Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance studies of creatine,creatinine and some of their analogs

Creatine (N-methyl-N-amidinoglycine), creatinine (1-methyl-2-aminoimidazolin-4-one) and a series of 38 of their close structural analogs have been examined using natural abundance ¹³C NMR spectroscopy at 25.16 MHz. Both proton-coupled and proton noise-decoupled spectra were recorded. Unequivocal assignments of the carbon resonances could be made in the vast majority of cases. Both ¹³C NMR chemical shifts and ¹J(CH) values can be used to characterize and to differentiate readily between analogs of creatine and analogs of creatinine. For example, the ¹J(CH) coupling constants for the α-carbons of the acyclic creatine analogs were all in the 140–142 Hz range, whereas the corresponding coupling constants for the related, cyclized creatinine analogs were all in the 150–152 Hz range.     

Calorimetry and thermal analysis studies on the binding of 13-phenylalkyl and 13-diphenylalkyl berberine analogs to tRNAphe

The interaction of 13- monophenylalkyl and diphenylalkyl berberine analogs with tRNA^phe has been investigated using various thermochemical techniques like thermal melting, isothermal titration calorimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry experiments. Thermal melting studies revealed that all the analogs stabilized the tRNA^phe better than berberine. The binding affinity for the analogs was of the order of 10⁵ M^?1. Calorimetry results suggested that the binding of these analogs was predominantly entropy driven with small negative enthalpy contribution to the standard molar Gibbs energy. The temperature dependence of the standard molar enthalpy changes yielded negative values of standard molar heat capacity changes for the complexation revealing substantial hydrophobic contribution in the RNA binding of these analogs. An enthalpy–entropy compensation behavior was also seen in all the systems. The diphenylalkyl analogs were found to be more effective tRNA^phe binders compared to the monophenylalkyl analogs. The utility of the present work lies in understanding the structural and energetic aspects of the interaction of these berberine analogs with tRNA, which may be useful in the development of RNA-targeted drugs.     

Fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry of brassinosteroid analogs

Positive ion fast-atom bombardment mass spectra of brassinosteroid analogs have been systematically obtained for the first time. The spectra of six brassinosteroid analogs and their corresponding 22S,23S isomers included the protonated molecule in medium to high relative intensity. The fragmentation pattern is dominated by side chain cleavage. There is a marked preferential loss of acetic acid from the [M + H]⁺ ion of 5α-hydrogen-3β-acetylated derivatives compared to the 5α-hydroxy-3β-acetylated analogs.     

Structural requirement of C11b chirality of tetrabenazine analogs as VMAT2 imaging ligands: synthesis and in vivo evaluation

We studied on the structural requirement of C11b chirality of tetrabenazine (TBZ) analogs as vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) ligands. TBZ analogs (2, 6a, 6b) and ¹⁸F-radiolabeled [¹⁸F]6a and [¹⁸F]6b with eliminated C11b chirality were synthesized and characterized. Competition studies demonstrated that 2, 6a and 6b displayed much lower in vivo VMAT2 bindings than TBZ. MicroPET imaging studies of [¹⁸F]6a and [¹⁸F]6b showed negligible accumulation in VMAT2-enriched regions as compared with the known VMAT2 ligand ¹⁸F-FP-(+)-DTBZ. These results suggest that C11b chirality of TBZ analogs is essential for in vivo VMAT2 binding bioactivity.     

Synthesis of New Brassinosteroid 24-Norcholane Type Analogs Conjugated in C-3 with Benzoate Groups

The metabolism of brassinosteroid leads to structural modifications in the ring skeleton or the side alkyl chain. The esterification and glycosylation at C-3 are the most common metabolic pathways, and it has been suggested that conjugate brassinosteroids are less active or inactive. In this way, plants regulate the content of active brassinosteroids. In this work, the synthesis of brassinosteroid 24-norcholane type analogs conjugated at C-3 with benzoate groups, carrying electron donor and electron attractant substituents on the aromatic ring, is described. Additionally, their growth-promoting activities were evaluated using the Rice Lamina Inclination Test (RLIT) and compared with that exhibited by brassinolide (used as positive control) and non-conjugated analogs. The results indicate that at the lowest tested concentrations (10⁻⁸–10⁻⁷ M), all analogs conjugated at C-3 exhibit similar or higher activities than brassinolide, and the diasteroisomers with S configuration at C-22 are the more active ones. Increasing concentration (10⁻⁶ M) reduces the biological activities of analogs as compared to brassinolide.     

