This work describes the preparation of the C(7)-C(20) fragment of spirotoamides A to C in a very elegant fashion, achievement very high levels of stereocontrol. The synthesis has been accomplished by a sequence involving 14 steps (0.36% overall yield, average of 81% for each step) in high diastereo and enantioselectivity, employing, as determining steps, asymmetric Mukaiyama and boron-mediated 1,5-anti promoted aldol reactions between α-methyl-β-hydroxyketones and aldehydes.

ABSTRACT Combination therapy drugs are considered a fundamental way to control malaria as it mimimizes the risk of emergence of resistance to the individual partner drugs. Consequently, this type of therapy constitutes a driving force for the discovery of new drugs with different modes of action, since this will provide options for combining different drugs to achieve the optimum antimalarial treatment. In this context, a 2,3,8-trisubstitued quinoline compound was found in a high throughput screen (HTS) to show an excellent inhibition of P. falciparum NF54 (IC50 = 22 nM) and low cytotoxicity. We performed a detailed evaluation of the substituents to improve the metabolic stability and solubility liabilities of the original hit and identified derivatives with enhanced physicochemical and/or PK properties and that maintained biological activity. However the high potency was not retained on testing against drug resistant plasmodium strains.

Piperlongumine is a natural amide alkaloid isolated from several species of Piper and is described in the literature as selectively cytotoxic to several cancer cell lines. Inhibiting cell migration has gained considerable interest as an approach for discovering antimetastatic agents because this process is fundamental to metastasis. Piperlongumine, selected from cell-based assay screening of NuBBE Database, inhibited the migration of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells with an EC50 of 3.0 ± 1.0 µM by the Boyden chamber assay. A series of five analogous compounds based on the structure of piperlongumine were designed, synthesized and evaluated in cell migration and cytotoxicity assays. The analogue designed by molecular simplification ((E)-N-acryloyl-3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)acrylamide) was the most active of the series, with an EC50 of 1.5 ± 1 µM. Additionally, this compound was selectively cytotoxic, with a selectivity index (SI) of 4.4.

In an article recently published in Química Nova, entitled "Chemistry Without Borders" ("Química Sem Fronteiras") [Pinto, A. C.; Zucco, C.; Galembeck, F.; Andrade, J. B.; Vieira, P. C. Quim. Nova 2012, 35, 2092], the authors highlighted the important aspects of science and technology with special emphasis on the field of Chemistry and its contributions toward a more prosperous Brazil of future. As a second step in that direction, this article extends the discussion of a key issue for the country in the framework of the chemistry community through the so called position papers in strategic areas. This document is a part of the contribution of the Brazilian Chemical Society to the World Science Forum to be held in Rio de Janeiro in November 2013. In this context, the present paper provides a brief discussion on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) with emphasis on the current challenges and opportunities towards the development and evolution of the field. NTDs leads to illness, long-term disability or death, and has severe social, economic and psychological consequences for millions of men, women, and children worldwide. In most cases, the available treatments are inadequate and extremely limited in terms of efficacy and safety, leading to an urgent demand for new drugs. In addition to the traditional challenges involved in any drug discovery process, it is widely recognized that there is an innovation gap and a lack of investment for research and development (R&D) in the area of NTDs. In the last few decades, methods toward combating, eradication, prevention, and treatment of NTDs have been repeatedly emphasized in the major international agendas. Developments in these strategies and alliances have continued to have an essential impact, particularly in the area of drug discovery, both in Brazil and globally and should be encouraged and supported. Several examples of international activities dedicated to the reduction of the devastating global impact of NTDs can be provided. Despite the beneficial developments in the past 30 years, NTDs continue to devastate poor communities in remote and vulnerable areas, in large part, due to market failures and public policies. Recent studies have shown that among 756 new drugs approved between 2000 and 2011, only four new chemical entities (NCEs) were identified for the treatment of malaria, while none were developed against NTDs or tuberculosis. Furthermore, only 1.4% of approximately 150,000 clinical trials were registered for neglected diseases, with a smaller number of trials for NCEs. Establishment and strengthening of global strategies involving the triad "government-academia-industry" is fundamental to the success in R&D of new drugs for NTDs. National and international public-private initiatives that aim to create, encourage, and invest in R&D projects have been implemented and therefore are of utmost importance to successfully integrate Brazil into this new paradigm. It is essential to lay the foundation for mechanisms that will intensify investments in infrastructure, training, and qualification of personnel with an ultimate strategic vision that foresees continuity. Our research group has made significant contributions to the development of this field with the goal of forging new frontiers while tackling both current and future challenges that include indispensable elements such as innovation and integration.

