Efficient One‐Pot Four‐Component Synthesis and X‐ray Crystallographic Structure of 2‐Pyridone Derivatives

A series of 3‐cyano‐2‐pyridone derivatives were synthesized by one‐pot four‐component condensation reaction involving a benzaldehyde derivative, alkyl cyanoacetate, acyclic or cyclic ketones, and ammonium acetate in reflux condition. The X‐ray structure of the products 5a and 5d confirm symmetric dimers via hydrogen bonding interactions between individual pyridine molecules showing, in addition, also π–π stacking interactions.     

The role of C-H and C-C stretching modes in the intrinsic non-radiative decay of triplet states in a Pt-containing conjugated phenylene ethynylene

The intrinsic non-radiative decay (internal conversion) from the triplet excited state in phosphorescent dyes can be described by a multi-phonon emission process. Since non-radiative decay of triplet excitons can be a significant process in organic light-emitting diodes, a detailed understanding of this decay mechanism is important if the overall device efficiency is to be controlled. We compare a deuterated Pt(II)-containing phenylene ethynylene with its non-deuterated counterpart in order to investigate which phonon modes control to the non-radiative decay path. We observe that deuteration does not decrease the non-radiative decay rate. A Franck-Condon analysis of the phosphorescence spectra shows that the electronic excitation is coupled strongly to the breathing mode of the phenyl ring and the C≡C carbon stretching modes, while high-energy C-H or C-D stretching modes play an insignificant role. We, therefore, associate the internal conversion process with the carbon-carbon stretching vibrations.     

Synthesis and characterization of thiolate-Ag(I) complexes by solid-state and solution NMR and their antimicrobial activity

Silver(I) complexes of several thiolates have been prepared. These complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis and 13C NMR spectroscopy. All the Ag(I)-thiolate complexes are polymeric in nature. Therefore, 13C CP MAS NMR is being used extensively to analyze the binding site of the ligand and the nature of complexation. A significant shift difference was observed for S binding site whereas smaller shift was observed for carboxylate binding site. The antimicrobial activities for Ag(I)-glutathione complex was measured and compared with Ag(I)-captopril complex.     

Complexation of palladium cyanide with imidazolidine-2-thione and its derivatives

Summary Pd(CN)₂ reacts with imidazolidine-2-thione (Imt), 1,3-diazinane-2-thione(Diaz), 1,3-diazipnane-2-thione (Diap) and their derivatives to yield complexes of stoichiometry [PdL₂(CN)₂] or [PdL(CN)₂] (L = Imt, Diaz or Diap and L = Imt having N-Me, Et or Pr substituents), which were characterized by elemental analysis, i.r., ¹H and ¹³C n.m.r. spectroscopy. Both mono- and bis ligand complexes are thought to be square planar with the monoligand binding to metal via sulphur (bridging) and the bis ligand via the monodentate thione group. The ¹³C enriched Pd(¹³CN)₂ complex was prepared and the ¹³C n.m.r. recorded. The C-2 resonance of ¹³C n.m.r. of Imt, Diaz or Diap complexes of the copper(I), silver(I), gold(I) and palladium(II) were compared.     

Probing the Role of the Conserved Arg174 in Formate Dehydrogenase by Chemical Modification and Site-Directed Mutagenesis

The reactive adenosine derivative, adenosine 5′-O-[S-(4-hydroxy-2,3-dioxobutyl)]-thiophosphate (AMPS-HDB), contains a dicarbonyl group linked to the purine nucleotide at a position equivalent to the pyrophosphate region of NAD⁺. AMPS-HDB was used as a chemical label towards Candida boidinii formate dehydrogenase (CbFDH). AMPS-HDB reacts covalently with CbFDH, leading to complete inactivation of the enzyme activity. The inactivation kinetics of CbFDH fit the Kitz and Wilson model for time-dependent, irreversible inhibition (K_D = 0.66 ± 0.15 mM, first order maximum rate constant k₃ = 0.198 ± 0.06 min⁻¹). NAD⁺ and NADH protects CbFDH from inactivation by AMPS-HDB, showing the specificity of the reaction. Molecular modelling studies revealed Arg174 as a candidate residue able to be modified by the dicarbonyl group of AMPS-HDB. Arg174 is a strictly conserved residue among FDHs and is located at the Rossmann fold, the common mononucleotide-binding motif of dehydrogenases. Arg174 was replaced by Asn, using site-directed mutagenesis. The mutant enzyme CbFDHArg174Asn was showed to be resistant to inactivation by AMPS-HDB, confirming that the guanidinium group of Arg174 is the target for AMPS-HDB. The CbFDHArg174Asn mutant enzyme exhibited substantial reduced affinity for NAD⁺ and lower thermostability. The results of the study underline the pivotal and multifunctional role of Arg174 in catalysis, coenzyme binding and structural stability of CbFDH.     

