Synthesis, properties, and molecular structure of nitro-substituted N-methyl-N-nitroanilines

Ten mono-, di-, and trinitro derivatives of N-methyl-N-nitroaniline were synthesized and studied by spectral, electrooptical, and quantum-chemical methods. Three of these derivatives, N-methyl-N,2,3-trinitroaniline, N-methyl-N,2,5-trinitroaniline, N-methyl-N,3,5-trinitroaniline, were also examined by the X-ray diffraction method. The N-nitroamino group in their molecules is almost planar, the N⁷-N⁸ bond is shortened, and the N⁸ atom is characterized by a strong deficit of electron density. The dihedral angle between the planes of the N-nitroamino group and the benzene ring is 56°–92°, which makes conjugation between these fragments impossible. The N-nitroamino group in the examined compounds acts as a weak electron donor with respect to the nitro groups in the aromatic ring; the mechanism of this effect is inductive.     

Synthesis and Feasibility Evaluation of a new Trastuzumab Conjugate Integrated with Paclitaxel and 89Zr for Theranostic Application Against HER2-Expressing Breast Cancers

The preparation and in vitro evaluation of a theranostic conjugate composed of trastuzumab, paclitaxel (PTX), and deferoxamine (DFO)-chelated ⁸⁹Zr have been reported. These comounds have potential applications against HER2 receptor positive breast cancers. We conjugated DFO and PTX to trastuzumab by exploiting simple conjugation chemistry. The conjugate (DFO-trastuzumab-PTX) showed excellent radiolabeling efficiency with ⁸⁹Zr and the labeled conjugate had high in vitro stability in human serum. Furthermore, DFO-trastuzumab-PTX displayed comparable cytotoxicity with PTX and ⁸⁹Zr-DFO-trastuzumab-PTX exhibited HER2 receptor-mediated binding on HER2-positive MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. The results of our in vitro study indicate high potential of ⁸⁹Zr-DFO-trastuzumab-PTX to be utilized in the theranostic application against HER2-postive breast cancers.     

Re-Evaluations of Zr-DFO Complex Coordination Chemistry for the Estimation of Radiochemical Yields and Chelator-to-Antibody Ratios of 89Zr Immune-PET Tracers

(1) Background: Deferoxamine B (DFO) is the most widely used chelator for labeling of zirconium-89 (⁸⁹Zr) to monoclonal antibody (mAb). Despite the remarkable developments of the clinical ⁸⁹Zr-immuno-PET, chemical species and stability constants of the Zr-DFO complexes remain controversial. The aim of this study was to re-evaluate their stability constants by identifying species of Zr-DFO complexes and demonstrate that the stability constants can estimate radiochemical yield (RCY) and chelator-to-antibody ratio (CAR). (2) Methods: Zr-DFO species were determined by UV and ESI-MS spectroscopy. Stability constants and speciation of the Zr-DFO complex were redetermined by potentiometric titration. Complexation inhibition of Zr-DFO by residual impurities was investigated by competition titration. (3) Results: Unknown species, ZrH_qDFO₂, were successfully detected by nano-ESI-Q-MS analysis. We revealed that a dominant specie under radiolabeling condition (pH 7) was ZrHDFO, and its stability constant (logβ₁₁₁) was 49.1 ± 0.3. Competition titration revealed that residual oxalate inhibits Zr-DFO complex formation. RCYs in different oxalate concentration (0.1 and 0.04 mol/L) were estimated to be 86% and >99%, which was in good agreement with reported results (87%, 97%). (4) Conclusion: This study succeeded in obtaining accurate stability constants of Zr-DFO complexes and estimating RCY and CAR from accurate stability constants established in this study.     

