Screening of several biological activities induced by different sesquiterpene lactones isolated from Centaurea behen L. and Rhaponticum repens (L.) Hidalgo

This study aims to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxic, in vitro and in ovo anti-angiogenic effects and antimicrobial activity of sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) from two plants Centaurea behen and Rhaponticum repens (L.). Five SLs, including cynaropicrin (1), 4β,15-dehydro-3-dehydrosolstitialin A (2), aguerin B (3), janerin (4), cebellin E (5), and a flavone hispidulin (6) were isolated from C. behen (compounds 1–3) and R. repens (compounds 4–6). Cynaropicrin (1) and aguerin B (3) were characterised by strong cytotoxic activities against A2780 cells with IC₅₀ values of 1.15 and 1.62 μg mL^?1, respectively, comparable to that of doxorubicin (IC₅₀ = 1.17 μg mL^?1). The anti-angiogenic study showed the remarkable inhibitory effect of cynaropicrin (1) and aguerin B (3) on the proliferation and migration of HUVECs. In addition, cynaropycrin and aguerin B exhibited significant angio-inhibitory effects in CAM assay. These findings may be useful for the development of novel chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer.     

Determination and mathematical modelling of budesonide solubility in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone + water mixtures from T = 293.2 to 313.2 K

The solubilities of budesonide (BDS) in binary aqueous mixtures of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone at temperatures ranging from 293.2 to 313.2 K were determined and mathematically correlated by three cosolvency models, i.e. Jouyban–Acree model, Jouyban–Acree–van’t Hoff model and modified Wilson model. The solubilities were measured using the shake-flask method and the models wereused to fit the solubility data of BDS in the solvent mixtures. The obtained mean relative deviations (MRDs %) for cosolvency models trained using whole data points varied between 5.0% and 31.0%. Solubilities were also predicted by the generally trained version of the Jouyban–Acree model with the MRD of 37.0%. Furthermore, the apparent thermodynamic properties of dissolution process of BDS in all the mixed solvents were calculated according to van’t Hoff and Gibbs equations. Dissolution of BDS in these mixed solvents is an endothermic process.     

N-Bromo Reagent Mediated Oxidation of Urazoles to Their Corresponding Triazolinediones under Mild and Heterogeneous Conditions

Various N-bromo reagents [HMTAB, DABCO-bromine, DPTBE, and TBCA] were used as effective oxidizing agents for the oxidation of urazoles and bisurazoles to their corresponding triazolinediones under mild and heterogeneous conditions at room temperature with good to excellent yields. Also the oxidation of some new 4-phenylurazole derivatives with these reagents is discussed.     

Glycerol revisited molecular dynamic simulations of structural,dynamical, and thermodynamic properties

We performed molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the properties of glycerol for a wide range of temperatures at standard pressure. We calculated structural (radial distribution functions and pair potential of mean force), dynamical (mean square displacement and transport properties), and thermodynamic (density, thermal expansion, and Hildebrand solubility parameter) properties of glycerol. The results of structural properties showed that the correlation between glycerol atoms weakens as temperature increases. The values of mean square displacement showed that changing temperature has a strong influence on mobility of glycerol atoms. The values of diffusion coefficient and viscosity are remarkably close to the experimental values over the whole range of temperatures studied. The simulation results provide a reasonable estimation of density with percent error of 0.40 %. The simulated values of Hildebrand solubility parameter of glycerol decrease with raising temperature because the cohesive forces weaken. To the best of our knowledge, this work for the first time calculates the potential of mean force, viscosity, and Hildebrand solubility parameter of glycerol by MD simulation.     

(Benzyl isocyanide)gold(I) pyrimidine‐2‐thiolate complex: Synthesis and biological activity

The reaction of [(Me₂S)AuCl] with an equimolar amount of benzyl isocyanide (PhCH₂NC) ligand led to the formation of complex [(PhCH₂NC)AuCl] ( 1 ). The solid‐state structure of 1 was determined using the X‐ray diffraction method. Through a salt metathesis reaction, the chloride ligand in 1 was replaced by pyrimidine‐2‐thiolate (SpyN^?) to afford the complex [(PhCH₂NC)Au(η¹‐S‐Spy)] ( 2 ), which was characterized spectroscopically. The cytotoxic activities of 1 and 2 were evaluated against three human cancer cell lines: ovarian carcinoma (SKOV3), lung carcinoma (A549) and breast carcinoma (MCF‐7). Complex 2 showed higher cytotoxicity than cisplatin against SKOV3 and MCF‐7 cancer cell lines. It showed a strong anti‐proliferative activity with IC₅₀ of 7.80, 6.26 and 6.14 μM, compared with that measured for cisplatin which was 7.62, 12.36 and 11.47 μM, against A549, SKOV3 and MCF‐7 cell lines, respectively. The induction of cellular apoptosis by 2 was also studied on MCF‐7 cell line. Our results indicated that 2 could induce apoptosis in cancerous cells in a dose‐dependent manner.     

Negishi coupling: an easy progress for C–C bond construction in total synthesis

Negishi cross-coupling reactions were used extensively in total synthesis. The expansion of substrate scope, the development of mild reaction conditions, the advancement of the methods to improve the stereo- and regio-selectivity of carbon–carbon bond formation, the maturity of a large number of sequential processes, and the development of non-toxic reactions signify the importance of Negishi coupling. The following review illustrates a strategic role of this reaction in constructing carbon–carbon bonds in the recent total synthesis of natural products.