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.     

Structures,properties and topologies of two layered compounds based on 2-carboxethyl(phenyl)phosphinic acid

Hydrothermal syntheses of 2-carboxyethyl(phenyl)phosphinic acid (H₂CEPPA) with Bi(NO₃)₃ and Cd(NO₃)₂ produce two layered complexes [Bi₂(μ₃-O)(CEPPA)₂]_n (1) and [Cd(HCEPPA)₂]_n (2). Compound 1 is comprised of [Bi₄(μ₃-O)₂(POO)₄(COO)₄] SBUs which grow into a double wave-like 2D layer with–CH₂CH₂–spacers. Compound 2 crystallizes in the orthorhombic noncentrosymmetric space group Pca2₁, exhibiting a double lattice-like layer. Through edge-to-face d???π stacking, a 3D supramolecular framework is formed based on 2D lattices. Topological analyses indicate that 1 and 2 have sql (or Shubnikov tetragonal plane net) and kgd (or Shubnikov (3.6.3.6) plane net) topological networks respectively. 1 and 2 are isolated as single crystal pure phases, which is confirmed by powder XRD. TGA shows high thermal stabilities with decomposition temperatures of 1 and 2 being 373 and 303°C respectively. The fluorescent spectra exhibit fluorescence quenching in 1 and sharp emission at 292 nm in 2, which is assigned to intraligand emission.     

Near-infrared BODIPY dyes modulated with spirofluorene moieties

New structurally constrained BODIPY dyes having electron-donating substituents were synthesized. As the key compounds for the construction of the BODIPY dyes, 1′H-spiro-[fluorene-9,4′-indeno[1,2-b]pyrrole] (sp-FIP) derivatives with electron-donating groups, such as OMe and NMe₂ at its 6′-position, were prepared using palladium-catalyzed intramolecular direct C-H arylation of a pyrrole moiety. The resulting BODIPY dyes showed bathochromic shift in absorption and fluorescence spectra in comparison to the unsubstituted analogs. Furthermore, pH-dependent reversible spectrum changes of the BODIPY dye were observed with the addition of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and subsequent addition of i-Pr₂NEt.     

BODIPY-derived ratiometric fluorescent sensors: pH-regulated aggregation-induced emission and imaging application in cellular acidification triggered by crystalline silica exposure

Modification of classic fluorophore to possess the emission transitions between aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and intrinsic emission offers reliable approach to the design of ratiometric fluorescent sensors. In this study, a proton acceptor benzimidazole was integrated with BODIPY to form three compounds, BBI-1/2/3, which demonstrated the AIE (~595 nm, I_agg) in neutral aqueous medium and intrinsic BODIPY emission (~510 nm, I_int) in acidic medium. All the three showed the ratiometric pH sensing behavior in a dual excitation/dual emission mode, yet BBI-3 displayed still the dual emission ratiometric pH sensing ability. The pH-dependent emission ratio I_int/I_agg of the three were fully reversible, and no interference was observed from normal abundant chemical species in live cells. Their different pK_a (BBI-1, pK_a 4.4; BBI-2, pK_a 2.7; BBI-3, pKa 3.6) suggested that the substituents on benzimidazole moiety were essential to govern their functioning pH range. The ratiometric imaging of BBI-1 in A549 cells provided an effective intracellular pH (pHi) calibration formula corresponding to emission ratio of I_int/I_agg. Ratiometric pH_i imaging in A549 cells upon small particle exposure confirmed the particle-induced cellular acidification with this formula. Both particle size and the chemical nature of the particle contribute to the observed acidification effect. The synchronization of lysosome disruption to cellular acidification in A549 cells upon crystalline silica exposure was directly observed for the first time with BBI-1, showing the potential application of BBI-1 in the study of silicosis and other related diseases. This study demonstrated that endowing fluorophore with AIE/intrinsic emission transition could be a promising strategy for ratiometric sensor design.     