Rational Design,Synthesis, and Evaluation of Tetrahydroxamic Acid Chelators for Stable Complexation of Zirconium(IV)

Metals of interest for biomedical applications often need to be complexed and associated in a stable manner with a targeting agent before use. Whereas the fundamentals of most transition‐metal complexation processes have been thoroughly studied, the complexation of Zr^IV has been somewhat neglected. This metal has received growing attention in recent years, especially in nuclear medicine, with the use of ⁸⁹Zr, which a β⁺‐emitter with near ideal characteristics for cancer imaging. However, the best chelating agent known for this radionuclide is the trishydroxamate desferrioxamine B (DFB), the Zr^IV complex of which exhibits suboptimal stability, resulting in the progressive release of ⁸⁹Zr in vivo. Based on a recent report demonstrating the higher thermodynamic stability of the tetrahydroxamate complexes of Zr^IV compared with the trishydroxamate complexes analogues to DFB, we designed a series of tetrahydroxamic acids of varying geometries for improved complexation of this metal. Three macrocycles differing in their cavity size (28 to 36‐membered rings) were synthesized by using a ring‐closing metathesis strategy, as well as their acyclic analogues. A solution study with ⁸⁹Zr showed the complexation to be more effective with increasing cavity size. Evaluation of the kinetic inertness of these new complexes in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution showed significantly improved stabilities of the larger chelates compared with ⁸⁹Zr‐DFB, whereas the smaller complexes suffered from insufficient stabilities. These results were rationalized by a quantum chemical study. The lower stability of the smaller chelates was attributed to ring strain, whereas the better stability of the larger cyclic complexes was explained by the macrocyclic effect and by the structural rigidity. Overall, these new chelating agents open new perspectives for the safe and efficient use of ⁸⁹Zr in nuclear imaging, with the best chelators providing dramatically improved stabilities compared with the reference DFB.     

Design and Antioxidant Properties of Bifunctional 2H-Imidazole-Derived Phenolic Compounds—A New Family of Effective Inhibitors for Oxidative Stress-Associated Destructive Processes

The synthesis of inhibitors for oxidative stress-associated destructive processes based on 2H-imidazole-derived phenolic compounds affording the bifunctional 2H-imidazole-derived phenolic compounds in good-to-excellent yields was reported. In particular, a series of bifunctional organic molecules of the 5-aryl-2H-imidazole family of various architectures bearing both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents in the aryl fragment along with the different arrangements of the hydroxy groups in the polyphenol moiety, namely derivatives of phloroglucinol, pyrogallol, hydroxyquinol, including previously unknown water-soluble molecules, were studied. The structural and antioxidant properties of these bifunctional 5-aryl-2H-imidazoles were comprehensively studied. The redox transformations of the synthesized compounds were carried out. The integrated approach based on single and mixed mechanisms of antioxidant action, namely the AOC, ARC, Folin, and DPPH assays, were applied to estimate antioxidant activities. The relationship “structure-antioxidant properties” was established for each of the antioxidant action mechanisms. The conjugation effect was shown to result in a decrease in the mobility of the hydrogen atom, thus complicating the process of electron transfer in nearly all cases. On the contrary, the conjugation in imidazolyl substituted phloroglucinols was found to enhance their activity through the hydrogen transfer mechanism. Imidazole-derived polyphenolic compounds bearing the most electron-withdrawing functionality, namely the nitro group, were established to possess the higher values for both antioxidant and antiradical capacities. It was demonstrated that in the case of phloroglucinol derivatives, the conjugation effect resulted in a significant increase in the antiradical capacity (ARC) for a whole family of the considered 2H-imidazole-derived phenolic compounds in comparison with the corresponding unsubstituted phenols. Particularly, conjugation of the polyphenolic subunit with 2,2-dimethyl-5-(4-nitrophenyl)-2H-imidazol-4-yl fragment was shown to increase ARC from 2.26 to 5.16 (10⁴ mol-eq/L). This means that the considered family of compounds is capable of exhibiting an antioxidant activity via transferring a hydrogen atom, exceeding the activity of known natural polyphenolic compounds.     