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of some benzoxazinoids derivatives of 2-nitrophenol and 3-hydroxy-2-nitropyridine

Benzoxazinoids (BXs), alkaloids frequently found in Gramineae species, are natural defensives that can potentially be exploited to the development of novel antimicrobial agents. Here, BXs analogs were synthesized from 2-nitrophenol (benzoxazinone series) and 3-hydroxy-2-nitropyridine (pyridoxazinone series) and tested against fungal and bacteria of medical interest. The starting materials were submitted to adequate nucleophilic substitution in order to functionalize of analogs, followed by a reductive cyclization catalyzed by palladium on carbon. Next, the biological assays showed that pyridoxazinone serie has a good antibacterial activity, especially against Enterococcus faecalis (Minimum inhibitory concentration—MIC: 7.8-15.6?μg.mL^?1) and Acinetobacter baumannii (MIC 31.25-125?μg.mL^?1). Antifungal activity, in turn, was related to compound 2e which showed a MIC of 62.5?μg.mL^?1 against Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, and Candida tropicalis. All analogs complied with Lipinski's rules and were predicted to have a low toxicity.     

NMR study of the spatial structure of synthetic pyrethroids

The spatial isomers of the new synthetic analogs of ethyl permithrinic ether and permethrin were investigated by NMR (¹H, ¹³C, DEPT (distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer), COSY (correlation spectroscopy), CHCORR (heteronuclear (C, H) shift correlation spectroscopy), ROESY (rotating-frame Overhauser effect spectroscopy)). Several tendencies were revealed in the ¹H and ¹³C chemical shifts of the α atoms of the substituents in the 2nd and 3rd positions of the cyclopropane ring. For substituents cis-orientated relative to the ester group, the spectra show a paramagnetic shift of the ¹H signals and the diamagnetic shift of the ¹³C signals relative to the trans-orientated substituents. The ¹H and ¹³C chemical shifts of the α atoms of the substituents in the 2nd and 3rd positions of the cyclopropane ring permit an unambiguous determination of the stereochemistry of ethyl permethrinic ether and permethrin analogs.     

Stereospecific conversion of P-chiral nucleoside phosphorothioates into [18O]phosphates

P-chiral phosphorothioate analogs of thymidine and adenosine nucleotides are transformed in high yield with retention of configuration by [¹⁸O] chloral and [¹⁸O] styrene oxide into corresponding nucleoside [¹⁸O]phosphates.     

Studies on the structure-activity relationship of delta-sleep inducing peptide

DSIP and its fourteen analogs as well as three short peptides were synthesized by solid phase method. The design of the analogs was based on the consideration of the introduction of D-amino acid into the molecules to inhibit the enzymatic hydrolysis and the introduction of amino acids with a hydrophobic side chain. The modification was placed on the position of 1, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9, e.g. D- Trp¹, Tyr¹, Tyr¹ Phe⁵, D-Trp¹ Phe⁸, Trp^3,4, D-Trp^1,3,4 Phe⁸, D-Trp3^,4 Phe⁸ D-Glu⁹, D-pF-Phe^3,4 Phe⁸ D-Glu⁹, Phe⁵, Glu⁵ Asp⁹, Tyr⁶ Asp⁹, Asp⁹ and Ala⁷-DSIP as well as Trp-Ala-Gly-Gly-Asp, Trp-Ala-Gly-Gly-Glu and Trp-Gly-Glu. DSIP and Phe⁵-DSIP were also prepared by pentafluorophenyl ester method. The purity of the synthetic peptides was checked by amino acid analysis, elemental analysis, thin layer chromatography and paper electrophoresis. The biological assay showed that the analogs of D-Trp¹, Tyr¹, Tyr¹ Phe⁵ and Ala⁷-DSIP as well as three short peptides were inactive whereas Phe⁵-DSIP showed similar activity as that of synthetic DSIP.     

Computational design and characterization of new thieno-expanded tricyclic purine analogs

Unnatural nucleobases are under intense research due to their widespread applications in nucleic acids research. In this work, four new thieno-expanded purine analogs comprising ^ttzA, ^tthA, ^ttzG, and ^tthG were computationally designed based on the isomorphic tz- and th-bases. These base analogs can also be seen as modified derivatives of the previously reported tricyclic purine analogs (^ttA and ^ttG). The structural, electronic, and photophysical properties are studied by means of DFT and TDDFT calculations. We find out that these new bases can form stable Watson-Crick base pairs with natural counterparts, thus potentially mimicking natural nucleobases in DNA/RNA duplexes. Calculations reveal that these bases have smaller AIPs and HOMO-LUMO gaps than natural ones, suggesting that they are candidates for applications in nanowire technology. Particularly, the photophysical properties were explored, and the results are compared with those for tz-, th-, and tt-bases. The nature of the low-lying excited states is discussed, and analyses reveal that the thiophene-homologation would not change excitation maxima of ^thA and ^tzA, while it will result in large red-shifts of those of ^thG and ^tzG. Meanwhile, thiophene insertion has relatively larger influences on the emissions ^thA and ^tzG, for which the fluorescence was 37 nm blue-shifted and 19 nm red-shifted, respectively. Taking these new bases as derivatives of ^ttA and ^ttG, it was found that the modifications would result in large red-shifts of both the excitation maxima and the fluorescence. The effects of water solution and base paring on the phtotophysical properties were also considered.     