Beta-N-cyanoethyl acyl hydrazide derivatives: a new class of beta-glucuronidase inhibitors

Eight new beta-N-substituted acyl hydrazides along with their corresponding acyl derivatives were synthesized and screened for in vitro beta-glucuronidase inhibition and found to be active against the enzyme. All of these compounds were found to be noncompetitive inhibitors except for N'-(2-cyanoethyl)-4-hydroxy benzohydrazide (10), which was found to be an uncompetitive inhibitor. Structure-activity relationship studies indicated that the benzyloxy group present in compounds 12 and 13 is responsible for the beta-glucuronidase inhibition activity.     

Reassignment of the structures of products produced by reactions of the product believed to be 2-(1-phenyl-2-thiocyanatoethylidene)-malononitrile with electrophiles

The reactivity of the product believed to be 2-(1-phenyl-2-thiocyanato-ethylidene)malononitrile toward a variety of electrophilic and nucleophilic reagents is reported.     

Densitometric high-performance thin-layer chromatography methods for the quantification of oleuropein in Olea europaea leaves and pharmaceutical preparation utilizing normal- and reversed-phase silica gel plates

Two validated, simple and precise densitometric high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) quantification methods were proposed for both qualitative and quantitative estimation of oleuropein in Olea europaea leaves and a pharmaceutical product utilizing normal-phase and reversed-phase silica gel TLC plates. In method I, 10 × 20 cm glass plates coated with 0.2 mm thin layers of normal-phase silica gel 60 containing F₂₅₄ (E-Merck, Germany) and a mixture of ethyl acetate‒methanol‒water (8:1:0.5, V/V) were used as the stationary and the mobile phase, respectively. Method II utilized 10 × 20 cm glass-backed plates supporting 0.2 mm layers of RP-18 silica gel 60 containing F₂₅₄ (E-Merck, Germany) as the stationary phase and green solvents mixture composed of ethanol‒water (5.5:4.5, V/V) as the mobile phase. The two methods resulted in sharp, symmetrical, well-resolved peaks at R_F values of 0.47 ± 0.02 and 0.78 ± 0.03 with linearity ranges 200‒1400 ng/spot (r² = 0.9994) and 200‒1400 ng/spot (r² = 0.9996) for method I and method II, respectively. Spots corresponding to oleuropein were scanned at 200 nm. The two methods complied with the ICH guidelines for validation. Due to simplicity, low cost and short analysis time, the methods can be good alternatives for the quality control of different products containing olive leaves extract or pure oleuropein.

     

Efficient Synthesis of New 2H‐Chromene Retinoids Hybrid Derivatives by Suzuki Cross‐coupling Reactions

In an attempt to improve anticancer activity, a series of retinoids–chromene hybrids was described. The novel heterocyclic chromene–retinoids hybrid including oxygen as a heteroatom in a six‐membered cyclic ring (2H‐chromene or 2H‐1‐benzopyran) was designed and synthesized by introducing different groups such as an aromatic or styrylphenyl ring in 6‐position of 2H‐chromene. These novel compounds were synthesized by using the efficient cascades one‐pot process involving Wittig–Horner–Emmons reaction and Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling pallado‐catalyzed reactions with 60% to 90% overall yields. These new compounds were tested against glioblastoma multiforme brain cancer, medulloblastoma, neuroblastoma cell lines, and breast cancer MCF‐7 cell lines. Two of them exhibited an appreciable anti‐tumor activity in the low micromolar range, which opens new perspectives for therapeutic application on humans.     

Micropillar‐based microfluidic device to regulate neurite networks of uniform‐sized neurospheres

The inability of neurons to undergo mitosis renders damage to the central or peripheral nervous system. Neural stem cell therapy could provide a path for treating the neurodegenerative diseases. However, reliable and simple tools for the developing and testing neural stem cell therapy are still required. Here, we show the development of a micropillar‐based microfluidic device to trap the uniform‐sized neurospheres. The neurospheres trapped within micropillar arrays were largely differentiated into neuronal cells, and their neurite networks were observed in the microfluidic device. Compared to conventional cultures on glass slides, the neurite networks generated with this method have a higher reproducibility. Furthermore, we demonstrated the effect of thapsigargin on the neurite networks in the microfluidic device, demonstrating that neural networks exposed to thapsigargin were largely diminished and disconnected from each other. Therefore, this micropillar‐based microfluidic device could be a potential tool for screening of neurotoxins.