Triazoloquinazolinediones as novel high affinity ligands for the benzodiazepine site of GABA(A) receptors

Based on a pharmacophore model of the benzodiazepine-binding site of GABA_A receptors, a series of 2-aryl-2,6-dihydro[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-c]quinazoline-3,5-diones (structure type I) were designed, synthesized, and identified as high-affinity ligands of the binding site. For several compounds, K_i values of around 0.20 nM were determined. They show a structural resemblance with the previously described 2-phenyl-2H-pyrazolo[4,3-c]quinolin-3(5H)-ones (II) and 2-phenyl-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]quinoxalin-4(5H)-one (III). The 9-bromo substituted compounds 8a-d were prepared in an 8-step synthesis in an overall yield of approximately 40%, and a library of 9-substituted analogues was prepared by cross-coupling reactions. Compound 8e, 21, 22, and 24 were tested on recombinant rat ??₁??₃??₂, ??₂??₃??₂, ??₃??₃??₂, and ??₅??₃??₂ subtypes, and displayed selectivity for the ??₁??₃??₂ isoform.     

Anti-inflammatory activity of constituents from Glechoma hederacea var. longituba

Rosmarinic acid, its analogues, and a phenolic compound were obtained from G. hederacea var. longituba. There were two new compounds, methyl isoferuloyl-7-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) lactate (1) and benzyl-4′-hydroxy-benzoyl-3′-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (4), and four known compounds (2, 3, 5 and 6). The structures of these compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic methods. Each compound was tested by NF-κB luciferase assay and three rosmarinic acid analogues inhibited NF-κB production and the induction of COX-2 and iNOS mRNA in HepG2 cells.     

Synthesis, modification, and evaluation of (R)-de-O-methyllasiodiplodin and analogs as nonsteroidal antagonists of mineralocorticoid receptor

Macrolide (R)-de-O-methyllasiodiplodin (1), discovered to be a potent nonsteroidal antagonist of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), was synthesized via an efficient method and evaluated for MR antagonistic activity together with its analogs. Among all the tested compounds, compounds 18a, 18b and 18c, exhibited more potent antagonistic activity against MR with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.58 to 1.11 μM. Generally, it was obviously demonstrated that acetylation at phenolic hydroxyl groups and the ring size in analogs of 1 were very important for MR antagonist activity.     

Antiproliferative effect and genotoxicity of novel synthesized palladium complexes with organoarsenic ligands

Three new palladium complexes with general formula [PdCl₂L₂], where L = heterofunctional organoarsenic ligand: (2-isopropoxyphenyl)diphenylarsine (1), (2-methoxyphenyl)-diphenylarsine (2) and (2-hydroxyphenyl)diphenylarsine (3) have been synthesized and fully characterized, including X-ray crystallographic data. Their potential antitumor effect and genotoxicity have been studied as well. The viability test performed on human tumor (MLS) and normal (Hfl-1) cell lines indicates significant cytotoxicity of complexes, which is higher in tumor cells than in normal cells. The lethal doses are comparable with those of standard metal-based chemotherapeutical drugs (carboplatin and oxaliplatin). These palladium complexes exhibit a higher cytotoxicity against tumor cells as against normal cells in vitro. A new static cytometric method was developed and simultaneously the classic AnnexinV test was performed. Complex 2 has an important capacity to induce apoptosis in tumor cells. The apoptotic process is triggered due to the interaction of these complexes with secondary structure of DNA in treated cells. The alkaline single-cell gel assay shows that the level of DNA damages induced by compounds 2 and 3 are significantly higher in tumor cells as in normal cells. These studies shown that complexes 1, 2 and 3 have biologic activity, the effect of complex 2 being superior to its platinum analogues, attributable to its structure.     

Synthesis, structures and luminescent properties of new heterobimetallic Zn-4f Schiff base complexes

A series of new 3d-4f heterobimetallic Schiff base complexes of the general formula [Zn(μ-L²)Ln(NO₃)₃(H₂O)_n] (Ln = La 1, Nd 2, Gd 3, Er 4 and Yb 5; n = 1 or 2; H₂L² = N,N′-bis(3-methoxy-5-p-tolylsalicylidene)ethylene-1,2-diamine) are synthesized and characterized. Complexes 1, 2, 4 and 5 are structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. The photophysical properties of these complexes are also investigated. At room temperature, complexes 1-5 exhibit similar solution absorption and emission spectra in the UV-Vis region. Furthermore, compounds 2, 4 and 5 exhibit solution emission corresponding to the lanthanide(III) ion in the near-infrared region at room temperature. The triplet state emission of the 3d-4f bimetallic complexes without energy transfer is also determined through the photophysical study of complex 3.     

