Introduction

1,2-Azoles are five-membered heterocycles containing at least one nitrogen atom and privileged structures widely found in pharmaceuticals1,2,3,4,5,6,7, pesticides8, and chiral catalysts9 or ligands10,11 (Fig. 1a). Recently, the atroposelective synthesis of atropisomeric (hetero)biaryl motifs and their stereochemical recognition in biological or chemical targets are hot spots in drug discovery and catalyst/ligand design12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24. Therefore, the installation of 1,2-azole moieties into (hetero)biaryl system leads to additional skeletal heterogeneity in atropisomeric architectures. To our surprise, only atropisomeric pyrazole has been prepared through the atroposelective formation of aryl-aryl bond to date (Fig. 1b)25,26. The atroposelective procedure for other 1,2-azoles such as isoxazole, isothiazole, and its S-oxides has not been explored probably because it is difficult to simultaneously control the formation of heterocyclic ring and the atroposelective installation of a stereogenic axis27,28,29. In particular, the stereoselective construction of axially chiral isothiazole S-oxides is more difficult because an extra stereogenic sulfur center affects the synthesis of structures bearing different types of chiralities30,31. Due to the structural versatility of atropisomeric 1,2-azoles and their potential functional diversity, it is highly desirable to design a platform molecule to access different types of axially chiral 1,2-azoles via novel heterocyclic ring formation.

Fig. 1: Background and project synopsis.
figure 1

a Examples of 1,2-azole structures in drugs and bioactive molecules. b Synthesis status of axially chiral compounds containing 1,2-azole structures. c Our strategy: novel construction of axially chiral compounds containing 1,2-azoles. d This work.

Full size image

In recent years, vinylidene ortho-quinone methide (VQM) intermediates have evolved into an important tool for catalytic asymmetric synthesis because their intrinsic axial chirality can be generated from readily available ortho-alkynylnaphthols with a chiral catalyst and further subjected to downstream transformations with excellent stereocontrol32,33,34,35,36,37,38. Based on our previous work on VQM chemistry for heterobiaryl atropisomer synthesis39,40,41,42,43, we believed that VQMs could be an ideal template synthon for the collective synthesis of axially chiral 1,2-azoles. Nevertheless, reported VQMs are mostly limited to those bearing an arene ring at 5-position, so axial chiral architectures were confined to benzo- or naphtho-fused analogues39,40,41,42,43,44. To realize the synthesis of atropisomeric 1,2-azoles, we intended to design other types of VQM precursor bearing non-arene groups at 5-position. We envisioned that the open chain motif bearing two heteroatoms would be primed for subsequent cyclization and offer two extra sites for catalyst binding, thus forming an ideal entry point into the preparation of axial chiral 1,2-azoles (Fig. 1c).

Herein, we report our recent progress toward the construction of two types of axially chiral 1,2-azoles and their potential applications in synthetic transformations and therapeutic usage (Fig. 1d). First, racemic mixtures of N-naphthyl propargylsulfinamides bearing a stereogenic sulfur center are used as substrates to undergo a kinetic resolution process with high S factors. Both products and substrates can be transformed into a set of atropospecific functional biaryls with potential applications as template molecules in asymmetric synthesis. Next, axially chiral naphthyl-pyrazoles are successfully constructed via modified VQMs bearing hydrazone moiety in high yields with good atroposelectivities. Furthermore, we prove that some atropisomeric pyrazole agents possessed promising antiproliferation activity and relative safety, by in vitro tests on six human cancer cell lines and one normal cell line.

Results

Reaction development of naphtyl-isothiazole S-oxides

Our attention first moved toward the enantioselective construction of isothiazole S-oxides, which are also known as cyclic sulfoximines and belong to an underutilized class of heterocycles. Their nucleophilic and basic nitrogen atom and stereogenic center at the sulfur atom make them a promising framework for biological and catalytic applications45,46,47,48,49,50. To date, the catalytic asymmetric preparation of stereogenic C-C axial chiral aryl-isothiazole S-oxides remains unexplored. Possible methods to address this challenge may involve the formation of axis and stereogenic sulfur center, but the simultaneous control of the stereogenic sulfur center and axis has not been achieved30,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59. Our current strategy involves the VQMs bearing a racemic sulfinamide moiety, which can be deprotonated to form a carbon electrophile and then undertake an intramolecular S–C bond formation to access axially chiral naphtyl-isothiazole S-oxides through kinetic resolution, and recovering one isomer of sulfinamides 1 as stereogenic sulfur center derivatives.

