A novel mode of reactivity for siloxycarbenes was discovered involving the light induced intramolecular carboannulation of acylsilanes bearing tethered vinyl ketones. To exploit this unique reactivity, we herein describe the discovery that acylsilanes can be employed as photofunctional directing groups in chemical synthesis. First, a protocol for the acylsilane directed ruthenium catalysed C-H olefination of benzoylsilanes using vinyl ketones was developed (where the use of TFE proved critical for accelerating C-H functionalisation). Subsequent photochemical irradiation of the olefin-tethered benzoylsilanes promoted carboannulation via transient siloxycarbene intermediates to afford unique benzocyclobutanone derivatives primed for further synthetic elaboration.

Siloxycarbenes induced via the visible light irradiation of acylsilanes undergo highly efficient “photo-click” chemistry reactions with electron deficient ketones. This process requires no reagents other than visible light, proceeds with high efficiency and is tolerant of a wide range of functional groups. Pyruvate esters, thioesters, amides, nitriles and phosphonates were all suitable electrophiles including those tethered to complex drug or biomolecule scaffolds. The “photo-click” chemistry process was achieved on larger scale using both batch and flow methodologies, accompanied by diversification studies on the corresponding addition products. Mechanistic insights into siloxycarbene reactivity were also obtained by DFT analysis.

We present a Diversity Oriented Clicking approach to synthesize a library of novel clickable N-substituted 2-aminothiazoles which serve as versatile hubs for SuFEx click chemistry diversification. Leveraging the spring-loaded reactivity of the 2-Substituted-Alkynyl-1-Sulfonyl Fluoride (SASF) connectors, the transformation is simple to perform, tolerant of a wide range of functionality, and regioselective for a single product. Finally, we propose a detailed stepwise reaction mechanism that is supported by experimental and computational analysis.

Building on our discovery that Ind*Rh(III) catalysts accelerated C(sp2)–H amidation, the Ind*Rh(III) catalysed amidation of C(sp3)–H sites was explored harnessing amides as weakly-coordinating directing groups. The combined use of an indenyl-derived catalyst and 2-pyridone additive proved critical in providing the enhanced catalytic activity required to achieve the amidation of both primary and secondary C(sp3)–H sites, affording a diversity of valuable structures. The late-stage amidation and peptide conjugation of pharmaceutical derivatives using the Ind*RhIII/2-pyridone catalytic system was also demonstrated.

The visible-light irradiation of acylsilane tethered vinyl ketones promotes an intramolecular Stetter-type reaction via siloxycarbene intermediates. To exploit this unique mode of reactivity, we herein describe the innovative use of acylsilanes as photofunctional directing groups. First, an acylsilane directed ruthenium catalysed C-H olefination reaction was developed to generate benzoylsilanes bearing vinyl ketone functionality. Then, visible-light irradiation initiated the 1,4-conjugate addition of transient siloxycarbene intermediates with pendent vinyl ketones to afford unique benzocyclobutenone scaffolds primed for further synthetic elaboration.

To date, the clinical use of the anti-tubercular therapy bedaquiline has been somewhat limited due to safety concerns. Recent investigations determined that modification of the B- and C-ring units of bedaquiline delivered new diarylquinolines (for example TBAJ-587) with potent anti-tubercular activity yet an improved safety profile due to reduced affinity for the hERG channel. Building on our recent discovery that substitution of the quinoline motif (the A-ring subunit) for C5-aryl pyridine groups within bedaquiline analogues led to retention of anti-tubercular activity, we investigated the concurrent modification of A-, B- and C-ring units within bedaquiline variants. This led to the discovery that 4-trifluoromethoxyphenyl and 4-chlorophenyl pyridyl analogues of TBAJ-587 retained relatively potent anti-tubercular activity and for the 4-chlorophenyl derivative in particular, a significant reduction in hERG inhibition relative to bedaquiline was achieved, demonstrating that modifications of the A-, B- and C-ring units within the bedaquiline structure is a viable strategy for the design of effective, yet safer (and less lipophilic) anti-tubercular compounds.

