Synthesis of 5-substituted 3-[5-(2,5-dimethylphenyl)-1,2-oxazol-3-yl]-1,2,4-oxadiazoles

5-(2,5-Dimethylphenyl)-1,2-oxazole-3-carbaldehyde oxime reacted with acetic anhydride in pyridine to give 5-(2,5-dimethylphenyl)-1,2-oxazole-3-carbonitrile which was converted into the corresponding amide oxime by treatment with hydroxylamine. O-Acyl derivatives of N′-hydroxy-5-(2,5-dimethylphenyl)-1,2-oxazole-3-carboximidamide underwent heterocyclization into 5-substituted 3-[5-(2,5-dimethylphenyl)-1,2-oxazol-3-yl]-1,2,4-oxadiazoles on heating in acetic acid.     

Kinetics of heat-induced and photochemical transformations of quinonimines and their derivatives

Heat-induced transformations of N-[2,6-diisopropylphenyl]-3,5-di(tert-butyl)-, N-[2,6-diethylphenyl]-3,5-di(tert-butyl)-, and N-[2-methyl-6-ethylphenyl]-3,5-di(tert-butyl)-o-benzoquinonimines in nonane follow the first-order rate equation, whereas that of N-[2,5-di(tert-butyl)phenyl]-3,5-di(tert-butyl-o-benzoquinonimine obey the second-order rate equation. Kinetic parameters of these reactions have been determined. 4aH-Phenoxazine derivatives of quinonimines are intermediates of the heat-induced transformations following the first-order kinetics; under the irradiation with 405 nm light they undergo the ring opening to give the starting compounds with quantum yield close to unity.     

Design and synthesis of 2(1H)-pyrazinones as inhibitors of protein kinases

Kinase enzymes play a key role in the development and progression of cancer. Inhibitors of deregulated kinases are effective small molecule anticancer drugs. The 2(1H)-pyrazinone heterocycle is a previously unexploited motif that can fulfil the structural requirements for ATP-competitive inhibition of kinases. Rapid solution-phase syntheses of novel 3,5- and 3,6-disubstituted-2(1H)-pyrazinones were developed through selective, sequential substitution of 2,5-dihalo-3-benzyloxypyrazine and 3,5-dihalo-2(1H)-pyrazinone intermediates. Palladium-catalysed cross-couplings and S_NAr reactions were used to introduce substituents chosen on the basis of the calculated physicochemical properties of the target pyrazinones. Representative compounds demonstrated good solubility, kinase inhibitory activity and antiproliferative activity in human tumour cells, confirming the suitability of this chemical class as a kinase-focused library.     

Synthesis of conjugated 2 and 2,5-(ethenyl) and (ethynyl)phenylethynyl thiophenes: fluorescence properties

Nano conjugated thienylethenyl and thienylethynyl compounds with controlled structure and dimensions have been efficiently prepared, by heterocoupling reaction between 1,4-(thienylethynyl)phenylacetylene (or thienylethenyl)phenylacetylene and 2- or 2,5-dihalothiophene. Conjugated 1,4-di(2-thienylethynylphenyl)- (or 2-thienylethenylphenyl)-1,3-butadiyne were obtained by the homocoupling of the terminal acetylenes in excellent yield. The end-capped (N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)- and [3,5-di(trimethylsilylethynyl)-1-ethynyl]-2,5-di(phenylethynyl)_nthiophene were obtained by the heterocoupling between the corresponding terminal acetylene and 2,5-di(iodo)thiophene, catalyzed by the bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium and cuprous iodide system in excellent yield.     

Coordination compounds of copper with 2-formylpyridine 4-(dimethylphenyl)thiosemicarbazones

2-Formylpyridine 4-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-(HL¹), 4-(2,5-dimethylphenyl)-(HL²), 4-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-(HL³), and 4-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)thiosemicarbazones (HL⁴) react with copper chloride and nitrate to form coordination compounds CuL^1–4X·nH₂O [X = Cl^?, NO ₃ ^? ; n = 1, 2]. All compounds have a polynuclear structure. Azomethines HL^1–4 act as the bridging monodeprotonated tridentate N,N,S-ligands. The thermolysis of the complexes includes the dehydration (70–90°C) and total thermal decomposition (350–520°C). The complexes synthesized exhibit a selective antimicrobial activity against a series of standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in the concentration range of 0.009–37.5 μg ml^?1.     

