Cyclic Voltammetric Study of 3,5-Diaryl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolines.

Cyclic voltammetry is used to derive HOMO energies of the 1-phenyl-2-pyrazolines containing electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substituted phenyl rings and or naphthalenyl substitution on the C3- or C5-positions of the heterocyclic ring to investigate the steric and electronic effects of the aryl substitutions and the type of aryl system on their electrochemical behaviors. The optical HOMO-LUMO gaps needed for the calculation of LUMO (excited state) energies of these compounds are obtained from their UV-vis spectra. Results show that the substitution on the C3-aryl ring has significant effect via its π-donor/acceptor ability, compared to the σ-donor/acceptor ability of the C5-aryl ring, on the CV oxidation peak and onset potentials. Comparative analysis showed very good agreement between the experimentally obtained HOMO and (apparent) LUMO energies and the (TD)DFT/6-311++G(d,p) calculated ground and excited states energies. These computational results indicate also that for all chloro- and methoxy-substituted 2-pyrazolines, the HOMO → LUMO is the most intense transition. While the strong acceptor NO2 substitution on all positions of either C3- or C5-aryl rings, except for one compound, increases the intensity of the HOMO → LUMO+1 (LUMO+2) transition significantly, the first (the first two) transition(s) HOMO → LUMO (and HOMO → LUMO+1) has (have) much smaller or negligible intensity (intensities).

Synthesis, Molecular Modelling and Biological Studies of 3-hydroxypyrane- 4-one and 3-hydroxy-pyridine-4-one Derivatives as HIV-1 Integrase Inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: Despite the progress in the discovery of antiretroviral compounds for treating HIV-1 infection by targeting HIV integrase (IN), a promising and well-known drug target against HIV-1, there is a growing need to increase the armamentarium against HIV, for avoiding the drug resistance issue. OBJECTIVE: To develop novel HIV-1 IN inhibitors, a series of 3-hydroxy-pyrane-4-one (HP) and 3- hydroxy-pyridine-4-one (HPO) derivatives have been rationally designed and synthesized. METHODS: To provide a significant characterization of the novel compounds, in-depth computational analysis was performed using a novel HIV-1 IN/DNA binary 3D-model for investigating the binding mode of the newly conceived molecules in complex with IN. The 3D-model was generated using the proto-type foamy virus (PFV) DNA as a structural template, positioning the viral polydesoxyribonucleic chain into the HIV-1 IN homology model. Moreover, a series of in vitro tests were performed including HIV-1 activity inhibition, HIV-1 IN activity inhibition, HIV-1 IN strand transfer activity inhibition and cellular toxicity. RESULTS: Bioassay results indicated that most of HP analogues including HPa, HPb, HPc, HPd, HPe and HPg, showed favorable inhibitory activities against HIV-1-IN in the low micromolar range. Particularly halogenated derivatives (HPb and HPd) offered the best biological activities in terms of reduced toxicity and optimum inhibitory activities against HIV-1 IN and HIV-1 in cell culture. CONCLUSION: Halogenated derivatives, HPb and HPd, displayed the most promising anti-HIV profile, paving the way to the optimization of the presented scaffolds for developing new effective antiviral agents.

Design, Synthesis, and Anti-HIV-1 Evaluation of a Novel Series of 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydropyrimidine-5-Carboxylic Acid Derivatives.

A series of tetrahydropyrimidine derivatives (2a - 2l) were designed, synthesized, and screened for anti-HIV-1 properties based on the structures of HIV-1 gp41 binding site inhibitors, NB-2 and NB-64. A computational study was performed to predict the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and drug-likeness features of the studied molecules. Docking studies revealed that the carboxylic acid group in the molecules forms salt bridges with either Lys574 or Arg579. Physiochemical properties (e.g., molecular weight, number of hydrogen bond donors, number of hydrogen bond acceptors, and number of rotatable bonds) of the synthesized compounds confirmed and exhibited that these compounds were within the range set by Lipinski's rule of five. Compounds 2e and 2k with 4-chlorophenyl substituent and 4-methylphenyl group at C(4) position of the tetrahydropyrimidine ring was the most potent one among the tested compounds. This suggests that these compounds may serve as leads for development of novel small-molecule HIV-1 inhibitors.

