Chemical modification and doping of poly(p-phenylenes): A theoretical study.

CONTEXT: Conjugated polymers (CPs) have been recognized as promising materials for the manufacture of electronic devices. However, further studies are still needed to enhance the electrical conductivity of these type of organic materials. The two main strategies for achieving this improvement are the doping process and chemical modification of the polymer chain. Therefore, in this article, we conduct a theoretical investigation, employing DFT calculations to evaluate the structural, energetic, and electronic properties of pristine and push-pull-derived poly(p-phenylene) oligomers (PPPs), as well as the analysis at the molecular level of the polymer doping process. As a primary conclusion, we determined that the PPP oligomer substituted with the push-pull group 4-EtN/CNPhNO2 exhibited the smallest HOMO-LUMO gap (Eg) among the studied oligomers. Moreover, we observed that the doping process, whether through electron removal or the introduction of the dopant anion ClO4-, led to a substantial reduction in the Eg of the PPP, indicating an enhancement in the polymer's electrical conductivity. METHODS: DFT calculations were conducted using the PBE0 functional along with the Pople's split valence 6-31G(d,p) basis set, which includes polarization functions on all atoms (B97D/6-31G(d,p)).

Levobunolol-imprinted polymer: a theoretical study.

CONTEXT: Levobunolol is a ß-blocker drug prescribed for the control and prevention of cardiovascular events, such as individuals with cardiac arrhythmia or a history of myocardial infarction. Creating a levobunolol-specific molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) allows for enhanced selectivity, efficient sample preparation, controlled drug delivery, and improved sensing and detection capabilities. In this sense, the aim of this study was to obtain through DFT calculations the synthesis protocol of a MIP for levobunolol testing different functional monomers (FMs), solvents, and cross-linker agents (CLAs). The analysis of structural and energetic data led to the identification of the optimal MIP synthesis parameters, which involves the use of (trifluoromethyl)-arylic acid (TFMAA) as the functional monomer, toluene and chloroform as the solvents, and pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETRA) as the cross-linking agent. This rational design offers valuable insights for experimentalists seeking to efficiently synthesize a MIP for this important ß-blocker drug. METHODS: DFT calculations were conducted using the B97D functional along with the Pople's split valence 6-31G(d,p) basis set, which includes polarization functions on all atoms (B97D/6-31G(d,p)).

Atenolol-imprinted polymer: a DFT study.

The purpose of this work was to investigate, via DFT calculations, the molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for atenolol (ATL) ß-blocker evaluating distinct functional monomers (FMs), solvents, and cross-linker agents (CLAs). As the main result, we could determine from structural and thermodynamic data the best MIP synthesis protocol as being: p-vinyl benzoic acid (APV) as FM, toluene as solvent, and pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETRA) as CLA. We believe this rational design can be very useful for experimentalists in an attempt to perform an efficient synthesis of a MIP for this important ß-blocker drug.

Computational study on acetamiprid-molecular imprinted polymer.

In the present work we investigate, through DFT calculations, the mechanism of formation of a molecular imprinted polymer for the acetamiprid (ACT) insecticide, using four different functional monomers, four molar ratios attempts, and considering eight distinct solvents. As the main result we obtain the following theoretical protocol for the MIP synthesis: methacrylic acid (MMA) as functional monomer, 1:4 M ratio, i.e., one ACT to four MMAs, and chloroform as solvent. This DFT calculated condition shows more favorable energies for the formed complexes. We consider this work quite relevant since it can be used by experimentalists in order to reach an efficient MIP synthesis for ACT, avoiding wasted time and laboratory resources. Graphical abstract Best MIP Synthesis Protocol for Acetamiprid.

Hydrophobic Nanoprecipitates of ß-Cyclodextrin/Avermectins Inclusion Compounds Reveal Insecticide Activity against Aedes aegypti Larvae and Low Toxicity against Fibroblasts.

In the present work, hydrophobic nanoprecipitates (HNPs) of inclusion complexes formed between ß-cyclodextrin (ßCD) and the avermectins (AVMs) named eprinomectin (EPRI) and ivermectin (IVER) were synthesized and characterized, and their larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti and human safety against fibroblasts were evaluated. Initially, thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis data revealed that inclusion increased the thermal stability of AVMs in the presence of ßCD. Nuclear magnetic resonance experiments and density functional theory calculations pointed out the inclusion of the benzofuran ring of the two AVMs in the ßCD cavity. Isothermal titration calorimetry experiments allowed identification of different binding constants for EPRI/ßCD ( Kb = 1060) and ßCD/IVER ( Kb = 1700) systems, despite the structural similarity. Dynamic light scattering titrations of AVMs' dimethyl sulfoxide solution in ßCD aqueous solution demonstrated that the formed HNPs have lower sizes in the presence of ßCD. Finally, the inclusion of EPRI in ßCD increased its larval toxicity and reduced its human cytotoxicity, while for IVER/ßCD no beneficial effect was observed upon inclusion. These results were rationalized in terms of structural differences between the two molecules. Finally, the EPRI/ßCD complex has great potential as an insecticide against A. aegypti larvae with high human safety.