Photosynthesis-inhibiting effects of 2-benzylsulphanylbenzimidazoles in spinach chloroplasts

Inhibition of photosynthetic electron transport (PET) in spinach chloroplasts by nineteen 2-benzylsulphanylbenzimidazoles (BZA) was studied. BZA were found to inhibit photosynthetic electron transport (PET) and for their inhibitory efficiency, electronic properties of the R substituent on the benzyl moiety are decisive. The PET inhibiting activity of the studied BZA expressed as IC50 varied in the range from 28.5 ??M (R = 3,5-(CF₃)₂) to 394.5 ??M (R = 2,4-(NO₂)₂). For compounds with R = H, 4-CH₃, 3-CH₃, 3-OCH₃, 4-F, 3-F, 4-Cl, 3-Cl, 2-Cl, 4-Br, 3-Br, 3,4-F₂, 3,4-Cl₂, 3-CF₃, 3,5-(CF₃)₂ linear increase of the inhibitory activity with the increasing value of the substituent??s ?? constant up to 0.86 was observed. Further increase of the ?? constant resulted in a sharp activity decrease of the corresponding compounds (R = 2-F-6-Cl, 2-NO₂, 3,5-(NO₂)₂, 2,4-(NO₂)₂). Using EPR spectroscopy and an artificial electron donor diphenyl carbazide it was found that the site of BZA action in the photosynthetic apparatus is situated on the donor side of PS 2, prior to the Z^·/D^· intermediate.     

Synthesis of new <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(pyridin-3-ylmethyl)-2-aminothiazoline derivatives possessing anticholinesterase and antiradical activity as potential multifunctional agents for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

New N-(pyridin-3-ylmethyl)-2-aminothiazolines containing various substituents at the 5 position of the thiazoline ring and the 4-tert-butylbenzyl, 4-isopropylbenzyl, or 4-fluorobenzyl moiety at the nitrogen atom of the amino group were synthesized. The inhibitory activity of the synthesized compounds against human erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7), equine serum butyrylcholinesterase (BChE, EC 3.1.1.8), and porcine liver carboxylesterase (CaE, EC 3.1.1.1) was evaluated and their antioxidant properties were studied by ABTS assay. N-(Pyridin-3-ylmethyl)-2-aminothiazolines proveded to be very weak AChE inhibitors, while their inhibitory activity against BChE and CaE was structure-dependent. 2-Aminothiazolines containing the 4-tert-butylbenzyl moiety are more efficient BChE inhibitors compared to the derivatives containing the 4-isopropylbenzyl or 4-fluorobenzyl substituent. An analysis of the dependence of the esterase profile of N-(pyridin-3-ylmethyl)-2-aminothiazolines on the structure of the substituent at the 5 position of the thiazoline ring of these compounds demonstrated that the derivatives containing the iodomethyl substituent possess the highest anti-BChE activity, the compounds with R² = H and R³ = CH₂I have the optimal esterase profile. Regardless of the structure of the substituents in the benzyl moiety, all N-(pyridin-3-ylmethyl)-2-aminothiazolines containing the iodomethyl substituent at the 5 position of the thiazoline ring exhibited high radical scavenging activity comparable with that of the standard antioxidant Trolox. N-(Pyridin-3-ylmethyl)-2-aminothiazolines were shown to be a new promising class of compounds for the design of multifunctional agents for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.     

Directed 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of ylidene piperazine-2,5-diones

The reactivities and selectivities of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of ylidene piperazine-2,5-diones with mesitonitrile oxide are reported. The stereoselectivities of reactions with chiral ylidene piperazine-2,5-diones can be directed by judicious choice of substituents on the N- and/or C-substituents of the piperazinedione ring.     

Chirality and conformational changes in 4,5-diaryltriphenylenes

Line-shape analysis of temperature dependent NMR spectra of several substituted 4,5-diphenyl-triphenylenes has been performed to determine the free energy of activation for rotation (ΔG_rot^*) of the phenyl groups. The rotational barrier (ΔG_rot^*) depends on the presence and position of substituents on the phenyl groups; it is the largest in compounds with ortho-substituents. The independent determined free energy of activation of racemization (ΔG_rac^*) is about equal to ΔG_rot^* in 4-phenyl-5-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)triphenylene, but in 4,5-bis-(3,5- dimethylphenyl) triphenylene ΔG_rac^* is much larger than ΔG_rot^*. It is concluded that the racemization does not occur via a process in which the phenyl groups remain parallel but via a molecular movement in which the phenyl groups turn around each other like cog wheels.     

