Fe(Cp)2PF6: An efficient catalyst for cyanosilylation of carbonyl compounds under solvent free condition

An efficient method for the addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) to various aldehydes and ketones has been described using Fe(Cp)₂PF₆ (2.5 mol%) as a catalyst under solvent free condition. Excellent yields of trimethylsilylether of cyanohydrin up to (94%) was achieved within 10 min.     

Oxazoline‐Based Organocatalyst for Enantioselective Strecker Reactions: A Protocol for the Synthesis of Levamisole

A chiral oxazoline‐based organocatalyst has been found to efficiently catalyze asymmetric Strecker reactions of various aromatic and aliphatic N‐benzhydrylimines with trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) as a cyanide source at ?20 °C to give α‐aminonitriles in high yield (96 %) with excellent chiral induction (up to 98 % ee). DFT calculations have been performed to rationalize the enantioselective formation of the product with the organocatalyst in these reactions. The organocatalyst has been characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis, as well as by other analytical methods. This protocol has been extended to the synthesis of the pharmaceutically important drug molecule levamisole in high yield and with high enantioselectivity.     

Methoxy-Substituted Tyramine Derivatives Synthesis,Computational Studies and Tyrosinase Inhibitory Kinetics

Targeting tyrosinase for melanogenesis disorders is an established strategy. Hydroxyl-substituted benzoic and cinnamic acid scaffolds were incorporated into new chemotypes that displayed in vitro inhibitory effects against mushroom and human tyrosinase for the purpose of identifying anti-melanogenic ingredients. The most active compound 2-((4-methoxyphenethyl)amino)-2-oxoethyl (E)-3-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl) acrylate (Ph9), inhibited mushroom tyrosinase with an IC₅₀ of 0.059 nM, while 2-((4-methoxyphenethyl)amino)-2-oxoethyl cinnamate (Ph6) had an IC₅₀ of 2.1 nM compared to the positive control, kojic acid IC₅₀ 16700 nM. Results of human tyrosinase inhibitory activity in A375 human melanoma cells showed that compound (Ph9) and Ph6 exhibited 94.6% and 92.2% inhibitory activity respectively while the positive control kojic acid showed 72.9% inhibition. Enzyme kinetics reflected a mixed type of inhibition for inhibitor Ph9 (K_i 0.093 nM) and non-competitive inhibition for Ph6 (K_i 2.3 nM) revealed from Lineweaver–Burk plots. In silico docking studies with mushroom tyrosinase (PDB ID:2Y9X) predicted possible binding modes in the catalytic site for these active compounds. Ph9 displayed no PAINS (pan-assay interference compounds) alerts. Our results showed that compound Ph9 is a potential candidate for further development of tyrosinase inhibitors.     

Studies on novel thermally stable segmented polyurethanes based on thiourea-derivative diols

Novel thermoplastic segmented poly(urethane-thiourea)s (PURs) were synthesized via one-step polymerization from aromatic diols containing sulfur (thiourea linkage) in the main-chain, including terephthaloyl bis (3-(2-hydroxopyridyl) thiourea) (TBHPT) and terephthaloyl bis (3-(5-naphtholyl) thiourea) (TBNT), along with 1,4-phenylene diisocyanate (PDI) as hard segment and 20, 50 and 80 mol% polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a soft segment. The prepared chain extenders and polymers were characterized by conventional methods, and physical properties such as η_inh, solubility, thermal stability and thermal behavior were studied. Easily processable PURs with excellent thermal stability were obtained by incorporating 20 mol% PEG in the soft segment. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that poly(urethane-thiourea)s were fairly stable above 500 °C and own high glass transition temperatures about 263-266 °C. These polymers also showed partially crystalline structures. Ultimately, weight average molecular weights (M_w) of PURs were up to 109 × 10³. Compared to typical polyurethanes, PURs exhibited better thermal stability and T_g’s owing to rigid hard segment structure.     

