Evaluation of 2-methyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridinecarboxylic acid as a possible chelating agent for iron and aluminium

In view of a possible application to Fe and Al chelation therapy, 2-methyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridinecarboxylic acid (DT2) was synthesised, and its complex formation, electrochemical and cytotoxic properties were studied. The complexing properties of DT2 towards Fe(III) and Al(III) were investigated in aqueous 0.6 m (Na)Cl at 25 degrees C by means of potentiometric titrations, UV-vis spectrophotometry, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. DT2 is a triprotic acid (H3L+) having pKa1 = 0.47, pKa2 = 5.64 and pKa3 = 11.18. The metal-ligand complexes observed in solution and their corresponding stability constants (log beta values) are the following: FeLH (19.38), FeL (16.01), FeLH(-1) (12.28), FeL2H2 (37.29), FeL3H3 (53.41), FeL3H2 (47.99), FeL3H (41.21) and FeL3 (34.1); AlLH (17.43), AlL2H2 (33.74), AlL2H (27.6), AlL3H3 (48.72), AlL3H2 (42.67), AlL3H (35.8) and AlL3 (27.92). The complex formation between DT2 and Fe(II) was studied by UV-vis: the weak complex FeLH (log beta = 15.8) was detected. DT2 shows a lower complexation efficiency with Fe(III) and Al(III) than that of other available chelators, but higher than that of its non-methylated analogue 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinecarboxylic acid (DT0). The electrochemical behaviour of DT2 was investigated by means of cyclic voltammetry, indicating that the oxidation of the ligand proceeds through a two electron process with a CECE mechanism. Voltammetric curves suggest that the oxidation or the reduction of DT2 in vivo is unlikely. According to the thermodynamic data, also the Fe(III)-DT2 complexes do not undergo redox cycling at physiological pH. Amperometric titrations of solutions containing Fe(III) and DT2 at pH = 5 indicated the same Fe(III) : ligand stoichiometric ratio as calculated from potentiometric data. The toxicity of DT2 and of other simple hydroxypyridinecarboxylic acids was investigated in vitro and no cytotoxic activity was observed (IC50 > 0.1 mM) on cancer cell lines and also on primary human cells, following a three day exposure.     

Thermal behaviour and electrochemical properties of bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide and dodecatungstosilicate viologen dimers

We report the synthesis and characterization of dimeric viologen salts (1',1'-(alkane-1,n-diyl)bis(1-ethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium) with n = 4-10) with bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide (bistriflimide, Tf(2)N(-)) as a counteranion. For n = 4, 5 and 6, and for the nonylviologen cation (1,1'-dinonyl-4,4'-bipyridinium) we also prepared salts with the totally inorganic dodecatungstosilicate anion, SiW(12)O(40)(4-), featuring a poly-charged surface and nanosized dimensions. The materials have been characterized by means of calorimetric techniques, X-ray diffraction and solid state NMR and a comparison is made with analogous monomeric viologen salts exhibiting smectic mesophases. A strong odd-even effect is observed in the melting points and in the thermal behaviour of the bistriflimide dimeric systems, similar to what was reported for dipolar calamitic liquid crystal dimers, although the studied viologen dimers are not mesomorphic. By increasing the size of the counteranion we have observed a destabilization of the crystal phases and of the mesophases in favour of a glassy amorphous state. Implications on the design of novel ionic liquid crystals are discussed. The electrochemical behaviour in solution has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry measurements: interestingly, the odd-even effect is clearly visible also in the redox potentials. The spin-pairing of the viologen radical cations formed at each end of the dimer is responsible for the observed redox trend. Insights on the structure of the spin-paired dimer have been obtained by DFT calculations.     

Mass spectrometic study of speciation in aluminium-fluoroquinolone solutions

Fluoroquinolones (FQLs) are synthetic antibacterial agents containing a 4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinoline skeleton. When concomintantly administered with other drugs which may contain metal ions, particularly Al(3+) (antacids, phosphate binders, vaccines etc) they may form metal-drug complexes. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that aluminium-quinolone interactions lead to reduced bio- availability and altered activity of the drug with possible development of the toxic effects of aluminum ion. Reliable speciation in Al(3+) - quinolone systems at micromolar concentration level is needed to better understand pharmaco- and toxicokinetics of the FQLs in the presence of Al. In this work, the speciation in solutions containing Al(3+) and FQL family members (fleroxacin, moxifloxacin and ciprofloxacin) was studied by electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), ESI-MS/MS, and laser desorption ionization (LDI) MS. The dominating species identified in all the three Al(3+)-FQL solutions, at ca 30-50 μmol L(-1) total Al concentration and 2:1 to 1:3 metal-to-ligand ratio in the pH range 3.0- 6.0, were the ions related to the complexes AlL(2+), AlL(2)(+) and AlL(3)(0) (L = ligand in the monodeprotonated form). Mixed protonated and hydroxo complexes were also formed at lower and higher pH values respectively and, as expected, dimeric and polymeric species were not observed in ESI spectra. LDI measurements confirmed the existence of the mononuclear complexes found by ESI, and indicated the formation of polymeric species. The ion [2Al(3+) +5(-)](+) was identified with all three FQLs. This ionic species most probably arises from Al(2)L(2) by clustering with free ligand anions. Comparison of literature potentiometric data with mass spectral data indicated good agreement between speciation schemes. The obtained results suggest the presence of strong interaction between FQLs and Al(3+) which may be important in affecting absorption of these drugs in the gastrointestinal tract.     