Mononuclear and polynuclear halide and nitrate Cu(II) compounds with 1,4,5-triazanaphthalene as a ligand: Characterization, magnetism and X-ray structures

Using the ligand 1,4,5-triazanaphthalene (abbreviated as tan) in combination with Cu(II) salts, three mononuclear compounds, Cu(tan)₂Cl₂ (1), Cu(tan)₂Br₂ (3), Cu(tan)₂(NO₃)₂ (5) and three polynuclear compounds, [Cu(tan)Cl₂]_n (2), [Cu(tan)Br₂]_n (4), [Cu(tan)(NO₃)₂]_n (6) have been synthesized and characterized by UV-Vis, EPR, FTIR and Far-FTIR spectroscopies. The crystal structures of compounds 1, 3, 5 and 6 are reported, as well as that of the dioxane adduct of compound 4, [Cu(tan)Br₂(C₄H₈O₂)](C₄H₈O₂) (4A).The structure of (2) was solved by X-ray powder diffraction. The coordination geometry around the Cu(II) atoms is tetrahedral for (1) and (3), square-pyramidal for (4A) and distorted octahedral for (5) and (6). Magnetic susceptibility measurements on the polynuclear compounds revealed weak antiferromagnetic interactions between the Cu(II) atoms with interaction constants (J) of J = −9.1 and −10.5 cm⁻¹, for 4 and 6, respectively. For compound 2 two options for possible interactions were considered, with interaction constants which vary for J_rung −22.0 to −13.5 cm⁻¹ and J_rail −19.6 to −17.0 cm⁻¹. These figures are discussed in the light of relevant structural parameters and literature.     

Dopamine release and molecular modeling study of some coumarin derivatives

4-aryl-2-amino-6-(4-hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)-pyridin-3-carbonitrile (1), 4-aryl-2-oxo-6-(4-hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)-pyridin-3-carbonitriles (2a-2c), 3-(6-aryl-1,2,5,6- tetrahydro-2-thioxopyrimidin-4-yl)-4-hydroxy-2H-chromen-2-one (3a, 3b) and pyrazol-3-yl-4-hydroxycoumarin derivatives (4a-4c, 5, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, and 8a-8c) were prepared in order to measure their % change dopamine release in comparison to amphetamine as reference, using PC-12 cells in different concentrations. In addition, the molecular modeling study of the compounds into 3BHH receptor was also demonstrated. The calculated inhibition constant (k_i) implemented in the AutoDock program revealed identical correlation with the experimental results to that obtained binding free energy (ΔG_b) as both parameters revealed reasonable correlation coefficients (R²) being 0.51 involving 10 compounds; (1, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 6a, and 8c).     

NF kappa B inhibitors and antitrypanosomal metabolites from endophytic fungus Penicillium sp. isolated from Limonium tubiflorum

Chemical investigation of the endophytic fungus Penicillium sp. isolated from Limonium tubiflorum growing in Egypt afforded four new compounds of polyketide origin, including two macrolides, penilactone (1) and 10,11-epoxycurvularin (2), a dianthrone, neobulgarone G (7), and a sulfinylcoumarin, sulfimarin (14), along with twelve known metabolites (3-6, 8-13, 15 and 16). The structures of all compounds were assigned by comprehensive spectral analysis (1D and 2D NMR) and mass spectrometry. Compounds 3, 4, 13 and 16 showed pronounced antitrypanosomal activity with mean MIC values ranging from 4.96 to 9.75 ??M. Moreover, when tested against a panel of three human tumor cell lines compounds 3, 4, 6 and 12 showed selective growth inhibition against Jurkat and U937 cell lines with IC₅₀ values ranging from 1.8 to 13.3 ??M. The latter compounds also inhibited TNF??-induced NF-??B activity in K562 cells with IC₅₀ values ranging from 1.6 to 10.1 ??M, respectively.     