Synthesis,antibacterial activity,and fluorescence properties of a novel series from [2,4-dioxochromen-3(4<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>)methyl]amino acid

A new solvent-free method for synthesis of starting compounds 2,4-dioxochromen-3(4H)methyl amino acetic acid derivatives 1a–e via a green approach is reported. Also, the behavior of compound 1a towards various nitrogen nucleophiles such as primary amines, hydrazine hydrate, and hydroxylamine hydrochloride to give corresponding compounds 2–4 was studied. Furthermore, chlorination of compound 1a using a mixture of PCl₅/POCl₃ to yield acid chloride derivative 5 and the reaction of the latter compound 5 with various amino acids to obtain dipeptide compounds 6a–e are described. Moreover, cyclization of compound 1a in alkaline medium to afford dihydrochromeno[3,4-c]pyrrole-1-carboxylic acid 7 and cyclization of 6b in acidic medium, namely Ac₂O, to yield piperazine derivative 8 are reported. Also, reaction of compound 1a with maleic anhydride in dioxane to afford Diels–Alder adduct 9, which posteriorly reacted with hydrazine hydrate to give 10, was investigated. Most of the newly synthesized compounds were screened against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, with compound 5 exhibiting the maximum inhibition zone towards all four types of bacteria. In addition, the absorption and fluorescence emission of some of the substituted coumarins were studied in dioxane, revealing that the substituents altered both the absorption and fluorescence emission maxima.     

Design and synthesis of an AIE-active fluorogen with red emission and its biological application

A novel triphenylamine-base derivative L containing pyridine and terpyridine was designed and synthesized. Compound L exhibited distinct aggregation-induced emission (AIE) behavior in water–ethanol and also displayed a threefold increase in the intensity of luminescence at 608 nm. Furthermore, confocal microscopy imaging demonstrated that compound L displays low toxicity and brights red fluorescence in mitochondria in living HepG2 cells. Inherent from the mitochondrial-targeting ability of pyridine moiety and the AIE characteristic of triphenylamine group, compound L could be employed as a fluorescent probe in the near-infrared region for living cell imaging.     

Influence of medium viscosity on photophysical properties of kynurenic acid and kynurenine yellow

Dependences of the fluorescence and triplet state quantum yields of kynurenic acid (1) and kynurenine yellow (2) in water—glycerol mixtures on medium viscosity have been studied. The main channel of the singlet excited state decay of compound 1 is the intersystem crossing, which rate weakly depends on the viscosity; only a small (approximately 1.5-fold) increase in the fluorescence yield was found for this compound with the increase of the solution viscosity from 0.84 cP (aqueous solution) to 78 cP (86% glycerol). The deactivation of the S₁ state of compound 2 is caused mainly by the internal conversion, and a noticeable increase of the fluorescence yield (approximately 3-fold), as well as the change in the photolysis product yields, was observed with the increasing percentage of glycerol in the mixture. The triplet state quantum yields for compounds 1 and 2 remained unchanged with the variation of the glycerol content in the mixture.     

Synthesis of novel 5,6,7,8,9,10-hexahydropyrimido[4,5-b]quinoline derivatives for antimicrobial and anti-oxidant evaluation

Because of the well-known chemotherapeutic activity of pyrimidoquinolines, a new series of the title compounds were synthesized and biologically screened for their antimicrobial and anti-oxidant activities. The intermediate compound, 2-amino-1-cyclohexyl-4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-1,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydroquinoline-3-carbonitrile (2), was prepared and allowed to react with oxalyl chloride to give the corresponding strategic starting material, 10-cyclohexyl-5-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-oxo-3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10-octahydropyrimido[4,5-b]quinoline-2-carbonyl chloride 3. Compound 3 underwent diverse reactions with amines to give the corresponding carboxylic amides 4, with alcohols to give the carboxylic esters 5 and with hydrazine to give the carbohydrazide 8. Compound 8 reacted with aldoses to give the corresponding polyhydroxy(-)alkyl Schiff bases 9, which upon reaction with thioglycolic acid afforded the thiazolidinone-C-acyclic nucleosides 10. Several other pyrimidoquinolines incorporated to oxadiazole, iminothiazolidinones and thiadiazoles were synthesized starting from the 2-carbohydrazide derivative 8. Most of the newly prepared derivatives showed considerable antimicrobial activity against Gram +ve and Gram ?ve bacteria and anti-oxidant activity.     

