Small Molecule Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Inhibitors in Multitarget and Combination Therapies for Inflammation and Cancer

The enzyme soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) plays a central role in metabolism of bioactive lipid signaling molecules. The substrate-specific hydrolase activity of sEH converts epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) to less bioactive dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids. EETs exhibit anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antihypertensive, cardio-protective and organ-protective properties. Accordingly, sEH inhibition is a promising therapeutic strategy for addressing a variety of diseases. In this review, we describe small molecule architectures that have been commonly deployed as sEH inhibitors with respect to angiogenesis, inflammation and cancer. We juxtapose commonly used synthetic scaffolds and natural products within the paradigm of a multitarget approach for addressing inflammation and inflammation induced carcinogenesis. Structural insights from the inhibitor complexes and novel strategies for development of sEH-based multitarget inhibitors are also presented. While sEH inhibition is likely to suppress inflammation-induced carcinogenesis, it can also lead to enhanced angiogenesis via increased EET concentrations. In this regard, sEH inhibitors in combination chemotherapy are described. Urea and amide-based architectures feature prominently across multitarget inhibition and combination chemotherapy applications of sEH inhibitors.     

An efficient chemical method for separation of corsolic acid from its isomeric maslinic acid

Based on the difference in steric bulk around C12-C13 double bond, the two isomeric dihydroxy pentacyclic triterpenic acids viz: corsolic acid and maslinic acid have been quantitatively separated via their methyl esters by reacting with the bulky m-chloroperbenzoic acid. Corsolic acid methyl ester was obtained in pure form, whereas maslinic acid methyl ester was separated as 12-oxo derivative formed via its epoxide. Alkaline hydrolysis of corsolic acid methyl ester afforded the desired acid. This method was also found to work well with the isomeric amyrin mixture (alpha- and beta-), but not highly selective. The high selectivity of this method with corsolic maslinic acid system can be rationalized in terms of 2alpha-hydroxy functionality, which provides additional crowding around the double bond and completely prevented corsolic acid from its reaction with perbenzoic acid.     

Unique Fluorogenic Ratiometric Fluorescent Chemodosimeter for Rapid Sensing of CN− in Water

A new benzimidazole‐spiropyran conjugate chemosensor molecule ( BISP ) has been synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS), and elemental analysis. The two isomeric forms ( BISP ? BIMC ) were shown to be highly selective and sensitive to CN^? among the ten anions studied in aqueous HEPES buffer, as shown by fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy and even by visual color changes, with a detection limit of 1.7 μM for BIMC . The reaction of CN^? with BIMC was monitored by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), UV/Vis measurements, and fluorescence spectroscopy in HEPES buffer of pH 7.4. TDDFT calculations were performed in order to correlate the electronic properties of the chemosensor with its cyanide complex. Further, titration against thiophilic metal ions like Au³⁺, Cu²⁺, Ag⁺, and Hg²⁺ with [ BIMC‐CN ] in situ showed that it acts as a secondary recognition ensemble toward Au³⁺ and Cu²⁺ by switch‐on fluorescence. In addition, a reversible logic‐gate property of BIMC has been demonstrated through a feedback loop in the presence of CN^? and Au³⁺ ions, respectively. Furthermore, the use of BIMC to detect CN^? in live cells by fluorescence imaging has also been demonstrated. Notably, test strips based on BIMC were fabricated, which could serve as convenient and efficient CN^? test kits.     

Theoretical study of the electronic nonadiabatic transitions in the photoelectron spectroscopy of F2O

The photoelectron spectrum of F2O pertaining to ionizations to the ground (X2B1) and low-lying excited electronic states (A2B2, B2A1, and C2A2) of F2O+ is investigated theoretically. The near equilibrium potential energy surfaces of the ground electronic state (X2B1) of F2O and the mentioned ground and excited electronic states of F2O+ reported by Wang et al. ( J. Chem. Phys. 2001, 114, 10682) for the C2v configuration are extended for the Cs geometry assuming a harmonic vibration along the asymmetric stretching mode. The vibronic interactions between the A2B2 and B2A1 electronic states of F2O+ are treated within a linear coupling approach, and the strength of the vibronic coupling parameter is calculated by an ab initio method. The nuclear dynamics is simulated by both time-independent quantum mechanical and time-dependent wave packet approaches. Although the first photoelectron band exhibits resolved vibrational progression along the symmetric stretching mode, the second one is highly overlapping. The latter is attributed to the nonadiabatic interactions among the energetically close A2B2, B2A1, and C2A2 electronic states of F2O+. The theoretical findings are in good accord with the available experimental results.     

