A concise access to bridged [2,2,1] bicyclic lactones with a quaternary stereocenter via stereospecific hydroformylation.

Chiral bridged [2,2,1] bicyclic lactones are privileged structural units in pharmaceutics and bioactive nature products. However, the synthetic methods for these compounds are rare. Here we report an efficient method for enantioselective construction of bridged [2,2,1] bicyclic lactones bearing a quaternary stereocenter via Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydroformylation/intramolecular cyclization/pyridium chlorochromate (PCC) oxidation. By employing a hybrid phosphine-phosphite chiral ligand, a series of cyclopent-3-en-1-ols are transformed into corresponding γ-hydroxyl aldehydes with specific syn-selectivity. Then, hemiacetals form in situ and oxidation with PCC in one-pot affords bridged [2,2,1] bicyclic lactones in high yields and excellent enantiomeric excess. Replacing the hydroxyl group by an ester group, cyclopentanecarbaldehydes with a chiral all-carbon quaternary stereocenter in the γ-position can be generated efficiently.

Structure-Based Drug Design of Phenazopyridine Derivatives as Inhibitors of Rev1 Interactions in Translesion Synthesis.

Rev1 is a protein scaffold of the translesion synthesis (TLS) pathway, which employs low-fidelity DNA polymerases for replication of damaged DNA. The TLS pathway helps cancers tolerate DNA damage induced by genotoxic chemotherapy, and increases mutagenesis in tumors, thus accelerating the onset of chemoresistance. TLS inhibitors have emerged as potential adjuvant drugs to enhance the efficacy of first-line chemotherapy, with the majority of reported inhibitors targeting protein-protein interactions (PPIs) of the Rev1 C-terminal domain (Rev1-CT). We previously identified phenazopyridine (PAP) as a scaffold to disrupt Rev1-CT PPIs with Rev1-interacting regions (RIRs) of TLS polymerases. To explore the structure-activity relationships for this scaffold, we developed a protocol for co-crystallization of compounds that target the RIR binding site on Rev1-CT with a triple Rev1-CT/Rev7R124A /Rev3-RBM1 complex, and solved an X-ray crystal structure of Rev1-CT bound to the most potent PAP analogue. The structure revealed an unexpected binding pose of the compound and informed changes to the scaffold to improve its affinity for Rev1-CT. We synthesized eight additional PAP derivatives, with modifications to the scaffold driven by the structure, and evaluated their binding to Rev1-CT by microscale thermophoresis (MST). Several second-generation PAP derivatives showed an affinity for Rev1-CT that was improved by over an order of magnitude, thereby validating the structure-based assumptions that went into the compound design.

A Cell-Free Approach Based on Phospholipid Characterization for Determination of the Cell Specific Unbound Drug Fraction (fu,cell).

PURPOSE: The intracellular fraction of unbound compound (fu,cell) is an important parameter for accurate prediction of drug binding to intracellular targets. fu,cell is the result of a passive distribution process of drug molecules partitioning into cellular structures. Initial observations in our laboratory showed an up to 10-fold difference in the fu,cell of a given drug for different cell types. We hypothesized that these differences could be explained by the phospholipid (PL) composition of the cells, since the PL cell membrane is the major sink of unspecific drug binding. Therefore, we determined the fu,cell of 19 drugs in cell types of different origin. METHOD: The cells were characterized for their total PL content and we used mass spectrometric PL profiling to delineate the impact of each of the four major cellular PL subspecies: phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidylinositol (PI). The cell-based experiments were compared to cell-free experiments that used beads covered by PL bilayers consisting of the most abundant PL subspecies. RESULTS: PC was found to give the largest contribution to the drug binding. Improved correlations between the cell-based and cell-free assays were obtained when affinities to all four major PL subspecies were considered. Together, our data indicate that fu,cell is influenced by PL composition of cells. CONCLUSION: We conclude that cellular PL composition varies between cell types and that cell-specific mixtures of PLs can replace cellular assays for determination of fu,cell as a rapid, small-scale assay covering a broad dynamic range. Graphical Abstract.