Two novel 2D cadmium compounds with noncentrosymmetric or symmetric network dependent on different pH values

Hydrothermal reaction of cadmium chloride and 2-carboxyethyl(phenyl)phosphinic acid (H₂L) under pH 2.69 or 5.00 afforded two novel Cd(II) compounds with the formula of [Cd(HL)₂] _n (I) and [Cd₃(L)₂(OH)₂] _n (II), respectively. Both compounds were well characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, power X-ray diffraction, fluorescence and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (CIF files CCDC nos. 1049809 (I), 1049810 (II)). Compound I crystallizes in a Pca2₁ space group and presents a two-dimensional (2D) layered noncentrosymmetric structure, in which slight difference of the two Cd–O(phosphinico) distances leads to the formation of the chiral phosphorus atom in HL^– ligand. Compound II adopts a centrosymmetric P2 ₁/c space group and exhibits a 2D network. Both compounds show violet fluorescence, assigned as an intraligand emission.     

Synthesis of New Pyrano[2,3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis>]Pyrazoles and Furochromones Derivatives Utilizing Amino Acids Derivatives

Hydrolysis of oxazolone derivatives (2b) yielded α-khellinoyl(amino)-cinnamic acid (3) as a good precursor to react with ethyl esters of glycine, L-methionine, and glycylglycine affording 4, 5, and 4, 5 respectively with minor product 7. Hydrolysis of oxazolone derivatives (2b) afforded α,β-dehydroamino acid derivatives (DDAA) (8). Interaction of oxazolone derivatives (2a,b) with active methylene compounds as ethyl acetoacetate, malononitrile, ethylcyanoacetate, and cyanoacetamide afforded 9–16 respectively     

Amine electrosynthesis from 1-ethyl-4-nitro-3-cyanopyrazole

Polarography and preparative electrolysis are used to show that the electrochemical behavior of 1-ethyl-4-nitro-3-cyanopyrazole (1) in acidic aqueous-alcoholic solutions resembles the behavior of nitrobenzene. By varying the parameters of the electroreduction (ER) of compound 1, one can obtain either 1-ethyl-4-amino-3-cyanopyrazole (2) or 1-ethyl-4-amino-3-cyano-5-chloropyrazole (3). Compound 2 is formed during the ER of compound 1 in the presence of a mediator (titanium(III)) at temperatures below 10°C. Compound 3 is produced by the direct reduction of compound 1 on a lead electrode (30% ethanol, 10% HCl). The yield of amine chlorohydrates 2 and 3 is 56 and 92%, respectively. The mediated ER of compound 1 at catholite temperatures higher than 10°C yields a mixture of compounds 2 and 3; the proportion of the latter increases with temperature to become the major product at 60°C. Compound 3 is formed due to the rearrangement of the hydroxylamine derivative produced by the ER of compound 1, followed by the substitution of chlorine for the hydroxy group.     

Cyclization of pyrazolones: novel synthesis of pyrano,pyrido, pyrimido and spiropyrazole derivatives

Depending on the reaction conditions, two alternative cyclizations are possible for [3?+?3] cyclocondensation of pyrazolone derivative 1a and ethyl cyanoacetate of type pyrano [2,3-c] pyrazol-6(1H)-one 2 and pyrano [2,3-c] pyrazol-4(1H)-one 3. Keeping of enaminic system 3 and benzylidene malononitrile in the presence of catalytic amount of trimethylamine resulted in pyridine cyclization affording pyrazolopyranopyridine derivative 4, not 5. The pyrazolone derivative 6a was obtained as a result of the acid-mediated addition reaction between compound 1a, urea and/or ammonium thiocyanate. In addition, the bispyrazolone of type 6b was obtained from the condensation reaction of urea and pyrazolone derivative. The spiro compound 7 was obtained from the double-addition reaction of pyrazolone to cinnamoyl isothiocyanate. A one-pot three-component condensation of a 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde, pyrazolone 1a, urea and/or thiourea under Biginelli conditions resulted in tetrahydropyrazolo pyrimidine derivatives 8a and 8b, respectively. The acid-mediated reaction of benzaldehyde and pyrazolone derivative 1a in the presence of Ac₂O yielded styrylpyrazole derivative 9. The polyfunctionalized product 9 reacted with hydrazine to furnish pyrazolotriazoloe of type 10. Treatment of styrylpyrazole derivative 9 with aniline furnished the aniline derivative 11 and none of the expected polyheterocyclic derivative 12 was obtained. Compound 9 undergoes pyridine cyclization to produce 13 under the effect of urea. N-phenyl pyrazolone converted into pyrano-dipyrazolone derivative 14. Pyran of type 14 underwent a ring transformation upon treatment with urea and/or thiourea to give the same dipyrazolo pyrimidine derivative 15. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, ESI/LC-MS and elemental analysis.     

