Orientational effect of aryl groups on 77Se NMR chemical shifts: experimental and theoretical investigations

The orientational effect of p-YC6H4 (Ar) on delta(Se) is elucidated for ArSeR, based on experimental and theoretical investigations. The effect is examined in the cases in which Se--CR in ArSeR is either in the Ar plane (pl) or is perpendicular to the plane (pd). 9-(Arylselanyl)anthracenes (1) and 1-(arylselanyl)anthraquionones (2) are employed to establish the effect in pl and pd, respectively. Large upfield shifts are observed for Y=NMe2, OMe, and Me, and large downfield shifts for Y=COOEt, CN, and NO2 in 1, relative to Y=H, as is expected. Large upfield shifts are brought by Y=NMe2, OMe, Me, F, Cl, and Br, and downfield shifts by Y=CN and NO2 in 2, relative to Y=H, with a negligible shift by Y=COOEt. Absolute magnetic shielding tensors of Se (sigma(Se)) are calculated for ArSeR (R=H, Me, and Ph), assuming pl and pd, based on the DFT-GIAO method. Observed characters are well explained by the total sigma(Se). Paramagnetic terms (sigmap(Se)) are governed by (sigmap(Se)xx+sigmap(Se)yy), in which the direction of np(Se) (constructed by 4pz(Se)) is set to the z axis. The main interaction in pl is the np(Se)-pi(C6H4)-pz(Y) type. The Y dependence in pl occurs through admixtures of 4pz(Se) in pi(SeC6H4Y) and pi*(SeC6H4Y), modified by the conjugation, with 4px(Se) and 4py(Se) in sigma(CSeX) and sigma*(CSeX) (X=H or C) under a magnetic field. The main interaction in pd is the sigma(CSeX)-pi(C6H4)-px(Y) type, in which Se-X is nearly on the x axis. The Y dependence in pd mainly arises from admixtures of 4pz(Se) in np(Se) with 4px(Se) and 4py(Se) in modified sigma*(CSeX), since np(Se) is filled with electrons. It is demonstrated that the effect of Y on sigmap(Se) in the pl conformation is the same regardless of whether Y is an electron-donor or electron-acceptor, whereas for pd conformations the effect is greater when Y is an electron donor, as observed in 1 and 2, respectively. Contributions of each molecular orbital and each transition on sigmap(Se) are evaluated, which enables us to recognize and visualize the effect clearly.     

Contributions from atomic p(Se), d(Se), and f(Se) orbitals to absolute paramagnetic shielding tensors in neutral and charged SeHn and some oxides including the effect of methyl and halogen substitutions on sigmap(Se)

Contributions from atomic p(Se), d(Se), and f(Se) orbitals to sigmap(Se) are evaluated for neutral and charged Se*Hn (*=null, +, or -) and some oxides to build the image of the contributions. The effect of methyl and halogen substitutions is also examined employing RrSe*XxOo (*=null, +, or -) where R=H or Me; X=F, Cl, or Br. The p(Se) contributions are larger than 96 % for SeH- (Cinfinityv), SeH2 (C2v), SeH3 + (C3v), SeH3 + (D3h), and SeH4 (Td). Therefore, sigmap(Se) of these compounds can be analyzed based on p(Se). The p(Se) contributions are 79-75 % for SeH4 (TBP), SeH5 + (TBP), SeH5 + (SP), and SeH5 - (SP). Methyl and halogen substitutions increase the contributions by 1-2 % (per Me) and 4-7 % (per X), respectively. The contributions are 92-79 % for H2SeO (Cs), H2SeO2 (C2v), and H4SeO (C2v). The values are similarly increased by the substitutions. Consequently, sigmap(Se) of these compounds can be analyzed based on p(Se) with some corrections by d(Se). The p(Se) contribution of SeH6 (Oh) is 52 %: sigmap(Se: SeH6 (Oh)) must be analyzed based on both p(Se) and d(Se). The contributions for the Me and X derivatives of SeH(6) amount to 86-77 %. Therefore, sigmap(Se) of the derivatives can also be analyzed mainly based on p(Se) with some corrections by d(Se). Contributions from f(Se) are negligible. Contributions from 4p(Se) in vacant orbitals are also considered. A utility program derived from the Gaussian 03 (NMRANAL-NH03G) is applied to evaluate the contributions.     