Preparation and quality control and biodistribution studies of [90Y]-DOTA-cetuximab for radioimmunotherapy

Yttrium-90 is a useful radionuclide for radioimmunotherapy (RIT) and the anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) antibody cetuximab is clinicsally approved for the treatment of EGFR-expressing metastatic colorectal cancer and advanced head and neck cancer. Thus in this work radiolabeling of monoclonal anti-EGFR with ⁹⁰Y for radioimmunotherapy (RIT) is targetted. Cetuximab was successively labeled with [⁹⁰Y] chloride (74 MBq) 2 mCi after conjugation with macrocyclics bifunctional chelating agent, 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N′,N″,N″′-tetraacetic acid mono-(N-hydroxysuccinimidyl) ester (DOTA-NHS), purified and concentrated by centrifugation using an Amicon Ultra-15 filter (Millipore, MWCo, 30000). ⁹⁰Y chloride was obtained by ⁹⁰Sr/⁹⁰Y generator. Radiolabeling was completed in 2 h by the addition of DOTA-cetuximab conjugate at 42 °C. The stability of radiolabeled was studied in human serum. Biodistribution studies in normal rats were carried out to determine the radioimmunoconjugate distribution up to 96 h. Radiochemical purity of 92 % (using ITLC) was obtained for final radioimmunoconjugate (Specific activity = 0.55 GBq/mg). Stability of radiolabeled protein in presence of human serum was tested at 37 °C for up to 24 h. Biodistribution studies demonstrated the highest ID/g % in the blood (2.62 ± 0.005 at 24 h) and the liver (2.19 ± 0.001). This study demonstrated that ⁹⁰Y-DOTA-cetuximab is a potential compound for the treatment of EGFR-expressing cancers.     

Production,applications and status of zirconium-89 immunoPET agents

Zirconium-89 has attracted huge interests and is used in tracing and quantification of slow biological processes and labeling of long half-live biomolecules such as monoclonal antibodies for pharmacokinetic studies and clinical trials. In this review, a concise introduction to targetry, irradiation data, separation and coordination chemistry of zirconium-89 has been presented. A detailed overreviwew on bi-functional ligands conjugation and ⁸⁹Zr radiolabeling been addressed. The latest status of preclinical as well as clinical trials using ⁸⁹Zr radioimmunomolecules in various human diseases has been presented since 2012.     

A facile synthesis of bifunctional phospholipids for biomimetic membrane engineering

We report a facile synthesis of bifunctional phospholipid conjugates by acylation of N-protected lyso-phosphatidylethanolamine with 12-acryloxy-1-dodecanoic acid and followed with deprotection and conjugation with biotin, FITC, Texas Red, or EMC groups. The lipid conjugates can be used to generate a multifunctional substrate-supported phospholipid membrane via bioconjugation reaction to biotin or covalent attachment to EMC at their hydrophilic terminus. In addition, conjugation to fluorophores, FITC or Texas Red, provides a convenient mechanism to monitor lipid membrane formation and stability. Significantly, in situ photopolymerization of the acrylate group at the end of one of two hydrophobic alkyl chains stabilizes the phospholipid membrane.     

Reaction of transsilylation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-methyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-trimethylsilylacetamide with silanes ClCH<Subscript>2</Subscript>SiR<Superscript>1</Superscript>R<Superscript>2</Superscript>Cl

The reaction of N-methyl-N-trimethylsilylacetamide with silanes ClCH₂SiR¹R²Cl (R¹, R² = H, Me; H, Ph; Ph₂) leads to the formation of (O→Si) chelate compounds with pentacoordinate silicon: N-[chloro(methyl)-silyl]methyl-, N-[chloro(phenyl)silyl]methyl-, and N-[chloro(diphenyl)silyl]methyl-N-methylacetamides. From the data of multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, the intermediates of the reaction of N-methyl-N-trimethylsilylacetamide with ClCH₂SiPhHCl and ClCH₂SiPh²Cl are stable in CDCl₃ solution at room temperature during several days and slowly rearrange to the final (O–Si) chelate compounds.     