Optimization of Aqueous Stability versus π-Conjugation in Tetracationic Bis(triarylborane) Chromophores: Applications in Live-Cell Fluorescence Imaging

The stability of tetracationic triarylboranes in dilute aqueous solution was investigated by tuning the steric demand of the linker in a (para-(N,N,N-trimethylammonio)xylyl)₂B–(linker)–B(para-(N,N,N-trimethylammonio)xylyl)₂ structure. With increasing steric bulk of the linker, namely 1,4-phenylene, 2,2′′′-(3,3′′′-dimethyl)-5,2′:5′,2′′:5′′,5′′′-quaterthiophene, 9,10-anthracenylene, and 4,4′′′-(5′-(3,5-dimethylphenyl))(5′′-(3′′′,5′′′-dimethylphenyl))-2′,2′′-bithiophene, the stability of the compounds increased. The anthracene-based chromophore, compound 3M is water-stable for at least 48 h, is nontoxic to cells and exhibits an exceedingly high fluorescence quantum yield of 0.86 in water making it an ideal candidate for confocal live-cell imaging of lysosomes.     

Molecular and Functional Imaging Studies of Psychedelic Drug Action in Animals and Humans

Hallucinogens are a loosely defined group of compounds including LSD, N,N-dimethyltryptamines, mescaline, psilocybin/psilocin, and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methamphetamine (DOM), which can evoke intense visual and emotional experiences. We are witnessing a renaissance of research interest in hallucinogens, driven by increasing awareness of their psychotherapeutic potential. As such, we now present a narrative review of the literature on hallucinogen binding in vitro and ex vivo, and the various molecular imaging studies with positron emission tomography (PET) or single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT). In general, molecular imaging can depict the uptake and binding distribution of labelled hallucinogenic compounds or their congeners in the brain, as was shown in an early PET study with N¹-([¹¹C]-methyl)-2-bromo-LSD ([¹¹C]-MBL); displacement with the non-radioactive competitor ketanserin confirmed that the majority of [¹¹C]-MBL specific binding was to serotonin 5-HT_2A receptors. However, interactions at serotonin 5HT_1A and other classes of receptors and pleotropic effects on second messenger pathways may contribute to the particular experiential phenomenologies of LSD and other hallucinogenic compounds. Other salient aspects of hallucinogen action include permeability to the blood–brain barrier, the rates of metabolism and elimination, and the formation of active metabolites. Despite the maturation of radiochemistry and molecular imaging in recent years, there has been only a handful of PET or SPECT studies of radiolabeled hallucinogens, most recently using the 5-HT_2A/2C agonist N-(2[¹¹CH₃O]-methoxybenzyl)-2,5-dimethoxy- 4-bromophenethylamine ([¹¹C]Cimbi-36). In addition to PET studies of target engagement at neuroreceptors and transporters, there is a small number of studies on the effects of hallucinogenic compounds on cerebral perfusion ([¹⁵O]-water) or metabolism ([¹⁸F]-fluorodeoxyglucose/FDG). There remains considerable scope for basic imaging research on the sites of interaction of hallucinogens and their cerebrometabolic effects; we expect that hybrid imaging with PET in conjunction with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) should provide especially useful for the next phase of this research.     

Synthesis and membrane-protective activity of 2,6-diisobornylphenol derivatives with <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-containing fragments at position 4

Two series of new amide derivatives containing 2,6-diisobornylphenol moiety were synthesized based on 3,5-diisobornyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid and 4-butylaminomethyl-2,6-diisobornylphenol. Toxicity, membrane-protective (MP) and antioxidant (AO) activity of the obtained compounds were evaluated using red blood cells of laboratory mice as the test object. The tests demonstrated the absence of hemolytic activity for all the synthesized derivatives and the presence of high MP and AO activity under conditions of acute H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress for (3,5-diisobornyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)(morpholino)methanone and N-n-butyl-N-(3,5-diisobornyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)acetamide. A comparison of the data of the newly obtained compounds and those of described earlier 2,6-diisobornylphenol derivatives with N- and O-containing fragments at position 4 (alkoxymethyl, carboxy, and aminomethyl derivatives) led to a conclusion that the most promising for further studies of pharmacological activity are compounds containing methoxycarbonyl, methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl, morpholinomethyl, di-n-butylaminomethyl, (azepan-1-yl)methyl, or N-acetyl-N-alkylaminomethyl function, which provide low toxicity and high MP and AO activity.     

