Phenalenannulations: Three-Point Double Annulation Reactions that Convert Benzenes into Pyrenes

3-Point annulations, or phenalenannulations, transform a benzene ring directly into a substituted pyrene by “wrapping” two new cycles around the perimeter of the central ring at three consecutive carbon atoms. This efficient, modular, and general method for π-extension opens access to non-symmetric pyrenes and their expanded analogues. Potentially, this approach can convert any aromatic ring bearing a -CH₂Br or a -CHO group into a pyrene moiety. Depending upon the workup choices, the process can be directed towards either tin- or iodo-substituted product formation, giving complementary choices for further various cross-coupling reactions. The two-directional bis-double annulation adds two new polyaromatic extensions with a total of six new aromatic rings at a central core.     

Efficient palladium-catalyzed C-S cross-coupling reaction of benzo-2,1,3-thiadiazole at C-5-position: A potential class of AChE inhibitors

Functionalization of 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (BTD) with thiols at C-5 position remains low explored. Moreover, the arylthiol-substitutions at this position are also unexplored and can not be found by a S_N2 or S_N1 reaction. In this sense, herein we present a new palladium-catalyzed methodology for a wide variety of unpublished 5-arylsulfanyl-benzo-2,1,3-thiadiazole derivatives synthesis with moderate to high yields using a low catalytic loading of Pd(L-Pro)₂ as low-coast, and efficient catalyst in low reaction time. Besides, we concluded that the pKa of thiol species has an important role in this catalysis, mainly in the CMD like catalytic cyclo process, which strongly interferes in the reaction yields. Furthermore, arylsulfanyl-benzo-2,1,3-thiadiazoles derivatives have been assessed (in vitro) as potential acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.     

Fluence Rate Determines PDT Efficiency in Breast Cancer Cells Displaying Different GSH Levels

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) appears as a promising alternative in the treatment of breast cancer since it can be highly effective in curing cancer while preserving normal tissue. However, predicting outcomes in PDT still constitutes a great challenge. One of the parameters that are usually empirically determined is the rate of photon flux delivered to the tissue (light fluence rate). In the present study, we intended to understand why monolayers of human cells derived from mammary adenocarcinomas (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) respond quite differently to fluence rates (cells were irradiated either for 6 or for 16 min) at a fixed light dose (4.5 J cm⁻²) delivered with an array of LEDs in a typical methylene blue PDT protocol. While death rates of MDA-MB-231 cells were insensitive to the fluence rate, MCF-7 cells showed a quite impressive (three times) decrease in cell death levels in the shorter irradiation protocol. Independent on cell type cell death was invariably correlated with the depletion of reduced glutathione intracellular levels and consequently with widespread redox misbalance. Our data show the potential to optimize fluence rates to provide exhaustion of the cell antioxidant responses in order to circumvent therapy resistance of breast tumors.     

A Review of the Role of Flavonoids in Peptic Ulcer (2010–2020)

Peptic ulcers are characterized by erosions on the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract that may reach the muscle layer. Their etiology is multifactorial and occurs when the balance between offensive and protective factors of the mucosa is disturbed. Peptic ulcers represent a global health problem, affecting millions of people worldwide and showing high rates of recurrence. Helicobacter pylori infection and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are one of the most important predisposing factors for the development of peptic ulcers. Therefore, new approaches to complementary treatments are needed to prevent the development of ulcers and their recurrence. Natural products such as medicinal plants and their isolated compounds have been widely used in experimental models of peptic ulcers. Flavonoids are among the molecules of greatest interest in biological assays due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The present study is a literature review of flavonoids that have been reported to show peptic ulcer activity in experimental models. Studies published from January 2010 to January 2020 were selected from reference databases. This review refers to a collection of flavonoids with antiulcer activity in vivo and in vitro models.     

Determination of the mineral composition of fresh bovine milk from the milk-producing areas located in the State of Sergipe in Brazil and evaluation employing exploratory analysis

In this work, the mineral composition of fresh bovine milk obtained from the milk-producing areas of the Brazilian State of Sergipe was examined. A dry-ashed digestion method and the ICP OES technique were used for the quantification of mineral elements (e.g., Ca, Mg, K, Na, P, Sr and Zn) in 27 samples of milk collected from properties located in milk-producing areas around Nossa Senhora da Glória. The following ranges of values (% m/v) were obtained: 0.063 to 0.117 for Ca; 0.060 to 0.114 for P; 0.024 to 0.064 for Na; and 0.087 to 0.164 for K. The ranges of values (mg L^− 1) for the other mineral elements were also found: 0.68 to 1.89 for Sr; 2.46 to 5.73 for Zn; and 54.2 to 109.9 for Mg. Additionally, the exploratory evaluation of the 27 milk samples was performed using principal component analysis (PCA) involving seven variables dealing with the effect of different management systems (conventional and organic) on milk composition. The results show that there are indeed differences between the mineral composition of milk from properties that use organic practices and those that use conventional management practices.     

Syntheses and characterization of Cu,Ni and Zn binding capability of histidinehydroxamic acid derivatives

Two histidinehydroxamic acid derivatives (N-methyl-histidinehydroxamic acid, N-Me-Hisha and Z-histidinehydroxamic acid, Z-Hisha) have been synthesized and their complexation with Cu²⁺-, Ni²⁺- and Zn²⁺-ions has been studied by using pH-potentiometric, UV–Vis, CD, ¹H NMR, EPR and ESI-MS methods. Both of the two new derivatives contain one donor atom less compared to the histidinehydroxamic acid (Hisha). In the case of N-Me-Hisha the hydroxamate-N as donor is eliminated, while the coordination of the amino-N of Z-Hisha is not possible at all.