Anticancer and antibacterial activity in vitro evaluation of iridium(III) polypyridyl complexes.

Three iridium(III) polypyridyl complexes [Ir(ppy)2(PYTA)](PF6) (1) (ppy = 2-phenylpyridine), [Ir(bzq)2(PYTA)](PF6) (2) (bzq = benzo[h]quinolone) and [Ir(piq)2(PYTA)](PF6) (3) (piq = 1-phenylisoquinoline, PYTA = 2,4-diamino-6-(2'-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR. The cytotoxic activity of the complexes toward cancer SGC-7901, Eca-109, A549, HeLa, HepG2, BEL-7402 and normal LO2 cell lines was investigated by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. Complex 3 shows the most effective on inhibiting the above cell growth among these complexes. The complexes locate at the lysosomes and mitochondria. AO/EB, Annex V and PI and comet assays indicate that the complexes can induce apoptosis in SGC-7901 cells. Intracellular ROS and mitochondrial membrane potential were examined under fluorescence microscopy. The results demonstrate that the complexes increase the intracellular ROS levels and induce a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential. The complexes can enhance intracellular Ca2+ concentration and cause a release of cytochrome c. The autophagy was studied using MDC staining and western blot. Complexes 1-3 can effectively inhibit the cell invasion with a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, the complexes target tubules and inhibit the polymerization of tubules. The antimicrobial activity of the complexes against S. aureus, E. coli, Salmonella and L. monocytogenes was explored. The mechanism shows that the complexes induce apoptosis in SGC-7901 cells through ROS-mediated lysosomal-mitochondrial, targeting tubules and damage DNA pathways. Three iridium(III) complexes [Ir(N-C)2(PYTA)](PF6) (N-C = ppy, 1; bzq, 2; piq, 3) were synthesized and characterized. The anticancer activity of the complexes against SGC-7901 cells was studied by apoptosis, comet assay, autophagy, ROS, mitochondrial membrane potential, intracellular Ca2+ levels, release of cytochrome c, tubules and western blot analysis. The antibacterial activity in vitro was also assayed.

Design, synthesis, biological evaluation, and docking study of 4-isochromanone hybrids bearing N-benzyl pyridinium moiety as dual binding site acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (part II).

A series of novel 4-isochromanone compounds bearing N-benzyl pyridinium moiety were designed and synthesized as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors. The biological evaluation showed that most of the target compounds exhibited potent inhibitory activities against AChE. Among them, compound 1q possessed the strongest anti-AChE activity with an IC50 value of 0.15 nm and high AChE/BuChE selectivity (SI > 5,000). Moreover, compound 1q had low toxicity in normal nerve cells and was relatively stable in rat plasma. Together, the current finding may provide a new approach for the discovery of novel anti-Alzheimer's disease agents.

Phenazopyridine-phthalimide nano-cocrystal: Release rate and oral bioavailability enhancement.

Both cocrystal and nanocrystal technologies have been widely used in the pharmaceutical development for poorly soluble drugs. However, the synergistic effects due to the integration of these two technologies have not been well investigated. The aim of this study is to develop a nano-sized cocrystal of phenazopyridine (PAP) with phthalimide (PI) to enhance the release rate and oral bioavailability of PAP. A PAP-PI nano-cocrystal with particle diameter of 21.4±0.1nm was successfully prepared via a sonochemical approach and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. An in vitro release study revealed a significant release rate enhancement for PAP-PI nano-cocrystal as compared to PAP-PI cocrystal and PAP hydrochloride salt. Further, a comparative oral bioavailability study in rats indicated significant improvement in Cmax and oral bioavailability (AUC0-∞) by 1.39- and 2.44-fold, respectively. This study demonstrated that this novel nano-cocrystal technology can be a new promising option to improve release rate and absorption of poorly soluble compounds in the pharmaceutical industry.

