Zhigang, X. u., Moliner, F. D., Cappelli, A. P., Ayaz, M., & Hulme, C. (2014). Expeditious routes to polycyclic molecular frameworks via one-pot, two-step Ugi ring-closing sequences. Synlett, 25(2), 225-228.
Abstract:
A very general and robust multicomponent-reaction protocol involving an Ugi condensation between ethyl glyoxylate, isonitriles, N-Boc-α-amino acids, and mono-N-Boc-protected diamines followed by a series of acid-promoted cyclization steps in a one-pot fashion is reported. This process allows for the assembly of complex polycyclic structures by means of just two simple synthetic operations and a single chromatographic purification in high overall yields. Of note, the first scaffolds derived from a highly Âselective sequence of ring-closing events involving three internal amino nucleophiles is reported. © Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart New York.
Martinez-Ariza, G., & Hulme, C. (2015). Recent advances in allosteric androgen receptor inhibitors for the potential treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer. Pharmaceutical patent analyst, 4(5), 387-402.
Prostate cancer (PC) is the second most frequent cause of male cancer death in the USA. As such, the androgen receptor (AR) plays a crucial role in PC, making AR the major therapeutic target for PC. Current antiandrogen chemotherapy prevents androgen binding to the ligand-binding pocket (LBP) of AR. However, PC frequently recurs despite treatment and it progresses to castration-resistant prostate cancer. Behind this regression is renewed AR signaling initiated via mutations in the LBP. Hence, there is a critical need to improve the therapeutic options to regulate AR activity in sites other than the LBP. Herein, recently disclosed (2010-2015) allosteric AR inhibitors are summarized and a perspective on the potential pharmaceutical intervention at these sites is provided.
Martinez-Ariza, G., Ayaz, M., Roberts, S. A., Rabanal-León, W. A., Arratia-Pérez, R., & Hulme, C. (2015). The Synthesis of Stable, Complex Organocesium Tetramic Acids through the Ugi Reaction and Cesium-Carbonate-Promoted Cascades. Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English), 54(40), 11672-6.
Two structurally unique organocesium carbanionic tetramic acids have been synthesized through expeditious and novel cascade reactions of strategically functionalized Ugi skeletons delivering products with two points of potential diversification. This is the first report of the use of multicomponent reactions and subsequent cascades to access complex, unprecedented organocesium architectures. Moreover, this article also highlights the first use of mild cesium carbonate as a cesium source for the construction of cesium organometallic scaffolds. Relativistic DFT calculations provide an insight into the electronic structure of the reported compounds.
Gunawan, S., & Hulme, C. (2013). Bifunctional building blocks in the Ugi-azide condensation reaction: A general strategy toward exploration of new molecular diversity. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 11(36), 6036-6046.
PMID: 23912086;PMCID: PMC3795786;Abstract:
1,5-Disubstituted tetrazoles are an important drug-like scaffold known for their ability to mimic the cis-amide bond conformation. The scaffold is readily accessible via substitution of the carboxylic acid component of the Ugi multi-component reaction (MCR) with TMSN3 in what is herein denoted the Ugi-azide reaction. This full paper presents a concise, novel, general strategy to access a plethora of new heterocylic scaffolds utilizing tethered aldo/keto-acids/esters in the Ugi-azide reaction followed by a ring closing event that generates novel highly complex bis-heterocyclic lactam-tetrazoles. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.
Rabanal-Leon, W. A., Martinez-Ariza, G., Roberts, S. A., Hulme, C., & Arratia-Perez, R. (2015). Computational Study of Organo-Cesium Complexes and the Possibility of Lanthanide/Actinide ions Substitution. Chemical Physical Letters, 641, 181-186.