Rhodium(III)-catalyzed enantioselective C-H indolylization of isoquinolines was developed. The C-H coupling reactions between 1-aryl isoquinoline derivatives and 3-indolylphenyliodonium salts proceeded smoothly in the presence of a modified chiral cyclopentadienyl-Rh(III) complex, affording a series of axially chiral indolylated biaryl products in excellent yields and enantioselectivity (up to 98% yield and 95% ee).

The macrodaphniphyllamine-type, calyciphylline A-type, daphnilongeranin A-type, and daphnicyclidin D-type alkaloids are four structurally related classes of Daphniphyllum alkaloids. On the basis of a systematic analysis of the biogenetic network of these classes, we developed synthetic strategies centered on the C4-N and C1-C8 bonds of calyciphylline A, which took full advantage of the suitable substrates, reactions, and pathways that are altered from their counterparts in the postulated biogenetic network. Through this generalized biomimetic approach, we achieved the first synthesis of 14 Daphniphyllum alkaloids from the four subfamilies.

Two-dimensional (2D) platelet structures are of growing importance as building blocks for the preparation of optical and electrical devices. However, the creation of morphologically tunable rectangular platelets through polymer self-assembly still remains a challenge. Herein, we describe a rational strategy for the fabrication of 2D rectangular platelets by stacking azopyridine-containing diblock molecular brushes in two dimensions in a selective solvent. Amphiphilic PEG-co-(PtBA-g-PAzoPy) DMBs with poly-(ethylene glycol) (PEG) block, poly-(t-butyl acrylate) (PtBA) backbone, and poly-(6-(4-(4-pyridyazo)-phenoxy)-hexyl methacrylate) (PAzoPy) brush were synthesized by sequential reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization. Various rectangular platelets were obtained via the solution self-assembly of PEG-co-(PtBA-g-PAzoPy) through a heating-cooling-aging process in which the morphology and size of platelets could be controlled by adjusting the composition of DMBs as well as the solvent polarity. In addition, we investigated the metal chelation ability and H-bonding-assisted co-assembly capability of PEG-co-(PtBA-g-PAzoPy). The results displayed that 2D hybrids and flower-like platelets were formed, respectively. Our study presents an efficient method to fabricate rectangular platelets with tunable morphologies.

Fenofibrate is known as a lipid-lowering drug. Although previous studies have reported that fenofibrate exhibits potential antitumor activities, IC50 values of fenofibrate could be as high as 200 mu M. Therefore, we investigated the antitumor activities of six synthesized fenofibrate derivatives. We discovered that one compound, SIOC-XJC-SF02, showed significant antiproliferative activity on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) HCCLM3 cells and HepG2 cells (the IC50 values were 4.011 mu M and 10.908 mu M, respectively). We also found this compound could inhibit the migration of human HCC cells. Transmission electron microscope and flow cytometry assays demonstrated that this compound could induce apoptosis of human HCC cells. The potential binding sites of this compound acting on human HCC cells were identified by mass spectrometry-cellular thermal shift assay (MS-CETSA). Molecular docking, Western blot, and enzyme activity assay-validated binding sites in human HCC cells. The results showed that fumarate hydratase may be a potential binding site of this compound, exerting antitumor effects. A xenograft model in nude mice demonstrated the anti-liver cancer activity and the mechanism of action of this compound. These findings indicated that the antitumor effect of this compound may act via activating fumarate hydratase, and this compound may be a promising antitumor candidate for further investigation.

Boronate rearrangements, such as the Matteson and Petasis reactions, are valuable metal-free reactions for the transfer of the carbo group on boron to intramolecular electrophilic sites. However, only highly reactive electrophiles are suitable, and ketones are too inactive for those boronate rearrangements due to the high energy barriers. We disclose here the 1,3-boronate rearrangement to ketones, for which a high energy barrier (44.9 kcal/mol) is prohibitory for thermal reactions in the ground state. The reaction is enabled by the key keto-enol-boronate bidentate complex formation in situ, which absorbs visible light to reach the excited state for the chemoselective 1,3-boronate rearrangement to ketones. Experimental and computational investigations exclude free radical intermediates from organoboronates. The aryl, alkenyl, and alkyl boronic acids react with various 1,3-diketones driven by visible light irradiation to construct structurally diverse beta-keto tertiary alcohols under metal-free conditions. The reaction demonstrates substrate diversity with 58 examples, yields up to 98 %, and it is suitable for gram-scale synthesis. The first 1,3-boronate rearrangement to ketones is reported. The reaction is driven by visible light irradiation, leading to various beta-keto tertiary alcohols under metal-free conditions. The excited state overcomes the energy barrier for the rearrangement, and mechanistic studies have excluded a free-radical reaction pathway.+image

NTRK (neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase) gene fusions that encode chimeric proteins exhibiting constitutive activity of tropomyosin receptor kinases (TRK), are oncogenic drivers in multiple cancer types. However, the underlying mechanisms in oncogenesis that involve various N-terminal fusion partners of NTRK fusions remain elusive. Here, we show that NTRK fusion proteins form liquid-like condensates driven by their N-terminal fusion partners. The kinase reactions are accelerated in these condensates where the complexes for downstream signaling activation are also concentrated. Our work demonstrates that the phase separation driven by NTRK fusions is not only critical for TRK activation, but the condensates formed through phase separation serve as organizational hubs for oncogenic signaling.

alpha-synuclein (alpha-Syn) is a presynaptic protein that is involved in Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases and binds to negatively charged phospholipids. Previously, we reported that alpha-Syn clusters synthetic proteoliposomes that mimic synaptic vesicles. This vesicle-clustering activity depends on a specific interaction of alpha-Syn with anionic phospholipids. Here, we report that alpha-Syn surprisingly also interacts with the neutral phospholipid lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC). Even in the absence of anionic lipids, lysoPC facilitates alpha-Syn- induced vesicle clustering but has no effect on Ca2+-triggered fusion in a single vesicle-vesicle fusion assay. The A30P mutant of alpha-Syn that causes familial Parkinson disease has a reduced affinity to lysoPC and does not induce vesicle clustering. Taken together, the alpha-Syn-lysoPC interaction may play a role in alpha-Syn function.