Synthesis and anticancer activities of 1,4-phenylene-bis-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-acetyl- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-phenylpyrazoline derivatives

Novel 1,4-phenylene-bis-N-acetyl- (3a–h) and bis-N-phenylpyrazoline derivatives (4a–h) were obtained by addition of hydrazine hydrate and phenylhydrazine to bis-chalcone derivatives (1a–h) in acetic acid and acetic acid/ethanol for 4 and 8 h in reflux conditions, respectively. The structures of the obtained bis-N-acetylpyrazoline and bis-N-phenylpyrazoline derivatives were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infrared (IR) spectroscopic methods and elemental analysis. Compounds 3a–h and 4a–h were investigated to evaluate their anticancer activities against C6 (rat brain tumor cells) and HeLa (human uterus carcinoma) in vitro using a dose-dependent assay from 5 to 100 μM with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) as standard anticancer drug. Compound 3a showed higher cell-selective activity compared with 5-FU against HeLa cells. Compounds 3a–h (except 3d) were shown to have better activities than 5-FU against both cells, particularly at high concentration. Compound 4c showed higher cell-selective activity compared with 5-FU against C6 cells. Compound 3a may be particularly promising as an anticancer drug against HeLa cells.     

Synthesis and structure of silicon-containing <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-methyland <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-benzoylamides of diisopropylphosphoric acid

Diisopropyl N-benzoyl-N-(trimethylsilyl)phosphoramidate reacts with ClCH₂SiMe₂Cl under mild conditions to form diisopropyl N-benzoyl-N-[(chlorodimethylsilyl)methyl]phosphoramidate (III). Diisopropyl N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl)phosphoramidate with ClCH₂SiMe₂Cl affords an N-transsilylation product which does not rearrange into diisopropyl N-[(chlorodimethylsilyl)methyl]-N-methylphosphoramidate (XV) even under severe conditions (4 h, 130°C). Compound XV was prepared by the reaction of diisopropyl phosphorochloridate with N-[(methoxydimethylsilyl)methyl]-N-methylamine followed by treatment of diisopropyl N-[(methoxydimethylsilyl)methyl]-N-methylphosphoramidate with boron trichloride. Analysis of experimental and calculated ²⁹Si chemical shifts points to a five-coordinate silicon atom in compound III and a fourcoordinate silicon atom in compound XV. According to B3LYP calculations with due regard to solvent effects, compound III is an isomer with a C=O→Si bond. By variation of substituents at silicon, phosphorus, and carbonyl carbon atoms, chelate structures with either C=O→Si or P=O→Si dative bonds can be obtained.     

Photochemistry of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-substituted salicylic acid amides

The products of photolysis of N-substituted salicylic acid amides, viz., 2-hydroxy-3-tert-butyl-5-ethylbenzoic acid N-(4-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)amide (1) and 2-hydroxybenzoic acid N-[3-(4-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)prop-1-yl]amide (2), in heptane were studied by optical spectroscopy and stationary and nanosecond laser photolysis (Nd: YAG laser, 355 nm). It was shown by the method of partial deuteration of amides 1 and 2 that they exist in both the unbound state and as complexes with intraand intermolecular hydrogen bond. Amides 1 and 2 are subjected to photolysis, which results in the formation of a triplet state and phenoxyl radicals RO? presumably due to the absorption of the second photon by the excited singlet state. The formation of radical products due to N–H bond ionization was not observed. The main channel of decay of the triplet state and radicals RO? is triplet–triplet annihilation and recombination (k _r ≈ 2.3?10⁸ L mol^–1 s^–1), respectively. The UV irradiation of compounds 1 and 2 leads to the excitation of the amide groups, and no formation of radical products due to N–H bond ionization was observed.     

Syntheses,structures, and solid-state phosphorescence characteristics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-bis(salicylaldiminato)Pt(II) complexes bearing perpendicular <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-aryl functionalities

The syntheses, structures, and solid-state emission characteristics of trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)Pt(II) complexes bearing N-aromatic functionalities are described herein. A series of Pt complexes bearing various N-phenyl (1) and N-(1-naphthyl) (2) groups on the salicylaldiminato ligands were prepared by reacting PtCl₂(CH₃CN)₂ with the corresponding N-salicylidene aromatic amines, and the trans-coordination and crystal packing of these complexes were unequivocally established based on X-ray diffraction (XRD). Complexes with 2,6-dimethylphenyl (1c), 2,6-diisopropylphenyl (1d), 1-naphthyl (2a), and 1-(2-methylnaphthyl) (2b) groups on the N atoms exhibited intense phosphorescent emission at ambient temperature in the crystalline state, while those with phenyl (1a), 2,6-dibromophenyl (1b), and 2,6-bis(N,N-dimethylamino)phenyl (1e) functionalities were either less emissive or non-emissive under the same conditions. XRD analyses identified significant intramolecular interactions between Pt and H atoms of the N-aryl functionalities in the emissive crystals of 1c, 1d, and 2a. These interactions were evidently an important factor associated with intense emission at ambient temperature.     

