Chemistry of Spontaneous Alkylation of Methimazole with 1,2-Dichloroethane

Spontaneous S-alkylation of methimazole (1) with 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) into 1,2-bis[(1-methyl-1H-imidazole-2-yl)thio]ethane (2), that we have described recently, opened the question about its formation pathway(s). Results of the synthetic, NMR spectroscopic, crystallographic and computational studies suggest that, under given conditions, 2 is obtained by direct attack of 1 on the chloroethyl derivative 2-[(chloroethyl)thio]-1-methyl-1H-imidazole (3), rather than through the isolated stable thiiranium ion isomer, i.e., 7-methyl-2H, 3H, 7H-imidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-4-ium chloride (4a, orthorhombic, space group Pnma), or in analogy with similar reactions, through postulated, but unproven intermediate thiiranium ion 5. Furthermore, in the reaction with 1, 4a prefers isomerization to the N-chloroethyl derivative, 1-chloroethyl-2,3-dihydro-3-methyl-1H-imidazole-2-thione (7), rather than alkylation to 2, while 7 further reacts with 1 to form 3-methyl-1-[(1-methyl-imidazole-2-yl)thioethyl]-1H-imidazole-2-thione (8, monoclinic, space group P 2₁/c). Additionally, during the isomerization of 3, the postulated intermediate thiiranium ion 5 was not detected by chromatographic and spectroscopic methods, nor by trapping with AgBF₄. However, trapping resulted in the formation of the silver complex of compound 3, i.e., bis-{2-[(chloroethyl)thio]-1-methyl-1H-imidazole}-silver(I)tetrafluoroborate (6_, monoclinic, space group P 2₁/c), which cyclized upon heating at 80 °C to 7-methyl-2H, 3H, 7H-imidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-4-ium tetrafluoroborate (4b, monoclinic, space group P 2₁/c). Finally, we observed thermal isomerization of both 2 and 2,3-dihydro-3-methyl-1-[(1-methyl-1H-imidazole-2-yl)thioethyl]-1H-imidazole-2-thione (8), into 1,2-bis(2,3-dihydro-3-methyl-1H-imidazole-2-thione-1-yl)ethane (9), which confirmed their structures.     

In Vitro Inhibitory Analysis of Rationally Designed siRNAs against MERS-CoV Replication in Huh7 Cells

MERS-CoV was identified for the first time in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2012 in a hospitalized patient. This virus subsequently spread to 27 countries with a total of 939 deaths and 2586 confirmed cases and now has become a serious concern globally. Camels are well known for the transmission of the virus to the human population. In this report, we have discussed the prediction, designing, and evaluation of potential siRNA targeting the ORF1ab gene for the inhibition of MERS-CoV replication. The online software, siDirect 2.0 was used to predict and design the siRNAs, their secondary structure and their target accessibility. ORF1ab gene folding was performed by RNAxs and RNAfold software. A total of twenty-one siRNAs were selected from 462 siRNAs according to their scoring and specificity. siRNAs were evaluated in vitro for their cytotoxicity and antiviral efficacy in Huh7 cell line. No significant cytotoxicity was observed for all siRNAs in Huh7 cells. The in vitro study showed the inhibition of viral replication by three siRNAs. The data generated in this study provide preliminary and encouraging information to evaluate the siRNAs separately as well as in combination against MERS-CoV replication in other cell lines. The prediction of siRNAs using online software resulted in the filtration and selection of potential siRNAs with high accuracy and strength. This computational approach resulted in three effective siRNAs that can be taken further to in vivo animal studies and can be used to develop safe and effective antiviral therapies for other prevalent disease-causing viruses.     