A reação aldólica é uma das ferramentas mais poderosas e versáteis para a construção de ligações C-C. Tradicionalmente, esta reação foi desenvolvida em sua versão estequiométrica, no entanto, grandes esforços no desenvolvimento de catalisadores quirais para reações aldólicas foram realizados nos últimos anos. Desta forma, neste artigo de revisão, é discutido o desenvolvimento de catalisadores metálicos em reação aldólica do tipo Mukaiyama, reação aldólica redutiva e reação aldólica direta. Além disto, a aplicação destes catalisadores na síntese total de moléculas complexas será abordada.

The aldol reaction is one of the most powerful and versatile methods for the construction of C-C bonds. Traditionally, this reaction was developed in a stoichiometric version; however, great efforts in the development of chiral catalysts for aldol reactions were performed in recent years. Thus, in this review article, the development of metal-mediated chiral catalysts in Mukaiyama-type aldol reaction, reductive aldol reaction and direct aldol reaction are discussed. Moreover, the application of these catalysts in the total synthesis of complex molecules is discussed.

Descrevemos neste trabalho uma síntese curta e eficiente para o fragmento C1-C9 do potente agente antitumoral dictiostatina. Esta abordagem sintética inclui uma reação de epoxidação assimétrica de Sharpless seguida da abertura de epóxido nas condições de Myashita para introduzir os centros estereogênicos em C6 e C7 e uma reação de olefinação tipo Horner-Wadsworth- Emmons nas condições de Ando para construir a ligação com geometria /Z/do dieno 1,3-/Z/,/E/.

We describe herein a short and efficient synthesis of the C1-C9 fragment of the potent antitumor agent dictyostatin. Notable features of this approach include a Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation followed by epoxide opening under Myashita's conditions to introduce the stereogenic centers at C6 and C7, and a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons type reaction under Ando's conditions to construct the Z-double bond of the 1,3-(Z,E)-diene system.

Descrevemos neste trabalho nossa rota sintética para obtenção do policetídeo antifúngico (-)-basiliskamida A, assim como estudos de RMN de ¹H relacionados a migração da cadeia lateral cinamoíla da basiliskamida A para formar a basiliskamida B em CDCl3.

We describe herein our approach to the total synthesis of the antifungal polyketide (-)-basiliskamide A, as well as ¹H NMR studies on the migration of the cinnamoyl side chain of basiliskamide A to form basiliskamide B in CDCl3 solution.

Hans Viertler, a visionary, an example of institutional commitment, a great scientist, excellent and dedicated teacher, highly respected as a professional and admired for his leadership, wisdom, generosity, good humor, professional capacity, and balance. A life dedicated to the consolidation of Chemistry in Brazil, the teaching chemistry, the IQ-USP, the Brazilian Chemical Society (SBQ) and the CRQ-fourth region. Hans, a friend with a heart bigger than himself!

This work describes an overview of our synthesis of pteridic acids A and B and discloses some interesting results related to the lithium enolate-mediated aldol reaction used as key step to set up the C5-C15 fragment of these natural products. This first example, as far we know, of an aldol reaction between a chiral enolate of a (Z) enone and a chiral aldehyde has driven us to a series of experiments showing the remarkable relation between enolization selectivity and reaction conditions.

