Cerium (IV) ammonium nitrate (CAN)-mediated regioselective synthesis and anticancer activity of 6-substituted 5,8-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone

6-Substituted 5,8-O-dimethyl-1,4-naphthoquinones (6-DMNQ), the promising anticancer scaffolds, were selectively generated by oxidative demethylation of 2-substituted 1,4,5,8-tetramethoxynaphthalenes with CAN in EtOAc/H₂O in comparatively high yields. An interesting finding was that apart from the reported electron-withdrawing effects of substituents on position 2 of naphthalene ring, regioselective synthesis of 6-DMNQ was largely dependent on the steric effects in CAN-mediated oxidation. The selective cytotoxicities of 6-DMNQ from the in vitro cell-based assays were exhibited between the cancer cells and normal cells. Moreover, most of sulfur-containing 6-DMNQ derivatives displayed better anticancer activities than the corresponding oxygen-containing ones, which could provide an available strategy for the design of 6-DMNQ derivatives as potential anticancer agents.     

Crystallization of the mesomorphic form and control of the molecular structure for tailoring the mechanical properties of isotactic polypropylene

The combination of the control of the concentration of stereodefects in isotactic polypropylene using metallocene catalysts and the crystallization via the mesophase is a strategy to tailor the mechanical properties. Stiff materials, flexible materials, and thermoplastic elastomers can be produced depending only on the concentration of rr stereodefects. Modulus, ductility, and strength can be modulated through the crystallization of α and γ forms or of the mesophase. Different morphologies are observed depending on the stereoregularity and conditions of crystallization. Crystals of the mesomorphic form always exhibit a nodular morphology, accounting for the similar good deformability of all quenched samples, whatever the concentration of stereodefects. The mesophase transforms by thermal treatments into the α form preserving the nodular morphology, with increase of strength while maintaining the ductility typical of the mesophase. Annealing of the mesophase permits a precise adjustment of crystallinity and size of nodular crystals offering additional options to modify the mechanical properties. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 677–699     

Synthesis and characterization of iPP‐sPP stereoblock produced by a binary metallocene system

Stereoblock polypropylenes comprising of iPP and sPP segments are synthesized by polymerization of the following binary system of metallocenes: the C_s‐symmetric [2,7‐t‐Bu₂(Flu)₂Ph₂C(Cp)ZrCl₂] and the C₂‐symmetric rac‐Me₂Si(2‐Me‐4‐Ph‐Ind)₂ZrCl₂. Blends of samples made either by each catalyst individually (solution blend) with materials obtained with the mixed catalyst system (reactor blend) are compared. The simultaneous presence of MAO and DEZ, enhancing fast and reversible transfer of the growing chains between the two active centers, leads to the formation of a stereoblock microstructure. In this case, low molecular weight polymers are obtained. The junction between the blocks is qualitatively observed in ¹³C NMR. When made in toluene, the stereoblock material consists of a majority of syndiotactic sequences, whereas the ratio is more equilibrated when the polymerization was conducted in the more polar chlorobenzene. This is confirmed by the results obtained with ¹³C NMR, CRYSTAF, HT HPLC, DSC, SSA, WAXD, and optical microscopy. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 1422–1434     

Synthesis and antitumor and antibacterial evaluation of fluoroquinolone derivatives(Ⅲ):Mono- and bis-Schiff-bases

To further explore an efficient modified route for the shift from an antibacterial fluoroquinolone to an antitumor one,mono-Schiff bases 6a-6h related to ciprofloxacin C3 carbonylhydrazone and bis-Schiff bases 4a-4h corresponding to C3/C7 carbonylhydrazone/hydrazone attached on a skeleton of ciprofloquinolone were designed and synthesized,and their in vitro antitumor activity against CHO,HL60,L1210 cells and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were also reported.     

Synthesis,characterization, and biological studies of lanthanide complexes with 2,6-pyridine dicarboxylic acid and α-picolinic acid

Four new solid ternary complexes of lanthanide with 2,6-pyridine dicarboxylic acid and α-picolinic acid [Ln(DPA)(L^α)(H₂O)] · 2H₂O (Ln = La³⁺, Ce³⁺, Eu³⁺, or Gd³⁺; DPA = 2,6-pyridine dicarboxylic acid; HL^α = α-picolinic acid) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance, FT-IR, UV–Vis, and TG–DTA. The antibacterial activities indicate that all the complexes exhibit antibacterial ability against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with broad antimicrobial spectra. The anticancer activity of the La complex against K562 tumor cell in vitro is measured using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) colorimetry and flow cytometry. The La complex can induce K562 tumor cell apoptosis, presenting the best apoptosis effect by acting on the S period after inducing K562 tumor cell for 72 h.     