Sage,Salvia officinalis L., Constituents,Hepatoprotective Activity,and Cytotoxicity Evaluations of the Essential Oils Obtained from Fresh and Differently Timed Dried Herbs: A Comparative Analysis

Sage, Salvia officinalis L., is used worldwide as an aromatic herb for culinary purposes as well as a traditional medicinal agent for various ailments. Current investigations exhibited the effects of extended dryings of the herb on the yields, composition, oil quality, and hepatoprotective as well as anti-cancer biological activities of the hydrodistillation-obtained essential oils from the aerial parts of the plant. The essential oils’ yields, compositions, and biological activities levels of the fresh and differently timed and room-temperature dried herbs differed significantly. The lowest yields of the essential oil were obtained from the fresh herbs (FH, 631 mg, 0.16%), while the highest yield was obtained from the two-week dried herbs (2WDH, 1102 mg, 0.28%). A notable decrease in monoterpenes, with increment in the sesquiterpene constituents, was observed for the FH-based essential oil as compared to all the other batches of the essential oils obtained from the different-timed dried herbs. Additionally, characteristic chemotypic constituents of sage, i.e., α-pinene, camphene, β-pinene, myrcene, 1, 8-cineole, α-thujone, and camphor, were present in significantly higher proportions in all the dried herbs’ essential oils as compared to the FH-based essential oil. The in vivo hepatoprotective activity demonstrated significant reductions in the levels of AST, ALT, and ALP, as well as a significant increase in the total protein (p < 0.05) contents level, as compared to the acetaminophen (AAP) administered experimental group of rats. A significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the ALT level was demonstrated by the 4WDH-based essential oil in comparison to the FH-based essential oil. The levels of creatinine, cholesterol, and triglycerides were reduced (p < 0.05) in the pre-treated rats by the essential oil batches, with non-significant differences found among them as a result of the herbs dryings based oils. A notable increase in the viability of the cells, and total antioxidant capacity (TAOxC) levels, together with the reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were observed by the essential oils obtained from all the batches as compared with the AAP-treated cell-lines, HepG-2, HeLa, and MCF-7, that indicated the in vitro hepatoprotective effects of the sage essential oils. However, significant improvements in the in vivo and in vitro hepatoprotective activities with the 4WDH-based oil, as compared to all other essential oil-batches and silymarin standard demonstrated the beneficial effects of the drying protocol for the herb for its medicinal purposes.     

Ternary β-Cyclodextrin Complexes as Models of Allosteric Effects

Two guests reacting with cyclodextrins (CDs) may form ternary complexes, in addition to the common competition of 1:1 complexes. One of the guests can really be included into the cavity of the CD, while the second guest molecule is either inserted close to the first one or attached to the outer surface of the supramolecule by H-bonding. There is a further possibility when the included guest bears a substituent outside the cavity and the second guest can interact with it. The properties of the ternary species formed are highly influenced by the solely (or primarily) included guest. The changes are attributed to the altered properties of the hydrophilic domain of the CD. The phenomena can be proved by NMR data obtained for some binary systems of -CD inclusion complexes and acetic acid and by the stability constants of the ternary complexes formed. Allosteric effects as well as coenzyme/apoenzyme/substrate interactions could be well modelled by these types of CD complexes.     

铟(Ⅲ)-7-(1-苯偶氮)-8-羟基喹啉-5-磺酸钠的配位吸附波及其应用

在ｐＨ４．５的 ０．０１５ ｍｏｌ／Ｌ ＨＡｃ－ＮａＡｃ介质中，Ｉｎ铟（Ⅲ）－７－（１－苯偶氮）－８－羟基喹啉－５－磺酸钠（ＢＱ）在滴汞电极上于－０．６６５－０．７０ Ｖ（ｖｓ．ＳＣＥ）电位处得到络合物的吸附还原波，其一阶导数峰电流Ｉ＇ｐ与Ｉｎ（Ⅲ）浓度在４．０× １０~（－８）～３．５ × １０~（－６）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ范围内呈良好的线性关系，检测限为１．６ × １０~（－８）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ Ｉｎ（Ⅲ）．应用该法测定了铅粉和氢氧化铝样品中的微量铟，结果令人满意。对电极反应机理进行了探讨。     

Synthesis of dichloro derivatives of linear and cyclic permethyloligosilanes and cyclolinear permethylpolysilane-siloxanes and permethylpolyoxysilane based on them