Aliltricloroestananas quirais e aquirais reagem com ±-alcóxi aldeídos quirais para fornecer alcoóis homoalílicos com moderados a bons níveis de diastereosseletividade 1,4-syn.

Achiral and chiral allyltrichlorostannanes reacted with chiral ±-alkoxy aldehydes to give the corresponding homoallylic alcohols with moderate to good levels of 1,4-syn-diastereoselection.

Uma estratégia importante para a terapia do câncer é o planejamento de modulares que interferem na dinâmica dos microtúbulos através de sua ligação específica à subunidade ² da tubulina. No presente trabalho, estudos de análise comparativa dos campos moleculares (CoMFA) foram realizados com uma série de análogos do discodermolídeo com ação antimitótica. Resultados significativos foram obtidos (CoMFA(i), q² =0,68, r² =0,94; CoMFA(ii), q² = 0,63, r² =0,91), indicando a elevada consistência interna e externa dos modelos gerados empregando duas estratégias independentes de alinhamento estrutural. Os modelos foram validados externamente com um conjunto teste e os valores preditos apresentaram boa concordância com os resultados experimentais. Os modelos de QSAR e os mapas de contorno 3D forneceram importantes informações sobre as bases químicas e estruturais envolvidas no processo de reconhecimento molecular dessa família de análogos do discodermolídeo, sendo uma valiosa ferramenta no planejamento de novos moduladores específicos da ²-tubulina com potente atividade antitumoral.

An important approach to cancer therapy is the design of small molecule modulators that interfere with microtubule dynamics through their specific binding to the ²-subunit of tubulin. In the present work, comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) studies were conducted on a series of discodermolide analogs with antimitotic properties. Significant correlation coefficients were obtained (CoMFA(i), q² =0.68, r²=0.94; CoMFA(ii), q² = 0.63, r²= 0.91), indicating the good internal and external consistency of the models generated using two independent structural alignment strategies. The models were externally validated employing a test set, and the predicted values were in good agreement with the experimental results. The final QSAR models and the 3D contour maps provided important insights into the chemical and structural basis involved in the molecular recognition process of this family of discodermolide analogs, and should be useful for the design of new specific ²-tubulin modulators with potent anticancer activity.

Neglected diseases are a major global cause of illness, long-term disability and death. Chagas' disease is a parasitic infection widely distributed throughout Latin America, with devastating consequences in terms of human morbidity and mortality. The existing drug therapy suffers from a combination of drawbacks including poor efficacy, resistance and serious side effects. In 2009, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Chagas' disease, facing the challenges of developing new, safe and effective drugs for the treatment of this disease. This brief review attempts to highlight the state of the art, limitations and perspectives of Chagas' disease drug development.

Compostos oxindol-ferrocenos com potencial atividade anticâncer foram preparados a partir de reações de oxindóis substituídos e carboxaldeído-ferroceno na presença de KOH como catalisador. Os produtos foram caracterizados por dados espectroscópicos incluindo RMN de ¹H e 13C, infravermelho e espectrometria de massas. As configurações E e Z foram estabelecidas por experimentos de nOe ou NOESY.

A series of ferrocenyl oxindoles with potential anticancer activity were prepared from the reactions of substituted oxindoles and ferrocenylcarboxyaldehyde in the presence of KOH as catalyst. The products were characterized by spectral data including ¹H and 13C NMR, IR and mass spectrometry. The E and Z configurations were established by nOe or NOESY experiments.

This review describes the endeavors that led to the total synthesis of a novel class of antibiotic compounds: the crocacins A-D. Other aspects such as isolation, structural elucidation as well as the biological activities are also presented.

Quimica Nova and the Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society are two examples of successful initiatives taken by the Brazilian Chemical Society (SBQ - Sociedade Brasileira de Química), and may serve as models for the scientific societies of developing countries. Pillars of the SBQ, these two periodicals are undeniable demonstrations that idealism, utopia and dignity are the essential ingredients for transforming dreams into reality. Few believed that the Brazilian chemical community would one day have, as it does today, two scientific research periodicals indexed in the principal international data banks.