Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are of pivotal importance in the regulation of biological systems and are consequently implicated in the development of disease states. Recent work has begun to show that, with the right tools, certain classes of PPI can yield to the efforts of medicinal chemists to develop inhibitors, and the first PPI inhibitors have reached clinical development. In this Review, we describe the research leading to these breakthroughs and highlight the existence of groups of structurally related PPIs within the PPI target class. For each of these groups, we use examples of successful discovery efforts to illustrate the research strategies that have proved most useful.

No abstract

A small-molecule inhibitor of the BRCA2-RAD51 interaction modulates RAD51 assembly and potentiates DNA damage-induced cell death Graphical abstract Highlights d CAM833 inhibits the protein-protein interaction between RAD51 and BRCA2 d Crystal structure shows CAM833 binds RAD51 at the same site as the BRCA2 FxxA motif d CAM833 blocks formation of RAD51 foci and filaments, preventing DNA repair d CAM833 potentiates cytotoxicity by IR and synergises with

SnBr(4)-promoted oxonium-Prins cyclizations to form 2,3-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans (THFs) are reported. In the absence of an internal nucleophile, the carbocation intermediates are trapped by bromide to give 2,3-cis- and 2,3-trans-configured products; two variations with intramolecular trapping are also reported. One of these allows a single-step stereocontrolled synthesis of the core 2,3-cis-THF ring system of cordigol, a fungicidal polyphenol from the stem bark of Cordia goetzei. For this latter transformation, a stepwise oxonium-Prins/cation trapping pathway rather than orthoquinonemethide formation/hetero-Diels-Alder cycloaddition is supported computationally.