A high-efficient batch-recirculated photoreactor packed with immobilized TiO2-P25 nanoparticles onto glass beads for photocatalytic degradation of phenazopyridine as a pharmaceutical contaminant: artificial neural network modeling.

In this study, removal efficiency of phenazopyridine (PhP) as a model pharmaceutical contaminant was investigated in a batch-recirculated photoreactor packed with immobilized TiO2-P25 nanoparticles on glass beads. Influence of various operational parameters such as irradiation time, initial concentration of PhP, volume of solution, volumetric flow rate, pH and power of light source was investigated. Results indicated that removal percentage increases with the rise of irradiation time, volumetric flow rate and power of light source but decreases with the rise of initial concentration of PhP and volume of solution. Highest removal percentage was obtained in the natural pH of PhP solution (pH = 5.9). Results of mineralization studies also showed a decreasing trend of total organic carbon (TOC) and producing mineralization products such as NO3(-), NO2(-) and NH4(+). Modeling of the process using artificial neural network showed that the most effective parameters in the degradation of PhP were volume of solution and power of light source. The packed bed photoreactor with TiO2-P25 nanoparticles coated onto glass beads in consecutive repeats have the proper ability for PhP degradation. Therefore, this system can be a promising alternative for the removal of recalcitrant organic pollutants such as PhP from aqueous solutions.

Fluorinated Boronic Acid-Appended Bipyridinium Salts for Diol Recognition and Discrimination via (19)F NMR Barcodes.

Fluorinated boronic acid-appended benzyl bipyridinium salts, derived from 4,4'-, 3,4'-, and 3,3'-bipyridines, were synthesized and used to detect and differentiate diol-containing analytes at physiological conditions via (19)F NMR spectroscopy. An array of three water-soluble boronic acid receptors in combination with (19)F NMR spectroscopy discriminates nine diol-containing bioanalytes--catechol, dopamine, fructose, glucose, glucose-1-phosphate, glucose-6-phosphate, galactose, lactose, and sucrose--at low mM concentrations. Characteristic (19)F NMR fingerprints are interpreted as two-dimensional barcodes without the need of multivariate analysis techniques.

Molecular binding behavior of bipyridium derivatives by water-soluble carboxylato-biphen[3]arene.

Complexation of two types of dicationic bipyridium guests, paraquat derivatives and bis(N-mono-substituted bipyridine) cations, by a negatively charged carboxylato-biphen[3]arene (CBP3) in water is reported. CBP3 could strongly interact with these guests, where charge-transfer and electrostatic interactions play important roles.

Electronic tuning of site-selectivity.

Site-selective functionalizations of complex small molecules can generate targeted derivatives with exceptional step efficiency, but general strategies for maximizing selectivity in this context are rare. Here, we report that site-selectivity can be tuned by simply modifying the electronic nature of the reagents. A Hammett analysis is consistent with linking this phenomenon to the Hammond postulate: electronic tuning to a more product-like transition state amplifies site-discriminating interactions between a reagent and its substrate. This strategy transformed a minimally site-selective acylation reaction into a highly selective and thus preparatively useful one. Electronic tuning of both an acylpyridinium donor and its carboxylate counterion further promoted site-divergent functionalizations. With these advances, we achieve a range of modifications to just one of the many hydroxyl groups appended to the ion channel-forming natural product amphotericin B. Thus, electronic tuning of reagents represents an effective strategy for discovering and optimizing site-selective functionalization reactions.

Aryne [3 + 2] cycloaddition with N-sulfonylpyridinium imides and in situ generated N-sulfonylisoquinolinium imides: a potential route to pyrido[1,2-b]indazoles and indazolo[3,2-a]isoquinolines.