The introduction of antibacterial drug pipemidic acid into the POM field: Syntheses, characterization and antitumor activity

Two new compounds based on polyoxometalates (POMs) and the quinolone antibacterial drug pipemidic acid (HPPA), {[Ni(PPA)₂]H₄[SiW₁₂O₄₀]}·HPPA·3H₂O (1), and {[Zn(PPA)₂]₂H₄[SiW₁₂O₄₀]}·3H₂O (2), have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and structurally characterized by routine technique. Single-crystal X-Ray diffraction analysis shows that compound 1 is constructed by Keggin clusters grafted by binuclear nickel clusters, isolated HPPA and water molecules, while compound 2 consists of Keggin clusters grafted by binuclear zinc clusters and water molecules. Due to the selection of different transition metal (TM) ions, compounds 1 and 2 exhibit different structures and antitumor activities. Compound 1 possesses 0D structure and shows no antitumor activities. However, compound 2 possesses 1D structure and exhibits higher antitumor activities than its parent compound. The results show that introduction of different TM-PPA moieties onto the polyoxoanion surface can affect not only the final structures but also their antitumor activities.     

SYNTHESIS OF NOVEL OPTICALLY ACTIVE CYCLIC PHOSPHOLIPID CONJUGATES OF TEGAFUR AND URIDINE STARTING FROM L-SERINE

Abstract

Starting from L-serine, cyclic thiophosphoramidate conjugates (2 and 3) of Tegafur and uridine were synthesized via a multiple-step procedure of esterification, cyclic phosphorylation, and sulfurization, etc. L-serinoate was N-alkylated, then cyclized with phosphorus oxychloride, and further reacted with N³-(2-hydroxyethyl) Tegafur to afford cyclic phospholipid conjugate 4. The resultants (2, 3, and 4) were successfully separated in the form of pure diastereomer by column chromatography on silica gel. Their configurations were discussed and assigned according to their NMR spectra. The asymmetric induction effects of the carbon-based chiral centre on the diastereomer preference were also observed in these two synthetic phosphorylation cyclizations. The bioassay on their antitumor activities is under investigation.     

Convenient synthesis and antitumor evaluation of some new 9-ethyl-3-(hetaryl)carbazoles

Abstract

In continuing our efforts to develop new potent anticancer candidates, a new series of 9-ethylcarbazoles carrying at position 3 various heterocyclic substituents such as 2-imino-2H-chromenes 5a–e, 2-oxo-2H-chromenes 6a–e, 3-imino-3H-benzo[f]chromene 8, 3-oxo-3H-benzo[f]chromene 9, 2-pyridones 11, 14, pyrazole 19, pyrimidine 23, pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidine 27, 2H-pyran-2-one 30, and pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidinetrione 34 were efficiently synthesized, characterized and evaluated for their in vitro antitumor activity. The mechanism for the synthesis of compounds was also discussed. Most of the synthesized compounds were displayed the considerable anticancer activities against three human tumor cells lines, in particular, colon carcinoma (HCT-116), hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG-2) and breast cancer (MCF-7). Compound 6d proves as most active molecule in this study with special effectiveness against the human HCT-116 and HepG-2 as its IC₅₀ values are 1.50, 0.90?μM, respectively, when doxorubicin is compared. Compound 34 was also found to have high activity against HepG-2, HCT-116 and moderate activity against MCF-7.     

Multicomponent reactions for synthesis of bioactive polyheterocyclic ring systems under controlled microwave irradiation

The multi-component reaction of 1-benzothiopyran-4-ones with heterocyclic amines and dimethylformamide-dimethylacetal (DMFDMA) in DMF at 150 °C under controlled microwave heating afforded novel poly-heterocyclic ring systems. Also, reaction of 3-dimethylaminomethylene-1-benzothiopyran-4-one with activemethylene derivatives was investigated. The structure of all products was established on the bases of spectral data and elemental analyses and alternative synthesis if possible. The prepared compounds were screened for their antitumor activity against HCT-116 “colon” cancer cell line and some derivatives showed promising activity.     

Pulsatilla chinensis: A review of traditional uses,phytochemistry and pharmacology research progress

This paper is intended to review advances in the botanical, traditional uses, phytochemical and pharmacological studies of the Pulsatilla chinensis. Up to date, 68 kinds of chemical constituents have been isolated and identified from P. chinensis. Among these compounds, triterpenoids, flavonoids, lignans and coumarins are the major constituents. Researches about the pharmacological properties of P. chinensis revealed that this plant exhibited therapeutic potential both in vivo and in vitro, including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and antiviral activities. Further attention should be paid to gathering information about their toxicology data, quality-control measures, and the clinical value of the active compounds from P. chinensis.