Features of self-organization of highly dilute solutions of (<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-, (<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-, and (<Emphasis Type="Italic">SR</Emphasis>)-methionines and related carbamides and glycolurils

Aqueous solutions of (S)-, (R)-, and (SR)-methionines (1–3); carbamide (4); (S)-, (R)-, and (SR)-N-carbamoylmethionines (5–7); glycoluril (8); and glycolurils containing (S)and (R)-methionine moieties (9 and 10) kept under natural and hypoelectromagnetic conditions were studied in comparison by a complex of physicochemical methods (dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering, conductometry, pH-metry, and dielcometry). The process of selforganization and the properties of dilute solutions (1.0?10^–15–10^–1 mol L^–1) of compounds 1–10 was shown for the first time to depend substantially on the structure of the solute and configuration of methionine (Met) enantiomers. In the series 1–3, the greatest ability to self-organization is observed for solutions of (SR)-Met in which supramolecular domains (1.0?10^–5–1.0?10^–1 mol L^–1) and nanoassociates (1.0?10^–11–1.0?10^–8 mol L^–1) are formed. The formation of nanoassociates in a concentration range of 1.0?10^–12–1.0?10^–6 mol L^–1 can be responsible for the appearance of nonmonotonic concentration dependences of the physicochemical properties of solutions of N-carbamoylmethionines 5–7, whereas the physicochemical properties are more pronounced in solution of (S)-N-carbamoylmethionine 5 than in solutions of 6 and 7. The strongest influence of the configuration of the Met enantiomer on the ability of solution to self-organization was revealed in a series of glycolurils 9, 10: solutions of 9 with the (S)-Met moiety are disperse systems in which nanoassociates are formed in a range of 1.0?10^–15–1.0?10^–5 mol L^–1, whereas in solutions of 10 with the (R)-Met fragment the ability to self-organization in the low-concentration range is absent.     

The role of substituents in a bidentate <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-chelating ligand on the substitution of aqua ligands from mononuclear Pt(II) complexes

The rate of substitution of aqua ligands from three mononuclear platinum(II) complexes, namely [Pt{2-(pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine}(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂, [Pt(H ₂ Py)]; [Pt{2-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine}(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂, [Pt(dCH ₃ Py)] and [Pt{2-[(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)pyrazoly-1-ylmethyl]pyridine}(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂, [Pt(dCF ₃ Py)] by thiourea, N,N-dimethylthiourea and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylthiourea, was studied in aqueous perchloric acid medium of constant ionic strength. The substitution reactions were investigated under pseudo-first-order conditions as a function of nucleophile concentration and temperature using UV/Visible and stopped-flow spectrophotometries. The observed pseudo-first-order rate constants, \( k_{{{\text{obs }}\left( {1/2} \right)}} \), for the stepwise substitution of the first and second aqua ligands obeyed the rate law: \( k_{{{\text{obs}}\left( {1/2} \right)}} = k_{{2 \left( { 1 {\text{st/2nd}}} \right)}} \left[ {\text{Nu}} \right] \). The first substitution reaction takes place trans to the pyrazole ligand, while the second entering nucleophile is stabilised at the reaction site trans to the pyridine ligand. The rate of substitution of the first aqua ligand from the complexes followed the order: Pt(dCF ₃ Py) > Pt(H ₂ Py) > Pt(dCH ₃ Py), while that of the second was Pt(H ₂ Py) ≈ Pt(dCF ₃ Py) > Pt(dCH ₃ Py). Lower pK _a values were found for the deprotonation of the aqua ligand cis to the pyrazole ring. Density functional theory calculations were performed to support the interpretation of the experimental results.     

