Structure–Activity Relationships of the Antimalarial Agent Artemisinin 10. Synthesis and Antimalarial Activity of Enantiomers of rac-5β-Hydroxy-d-Secoartemisinin and Analogs: Implications Regarding the Mechanism of Action

An efficient synthesis of rac-6-desmethyl-5β–hydroxy-d-secoartemisinin 2, a tricyclic analog of R-(+)-artemisinin 1, was accomplished and the racemate was resolved into the (+)-2b and (−)-2a enantiomers via their Mosher Ester diastereomers. Antimalarial activity resided with only the artemisinin-like enantiomer R-(−)-2a. Several new compounds 9–16, 19a, 19b, 22 and 29 were synthesized from rac-2 but the C-5 secondary hydroxyl group was surprisingly unreactive. For example, the formation of carbamates and Mitsunobu reactions were unsuccessful. In order to assess the unusual reactivity of 2, a single crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed a close intramolecular hydrogen bond from the C-5 alcohol to the oxepane ether oxygen (O-11). All products were tested in vitro against the W-2 and D-6 strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Several of the analogs had moderate activity in comparison to the natural product 1. Iron (II) bromide-promoted rearrangement of 2 gave, in 50% yield, the ring-contracted tetrahydrofuran 22, while the 5-ketone 15 provided a monocyclic methyl ketone 29 (50%). Neither 22 nor 29 possessed in vitro antimalarial activity. These results have implications in regard to the antimalarial mechanism of action of artemisinin.     

Synthesis of Quinoline Analogs: Search for Antimalarial Agents

Summary. Novel synthesis routes for the promising antimalarial agents 4(3-hydroxypyrrolidin-1-yl) and 4(3-hydroxypiperidine-1-yl)-2,8-bis(trifluoromethyl)quinoline have been developed.     

The Deoxygenation and Isomerization of Artemisinin and Artemether and Their Relevance to Antimalarial Action

The treatment of artemisinin ( 1 ) and β-artemether ( 6 ) with Zn dissolving in AcOH for a few hours results in mono-deoxygenation giving deoxyartemisinin ( 5 ) and deoxy-β-artemether ( 7 ), respectively, as the sole product. In contrast, submission of 1 to FeCl₂ · 4 H₂O in MeCN at room temperature for 15 min causes only isomerization, (3aS,4R,6aS,7R,10S,10aR)-octahydro-4,7-dimethyl-8-oxo-2H-10H-furo[3,2-i] benzopyran-10-yl acetate ( 8 ) and (3R)-3-hydroxydeoxyartemisinin ( 9 ) being produced in 78 and 17% yield, respectively. The action of FeCl₂ · 4 H₂O in MeCN on 6 is similar. Under the same conditions, 6 gives products analogous to 8 and 9 accompanied by an epimeric mixture of 2-[4-methyl-2-oxo-3-(3-oxobutyl)cyclohexyl]propanaldehyde in yields of 32, 23, and 16%, respectively. No epoxide is formed on repeating the last two experiments in the presence of cyclohexene. The deoxygenation of 1 and 6 by Zn is rationalized in terms of its oxophilic nature. The catalyzed isomerization of 1 and 6 by Fe²⁺ is attributed to the redox properties of the Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ system.     

Cystobactamid 507: Concise Synthesis,Mode of Action,and Optimization toward More Potent Antibiotics

Lack of new antibiotics and increasing antimicrobial resistance are among the main concerns of healthcare communities nowadays, and these concerns necessitate the search for novel antibacterial agents. Recently, we discovered the cystobactamids—a novel natural class of antibiotics with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. In this work, we describe 1) a concise total synthesis of cystobactamid 507, 2) the identification of the bioactive conformation using noncovalently bonded rigid analogues, and 3) the first structure–activity relationship (SAR) study for cystobactamid 507 leading to new analogues with high metabolic stability, superior topoisomerase IIA inhibition, antibacterial activity and, importantly, stability toward the resistant factor AlbD. Deeper insight into the mode of action revealed that the cystobactamids employ DNA minor-groove binding as part of the drug–target interaction without showing significant intercalation. By designing a new analogue of cystobactamid 919-2, we finally demonstrated that these findings could be further exploited to obtain more potent hexapeptides against Gram-negative bacteria.     