Synthesis and evaluation of the mutagenicity of 3-alkylpyridine marine alkaloid analogues with anticancer potential.

Theonella sp is an important source of biologically-active 3-alkylpyridine alkaloids (3-APAs) that has shown a wide variety of promising biological effects. In the present work, two new 3-APAs analogues were synthesized based on molecular modeling studies to act as potential antimalarial agents. These theoneladin C analogues, containing the thiocyanate group in their chemical structures, were synthesized and evaluated against Plasmodium falciparum (IC50 values ranging from 2.3 to 5.5µM). The structural and energetic analysis demonstrated a high chemical affinity of the two analogues for their target, the heme group. However, despite the good antimalarial activity, the compounds exhibited high cytotoxicity and a lack of selectivity for human cell lines. These findings prompted us to evaluate the cytotoxicity of these compounds against human cancer cell lines. In order to better understand the mechanisms responsible for the toxicity, a variety of genotoxicity assays were performed in vitro. One of the compounds assayed presented an interesting selectivity and high toxicity to the human colon cancer cell line RKO-AS45-1. In addition, the results of the micronucleus assay, comet assay, Ames assay and annexin-V/propidium iodide staining showed that the synthetic alkaloids were able to induce chromosomal mis-segregation and trigger cell death by apoptosis. These results demonstrate that the compounds assessed herein may be promising prototypes of anticancer chemotherapeutic agents.

Computational investigation on the host-guest inclusion process of norfloxacin into ß-cyclodextrin.

A theoretical (1)H NMR spectroscopy and thermodynamic analysis of the host-guest inclusion process involving the norfloxacin (NFX) into ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) was carried out. DFT structure and stabilization energies were obtained in both gas and aqueous phases. We could establish that the complex formation is enthalpy driven, and the hydrogen bonds established between NFX and ß-CD play a major role in the complex stabilization. Besides, a theoretical (1)H NMR analysis has shown to be a supplementary proceeding to predict appropriately the inclusion mode of norfloxacin molecule into the ß-CD. In this work, a theoretical study of the NFX@ß-CD complex is reported for the first time, seeking a deep understanding of topology and thermodynamics of the inclusion complex formation. Graphical Abstract Topology, thermodynamic and (1)H NMR analysis of NFX@ß-CD host-guest complexes.

Revealing the Binding Process of New 3-Alkylpyridine Marine Alkaloid Analogue Antimalarials and the Heme Group: An Experimental and Theoretical Investigation.

Synthetic 3-alkylpyridine marine alkaloid (3-APA) analogues have shown good antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum. However, despite their structural originality, their molecular target was unknown. Herein, we report a proposal for the antimalarial mechanism of action of 3-APA analogues through interference with the process of hemozoin (Hz) formation. The interaction between 3-APA analogues and heme groups was investigated employing an in silico approach and biophysical techniques such as ultraviolet-visible light (UV-vis) titration and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The in silico approach was performed based on pure ab initio electronic structure methods in order to obtain insights at the molecular level concerning the binding process of antimalarial drugs at their target site, the heme group. In silico results showed that the formation of heme:3-APA complexes at a molecular ratio of 2:1 are more stable than 1:1 complexes. These results were further confirmed by experimental techniques, such as UV-vis and high-resolution mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF), for two of the most active 3-APA analogues.

Inclusion complex thermodynamics: The ß-cyclodextrin and sertraline complex example.

Thermodynamic properties for ß-cyclodextrin-Sertraline inclusion process was calculated at the density functional theory (DFT) level using the PBE0 functional with 6-31G(d,p), 6-31++G(d,p) and 6-311++G(2df,p) basis sets. Electron correlation was evaluated through Møller-Plesset second-order perturbation theory (MP2). The standard statistical thermodynamic approach was used to assess the entropic contribution to the Gibbs free energy value. According to our results, inclusion of hydration waters to describe the reactants and products in the complex formation reaction model is crucial in order to reproduce the experimental data and seems very coherent with basics thermodynamics yielding good agreement with experiment.

Theoretical and experimental study of inclusion complexes formed by isoniazid and modified ß-cyclodextrins: 1H NMR structural determination and antibacterial activity evaluation.

Me-ß-cyclodextrin (Me-ßCD) and HP-ß-cyclodextrin (HP-ßCD) inclusion complexes with isoniazid (INH) were prepared with the aim of modulating the physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties of the guest molecule, a well-known antibuberculosis drug. The architectures of the complexes were initially proposed according to NMR data Job plot and ROESY followed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations of (1)H NMR spectra using the PBE1PBE functional and 6-31G(d,p) basis set, including the water solvent effect with the polarizable continuum model (PCM), for various inclusion modes, providing support for the experimental proposal. An analysis of the (1)H NMR chemical shift values for the isoniazid (H6',8' and H5',9') and cyclodextrins (H3,5) C(1)H hydrogens, which are known to be very adequately described by the DFT methodology, revealed them to be extremely useful, promptly confirming the inclusion complex formation. An included mode which describes Me-ßCD partially enclosing the hydrazide group of the INH is predicted as the most favorable supramolecular structure that can be used to explain the physicochemical properties of the encapsulated drug. Antibacterial activity was also evaluated, and the results indicated the inclusion complexes are a potential strategy for tuberculosis treatment.