Synthesis and anticancer activity of conformationally constrained Smac mimetics containing pseudo β turns

Herein, we report synthesis and in vitro anticancer activity of conformationally constrained Smac mimetics containing reverse turn inducing motifs “Ant-Pro” and “^sAnt-Pro”. The synthesis of Smac analogs with diverse hydrophobic groups at the C-terminus was carried out using solution phase peptide synthesis. The synthesis of Ant-Pro containing analogs 3a–j was carried out by ring opening of benzoxazinones 7a–c, whereas, their sulfonamide counterparts 4a–h were synthesized by using routine acid-amine coupling reaction. In vitro anticancer studies against breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 revealed that some of the new analogs had better anticancer activity than the standard AVPI Smac tetrapeptide.     

Cyclopropanol intermediates in the synthesis of the C<Superscript>5</Superscript>–C<Superscript>14</Superscript> fragment of laulimalides

Two novel schemes have been developed for the synthesis of the C⁵–C¹⁴ fragment of the macrocyclic antitumor drug laulimalide and its analogs via transformations of cyclopropanol intermediates.     

Investigations on the oxidation of the carbamate pesticide aminocarb

The electron transfer stoichiometry and principal oxidation products of the carbamate pesticide Aminocarb (3-methyl-4-dimethylaminophenyl N-methylcarbamate) were investigated in methanol + water and acetonitrile + water media, using flow injection coulometry,¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, and mass spectrometry. The four-electron oxidation was found to occur at aliphatic as opposed to aromatic sites, involving oxidation and nucleophilic attack at an N-methyl group to yield the hydroxy/methoxy analogs in water + methanol media, and yielding ultimately an aldehyde. The pathway in water + acetonitrile, as expected, was found to yield only the hydroxy analogs and the aldehyde.     

Mass spectrometric characterization of a series of adenosylated peptides acting as bisubstrate analogs of protein kinases

We are currently developing strategies to synthesize bisubstrate analogs as potential inhibitors of serine and tyrosine protein kinases; several such analogs have been synthesized. The initial target proteins were the cAMP dependent protein kinase (cAPK) and the Ca⁺²/calmodulin dependent protein kinase (CaM kiiase II). These bisubstrate analogs were based on either known peptide substrates such as kemptide, a seven amino acid peptide substrate of cAPK, or on inhibitory peptides such as a seventeen amino acid peptide encompassing the autoinhibitory domain of CaM kinase II. Peptides containing a single phosphoserine group were first synthesized and then adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP), adenosine 5′-diphosphate (ADP), or adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) was coupled through the serine phosphate with prior activation by 1,1-carbonyldiimidazole using either a solution or solid phase reaction scheme. In this current study, we report the characterization of the bisubstrate analogs by liquid secondary ionization mass spectrometry (LSIMS), matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry (MALDI), and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). In the positive-ion mode, the LSIMS spectra of the bisubstrate analogs yielded a series of molecular ions containing mono-, di-, and trivalent cation adducts. Cation adducts were absent in the negative-ion mode where the dominant species were deprotonated molecular ions, [M ? H]^?, making this latter technique more useful for confirming product identity and assessing purity. Analysis of these compounds by MALDI in both the positive- and negative-ion modes yielded molecular ions which also contained metal ion adducts, although they were limited primarily to Fe⁺² adducts. Unlike LSIMS, the MALDI spectra showed no evidence for the elimination of the phosphoadenosine or other structural moieties. When these compounds were subjected to high energy collision-induced dissociation (CID), the dominant fragmentation pathways under positive-ion MS/MS conditions resulted from cleavage of the phosphate linkages to the adenosine moiety with charge retention on the peptide, although a major peak for 5′-deoxyadenosine was also seen at m/z 250. Charge retention in the negative-ion mode was most pronounced for ion fragments containing the highly acidic phosphate moieties and yielded phosphoadenosine related ions, for example, (AMP-H)^?, (AMP-H-H₂O)^?, (ADP-H)^?, etc., as well as ions originating from the phosphate linker such as PO₃ ^?, H₂PO₄ ^?, HP₂O₆ ^?, H₃P₂O₇ ^?, and H₂P₃O₉ ^?. The largest phosphoadenosine ion in the negative-ion CID spectra for each bisubstrate analog, for example, m/z 426 (ADP-H)^?, m/z 506 (ATP-H)^?, or m/z 586 (AP₄-H)^?, indicated that the desired covalent modification had been formed between the phosphoserine and AP_n moieties.     

