Identification and Preliminary Structure-Activity Relationship Studies of 1,5-Dihydrobenzo[e][1,4]oxazepin-2(3H)-ones That Induce Differentiation of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells In Vitro

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most aggressive type of blood cancer, and there is a continued need for new treatments that are well tolerated and improve long-term survival rates in patients. Induction of differentiation has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy, but known agents lack efficacy in genetically distinct patient populations. Previously, we established a phenotypic screen to identify small molecules that could stimulate differentiation in a range of AML cell lines. Utilising this strategy, a 1,5-dihydrobenzo[e][1,4]oxazepin-2(3H)-one hit compound was identified. Herein, we report the hit validation in vitro, structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies and the pharmacokinetic profiles for selected compounds.     

Silylated Melamine and Cyanuric Acid as Precursors for Imprinted and Hybrid Silica Materials with Molecular Recognition Properties

Imprinted materials : Monosilylated derivatives of melamine and cyanuric acid are used in the preparation of hybrid silica. The assembly of the melamine and cyanuric acid moieties through molecular recognition properties is the key factor in building a bridged silsesquioxane and an imprinted hybrid silica (see picture).

     

Synthesis, crystal structure, and porosity estimation of hydrated erbium terephthalate coordination polymers

The reaction of the Er3+ ion with polycarboxylate ligands in gel media leads to coordination polymers exhibiting various structural types and dimensionalities. Five Er3+/1,4-benzenedicarboxylate-based coordination polymers have been obtained in such conditions. Four out of the five are new. Their crystal structures are reported and compared herein. Compound 1, namely, Er2Ter3(H2O)6, where H2Ter symbolizes the terephthalic acid, crystallizes in the space group P1 (No. 2) with a = 7.8373(10) A, b = 9.5854(2) A, c = 10.6931(2) A, alpha = 68.7770(8) degrees, beta = 70.8710(8) degrees, and gamma = 75.3330(12) degrees. It has already been reported elsewhere. The last four compounds are new. Compound 2, namely, Er2Ter3(H2O)6 x 2 H2O, crystallizes in the space group P121/a1 (No. 14) with a = 6.7429(2) A, b = 22.4913(7) A, c = 9.6575(3) A, and beta = 91.6400(18) degrees. Compound 3, namely Er2Ter3(H2O)8 x 2 H2O crystallizes in the space group P1 (No. 2) with a = 7.5391(2) A, b = 10.0533(3) A, c = 10.4578(3) A, alpha = 87.7870(10) degrees, beta = 82.5510(11) degrees, and gamma = 86.2800(16) degrees. Compound 4, namely, Er2Ter3(H2O)6 x 2 H2O crystallizes in the space group C2/c (No. 15) with a = 38.5123(13) A, b = 11.1241(4) A, c = 7.0122(2) A, and beta = 98.634(2) degrees. Compound 5, namely, Er2Ter3(H2O)6 x H2O, crystallizes in the space group P1 (No. 2) with a = 6.8776(10) A, b = 11.0420(2) A, c = 18.5675(3) A, alpha = 84.7240(6) degrees, beta = 81.8380(6) degrees, and gamma = 84.1770(8) degrees. A computational method has also been developed to evaluate the potential porosity of the coordination polymers. This method is described and then applied to the different Er2Ter3(H2O)n coordination polymers previously described.     

Experimental and theoretical investigations of the sulfite-based polyoxometalate cluster redox series: alpha- and beta-[Mo(18)O(54)(SO(3))(2)](4-/5-/6-)

The synthesis, isolation and structural characterization of the sulfite polyoxomolybdate clusters alpha-(D(3h))(C(20)H(44)N)(4){alpha-[Mo(18)O(54)(SO(3))(2)]}CH(3)CN and beta-(D(3d))(C(20)H(44)N)(4){beta-[Mo(18)O(54)(SO(3))(2)]}CH(3)CN is presented. Voltammetric studies in acetonitrile (0.1 M Hx(4)NClO(4), Hx(4)N=tetra-n-hexylammonium) reveal the presence of an extensive series of six one-electron reduction processes for both isomers. Under conditions of bulk electrolysis, the initial [Mo(18)O(54)(SO(3))(2)](4-/5-) and [Mo(18)O(54)(SO(3))(2)](5-/6-) processes produce stable [Mo(18)O(54)(SO(3))(2)](5-) and [Mo(18)O(54)(SO(3))(2)](6-) species, respectively, and the same reduced species may be produced by photochemical reduction. Spectroelectrochemical data imply that retention of structural form results upon reduction, so that both alpha and beta isomers are available at each of the 4-, 5-, and 6-redox levels. However, the alpha isomer is the thermodynamically favored species in both the one- and two-electron-reduced states, with beta-->alpha isomerization being detected in both cases on long time scales (days). EPR spectra also imply that increasing localization of the unpaired electron occurs over the alpha- and beta-[Mo(18)O(54)(SO(3))(2)](5-) frameworks as the temperature approaches 2 K where the EPR spectra show orthorhombic symmetry with different g and hyperfine values for the alpha and beta isomers. Theoretical studies support the observation that it is easier to reduce the alpha cluster than the beta form and also provide insight into the driving force for beta-->alpha isomerization in the reduced state. Data are compared with that obtained for the well studied alpha-[Mo(18)O(54)(SO(4))(2))](4-) sulfate cluster.     