The Rabe amination after a century: direct addition of N-heterocycles to carbonyl compounds

A catalytic version of the Rabe electrophilic amination is presented. This kind of reaction was originally employed in 1918 in a key step for the conversion of quinotoxine to quinine. Ketones and α-substituted aldehydes give the corresponding α-aminated carbonyl compounds in moderate yield. α,α-Unsubstituted aldehydes give rise to amino ketones via a novel rearrangement.     

Preparation and characterization of chloroaluminum phthalocyanine-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles by thermal analysis and powder X-ray diffraction techniques

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) without drug and SLN loaded with chloroaluminum phthalocyanine (AlClPc) were prepared by solvent diffusion method in aqueous system and characterized by thermal analyses and X-ray diffraction (XRD) in this study. Determination of particle size, zeta potential (ZP), and encapsulation efficiency were also evaluated. SLN containing AlClPc of nanometer size with high encapsulation efficiency and ZP were obtained. The results indicated that the size of SLN loaded with AlClPc is larger than that of the inert particle, but ZP is not changed significantly with incorporation of the drug. In differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves, it was observed that the melting point of stearic acid (SA) isolated and in SLN occurred at 55 and 64 °C, respectively, suggesting the presence of different polymorphs. DSC also shows that the crystallinity state of SLN was much less than that of SA isolated. The incorporation of drug in SLN may have been favored by this lower crystallinity degree of the samples. XRD techniques corroborated with the thermal analytic techniques, suggesting the polymorphic modifications of stearic acid.     

Rhenium(V) and technetium(V) nitrido complexes with mixed tridentate π-donor and monodentate π-acceptor ligands

Mixed-ligand [M(N)(SNS)(PPh(3))] complexes (M = Tc, Re) (1, 2) were prepared by reaction of the precursor [M(N)Cl(2)(PPh(3))(2)] with ligand 2,2'-dimercaptodiethylamine [H(2)SNS = NH(CH(2)CH(2)SH)(2)] in refluxing dichloromethane/ethanol mixtures. In these compounds, 2,2'-dimercaptodiethylamine acts as a dianionic tridentate chelating ligand bound to the [M≡N](2+) group through the two π-donor deprotonated sulfur atoms and the protonated amine nitrogen atom. Triphenylphosphine completes the coordination sphere, acting as a monodentate ligand. [M(N)(NS(2))(PPh(3))] complexes can assume two different isomeric forms depending on the syn and anti orientations of the hydrogen atom bound to the central nitrogen atom of the SNS ligand with respect to the M≡N moiety. X-ray crystallography of the syn isomer of complex 2 demonstrated that it has a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry with the nitrido group and the two sulfur atoms defining the equatorial plane, the phosphorus atom of the monophosphine and the protonated amine nitrogen of the tridentate ligand spanning the two reciprocal trans positions along the axis perpendicular to the trigonal plane. Synthesis of the analogous Tc derivatives with tris(2-cyanoethyl)phosphine, [Tc(N)(SNS)(PCN)] [(PCN = P(CH(2)CH(2)CN)(3)], required the preliminary preparation of the new precursor [Tc(N)(PCN)(2)Cl(2)](2) (3), which was prepared by reacting [n-NBu(4)][Tc(N)Cl(4)] with a high excess of PCN. The crystal structure of compound 3 consists of a noncrystallographic centrosymmetric dimer of Tc(V) nitrido complexes having an octahedral geometry. In this arrangement, the apical positions are occupied by two tris(2-cyanoethyl)phosphine groups and the equatorial positions by the nitrido group whereas the two Cl(-) anions and one cyano ligand belong to the other octahedral component of the dimer. By reacting the new precursor [Tc(N)(PCN)(2)Cl(2)](2) with the ligand H(2)SNS the complex [Tc(N)(SNS)(PCN)] (5) was finally obtained in acetonitrile solution. The new Tc(III) complex trans-[Tc(PCN)(2)Cl(4)][n-NBu(4)] (4) was also isolated from the reaction solution used for preparing complex 3 as side product and characterized by X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure of 4 consists of independent trans-[TcCl(4)(PCN)(2)](-) anions situated on crystallographic centers of symmetry and tetrabutylammonium cations in general positions.     