Synthesis of a technetium-99m-labeled thymidine analog: a potential HSV1-TK substrate for non-invasive reporter gene expression imaging

{2-[5-(2′-Fluoro-2′-deoxyuridin-5-yl)pent-4(E)-enyl] [2-(2-mercaptoethyl)aminoethyl]aminoethanethiolato(3)-N,N′,S,S′}oxo-[^99mTc]technetium(V), a potential viral thymidine kinase substrate, was synthesized by coupling 2′-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine analog with a N2S2 radiometal chelator, followed by [Tc-99m]technetium conjugation. The chemical structure of the radioactive probe was characterized by ¹H NMR and high resolution MS using Re-188 conjugated mimics. The radiochemical purity and yield were identified as 98% and 42%, respectively.     

Independent isomeric-yield ratio of 89m,gNb from 93Nb(γ, 4n), natZr(p,xn), and 89Y(α, 4n) reactions

The independent isomeric-yield ratios of ^89m,gNb for the ⁹³Nb(γ, 4n) ^89m,gNb reaction with bremsstrahlung energies of 45-, 50-, 55-, 60-, and 70-MeV were measured by the activation and the off-line γ-ray spectrometric technique at 100 MeV electron linac of the Pohang accelerator laboratory. The isomeric-yield ratios of ^89m,gNb for the ^natZr(p, xn) ^89m,gNb and the ⁸⁹Y(α, 4n) ^89m,gNb reactions were measured by using a stacked-foil activation technique with the proton energies of 19–45 MeV and alpha energies of 38.9-, 40.5-, and 42.5-MeV at the MC-50 cyclotron of Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences. The measured isomeric-yield ratio of ^89m,gNb from the ⁹³Nb(γ, 4n), ^natZr(p, xn), and ⁸⁹Y(α, 4n) reactions were compared with the similar literature data in the ⁸⁹Y(³He, 3n) reaction. It was found that the isomeric yield ratio of ^89m,gNb increases with projectile energy, which indicate the effect of excitation energy. However, for the similar compound nucleus with the same excitation energy, the isomeric-yield ratios of ^89m,gNb in the ⁸⁹Y(α, 4n) and ⁸⁹Y(³He, 3n) reactions are higher than those in the ⁹³Nb(γ, 4n) and ^natZr(p, xn) reactions, which indicates the role of input angular momentum. The isomeric-yield ratios of ^89m,gNb in the ⁹³Nb(γ, 4n), ^natZr(p, xn), ⁸⁹Y(α, 4n), and ⁸⁹Y(³He, 3n) reactions were also calculated theoretically using computer code TALYS 1.4. The theoretical isomeric-yield ratios of ^89m,gNb from four reactions increase with excitation energy. However, the theoretical value are significantly higher than the experimental data in the ⁹³Nb(γ, 4n) and ^natZr(p, xn) reactions but slightly lower or comparable in the ⁸⁹Y(α, 4n) rand ⁸⁹Y(³He, 3n) reactions.     

Synthesis,Structure and Electrochemical Properties of Acetamide- and Caprolactam-Containing Silicon Catecholates

Hexacoordinated heteroligand silicon catecholates, although being prospective as easily soluble compounds with high hydrolytic stability and diverse redox properties, have been insufficiently studied. The transesterification of 1-(trimethoxysilylmethyl)-2-oxohexahydroaze or N-methyl-N-(trimethoxysilylmethyl)acetamide by two equivalents of catechol derivatives in the presence of dicyclohexylamine afforded a series of target compounds in good yield. The complexes were characterized using elemental analysis, FTIR, ¹H, ¹³C and ²⁹Si NMR spectra, X-ray crystallography and cyclic voltammetry. X-ray diffraction confirmed that the silicon atom possesses the octahedral geometry of the SiCO₅ polyhedron that remains unchanged in solution as it follows from ²⁹Si NMR data. The compounds demonstrated up to three oxidation waves; and the reduction profile strongly depended on the nature of the substituents on a catecholate anion.     

