Browsing by Author "Hodson, Luke"

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    Facile synthesis of a C4-symmetrical inherently chiral calix[4]arene†
    (Royal Society of Chemistry, 2021-09) Hodson, Luke; Visagie, Kevin J.; Smith, Michael-Phillip; Loots, Leigh; Kuter, David; Snayer, Tregen M.
    Inherently chiral calix[4]arenes with C4-symmetry are extremely rare and difficult to synthesise, severely hampering any effort to expand on their potential as chiral supramolecular catalysts and building blocks. Herein we report a reaction of a tetracarbamate calix[4]arene with NBS which results in a high yield of an inherently chiral calix[4]arenes with C4-symmetry. Furthermore, employing a chiral N-Boc proline moiety allows for separation of the diastereomers formed, thus obtaining the pure enantiomers after hydrolysis. The enantiomers could be assigned based on the CD spectra and DFT calculated values.
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    The synthesis of novel kinase inhibitors using click chemistry
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014-04) Hodson, Luke; Van Otterlo, Willem A. L.; Pelly, Stephen C.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Chemistry and Polymer Science.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Cancer is the leading cause of death on the planet, killing an estimated 8.2 million people in the year of 2012.The disease is associated with two families of genes, namely oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes. The hallmarks of cancer pathogenesis include gene amplification, point mutations or chromosomal rearrangements within these genes. Kinases are responsible for the reversible phosphorylation of proteins, which plays a significant and extensive role in cellular signal transduction. Aberrant kinase activity provokes overexpression, mutations and chromosomal translocation and results in the onset of onco- and tumorogenesis, ultimately leading to cancer. Inactivation of this class of enzyme is thus critical as it would result in the suppression of these unwanted activities. For this, researchers have developed kinase inhibitors, specifically targeting these proteins and thus inhibiting signal transduction pathways and tumour growth. This has resulted in great successes, particularly in the case of the commercial inhibitor, imatinib. However, resistance to approved therapeutic agents through mutations has resulted in the search for more potent and selective inhibitors to overcome these obstacles. This project involved the synthesis of bioactive heterocycles linked to 1,2,3-triazoles using either a C-C or C-N bond forming strategy. The synthetic methodology followed included the use of Sonogashira coupling reactions between3-bromoquinoline, 7-chloro-4-iodoquinoline, 4-bromoisoquinolineand5-bromoisoquinolineand trimethylsilylacetylene (TMSA), followed by deprotection of the TMS group to yield heterocycles bearing terminal alkynes. The synthesis of both benzyl azide and 2-(azidomethyl)pyridine as azide fragments, allowed for subsequent coupling of the synthesized azide and alkyne fragments through copper-mediated click chemistry, affording a library of 1,4-substituted 1,2,3-triazole based reversible kinase inhibitors. Synthesis of a second library of o-, m- and p-substituted nitro benzyl azides, allowed for both copper- and ruthenium-mediated click reactions, between the alkynes and nitro benzyl azides synthesized, to yield 1,4- and 1,5-substituted 1,2,3-triazoles, respectively. Finally, reduction of the incorporated o-, m- and p- substituted nitro group, and acylation of the resultant amine with acryloyl chloride, resulted in the incorporation of the important Michael acceptor moiety required for irreversible inhibition. This afforded a library of both reversible and potential irreversible triazole-based kinase inhibitors through efficient copper- and ruthenium-mediated click chemistry. Biological screening and activity assays against the wildtype, and two mutated forms of the EGFR kinase, were undertaken with these synthesized compounds.A number of synthesized inhibitors showed good selectivity for the mutated forms of the EGFR kinase only.The most potent inhibitor N-{2-{[4-(isoquinolin-4-yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl]methyl}phenyl}acrylamide,displayed efficacy in the low μM range - comparable to that of the FDA approved drug, gefitinib. The synthetic methodology derived in this project could be applied to the use of biological space probes with further investigatory research. Furthermore, from the biological screening results obtained, and the selectivity profile shown by these inhibitors, the synthesis of a second generation library of compounds is an additional research possibility.