An X-Ray Crystallographic Study of Five Compounds from a Series of 1,x-<Emphasis Type="Italic">bis</Emphasis>-(4-Oxo-3,4-dihydro-1,2,3-benzotriazin-3-yl)alkanes

Abstract  

The crystal structures of a series of bis-(4-oxo-3,4-dihydro-1,2,3-benzotriazin-3-yl)alkanes, compounds 5 to 9, have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The structural parameters of the triazinone rings in the five compounds do not display systematic differences with respect to those reported for a few analogous compounds. The benzotriazinone rings in 5 and 9 are almost perpendicular to the alkylic chain. The molecules in the crystal packing are linked by means of a weak C–H···X H-bond (X = N/O). Compound 6 has two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit; one of the molecules displays disorder within the benzotriazinone moiety linked in position 1 to the propane alkylic group. The disordered molecule displays two conformations of the benzotriazinone linked in position 1 to the propane bridge. Compound 8 also displays disorder within the benzotriazinone moiety linked in position 1 to the pentane alkylic spacer group. The molecules of compound 7, in the crystal packing, also form intra and inter-molecular C–H···X (X = N/O) hydrogen bonds. None of these compounds show any tendency to adopt a folded conformation with intramolecular π–π stacking between benzotriazinone units. Crystal data: 5 C₁₆H₁₂N₆O_2, monoclinic, space group P2 ₁ /c, a = 4.8370(2)?, b = 14.7845(7)?, c = 10.0837(4)?, β = 95.430(2)°, V = 717.88(6)?³, for Ζ = 2; 6 C₁₇H₁₄N₆O_2, triclinic, space group P-1, a = 7.4237(4)?, b = 14.4738(9)?, c = 15.0359(10)?, α = 91.871(3)°, β = 92.147(3)°, γ = 101.233(3)°, V = 1582.2(2)?³, for Ζ = 4; 7 C₁₈H₁₆N₆O_2, monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 33.8886(10)?, b = 6.4593(2)?, c = 16.0608(6)?, β = 102.298(1)°, V = 3435.0(2)?³, for Ζ = 8; 8 C₁₉H₁₈N₆O_2, triclinic, space group P-1, a = 7.2592(2)?, b = 7.6795(2)?, c = 16.1003(5)?, α = 85.292(1)°, β = 81.367(1)°, γ = 88.377(1)°, V = 884.26(4)?³, for Ζ = 2; 9 C₂₀H₂₀N₆O_2, monoclinic, space group P2 ₁ /c, a = 7.2668(2)?, b = 4.5612(1)?, c = 28.1993(12)?, β = 97.313(2)°, V = 927.07(5)?³, for Ζ = 2.     

Some new routes for the preparation of 3-amino-2-phenyl-4(1H)-quinolinones from anthranilamides

[reaction: see text] Several new routes for the preparation of 3-amino-2-phenyl-4-1(H)-quinolinone 7a are compared. The most efficient is based on the cyclization of phenacyl anthranilamide 2a in the presence of (poly)phosphoric acid. The mechanisms of the rearrangements involved are discussed on the basis of the structures of isolated heterocyclic intermediates. The best methodology for the preparation of the title compound 7a was verified, and 10 other quinolinones 7 were prepared.     

Study of the Effects of Nonlinear Potential Sweeps on Voltammetry

Voltammetric methods use a constant sweep rate during the course of a scan. This paper reports a study of the influence of a nonconstant sweep rate on the voltammetric response. In this approach, either continuously increasing or continuously decreasing potential scan rates can be employed, unlike presently available methods which rely on a constant sweep rate. The voltammetric response of potassium ferrocyanide at a glassy carbon electrode was used as a model system to test the new method. The responses obtained using traditional staircase voltammetry (linear staircase voltammetry) and the new approach (nonlinear staircase voltammetry) were compared by experiment and by simulation. The new approach offers capability for signal enhancement, whereby enhanced current or enhanced peak shape can be obtained by choice of appropriate waveform parameters.     

Cosmological expansion and local systems: a Lemaître–Tolman–Bondi model

We propose a Lemaître–Tolman–Bondi system mimicking a two-body system to address the problem of the cosmological expansion versus local dynamics. This system is strongly bound but participates in the cosmic expansion and is exactly comoving with the cosmic substratum.