analyses RMN et les études cristallographiques ont permis de montrer qu'en fonction de leur séquence ils sont capables d'adopter plusieurs types d'hélices. Les homo-oligourées d'ABOC et des hétéro-oligourées alternant l'ABOC et des β3-aminoacides ont conduit à des hélices-12/14. Les oligoamides construits par des alternances d'ABOC et de β3-aminoacides dans un rapport 1/1 et des alternances d'ABOC et d'α-aminoacides dans un rapport 1/1 ou 1/2 ont conduit respectivement à des hélices 10/12, 16/18 et 12/14. / This thesis is devoted to the synthesis and FT-IR, CD, NMR and X-ray structural characterization of new unnatural oligomers belonging to the family of foldamers. In particular they are constructed from an original chiral bicyclic β-amino acid: (S)- and (R)-aminobicyclo[2.2.2]octane-2-carboxylic acid ((S) - and (R) ABOC ) that we have developed. This motive was obtained via a stereocontrolled synthesis using an asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction as key step. Firstly, this motive was shown to induce turn in peptide sequence and then it was used for the synthesis of several series of oligomers. Two main families were developed: oligoureas and oligoamides. Within these families, homo-and hetero-oligomers were synthesized and their conformational preferences were defined. NMR analysis and crystallographic studies have shown that depending on their sequence they are able to adopt several types of helices. ABOC homo-oligoureas and hetero-oligoureas containing both ABOC residue and β3-amino acid favor a 12/14-helix. Oligoamides with 1/1 alternation of ABOC and β3-amino acids, and heterogeneous backbones with 1/1 and 1/2 ABOC/α-amino acid residue patterns adopt 10/12-, 16/18- and 12/14-helix, respectively.

Conformationally constrained bicyclic amino acids are invaluable in the synthesis of natural products and peptidomimetics. Aeruginosins contain novel bicyclic amino acid, 2--‐carboxy--‐6--‐hydroxyl octahydrindole (Choi) as the core structure. Aeruginosins are tetra peptide serine protease inhibitors isolated from marine sponges and cyanobacterial water blooms. Rigid bicyclic amino acid(Choi)is an essential core structure, which strongly influences biological activity of aeruginosin family members. Aeruginosins showed promising inhibitory activity against thrombin, trypsin, and factor VIIa. Thrombin and factor VIIa play a major role in blood clotting cascade; excessive coagulation leads to thrombosis and other cardiovascular diseases. Several research groups have reported a number of synthetic aeruginosin analogs. In this thesis, some of the synthetic methodologies of bicyclic amino acid core of aeruginosins are presented. Importance of bicyclic amino acids in peptidomimetic synthesis and drug designing is presented. Mainly, syntheses of ring oxygenated Choi analogs starting from glucose and mannose are presented.

Additions of carbon-centered radicals to alkenes are useful method for cyclic compounds formation. Manganese(III)-based oxidative free-radical cyclizations, where the radicals are generated and terminated oxidatively, are established as efficient methods for the construction of cyclic molecule. Treatment of a mixture of dimedone, Mn(OAc)3, and Cu(OAc)2 in glacial acetic acid with homobenzonorbornadiene (80) (4h at 50 &amp / #61616 / C) gave furan derivative (107), dihydrofuran adduct (108), in addition to rearranged product (109) as a major product. The reaction run under the same reaction conditions without using Cu(II)acetate for 8h afforded dihydrofuran adduct (108) along with dihydrofuran (110), where no rearranged products could be formed. On the other hand, reflux of alkene 80 with a mixture of acetylacetone, Mn(OAc)3, and Cu(OAc)2 in glacial acetic acid (3h at 50 &amp / #61616 / C) gave oxidative product (131) and rearranged product (132) (major). The reaction run under the same reaction conditions without using Cu(II)acetate for 7h produced, in addition to the oxidative product 131, a dihydrofuran derivative (133). In a second system, we examined the oxidation of benzobarrelene 82 with Mn(OAc)3, and Cu(OAc)2 in glacial acetic acid (1h at 50 &amp / #61616 / C) in presence of dimedone resulted in the formation of five different products rearranged products (148, 149) and a dihydrofuran (109), besides, a mixture containing two major rearranged isomers (150/151). The same reaction was carried out under the same conditions in absence of Cu(II) for 9h and gave the isomeric mixture 150/151 exclusively, and the yield was reduced. The oxidative cyclization of acetylacetone with alkene 82 for 3h at 50 &amp / #61616 / C, afforded in addition to the dihydrofuran (132), two rearranged products (169, 170) and a mixture consisting of two isomers (171/ 172). The isomeric mixture was converted to one product by treatment with methanolic ammonia providing hydroxyl derivative which was oxidized by MnO2 to afford product 174 in a good yield. Additionally, we investigated the behavior of nitrogen bridge in the bicyclic system on the course of the reaction. Oxidation of N-carbethoxy-7-aza-2,3-benzonorbornadiene 83 with dimedone in the presence of Cu(OAc)2 as well as in its absence in glacial acetic acid (2h at 50 &amp / #61616 / C), rearranged product (189) was obtained as the sole product. Regarding the reaction of aza-derivative 83 with acetylacetone in the presence of Cu(OAc)2 (18 h at 50 &amp / #61616 / C), rearranged product 195 was resulted as sole product. The reaction of 83 was also run with out Cu(OAc)2 for 22h and gave the rearranged product 195.