Isolation of bioactive allelochemicals from sunflower (variety Suncross-42) through fractionation-guided bioassays

Plants are rich source of biologically active allelochemicals. However, natural product discovery is not an easy task. Many problems encountered during this laborious practice can be overcome through the modification of preliminary trials. Bioassay-directed isolation of active plant compounds can increase efficiency by eliminating many of the problems encountered. This strategy avoids unnecessary compounds, concentrating on potential components and thus reducing the cost and time required. In this study, a crude aqueous extract of sunflower leaves was fractionated through high performance liquid chromatography. The isolated fractions were checked against Chenopodium album and Rumex dentatus. The fraction found active against two selected weeds was re-fractionated, and the active components were checked for their composition. Thin layer chromatography isolated a range of phenolics, whereas the presence of bioactive terpenoids was confirmed through mass spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.     

Synthesis of enantiopure β-amino alcohols via AKR/ARO of epoxides using recyclable macrocyclic Cr(III) salen complexes

A series of chiral macrocyclic Cr(III) salen complexes 1-8 were synthesized and characterized. These complexes were found to be highly active, regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselective catalysts in aminolytic kinetic resolution (AKR) of racemic trans-epoxides as well as asymmetric ring opening (ARO) of prochiral meso-epoxides with various anilines as nucleophiles at room temperature in 18-24 h. Excellent yields (>99% with respect to the nucleophile) with high enantioselectivity (ee, >99%) of chiral anti-β-amino alcohols was achieved with concomitant recovery of corresponding epoxides in high ee (up to >99%). The complex 1 also catalyzed the ARO of meso-epoxides to provide corresponding syn-β-amino alcohols in high yield (99%) and ee (up to 91%). Due to built-in basic sites in the catalyst, no external base (as an additive) was required to promote AKR and ARO reactions. The catalyst 1 was conveniently recycled several times with retention of its performance. The AKR of trans-stilbene oxide with aniline was successfully demonstrated at relatively higher scale (10 mmol) using the catalyst 1.     

Investigation on novel thermoplastic poly(urethane-thiourea-imide)s with enhanced chemical and heat resistance

A new generation of segmented thermoplastic poly(urethane-thiourea-imide)s (PUTIs) was synthesized via reaction of polyethylene glycol and thiourea-based prepolymer with dianhydride as chain extenders. NCO-terminated prepolymer was synthesized from a new diisocyanate, 3-(3-((4-isocyanatophenyl)carbamoyl)thioureido)phenyl-4-isocyanatophenylcarbamate (IPCT), as a hard segment and PEG forming soft segment. The starting materials and polymers were characterized by conventional methods and physical properties such as solubility, solution viscosity, molecular weight, thermal stability and thermal behavior were studied. PUTIs showed partially crystalline structures. Weight average molecular weights of PUTIs (GPC measurements) were in the range of 1,68,694-1,97,035. Moreover, thermogravimetric analysis indicated that poly(urethane-thiourea-imide)s were fairly stable above 500 °C having T₁₀ of 521-543 °C. Investigation of the results authenticated the approach of introducing thiourea (using IPCT) and imide structure in polyurethanes for the improvement of thermal stability. In comparison to typical polyurethanes, these polymers exhibited better heat resistance, chemical resistance as well as processability.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel thermally stable aromatic and semiaromatic polyamides derived from thiourea-based flexible diacid dichlorides

Abstract  

New diacid dichlorides bearing phenyl thiourea groups were prepared by a facile synthetic approach and characterized using spectroscopic and elemental analyses. A series of novel aromatic and semiaromatic polyamides were prepared via a condensation route from the synthesized diacid dichlorides with 4,4′-oxydianiline. The polymers were characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and their physical properties, including their solution viscosities, solubilities and thermal properties, were studied too. Polyamides with phenyl thiourea moieties in the backbone showed good solubilities in amide solvents such as DMAc, DMF, DMSO, and NMP. All of the synthesized polymers had η _inh values of 0.042–0.053 dm³/g, and were obtained in quantitative yield. GPC measurements of the synthesized polyamides indicated M _w values of 64,759–86,172. The crystallinity of the polymers was evaluated via their X-ray diffraction patterns. Their glass transition temperatures were found to be 218–229 °C. Furthermore, thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the polymers were thermally stable in the range 300–398 °C in a N₂ atmosphere.