Synthesis of 4,6-dideoxy-3-fluoro-2-keto-β-d-glucopyranosyl analogues of 5-fluorouracil, N-benzoyl adenine, uracil, thymine, N-benzoyl cytosine and evaluation of their antitumor activities

The synthesis of the unsaturated 4,6-dideoxy-3-fluoro-2-keto-β-d-glucopyranosyl nucleosides of 5-fluorouracil (6a), N⁶-benzoyl adenine (6b), uracil (6c), thymine (6d) and N⁴-benzoyl cytosine (6e), is described. Monoiodination of compounds 1a,b, followed by acetylation, catalytic hydrogenation and finally regioselective 2′-O-deacylation afforded the partially acetylated dideoxynucleoside analogues of 5-fluorouracil (5a) and N⁶-benzoyl adenine (5b), respectively. Direct oxidation of the free hydroxyl group at the 2′-position of 5a,b, with simultaneous elimination reaction of the β-acetoxyl group, afforded the desired unsaturated 4,6-dideoxy-3-fluoro-2-keto-β-d-glucopyranosyl derivatives 6a,b. Compounds 1c-e were used as starting materials for the synthesis of the dideoxy unsaturated carbonyl nucleosides of uracil (6c), thymine (6d) and N⁴-benzoyl cytosine (6e). Similarly a protection-selective deprotection sequence followed by oxidation of the free hydroxyl group at the 2′-position of the dideoxy benzoylated analogues 9c-e with simultaneous elimination reaction of the β-benzoyl group, gave the desired nucleosides 6c-e. None of the compounds was inhibitory to a broad spectrum of DNA and RNA viruses at subtoxic concentrations. The 5-fluorouracil derivative 6a was more cytostatic (50% inhibitory concentration ranging between 0.2 and 12 μM) than the other compounds.     

Synthesis, characterization and investigation of electrical and electrochemical properties of imidazole substituted phthalocyanines

Compound 1 has been synthesized by the reaction of 4-nitrophthalonitrile and 4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazolethiole in DMSO in the presence of K₂CO₃. Compound 2 has been synthesized by heating compound 1 with metallic lithium in pentanol and hydrolyzed with hydrochloric acid (10%) and then neutralized with ammonia solution. Compound 3 and 4 have been synthesized by heating 1 with ZnCl₂ or CoCl₂ in DMF in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU), respectively. The new compounds were obtained in sufficient purity after successive washing with different solvents and were characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, UV-vis, IR and mass spectra. We also studied aggregation behavior, electrochemical and electrical properties of these phthalocyanines. Direct current (dc) and alternating current (ac) conductivity (40-100 kHz) measurements of films of 2, 3 and 4 were performed in the temperature range of 295-523 K. Impedance spectra (IS) of the 2, 3 and 4 were also studied. The conduction processes were discussed. Temperature dependence of dc conductivity of the films revealed that 2, 3 and 4 show a semiconductor behavior. Results of ac measurements showed that, conduction processes of the films of the complex consisted of different mechanisms depending on temperature and frequency.     

Potential new inorganic antitumour agents from combining the anticancer traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) matrine with Ga(III), Au(III), Sn(IV) ions, and DNA binding studies

Three new compounds of Ga(III), Au(III), Sn(IV) with matrine (MT), [H-MT][GaCl₄] (), [H-MT][AuCl₄] () and [Sn(H-MT)Cl₅] (), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ESI-MS and single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The crystal structural analyses indicate that 1 and 2 are ionic compounds, whereas 3 is a tin(IV) complex formed by the monodentate MT via its carbonyl oxygen atom of MT coordinating to Sn(IV). Their in vitro cytotoxicity towards eight selected tumour cell lines has been evaluated by MTT (3-[4,5-Dimentylthiazole-2-yl]-2,5-diphenpyltetra-zolium bromide) method, and compounds 1 and 2 exhibit enhanced activity, such as 1 to SW480, 2 to HeLa, HepG2 and MCF-7, which exceeds matrine and cisplatin, and display synergistic contribution of their components. The cell cycle analyses show that compounds 1, 3 and MT exhibit cell cycle arrest at the G₂/M phase. Interactions of these compounds with calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) have been investigated by spectroscopic analyses. The planar extension of the intercalative metal-matrine compounds increases the interaction of the metal-matrine with DNA, indicating that the cationic metal ions and configuration of the intercalated metal-matrine will affect the extent of interaction. Compound 2, [H-MT][AuCl₄], exhibits more intensive binding ability to DNA, which may correlate with intercalation and other action mode. The circular dichroism spectra of the ct-DNA bound with metal-MT compounds also suggest that ct-DNA interacted with 1, 2, 3 does not influence its secondary structure. Furthermore, both compounds 1 and 2 exhibit effective inhibition ability to topoisomerase (TOPO I) at concentration of 50 μM, while matrine and compound 3 do not.     

