Convenient Michael addition/β-elimination approach to the synthesis of 4-benzyl- and 4-aryl-selenyl coumarins using diselenides as selenium sources

A concise and efficient, two-step approach toward 4-organoselenyl coumarin derivatives from the easily available 4-hydroxycoumarins, is reported. The synthesis was based on conventional tosylation followed by a tandem selena-Michael addition/β-elimination reaction of an aryl-/benzyl-selenolate anion on the corresponding 4-tosyloxycoumarins. The selenolate anions were conveniently generated in situ by exposure of the corresponding diselenides to NaBH₄. Selected compounds demonstrated to exhibit antioxidant properties in mice cortex and hippocampus.     

Molecular Targeting of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor (VEGFR)

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) are two extensively studied membrane-bound receptor tyrosine kinase proteins that are frequently overexpressed in many cancers. As a result, these receptor families constitute attractive targets for imaging and therapeutic applications in the detection and treatment of cancer. This review explores the dynamic structure and structure-function relationships of these two growth factor receptors and their significance as it relates to theranostics of cancer, followed by some of the common inhibition modalities frequently employed to target EGFR and VEGFR, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), antibodies, nanobodies, and peptides. A summary of the recent advances in molecular imaging techniques, including positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and optical imaging (OI), and in particular, near-IR fluorescence imaging using tetrapyrrolic-based fluorophores, concludes this review.     

Ab-initio electrostatic molecular potential contour maps for initiation step and Ab-Initio MRD-CI calculations for propagation step of cationic polymerization of oxetanes

The initiation step in the cationic polymerization of cyclic ethers is influenced by basicity and ring strain. We carried out ab-initio MODPOT/VRDDO/MERGE calculations on a variety of substituted oxetanes and generated electrostatic molecular potential contour (EMPC) maps in three-dimensions around the molecules. The size of the negative EMPC map region around the oxygen enabled us to predict the propensity to polymerize prior to the syntheses of the actual monomers themselves. We carried out ab-initio MODPOT/VRDDO/MERGE MRD-CI calculations for the propagation step of oxetane reacting with protonated oxetanes to cause ring opening of protonated oxetane. Similar MRD-CI calculations on variously substituted oxetanes will shed insight into relative copolymerization preferences.