Aggregation in isomeric imides: analysis of the weak interactions in six <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(benzoyl)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(2-pyridyl)benzamides

Crystal structures of 4-chloro-N-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-N-(2-pyridyl)benzamide (I) Clpod, 3-chloro-N-(3-chlorobenzoyl)-N-(2-pyridyl)benzamide (II) Clmod and 2-chloro-N-(2-chlorobenzoyl)-N-(2-pyridyl)benzamide (III) Clood together with three methylated analogues, Mpod, Mmod and Mood, are presented herein. The Clxod acyclic imides are produced from reacting the 4-/3-/2-chlorobenzoyl chlorides (Clx) with 2-aminopyridine (o), respectively, together with their benzamide analogues Clxo; the Mxod/Mxo triad are produced similarly and in good yield. The five Clxod, Mpod and Mmod structures adopt the open transoid conformations as expected, but Mood crystallises with cisoid oriented benzoyl groups, and this conformation was unexpected, though not unknown. Halogen bonding contacts and weak hydrogen bonding C-H···N/O/π contacts are noted in the structures lacking strong hydrogen bonding donor atoms/groups but possessing a variety of strong and weaker acceptor atoms/groups. For Clxod, contact studies show that both hydrogen and carbon account for a high percentage of elements (70–75%) on the molecular surface and being the most abundant have C···H forming 26–30% of the contacts. Contact enrichment ratios are an indicator of the likelihood of chemical species to form intermolecular interactions with themselves and other species. The C-H···N and C-H···O are the most enriched (with E_HN?>?2.15), indicating that these weak hydrogen bonds are the driving force in the Clxod crystal packing formation. For Mxod, the C···H contact type at 40–52% is the most abundant contact type and C-H···O and C-H···N weak hydrogen bonds dominate with enrichment values in the 1.48–1.78 range. In Mxod, N/O···N/O contacts are effectively absent, except for Mpod (0.2%, N···N contacts) and both H···H and C···C non-polar contacts are moderately impoverished while the C···H interactions are slightly enriched (E?=?1.1–1.21).     

Design,synthesis and anti-mycobacterial evaluation of some new <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-phenylpyrazine-2-carboxamides

N-Phenylpyrazine-2-carboxamides (anilides of pyrazinoic acids with simple substituents in various positions) were previously shown to possess significant biological activities in vitro, markedly anti-mycobacterial and photosynthesis-inhibiting activity. Based on structure-activity relationships (SAR) extracted from previously published series, 25 new anilides of non-substituted pyrazinoic acid (POA), 5-CH₃-POA, 6-Cl-POA, 5-tert-butyl-POA and 5-tert-butyl-6-Cl-POA were designed and synthesised. The phenyl part was substituted with simple hydrophobic substituents chosen from methyl and halogens. 5-tert-Butyl-N-(5-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide (9), N-(3-chloro-4-methylphenyl)-5-methylpyrazine-2-carboxamide (12), 6-chloro-N-(3-chloro-4-methylphenyl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide (13) and 6-chloro-N-(5-iodo-2-methylphenyl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide (18) possessed whole cell anti-mycobacterial activity in vitro against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of around 10 μM. Importantly, no cytotoxicity in the HepG2 model was detected in vitro at the concentrations tested and the estimated IC50 values were in hundreds of μM, indicating promising selectivity. N-(3-Chloro-4-methylphenyl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide (11) and N-(4-chloro-2-iodophenyl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide (21) exerted significant activity against Mycobacterium kansasii with MIC 12.6 μM and 8.7 μM, respectively. No activity was detected against Mycobacterium avium. SAR were in accordance with those observed for the derivatives previously published.     

Synthesis of novel 2-phenoxybenzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis>][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>]quinazoline and its derivatives starting with diphenyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-cyanoimidocarbonate

Cyclocondensation reaction of 3-hydrazinyl-2-naphthoic acid with diphenyl-N-cyanoimidocarbonate furnished the target 2-phenoxy-benzo[g][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]quinazolin-5(4H)-one (1) in high yield. Alkylation, thionation and chlorination of the lactam group in the compound 1 produced a variety of derivatives 2–17. Their structures were characterized by NMR and HREI-MS analyses.     