Voltammetric oxidation of 2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidin-5-carboxamides: substituent effects.

Electrochemical oxidation of a series of 20 substituted 2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidin-5-carboxamides (THPMs) in acetonitrile has been studied using voltammetric methods at a glassy carbon electrode to investigate the influence of the substituents on the 4- and 5-positions of the heterocyclic ring. Analysis of the results shows that the electronic nature and steric hindrance of the substituents, especially their orientations toward the heterocyclic ring, determine their effects on the oxidation potential. Analysis of the computational results obtained at the DFT-B3LYP/6-31++G** level of theory suggests a mechanism in which the first electron removal occurs from either the N(1) of the heterocyclic ring or N(17) of the amide substitution. This process is followed by a fast proton removal resulting in the formation of stable allylic and/or benzylic radicals which then undergo further oxidation to the 2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyrimidin-5-carboxamides (DHPMs).

Ultrasound assisted dehydrogenation of 2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxamides.

Dehydrogenation of various 2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxamides (THPMs) to 2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyrimidine-5-carboxamides (DHPMs) using tetrabutylammonium peroxydisulfate (TBAPS) as an efficient oxidizing agent under thermal and sono-thermal conditions has been investigated. In contrast to the thermal reaction, a decrease of the amount of oxidant and an increase of the rate of reaction are observed by simultaneously applying heat and ultrasound. The nature of both C-4 and C-5 substituents on the heterocyclic ring influences the rate of reaction under both conditions. The proposed electron-transfer-induced dehydrogenation in this study is supported by conductometric studies.

Synthesis and antitubercular activity of novel 4-substituted imidazolyl-2,6-dimethyl-N3,N5-bisaryl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxamides.

A series of 4-substituted imidazolyl-2,6-dimethyl-N(3),N(5)-bisaryl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxamides were prepared. They were screened as antitubercular agents against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37)Rv. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using agar proportion method. Compound 3i with 1-benzyl-2-methylthio-1H-imidazole-5-yl substituent at C-4 position and 4'-chloromophenyl group at C-3 and C-5 positions of the 1,4-dihydropyridine ring was the most potent one among the tested compounds. It was as potent as rifampicin against M. tuberculosis H(37)RV. Compound 3l also was an active antitubercular agent with the same substituent as compound 3i at the C-4 position and 3'-pyridyl group at C-3 and C-5 positions of the 1,4-dihydropyridine ring.

Ultrasound-assisted thiocyanation of aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds using ammonium thiocyanate and DDQ.

Thiocyanation of various aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds has been achieved in the presence of ammonium thiocyanate (NH(4)SCN) and 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) in methanol solution under ultrasound irradiation. An ultrasonic probe of 24 kHz frequency has been used for this study. Whereas the use of ultrasound increases the rate of reactions compared with reactions at reflux conditions, the electron-donor ability of aromatic nucleus enhances also the rate of reaction.

Photosonochemical catalytic ring opening of alpha-epoxyketones.

The combination of ultrasound and photochemical methods has been used for the catalytic ring opening of alpha-epoxyketones by 1-benzyl-2,4,6-triphenylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate (NBTPT) as photocatalyst in methanol. Sonication of these compounds in the presence of NBTPT did not result in the opening of epoxide ring, but the use of ultrasound increased the rate of photoreaction.

Solid state photochemistry of 1,4-dihydropyridines.

Photochemical behavior of some 1,4-dihydropyridines has been investigated in the solid state. Whereas upon irradiation of 1,4-dihydropyridines in solution phase, their photo-oxidation and formation of pyridine derivatives have been observed, irradiation of these compounds in the solid state decreases their light sensitivity. In many cases photo-oxidation has been observed only in very low yields.