Synthesis, characterization and crystal structures of the organotin(IV) compounds with the Schiff base ligands of pyruvic acid thiophene-2-carboxylic hydrazone and salicylaldehyde thiophene-2-carboxylic hydrazone

A series of organotin (IV) compounds of the type [R₃SnL]₂, R is Me (1), Bu (2), [R₂SnL]₂, R is Ph (3), Me (4), Bu (5), L is pyruvic acid thiophene-2-carboxylic hydrazone, and R₂SnL, R is Me (6), Bu (7), Ph (8), L is salicylaldehyde thiophene-2-carboxylic hydrazone have been synthesized in 1:1 molar ratio. All compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectra. The crystal structure of compounds 1, 3, 4, 8 have been determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction analyses, study found that the compounds 1 and 3 are rendered one-dimensional chain structure and the tin atoms are five-coordinated in a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry. The compound 4 has a dimeric structure and the central tin atom is rendered seven-coordinate in a distorted pentagonal-bipyramid configuration. While the compound 8 is a monomer in which the tin atom adopts five-coordinated in distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry.     

The novel 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one urea derivatives of N-aryl urea: synthesis, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal activity evaluation

A series of novel 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one urea derivatives of biological interest were prepared by sequential Bigineli’s reaction, reduction followed by reaction of resulting amines with different arylisocynates. All the synthesized (1-23) compounds were screened against the pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) and antimicrobial activity (antibacterial and antifungal). Biological activity evaluation study reveled that among all the compounds screened, compounds 12 and 17 found to have promising anti-inflammatory activity (68-62% TNF-α and 92-86% IL-6 inhibitory activity at 10 μM). Interestingly compounds 3, 4, 5, 6, 15, 22 and 23 revealed promising antimicrobial activity at MIC of 10-30 μg/mL against selected pathogenic bacteria and fungi.     

Design and synthesis of pyridine-substituted itraconazole analogues with improved antifungal activities, water solubility and bioavailability

To improve antifungal activities, water solubility and bioavailability, a series of novel analogues of itraconazole-containing pyridine rings were designed and synthesized. Their antifungal activities were evaluated in vitro against six clinically important fungi by measuring the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Most of the compounds showed more potent antifungal activities than that of itraconazole. In particular, the analogues 30d, 30c, 31c, and 36d exhibited much higher solubility and bioavailability than that of itraconazole. The bioavailability of 36d (42.2%) was five times higher than that of itraconazole (8%) and was negative for genetic toxicology in the Ames test.     

Antiplasmodial and antitumor activity of dihydroartemisinin analogs derived via the aza-Michael addition reaction

A series of dihydroartemisinin derivatives were synthesized via an aza-Michael addition reaction to a dihydroartemisinin-based acrylate and were evaluated for antiplasmodial and antitumor activity. The target compounds showed excellent antiplasmodial activity, with dihydroartemisinin derivatives 5, 7, 9 and 13 exhibiting IC₅₀ values of ?10 nM against both D10 and Dd2 strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Derivative 4d was the most active against the HeLa cancer cell line, with an IC₅₀ of 0.37 μM and the highest tumor specificity.     

β-Diiminatolanthanoid(III) halides revisited

The crystalline compounds [LnCl₂(L)(thf)₂] [Ln = Ce (1), Tb (2), Yb (3)], [NdI₂(L)(thf)₂] (4), [LnCl(L′)₂] [Ln = Tb (5), Yb (6) (a known compound)] and [YbCl(L′′)(μ-Cl)₂Li(OEt₂)₂] (7) have been prepared [L = {N(C₆H₃Prⁱ₂-2,6)C(H)}₂CPh, L′ = {N(SiMe₃)C(Ph)}₂CH, L′′ = {N(SiMe₃)C(C₆H₄Ph-4)}₂CH]. The X-ray molecular structures of 2-7 have been established; in each, the monoanionic ligand L, L′ or L′′ is N,N′-chelating and essentially π-delocalised. Each of 1-7 was prepared from the appropriate LnCl₃, or for 4 [NdI₃(thf)₂], and an equivalent portion of the appropriate alkali metal [Li for 7, Na for 2, 3 and 5, or K for 1, 4 and 6] β-diiminate in thf; the isolation of exclusively 5 and 6 (rather than the L′ analogues of 2 or 3) is noteworthy, as is the structure of 7 which has no precedent in Group 3 or 4f metal β-diiminato chemistry.     

