Action of the Photochrome Glyght on GABAergic Synaptic Transmission in Mouse Brain Slices.

Glyght is a new photochromic compound described as an effective modulator of glycine receptors at heterologous expression, in brain slices and in zebrafish larvae. Glyght also caused weak inhibition of GABAA-mediated currents in a cell line expressing α1/ß2/γ2 GABAA receptors. However, the effects of Glyght on GABAergic transmission in the brain have not been analysed, which does not allow a sufficiently comprehensive assessment of the effects of the compound on the nervous system. Therefore, in this study using whole-cell patch-clamp recording, we analysed the Glyght (100 µM) action on evoked GABAergic inhibitory postsynaptic currents (eIPSCs) in mice hippocampal slices. Two populations of cells were found: the first responded by reducing the GABAergic eIPSCs' amplitude, whereas the second showed no sensitivity to the compound. Glyght did not affect the ionic currents' amplitude induced by GABA application, suggesting the absence of action on postsynaptic GABA receptors. Additionally, Glyght had no impact on the paired-pulse modulation of GABAergic eIPSCs, indicating that Glyght does not modulate the neurotransmitter release mechanisms. In the presence of strychnine, an antagonist of glycine receptors, the Glyght effect on GABAergic synaptic transmission was absent. Our results suggest that Glyght can modulate GABAergic synaptic transmission via action on extrasynaptic glycine receptors.

Defluorodearomatization: A Photocatalytic Birch-Like Reduction That Enables C-C Bond Formation and Provides Access to Unnatural Cannabinoids.

Within the framework of discovery chemistry, polyfluorination remains a synthetic challenge despite its ability to provide useful characteristics, such as a reduction in the number of hydrogen bond donors and metabolic stability. Coupling a reversal of this methodology with photocatalysis has been demonstrated to allow the rapid synthesis of previously difficult or impossible targets by starting with fluorines everywhere and selectively removing or functionalizing them. Herein, we demonstrate a novel method to synthesize 1,4-cyclohexadienes through a dearomative photocatalytic C-C coupling reaction. This allows for access to materials that are orthogonal to the selectivity of the Birch reaction and are more functional-group-tolerant. The reaction also allows the efficient synthesis of polyfluorinated cannabinoids. While the yields are modest, the access to the new chemical space provided by the reaction is unprecedented by any means. The trifluorinated analog of THC, 1-deoxy-1,2,4-trifluoro-THC, is synthesized, demonstrating the importance of discovery chemistry and the ability to explore otherwise unknown structure-activity relationships.

Dearomative Cycloadditions Utilizing an Organic Photosensitizer: An Alternative to Iridium Catalysis.

A highly efficient, cheap, and organic alternative to the commonly used iridium photosensitizer (Ir[dF(CF3)ppy]2(dtbpy))PF6 ([Ir-F]) is presented for visible-light energy transfer catalysis. The organic dye 2CzPN surpasses [Ir-F] in selectivity while at the same time being easily accessible in one step. The catalyst is recyclable and, due to its uncharged nature, soluble in nonpolar solvents such as toluene. Furthermore, the scope of molecular scaffolds that are compatible substrates for visible-light catalyzed dearomative cycloadditions is expanded.

Structural basis of small-molecule inhibition of human multidrug transporter ABCG2.

ABCG2 is an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter that protects tissues against xenobiotics, affects the pharmacokinetics of drugs and contributes to multidrug resistance. Although many inhibitors and modulators of ABCG2 have been developed, understanding their structure-activity relationship requires high-resolution structural insight. Here, we present cryo-EM structures of human ABCG2 bound to synthetic derivatives of the fumitremorgin C-related inhibitor Ko143 or the multidrug resistance modulator tariquidar. Both compounds are bound to the central, inward-facing cavity of ABCG2, blocking access for substrates and preventing conformational changes required for ATP hydrolysis. The high resolutions allowed for de novo building of the entire transporter and also revealed tightly bound phospholipids and cholesterol interacting with the lipid-exposed surface of the transmembrane domains (TMDs). Extensive chemical modifications of the Ko143 scaffold combined with in vitro functional analyses revealed the details of ABCG2 interactions with this compound family and provide a basis for the design of novel inhibitors and modulators.

Synthesis of 2,4,6-Trisubstituted Pyridines by Oxidative Eosin Y Photoredox Catalysis.

Eosin Y, an organic dye, was activated as a photoredox catalyst in the presence of molecular oxygen using visible light and, when it was used in the reaction of aryl ketones and benzyl amines, afforded good yields (52-87%) of 2,4,6-triarylpyridines (21 examples) at ambient temperature. The aryl groups at the 2- and 6-positions are derived from ketones, while benzyl amine plays the dual role of providing an aryl functionality at the 4-position of pyridine as well as being a nitrogen donor.

