Cyano-Schmittel Cyclization through Base-Induced Propargyl-Allenyl Isomerization: Highly Modular Synthesis of Pyridine-Fused Aromatic Derivatives.

The cyano-Schmittel cyclization of in situ-generated cyano-allenes has been carried out. The DFT calculation results suggest that the diradical pathway plays a major role in this cyclization. The reactions can be conveniently performed in a one-pot manner through cascade Sonogashira coupling of terminal cyano-ynes with organic halides, followed by base-promoted propargyl-allenyl isomerization/cyclization, leading to an efficient access to pyridine-fused polycyclic architectures. In particular, a large variety of aryl or heteroaryl rings such as furans, thiophenes and pyridines can be incorporated into the follow-up cyano-Diels-Alder reactions, highlighting the great synthetic utility of this chemistry.

Structure-activity relationship of indoloquinoline analogs anti-MRSA.

Indolo[3,2-b]quinoline analogs (3a-3s), 4-(acridin-9-ylamino) phenol hydrochloride (4), benzofuro[3,2-b]quinoline (3t), indeno[1,2-b]quinolines (3u and 3v) have been synthesized. Those compounds were found to exhibit anti-bacterial activity towards Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (anti-MRSA activity). Structure-activity relationship studies were conducted that indoloquinoline ring, benzofuroquinoline ring and 4-aminophenol group are essential structure for anti-MRSA activity.

In vitro activity of synthetic tetrahydroindeno[2,1-c]quinolines on Leishmania mexicana.

New synthetic compounds based on tetrahydroindenoquinoline structure were evaluated for their in vitro antileishmanial activities. The seven compounds assayed have antiproliferative activities against promastigotes of Leishmania mexicana. Compound 1 and 3 were the most active (IC50 1.0 µg/ml) and showed high selectivity towards the parasite. These compounds were selected to evaluate their effect on promastigote morphology and mitochondrial transmembrane potential as well as on the amastigote capability to survive into macrophages J774 cell line. Whereas compound 1 affected the promastigote cell cycle, compound 3 induced morphological changes and the total collapse of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential, a hallmark of apoptosis. Both compounds also affected the amastigote form of the parasite, decreasing their survival rate in J774 macrophages. Due to the greatest selectivity index, the apparent effect as apoptotic inducer and its sustained inhibition on intracellular amastigote replication, compound 3 is the best candidate to be tested in vivo. This compound is worth considering for the development of new antileishmanial drugs.