Condition screening

First, we examined the reaction of (±)−1a and NBS in toluene with various organocatalysts at −40 °C for 0.5 h. Cinchona alkaloids-derived thiourea catalysts A and B provided poor conversion and enantioselectivity (Fig. 2c). Gratifyingly, cinchona alkaloids-derived squaramides (C, D, E and F) led to more enantiomerically pure products and afforded satisfactory results in the formation of isothiazole S-oxide 2a (up to 42% conversion, 83% ee, S value up to 20). By contrast, the amide catalysts G and H resulted in the lower catalytic performance. With the best catalyst F in hand, solvents including m-xylene, iPrOH, acetonitrile (CH3CN), ethyl acetate (EA), tetrahydrofuran (THF) and dichloromethane (DCM) were investigated, but none of them outperformed DCM in performance (S = 25). The further evaluation of reaction temperature suggested that the highest S value could be obtained under the reaction conditions as follow: 0.05 mmol substrates 1, 0.0275 mmol NBP and 10 mol% catalyst F in DCM (2.0 mL) at −78 °C for 0.5 h.

Fig. 2: Optimization of the reaction conditions.
figure 2

a Catalysts. b Brominating reagents: N-bromosuccinimide (NBS); N-bromoacetamide (NBA); N-bromophthalimide (NBP); 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (DBDMH). c Reaction conditions screening. a(±)−1a (0.05 mmol), catalysts A–H (10 mol%) in solvent at corresponding temperature for 10 min, then brominating reagents (0.0275 mmol) were added at corresponding temperature, unless otherwise specified. bEnantiomeric excess (ee) were determined by HPLC. cConversion ratio was calculated by the methods of Fiaud: conv. = ee1a/(ee1a + ee2a). dSelectivity values were calculated by the methods of Fiaud: S = ln[(1 – conv.)(1 – ee1a)]/ln[(1 – conv.)(1 + ee1a)]. tBu tert-Butyl.

Full size image

Substrates scope exploration of naphtyl-isothiazole S-oxides

With the optimized reaction conditions in hand, we investigated the substrate scope of the established kinetic resolution of N-propargylsulfinamides to form axially chiral naphtyl-isothiazole S-oxides through enantioselective annulation of VQM intermediates (Fig. 3a). The substrates with tert-butylsulfinamides motif at 5-position of VQM precursor allowed the kinetic resolution process to give chiral heterocycles 2a–2h in high S values with up to 96% ee and the corresponding sulfinamides 1a–1h were also obtained with moderate to good enantioselectivities. Meanwhile, replacing the tert-butylsulfinamide with less hindered isopropyl sulfinamide at 5-position led to lower performance in terms of enantioselectivity and conversion (2j, S = 4, ee = 52%). Furthermore, benzosulfinamides substituted substrates were well tolerated to the reaction conditions, thus affording chiral naphthyl-isothiazole S-oxides (2k–2t) with up to 97% ee. However, the electron-withdrawing group on the phenyl part of sulfinamides led to the decreased performance (2n, S = 4, ee = 55%; 2o, S = 1, ee = 11%). It is worth noting that both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents can be installed to the naphtyl ring of the substrates 1 without significant changes in enantioselectivities and conversions. Substrates with the naphtyl group replaced by quinoline also proceeded smoothly under standard reaction conditions, giving the quinolinyl-isothiazole S-oxides (2i and 2s) and sulfinamides 1i and 1s in an enantiopure form. However, substrates 1 with other gem-disubstituted groups [e.g, dihydro (2u), diethyl (2w), cyclohexyl (2x)] attached to the propargylic carbon provides the target isothiazole derivatives with extremely low yields and poor enantioselectivities under the standard reaction conditions (See Supplementary Information for details). The absolute configurations of 1e and 2e were determined to be (S) and (aS, S) by X-ray crystal structure analysis and others were assigned by analogy.

Fig. 3: Substrate scope of naphthyl-isothiazole S-oxides and synthetic transformations.
figure 3

a Substrate scope of naphthyl-isothiazole S-oxides. Reaction conditions: (±)−1 (0.3 mmol), F (10 mol%) in DCM (12.0 mL) at −78 °C for 10 min, then NBP (0.165 mmol) were added; Enantiomeric excess (ee) were determined by HPLC; Diastereomeric ratio (d.r.) was determined by HPLC; Isolated yield; Conversion ratio was calculated by the methods of Fiaud: conv. = ee1/(ee1 + ee2). Selectivity values were calculated by the methods of Fiaud: S = ln[(1 – conv.)(1 – ee1)]/ln[(1 – conv.)(1 + ee1)], unless otherwise specified. aF (20 mol%). b Gram-scale reaction and synthetic transformations (NIS: N-Iodosuccinimide). tBu tert-Butyl, iPr isopropyl.

