Enaminones in heterocyclic synthesis: Synthesis and chemical reactivity of 3‐anilino‐1‐substituted‐2‐propene‐1‐ one

The 3‐anilinoenones 3a,b were prepared from the corresponding 3‐dimemyl‐aminopropenones. The reactivity of 3a,b towards a variety of carbon and nitrogen nucleophiles as well as naphthoquinones is reported.     

The Ameliorative Effect of Empagliflozin in Vigabatrin-Induced Cerebellar/Neurobehavioral Deficits: Targeting mTOR/AMPK/SIRT-1 Signaling Pathways

Introduction. Vigabatrin (VGB) is an antiepileptic drug that acts to irreversibly inhibit the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transaminase enzyme, elevating GABA levels. Broad studies have established that long-term treatment and/or high doses of VGB lead to variable visual defects. However, little attention has been paid to its other side effects, especially those demonstrating cerebellar involvement. Sodium glucose-linked co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are antidiabetic agents with protective effects far greater than expected based on their anti-hyperglycemic effect. Method. Our study herein was designed to investigate the possible ameliorative effect of empagliflozin, the SGLT2 inhibitors, in VGB-induced cerebellar toxicity. A total of 40 male Wistar rats were allocated equally into 4 groups: Group I: control group; Group II: VGB group; Group III empagliflozin treated VGB group; and Group IV: empagliflozin treated group. All groups were subjected to the detection of cerebellar messenger RNA gene expression of silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1) and Nucleoporin p62 (P62). Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and beclin1 levels were assessed by the ELISA technique while malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were detected spectrophotometrically. Immuno-histochemical studies, focusing on glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and S100 were performed, and the optical color density and the mean area percentage of GFAP positive astrocytes and the number of S 100 positive cells were also counted. Results. Following empagliflozin treatment, we documented significant upregulation of both SIRT1 and P62 mRNA gene expression. Additionally, AMPK, Beclin1 levels, and SOD activity were significantly improved, while both mTOR and MDA levels were significantly reduced. Conclusions. We concluded for the first time that empagliflozin efficiently ameliorated the VGB-induced disrupted mTOR/AMPK/SIRT-1 signaling axis with subsequent improvement of the autophagy machinery and mitigation of the oxidative and inflammatory cellular environment, paving the way for an innovative therapeutic potential in managing VGB-induced neurotoxicity.     

Evaluation of 2-Thioxoimadazolidin-4-one Derivatives as Potent Anti-Cancer Agents through Apoptosis Induction and Antioxidant Activation: In Vitro and In Vivo Approaches

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most widespread malignancies and is reported as the fourth most prevalent cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the probable mechanistic cytotoxic effect of the promising 2-thioxoimidazolidin-4-one derivative on liver cancer cells using in vitro and in vivo approaches. The compounds were tested for the in vitro cytotoxic activity using MTT assay, and the promising compound was tested in colony forming unit assay, flow cytometric analysis, RT-PCR, Western blotting, in vivo using SEC-carcinoma and in silico to highlight the virtual mechanism of action. Both compounds 4 and 2 performed cytotoxic effects against HepG2 cells with IC₅₀ values of 0.017 and 0.18 μM, respectively, compared to Staurosporine and 5-Fu as reference drugs with IC₅₀ values of 5.07 and 5.18 µM, respectively. Compound 4 treatment revealed apoptosis induction by 19.35-fold (11.42% compared to 0.59% in control), arresting the cell cycle at G2/M phase. Moreover, studying gene expression that plays critical roles in cell cycle and apoptosis by RT-PCR demonstrated that compound 4 enhances the expression of the pro-apoptotic genes p53, PUMA, and Caspase 3, 8, and 9, and impedes the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 gene in the HepG2 cells. It can also inhibit the PI3K/AKT pathway at both gene and protein levels, which was reinforced by the in silico predictions of the molecular docking simulations towards the PI3K/AKT proteins. Finally, in vivo study verified that compound 4 has a promising anti-cancer activity through activating antioxidant levels (CAT, SOD and GSH) and ameliorating hematological, biochemical, and histopathological findings.     

Dual mode composite right-left-handed unit cells

This paper presents a new category of composite right-left-handed (CL-CRLH) unit cells. The new cells rely on complementary stubs, e.g., open and short circuited stubs in planar transmission lines or dual modes in coupled lines. They have geometrical circuit model, do not rely on commercial off-the-shelf components, and do not require vias. Theoretical expectations have been confirmed by EM simulations and measurements.     

