Pyrrolidine-2,3-diones: Synthesis,reactions and biological activity

Pyrrolidine-2,3-diones are of continuing interest as intermediates in the synthesis of heterocycles related to pyrrolidine alkaloids, medicinally relevant compounds, and in the development of antibiotics and drugs. The present review deals with the most important literature on the synthesis and reactions of pyrrolidine-2,3-diones and the related biologically important compounds.     

Synthesis of novel Mannich bases and hybrid Mannich bases related to isoindolin-1,3-dione

Treatment of isoindolin-1,3-dione ( 1 ) with formalin and the appropriate amine or diamine afforded new N-Mannich bases and bis-(Mannich bases) 2 to 6 . The use of the appropriate hydrazide or dihydrazide as the amine component in the Mannich reaction with 1 led to Mannich bases and bis-(Mannich bases) incorporating a hydrazide moiety. The synthetic potential of sec-Mannich bases as precursors in synthesis of hybrid Mannich bases incorporating 1 was described. The N-alkylation of 1 with ketonic Mannich bases was investigated.     

Novel metal complexes of 3-acetylcoumarin-2-hydrazinobenzothiazole Schiff base: Design,structural characterizations,DNA binding,DFT calculations,molecular docking and biological studies

Five new Cu (II), Zn (II), Pd (II), Ru (III) and Ag(I) complexes, derived from the 3-acetylcoumarin-2-hydrazinobenzothiazole Schiff base (Hachbt), have been synthesized and characterized. The structures were established with the aid of elemental analyses (C, H, N), FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, ESR, UV–visible and ESI-mass spectra. The complexes were also investigated by magnetic susceptibility, thermal gravimetric analysis (TG-DTA) and cyclic voltammetry measurements. The results suggest that the Schiff base ligand behaves in two different ways: neutral mono/bidentate or mono-negative bi/tridentate. The calf thymus DNA (CT DNA) binding affinities of Hachbt and its complexes have been examined by UV–visible spectroscopy. The antifungal activity of the compounds was also screened against two fungal species of wood-decay basidiomycetes using the agar dilution method. Different complexes caused a reduction in the fungal colony diameters at a media concentration of 100 μg/ml. The best antifungal activity was observed for the Pd (II) and Ag(I) complexes with a 60% and 79% reduction, respectively. The effect of the complexes on the ability of the same fungi to decolorize poly-R dye on agar plates was also tested. All of the complexes showed an enhanced effect on the decolorization ability and the Cu (II) and Ru (III) complexes exhibited the strongest effect at a media concentration of 5 μg/ml. Theoretical studies were performed for all the complexes using the DFT/B3LYP/6–31 + g(d) basis set for calculations on the ligand atoms and LAN2DZ for the Pd (II) complex. The optimized geometries were found to be in a good agreement with the proposed structures. The molecular docking calculations show that the binding affinity of the Pd (II) complex is −309.170-309.2 kcal/mol, which suggests complexation with the DNA minor groove.     

The Potential of the Diarsene Complex [(C5H5)2Mo2(CO)4(μ,η2-As2)] as a Connector Between Silver Ions

The reaction of the organometallic diarsene complex [Cp₂Mo₂(CO)₄(μ,η²-As₂)] ( B ) (Cp = C₅H₅) with Ag[FAl{OC₆F₁₀(C₆F₅)}₃] (Ag[FAl]) and Ag[Al{OC(CF₃)₃}₄] (Ag[TEF]), respectively, yields three unprecedented supramolecular assemblies [(η²- B )₄Ag₂][FAl]₂ ( 4 ), [(μ,η¹:η²- B )₃(η²- B )₂Ag₃][TEF]₃ ( 5 ) and [(μ,η¹:η²- B )₄Ag₃][TEF]₃ ( 6 ). These products are only composed of the complexes B and Ag^I. Moreover, compounds 5 and 6 are the only supramolecular assemblies featuring B as a linking unit, and the first examples of [Ag^I]₃ units stabilized by organometallic bichelating ligands. According to DFT calculations, complex B coordinates to metal centers through both the As lone pair and the As−As σ-bond thus showing this unique feature of this diarsene ligand.     

An Optimum Repair Policy for the Machine Interference Problem

This paper presents two repair policies for the machine interference problem where machines have two failure modes. In policy I priority of repair is assigned to one failure mode over the other, while in policy II the two failure modes have equal probability of repair. Computer programs were developed to obtain the optimal number of machines to be allocated to a single repair crew for the two policies. Under the same operating conditions, policy II is superior to policy I. The repair crew efficiency and machine availability were evaluated for both policies.     