The Antifungal Action Mode of N-Phenacyldibromobenzimidazoles

Our study aimed to characterise the action mode of N-phenacyldibromobenzimidazoles against C. albicans and C. neoformans. Firstly, we selected the non-cytotoxic most active benzimidazoles based on the structure–activity relationships showing that the group of 5,6-dibromobenzimidazole derivatives are less active against C. albicans vs. 4,6-dibromobenzimidazole analogues (5e–f and 5h). The substitution of chlorine atoms to the benzene ring of the N-phenacyl substituent extended the anti-C. albicans action (5e with 2,4-Cl₂ or 5f with 3,4-Cl₂). The excellent results for N-phenacyldibromobenzimidazole 5h against the C. albicans reference and clinical isolate showed IC₅₀ = 8 µg/mL and %I = 100 ± 3, respectively. Compound 5h was fungicidal against the C. neoformans isolate. Compound 5h at 160–4 µg/mL caused irreversible damage of the fungal cell membrane and accidental cell death (ACD). We reported on chitinolytic activity of 5h, in accordance with the patterns observed for the following substrates: 4-nitrophenyl-N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminide and 4-nitrophenyl-β-d-N,N′,N″-triacetylchitothiose. Derivative 5h at 16 µg/mL: (1) it affected cell wall by inducing β-d-glucanase, (2) it caused morphological distortions and (3) osmotic instability in the C. albicans biofilm-treated. Compound 5h exerted Candida-dependent inhibition of virulence factors.     

Tuning the Lewis Acidity of Boranes in Frustrated Lewis Pair Chemistry: Implications for the Hydrogenation of Electron‐Poor Alkenes

An analysis of the metal‐free reduction of electron deficient olefins by frustrated Lewis pairs indicates that the rate‐determining step might be either the heterolytic cleavage of H₂ to form an ‐onium borohydride salt, or the subsequent transfer of the hydride moiety to the substrate following a Michael‐type addition reaction. While the use of strong Lewis acids such as B(C₆F₅)₃ facilitates the first of these processes, hydride transfer to the olefin should be contrarily favoured by the use of weak Lewis acids which, for this very same reason, might be unable to promote the prior H₂ split. After systematic testing of several boranes of different Lewis acidity (assessed by using the Childs’ method) and steric demand, an optimal situation that employs tris(2,4,6‐trifluorophenyl)borane was reached. Mixtures of this borane with 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) exhibited excellent catalytic activity for the hydrogenation of alkylidene malonates. In fact, this transformation could be achieved under milder conditions than those we reported previously. Moreover, the reaction scope could be expanded to other electron deficient olefins containing esters, sulfones or nitro functionalities as electron‐withdrawing substituents.     

Particle Production in Reflection and Transmission Mode Laser Ablation: Implications for Laserspray Ionization

Particles were ablated from laser desorption and inlet ionization matrix thin films with a UV laser in reflection and transmission geometries. Particle size distributions were measured with a combined scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) and aerodynamic particle sizer (APS) system that measured particles in the size range from 10 nm to 20 μm. The matrixes investigated were 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB), α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA), sinapic acid (SA), 2,5-dihydroxy-acetophenone (DHAP), and 2-nitrophloroglucinol (NPG). Nanoparticles with average diameters between 20 and 120 nm were observed in both transmission and reflection geometry. The particle mass distribution was significantly different in reflection and transmission geometry. In reflection geometry, approximately equal mass was distributed between particles in the 20 to 450 nm range of diameters and particles in the 450 nm to 1.5 μm diameter range. In transmission mode, the particle mass distribution was dominated by large particles in the 2 to 20 μm diameter range. Ablation of inlet ionization matrices DHAP and NPG produced particles that were 3 to 4 times smaller compared with the other matrices. The results are consistent with ion formation by nanoparticle melting and breakup or melting and breakup of the large particles through contact with heated inlet surfaces.

Mode of Action and Design Rules for Additives That Modulate Crystal Nucleation

Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the key factors that determine the ability of an additive to modulate crystal nucleation are the strength of its interaction with the solute, its disruptive ability (which may be based on steric, entropic, or energetic effects), and interfacial properties, along with its ability to serve as a template for nucleation (see snapshot of an emerging nucleus with a single‐particle additive: black spheres).

