An unprecedented NH₂-directed Pd(II)-catalytic carbonylation of quaternary aromatic α-amino esters to yield 6-membered benzolactams has been developed. The reaction shows a strong bias to 6-membered lactams over 5-membered ones. The steric hindrance around the amino group seems to be pivotal for the success of the process.

An unusual NH₂-directed Pd(II)-catalyzed carbonylation of quaternary aromatic α-amino esters to yield benzolactams has been developed. The steric hindrance around the amino group is pivotal for the success of the process. The stoichiometric cyclometalation of a variety amino esters has been studied in order to evaluate the influence of the different variables (size of the metallacycle, aromatic ring substituents, and steric bulk) in the process, and a complete kinetico-mechanistic study of the cyclopalladation process has been carried out. The experimental results indicate that the full substitution of the carbon in the α position of the amino esters plays an important role in their cyclopalladation reaction. The reaction shows a strong bias toward six-membered lactams over the five-membered analogues, which can be explained by a greater reactivity of the six-membered palladacycles.

Ovarian cancer (OC) is caused by genetic aberrations in networks that control growth and survival. Importantly, aberrant cancer metabolism interacts with oncogenic signaling providing additional drug targets. Tumors overexpress the lipogenic enzyme fatty acid synthase (FASN) and are inhibited by FASN blockers, whereas normal cells are FASN‐negative and FASN‐inhibitor‐resistant. Here, we demonstrate that this holds true when ovarian/oviductal cells reside in their autochthonous tissues, whereas in culture they express FASN and are FASN‐inhibitor‐sensitive. Upon subculture, nonmalignant cells cease growth, express senescence‐associated β‐galactosidase, lose FASN and become FASN‐inhibitor‐resistant. Immortalized ovarian/oviductal epithelial cell lines—although resisting senescence—reveal distinct growth activities, which correlate with FASN levels and FASN drug sensitivities. Accordingly, ectopic FASN stimulates growth in these cells. Moreover, FASN levels and lipogenic activities affect cellular lipid composition as demonstrated by thin‐layer chromatography. Correlation between proliferation and FASN levels was finally evaluated in cancer cells such as HOC‐7, which contain subclones with variable differentiation/senescence and corresponding FASN expression/FASN drug sensitivity. Interestingly, senescent phenotypes can be induced in parental HOC‐7 by differentiating agents. In OC cells, FASN drugs induce cell cycle blockade in S and/or G2/M and stimulate apoptosis, whereas in normal cells they only cause cell cycle deceleration without apoptosis. Thus, normal cells, although growth‐inhibited, may survive and recover from FASN blockade, whereas malignant cells get extinguished. FASN expression and FASN drug sensitivity are directly linked to cell growth and correlate with transformation/differentiation/senescence only indirectly. FASN is therefore a metabolic marker of cell proliferation rather than a marker of malignancy and is a useful target for future drug development.