Nature of Noncovalent Carbon‐Bonding Interactions Derived from Experimental Charge‐Density Analysis

In an effort to better understand the nature of noncovalent carbon‐bonding interactions, we undertook accurate high‐resolution X‐ray diffraction analysis of single crystals of 1,1,2,2‐tetracyanocyclopropane. We selected this compound to study the fundamental characteristics of carbon‐bonding interactions, because it provides accessible σ holes. The study required extremely accurate experimental diffraction data, because the interaction of interest is weak. The electron‐density distribution around the carbon nuclei, as shown by the experimental maps of the electrophilic bowl defined by a (CN)₂C?C(CN)₂ unit, was assigned as the origin of the interaction. This fact was also evidenced by plotting the Δ²ρ(r) distribution. Taken together, the obtained results clearly indicate that noncovalent carbon bonding can be explained as an interaction between confronted oppositely polarized regions. The interaction is, thus electrophilic–nucleophilic (electrostatic) in nature and unambiguously considered as attractive.     

Quantification of aromaticity in oxocarbons: the problem of the fictitious "nonaromatic" reference system

Despite the extensive research reported in the literature, the concept of aromaticity has eluded rigorous quantification. The main reason for this undesirable reality is the fact that aromaticity is a differential property. While bond orders, atomic charges and electronegativity differences are properties of the molecule under analysis, the aromaticity concept often refers to the difference between some property of the molecule and that of an artificial "nonaromatic" reference system. A rigorous definition of such a reference system is non-existing and therefore constituting the main barrier to obtain a satisfactory quantification of the aromatic concept. Oxocarbon acids and their anions are examples where the criteria of aromaticity that use reference systems are unsuccessful, only NICS criterion gives satisfactory results. Wiberg bond indexes and 17O NMR chemical shifts are also useful to study such compounds.     

Molecular inclusion of organometallic sandwich complexes within hybrid cavitand-resorcin[4]arene receptors

Two different hybrid cavitand-resorcin[4]arenes are shown to be effective and selective receptors for the molecular inclusion of positively charged organometallic sandwich complexes of appropriate size. The binding constants of the 1 : 1 complexes formed with a series of neutral and positively charged metallocenes have been calculated using different titration techniques. The motion of the included metallocene and the kinetics of the complexation process are investigated. The voltammetric behaviour of the inclusion complexes formed with cobaltocenium is also studied.     

Structurally simple, modular amino alcohols for the recognition of carboxylic acids. Application to the development of a new chiral solvating agent

[structure: see text] Two flexible receptors for carboxylic acids, based on 1-amino-3-fluoro-2-alcohol functional arrays and built on aminomethylpyridine platforms, are described. The C(2)-symmetric one [from 2,6-bis(aminomethyl)pyridine] has been shown to be an efficient CSA due to its ability to form geometrically different diastereomeric complexes enabling the discrimination between the enantiomers of a series of carboxylic acid in the (1)H NMR spectra.     

Dual binding mode of methylmethanetriacetic Acid to tripodal amidopyridine receptors

A series of tripodal amidopyridine receptors capable of selective recognition of methylmethanetriacetic acid (MMTA) in organic solvents is described. Intramolecular hydrogen-bonding groups, built into some of the receptors, were designed as preorganization devices. Binding was studied by NMR titration, variable temperature NMR experiments, 2D-NMR, isothermal titration calorimetry, and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The results reveal that a balancing act between inter- and intramolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions in the complexes governs both the dynamics and the geometry of binding. Receptor 1b (without intramolecular hydrogen-bonding groups) features a simple symmetric MMTA binding geometry with optimal enthalpic interactions. In sharp contrast, receptor 1a (with intramolecular hydrogen-bonding groups) reveals a temperature-dependent dual binding mode where MMTA can bind in two completely different geometries. The two solution binding geometries of 1a.MMTA were unraveled by NMR experiments and correlated to the X-ray structures.     

Prospective virtual screening for novel p53–MDM2 inhibitors using ultrafast shape recognition

The p53 protein, known as the guardian of genome, is mutated or deleted in approximately 50 % of human tumors. In the rest of the cancers, p53 is expressed in its wild-type form, but its function is inhibited by direct binding with the murine double minute 2 (MDM2) protein. Therefore, inhibition of the p53–MDM2 interaction, leading to the activation of tumor suppressor p53 protein presents a fundamentally novel therapeutic strategy against several types of cancers. The present study utilized ultrafast shape recognition (USR), a virtual screening technique based on ligand–receptor 3D shape complementarity, to screen DrugBank database for novel p53–MDM2 inhibitors. Specifically, using 3D shape of one of the most potent crystal ligands of MDM2, MI-63, as the query molecule, six compounds were identified as potential p53–MDM2 inhibitors. These six USR hits were then subjected to molecular modeling investigations through flexible receptor docking followed by comparative binding energy analysis. These studies suggested a potential role of the USR-selected molecules as p53–MDM2 inhibitors. This was further supported by experimental tests showing that the treatment of human colon tumor cells with the top USR hit, telmisartan, led to a dose-dependent cell growth inhibition in a p53-dependent manner. It is noteworthy that telmisartan has a long history of safe human use as an approved anti-hypertension drug and thus may present an immediate clinical potential as a cancer therapeutic. Furthermore, it could also serve as a structurally-novel lead molecule for the development of more potent, small-molecule p53–MDM2 inhibitors against variety of cancers. Importantly, the present study demonstrates that the adopted USR-based virtual screening protocol is a useful tool for hit identification in the domain of small molecule p53–MDM2 inhibitors.