This article explores recent advances in the design and engineering of materials wholly or principally constructed from peptides. We focus on materials that are able to respond to changes in their environment (pH, ionic strength, temperature, light, oxidation/reduction state, presence of small molecules or the catalytic activity of enzymes) by altering their macromolecular structure. Such peptide-based responsive biomaterials have exciting prospects for a variety of biomedical and bionanotechnology applications in drug delivery, bio-sensing and regenerative medicine.

Peptide-based stimuli-responsive biomaterials

Macrolactonizations in the Total Synthesis of Natural Products

Gold(III) Salen complex-catalyzed synthesis of propargylamines via a three-component coupling reaction.

Current perspectives on the mechanism of action of artemisinins

A catalytic enantioselective syn-1,4-bromolactonization of conjugated (Z)-enynes was reported. Diastereomeric ratios >20:1 and up to 99% enantiomeric excesses were observed. Di-, tri-, and tetra-substituted bromoallenes were prepared together with lactone heterocycles efficiently and stereoselectively. Preliminary investigations suggest that the chiral catalyst may serve as a bifunctional reagent by interacting with both a carboxylic acid nucleophile and NBS electrophile.

Enantioselective bromolactonization of conjugated (Z)-enynes.

Unprecedented Torsional Preferences in trans‐β2,3‐Amino Acid Residues and Formation of 11‐Helices in α,β2,3‐Hybrid Peptides

As many as six tandem reactions in one step! Unprecedented formation of highly functionalized benzothiophenes.

Anticancer activities of a series of benzisothiazolones having alkyl, aryl and aralkyl substituents on the nitrogen atom and the mechanistic basis of cytotoxicity are presented. Cellular responses like DNA laddering, disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential and caspase-3 activation on incubation of HeLa cells with representative compounds from this group suggested the induction of apoptosis through an intrinsic pathway. Their ability to arrest the cell cycle at the G2/M phase was confirmed by flow cytometric analysis.

Benzisothiazolones arrest the cell cycle at the G2/M phase and induce apoptosis in HeLa cells

This report introduces N-methylpyrrolidone hydroperoxide (NMPOOH)/base as an excellent reagent system for hydroxy-directed syn selective epoxidation of electron-deficient olefins, characterized by high diastereoselectivity, short reaction times and remarkable chemoselectivity, especially in presence of oxidatively labile nitrogen or sulfur atoms. NMPOOH also proves efficient in the oxidation of electron-deficient aromatic aldehydes, in the removal of oxazolidinone chiral auxiliary, and in the functionalization of alkenes and alkynes, showing wide application potential.

N-Methylpyrrolidone Hydroperoxide/Cs2CO3 as an Excellent Reagent System for the Hydroxy-Directed Diastereoselective Epoxidation of Electron-Deficient Olefins

K. M. Muraleedharan

Papers

Unprecedented Torsional Preferences in trans‐β2,3‐Amino Acid Residues and Formation of 11‐Helices in α,β2,3‐Hybrid Peptides

As many as six tandem reactions in one step! Unprecedented formation of highly functionalized benzothiophenes.

Benzisothiazolones arrest the cell cycle at the G2/M phase and induce apoptosis in HeLa cells

N-Methylpyrrolidone Hydroperoxide/Cs2CO3 as an Excellent Reagent System for the Hydroxy-Directed Diastereoselective Epoxidation of Electron-Deficient Olefins

Broad spectrum anti-infective properties of benzisothiazolones and the parallels in their anti-bacterial and anti-fungal effects.