Uranyl oxamate hydrates: hydrothermal synthesis,crystal structure,photophysical properties,and selective crystallization

Presented here are two isostructural uranyl coordination polymers [UO₂(EDO)(H₂O)]·H₂O (1) and [UO₂(BDO)(H₂O)]·2H₂O (2) (EDO^2-=ethylene-1,2-dioxamate; BDO^2-=butylene-1,2-dioxamate) with identical stepwise zigzag chain structure and distinct interchain hydrogen bonding interaction, prepared from hydrothermal reaction of DEEDO or DEBDO (DEEDO=diethyl ethylene-1,2-dioxamate; DEBDO=diethyl butylene-1,2-dioxamate) with uranyl ions. The monomeric uranyl-based fluorescence emissions of compounds 1 and 2 are red-shifted by about 6 and 5 nm respectively, compared to that of uranyl nitrate hexahydrate. Compound 1 has stronger emission than compound 2, but both their emissions exhibit triple-exponential decay. The photophysics of uranyl oxalate trihydrate was also investigated for comparison. The selective crystallization of compound 1 in alkaline solution was applied to the sequestration of uranyl ions, showing a kinetic preference.     

Synthesis and in vitro cytotoxic evaluation of some novel hexahydroquinoline derivatives containing benzofuran moiety

A series of new ethyl 4-(2-(benzofuran-2-yl)-4-substituted-1,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydroquinolin-1-yl)-benzoate 3a–c was synthesized by Michael condensation of benzofuran chalcones 1a–c and cyclohexanone to give 2-(2-benzofuranyl)-4-substituted-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4-H -chromene 2a–c, followed by reaction of the latter with ethyl 4-aminobenzoate. Condensation of 3a–c with different amines afforded the corresponding amides 4a–e. On the other hand, upon treatment compounds 3a–c with hydrazine hydrate gave the benzohydrazide derivatives 5a–c. The reaction of compounds 5a–c with different thio/isocyanate gave the corresponding thiosemicarbazide and semicarbazide derivatives 6a–c. Meanwhile compounds 5a–c were reacted with ethyl cyanoacetate and different β-dicarbonyl compounds such as acetyl acetone, ethyl acetoacetate, and diethyl malonate to afford pyrazolyl derivatives 7a, b; 8a, b; 9a, b; and 10a–c, respectively. Moreover, 5a–c were reacted with carbon disulfide to synthesize the corresponding oxadiazolyl derivatives 11a–c, while their condensation with different aromatic aldehydes gave the corresponding Schiff bases 12a–d. Cytotoxic evaluation of some of the newly synthesized compounds against human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (HepG-2) revealed that the tested compounds produce promising inhibitory effect against the growth of HepG-2 cells with IC₅₀ values ranged from 11.9 to 19.3 µg/mL.     

A distyryl BODIPY derivative as a fluorescent probe for selective detection of chromium(III)

A new boradiazaindacene (BODIPY) derivative (1a) bearing simple NO bidentate ligands has been synthesized. The 1a molecule behaves as a fluorescent probe for Cr³⁺ and shows strong red fluorescence upon coordination with Cr³⁺, while showing almost no fluorescence for other metal cations.     

Comparative studies of photophysical and electrochemical properties of sulfur-containing substituted metal-free and metallophthalocyanines

The synthesis, photophysical and electrochemical properties of soluble sulfur-containing 4-(methylthio) benzenethiol substituted, non-peripherally metal-free and metallo (Zn, Ga, Co, and Mn) phthalocyanine complexes (2–6) are reported for the first time. The new phthalocyanines have been characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, mass and UV–Vis spectroscopy techniques. Spectroscopic properties of these compounds were investigated in different solvents. Spectral and photophysical (fluorescence quantum yield) properties of metal free (2), zinc(II) (3), and gallium(III) phthalocyanines (4) were reported in different solvents toluene, tetrahydrofuran, and dimethyl sulfoxide. These results suggest that the solvents play role on the fluorescence quantum yields Φ _F of the synthesized complexes (2–4). The electrochemical studies exhibit that while complexes (3) and (4) give only Pc ring-based redox processes, complexes (5) and (6) give both metal and ring-based redox reactions due to the energy level of metal in the Pc core lie between the HOMO and the LUMO of the ring.     