Investigations into C-H amidation reactions catalysed by cationic half-sandwich d6 metal complexes revealed that the indenyl-derived catalyst [Ind*RhCl2 ]2 significantly accelerated the directed ortho C-H amidation of benzoyl silanes using 1,4,2-dioxazol-5-ones. Ring slippage involving a haptotropic η5 to η3 rearrangement of the indenyl complex proposedly enables ligand substitution at the metal centre to proceed via associative, rather than dissociative pathways, leading to significant rate and yield enhancements. Intriguingly, this phenomenon appears specific for C-H amidation reactions involving weakly coordinating carbonyl-based directing groups with no acceleration observed for the corresponding reactions involving strongly coordinating nitrogen-based directing groups.

Investigations into C-H amidation reactions using electron-deficient cationic half-sandwich d6 metal complexes revealed that the indenyl-derived catalyst [Ind*RhCl2]2 significantly accelerated the directed ortho C-H amidation of benzoyl silanes using 1,4,2-dioxazol-5-ones. Ring slippage involving a haptotropic rearrangement of the indenyl complex proposedly enables ligand substitution at the metal centre to proceed via associative, rather than dissociative pathways, leading to significant rate and yield enhancements. Intriguingly, this phenomenon appears specific for C-H amidation reactions involving weakly coordinating carbonyl-based directing groups with no acceleration observed for the corresponding reactions involving strongly coordinating nitrogen-based directing groups.

Acylsilanes are able to react as nucleophilic carbene precursors, electrophiles, and directing groups in C-H functionalization. To date, some of the products reportedly formed during transition-metal-catalyzed and photochemical reactions involving acylsilanes have been incorrectly assigned. To provide clarity, we herein address these structural misassignments and detail the revised structures. New insights into the reactivity of acylsilanes were also afforded via the discovery that light-induced siloxy carbenes participate in intramolecular 1,2-carbonyl addition to proximal esters.

Polynucleotides, DNA and RNA (mRNA and non-coding RNAs) are critically involved in the molecular pathways of disease. Small molecule binding interactions with polynucleotides can modify functional polynucleotide topologies and/or their interactions with proteins. Current approaches to library design (lead-like or fragment-like libraries) are based on protein-ligand interactions and often include careful consideration of the 3-dimensional orientation of binding motifs and exclude π-rich compounds (polyfused aromatics) to avoid off-target R/DNA interactions. In contrast to proteins, where π,π-interactions are weak, polynucleotides can form strong π,π-interactions with suitable π-rich ligands. To assist in designing a polynucleotide-biased library, a scaffold-divergent synthesis approach to polyfused aromatic scaffolds has been undertaken. Initial screening hits that form moderately stable polynucleotide-ligand-protein ternary complexes can be further optimized through judicious incorporation of substituents on the scaffold to increase protein-ligand interactions. An example of this approach is given for topoisomerase-1 (TOP1), generating a novel TOP1 inhibitory chemotype.

Visible light induced singlet nucleophilic carbene intermediates undergo rapid [2+1]-cycloaddition with tethered olefins to afford unique bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane and bicyclo[4.1.0]heptane scaffolds. This cyclopropanation proceeds using only visible light irradiation, circumventing the use of exogenous (photo)catalysts or sensitisers and showcases an underexplored mode of reactivity for nucleophilic carbenes in chemical synthesis. The discovery of additional transformations including a cyclopropanation/retro-Michael/Michael cascade reaction to afford chromanone derivatives are also described.

Despite their synthetic utility, practical methods to prepare diversely functionalized aromatic acyl silanes (benzoyl silanes) remain scarce. We herein report that cobalt complexes can successfully engage acyl silanes as weakly coordinating directing groups to catalyse the ortho C-H functionalisation of benzoyl silanes. Under Cp*Co(III) catalysis, installation of allyl or amido functionality at the 2-position of benzoyl silanes was achieved, while reaction with internal alkynes led to a desilylative annulation to afford indenone scaffolds. A Co(II)/dppp catalytic system was also investigated to achieve the acyl silane directed hydroarylative cyclisation of 1,6-enynes to access unique benzoyl silane derivatives.