Determination of sample size for validation of allergen-screening methods

For various levels of confidence (i.e., 80 and 90%) and ratios (K = sigmap2/sigmaN2, where sigmap2 and sigmaN2 are the analyte variances for the positive and negative distributions, respectively), sample sizes sufficient to test the requirements that a given method detects > or = 90% of the positives (> or = 5 ppm of a given analyte) while misclassifying < or = 10% of the negatives (implying a specificity rate, true negatives that will be correctly classified, of 90%) were estimated by using a rationale that minimizes the cost of sampling.     

Multipolar interactions in the D pocket of thrombin: large differences between tricyclic imide and lactam inhibitors

Two series of tricyclic inhibitors of the serine protease thrombin, imides (+/-)-1-(+/-)-8 and lactams (+/-)-9-(+/-)-13, were analysed to evaluate contributions of orthogonal multipolar interactions with the backbone C=O moiety of Asn98 to the free enthalpy of protein-ligand complexation. The lactam derivatives are much more potent and more selective inhibitors (K(i) values between 0.065 and 0.005 microM, selectivity for thrombin over trypsin between 361- and 1609-fold) than the imide compounds (Ki values between 0.057 and 23.7 microM, selectivity for thrombin over trypsin between 3- and 67-fold). The increase in potency and selectivity is explained by the favorable occupancy of the P-pocket of thrombin by the additional isopropyl substituent in the lactam derivatives. The nature of the substituent on the benzyl ring filling the D pocket strongly influences binding potency in the imide series, with Ki values increasing in the sequence: F < OCH2O < Cl < H < OMe < OH < N(pyr)< Br. This sequence can be explained by both steric fit and the occurrence of orthogonal multipolar interactions with the backbone C[double bond, length as m-dash]O moiety of Asn98. In contrast, the substituent on the benzyl ring hardly affects the ligand potency in the lactam series. This discrepancy was clarified by the comparison of X-ray structures solved for co-crystals of thrombin with imide and lactam ligands. Whereas the benzyl substituents in the imide inhibitors are sufficiently close (< or =3.5 Angstroms) to the C=O group of Asn98 to allow for attractive orthogonal multipolar interactions, the distances in the lactam series are too large (> or =4 Angstroms) for attractive dipolar contacts to be effective.     

Synthesis and evaluation of macrocyclic transition state analogue inhibitors for alpha-chymotrypsin

Lactams 1 and 2 are readily formed from acyclic precursors in the presence of trypsin and chymotrypsin, respectively, identifying the macrocyclic ring system as a potential motif for constrained transition state analogue inhibitors of the serine peptidases. Ketone 3 was synthesized and shown to be a modest inhibitor of chymotrypsin (Ki = 220 microM), albeit 4-fold more potent than the acyclic hydroxy acid 25 (Ki = 1.5 mM as a mixture of epimers). A precursor (31) to the amino boronic acid 4 was also prepared; although this derivative was a potent inhibitor of chymotrypsin (Ki = 130 nM) by virtue of the boronic acid moiety, it showed no advantage over the des-amino analogue 32 (Ki = 120 nM), which is not capable of cyclizing.     

Mechanism study of SO2 elimination from sulfonamides by negative electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The elimination of SO2 from deprotonated sulfonamides in the negative ion mode was confirmed by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) experiments. For a set of N-arylbenzenesulfonamides substituted at the para position of the arylamine, the ln([M-H-SO2](-)/[M-H]-) values were correlated with the sigmap(-) substituent constants but, instead of a linear relationship, a bent line was obtained. Analyses of the complex curve led to the identification of two competing routes, which were further investigated by Hartree-Fock theoretical calculations. Furthermore, collision-induced dissociation (CID) of deprotonated N-alkylbenzenesulfonamides containing the -CHCHNHSO2- structure yielded a [M-H-66](-) product ion This characteristic ion could help to distinguish the side-chain isomers.     