[89Zr]-Pertuzumab PET Imaging Reveals Paclitaxel Treatment Efficacy Is Positively Correlated with HER2 Expression in Human Breast Cancer Xenograft Mouse Models

Paclitaxel (PTX) treatment efficacy varies in breast cancer, yet the underlying mechanism for variable response remains unclear. This study evaluates whether human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression level utilizing advanced molecular positron emission tomography (PET) imaging is correlated with PTX treatment efficacy in preclinical mouse models of HER2+ breast cancer. HER2 positive (BT474, MDA-MB-361), or HER2 negative (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cells were subcutaneously injected into athymic nude mice and PTX (15 mg/kg) was administrated. In vivo HER2 expression was quantified through [⁸⁹Zr]-pertuzumab PET/CT imaging. PTX treatment response was quantified by [¹⁸F]-fluorodeoxyglucose ([¹⁸F]-FDG) PET/CT imaging. Spearman’s correlation, Kendall’s tau, Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, and ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. [⁸⁹Zr]-pertuzumab mean standard uptake values (SUV_mean) of BT474 tumors were 4.9 ± 1.5, MDA-MB-361 tumors were 1.4 ± 0.2, and MDA-MB-231 (HER2−) tumors were 1.1 ± 0.4. [¹⁸F]-FDG SUV_mean changes were negatively correlated with [⁸⁹Zr]-pertuzumab SUV_mean (r = −0.5887, p = 0.0030). The baseline [¹⁸F]-FDG SUV_mean was negatively correlated with initial [⁸⁹Zr]-pertuzumab SUV_mean (r = −0.6852, p = 0.0002). This study shows PTX treatment efficacy is positively correlated with HER2 expression level in human breast cancer mouse models. Molecular imaging provides a non-invasive approach to quantify biological interactions, which will help in identifying chemotherapy responders and potentially enhance clinical decision-making.     

Reaktionen von Komplexliganden: XXXI. Tetramethyl(alkyl- bzw. alkenyl)cyclopentadienyl-Komplexe des Molybdäns

(η⁵-C₅Me₄R)Mo(CO)₂NO complexes (R = Me, Et, 4-butenyl) were prepared from the corresponding sodium cyclopentadienides, molybdenum hexacarbonyl and N-methyl-N-nitroso-p-toluenesulfonamide in moderate to good yields.     

Decomposition of halophenols in room-temperature ionic liquids by ionizing radiation

In this article, we report the reaction of halophenols with solvated electrons in room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) initiated by γ-ray and pulsed electron radiolyses. The decomposition G-values of ortho-chlorophenol (CP) in N-methyl-N-propylpyrrolidinium–bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (TFSI), N-butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium–TFSI and N-methyl-N-propylpiperidinium–TFSI were estimated to be 1.4, 1.6, and 1.7 molecules 10^?2 eV^?1 under γ-ray irradiation; these values were almost the same as the yield of solvated electron formation. The second-order rate constant for the reaction of CP with solvated electrons in diethylmethyl(2-methoxyethyl)ammonium (DEMMA)–tetrafluoroborate (BF₄) was one order of magnitude lower than that in DEMMA–TFSI although the G-values of CP decomposition and phenol formation in DEMMA-BF₄ were higher. The decomposition yield of ortho-iodophenol in DEMMA–TFSI was slightly higher than that of the other halophenol (ortho-fluorophenol, CP, and ortho-bromophenol), and the formation yield of phenol for the decomposition of only ortho-fluorophenol was lower.     

A bifunctional chelator featuring the DOTAM-Gly-l-Phe-OH structural subunit: en route toward homo- and heterobimetallic lanthanide(III) complexes as PARACEST MRI contrast agents

A new synthesis of a bifunctional chelator possessing DOTAM-Gly-l-Phe-OH and DO3A chelating cages interconnected by an oligoamide chain has been achieved via HBTU-mediated coupling from easily accessible building blocks. Both homo- and heterobimetallic lanthanide(III) complexes derived from this bifunctional chelator have been prepared in moderate yields. The CEST spectrum acquired for homobimetallic Eu³⁺ complex showed this molecule to be a promising PARACEST MRI contrast agent whereas the Eu³⁺/Tm³⁺ heterobimetallic complex lacked a useful CEST signal.     

