Synthesis and biological evaluation of N-alkyl sulfonamides derived from polycyclic hydrocarbon scaffolds using a nitrogen-centered radical approach.

Polycyclic hydrocarbons (PH) provide intriguing potential as lipophilic scaffolds within medicinal chemistry, but are currently limited by the availability of synthetic tools for predictable modification of the PH unit. Herein we report the development of new methods for installation of a sulfonamide unit to PH cores. In the first method, a xanthate ester serves as reagent for aminosulfonation using pre-formed imidoiodinane as N-source. An investigation of the reaction mechanism was performed to implicate a process involving a N-centered radical. An additional method for sulfonamide installation is described that involves the use of commercially available reagents and operationally convenient conditions. Using the new synthetic methods, 22 compounds were prepared and screened for biological activity against 6 mammalian cell lines along with Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. Results of the viability assays have identified compounds that exhibit higher potency than other known anticancer agents such as indisulam and ABT-751. Additionally, the physicochemical and drug-likeness properties of the synthesized compounds have been determined experimentally and using in silico predictive tools. The initial exploration into sulfonamide insertion into PH cores has resulted in a number of compounds that warrant further development to produce molecules with therapeutic value.

Altered UV absorbance and cytotoxicity of chlorinated sunscreen agents.

Sunscreens are widely utilized due to the adverse effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on human health. The safety of their active ingredients as well as that of any modified versions generated during use is thus of concern. Chlorine is used as a chemical disinfectant in swimming pools. Its reactivity suggests sunscreen components might be chlorinated, altering their absorptive and/or cytotoxic properties. To test this hypothesis, the UV-filters oxybenzone, dioxybenzone, and sulisobenzone were reacted with chlorinating agents and their UV spectra analyzed. In all cases, a decrease in UV absorbance was observed. Given that chlorinated compounds can be cytotoxic, the effect of modified UV-filters on cell viability was examined. Chlorinated oxybenzone and dioxybenzone caused significantly more cell death than unchlorinated controls. In contrast, chlorination of sulisobenzone actually reduced cytotoxicity of the parent compound. Exposing a commercially available sunscreen product to chlorine also resulted in decreased UV absorbance, loss of UV protection, and enhanced cytotoxicity. These observations show chlorination of sunscreen active ingredients can dramatically decrease UV absorption and generate derivatives with altered biological properties.

Non-enzymatic hydrolysis of creatine ethyl ester.

The rate of the non-enzymatic hydrolysis of creatine ethyl ester (CEE) was studied at 37 degrees C over the pH range of 1.6-7.0 using (1)H NMR. The ester can be present in solution in three forms: the unprotonated form (CEE), the monoprotonated form (HCEE(+)), and the diprotonated form (H(2)CEE(2+)). The values of pK(a1) and pK(a2) of H(2)CEE(2+) were found to be 2.30 and 5.25, respectively. The rate law is found to be Rate=-dCCEE/dt=k++[H2CEE2+][OH-]+k+[HCEE+][OH-]+k0[CEE][OH-] where the rate constants k(++), k(+), and k(0) are (3.9+/-0.2)x10(6)L mol(-1)s(-1), (3.3+/-0.5)x10(4)L mol(-1)s(-1), and (4.9+/-0.3)x10(4)L mol(-1)s(-1), respectively. Calculations performed at the density functional theory level support the hypothesis that the similarity in the values of k(+) and k(0) results from intramolecular hydrogen bonding that plays a crucial role. This study indicates that the half-life of CEE in blood is on the order of one minute, suggesting that CEE may hydrolyze too quickly to reach muscle cells in its ester form.