The thesis entitled “Enantioselective synthesis of bio-active bicyclic acetals, cyclic ethers and lactones” demonstrates the utility of chiral pool tartaric acid as the source in the synthesis of natural products. The results are discussed in three chapters; 1) Enantioselective synthesis of bio-active bicyclic acetals, 2) Enantioselective synthesis of bio-active cyclic ethers and 3) Enantioselective synthesis of bio-active lactones. A brief introduction is provided in each chapter to keep the present work in proper perspective. Compounds (in bold) and references (in superscripts) are sequentially numbered differently for each chapter and references are given as foot notes. Experimental procedures are given differently for each chapter and placed at the end of chapter. Scanned 1H and 13C NMR spectras are given with description of signals. Chapter 1 describes the enantioselective synthesis of bicyclic acetal containing insect pheromones. First part of this chapter deals with the enantiodivergent synthesis of both enantiomers of hydroxy-exo-brevicomin and 2-hydroxy-exo-brevicomin starting from a single chiral compound, bis-Weinreb amide derived from L-(+)-tartaric acid. Controlled addition of Grignard reagent to bis-Weinreb amide followed by diastereoselective reduction of the resultant ketone was employed as the key step for the enantiodivergent synthesis of hydroxy-exo-brevicomin and 2-hydroxy-exo-brevicomin. In the second part, enantioselective synthesis of exo-brevicomin, iso-exo-brevicomin and formal synthesis of frontalin comprising similar framework is demonstrated, utilizing á -benzyloxy aldehydes derived from L-(+)-tartaric acid as chiral building block. Second Chapter describes the enantioselective synthesis of bio-active cyclic ethers, disparlure, centrolobine and isolaurepan. Employing á-benzyloxy aldehydes derived from L-(+)-tartaric acid as the chiral building block, synthesis of both enantiomers of insect pheromone disparlure is achieved involving the diastereoselective addition of allyltributyl tin to the á-benzyloxy aldehyde and cross metathesis of the resultant homoallylic alcohol with 4-methyl-1-pentene. Formal synthesis of centrolobine and isolaurepan are accomplished. Pivotal step involved in the synthesis of centrolobine is iron(III) mediated cyclization of 1,5-diol derived from L-(+)-tartaric acid, while Lewis acid mediated reductive cyclization of the hydroxy ketone derived from á-benzyloxy aldehyde is the key step in the synthesis of isolaurepan. Third chapter in the thesis deals with the enantioselective synthesis of bio-active lactones muricatacin, 6-acetoxy-5-hexadecanolide and boronolide. Utilizing á-benzyloxy aldehyde as the building block, synthesis of five and six membered lactones, muricatacin and 6-acetoxy-5-hexadecanolide were accomplished via the diastereoselective addition of 3-butenylmagnesium bromide and allyltributyl tin to á-benzyloxy aldehyde, respectively. Stereoselective formal synthesis of boronolide was described, starting from D-(–)-tartaric acid. Key reaction sequence includes the elaboration of ã-hydroxy amide obtained by a combination of controlled Grignard addition and diastereoselective reduction from bis- Weinreb amide derived from D-(–)-tartaric acid.

