Antihistamine and cationic amphiphilic drugs, old molecules as new tools against the COVID-19?

Several studies have reported that certain psychoactive drugs could have a protective effect against SARS-CoV-2. Herein, we propose that antihistamines (anti-H1) and cationic amphiphilic drugs (CAD), specifically, have the capacity to disrupt virus entry and replication. In addition, several of these molecules have limited side effects and as such could be promising prophylactic candidates against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Towards a pharmacochemical hypothesis of the prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 by psychoactive substances.

An increasing body of evidence suggests a protective effect of some psychoactive substances against SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus type 2). Recent findings suggest that patients with psychiatric disorders are less affected by SARS-CoV-2 than their caregivers, which may seem surprising given some of the frequent risk factors for an unfavorable course of the disease (e.g., obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases). We propose here a mixed pharmacoepidemiological and pharmacochemical hypothesis to explain these findings. A number of psychotropic drugs exhibit activities against coronaviruses (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-1) and the Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV)) and have been put forward as potentially anti-SARS-CoV-2. These treatments include numerous mee-too drugs (chemically and pharmacologically linked to those which have demonstrated anti-SARS-CoV-2 efficacy) which are frequently prescribed in psychiatric settings. Taken alone or in polypharmacy, these drugs could have a prophylactic anti-SARS-CoV-2 effect, explaining the unexpectedly low proportion of patients with psychiatric disorders and COVID-19. Associated factors such as nicotine can also be considered in the context of a broad chemoprophylactic hypothesis in patients with psychiatric disorders taking different psychoactive substances.

Synthesis and evaluation of the anticoccidial activity of trifluoropyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-2-one derivatives.

Screening of our chemical library to discover new molecules exhibiting in vitro activity against the invasion of host cells by Eimeria tenella revealed a lead compound with an IC50 of 15µM. Structure-activity relationship studies were conducted with 34 newly synthesized compounds to identify more active molecules and enhance in vitro activity against the parasite. Four compounds were more effective in inhibiting MDBK cell invasion in vitro than the lead compound.

From vinyl pyranoses to carbasugars by an iron-catalyzed reaction complementary to classical Ferrier carbocyclization.

Starting from vinyl pyranoses an iron-catalyzed tandem isomerization-intramolecular aldolization reaction was developed to prepare cyclohexenone derivatives bearing substituents on the double bond, and it has been applied in a short synthesis of 4-epi-gabosines A and B, from d-glucose.

Application of the intramolecular isomerisation-aldolisation from allylic alcohols and allylic silyl ethers to the synthesis of indanones and indenones.

A new access to indanones was discovered through a one-step nickel or iron-mediated transposition of 2-hydroxyisobenzofurans. Starting from the corresponding silylenol ethers, a new one-pot tandem isomerisation-Mukaiyama aldol process was also developed. These versatile strategies will be useful for the preparation of various types of indanones and indenones.

From allylic alcohols to aldols through a new nickel-mediated tandem reaction: synthetic and mechanistic studies.

Nickel hydride type complexes have been successfully developed as catalysts for the tandem isomerization-aldolization reaction of allylic alcohols with aldehydes. Optimization of the reaction conditions has shown that a cocatalyst, such as MgBr2, has a very positive effect on the kinetics of the reaction and in the yields of aldols. Under such optimized conditions {[NiHCl(dppe)] + MgBr(2) at 3-5 mol %)}, this reaction affords the aldols in good to excellent yields. It is a full-atom-economy-type reaction that occurs under mild conditions. Furthermore, it has a broad scope for the allylic alcohols and it is compatible with a wide range of aldehydes, including very bulky derivatives. The reaction is completely regioselective, but it exhibits a low stereoselectivity, except for allylic alcohols with a bulky substituent at the carbinol center. The use of chiral nonracemic catalysts was not successful, affording only racemic compounds. However, it was possible to use asymmetric synthesis for the preparation of optically active aldols. Various mechanistic studies have been performed using, for instance, a deuterated alcohol or a deuterated catalyst. They gave strong support to a mechanism involving first a transition-metal-mediated isomerization of the allylic alcohol into the free enol, followed by the addition of the latter intermediate onto the aldehyde in an "hydroxyl-carbonyl-ene" type reaction. These results confirm that allylic alcohols can be considered as new and useful partners in the development of the aldol reaction.

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of huprine-tacrine heterodimers: subnanomolar dual binding site acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.

A series of huprine-tacrine heterodimers has been developed by connection of huprine Y, a compound with one of the highest affinities for the active site of acetylcholinesterase yet reported, with tacrine, a compound with known affinity for the peripheral site of the enzyme, through a linker of appropriate length to allow simultaneous interaction with both binding sites. These compounds exhibit human acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activities with IC(50) values in the subnanomolar and low nanomolar range, respectively.