Solvent effect of fluorescence on/off switching of diarylethene linked to excited-state intramolecular proton transfer fluorophore

Efficient fluorescence on/off switching of a dyad consisting of a photochromic diarylethene and a fluorescence dye based on excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) was designed and demonstrated. Diarylethenes linked to (2-(2-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)benzothiazol-6-yl)- and (2-(2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)benzothiazol-6-yl)-9,9-dioctylfluorene moieties (1a and 2a, respectively) exhibited fluorescence on/off switching upon alternating irradiation with ultraviolet and visible light in various solvents. The fluorescence on/off contrast of 2a was found to be higher than that of 1a in n-hexane because the overlap integral between the absorption spectrum of the diarylethene closed-ring form and the fluorescence spectrum of 2a is larger than that of 1a. Diarylethene 2a exhibited green fluorescence with large Stokes shift in n-hexane, which is ascribed to the ESIPT process from the enol form to the keto form. In contrast, the fluorescence of 2a in N,N-dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) was mainly observed as blue fluorescence from enol form, while diarylethene 1a exhibited blue fluorescence in n-hexane and DMSO. The fluorescence on/off contrast of 2a in n-hexane was higher than that in DMSO because of the difference in the spectral overlaps in n-hexane and DMSO.     

Cholic acid-based high sensitivity fluorescent sensor for α,ω-dicarboxylate: an intramolecular excimer emission quenched by complexation

Fluorescent receptors (1 and 2) bearing two binding units on C3 and C24 and two signal display units on C7 and C12 of cholic acid, respectively, were designed and synthesized. Both 1 and 2 emit a much weaker fluorescence than that of the control compound 3 lacking of the binding units reflecting that a PET process originated from the C-3 thiourea group to the plural pyrenyl pendant groups is operative. Addition of terminal dicarboxylate anions to the CH₃CN solution of 1 or 2 enhances the PET process, which leads to a significant and highly sensitive fluorescence response, resulting in an almost complete quenching of the excimer emission of the signal units. To maximize the interaction of the host and the guest, carboxylates of more than five carbon chains could penetrate through the space between the two pyrenyl pendants of the host, triggering a considerable conformational change of the fluorophores. As a result, an enhancement of the monomer emission at the expense of the excimer emission will take place. The binding properties and mechanism of 1 and 2 to dicarboxylates in CH₃CN were manifested by the combined fluorescence, UV-vis, and ¹H NMR spectroscopic method.     

Lanthanide-organic frameworks based on terphenyl-tetracarboxylate ligands: syntheses,structures, optical properties and selective sensing of nitro explosives

Three isostructural three-dimensional(3D) lanthanide-based metal-organic frameworks [Ln_2L(H_2L)(NMP)_2].H_2O(Ln=Sm(1), Eu(2), Gd(3); H_4L=1,1′:4′,1″-terphenyl-2′,4,4″,5′-tetracarboxylic acid; NMP=N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone) have been synthesized and structurally characterized. In 1–3, two Ln3+ ions are doubly-bridged by two oxygen atoms of two carboxylate groups to form the dinuclear Ln_2(OCOO–)_2 unit. Each Ln_2(OCOO–)_2 unit links with four H_2L~(2-) ligands and four L4. ligands to lead to the 3D framework,which can be rationalized as a new trinodal 4,4,8-connected(44.62)(45.6)(412.616) topological network by considering the dinuclear Ln_2(OCOO–)_2 units as 8-connected nodes and L~4./H_2L~(2-) ligands as planar 4-connected nodes, respectively. 1 and 3 exhibit blue emission originated from the ligand with the emission maximum at 384 nm, while 2 shows intense characteristic red emission of Eu~(3+) ions and weak ligand-centered emission. Moreover, 2 has fluorescent quenching response towards the aromatic nitro compounds, especially for the 3,4-dinitrotoluene(3,4-DNT) with the linear Stern-Volmer relationship in the concentration range of 0–1 mM and the quenching constant(Ksv) of 2.084×10~3 M~(-1).