Full size image

Synthetic applications

Next, the synthetic potential of our reaction was then explored (Fig. 3b). A gram-scale reaction was firstly carried out to prepare 1k and 2k under the optimal reaction conditions and the yield and enantioselectivity almost showed no change. The ee value of substrate 1k and the atropisomeric 2k could be further improved to 99% after recrystallization. In addition, chiral sulfinamide 1k and axially chiral naphthyl-isothiazole S-oxide 2k were found diverse transformations. 1k could be converted to corresponding naphthyl-isothiazole S-oxides 1ka–1kd in the presence of NIS, NBP or phenylthiohypochlorite and phenylselenenylchloride at corresponding temperature in DCM with good yields and enantioselectivities. The hydroxyl group of 2k could be esterified to give products 2ka, 2kb and 2kc in excellent yields without erosion in optical purity.

Reaction development of naphthyl-pyrazoles

After the establishment of protocol toward atroposelective construction of naphthyl-isothiazole S-oxides, we turned our attention to explore the protocol toward the preparation of axial chiral pyrazole derivatives based on VQMs bearing non-arene groups at 5-position. Pyrazole is a common privileged substructure in both natural and artificial functional molecules60,61,62,63,64,65,66. To our surprise, catalytic synthetic approach has not been developed to construct the stereogenic axis and pyrazole ring simultaneously. In this study, we conceived to design another VQM precursor bearing hydrazone-substituted substrate applicable for the axial chiral pyrazole formation (Fig. 4). Primary screening results suggested that sulfonylbenzenes or diphenylphosphine oxides were applicable to the reaction to provide the steric hindrance required for the formation of atropisomers. After screening reaction conditions, optimal reaction conditions for sulfonyl hydrazones substrates were identified as follows: 0.05 mmol substrates and 10 mol% catalyst C in DCM (2.0 mL) at 25 °C for 12 h (For details, see Supplementary Table 2).

Fig. 4: Substrate scope of naphthyl-pyrazoles.
figure 4

a Reaction conditions: 3a–3p (0.1 mmol), C (10 mol %) in DCM (4.0 mL) at 25 °C for 12 h; aReaction time was extended to 24 h. b Reaction conditions: 3q–3aa (0.1 mmol), E (20 mol %), NBS (0.105 mmol) in toluene (2.0 mL) at 25 °C for 1 h; Enantiomeric excess (ee) were determined by HPLC; Isolated yield.

Full size image

Substrates scope exploration of naphthyl-pyrazoles

To further test the substrate scope, various enantioselectivities and good yields were observed in most cases (Fig. 4a). For the preparation of axially chiral naphthyl-pyrazoles, alkyl substitutions including tert-butyl (4a), methyl (4b), ethyl (4c), isopropyl (4d), 3-pentyl (4e), cyclopentyl (4f), cyclohexyl (4g), and more steric 1-adamantyl (4h), as well as phenyl (4i) on the 3-position of pyrazole, were afforded in high yields and enantioselectivities (72–85% yields, 83–99% ee). For the sulfonylbenzene ring, non-substitution (4j) or the substitution of methyl (4a), trifluoromethyl (4m), or chloro (4n) on the 4-position caused no significant variation in both yields and ee. Particularly, the substrates with alkyl groups gave rise to slightly higher enantiomeric purity on average, as indicated by the comparison of 4a-4h (>88% ee), 4i (83% ee), 4k (84% ee) and 4l (94% ee). Besides, brominating the 7-position of the 2-naphthol ring did not obviously affect the yields or enantiopurities (4o and 4p). In addition, the absolute configuration of 4a was detected to be (aR) by X-ray crystallographic analysis and others were assigned by analogy.

Similar optimizations were also carried out for the synthesis of the other axially chiral pyrazoles bearing the diphenylphosphine oxide moiety and satisfying results were pleasingly acquired within a short reaction time (Supplementary Table 3). For this type of axial chiral naphthyl-pyrazole, a wide substrate scope was also observed (Fig. 4b). tert-Butyl (4q), 3-pentyl (4r), cyclopropanyl (4s), cyclobutyl (4t), cyclohexyl (4u), steric 1-adamantyl (4v), and p-tolyl (4w) substituted N-diphenylphosphine oxide pyrazoles were acquired in moderate yields with good to excellent ee (70–78% yields, 86–98% ee). We further investigated the substrates with Br and OMe substituted in naphthyl moiety, and the reactions proceeded quite smoothly (4x-4aa, 70–75% yields, and 85–97% ee). In addition, the absolute configuration of 4q was detected to be (aS) by single-crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis and others were assigned by analogy.