The aryne [3 + 2] cycloaddition process with pyridinium imides breaks the aromaticity of the pyridine ring. By equipping the imide nitrogen with a sulfonyl group, the intermediate readily eliminates a sulfinate anion to restore the aromaticity, leading to the formation of pyrido[1,2-b]indazoles. The scope and limitation of this reaction are discussed. As an extension of this chemistry, N-tosylisoquinolinium imides, generated in situ from N'-(2-alkynylbenzylidene)-tosylhydrazides via an AgOTf-catalyzed 6-endo-dig electrophilic cyclization, readily undergo aryne [3 + 2] cycloaddition to afford indazolo[3,2-a]-isoquinolines in the same pot, offering a highly efficient route to these potential anticancer agents.

CdS-sensitized TiO2 in phenazopyridine photo-degradation: catalyst efficiency, stability and feasibility assessment.

Mineralization of phenazopyridine, 1, in water, under solar-simulator radiation was efficiently achieved using nanoparticle CdS-sensitized rutile TiO(2), TiO(2)/CdS, 2, as photo-catalysts. Despite that, 2 showed two main drawbacks. Firstly, the system was difficult to recover by simple filtration, and demanded centrifugation. Secondly, the sensitizer CdS showed relatively high tendency to leach out hazardous Cd(2+) ions under photo-degradation reaction conditions. In an attempt to solve out such difficulties, 2 was supported onto sand surface. The sand/TiO(2)/CdS system, 3, was easier to recover but showed slightly lower catalytic activity compared to 2. On the other hand, the support failed to prevent leaching of Cd(2+). This indicates limited future applicability of CdS-sensitized TiO(2) photo-catalyst systems, in solar-based water purification strategies, unless leaching out tendency is completely prevented.

Highly regio- and stereoselective synthesis of (Z)-trisubstituted alkenes via propyne bromoboration and tandem Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling.

Contrary to all previous reports, bromoboration of propyne with BBr(3) proceeds in >or=98% syn-selectivity to produce (Z)-2-bromo-1-propenyldibromoborane (1). Although 1 is readily prone to stereoisomerization, it can be converted to the pinacolboronate (2) of >or=98% isomeric purity by treatment with pinacol, which may then be subjected to Negishi coupling to give trisubstituted (Z)-alkenylpinacolboronates (3) containing various R groups in 73-90% yields. Iodinolysis of 3 affords alkenyl iodides (4) in 80-90% yields. All alkenes isolated and identified are >or=98% Z.

Isolation and characterization of a potential process related impurity of phenazopyridine HCl by preparative HPLC followed by MS-MS and 2D-NMR spectroscopy.

During the process development of phenazopyridine HCl bulk drug, a potential impurity was detected in the routine impurity profiles by HPLC. Using MS-MS and multidimensional NMR techniques, the trace level impurity was unambiguously identified to be 3-phenyl-5-phenylazo-pyridine-2,6-diamine after its isolation from phenazopyridine HCl by semi-preparative HPLC. The formation of the impurity was discussed. To our knowledge, it is a novel impurity not reported elsewhere.

[Spectroscopic studies on the binding of phenazopyridine hydrochloride and bovine serum albumin].

The binding of phenazopyridine hydrochloride and bovine serum albumin under physiological conditions was studied by spectroscopic method. The quenching mechanism of the fluorescence of bovine serum albumin by phenazopyridine hydrochloride was studied with fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy. The binding constant Kb and the number of binding sites n were determined at different temperatures according to Scatchard equation, and the main binding force was discussed by thermodynamic equations. The effect of the drug on bovine serum albumin conformation was also studied by using synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy. The quenching mechanism of phenazopyridine hydrochloride to bovine serum albumin is static quenching and non-radiation energy transfer. The binding constants Kb at 15, 25 and 37 degrees C are 2.47 x 10(7), 9.15 x 10(6) and 4.36 x 10(6) mol(-1) with one binding site, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters of the reaction are DeltaH = -71.2 kJ x mol(-1), and DeltaS = 124.8 J x mol(-1) x K(-1). Binding phenazopyridine hydrochloride to bovine serum albumin is a spontaneous inter-molecular interaction in which entropy increases and Gibbs free energy decreases. The binding distance r between phenazopyridine hydrochloride and bovine serum albumin is 1.61 nm according to Forster theory of non-radiation energy transfer. The binding force is electrostatic interaction. Phenazopyridine hydrochloride can be deposited and transported by serum protein in vivo. Phenazopyridine hydrochloride does affect the serum protein conformation.