Synthesis and anticonvulsant activity of new fluorinated N-phenyl- and N-benzyl-2-azaspiro[4.4]nonane- and [4.5]decane-1,3-dione derivatives: Part III

A series of N-phenyl- and N-benzyl-2-azaspiro[4.4]nonane- and [4.5]decane-1,3-diones containing a fluoro or trifluoromethyl substituents at the aryl ring was synthesized and tested for their anticonvulsant activity in the maximal electroshock (MES) and subcutaneous metrazole (sc.Met) tests. Among them, the most active were N-benzyl derivatives with fluoro and trifluoromethyl substituents especially at position-2 of the aryl moiety. The introduction of the phenyl ring at the imide nitrogen atom resulted in less active compounds. The results obtained showed that incorporation of fluoro or trifluoromethyl substituents increased the anticonvulsant activity in comparison to respective chloro, methoxy or methyl analogues. Crystallographically obtained conformation for one active and two inactive derivatives with trifluoromethyl substituents at position-2 or -3 of phenyl ring were initially used for molecular electrostatic potentials (MEP) calculation. The MEP distribution at carbonyl oxygen atoms was different for active and inactive molecules.     

New 4-pentafluorosulfanyl and 4-perfluoroalkylthio derivatives of 1-chloro-2-nitro- and 1-chloro-2,6-dinitrobenzenes

New 4-pentafluorosulfanyl and 4-perfluoroalkylthio derivatives of 1-chloro-2-nitrobenzene and 1-chloro-2,6-dinitrobenzene were prepared from the corresponding bis(4-chloro-3-nitrophenyl)disulfide and bis(4-chloro-3,5-dinitrophenyl)disulfide, respectively. The SF₅ derivatives were obtained by fluorination of the disulfides with AgF₂ according to Sheppard’s method, while perfluoroalkylation was carried out by means of thermolytic reactions with xenon(II) bis(perfluoroalkylcarboxylates). The introduction of fluorine-containing, electron-withdrawing substituents into the aromatic ring (in the presence of other deactivating groups) reinforces the activation of the halogen substituent towards nucleophilic attack. Several nucleophilic substitution reactions have been carried out with these compounds, and as a result, some N- and S-containing groups were introduced in the benzene ring. For example, the previously unknown SF₅, CF₃S, and C₂F₅S analogues of trifluralin (Treflan^®) were prepared and characterized. Additional synthetic possibilities for heterocyclic chemistry are presented on the basis of reactions of the new 1-chloro-2,6-dinitrobenzene derivatives with ethyl thioglycolate wherein fluorine-containing derivatives of benzothiazole N-oxide were obtained as the main products.     

Poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole-imide)s containing dimethylsilane groups

New poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole-imide)s containing dimethylsilane units have been prepared by solution polycondensation reaction of an aromatic dianhydride incorporating dimethylsilane group, namely bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)dimethylsilane dianhydride, with different aromatic diamines having preformed 1,3,4-oxadiazole ring, such as 2,5-bis(p-aminophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole, 2,5-bis[p-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazole, 2,5-bis[p-(3-aminophenoxy)phenyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazole, 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-(3,5-diaminophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole, and 2-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)-5-(3,5-diaminophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole. The polymers were easily soluble in polar organic solvents, such as N-methylpyrrolidinone, N,N-dimethylformamide, and pyridine, as well as in less polar organic solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran and chloroform. Very thin coatings deposited on silicon wafers exhibited smooth, pinhole-free surface in atomic force microscopy investigations. The polymers showed high thermal stability with decomposition temperature being above 415 °C.They exhibited a glass transition in the temperature range of 202-282 °C, with reasonable interval between glass transition and decomposition temperature. Solutions of the polymers in N,N-dimethylformamide exhibited fluorescence, having maximum emission wavelength in the range of 353-428 nm.     