Antiproliferative and erythroid differentiation of piperazine and triphenyl derivatives against k-562 human chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Five piperazine derivatives (S)-4-benzyl-1-(4-bromo-3-methylphenyl)-2 methylpiperazine (A), (S)-1-benzyl-3-isobutylpiperazine-2,5-dione (B), (S)-1-benzyl-3 methylpiperazine-2,5-dione (C), (S)-1,3-dibenzylpiperazine-2,5-dione (D), (E)-1-(3-methyl 4-((E)-3-(2-methylpropylidene) piperazin-1-yl) phenyl)-2-(2 methylpropylidene) piperazine (E) and triphenyl derivative ammonium 2-((2,3',3''-trimethyl-[1,1':4',1''-terphenyl]-4 yl)oxy)acetate (F) were tested for inhibition of K-562 cell proliferation and for induction of erythroid differentiation. Among them, two piperazine and one triphenyl derivatives, compounds A, E, and F inhibited the proliferation of the K562 cell lines exhibiting inhibition concentration 50 (IC50) (IC50) of values 30.10±1.6, 4.60±0.4 and 25.70±1.10 µg ml(-1), respectively. If compound A and F were added to suboptimal concentrations of the established anticancer drugs cytosine arabinoside or mithramycin, pronounced synergic effects were observed.

Temperature responsive phosphorescent small unilamellar vesicles.

Self-assembled lipid vesicles with embedded amphiphilic terbium(III) complexes show a strong temperature dependence of their phosphorescence intensity and lifetime in the physiological range.

Palladium- and copper-mediated N-aryl bond formation reactions for the synthesis of biological active compounds.

N-Arylated aliphatic and aromatic amines are important substituents in many biologically active compounds. In the last few years, transition-metal-mediated N-aryl bond formation has become a standard procedure for the introduction of amines into aromatic systems. While N-arylation of simple aromatic halides by simple amines works with many of the described methods in high yield, the reactions may require detailed optimization if applied to the synthesis of complex molecules with additional functional groups, such as natural products or drugs. We discuss and compare in this review the three main N-arylation methods in their application to the synthesis of biologically active compounds: Palladium-catalysed Buchwald-Hartwig-type reactions, copper-mediated Ullmann-type and Chan-Lam-type N-arylation reactions. The discussed examples show that palladium-catalysed reactions are favoured for large-scale applications and tolerate sterically demanding substituents on the coupling partners better than Chan-Lam reactions. Chan-Lam N-arylations are particularly mild and do not require additional ligands, which facilitates the work-up. However, reaction times can be very long. Ullmann- and Buchwald-Hartwig-type methods have been used in intramolecular reactions, giving access to complex ring structures. All three N-arylation methods have specific advantages and disadvantages that should be considered when selecting the reaction conditions for a desired C-N bond formation in the course of a total synthesis or drug synthesis.

Synthesis of cyclometallated platinum complexes with substituted thienylpyridines and detailed characterization of their luminescence properties.

Synthesis of various derivatives of 2-(2-thienyl)pyridine via substituted 3-thienyl-1,2,4-triazines is reported. The final step of the synthesis is a transformation of the triazine ring to pyridine in an aza-Diels-Alder-type reaction. The resulting 5-aryl-2-(2-thienyl)pyridines (HL1-HL4) and 5-aryl-2-(2-thienyl)cyclopenteno[c]pyridines (HL5-HL8) (with aryl = phenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 2-naphtyl, and 2-thienyl) were used as cyclometallating ligands to prepare a series of eight luminescent platinum complexes of the type [Pt(L)(acac)] (L = cyclometallating ligand, acac = acetylacetonato). X-ray single crystal structures of three complexes of that series, [Pt(L5)(acac)] = [Pt(5-phenyl-2-(2-thienyl)cyclopenteno[c]pyridine)(acac)], [Pt(L6)(acac)] = [Pt(5-(4-methoxy)-2-(2-thienyl)cyclopenteno[c]pyridine)(acac)], and [Pt(L7)(acac)] = [Pt(5-(2-naphtyl)-2-(2-thienyl) cyclopenteno[c]pyridine)(acac)] were determined. Photoluminescence and electronic absorption spectra of the new [Pt(L)(acac)] complexes are reported. For two representative compounds of that series, [Pt(L4)(acac)] and [Pt(L5)(acac)], a detailed photophysical characterization based on highly resolved emission and excitation spectra, as well as on emission decay properties, was carried out. The studies down to low temperature (T = 1.2 K) and up to high magnetic fields (B = 10 T) allowed us to characterize the three individual substates of the emitting triplet state. In particular, it is shown that the lowest triplet states of [Pt(L4)(acac)] and [Pt(L5)(acac)] are largely ligand-centered (LC) of (3)pi pi* character, which experience only weak spin-orbit couplings to higher lying singlet states.