     

A Multi-Component Solvent System for the Analysis of a Candidate Antimalarial by Normal Phase HPLC

Abstract

The new candidate antimalarial WR 180,409·H₃PO₄ (DL-threo-α-(2-piperidyl)-2-trifluoromethyl-6-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-4-pyridinemethanol phosphate) and its internal standard, WR 184,806·H₃PO₄ (DL-2,8-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4-[1-hydroxy-3-(N-t-butylamino)propyl]-quinoline phosphate) are both hydrophobic, highly lipid soluble compounds. Organic extracts of biological fluids of these compounds can be separated and analyzed by normal phase systems. These organic extracts can be chromatographed by means of a Waters μ Bondapak CN column utilizing an organic solvent system composed of two major components (ethylene dichloride and hexane), one minor component (acetonitrile) and two trace modifiers (formic acid and water). Alterations in the proportions of the major components induce predictable shifts in the retention of the antimalarial and its internal standard, while alterations in the proportions of the minor component with respect to these major components induce predictable changes in column selectivity. If the trace modifiers are stabilized in proportionate amounts, proper concentrations of the major components will isolate the antimalarial and internal standard fraction from significant interference while simultaneous alteration of the amount of minor component will effect separation of the antimalarial from the internal standards.     

Topology-Matching Design of an Influenza-Neutralizing Spiky Nanoparticle-Based Inhibitor with a Dual Mode of Action

In this study, we demonstrate the concept of “topology-matching design” for virus inhibitors. With the current knowledge of influenza A virus (IAV), we designed a nanoparticle-based inhibitor (nano-inhibitor) that has a matched nanotopology to IAV virions and shows heteromultivalent inhibitory effects on hemagglutinin and neuraminidase. The synthesized nano-inhibitor can neutralize the viral particle extracellularly and block its attachment and entry to the host cells. The virus replication was significantly reduced by 6 orders of magnitude in the presence of the reverse designed nano-inhibitors. Even when used 24 hours after the infection, more than 99.999 % inhibition is still achieved, which indicates such a nano-inhibitor might be a potent antiviral for the treatment of influenza infection.     

A Simple,Efficient and Ultrasensitive Gold Nanourchin Based Electrochemical Sensor for the Determination of an Antimalarial Drug: Mefloquine

Mefloquine (MQ) is a quinoline based antimalarial drug, which is potent against multiple drug‐resistant Plasmodium falciparum . It is widely prescribed for the prophylactic treatment of malaria. Due to extensive usage of MQ, constant monitoring of the drug level in human body is of paramount importancein order to ensure that optimum drug exposure is achieved. The present work describes a gold nanourchins (AuNUs) based electrochemical sensor for the determination of MQ.AuNUs were synthesized via seed‐mediated method and characterized using ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, zeta‐sizer and electrochemical techniques (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry). Fabrication of the sensor was done by drop‐coating the synthesized AuNUs onto a glassy carbon electrode. The fabricated sensor exhibited enhanced voltammetric response, which was attributed to the excellent conductivity and high surface area of AuNUs. Under optimum square wave voltammetric conditions, the sensor displayed two linear response ranges (from 2.0×10⁻⁹ to 1.0×10⁻⁶ M and from 1.0×10⁻⁶ to 1.0×10⁻³ M) with a detection limit of 1.4 nM. The electrode demonstrated good reproducibility, stability and selectivity over common interferents. The utility of the sensor was successfully assessed for quantification of the drug in pharmaceutical preparation and spiked human urine sample. Thus, the present study demonstrates a promising approach for determination of MQ with practical utility in quality control and clinical analysis.     

Remarkably bent, ethane-linked, diiron(III) mu-oxobisporphyrin: synthesis, structure, conformational switching, and photocatalytic oxidation

A remarkably bent diiron(III) mu-oxobisporphyrin containing a highly flexible ethane linker is reported that authenticates, for the first time, the unprecedented ability of this platform to "open" and "close" its binding pockets, leading to facile syn-anti conformational switching with very high vertical flexibility of over 6.5 A in a single molecular framework. X-ray structural characterization reveals the bent diiron(III) mu-oxobisporphyrins with the smallest known Fe-O-Fe angles of 147.9(1) degrees for any iron(III) mu-oxo porphyrin dimers reported so far. Two rings in a molecule are not slipped but are face to face in a nearly eclipsed geometry and are placed so close that at least six carbon atoms from each of the macrocycles are driven to be essentially less than the van der Waals contacts (<3.4 A). The complex catalyzes the rapid photoinduced oxygenation of phosphites under mild conditions using aerial oxygen.     

ChemInform Abstract: Novel,Remarkably Stable Polylithiated Carbon Species: CLi8, CLi10, and CLi12.

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