Studies into the Cp*Rh(iii)-catalysed hydroarylation of alkenes with aryl acyl silanes led to the discovery of a new synthetic strategy to access unique silicon derived indene frameworks. Rather than protodemetalation of the metal enolate formed following insertion of an alkene into the aryl C-H bond, intramolecular aldol condensation of the acyl silane occurred to generate a series of 2-formyl- and 2-acetyl-3-silyl indenes. This represents only the second example of rhodium-catalysed C-H functionalisation employing acyl silanes as weakly coordinating directing groups and the intramolecular aldol condensation strategy was extended to access analogous silicon derived benzofurans.

Novel 3,3'-disubstituted-5,5'-bi(1,2,4-triazine) compounds with potent in vitro activity against Plasmodium falciparum parasites were recently discovered. To improve the pharmacokinetic properties of the triazine derivatives, a new structure-activity relationship (SAR) investigation was initiated with a focus on enhancing the metabolic stability of lead compounds. These efforts led to the identification of second-generation highly potent antimalarial bis-triazines, exemplified by triazine 23, which exhibited significantly improved in vitro metabolic stability (8 and 42 μL/min/mg protein in human and mouse liver microsomes). The disubstituted triazine dimer 23 was also observed to suppress parasitemia in the Peters 4-day test with a mean ED50 value of 1.85 mg/kg/day and exhibited a fast-killing profile, revealing a new class of orally available antimalarial compounds of considerable interest.

Despite promising efficacy, the clinical use of the anti-tubercular therapeutic bedaquiline has been restricted due to safety concerns. To date, limited SAR studies have focused on the quinoline ring (A-ring), and as such, we set out to explore modifications within this region in an attempt to discover new bedaquiline variants with an improved safety profile. We herein report the development of unique synthetic strategies that facilitated access to novel bedaquiline analogues leading to the discovery that anti-tubercular activity could be retained following replacement of the quinoline motif with pyridine heterocycles. This discovery is anticipated to open up multiple new avenues for exploration in the design of improved anti-tubercular therapeutics.

Singlet nucleophilic carbenes (SNCs) containing only one heteroatom donor remain underutilized in chemical synthesis. We recently discovered that visible-light-induced SNC intermediates can be trapped by fluorinated ketones via 1,2-carbonyl addition to afford benzoin-type products. This discovery represents a rare example of nucleophilic carbenes reacting with ketones and delivers an efficient, user-friendly, and scalable process for accessing fluorinated tertiary alcohol derivatives driven only by light circumventing the use of exogenous catalysts or additives.

A high-throughput screen designed to discover new inhibitors of histone acetyltransferase KAT6A uncovered CTX-0124143 (1), a unique aryl acylsulfonohydrazide with an IC50 of 1.0 μM. Using this acylsulfonohydrazide as a template, we herein disclose the results of our extensive structure-activity relationship investigations, which resulted in the discovery of advanced compounds such as 55 and 80. These two compounds represent significant improvements on our recently reported prototypical lead WM-8014 (3) as they are not only equivalently potent as inhibitors of KAT6A but are less lipophilic and significantly more stable to microsomal degradation. Furthermore, during this process, we discovered a distinct structural subclass that contains key 2-fluorobenzenesulfonyl and phenylpyridine motifs, culminating in the discovery of WM-1119 (4). This compound is a highly potent KAT6A inhibitor (IC50 = 6.3 nM; KD = 0.002 μM), competes with Ac-CoA by binding to the Ac-CoA binding site, and has an oral bioavailability of 56% in rats.

Over fifty years ago, the 1,2-rearrangement of acylsilanes was first described by Adrian Brook and co-workers. This rearrangement (now termed the Brook rearrangement) yields reactive silicon-based singlet nucleophilic carbene (SNC) intermediates that participate in a variety of chemical transformations including 1,2-carbonyl addition, 1,4-addition to electron-deficient unsaturated bonds and insertion into C-H and O-H bonds. This review aims to cover the historical literature and recent advances with regard to these valuable silicon-based reagents and highlight additional aspects related to the intriguing reactivity of both the carbene and oxocarbenium intermediates.