A convenient synthesis of (2-styrylchromon-8-yl)acetic acids

(2-Styrylchromon-8-yl)acetic acids, structural analogs of (flavon-8-yl)acetic acid (FAA) have been synthesized with satisfactory yields according to two different methods. The ¹H and ¹³C nmr data fovor the S-trans stereoisomers.     

Synthesis,antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of novel pyridyl-carbonyl thiazoles as dendrodoine analogs

Marine compound dendrodoine was first obtained from tunicate species ( Dendrodo grossularia ). It has a five-membered ring, namely, it is a heterocycle thiadiazole, which is found rarely in natural sources . Following its biological activities, novel analogs have been investigated recently. Synthesis of the analogs for this study is realized with uncommon thiazole closure, including methylene-carbonyl condensation. Structures are elucidated by NMR ( ¹ , ¹³ C) and HRMS spectrums. As an alkaloid derivative, antioxidant properties were evaluated with DPPH and FRAP assays and antimicrobial effect with microdilution method. Among the series, 3bc-3cf showed higher antioxidant activity than those having 3 or 4-pyridyl substituents. There is lesser activity for 2-pyridyl activity for 2-pyridyl containing group, which may be a result of intramolecular interactions. No activity was observed against gram-negative bacteria at 250 μg/mL. 3ae and 3ce showed activity at 64 μg/mL against S. aureus and 3ae showed activity at 16 μg/mL against S. epidermidis gram-positive bacteria. Chloramphenicol showed activity against all microorganisms at 8–16 μg/mL. Sixteen original dendrodoine analogs have been defined by close/higher activity compared to dendrodoine analogs and Trolox.     

Determination of orders of relative alkali metal ion affinities of crown ethers and acyclic analogs by the kinetic method

Ladders of relative alkali ion affinities of crown ethers and acyclic analogs were constructed by using the kinetic method. The adducts consisting of two different ethers bound by an alkali metal ion, (M₁ + Cat + M₂)⁺, were formed by using fast atom bombardment ionization to desorb the crown ethers and alkali metal ions, then collisionally activated to induce dissociation to (M₁ + Cat)⁺ and (M₂ + Cat)⁺ ions. Based on the relative abundances of the cationized ethers formed, orders of relative alkali ion affinities were assigned. The crown ethers showed higher affinities for specific sizes of metal ions, and this was attributed in part to the optimal spatial fit concept. Size selectivities were more pronounced for the smaller alkali metal ions such as Li⁺, Na⁺, and K⁺ than the larger ions such as Cs⁺ and Rb⁺. In general, the cyclic ethers exhibited greater alkali metal ion affinities than the corresponding acyclic analogs, although these effects were less dramatic as the size of the alkali metal ion increased.     

Reaction of Barbituric, 2-Thiobarbituric Acids and Their Derivatives with 2-Carboxybenzaldehyde and Opianic Acid: Synthesis and Tautomerism of 5-(3'-Oxo-1',3'-dihydroisobenzofuran-1'-yl)barbituric Acids and Their 2-Thio Analogs

The reaction of barbituric, N-alkylbarbituric acids, and their 2-thio analogs with carboxybenzaldehyde and 2-carboxy-3,4-dimethoxybenzaldehyde leads to the formation of the corresponding 5-(3'-oxo-1',3'-dihydroisobenzofuran-1'-yl)barbituric and 2-thiobarbituric acids, the structures of which were studied by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. In DMSO the derivatives of barbituric acid exist in the form of mixtures of the ketone and enol tautomers, while their 2-thio analogs exist in the enol form. In chloroform the tautomeric equilibrium is displaced fully toward the ketone form.     

Suppression of racemization in the carbonylation of amino acid-derived aryl triflates

The carbonylation of enantiopure phenylglycine-derived aryl triflates was achieved to afford 4-carboxyphenylglycine analogs with high enantiomeric excesses (88 to >99% ee). Amide analogs of phenylglycine were well-tolerated in the hydroxy- and methoxycarbonylation processes, providing efficient access to benzoic acid and ester building blocks. The % ee of the product was dependent on the relative steric bulk of both the amino acid substrate and the requisite amine base, with ⁱPr₂NEt proving optimal in minimizing product racemization.     

Synthesis of Tacrine Analogs Derived from N-Aryl-5-amino-4-cyanopyrazoles

Synthesis of 11 tacrine analogs derived from N-aryl-5-amino-4-cyanopyrazoles, by a Friedländer type reaction, is described. Their structures were confirmed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and/or mass spectrometry.