Among Nature's creation, terpenoids are more versatile and exciting natural products. In a remarkable display of synthetic ingenuity and creativity, nature has endowed terpenes with a bewildering array of carbocyclic frameworks with unusual assemblage of rings and functionalities. This phenomenal structural diversity of terpenes makes them ideal targets for developing and testing new synthetic strategies for efficient articulation of carbocyclic frameworks. The thesis entitled “Enantiospecific approaches to komarovispiranes” describes the utility of the monoterpene α-campholenaldehyde as chiral starting material in the enantiospecific synthesis of a variety of bi- and tricyclic compounds, and enantiospecific first total synthesis of spiro diterpenes komarovispiranes. For convenience the results are described in two different sections, viz., (a) Chiral synthons from α-campholenaldehyde; and (b) Enantiospecific synthesis of a komarovispirane. In the thesis, the compounds are sequentially numbered (bold) and the references are marked sequentially as superscripts and listed in the last section of the thesis. Complete details of the experimental procedures and the spectroscopic data were provided in the experimental section. A brief introduction is provided wherever appropriate to keep the present work in proper perspective. All the spectra included in the thesis were obtained by xeroxing the original NMR spectra. Monoterpenes are widely used as chiral auxiliaries, but their potential as chiral synthons has not been properly exploited. In the present thesis, utility of α-campholenaldehyde, which is readily available from α-pinene in two steps, as chiral synthon has been demonstrated in the enantiospecific synthesis of a few bi- and tricarbocyclic frameworks as well as spiroditerpenes komarovispiranes. To begin with, synthesis of several bi- and tricyclic compounds, namely bicyclo[3.3.0]octan-3-one; bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-2-one; bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-one; 3-cyclopentylcyclopentanone; bicyclo[4.3.0]non-3-one; spiro[4.4]non-2-one; tricyclo[6.3.0.02,6]undecan-6-ol; and spiro[4.5]decan-2-one; have been accomplished employing an intramolecular rhodium carbenoid C-H insertion, intramolecular type II carbonyl ene cyclisation, intramolecular acid catalysed diazoketone cyclisation reactions and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction as the key steps. Komarovispirone is a tricyclic spiro diterpene isolated from Dracocephalum komarovi Lipsky, a perennial semishrub available in Uzbekistan and exhibits trypanocidal activity. The novel diterpene containing an unusual carbon framework, cyclohexane spiro fused to bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane, coupled with the potential biological activity have made komarovispirone, and its analogues interesting and challenging synthetic targets. Initially, as a model study, enantiospecific synthesis of a bis-norkomarovispirane was developed employing 7,8,8-trimethylbicyclo[3.3.0]oct-6-en-3-one as the starting material, which was readily available from campholenaldehyde. A Claisen rearrangement and RCM reaction based methodology was developed for the spiroannulation of a cyclohexane ring at the C-3 position of the bicyclo[3.3.0]octan-3-one. For the enantiospecific first total synthesis of komarovispiranes, the AB-trans ring system was generated via ring expansion of 7,8,8-trimethylbicyclo[3.3.0]oct-6-en-3-one employing ozonolytic cleavage followed by an intramolecular aldol condensation reaction of the resultant keto aldehyde. For the generation of the ABC ring system of the komarovispiranes, initially, a Claisen rearrangement and intramolecular type II carbonyl ene reaction based methodology was developed for the spiroannulation of a cyclohexane ring at the C-8 position of the bicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-8-one. Subsequently, an alternate Claisen rearrangement-RCM reaction based methodology was also developed for the spiroannulation, and extended it to the first total synthesis of a komarovispirane.

The isolation and identification of the active constituents from an Allium sp. extract possessing antibacterial activity was undertaken. The plant material of interest was extracted, purified and screened for antibacterial activity against a Gram positive bacteria. Multiple trials were performed and the isolation was scaled-up repeatedly, overall three compounds potentially possess the observed activity. One compound was identified to yield the majority of activity, and a refined procedure for its purification was established. Initial characterization studies demonstrated the major isolate of interest is novel compared to other isolates from the Allium genus. A ruthenium-catalyzed homo Diels-Alder [2+2+2] cycloaddition between bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene and alkynyl phosphonates was also studied. The observed reactivity was found to be dependent on the presence of the phosphonate moiety. The cycloaddition was compatible with a variety of aromatic and aliphatic substituted alkynyl phosphonates providing the corresponding phosphonate substituted deltacyclenes in low to good yields (up to 88%).

In the study of triple systems, one question faced is that of finding for what order a decomposition exists. We state and prove a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a bicyclic mixed triple system based on the three possible partial orientations of the 3-cycle with twice as many arcs as edges. We also explore the existence of rotational and reverse mixed triple systems. Our principal proof technique applied is the difference method. Finally, this work contains a result on packing of complete mixed graphs on v vertices, Mv, with isomorphic copies of two of the mixed triples and a possible leave structure.