Peptides to peptidomimetics: towards the design and synthesis of bioavailable inhibitors of oligosaccharyl transferase

Oligosaccharyl transferase (OT) is the enzyme responsible for asparagine-linked glycosylation in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum, which is a subcellular compartment within eukaryotic cells. Inhibition of this enzyme within a cellular environment would provide a valuable investigative tool for glycobiology. Due to the limitations of peptides, none of the existing peptide-based inhibitors of OT demonstrate activity in cell-based enzyme assays. We report herein the design, synthesis and preliminary biological characterization of a family of peptidomimetics that inhibit OT with Ki values in the nanomolar range. The hexapeptide Bz-Dab-Ala-Thr-Val-Thr-Nph-NH2 (Ki = 69 nM) was used as the prototype for the design of bioavailable inhibitors. Several aminobenzoic acid spacer groups were evaluated as potential isosteres of the Val-Thr dipeptide unit and the peptidomimetic incorporating 3-aminobenzoic acid proved to inhibit OT with similar potency to the parent compound (Ki = 84 nM). Further modifications explored the effects of size, hydrophobicity and conformational rigidity on enzyme affinity. This study yielded a family of potent non-peptidic inhibitors that are viable candidates for the in vivo inhibition of OT.     

Synthesis and bioactivities of 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-((heteroaryl)thio)ethanones as carbonic anhydrase I,II and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

The discovery of enzyme targeting inhibitors is a popular area of drug research. Biological activities of the compounds bearing phenol and heteroaryl groups make them popular groups in drug design targeting important enzymes such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE, E.C.3.1.1.7) and carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1). 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)- 2-((aryl)thio)ethanones as possible AChE and CAs inhibitors were synthesized, and their chemical structures were confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and HRMS. The compounds 2 and 4 were found potent AChE inhibitors with the Ki values of 22.13 ±1.96 nM and 23.71 ±2.95 nM, respectively, while the compounds 2 (Ki = 8.61 ±0.90 nM, on hCA I) and 1 (Ki = 8.76 ±0.84 nM, on hCA II) had considerable CAs inhibitory potency. The lead compounds may help the scientists for the rational designing of an innovative class of drug candidates targeting enzyme-based diseases.     

Benzimidazole derivatives. 4. The recognition of the voluminous substituent attached to the basic amino group of 5-HT4 receptor antagonists

We report a structure-affinity analysis of an important element in the pharmacophore model for the recognition of 5-HT4 receptor antagonists: the voluminous substituent attached to the basic nitrogen of the ligand. We have designed, synthesized and pharmacologically evaluated a series of benzimidazole derivatives 1 containing a common molecular skeleton formed by N-[(4-piperidyl)methyl]-6-chlorobenzimidazole-4-carboxamide and four different substituents (R = butyl, 2-[(methylsulfonyl)amino]ethyl, 5-[(phenylacetyl)amino]pentyl, and 5-[(benzylsulfonyl)amino]pentyl). These compounds possess binding affinities in the nM range (Ki = 0.11-1.50 nM). Moreover, a ligand that contains a hydrogen atom attached to the basic nitrogen (R = H; Ki = 150 nM) is used as a control for structure-affinity relationships.     

Substituent effect on the acid-promoted hydrolysis of 2-aryloxazolin-5-one: normal vs reverse

Computational investigations on the acid-promoted hydrolysis of 2-aryl-4,4-dimethyloxazolin-5-one (AMO) and its seven para- and meta-substituted derivatives (with electron-donating groups R = OH, OCH(3), CH(3) and electron-withdrawing groups R = Cl, m-Cl, CF(3), NO(2)) were presented by the density functional theory (B3LYP) method. Two types of reaction mechanism, N-path and O-path, are taken into account, in which the attacks by water molecules at the C2 and C5 are accelerated after the protonation on N3 and carbonyl oxygen atoms, respectively. Our computational results clearly manifest that the hydrolysis of AMOs has an obvious substituent effect at the para and meta positions of the benzene ring by correlating the barrier heights with the Hammett constants of substituents. Furthermore, the N-path shows a normal substituent effect, while the favorable O-path shows a reverse substituent effect. The observed reverse substituent effect in experiment actually springs from the reverse substituent effect of the O-path, not the N-path. The substituent effect of the N-path and O-path can be explained by the electrostatic potential at nuclei (EPN) values and Fukui function, respectively. Our theoretical data provided will allow for a better understanding of the acid-promoted hydrolysis mechanism and the observed reverse substituent effect of the AMOs, in nice agreement with the available experimental conclusion.     

Kinetics of radical polymerization—XXVIII. Investigation of radical reactivity of aromatic aldonitrones in the polymerization of styrene

A study was made of the kinetics of polymerization of styrene initiated by azoisobutyronitrile at 50 in the presence of ξ-aryl-N-phenyl-nitrones meta- and para-substituted. Aromatic aldonitrones were found to be effective inhibitors of radical polymerization. The reactivities of the inhibitors show significant substituent effect obeying the Hammett-Taft equation, and ρ = +0.86. The rate constant of the side-reaction (dipolar cycloaddition) between the monomer and inhibitor was determined. The substituent effect can be described by the Hammett equation, with ρ = +0.88.     

Dissociative protonation sites: reactive centers in protonated molecules leading to fragmentation in mass spectrometry

It is often found in mass spectrometry that when a molecule is protonated at the thermodynamically most favorable site, no fragmentation occurs, but a major reaction is observed when the proton migrates to a different position. For benzophenones, acetophenones, and dibenzyl ether, which are all preferentially protonated at the oxygen, deacylation or dealkylation was observed in the collision-induced dissociation of the protonated molecules. For para-monosubstituted benzophenones, electron-withdrawing substituents favor the formation of RC6H4CO+ (R = substituent), whereas electron-releasing groups favor the competing reaction leading to C6H5CO+. The ln[(RC6H4CO+)/(C6H5CO+)] values are well-correlated with the sigmap+ substituent constants. In the fragmentation of protonated acetophenones, deacetylation proceeds to give an intermediate proton-bound dimeric complex of ketene and benzene. The distribution of the product ions was found to depend on the proton affinities of ketene and substituted benzenes, and the kinetic method was applied in identifying the reaction intermediate. Protonated dibenzyl ether loses formaldehyde upon dealkylation, via an ion-neutral complex of the benzyloxymethyl cation and neutral benzene. These gas-phase retro-Friedel-Crafts reactions occurred as a result of the attack of the proton at the carbon atom to which the carbonyl or the methylene group is attached on the aromatic ring, which is described as the dissociative protonation site.     

Synthesis and enzyme inhibitory activity of the s-nucleoside analogue of the ribitylaminopyrimidine substrate of lumazine synthase and product of riboflavin synthase

Lumazine synthase and riboflavin synthase catalyze the last two steps in the biosynthesis of riboflavin. To obtain structural and mechanistic probes of these two enzymes, as well as inhibitors of potential value as antibiotics, a sulfur analogue of the pyrimidine substrate of the lumazine synthase-catalyzed reaction and product of the riboflavin synthase-catalyzed reaction was designed. Facile syntheses of the S-nucleoside 5-amino-6-(D-ribitylthio)pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione hydrochloride (15) and its nitro precursor 5-nitro-6-(D-ribitylthio)pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione (14) are described. These compounds were tested against lumazine synthase and riboflavin synthase obtained from a variety of microorganisms. Compounds 14 and 15 were found to be inhibitors of both riboflavin synthase and lumazine synthase. Compound 14 is an inhibitor of Bacillus subtilis lumazine synthase (Ki 26 microM), Schizosaccharomyces pombe lumazine synthase (Ki 2.0 microM), Mycobacterium tuberculosis lumazine synthase (Ki 11 microM), Escherichia coli riboflavin synthase (Ki 2.7 microM), and Mycobacterium tuberculosis riboflavin synthase (Ki 0.56 muM), while compound 15 is an inhibitor of B. subtilis lumazine synthase (Ki 2.6 microM), S. pombe lumazine synthase (Ki 0.16 microM), M. tuberculosis lumazine synthase (Ki 31 microM), E. coli riboflavin synthase (Ki 47 microM), and M. tuberculosis riboflavin synthase (Ki 2.5 microM).     

Syntheses and Biological Activities of Ethyl N-Hydroxy-N-（substituted） phenyloxamates as KARI Inhibitors

Nine ethyl N-hydroxy-N-(substituted)phenyloxamates(2a—2i), based on the structure of the KARI inhibitor IpOHA, were synthesized. Their structures were established on the bases of 1H NMR, IR, ESI-MS and elemental analyses. Among the nine compounds, four show in vitro inhibitory activity on rice KARI, with 2c and 2g[Ki values of (35.2±4.9) and (49.4±6.3) μmol/L] having similar activity to the precursor of IpOHA(A, Ki=34.1±6.7 μmol/L). The results will be helpful to further molecular design of more potent KARI inhibitors.     

Effect of substituent on regioselectivity and reaction mechanism in aminolysis of 2,4-dinitrophenyl X-substituted benzenesulfonates

[reaction: see text] We report on a kinetic study for the nucleophilic substitution reactions of 2,4-dinitrophenyl X-substituted benzensulfonates (X = 4-MeO, 1a, and X = 4-NO(2), 1c) with a series of primary amines in 80 mol % H(2)O/20 mol % DMSO at 25.0 degrees C. The reactions proceed through S-O and C-O bond fission pathways competitively. The fraction of the S-O bond fission increases as the attaching amine becomes more basic and the substituent X changes from 4-MeO to 4-NO(2), indicating that the regioselectivity is governed by the electronic nature of the substituent X as well as the basicity of amines. The S-O bond fission has been suggested to proceed through an addition intermediate with a change in the rate-determining step (RDS) at pK(a) degrees = 8.9 +/- 0.1. The electronic nature of the substituent X influences k(N)(S-O) and k(1) values, but not the k(2)/k(-1) ratios and the pK(a) degrees value significantly. Stabilization of the ground state (GS) through resonance interaction between the electron-donating substituent and the electrophilic center has been suggested to be responsible for the decreased reactivity of 1a compared to 1c. The second-order rate constants for the C-O bond fission exhibit no correlation with the electronic nature of the substituent X. The distance effect and the nature of the reaction mechanism have been suggested to be responsible for the absence of the correlation.     

Differential effects of bromination on substrates and inhibitors of kynureninase from Pseudomonas fluorescens

A series of brominated compounds has been synthesized and evaluated as substrates and inhibitors of kynureninase from Pseudomonas fluorescens. Both 3-bromo-L-kynurenine and 5-bromo-L-kynurenine were found to be substrates with similar k(cat) values to L-kynurenine, but the K(m) value for 3-bromo-L-kynurenine is very high (ca. 2 mM) compared to that for 5-bromo-L-kynurenine (11 microM) and L-kynurenine (25 microM). Both isomers of bromokynurenine react with kynureninase within the dead time of the stopped-flow instrument (ca. 1 ms) to form quinonoid intermediates with a lambda max of 494 nm that decay with rate constants of 300-600 s-1, similar to L-kynurenine. The two diastereomers of 5-bromodihydro-L-kynurenine were also prepared, and are more potent inhibitors than dihydro-L-kynurenines. (4R)-5-Bromodihydro-L-kynurenine is one of the most potent inhibitors of P. fluorescens kynureninase found to date (Ki = 55 nM) and also acts as a slow substrate; the (4S)-epimer, on the other hand, shows no measurable substrate activity, but it is a potent competitive inhibitor with a Ki value of 170 nM. In contrast, brominated analogs of (S)-(2-aminophenyl)-L-cysteine S,S-dioxide, (S)-(2-amino-4-bromophenyl)-L-cysteine S,S-dioxide and (S)-(2-amino-5-bromophenyl)-L-cysteine S,S-dioxide are competitive inhibitors of kynureninase, with Ki values of about 300 and 400 nm, respectively, about ten-fold higher than the value of 27 nM obtained for the parent compound. These results suggest that the binding modes of substrates and the various classes of inhibitors in the active site of kynureninase are different.     

Crystal Structures of Urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator in Complex with 4-（Aminomethyl） Benzoic Acid and 4-（Aminomethyl-phenyl）-methanol

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator （uPA） is a trypsin-like serine protease and plays a key role in several biological processes, including tissue remodeling, cell migration, and matrix degradation. The inhibitors of uPA have been shown to prevent the spread of metastasis and tumor growth, and accordingly uPA is widely recognized as a target for the treatment of cancer. In this work, we report the crystal structures of the complexes of uPA with its inhibitors： 4- （aminomethyl）-benzoic acid （AMBA） and 4-（aminomethyl-phenyl）-methanol （AMPM）, both at a resolution of 2.35 А. The inhibitory constants of these two inhibitors were measured by a chromogenic competitive assay, and it was found that AMBA is a better inhibitor for uPA （Ki = 2.68 mM） than AMPM （Ki = 13.99 mM）. The structural study shows that the binding mode of inhibitor AMBA on uPA is similar to that of AMPM on uPA, both docked into the active site S1 pocket of uPA. Structural details of these complexes are provided to explain the difference of inhibitory constants.     

Structural and electronic properties of the charge-transfer complex H3P...Br2 determined by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy

The ground-state rotational spectra of six isotopomers of the symmetric-top complex H3P...Br2 have been measured by the technique of pulsed-nozzle, Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. The spectroscopic constants B0, DJ, DJK, chiaa(Brx) and Mbb(Brx), x=i (inner) or o (outer) bromine atom, were obtained from analysis of the spectra. Interpretation of these constants with the aid of models revealed that the pre-reactive complex has an intermolecular bond of length r(P...Br) = 3.0440(4) A between the P atom of PH3 and one Br atom of Br2 and that this bond is a relatively strong one, as measured by the intermolecular stretching force constant ksigma-9.8 Nm(-1). The complex was discovered to have a significant contribution from charge transfer in the ground state by establishing the fraction of intermolecular charge transferred from P to Bri[sigmai = 0.077(23)] and the fraction of intramolecular charge transferred from Bri to Bro [sigmap(Br)=0.11(1)].     

Unusual aryl-porphyrin rotational barriers in peripherally crowded porphyrins

Previous studies of 5,10,15,20-tetraarylporphyrins have shown that the barrier for meso aryl-porphyrin rotation (DeltaG++(ROT)) varies as a function of the core substituent M and is lower for a small metal (M = Ni) compared to a large metal (M = Zn) and for a dication (M = 4H(2+)) versus a free base porphyrin (M = 2H). This has been attributed to changes in the nonplanar distortion of the porphyrin ring and the deformability of the macrocycle caused by the core substituent. In the present work, X-ray crystallography, molecular mechanics (MM) calculations, and variable temperature (VT) (1)H NMR spectroscopy are used to examine the relationship between the aryl-porphyrin rotational barrier and the core substituent M in some novel 2,3,5,7,8,10,12,13,15,17,18,20-dodecaarylporphyrins (DArPs), and specifically in some 5,10,15,20-tetraaryl-2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaphenylporphyrins (TArOPPs), where steric crowding of the peripheral groups always results in a very nonplanar macrocycle. X-ray structures of DArPs indicate differences in the nonplanar conformation of the macrocycle as a function of M, with saddle conformations being observed for M = Zn, 2H or M = 4H(2+) and saddle and/or ruffle conformations for M = Ni. VT NMR studies show that the effect of protonation in the TArOPPs is to increase DeltaG++(ROT), which is the opposite of the effect seen for the TArPs, and MM calculations also predict a strikingly high barrier for the TArOPPs when M = 4H(2+). These and other findings suggest that the aryl-porphyrin rotational barriers in the DArPs are closely linked to the deformability of the macrocycle along a nonplanar distortion mode which moves the substituent being rotated out of the porphyrin plane.     

Anion-triggered substituent-dependent conformational switching of salicylanilides. New hints for understanding the inhibitory mechanism of salicylanilides

A series of salicylanilides (1a-h) bearing varied substituents at the 3'- or 4'-position of the anilino moiety (substituent = p-OCH3, p-CH3, m-CH3, H, p-Cl, m-Cl, p-CO2CH3, and p-CN) were synthesized. In acetonitrile all of the substituted salicylanilides 1a-h predominantly adopt the "closed-ring" conformation facilitated by a strong intramolecular OH...O=C hydrogen bond. In the presence of H2PO4-, the conformation of 1a-h was found to be modulated by the substituent. With our proposed proton-transfer fluorescence probing method, we were able to show that the conformation of 1a-f bearing a not highly electron-withdrawing substituent was switched to the "open-ring" form by H2PO4-, whereas 1h bearing a highly electron-withdrawing substituent, p-CN, remained in the "closed-ring" conformation. The significance of these findings for understanding, from a molecular structural point of view, the mechanism of salicylanilide-based inhibitors for inhibiting the protein tyrosine kinase epidermal growth factor receptor was discussed.