The reactions of dodecamethylcyclohexasilane with chlorides of I, II, IV—VI, and VIII Group metals were studied as a promising approach to the synthesis of functional oligosilanes. When cyclohexasilane reacts with metal chlorides without a solvent at elevated temperatures, the process is intensified and, in some cases, the selectivity of formation of chloro derivatives of linear and cyclic permethyloligosilanes increases. The cyclolinear permethylpolysilane-siloxanes were prepared by heterofunctional polycondensation of the resulting oligosilanes with bifunctional cyclic and linear permethyloligosiloxanes. Cyclolinear permethylpolyoxysilane was synthesized for the first time by the reaction of 1,3-dihydroxycyclohexasilane with 1,3-dichlorohexamethyltrisilane.     

An Investigation of Inclusion Complexes of Cyclodextrins with Phenylurea Herbicides by Photochemically-Induced Fluorescence. Analytical Applications

The effect of -cyclodextrin (-CD) and hydroxypropyl--cyclodextrin (HP--CD) upon the photochemically-induced fluorescence (PIF) properties of four phenylurea herbicides, including linuron, diuron, isoproturon and neburon has been studied. Photochemical conversion of these nonfluorescent herbicides into strongly fluorescent photoproducts was shown to occur in -CD and HP--CD aqueous media. The influence of pH, UV irradiation time and photoproduct stability on the fluorescence intensity was also investigated. In addition, the stoichiometry and formation constants of the complexes formed between herbicides and -cyclodextrin (-CD) or 2-hydroxypropyl--cyclodextrin (HP--CD) were determined. The formation constant values, ranging from 184 ± 40 to 1498 ± 245 M^-1, were calculated by applying the iterative nonlinear regression (NLR) approach to the PIF data. Linear calibrations graphs were established in the interval 1–12 g/mL, for diuron, linuron and neburon. The IUPAC limits of detection ranged between 580 and 700 ng/mL, according to the compound. Application to the analysis of phenylurea herbicides in spiked river water was also described.     

Three-component cyclization of hydroxylamino-substituted quinoline with reactive methylene compounds and formaldehyde: new method for the synthesis of 7-(isoxazolidin-2-yl)-6-fluoroquinolones

A one-step procedure was developed for the synthesis of new 6-fluoro-7-(isoxazolidin-2-yl)-4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinolines. The procedure is based on the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the azomethine oxide and 1,1-disubstituted alkenes, which are generated in situ from 6-fluoro-7-hydroxylamino-4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxylic acid and CH-active compounds (dialkyl malonates, ethyl acetoacetate), respectively, in the presence of formaldehyde at 100—120 °C.     

Rhodium-catalysed synthesis of fused pyrimidine derivatives employing N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles as a 1-aza-[4C] synthon

A new synthetic application of N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles acting as a 1-aza-[4C] synthon via the 1,2-shift reaction of an α-imine rhodium carbene was developed for the synthesis of fused pyrimidine derivatives. The high reactivity of the strained three-membered 2H-azirine ring facilitated the unusual cyclization of electron-deficient dienes with electron-deficient dienophiles. The compatibility was good with common functionalities tolerated. Excellent chemoselectivity was observed, and no reactions occurred between the rhodium carbene and 2H-azirine. The products could be converted into seven-membered multi-functionalized 1H-1,4-diazepine derivatives, illustrating the potential application of the protocol in medium-sized N-heterocycle synthesis.     

Flavone glucosides from Artemisia juncea

A new flavone glucoside, 4′,5-dihydroxy-3′,5′,6-trimethoxyflavone-7-O-β-D-glucoside was obtained from aerial parts of Artemisia juncea, together with the known flavone eupatilin (5,7-dihydroxy-3′,4′,6-trimethoxyflavone). The compounds were comprehensively analytically characterized by IR, UV, NMR and HR-MS, and their chemical structures ascertained. The EtOAc fraction of A. juncea showed the strongest DPPH radical scavenging ability as well as reducing power (in CUPRAC and FRAP assays) and phosphomolybdenum activity. This fraction also exhibited the strongest inhibitory effects on tyrosinase. Additionally, the best antidiabetic effects were observed for eupatilin and the CHCl₃ fraction.