Biological activity study

Another goal of our research is to explore latent medicinal utilization for the chiral naphthyl-pyrazoles. A physicochemical analysis on the synthetic method suggested that many of the naphthyl-pyrazoles followed Linpiski’s “rule of 5” basically and therefore possessed drug-like properties (see Supplementary Discussion). Subsequently, a set of biological assays were performed to evaluate the potential of the axially chiral naphthyl-pyrazoles in the pharmacological application. Though some of the products resembled celecoxib in structure, they exhibited no inhibition on the COX-2 activity at concentrations up to 100 μM (4m and 4k). Instead, many compounds exhibited obvious antiproliferation effects toward a small panel of cancer cell lines including A549, MIA PaCa-2, A375, MCF7, MDA-MB-231 and Hela. One of the optimal compounds, 4x, inhibited A375 cell by IC50 of 2.57 μM (Fig. 5a) and its cytotoxicity toward non-cancer cell line L02 was only modest (25.01 μM). An interesting “activity cliff” was observed as the methoxyl group on C7-position of naphthoquinone obviously increased the activity (non-substituted 4s with IC50 of 28.15 μM, Fig. 5b). Meanwhile, we found that the two enantiomers were similar in bioactivity, where 4x was slightly more potent than its enantiomer counterpart (IC50 of 2.57 μM versus 3.6 μM, Supplementary Table 7). These observations provided theoretical supports to our assumption that the chiral naphthyl-pyrazoles deserved further exploration. To further explore the pharmacological mechanism, systematic flow cytometric assays were performed with compound 4x (Fig. 5c). The percentage of A375 cells in the G1 period decreased from 61.5 to 49.4%, when cells were treated with gradient doses (0, 2, 4, and 8 μM) of 4x for 24 h. Under a single dose (4 μM) of 4x, the percentage of cells in the G1 period dropped from 68.5 to 46.6% after different reaction time (0, 12, 24, and 48 h, Fig. 5c). Likewise, the percentage of total apoptotic A375 cells increased from 3.5 to 46.4% when treated with 8 μM of 4x for 24 h, or increased from 8.0 to 41.1% when treated with 4 μM of 4x for 48 h (Fig. 6a). It could be concluded from the results that compound 4x caused cell cycle arrest and induced cell apoptosis in A375 cells in both time- and dose-dependent manners. As 4x provoked a significant apoptosis effect, we explored whether it was ascribed to the production of ROS (reactive oxygen species), a causal factor of mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis. The 48 h exposure of A375 cells to 4x in different doses (2, 4, and 8 μM) led to an increased ROS generation in a dose-dependent manner, compared to the non-treated group (Fig. 6b). We also investigated the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) loss, an early hallmark of mitochondrial dysfunction, in A375 cells with the treatment of 4x. The mitochondrial depolarization percentage was found to rise from 7.6% of the non-treated control to 21.9% (2 μM), 59.8% (4 μM), and 77.4% (8 μM), respectively (Fig. 6c). Afterward, the mitochondrial apoptotic mechanism was further validated by the western blot assays. The treatment of A375 cell with 4x for 48 h obviously elevated the expression levels of cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, cleaved PARP, Bax and cytochrome c, and gradually decreased the expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL in a dose-dependent manner (Fig. 6d). In summary, we proved that compound 4x was an effective antiproliferation agent and induced apoptosis in A375 cells through the mitochondria-related pathways. Therefore, it may be developed for therapeutic purposes and further optimizing research on 4x is in progress.

Fig. 5: Pharmacological research on the axially chiral naphthyl-pyrazoles.
figure 5

a The IC50 values of 4x toward different cell lines. b The IC50 values of tested azoles toward A375 cells and structure-activity findings. c Compound 4x induced A375 cell cycle arrest both in the dose- and time-dependent manners.

Full size image
Fig. 6: Compound 4x induced apoptosis in A375 cells through the mitochondria-related pathways.
figure 6

a Compound 4x induced A375 cell apoptosis both in the dose- and time-dependent manners. b Compound 4x caused MMP loss in A375 cells in a dose-dependent manner. c Compound 4x elevated the ROS level in A375 cells in a dose-dependent manner. d The expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins were assayed by western blot analysis. Data are presented as the mean ± SD from three independent experiments.