Interaction of adenine with dichloro-[1-alkyl-2-(naphthylazo)-imidazole]palladium(II) complexes: kinetic and mechanistic studies

Interaction of adenine (A) with dichloro-[1-alkyl-2-(α-naphthylazo)imidazole] palladium(II) [Pd(α-NaiR)Cl₂], 1 and dichloro-[1-alkyl-2-(β-naphthylazo)imidazole] palladium(II) [Pd(β-NaiR)Cl₂], 2 {where R=Me (a), Et (b) or Bz (c)} in MeCN-water (50% v/v) medium to yield [{1-alkyl-2-(α-naphthylazo)imidazole}(adenine)]palladium(II) perchlorates (3a, 3b, 3c) and [{1-alkyl-2-(β-naphthylazo)imidazole}(adenine)]palladium(II) perchlorates (4a, 4b, 4c) was studied. The products were characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods. The reaction kinetics were second order overall, being first order in both the Pd(II) complex and adenine. The effect of adding chloride was consistent with rate-limiting dissociation of chloride from the complex. Thermodynamic parameters were determined from temperature variation experiments. The second-order rate constant k ₂ corroborates with the experimental Δ^‡H° values, while the negative values of Δ^‡S° indicate that the reaction proceeds through an associative inner sphere mechanism.     

Asymmetric synthesis of hydroxy-skipped bishomo-inositols as potential glycosidase inhibitors

Four isomeric hydroxy-skipped bishomo-inositol analogs have been synthesized from both enantiomers of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-cyclohexenone. Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and substrate-directed anionic hydroxymethylation are the key reactions which have been employed successfully for the synthesis of new cyclitols. The synthesized cyclitols have been screened for their inhibitory effect on α- and β-glycosidases.     

Theoretical study of photodetachment processes of anionic boron clusters. I. Structure

Photo-induced electron detachment spectroscopy of anionic boron clusters, B(4)(-) and B(5)(-), is theoretically investigated by performing electronic structure calculations and nuclear dynamics simulations. While the electronic potential energy surfaces (X(1)A(g), ?(3)B(2u), b(3)B(1u), ?(1)B(2u), c(3)B(2g), and B(1)B(2g) of neutral B(4) and X(2)B(2), ?(2)A(1), B(2)B(2), C(2)A(1), D(2)B(1), and E(2)A(1) of neutral B(5)) and their coupling surfaces are constructed in this paper, the details of the nuclear dynamics on these electronic states are presented in Paper II. Electronic structure calculations are carried out at the complete active space self-consistent field-multi-reference configuration interaction level of theory employing the correlation consistent polarized valance triple zeta basis set. Using the calculated electronic structure data suitable vibronic Hamiltonians are constructed utilizing a diabatic electronic basis and displacement coordinates of the normal vibrational modes. The theoretical results are discussed in relation to those recorded in recent experiments.     

Total synthesis of stagonolide B

Asymmetric total synthesis of nonenolide stagonolide-B has been presented in this Letter. The main highlight of our synthetic strategy is the application of hydroxynitrile lyase (ParsHNL) mediated asymmetric synthesis of cyanohydrin, Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, cross metathesis (CM) reaction, stereoselective Keck allylation reaction and Yamaguchi macrolactonization at a late stage enables us to achieve the synthesis of the target molecule in an efficient way.     

Ab initio multireference investigation of disjoint diradicals: singlet versus triplet ground states

We present improved virtual orbital (IVO) complete active space (CAS) configuration interaction (IVO‐CASCI) and IVO‐CASCI‐based multireference Møller–Plesset perturbation theory (MRMPPT) calculations with an aim to elucidate the electronic structure of tetramethyleneethane (TME) in its lowest singlet and triplet state and to quantify their order and extent of splitting. The potential surfaces of singlet and triplet states for the twisting of TME are also studied. We found that the triplet state is higher in energy than the singlet one in the whole range of twisting angles with the energy gap minimum at a twisting angle of about 45°. Harmonic vibrational frequencies of TME have also been calculated for both the states. We also report the ground to first excited triplet state transition energies. Our results are analyzed with respect to the results available in the literature to illustrate the efficacy of our methods employed. We also demonstrate that the spin character of the ground state of disjoint, TME‐like diradicals can be manipulated by using appropriate selection of annulenic spacer to separate the allyl groups of TME.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed CH Activation of N‐Allyl Imines: Regioselective Allylic Alkylations to Deliver Substituted Aza‐1,3‐Dienes

A new mode of activation of an imine via a rare aza‐substituted π‐allyl complex is described. Palladium‐catalyzed C(sp³)? H activation of the N‐allyl imine and the subsequent nucleophilic attack by the α‐alkyl cyanoester produced the 1‐aza‐1,3‐diene as the sole regioisomer. In contrast, nucleophilic attack by the α‐aryl cyanoester exclusively delivered the 2‐aza‐1,3‐diene, which was employed in an inverse‐electron‐demand Diels–Alder reaction for heterobiaryl synthesis.