Synthesis of 3-(furyl)acrylates containing several phosphonate groups

Isomeric (diethoxyphosphorylmethyl)furoyl phosphonates react with ethoxycarbonylmethylenetriphenylphosphorane to form 3-[(diethoxyphosphorylmethyl)fyryl]-3-(diethoxyphosphoryl)acrylates with trans-location of phosphonate and ester groups regardless of the structure of heterocyclic residue. 2,5-Bis(diethoxyphosphorylmethyl)-3-furoyl phosphonate and 4,5-bis(diethoxyphosphorylmethyl)-2-furoyl phosphonate prepared from the corresponding acid chlorides via the Arbuzov reaction behave analogously. The dependence of coupling costants J _PP and J _PC on the location of phosphorus-containing substituents in the furan ring of these compounds is analyzed.     

A Study of alkylation regioselectivity of 5-substituted tetrazoles with chloroacetamides

Alkylation of 5-aryltetrazoles with N-arylchloroacetamides commonly proceeds regioselectively at 2 position of the tetrazole ring. The ratio of 1,5- and 2,5-regioisomers depends on the nature of a substituents in the benzene ring of the N-arylchloroacetamide and position of a substituent in the aryltetrazole aryl group. Features of ¹H NMR spectra of the synthesized compounds are discussed.     

Enantioselective Radical-Type 1,2-Alkoxy-Phosphinoylation to Styrenes Catalyzed by Chiral Vanadyl Complexes

A series of vanadyl complexes bearing 3-t-butyl-5-bromo, 3-aryl-5-bromo, 3,5-dihalo-, and benzo-fused N-salicylidene-tert-leucinates was examined as catalysts for 1,2-alkoxy-phosphinoylation of 4-, 3-, 3,4-, and 3,5-substituted styrene derivatives (including Me/t-Bu, Ph, OR, Cl/Br, OAc, NO₂, C(O)Me, CO₂Me, CN, and benzo-fused) with HP(O)Ph₂ in the presence of t-BuOOH (TBHP) in a given alcohol or cosolvent with MeOH. The best scenario involved the use of 5 mol % 3-(2,5-dimethylphenyl)-5-Br (i.e., 3-DMP-5-Br) catalyst at 0 °C in MeOH. The desired catalytic cross coupling reactions proceeded smoothly with enantioselectivities of up to 95 % ee of (R)-configuration as confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis of several recrystallized products. The origin of enantiocontrol and homolytic substitution of the benzylic intermediates by vanadyl-bound methoxide and radical type catalytic mechanism were proposed.     

Reactions of N-substituted 2,6(3,5)-dialkyl-1,4-benzoquinone imines with arenesulfinic acids

The regioselectivity in the reactions of N-arylsulfonyl-2,6-dialkyl-1,4-benzoquinone imines with arenesulfinic acids (1,6-, 6,1-, or 6,3-addition) is determined by steric factor, while in the reactions of N-aroyl-1,4-benzoquinone imines electronic effect of substituents in the quinoid ring is crucial. The reactions of N-arylsulfonyl-3,5-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone imines with arenesulfinic acids follow mainly the 1,4-addition pattern. N-(N-Arylsulfonylbenzimidoyl)-1,4-benzoquinone imines are capable of reacting in a way similar to both N-arylsulfonyl and N-aroyl derivatives.     

The metal-complexing properties of N-benzoyl-N-phenylhydroxylamine derivatives containing N-phenyl ring substituents

The syntheses and chelating properties of a number of N-benzoyl-N-phenylhydroxyl-amine derivatives substituted in the N-phenyl ring have been investigated. The acid dissociation constants, selective precipitation, solvent extraction and spectrophotometric properties of a range of metal chelates are compared with those of the corresponding 3,5-dinitrobenzoylphenylhydroxylamines. The N-phenyl ring substituents have only small effects on reagent acidity. If the substituents are in the ortho position, considerable selectivity is found because of steric hindrance. The use of an o-chloro derivative as a selective precipitant for iron(III) in the presence of cobalt, nickel, copper and aluminium, is described.