Multifrequency EPR and redox reactivity investigations of a bis(mu-thiolato)-dicopper(II,II) complex

From a new tripodal ligand [N2SS'H] with mixed N, S(thioether), and S(thiolate) donor set, the corresponding bis(mu-thiolato)dicopper(II) complex has been prepared and characterized. X-ray crystallographic analysis of the complex [Cu2(N2SS')2](ClO4)2.C4H10O (1) demonstrates that the two five-coordinated Cu atoms are bridged by two thiolates leading to a nearly planar Cu2S2 core with a Cu1...Cu1* distance of 3.418(8) A and a large bridging angle Cu1S1Cu1* of 94.92 degrees. X-band (10 GHz), Q-band (34 GHz), and F-Band (115 GHz) EPR spectra of 1 are consistent with a weakly coupled dicopper(II,II) center attributed to an S = 1 state. Simulations for the three frequencies are obtained with a unique set of electronic parameters. The mean values of the spin Hamiltonian parameters for 1 are D = 0.210(3) cm(-1), E = 0.0295(5) cm(-1), |E/D| = 0.140, gx = 2.030(2), gy = 2.032(2), gz = 2.128(2). The electrochemical one-electron reduction of 1 generates the mixed-valent CuIICuI species. EPR and UV-vis spectra are consistent with a type I localized mixed-valent species, while dinuclear CuA centers of native cytochrome c oxidase (CcO)1-3 or nitrous oxide reductase (N2OR)4 have a delocalized CuIICuI mixed-valent state. After reoxidation of the CuIICuI species, the initial complex 1 is regenerated through a reversible interconversion process.     

Elaboration of silica colloid/polymer hybrid support for oligonucleotide synthesis

One way to increase the sensitivity of DNA diagnostic assays developed on microarrays is to improve the solid phase that allows the extraction of the target from a biological sample, before detection. Two parameters are influencing the performances of this capture step: (i) the specific surface area being offered for the capture and (ii) the number and the accessibility of oligonucleotide probes immobilized on the surface. In this context, we have developed an attractive approach which fulfills these two points. Our strategy was to elaborate a new material of high specific surface area, suitable to serve as support for both solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis and in vitro diagnostic assay. This material has consisted of aggregates of colloidal amino-silica nanoparticles covalently linked by poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) arms. The aggregation of amino-silica particles in the presence of reactive bis-isocyanate PEO was achieved in a controlled manner. The aggregate size and structure were examined by microscopy. The specific surface area of this material was measured by nitrogen adsorption technique. The composition of aggregate was studied by thermogravimetry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Then, this material has been successfully used as support for oligonucleotide synthesis of high yield and purity. The resulting system will be further evaluated in a diagnostic assay on a microarray.     

Structural and magnetic properties of Mn(III) and Cu(II) tetranuclear azido polyoxometalate complexes: multifrequency high-field EPR spectroscopy of Cu4 clusters with S = 1 and S = 2 ground states

Two new azido-bridged polyoxometalate compounds were synthesized in acetonitrile/methanol media and their molecular structures have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The [[(gamma-SiW10O36)Mn2(OH)2(N3)(0.5)(H2O)(0.5)]2(mu-1,3-N3)](10-) (1 a) tetranuclear Mn(III) complex, in which an end-to-end N3- ligand acts as a linker between two [(gamma-SiW10O36)Mn2(OH)2]4- units, represents the first manganese-azido polyoxometalate. The magnetic properties have been studied considering the spin Hamiltonian H = -J1(S1S2+S1*S2*)-J2(S1S1*), showing that antiferromagnetic interactions between the paramagnetic centers (g = 1.98) occur both through the di-(mu-OH) bridge (J1 = -25.5 cm(-1)) and the mu-1,3-azido bridge (J2 = -19.6 cm(-1)). The [(gamma-SiW10O36)2Cu4(mu-1,1,1-N3)2(mu-1,1-N3)2]12- (2 a) tetranuclear Cu(II) complex consists of two [gamma-SiW10O36Cu2(N3)2]6- subunits connected through the two mu-1,1,1-azido ligands, the four paramagnetic centers forming a lozenge. The magnetic susceptibility data have been fitted. This reveals ferromagnetic interactions between the four Cu(II) centers, leading to an S=2 ground state (H = -J1(S1S2+S1*S2*)-J2(S2S2*), J1 = +294.5 cm(-1), J2 = +1.6 cm(-1), g = 2.085). The ferromagnetic coupling between the Cu(II) centers in each subunit is the strongest ever observed either in a polyoxometalate compound or in a diazido-bridged Cu(II) complex. Considering complex 2 a and the previously reported basal-basal di-(mu-1,1-N3)-bridged Cu(II) complexes in which the metallic centers are not connected by other magnetically coupling ligands, the linear correlation J1 = 2639.5-24.95*theta(av) between the theta(av) bridging angle and the J1 coupling parameter has been proposed. The electronic structure of complex 2 a has also been investigated by using multifrequency high-field electron paramagnetic resonance (HF-EPR) spectroscopy between 95 and 285 GHz. The spin Hamiltonian parameters of the S = 2 ground state (D = -0.135(2) cm(-1), E = -0.003(2) cm(-1), g(x) = 2.290(5), g(y) = 2.135(10), g(z) = 2.158(5)) as well as of the first excited spin state S = 1 (D = -0.960(4) cm(-1), E = -0.080(5) cm(-1), g(x) = 2.042(5), g(y) = 2.335(5), g(z) = 2.095(5)) have been determined, since the energy gap between these two spin states is very small (1.6 cm(-1)).