On triazoles XLIX. Synthesis of 5,6‐dihydrothiazolo[3,2‐b]‐[1,2,4]triazol‐2‐yl‐, 6,7‐dihydro‐5H‐[1,2,4]triazolo[5,1‐b][1,3]thiazin‐2‐yl‐, and 5,6,7,8‐tetrahydro[1,2,4]triazolo[5,1‐b] [1,3]thiazepin‐2‐yl‐isoquinolinium salts

5′‐Mercapto‐1′H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3′‐yl‐isoquinolinium salts (6) were synthesised by the reaction of ortho‐acyl phenylacetones (2) or the corresponding pyrylium salts (3) and 5‐amino‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thione (5) . Treatment of thioles 6 withα,ω‐dibromoalkanes led to type 15, 16 and 17 isoquinolinium salts condensed with thiazole, thiazine and thiazepine rings. When 6 are reacted with dibromomethane (10) 11 type dimeric structures are obtained.     

Dual-mode recognition of oxalate by protonated azacryptate hosts; conformational response of the guest maximizes pi-stacking interactions

Exceptionally large complexation constants for oxalate encapsulated within azacryptand hosts are partly explained by pi-stacking interactions between C=O and aromatic rings.     

Cyclodextrin complexation improves aqueous solubility of the antiepileptic drug,rufinamide: solution and solid state characterization of compound-cyclodextrin binary systems

Rufinamide (RUF) was characterized in terms of cyclodextrin (CD) complexation in order to improve its aqueous solubility. Binary systems of RUF with three CDs—β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), randomly methylated-β-cyclodextrin (RAMEB) and sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBE-β-CD)—were characterized with a wide variety of analytical techniques. Liquid state characterization was carried out by complementary techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), capillary electrophoresis (CE), mass spectrometry (MS) and phase solubility studies. The latter revealed that the stability of the complexes decreased in the order of RAMEB?>?β-CD?>?SBE-β-CD. A_L-type diagrams were obtained in all cases, characteristic of 1:1 stoichiometry, with a maximum of over 15-fold increase in RUF solubility, when complexed with RAMEB. NMR Job plot and MS studies confirmed phase solubility results, regarding the binding stoichiometry. ¹H NMR and 2D ROESY investigations revealed the inclusion of the triazole moiety of RUF, confirmed by molecular modeling. Solid state complexation in 1:1 molar ratio was carried out by kneading method and investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). Comparative dissolution studies indicated an over two-fold improvement in dissolution efficacy of the kneaded products, when compared to the pure drug. Results of the present study might pave the way for a drug formulation with improved bioavailability.     

MRI-guided neutron capture therapy by use of a dual gadolinium/boron agent targeted at tumour cells through upregulated low-density lipoprotein transporters

The upregulation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) transporters in tumour cells has been exploited to deliver a sufficient amount of gadolinium/boron/ligand (Gd/B/L) probes for neutron capture therapy, a binary chemio-radiotherapy for cancer treatment. The Gd/B/L probe consists of a carborane unit (ten B atoms) bearing an aliphatic chain on one side (to bind LDL particles), and a Gd(III)/1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane monoamide complex on the other (for detection by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)). Up to 190 Gd/B/L probes were loaded per LDL particle. The uptake from tumour cells was initially assessed on cell cultures of human hepatoma (HepG2), murine melanoma (B16), and human glioblastoma (U87). The MRI assessment of the amount of Gd/B/L taken up by tumour cells was validated by inductively coupled plasma-mass-spectrometric measurements of the Gd and B content. Measurements were undertaken in vivo on mice bearing tumours in which B16 tumour cells were inoculated at the base of the neck. From the acquisition of magnetic resonance images, it was established that after 4-6 hours from the administration of the Gd/B/L-LDL particles (0.1 and 1 mmol kg(-1) of Gd and (10)B, respectively) the amount of boron taken up in the tumour region is above the threshold required for successful NCT treatment. After neutron irradiation, tumour growth was followed for 20 days by MRI. The group of treated mice showed markedly lower tumour growth with respect to the control group.     

Tuning Glutamine Binding Modes in Gd‐DOTA‐Based Probes for an Improved MRI Visualization of Tumor Cells

Three new magnetic resonance imaging probes that target glutamine transporters have been synthesized. They consist of a Gd‐DOTA‐monoamide moiety (DOTA=1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,4,7,10‐tetraacetic acid) linked through a six carbon atom chain to a vector represented by a glutamine residue bound through α‐carboxylic, γ‐carboxamidic, or α‐amino functionalities. Their uptake by HTC (rat hepatocarcinoma) and healthy rat hepatocytes has shown that the system containing the glutamine vector bound through the α‐carboxylic group displays a markedly higher affinity for tumor cells. The observed behavior is rationalized in terms of the exploitation of an additional glutamine transporter active in hepatic tumor cells.     

Efficient Synthesis of Phosphono‐ and Phosphinoxidomethylated N‐Heterocycles under Solvent‐Free Microwave Conditions

Simple N‐heterocycles were converted to N‐phosphono‐ and phosphinoxidomethyl derivatives by a solvent‐free microwave‐assisted condensation of the heterocycle, paraformaldehyde, and diethylphosphite or diphenylphosphine oxide in a convenient and, in most cases, efficient way. In contrast to an earlier report, imidazole proved to be unreactive in this type of phospha‐Mannich reaction.     

Unexpected formation of 1,2‐dihydro‐2‐azolyl‐and azinylisoquinolines by the reduction of the corresponding isoquinolinium salts with sodium borohydride in methanol

The reduction of different 2‐azolyl‐and azinylisoquinolinium salts with sodium borohydride in methanol was studied. Surprisingly, contrary to what is found in the literature 1,2‐dihydroisoquinoline derivatives were obtained. Their formation was attributed to the electron withdrawing character of the heterocyclic ring in position 2 of the isoquinolinium moiety. This was corroborated by synthesis and reduction of differently substituted 2‐phenyl‐ and 2‐methylisoquinolinium salts.