One-pot four-component domino strategy for the synthesis of novel spirooxindole–pyrrolidine/pyrrolizidine-linked 1,2,3-triazole conjugates via stereo- and regioselective [3+2] cycloaddition reactions: In vitro antibacterial and antifungal studies

In this study, a series of highly diversified novel functionalized spirooxindolopyrrolidine and spirooxindolopyrrolizidine-linked 1,2,3-triazole conjugates have been synthesized by a one-pot, four-component condensation of (E)-2-(1-propargyl-2-oxoindoline-3-ylidene)acetophenones as bifunctional dipolarophiles, acenaphthenequinone, α-amino acids with substituted aryl azides using coinage metal catalysts. It was found that CuSO₄/Na ascorbate as a catalyst was more performant than Ag₂CO₃ or CuI. The single-crystal X-ray analysis of one of the cycloadducts proves the structure and the regiochemistry of this reaction. The compounds have been screened for their in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities using the agar dilution method and display good activities.     

Forty Years after the Discovery of Its Nucleolytic Activity: [Cu(phen)2]2+ Shows Unattended DNA Cleavage Activity upon Fluorination

[Cu( phen )₂]²⁺ ( phen =1,10-phenanthroline) is the first and still one of the most efficient artificial nucleases. In general, when the phen ligand is modified, the nucleolytic activity of its Cu^II complex is significantly reduced. This is most likely due to higher steric bulk of such ligands and thus lower affinity to DNA. Cu^II complexes with phen ligands having fluorinated substituents (F, CF₃, SF₅, SCF₃) surprisingly showed excellent DNA cleavage activity—in contrast to the unsubstituted [Cu( phen )₂]²⁺—in the absence of the otherwise required classical, bioabundant external reducing agents like thiols or ascorbate. This nucleolytic activity correlates well with the half-wave potentials E_1/2 of the complexes. Cancer cell studies show cytotoxic effects of all complexes with fluorinated ligands in the low μm range, whereas they were less toxic towards healthy cells (fibroblasts).     

Synthesis of Methylene‐Bridged Biscarbazole Alkaloids by using an Ullmann‐type Coupling: First Total Synthesis of Murrastifoline‐C and Murrafoline‐E

We describe the total synthesis of methylene‐bridged biscarbazole alkaloids by using a late‐stage Ullmann‐type coupling of fully functionalised carbazole subunits. The carbazole derivatives were synthesised via a sequence of palladium(0)‐ and palladium(II)‐catalysed coupling reactions. Our approach has provided bismurrayafoline‐A, bismurrayafolinol, chrestifolines B–D, and the first total synthesis of murrastifoline‐C and murrafoline‐E.