Metal-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition is a powerful tool that allows rapid construction of functionalized 6-membered carbo- and heterocycles in a single step through an atom-economical process with high functional group tolerance. The reaction is usually regio- and chemoselective although selectivity issues can still be challenging for intermolecular reactions involving the cross-[2+2+2] cycloaddition of two or three different alkynes and various strategies have been developed to attain high selectivities. Furthermore, enantioselective [2+2+2] cycloaddition is an efficient means to create central, axial, and planar chirality and a variety of chiral organometallic complexes can be used for asymmetric transition-metal-catalyzed inter- and intramolecular reactions. This review summarizes the recent advances in the field of [2+2+2] cycloaddition.1 Introduction2 Formation of Carbocycles2.1 Intermolecular Reactions2.1.1 Cyclotrimerization of Alkynes2.1.2 [2+2+2] Cycloaddition of Two Different Alkynes2.1.3 [2+2+2] Cycloaddition of Alkynes/Alkenes with Alkenes/Enamides2.2 Partially Intramolecular [2+2+2] Cycloaddition Reactions2.2.1 Rhodium-Catalyzed [2+2+2] Cycloaddition2.2.2 Molybdenum-Catalyzed [2+2+2] Cycloaddition2.2.3 Cobalt-Catalyzed [2+2+2] Cycloaddition2.2.4 Ruthenium-Catalyzed [2+2+2] Cycloaddition2.2.5 Other Metal-Catalyzed [2+2+2] Cycloaddition2.3 Totally Intramolecular [2+2+2] Cycloaddition Reactions3 Formation of Heterocycles3.1 Cycloaddition of Alkynes with Nitriles3.2 Cycloaddition of 1,6-Diynes with Cyanamides3.3 Cycloaddition of 1,6-Diynes with Selenocyanates3.4 Cycloaddition of Imines with Allenes or Alkenes3.5 Cycloaddition of (Thio)Cyanates and Isocyanates3.6 Cycloaddition of 1,3,5-Triazines with Allenes3.7 Cycloaddition of Aldehydes with Enynes or Allenes/Alkenes3.8 Totally Intramolecular [2+2+2] Cycloaddition Reactions4 Conclusion

Kinetic analysis of the disassembly of self-immolative spacers based on cyclisation processes was performed. Five compounds were synthesized belonging to two different series, and their kinetic constants were determined. Electron-donating substituents gave a slight acceleration but the main effect was steric, and the Thorpe-Ingold effect was indeed particularly effective. Comparison with the self-immolative spacers based on elimination processes showed that cyclisations gave comparable or lower rate, but the corresponding spacers are more difficult to modulate.

Antibody−drug conjugates (ADCs) are the spearhead of targeted therapies. According to the technology used, the conjugation of a cytotoxic drug to an antibody can produce suboptimal heterogeneous species, impacting the overall efficacy. Herein, we describe the synthesis of HER2targeting ADCs with three disulfide rebridging heads, allowing homogeneous and site-specific bioconjugation: dibromomaleimide (DBM), dithiomaleimide (DTM), and hybrid thiobromomaleimide (TBM) chemical bricks to combine the properties of both previously used heads. The primary purpose of this study was to compare the reactivity of these three chemical bricks in the bioconjugation process. Then, the resulting ADCs were evaluated in terms of physicochemical stability, binding, and biological activity. We have demonstrated that the higher percentage of a drug-to-antibody ratio of 4 was obtained with TBM. Additionally, the reaction time was drastically reduced with TBM in comparison to DTM. The three ADCs showed good binding to HER2 and in vitro cytotoxicity, which validate the TBM structure as an attractive alternative scaffold for rebridging bioconjugation.

Spatiotemporal control of molecular distribution is much in demand in many fields of chemistry. To address this goal, we exploit a low molecular weight branched self-immolative architecture, which acts as a triggerable chemically encoded timer for autonomous sequential release of two chemicals. Using a light-activated model liberating two distinct fluorophores, we generated a tunable spatially contrasted molecular distribution.

Background Tumor resistance is a frequent cause of therapy failure and remains a major challenge for the long-term management of colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to determine the implication of the tight junctional protein claudin 1 (CLDN1) in the acquired resistance to chemotherapy. Methods Immunohistochemistry was used to determine CLDN1 expression in post-chemotherapy liver metastases from 58 CRC patients. The effects of oxaliplatin on membrane CLDN1 expression were evaluated by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and western blotting experiments in vitro and in vivo. Phosphoproteome analyses, proximity ligation and luciferase reporter assays were used to unravel the mechanism of CLDN1 induction. RNAseq experiments were performed on oxaliplatin-resistant cell lines to investigate the role of CLDN1 in chemoresistance. The “one-two punch” sequential combination of oxaliplatin followed by an anti-CLDN1 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) was tested in both CRC cell lines and murine models. Results We found a significant correlation between CLDN1 expression level and histologic response to chemotherapy, CLDN1 expression being the highest in resistant metastatic residual cells of patients showing minor responses. Moreover, in both murine xenograft model and CRC cell lines, CLDN1 expression was upregulated after exposure to conventional chemotherapies used in CRC treatment. CLDN1 overexpression was, at least in part, functionally related to the activation of the MAPKp38/GSK3β/Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Overexpression of CLDN1 was also observed in oxaliplatin-resistant CRC cell lines and was associated with resistance to apoptosis, suggesting an anti-apoptotic role for CLDN1. Finally, we demonstrated that the sequential treatment with oxaliplatin followed by an anti-CLDN1 ADC displayed a synergistic effect in vitro and in in vivo. Conclusion Our study identifies CLDN1 as a new biomarker of acquired resistance to chemotherapy in CRC patients and suggests that a “one-two punch” approach targeting chemotherapy-induced CLDN1 expression may represent a therapeutic opportunity to circumvent resistance and to improve the outcome of patients with advanced CRC.

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A self-immolative spacer based on disymetrical N,N’ bis carbamate aniline is introduced to liberate a substrate from a precursor after dual activation. The proof of principle of its exclusive selectivity...