Catalytic <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-formylation for synthesis of 6-substituted-2-benzothiazolylimino-5-piperazinyl-4-thiazolidinone antimicrobial agents

A new class of piperazine-based 2-benzothiazolylimino-4-thiazolidinones has been efficiently prepared via highly accelerated N-formylation of N-isopropylpiperazine by the use of a mild heterogeneous catalyst, sulfated tungstate. Heterocyclization of N-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-2-chloroacetamides (3a–j) by use of NH₄SCN in ethanol under reflux efficiently furnished the intermediates 2-benzothiazolyliminothiazolidin-4-ones (4a–j). These were treated with 4-isopropylpiperazine-1-carbaldehyde (2) to prepare the final products 5a–j. The structures of the new derivatives were confirmed by elemental analysis and use of spectroscopic data (FTIR and ¹H NMR). Their pharmacological potential as promising antimicrobial agents was determined in vitro against bacteria and a fungus; the lowest minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) observed were in the range 4–8 µg/mL.     

Synthesis and structure of Pt(II) acetamidate complexes containing <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-dimethyl-substituted ethylenediamine and trimethylenediamine

Reactions of acetamide with platinum(II) diamines [Pt(N,N-DimeEn)Cl₂], [Pt(Tm)Cl₂], and [Pt(N,N-DimeTm)Cl₂] (N,N-DimeEn = (CH₃)₂N(CH₂)₂NH₂, Tm = NH₂(CH₂)₃NH₂, N,N-DimeTm = (CH₃)₂N(CH₂)₃NH₂) with preliminary precipitation of chlorine ions by silver salts gave binuclear Pt(II) acetamidates [Pt₂(CH₃)₂N(CH₂)₂NH₂)₂(μ-NHCOCH₃)₂](NO₃)₂ · H₂O (I), [Pt₂(NH₂(CH₂)₃NH₂)₂)(μ-NHCOCH₃)₂](NO₃)₂ · H₂O (II), and [Pt₂(CH₃)₂N(CH₂)₃NH₂)₂(μ-NHCOCH₃)₂](HSO₄)₂ (III), whose crystal structures were determined. Crystals of I are monoclinic: a = 14.459(2) Å, b = 17.197(3) Å, c = 9.822(2) Å, β = 105.923(10)°, V = 3348.6(8) ų, space group P2(1)/c, Z = 4, R _hkl = 0.0419 for 6663 reflections. Complex I is a binuclear acetamidate with bridging (NHCOCH₃)^? ligands, one of which is bound to two Pt atoms through the N and O atoms, and the other ligand is bound only through the N atom. The Pt-Pt distance is 2.987(1) Å. Crystals of II are monoclinic: a = 10.213(7) Å, b = 13.373(9) Å, c = 16.533(11) Å, β = 97.971(9)°, V = 2236(3) ų, space group P2(1)/n, Z = 4, R _hkl = 0.557 for 6462 reflections. The Pt-Pt distance is 3.057(1) Å. Crystals of III are monoclinic: a = 10.557(12) Å, b = 18.531(2) Å, c = 14.4744(17) Å, β = 108.705(2)°, V = 2682(5) ų, space group P2(1)/n, Z = 4, R _hkl = 0.569 for 8506 reflections. The Pt-Pt distance is 3.202(1) Å. Complexes II and III are binuclear acetamidates, in which two chelating Pt(Tm) or Pt(N,N-DimeTm) moieties are coordinated through the N and O atoms of (NHCOCH₃)^? cis-bridges.     

Synthesis and in vitro anticancer,antibacterial, and antioxidant studies of unsymmetrical Schiff base derivatives of 4-[(1<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(2-aminoethyl)ethanimidoyl]benzene-1,3-diol

Schiff bases such as 2-hydroxy-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethanone (DHAP) and its derivatives have attracted attention because they are useful in design and development of novel organic compounds for potential pharmaceutical applications. In this work, a series of 4-[(1E)-N-(2-aminoethyl)ethanimidoyl]benzene-1,3-diol (4a–h) Schiff bases were synthesized by reaction of ethylenediamine, DHAP, and appropriate aldehyde moieties. The compositions of the prepared compounds were established using elemental analysis and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopies. The compounds were screened against three Gram-positive and three Gram-negative bacteria, and the results compared with standard drugs ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin. Compounds 4g, 4h were found to have higher activity against Staphylococcus aureus with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 2.5 mg/mL, while compounds 4f and 4h inhibited Escherichia coli with MIC values of 2.5 and 5 mg/mL, respectively. The IC₅₀ values of compounds 4a–h for scavenging 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical ranged from 2.63 ± 0.79 to 3.85 ± 0.83 µM with good correlation coefficient of R ² = 0.957–0.994. In vitro anticancer screening of the compounds showed that compounds 4f, 4h, and parthenolide efficiently affected cell viability of cancer cell line MCF-7 with IC₅₀ values of 4.10 ± 1.32, 4.01 ± 2.26, and 0.44 ± 2.02 µM, respectively.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of tetraacetylethylenediamine and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(2-ammoniumethyl)carbamate