Synthesis and characterisation of pyrazolic palladium compounds containing alcohol functionality:: rotation around the Pd-N bond

The ligands 1-hydroxymethylpyrazole (hl¹), 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)pyrazole (hl²) and 1-(3-hydroxypropyl)pyrazole (hl³) react with [PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂] to give trans-[PdCl₂(hl)₂] compounds. Due to a hindered rotation around the Pd-bond, these compounds present two different conformations in solution: anti and syn. The conformation presented depends on the relative disposition of the hydroxyalkylic chains of the two pyrazolic ligands. The present study was carried out on the basis of NMR experiments. The present paper reports the crystal structure of trans-[PdCl₂(hl²)₂]. The synthesis and characterisation of compounds [Pd(hl)₄](BF₄)₂ (hl = hl¹, hl² and hl³) starting from [Pd(CH₃CN)₄](BF₄)₂ and the corresponding chlorocomplexes trans-[PdCl₂(hl)₂] are also described.     

Group 3 complexes incorporating (furyl)-substituted disilazide ligands

A series of mono- and bis-amide scandium and yttrium compounds incorporating the furyl-substituted disilazide ligand, [N{SiMe₂R}₂]⁻ {i} (where R = 2-methylfuryl) have been synthesized. The compounds Sc{i}Cl₂ (1), Sc{i}(CH₂SiMe₃)₂ (2) and Sc{i}(OAr)₂ (3) were made from suitable scandium starting materials employing either a salt metathesis protocol with Li{i} or via protonolysis of Sc-C bonds by the neutral amine H{i}. The thermally unstable bis-alkyl yttrium compound, ‘Y{i}(CH₂SiMe₃)₂^’ was isolated as the bis-THF adduct (4) and the bis-aryloxide Y{i}(OAr)₂ (5) was synthesized by elimination of LiOAr from Y(OAr)₃. The bis-amide complex Y{i}₂Cl (6) and conversion to a rare example of an yttrium benzyl compound Y{i}₂(CH₂Ph) (7) are described. The yttrium cation, [Y{i}₂]⁺, was synthesized by benzyl abstraction from 7 using B(C₆F₅)₃. Structural characterization of representative examples show variation in the coordination modes for amide ligand {i}, differing primarily in the number of furyl groups that coordinate to the metal, with examples in which zero, one or two M-O_furyl bonds are present. Preliminary investigation in two areas of catalysis are presented.     

Aromatase inhibitory, radical scavenging, and antioxidant activities of depsidones and diaryl ethers from the endophytic fungus Corynespora cassiicola L36

Isolation of a broth extract of the endophytic fungus Corynespora cassiicola L36 afforded three compounds, corynesidones A (1) and B (3), and corynether A (5), together with a known diaryl ether 7. Compounds 1, 3, 5, and 7 were relatively non-toxic against cancer cells, and inactive toward normal cell line, MRC-5. Corynesidone B (3) exhibited potent radical scavenging activity in the DPPH assay, whose activity was comparable to ascorbic acid. Based on the ORAC assay, compounds 1, 3, 5, and 7 showed potent antioxidant activity. However, the isolated natural substances and their methylated derivatives (1−8) neither inhibited superoxide anion radical formation in the XXO assay nor suppressed TPA-induced superoxide anion generation in HL-60 cell line. Corynesidone A (1) inhibited aromatase activity with an IC₅₀ value of 5.30 μM.     

β-Diketiminato 3d-metal compounds: Synthesis, characterization and catalytic behavior towards ethylene

The lithium β-diketiminate (1c, [Li{N(2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)C(Ph)CHC(^tBu)NH}]₂ represented as (LiL)₂) reacted with 3d-metal (II) chlorides to afford the corresponding compounds (2-7). All metal compounds were fully characterized by elemental, spectroscopic analyses and the single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The coordination geometries around the metals are shown to be tetrahedral within the trinuclear Co₂Li compound (2), planar in ML₂ (M = Co, 3), pseudo-tetrahedral conformation in the ML₂ with M as Mn (4), Fe (5) or Zn (6), and square planar in the dinickel compound (7). Indicated by the trimetallic Co₂Li compound 2, a six-membered ring is constructed of three metal atoms and three bridged chlorides as a twisted conformation. An inversion center is present in the centroid of the Ni₂Cl₂ four-membered ring within compound 7. The plausible mechanism of forming ML₂ was proposed through the chloro-bridged multinuclear compounds on the basis of isolated intermediates of trinuclear (2) and dinuclearic (7) compounds. Upon treatment with methylaluminoxane (MAO), the nickel compound 7 possessed good activity towards ethylene oligomerization, whereas the other metal compounds showed moderate activities towards ethylene polymerization.