Structure and stability of (alpha-CD)3 aggregate and OEG@(alpha-CD)3 pseudorotaxane in aqueous solution: a molecular dynamics study.

Empty linear associations accounting for three alpha-CD units and their corresponding pseudorotaxanes have been studied by means of long length molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in a vacuum and in aqueous solution. Results from MD for empty sequences lead to a quite stable arrangement formed by three mutually perpendicular cyclodextrin (CD) units named here as 3P. In such a spatial arrangement, the van der Waals term in the force field is pronounced, accounting for almost 40% of the association energy, which ensures the noticeable stability of the 3P association even in aqueous media. In addition, it can be stated that only the presence of the oligomer forces the CD units to acquire an almost linear association. Mutually perpendicular-based arrangements are the most favorable spatial disposition in aqueous media. We believe this work is the first step toward a more ambitious study including very large CD sequences, aiming to understand the association process in aqueous solution at a molecular level.

Supramolecular self-assembly of cyclodextrin and higher water soluble guest: thermodynamics and topological studies.

The supramolecular interactions between Imipramine hydrochloride (IMI), a tricyclic antidepressant, and beta-cyclodextrin (betaCD) have been investigated by experimental techniques and theoretical calculations. The association between these molecules might be lead to a host/guest compound, in which the physical chemistry properties of the guest molecule, such as high solubility, can be decreased. These new properties acquired by the inclusion phenomena are important to develop a strategy for pharmaceutical formulation. Nuclear magnetic resonance and horizontal attenuated total reflectance provided relevant information on the complex stoichiometries and the sites of interactions between the host and guest molecules. Stoichiometries of 1:2, 1:1, and 2:1 betaCD/IMI have been detected in solution. Self-diffusion coefficient and dynamic light scattering analysis provided information on the self-aggregation of the complex. Also, isothermal titration calorimetry studies indicated the existence of equilibrium between different complexes in solution. In order to determine the preferred arrangement for the inclusion complex formed by the IMI molecule and betaCD, theoretical calculations were performed. Of all proposed supramolecular structures, the 2:1 betaCD/IMI complex was calculated to be the most energetically favorable, in both gas and aqueous phases. The calculations indicated that the intermolecular hydrogen bonds involving the hydroxyl groups of betaCD play a major role in stabilizing the supramolecular 2:1 structure, corroborating experimental findings.

Ab initio calculations on low-energy conformers of alpha-cyclodextrin.

In this article we carried out a comprehensive investigation of true minima on the potential energy surface (PES) for the alpha-cyclodextrin molecule using ab initio Hartree-Fock (HF) and density functional theory (DFT) quantum chemical methods, employing basis sets ranging from 6-31 G(d,p) to 6-311++G(2d,2p) triple-zeta quality. Thermodynamic quantities and the solvent effect were evaluated at the DFT level of theory. We believe that the most relevant conformers present on the multidimensional PES were sampled in our work, using an adequate treatment of electron correlation effects to describe the intramolecular hydrogen bonds that are present in cyclodextrin species. We present new structures not reported so far and discuss, in detail, the relevance of the DFT gas-phase equilibrium structures for the experimental and theoretical studies involving cyclodextrins and corresponding inclusion complexes, in the condensed phase. In addition, among the various true minimum energy structures located on the DFT PES, the preferred structures in the gas phase and aqueous media, needed to be used as representative minima on the PES in further studies involving the interaction of alpha-cyclodextrin with other species, were unambiguously identified.

Theoretical study of the alpha-cyclodextrin dimer.

The molecular structure, stabilization energy, and thermodynamic properties of the plausible modes of the interaction for the three possible alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD) dimers (head-to-head, tail-to-tail, and head-to-tail) with a water cluster were obtained using quantum chemical methods for the first time. Nine distinct spatial arrangements were investigated. The head-to-head mode of interaction with water is preferred by more than 10 kcal.mol(-1) (BLYP/6-31G(d,p)//PM3 Gibbs free energy difference value at room temperature) in relation to the next stable structure, with a water dimer structure placed inside each cavity and cyclic water tetramers surrounding each tail end. The inter alpha-CD hydrogen bonds play a major role to stabilize the dimeric structures, with no water tetramer being found between the two alpha-CD subunits for the preferred global minimum structure. Therefore, a theoretical model aimed to describe the behavior of alpha-CD dimer, or their inclusion complexes, in the aqueous media should take into account this preference for binding of the water molecules.