Determination of Milnacipran in Human Plasma Using GC–MS

A new, simple, and fully validated gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method was presented for quantitative analysis of milnacipran (MNP) in human plasma. MNP was efficiently derivatized with N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyltrifluoroacetamide (MSTFA) before analysis. The role of catalyst, temperature, time, solvent on the trimethylsilylation reaction were evaluated. The proposed method was fully validated by assessment of the following parameters: limits of detection and quantitation, precision, accuracy, linearity, specificity, stability, extraction recovery and robustness/ruggedness. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) was 30 ng mL^?1. The calibration curve was linear (r ² > 0.9988) in the range 30–500 ng mL^?1. The method was found specific, precise, accurate, selective and reliable according to validation data. This developed method was successfully applied to determine the steady state concentration of MNP in patients.     

Synthesis of 5-hydroxy-N-(2-vinyloxyalkyl)indoles from dicarbonyl compounds and vinyloxyalkylamines

N-(Vinyloxyalkyl)enaminoketones were obtained by the condensation of vinyloxyalkylamines with acetylacetone or ethyl acetoacetate. Their subsequent reactions with 1,4-benzoquinone produce the corresponding 5-hydroxy-2-methyl-N-(2-vinyloxyalkyl)indoles in 17–43% yields. The structures of the compounds obtained were confirmed by IR and¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

Tuning Tetrazole Photochemistry for Protein Ligation and Molecular Imaging

Photochemistry provides a wide range of alternative reagents that hold potential for use in bimolecular functionalisation of proteins. Here, we report the synthesis and characterisation of metal ion binding chelates derivatised with disubstituted tetrazoles for the photoradiochemical labelling of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). The photophysical properties of tetrazoles featuring extended aromatic systems and auxochromic substituents to tune excitation toward longer wavelengths (365 and 395 nm) were studied. Two photoactivatable chelates based on desferrioxamine B (DFO) and the aza-macrocycle NODAGA were functionalised with a tetrazole and developed for protein labelling with ⁸⁹Zr, ⁶⁴Cu and ⁶⁸Ga radionuclides. DFO-tetrazole ( 1 ) was assessed by direct conjugation to formulated trastuzumab and subsequent radiolabelling with ⁸⁹Zr. Radiochemical studies and cellular-based binding assays demonstrated that the radiotracer remained stable in vitro retained high immunoreactivity. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and biodistribution studies were used to measure the tumour specific uptake and pharmacokinetic profile in mice bearing SK-OV-3 xenografts. Experiments demonstrate that tetrazole-based photochemistry is a viable approach for the light-induced synthesis of PET radiotracers.     

Chelator‐Free Radiolabeling of Nanographene: Breaking the Stereotype of Chelation

Macrocyclic chelators have been widely employed in the realm of nanoparticle‐based positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, whereas its accuracy remains questionable. Here, we found that ⁶⁴Cu can be intrinsically labeled onto nanographene based on interactions between Cu and the π electrons of graphene without the need of chelator conjugation, providing a promising alternative radiolabeling approach that maintains the native in vivo pharmacokinetics of the nanoparticles. Due to abundant π bonds, reduced graphene oxide (RGO) exhibited significantly higher labeling efficiency in comparison with graphene oxide (GO) and exhibited excellent radiostability in vivo. More importantly, nonspecific attachment of 1,4,7‐triazacyclononane‐1,4,7‐triacetic acid (NOTA) on nanographene was observed, which revealed that chelator‐mediated nanoparticle‐based PET imaging has its inherent drawbacks and can possibly lead to erroneous imaging results in vivo.