Photochemistry of phenazopyridine hydrochloride.

Phenazopyridine hydrochloride (1) is an azo dye with local analgesic and anaesthetic effects on the urinary tract. Its photochemistry was studied in different reaction media including the drug adsorbed on silica gel. This resulted in photochemical cyclodehydrogenation, reductive photodegradation and rearrangement of the drug molecule. Four major products were isolated and identified on the basis of IR, NMR and mass spectral studies. The products are: pyrido[3,4-c]cinnoline-2,4-diamine (2), N3-phenylpyridine-2,3,4,6-tetraamine (3), pyridine-2,3,6-triamine (4), 2,6-diamino-1-(4-aminophenyl)pyridin-4(1H)-one (5).

1H, 13C and 15N NMR assignments of phenazopyridine derivatives.

Phenazopyridine hydrochloride (1), a drug in clinical use for many decades, and some derivatives were studied by one- and two-dimensional (1)H, (13)C and (15)N NMR methodology. The assignments, combined with DFT calculations, reveal that the preferred protonation site of the drug is the pyridine ring nitrogen atom. The chemoselective acetylation of phenazopyridine (2) and its influence on the polarization of the azo nitrogen atoms were evidenced by the (15)N NMR spectra. Molecular calculations of the phenazopyridines 2-4 show that the pyridine and phenyl groups are oriented in an antiperiplanar conformation with intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the N-b atom and the C-2 amino group preserving the E-azo stereochemistry.

Electron transport in bipyridinium films.

Bipyridinium dications are versatile building blocks for the assembly of functional materials. In particular, their reliable electrochemical response has encouraged the design of electroactive films. Diverse and elegant experimental strategies to coat metallic and semiconducting electrodes with bipyridinium compounds have, in fact, emerged over the past two decades. The resulting interfacial assemblies span from a few nanometers to several micrometers in thickness. They incorporate from a single molecular layer to large collections of entangled polymer chains. They transport electrons efficiently from the electrode surface to the film/solution interface and vice versa. Electron self-exchange between and the physical diffusion of the bipyridinium building blocks conspire in defining the charge transport properties of these fascinating electroactive assemblies. Often, the matrix of electron-deficient bipyridinium dications can be exploited to entrap electron-rich analytes. Electrostatic interactions promote the supramolecular association of the guests with the surface-confined host matrix. Furthermore, chromophoric sites can be coupled to the bipyridinium dications to produce photosensitive arrays capable of harvesting light and generating current. Thus, thorough investigations on the fundamental properties of these functional molecule-based materials can lead to promising applications in electroanalysis and solar energy conversion, while contributing to advances in the basic understanding of electron transport in interfacial assemblies.

Binding of transition metal ions [cobalt, copper, nickel and zinc] with furanyl-, thiophenyl-, pyrrolyl-, salicylyl- and pyridyl-derived cephalexins as potent antibacterial agents.

A method is described for the preparation of novel cephalexin-derived furanyl-, thiophenyl-, pyrrolyl-, salicylyl- and pyridyl-containing compounds showing potent antibacterial activity. The binding of these newly synthesized antibacterial agents with metal ions such as cobalt(II), copper(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II) has been studied and their inhibitory properties against various bacterial species such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae are also reported. These results suggest that metal ions to possess an important role in the designing of metal-based antibacterials and that such complexes are more effective against infectious diseases compared to the uncomplexed drugs.