Inhibition Effect of Hydantoin Compounds on the Corrosion of Iron in Nitric and Sulfuric Acid Solutions

Summary.  The inhibition of corrosion of iron in 2 M nitric acid and 2 M sulfuric acid solutions by substituted phenylhydantoin, thiohydantoin, and dithiohydantoin compounds was measured using thermometric, weight loss, and polarization methods. The three methods gave consistent results. The polarization curves indicated that the hydantoin compounds act as mixed-type inhibitors. The adsorption of the inhibitors were found to obey the Temkin adsorption isotherm. The higher inhibition efficiency of the additives in nitric with respect to sulfuric acid solution may be attributed to the reduced formation of soluble quaternary nitrogen salts in nitric acid medium, favouring adsorption of the parent additive on the metal surface. The obtained results indicate that the corrosion rate of iron in both acids increases with increasing temperature, both in absence and presence of the tested inhibitors. Kinetic-thermodynamic model functions and Temkin isotherm data are compared and discussed. The synergistic effect of halide anions on the inhibition efficiency of the hydantoin compounds was also investigated. Received June 5, 2000. Accepted (revised) September 13, 2000     

Structure determination and absolute configuration of cannabichromanone derivatives from high potency Cannabis sativa

Three new cannabichromanone derivatives were isolated from high potency cannabis, along with the known cannabichromanone. Full spectroscopic data, including the use of electronic circular dichroism and Mosher ester analysis to determine the absolute configuration of these compounds, are reported. All isolates were tested for antimicrobial, antimalarial, antileishmanial, and anti-oxidant activities.     

Synthesis of certain 1,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane derivatives with anticonvulsant, hypoglycemic and anti-inflammatory potential

Starting from (1,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ylideneamino)-acetic acid methyl esters 6a, 6b, the aryl esters of exo-2-[methyl-(1,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl)-amino]-ethanol (10a-f) and exo-2-[methyl-(1,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl)-amino-2-phenyl-ethanol (10g-n) are prepared. Also, from the reaction of 1,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan nitramine 4 with either 2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-propane-1,3-diol (17) or 1-aminomethyl-cyclohexanol (18), the alcohol exo-1-[(1,7,7-trimethyl-bicylo[2.2.1]hept-2-ylamino)-methyl]-cyclohexanol (13), exo-1-(4-aminophenyl)-2-(1,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ylamino)-propane-1,3-diol (14) and 1-(4-aminophenyl)-2-[methyl-1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl]-amino]-propane-1,3-diol (16) are synthesized. At a dose level of 12.5 mg/kg, compounds 16 and 14 show a significant anticonvulsant protection against pentylenetetrazole seizures (100% and 83% protection, respectively) compared with diphenylhydantoin sodium (50 mg/kg, 100%) and deramciclane fumarate (25 mg/kg, 83%), used as reference drugs. Compound 10b at dose level of 50 mg/kg displayed 41%, hypoglycemic activity, compared with gliclazide (10 mg/kg, 23%) as reference drug. Furthermore, the prepared compounds are screened for their anti-inflammatory potential at a dose level of 50 mg/kg. Compounds 10i, 10g, 14 and 10m exhibited 92%, 90%, 88% and 80% inhibition in rat paw weight, respectively, with no sign of ulcerogenicity, compared with indomethecin (5 mg/kg, 81%).     

Application of oxine in the polarographic analysis of organometallic compounds

Summary A procedure for the microdetermination of Cd, Mg, Zn, Mn, and Co in organometallic compounds is presented. After closed-flask combustion, the metal-oxine complex is precipitated from an ammonia-ammonium chloride buffered medium of pH 10. At this pH value oxine gives a well-defined polarographic wave. The wave height of an excessive volume of oxine is measured before and after it has been used to precipitate a known weight of the organometallic compound. The method is simple and rapid; one determination consumes 25 minutes. The average % error amounts to ± 0.53.

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Zusammenfassung Ein Verfahren zur Mikrobestimmung von Cd, Mg, Zn, Mn und Co in metallorganischen Verbindungen wurde angegeben. Nach Verbrennung im verschlossenen Kolben wird das Metall als Oxinat aus einer mit Ammoniak-Ammoniumchlorid auf pH 10 gepufferten Lösung gefällt. Bei diesem pH gibt Oxin eine gut ausgeprägte polarographische Stufe. Deren Höhe für einen Oxinüberschuß vor und nach der Fällung einer bekannten Menge metall-organischer Probe wird gemessen. Die Methode ist einfach und rasch. Eine Bestimmung dauert 25 min. Der durchschnittliche Fehler beträgt ± 0,53%.

     

Mechanistic insights into the reductive dehydroxylation pathway for the biosynthesis of isoprenoids promoted by the IspH enzyme

Here, we report an integrated quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) study of the bio-organometallic reaction pathway of the 2H⁺/2e^– reduction of (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl pyrophosphate (HMBPP) into the so called universal terpenoid precursors isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP), promoted by the IspH enzyme. Our results support the viability of the bio-organometallic pathway through rotation of the OH group of HMBPP away from the [Fe₄S₄] cluster at the core of the catalytic site, to become engaged in a H-bond with Glu126. This rotation is synchronous with π-coordination of the C2C3 double bond of HMBPP to the apical Fe atom of the [Fe₄S₄] cluster. Dehydroxylation of HMBPP is triggered by a proton transfer from Glu126 to the OH group of HMBPP. The reaction pathway is completed by competitive proton transfer from the terminal phosphate group to the C2 or C4 atom of HMBPP.