Menthols as Chiral Auxiliaries for Asymmetric Cycloadditive Oligomerization: Syntheses and Studies of β-Proline Hexamers

Org Lett. 2015 Dec 18;17(24):6178-81. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.5b03154. Epub 2015 Dec 1.

Abstract

To produce a novel class of structurally ordered poly-β-prolines, an emergent method for synthesizing chiral β-peptide molecular frameworks was developed based on 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition chemistry of azomethine ylides. Functionalized short β-peptides with up to six monomeric residues were efficiently synthesized in homochiral forms using a cycloadditive oligomerization approach. X-ray, NMR, and CD structural analyses of the novel β-peptides revealed secondary structure features that were generated primarily by Z/E-β-peptide bond isomerism. Anticancer in cellulo activity of the new β-peptides toward hormone-refractory prostate cancer cells was observed and was dependent on the absolute configuration of the stereogenic centers and the chain length of the β-proline oligomers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Azo Compounds / chemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Cycloaddition Reaction
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Menthol / chemistry*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Proline / analogs & derivatives*
  • Proline / chemical synthesis
  • Proline / chemistry
  • Proline / pharmacology
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Thiosemicarbazones / chemistry

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Azo Compounds
  • Thiosemicarbazones
  • azomethine
  • Menthol
  • Proline
  • beta-proline