Two ethylenediamine derivatives—N-(2-ammoniumethyl)carbamate HN(COO^?)CH₂CH₂N⁺H₃ (I) and tetraacetylethylenediamine (H₃CC(O))₂NCH₂CH₂N(C(O)CH₃)₂ (II) (synthesized for the first time)—have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. Compounds I and II are isolated as minor admixtures upon an attempt to synthesize ethylenediamine complexes of lanthanum and neodymium nitrates, respectively. The crystals of I and II are monoclinic: a = 7.778 Å, b = 8.060 Å, c = 7.568 Å, β = 95.73°, Z = 4, space group P2₁/c (I); a = 5.946, b = 10.255, c = 9.343 Å, β = 95.72°, Z = 2, space group P2₁/c (II). The bond lengths and bond angles lie within the corresponding standard values. Compounds I and II have different conformations of the N-C-C-N ethylenediamine moiety: gauche in I and trans in II, and the corresponding torsion angles are equal to 66.6° and 180°, respectively.     

Structural systematics and conformational analyses of an isomer grid of nine tolyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-pyridinylcarbamates

A 3 × 3 isomer grid of nine Methylphenyl-N-pyridinylcarbamates (CxxM) is reported with seven CxxM crystal structures at 294 K (xx = pp, pm, po, mp, op, om, oo; x = para-, meta-, ortho), where Cx = pyridinyl ring (as C₅NH₄NH-) and xM is representative of –C(=O)OC₆H₄CH₃. All seven carbamate crystal structures aggregate via N–H…N intermolecular interactions with the three CpxM carbamates having C(6) zigzag chains, CmpM with C(5) zigzag chains and three ortho-pyridine CoxM structures as hydrogen-bonded dimers with graph set \(R_{2}^{2}\) (8) and augmented by flanking C–H…O contacts. The CpoM crystal structure crystallises with 0.25 CHCl₃ per carbamate molecule and solvent channels aligning along the a-axis direction. Conformational analyses of the nine minimised CxxM structures in gas phase are detailed for comparisons with the solid-state structures and demonstrate similarities between both structural methods. The modelling results also demonstrate the problems associated with pendant ortho-groups sterically clashing in the CmoM and CooM structures and methods to find a reasonable estimate of the CxxM conformational landscape.     

Bioactive compounds from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Smilax excelsa</Emphasis> L.

Phytochemical investigation of EtOAc extract of Smilax excelsa has led to isolation and structure elucidation of five compounds. The structures of these compounds are established by different spectroscopic techniques including 1D and 2D-NMR, HRMS and ECD spectroscopy. The compounds were: solanesol (1), violasterol A (2), trans-resveratrol (3), 5-O-caffeoylshikimic acid (4) and 6-O-caffeoyl-β-d-fructofuranosyl-(2-1)-α-d-glucopyranoside (5). The configuration of compound 2 was established by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectroscopy. Meanwhile the cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity of the compounds were evaluated by MTT and MIC assays. Compounds 1 and 2 showed promising inhibition on MCF-7 cell line with IC₅₀ of 161.6 and 190.0 µM, respectively. Also compounds 2 and 3 illustrated activity against Staphylococcus aureus with MIC values of 142.5 and 136.9 µM, respectively.     

Synthesis,crystal structure,and antibacterial activity of oxovanadium(V) complexes derived from <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>'-[1-(5-fluoro-2-hydroxyphenyl)methylidene]nicotinohydrazide and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>'-(5-fluoro-2-hydroxybenzylidene)-2-hydroxynaphthylhydrazide

Two new oxovanadium(V) complexes, [VOL¹(OCH₃)(CH₃OH)] (I) and [VOL²(OCH₃)] (II), where L¹ and L² are the di-anionic form of N'-[1-(5-fluoro-2-hydroxyphenyl)methylidene]nicotinohydrazide and N'-(5-fluoro-2-hydroxybenzylidene)-2-hydroxynaphthylhydrazide, respectively, have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR spectra, and single crystal X-ray determination (CIF files CCDC nos. 891852 (I), 891853 (II)). The crystal of I is monoclinic: space group P2₁/c, a = 8.061(1), b = 15.293(2), c = 13.471(2) Å, ß = 92.595(2)°, V = 1658.8(4) ų, Z = 4. The crystal of II is monoclinic: space group P2₁/n, a = 7.4454(9), b = 8.0833(9), c = 28.906(2) Å, ß = 92.644(2)°, V = 1737.8(3) ų, Z = 4. The V atom in I is in an octahedral coordination, and that in II is in a square-pyramidal coordination. The antibacterial activity of the compounds against various bacteria was assayed.     