Full size image

Mechanistic investigations

In order to demonstrate the formation of this type of novel VQMs and their crucial roles in atroposelective transformation, some control experiments were carried out. When the naphthyl hydroxyl was protected by acetyl group (1l’, 3i’, 3q’) or replaced with hydroxymethyl group (1l”) to prevent the formation of VQM intermediate, the reactions failed to deliver the desired heterobiaryl architectures under optimized reaction conditions even with prolonged reaction time (Fig. 7a). The failures indicated that the formation of VQM intermediate was vital for this transformation and that VQMs were likely involved in the reaction process. Based on the above-mentioned control experiments, a plausible mechanism was depicted in Supplementary Fig. 6, the high stereoselectivity of the annulation could be justified with a model reported by our group previously42. Moreover, taking the axially chiral naphthyl-isothiazole S-oxides (N, S-1,2-azoles) as an example, the favored transition states were proposed in Fig. 7b. The ring formation step possibly favors the intramolecular nucleophilic attack of the VQM intermediates from less sterically hindered side, and subsequent cyclization affords 2 as the target products.

Fig. 7: Control experiments and proposed mechanism model.
figure 7

a Control experiments. b Proposed model for atroposelective 1,2-azole ring formation (naphthyl-isothiazole S-oxides as example).

Full size image

Discussion

In conclusion, we developed two types of VQM precursor containing the substituents of two heteroatoms (sulfinamides and hydrazones) at 5-position and obtained axially chiral naphthyl-isothiazole S-oxides (N, S-1,2-azoles) and naphthyl-pyrazoles (N, N-1,2-azoles) in good to excellent yields and with high enantioselectivities via an organocatalytic novel ring formation process. First, racemic mixtures of N-naphthyl propargylsulfinamides bearing a stereogenic sulfur center were used as substrates to undergo a kinetic resolution process with high S factors. Both products and substrates could be transformed into a set of atropospecific functional biaryls with potential applications as template molecules in asymmetric syntheses. Next, axially chiral naphthyl-pyrazoles have been successfully constructed via VQMs bearing hydrazone moiety in high yields with good atroposelectivities. Furthermore, we proved that some atropisomeric pyrazole agents possessed promising antiproliferation activity and relative safety, by in vitro tests on six human cancer cell lines and one normal cell line. Further applications of these types of VQM in atroposelective transformations will be reported in due course.

Methods

Synthesis of 2a–2x by asymmetric intramolecular annulation

(±)−1 (0.3 mmol, 1.0 equiv), and catalyst F (0.01 mmol, 10 mol%), DCM (12.0 mL) was injected into a flame-dried Schlenk tube; after stirring for 10 min at −78 °C, the NBP (0.165 mmol, 0.55 equiv) was added into the mixture. After completion of the reaction (monitored by thin-layer chromatography, TLC), the reaction was quenched with saturated ammonium chloride solution, and extracted with DCM (3 × 5.0 mL), all organic layer was removed under reduced pressure, and the residue was purified by column chromatography (PE: EA = 3:1–6:1) to afford product 2a–2x.

Synthesis of 4a–4p by asymmetric intramolecular annulation

A flame-dried Schlenk tube equipped with a magnetic stirring bar, was charged with 3a–3p (0.1 mmol, 1.0 equiv), and catalyst C (0.01 mmol, 10 mol%), DCM (4.0 mL) was injected into the tube at 25 °C. After stirring for 12 h, the reaction was quenched with saturated ammonium chloride solution, and extracted with DCM (3 × 4.0 mL), all organic layer was removed under reduced pressure, and the residue was purified by column chromatography (PE: EA = 4:1) to afford product 4a–4p.

Synthesis of 4q–4aa by asymmetric intramolecular annulation

A flame-dried Schlenk tube equipped with a magnetic stirring bar, was charged with 3q–3aa (0.1 mmol, 1.0 equiv), NBS (0.105 mmol, 1.05 equiv), and catalyst E (20 mol%), toluene (2.0 mL) was injected into the tube at 25 °C. After stirring for 1 h, the reaction was quenched with saturated ammonium chloride solution, and extracted with EA (3 × 2.0 mL), all organic layer was removed under reduced pressure, and the residue was purified by column chromatography (PE: EA = 3:1) to afford product 4q–4aa.