Phylogenetic Analysis and Biological Evaluation of Marine Endophytic Fungi Derived from Red Sea Sponge <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hyrtios erectus</Emphasis>

Forty-four endophytic fungal isolates obtained from marine sponge, Hyrtios erectus, were evaluated and screened for their hydrolase activities. Most of the isolates were found to be prolific producers of hydrolytic enzymes. Only 11 isolates exhibited maximum cellular contents of lipids, rhamnolipids, and protein in the fungal isolates under the isolation numbers MERVA5, MERVA22, MERVA25, MERVA29, MERVA32, MERVA34, MERV36, MERVA39, MERVA42, MERVA43, and MERVA44. These isolate extracts exhibit the highest reducing activities against carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes including α-amylase, α-glucosidase, β-glucosidase, β-glucuronidase, and tyrosinase. Consequently, based on morphological and cultural criteria, as well as sequence information and phylogenetic analysis, these isolates could be identified and designated as Penicillium brevicombactum MERVA5, Arthrinium arundinis MERVA22, Diaporthe rudis MERVA25, Aspergillus versicolor MERVA29, Auxarthron alboluteum MERVA32, Dothiorella sarmentorum MERVA34, Lophiostoma sp. MERVA36, Fusarium oxysporum MERVA39, Penicillium chrysogenum MERVA42, Penicillium polonicum MERVA43, and Trichoderma harzianum MERVA44. The endophytic fungal species, D. rudis MERVA25, P. polonicum MERVA43, Lophiostoma sp. MERVA36, A. alboluteum MERVA32, T. harzianum MERVA44, F. oxysporum MERVA39, A. versicolor MERVA29, and P. chrysogenum MERVA42 extracts, showed significant hepatitis C virus (HCV) inhibition. Moreover, D. sarmentorum MERVA34, P. polonicum MERVA43, and T. harzianum MERVA44 extracts have the highest antitumor activity against human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2).     

Synthesis of indolo[4,3-bc]phenanthridine-6,11(2H,12H)-diones using the schiff base–homophthalic anhydride cyclization reaction

A novel indolophenanthridine ring system has been synthesized via the Schiff base–homophthalic anhydride cyclization followed by thionyl chloride–mediated dehydrogenation and intramolecular Friedel–Crafts acylation. This adds to the array of heterocyclic systems that are available through the cycloaddition reaction of imines with cyclic dicarboxylic acid anhydrides. The cytotoxicities of the indolophenanthridines were investigated in human cancer cell cultures, and the results documented significant antitumor activity in a variety of human cancer cell lines. This provides a new heterocyclic scaffold for anticancer drug design.     

Geobacter species enhances pit depth on 304L stainless steel in a medium lacking with electron donor

Geobacter sulfurreducens bacteria increased the open circuit potential of 304L stainless steel by around 320 mV in only a few hours after inoculation. This represents a significant increase in the corrosion risk. In contrast, the oxidation of acetate, which is catalysed by well-established biofilms, shifted the pitting potential towards positive values. In acetate-lacking media, pitting occurred with and without bacteria in the same range of potential values, but the presence of bacteria drastically increased the size of pits. AFM showed pits more than 10 times broader and deeper due to the presence of bacteria.In the absence of acetate, the masking effect due to acetate oxidation disappeared and the full corrosive effect of the biofilm was revealed.This also fully explains why pitting was predominantly observed close to surface areas where bacterial settlement was the densest.     

Stability assessment of FDA-approved ramucirumab monoclonal antibody; validated SE-HPLC method for degradation pattern evaluation

Ramucirumab (RAMU) is a recently US Food and Drug Administration-approved monoclonal antibody that is included in various anticancer protocols. It has a structural complexity and high degradation risk that have a significant effect on its safety and effectiveness. The major aim of this work was to assess the degradation pattern of RAMU based on physicochemical characterization. Mechanical agitation, repeated freeze–thaw cycles, pH and temperature were the selected stress conditions to which RAMU samples were subjected. The SE-HPLC method was applied and validated to monitor the RAMU monomer along with its aggregates and/or fragments. The purity of the separated peaks together with system suitability parameters were determined through the calculation of percentage purity and percentage drop in RAMU concentration. The results were interpreted by correlating them with those of dynamic light scattering and reducing and non-reducing sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Samples incubated at pH 2.0–10.0 and 37°C for up to 4 weeks were analysed, recording detection of reversed phase (RP) aggregates and low molecular weight peptide fragments. Similarly, samples under short-term storage conditions of 4 weeks at different temperatures (−20, 2–8, 25, 37 and 50°C) showed low molecular weight peptide fragments but to a lesser extent. These results highlight the alarming effect on RAMU multidose vial efficacy and safety.