Flavonoids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cirsium japonicum</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">maackii</Emphasis> pappus as inhibitors of aldose reductase and their simultaneous determination

Aldose reductase is an enzyme in the polyol pathway which is associated in the progression of diabetic complications. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory activity of Cirsium japonicum var. maackii pappus (CJP) against rat lens aldose reductase (RLAR). The ethanolic extract, fractions and isolated flavonoids were subjected to an RLAR assay. Isolation of chloroform (CHCl₃) and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fractions led to the identification of four flavonoids: hispidulin (1), cirsimaritin (2), apigenin (3), and cirsimarin (4). The RLAR assay results suggested that the EtOAc fraction and flavonoids 1 and 3 promoted better AR inhibition than did TMG (control). The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of compounds 1 and 3 was 0.77 and 3.19 μM, respectively. A simultaneous determination of flavonoid content using HPLC–UV indicated that CJP contained large amounts of compounds 2 and 3 (1.65 and 1.84 mg/g, respectively). Flavonoids from Cirsium species have been widely reported to show various pharmacological activities. This study indicated that CJP has the potential to prevent diabetic complications and was a potential source of flavonoids.     

Tetraphenylantimony <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-benzoylglycinate: synthesis and structure

Tetraphenylantimony N-benzoylglycinate (I) has been synthesized by the reaction between pentaphenylantimony and N-benzoylglycine in toluene. According to X-ray diffraction data, the antimony atom in a molecule of complex I has a trigonal bipyramidal coordination to the oxygen atom in axial position. The Sb?C_eq, Sb?C_ax, and Sb?O bond lengths are 2.116(6)?2.138(6), 2.183(6), and 2.200(4) Å, respectively. The intramolecular Sb?O=C distance between the carbonyl oxygen atom and the central antimony atom is 3.35(2) Å.     

Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes incorporating <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-acetimidoylacetamidine ligand: Synthesis and structures

Two new square planar complexes with the formula Co(L)₂ · CH₃OH (1) and Ni(L)₂ · CH₃OH (2) (HL = HN{C(Me)=NH}₂ = N-acetimidoylacetamidine) have been synthesized by solvothermal reactions in methanol/acetonitrile. N-acetimidoylacetamidine ligand was derived from the self-condensation reaction of acetonitrile, and the reaction was promoted by the cooperation of M(II) (M = Co in 1 and M = Ni in 2) with diphenylcarbazide. 1 and 2 are characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis and infrared spectrum. Both complexes crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a = 9.329(6) Å, b = 11.494(7) Å, c = 13.040(8) Å, β = 92.945(11)°, V = 1396.3(16) ų and Z = 4 for 1, and a = 9.323(4)Å, b = 11.512(5) Å, c = 13.020(6)Å, β = 92.819(7)°, V = 1395.7(10)ų and Z = 4 for 2.     

Coordination polymers based on zinc(<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">ii</Emphasis>) and manganese(<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">ii</Emphasis>) with 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid

Three new metal-organic coordination polymers were obtained namely, [Mn₃(chdc)₃-(NMP)₂(DMF)₂] (1, chdc^2– is trans-1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate, NMP is N-methylpyrrolidone, DMF is N,N-dimethylformamide), [Zn₃(chdc)₃(NMP)₂]?2NMP (2), and [Zn₃(chdc)₃(ur)-(DMF)_0.5]?DMF (3, ur is the urotropine). The crystal structures of polymers 1, 2, and 3 were determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. All three compounds were found to contain a trinuclear secondary building unit {M₃(OOC)₆}. Coordination polymers 1 and 2 have a layered structure, while polymer 3 has a three-dimensional coordination framework with isolated pores formed due to the presence of urotropine bridging molecules. Compounds 1 and 3 were characterized by IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric and elemental analysis data, powder X-ray diffraction. Compound 3 was also characterized by UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectrum.