Efficient Elemental Iodine Catalyzed One-Pot Synthesis of 2,4,5-Triarylimidazoles

Summary. Elemental iodine is used as an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of 2,4,5-triarylimidazoles in excellent yields via condensation of benzoin, ammonium acetate, and aromatic aldehydes. This is a simple, one-pot, high yielding technique using cheap, non-toxic iodine in catalytic amounts.     

Response Surface Methodology-Based Optimisation of Agarose Gel Electrophoresis for Screening and Electropherotyping of Rotavirus

Management of rotavirus diarrhoea cases and prevention of nosocomial infection require rapid diagnostic method at the patient care level. Diagnostic tests currently available are not routinely used due to economic or sensitivity/specificity constraints. Agarose-based sieving media and running conditions were modulated by using central composite design and response surface methodology for screening and electropherotyping of rotaviruses. The electrophoretic resolution of rotavirus genome was calculated from input parameters characterising the gel matrix structure and running conditions. Resolution of rotavirus genome was calculated by densitometric analysis of the gel. The parameters at critical values were able to resolve 11 segmented rotavirus genome. Better resolution and electropherotypic variation in 11 segmented double-stranded RNA genome of rotavirus was detected at 1.96% (w/v) agarose concentration, 0.073 mol l⁻¹ ionic strength of Tris base–boric acid–ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid buffer (1.4×) and 4.31 h of electrophoresis at 4.6 V cm⁻¹ electric field strength. Modified agarose gel electrophoresis can replace other methods as a simplified alternative for routine detection of rotavirus where it is not in practice.     

Synthesis and Biological Study of Some 4-oxo-Thiazolidine Derivatives of 2-Aminothiazole

Conventional and microwave assisted synthesis of new series of N‐[2‐{2‐(substituted phenyl)‐4‐oxo‐5‐(substituted benzylidene)‐1,3‐thiazolidine}‐iminoethyl]‐2‐aminothiazole 5a–5m have been developed. The cycloaddition reaction of thioglycolic acid with N‐{2‐(substituted benzylidenehydrazino)‐ethyl}‐2‐aminothiazole 3a–3m in the presence of anhydrous ZnCl₂ afforded new heterocyclic compounds N‐[2‐{2‐(substituted phenyl)‐4‐oxo‐1,3‐thiazolidine}‐iminoethyl]‐2‐aminothiazole 4a–4m . The later product on treatment with several selected substituted aromatic aldehydes in the presence of C₂H₅ONa undergoes Knoevenagel reaction to yield 5a–5m . The structures of compounds 1 , 2 , 3a–3m , 4a–4m and 5a–5m were confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FAB‐Mass and chemical analysis. All above compounds were screened for their antimicrobial activities against some selected bacteria and fungi and antituberculosis study against M. tuberculosis.     

Synthesis ofN1‐3‐{(4‐Substituted aryl‐3‐chloro‐2‐oxo‐azetidine)‐iminocarbamyl}‐propyl‐6‐nitroindazole Derivatives and Their Biological Significance

Synthesis ofN¹‐3‐{(4‐substitute daryl‐3‐chloro‐2‐oxo‐azetidine)‐iminocarbamyl}‐propyl‐6‐nitroindazole 4a – 4s was conducted by a conventional method. All the compounds were synthesized and characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FAB‐Mass techniques and chemical methods. All the final synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity and antitubercular activity with MIC values against some selected microorganisms.     

In silico inspired design and synthesis of a novel tubulin-binding anti-cancer drug: folate conjugated noscapine (Targetin)

Our screen for tubulin-binding small molecules that do not depolymerize bulk cellular microtubules, but based upon structural features of well known microtubule-depolymerizing colchicine and podophyllotoxin, revealed tubulin binding anti-cancer property of noscapine (Ye et al. in Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 95:2280–2286, 1998). Guided by molecular modelling calculations and structure–activity relationships we conjugated at C9 of noscapine, a folate group—a ligand for cellular folate receptor alpha (FRα). FRα is over-expressed on some solid tumours such as ovarian epithelial cancers. Molecular docking experiments predicted that a folate conjugated noscapine (Targetin) accommodated well inside the binding cavity (docking score −11.295 kcal/mol) at the interface between α- and β-tubulin. The bulky folate moiety of Targetin is extended toward lumen of microtubules. The binding free energy (ΔG _bind) computed based on molecular mechanics energy minimization was −221.01 kcal/mol that revealed favourable interaction of Targetin with the receptor. Chemical synthesis, tubulin-binding experiments, and anti-cancer activity in vitro corroborate fully well with the molecular modelling experiments. Targetin binds tubulin with a dissociation constant (K _d value) of 149 ± 3.0 μM and decreases the transition frequencies between growth and shortening phases of microtubule assembly dynamics at concentrations that do not alter the total polymer mass. Cancer cells in general were more sensitive to Targetin compared with the founding compound noscapine (IC₅₀ in the range of 15–40 μM). Quite strikingly, ovarian cancer cells (SKOV3 and A2780), known to overexpress FRα, were much more sensitive to targetin (IC₅₀ in the range of 0.3–1.5 μM).     

Efficient Elemental Iodine Catalyzed One-Pot Synthesis of 2,4,5-Triarylimidazoles

Elemental iodine is used as an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of 2,4,5-triarylimidazoles in excellent yields via condensation of benzoin, ammonium acetate, and aromatic aldehydes. This is a simple, one-pot, high yielding technique using cheap, non-toxic iodine in catalytic amounts.     

Mitigating repulsions in close quarters: Copper tells us how!

Four copper(I) complexes of short bite ligands, bis(diphenylphosphino)amine (dppa) and bis(diphenylphosphino)isopropylamine (dppipa) were synthesized from appropriate precursors. All complexes were characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography and spectroscopic techniques. In each of these complexes, two filled shell cations are forced into close proximity (≈2.7–2.8 Å). With no strong π acid ligands to siphon electron density from the filled d shell, the unavoidable repulsive d¹⁰–d¹⁰ interaction is mitigated when an unsymmetrical coordination environment around the copper atoms exists. The coordinatively saturated copper ion functions as a donor to the coordinatively unsaturated copper. A Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) search reveals the greater propensity of clusters with short contacts to adopt unsymmetrical coordination.     

Copper(I) Derivative of Pyridine-3-carbaldehyde-N-ethylthiosemicarbazone and Triphenylphosphine—First Case of Crystal Structure Study

The synthesis and crystal structure of pyridine-3-carbaldehyde-N-ethylthiosemicarbazone (3-pytscH-NHEt) 1, and its Cu^I complex of stoichiometry, [CuCl(3-pytscH-NHEt)(PPh₃)₂] 2, studied using single crystal X-ray crystallography, are reported in this paper. Crystal data: 1, monoclinic, P2₁/n, a?=?6.6322(3), b?=?21.1200(8), c?=?7.2989(3) Å; β?=?91.883(4), T?=?173(2), R factor?=?0.0457; 2: triclinic, P-1, a?=?19.3600(5), b?=?20.6241(6), c?=?23.8015(6) Å,α?=?92.647(2), β?=?104.388(2), γ?=?114.377(3), R factor?=?0.0662. The thio-ligand, as a neutral entity, is coordinating to Cu through its S donor atom in complex 2. It has exhibited an unusual feature of forming four independent molecules (A, B, C, D) in the unit cell, with minor differences in the bond angles / distances / torsion angles. The geometry of each molecule of 2 is distorted tetrahedral. Crystal packing, as well as Infrared, electronic absorption and proton NMR spectroscopic studies, are also reported. Copper compound 2 represents the first example of a structurally studied copper coordination compound of 3-pyridyl based thiosemicarbazones.

Graphical Abstract

Copper(I) chloride with pyridine-3-carbaldehyde-N-ethylthiosemicarbazone and PPh₃ in CH₃CN yielded a copper compound, 2 (Green-Cl, blue-N; aqua-Cu, orange-S, magneta-P).

     

Physical Properties of Binary Liquid Systems: Ethanoic Acid/Propanoic Acid/Butanoic Acid with Cresols

Density, viscosity and surface tension of nine binary liquid systems: ethanoic acid, propanoic acid and butanoic acid with o-cresol, m-cresol and p-cresol have been determined at 298.15, 308.15 and 318.15 K over the complete compositional range. From the experimental results the excess values of molar volume (V ^E), viscosity (η ^E), Gibbs free energy for the activation of flow (ΔG ^E) and surface tension (σ ^E) were evaluated. The excess values were fitted to the Redlich–Kister type equation using a nonlinear regression technique. The Grunberg–Nissan parameter, d, was also calculated. From the sign and magnitude of the V ^E, η ^E, ΔG ^E, σ ^E, and d values, it is concluded that specific interactions are present in all of the nine binary mixtures under study. V ^E is negative for carboxylic acid–cresol mixtures at all temperatures and over the entire composition range. The values of η ^E, ΔG ^E and σ ^E are positive over the whole range of composition and increase with increasing temperature at a constant mole fraction of the carboxylic acid, confirming the existence of specific interactions in these binary mixtures. Further, the viscosity data of the binary systems were fitted to various theoretical/empirical models. The binary viscosity data is well represented by the Auslander model. Surface tension data were fitted to various theoretical/empirical models. The binary mixture surface tension data are well represented by the model given by Zihao and Jufu.     

Palladium-Catalyzed Organic Reactions Involving Hypervalent Iodine Reagents

The chemistry of polyvalent iodine compounds has piqued the interest of researchers due to their role as important and flexible reagents in synthetic organic chemistry, resulting in a broad variety of useful organic molecules. These chemicals have potential uses in various functionalization procedures due to their non-toxic and environmentally friendly properties. As they are also strong electrophiles and potent oxidizing agents, the use of hypervalent iodine reagents in palladium-catalyzed transformations has received a lot of attention in recent years. Extensive research has been conducted on the subject of C—H bond functionalization by Pd catalysis with hypervalent iodine reagents as oxidants. Furthermore, the iodine(III) reagent is now often used as an arylating agent in Pd-catalyzed C—H arylation or Heck-type cross-coupling processes. In this article, the recent advances in palladium-catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling reactions employing hypervalent iodine reagents are reviewed in detail.