The proteolytic airway environment associated with pneumonia acts as a barrier for treatment with anti-infective antibodies.

Like pneumonia, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by a massive infiltration of innate immune cells (such as polymorphonuclear leukocytes) into the airways and alveolar spaces. These cells release proteases that may degrade therapeutic antibodies and thus limit their effectiveness. Here, we investigated the in vitro and ex vivo impact on anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) IgG1s and other IgG subclasses (IgG2 and IgG4) of the neutrophil elastase, proteinase 3 and cathepsin G (the three main neutrophil serine proteases) found in endotracheal aspirates from patients with severe COVID-19. Although the IgGs were sensitive to neutrophil serine proteases, IgG2 was most resistant to proteolytic degradation. The two anti-SARS CoV2 antibodies (casirivimab and imdevimab) were sensitive to the lung's proteolytic environment, although neutrophil serine protease inhibitors only partly limited the degradation. Overall, our results show that the pneumonia-associated imbalance between proteases and their inhibitors in the airways contributes to degradation of antiviral antibodies.

Three Component One-Pot Synthesis and Antiproliferative Activity of New [1,2,4]Triazolo[4,3-a]pyrimidines.

A series of new [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyrimidine derivatives was prepared using a one-pot three-component synthesis from 5-amino-1-phenyl-1H-1,2,4-triazoles, aromatic aldehydes and ethyl acetoacetate. The compound structures were confirmed by IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, HRMS and X-ray analyses. The biological activity of these compounds as antitumor agents was evaluated. Their antitumor activities against cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) were tested by the MTT in vitro method. Among them, compounds 4c and 4j displayed the best antitumor activity with IC50 values of 17.83 µM and 19.73 µM against MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell lines, respectively, compared to the Cisplatin reference.

Stepwise synthesis of 2,6-difunctionalized ethyl pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-3-carboxylate via site-selective cross-coupling reactions: experimental and computational studies.

A variety of novel disubstituted 2-(alknyl, aryl and arylamine)-6-alkynylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives was prepared via sequential site-selective cross-coupling reactions from 2,6-dibromopyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine 3. The regio-controlled Sonogashira-type coupling of 3 with a wide range of terminal alkynes proceeded smoothly with excellent selectivity in favor of the C6-position through careful adjustment of the coupling conditions, followed by the subsequent introduction of alkynyl, aryl or arylamine groups at the C2-position via the Sonogashira, Suzuki-Miyaura and Buchwald-Hartwig coupling reactions, respectively. These promising results allow for further use and diversification of the chemically and biologically interesting pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine scaffold. In addition, computational studies were conducted to provide explanations for the origin of regioselectivity.

Simple and Expedient Access to Novel Fluorinated Thiazolo- and Oxazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-7-one Derivatives and Their Functionalization via Palladium-Catalyzed Reactions.

An efficient, versatile, and one-pot method for the preparation of novel fluorinated thiazolo- and oxazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-7-ones is described from 2-aminothiazoles or 2-amino-oxazoles and fluorinated alkynoates. This transformation, performed under transition-metal-free conditions, offers new fluorinated cyclized products with good to excellent yields. Moreover, the functionalization of these N-fused scaffolds via the Suzuki-Miyaura and Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions led to the synthesis of highly diverse thiazolo- and oxazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-7-ones.

The solid state of anti-inflammatory morniflumate diniflumate: A cocrystalline salt.

Morniflumate diniflumate, a molecular compound involving niflumic acid and its ß-morpholino ethyl ester (morniflumate) in the mole ratio 2:1, is found to crystallize in a triclinic P - 1 space group with a unit-cell volume of 2203.4(5) Å3. It is a cocrystal between a morniflumate+ niflumate- salt and a neutral niflumic acid molecule. The co-crystalline salt forms endothermically with a positive excess volume and it melts incongruently at 382.3(8) K. Differential scanning calorimetry executed at heating rates above 20 K⋅min-1, leads to congruent melting at 387.8(9)K with an enthalpy change of ΔfusH = 80(2) J g-1. The rare occurrence that incongruent and congruent melting can be observed for the same cocrystal may be due to the conformational versatility of the niflumic acid molecule and its slow conversion between the different conformations due to weak intramolecular hydrogen bonding.

Bioinspired imidazo[1,2-a:4,5-c']dipyridines with dual antiproliferative and anti-migrative properties in human cancer cells: The SAR investigation.

Herein, we report the design, synthesis and evaluation of novel bioinspired imidazo[1,2-a:4,5c']dipyridines. The structural optimization identified four anti-proliferative compounds. Compounds 11, 18, 19 and 20 exhibited excellent anticancer activities in vitro with IC50 of 0.4-5 µM against three human cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-468, MDA-MB-435s and MDA-MB-231). These four compounds induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent manner, targeting different apoptotic proteins expression: 11 increased the expression of pro-apoptotic Bax protein while 18-20 reduced the level of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein. Compounds 18 and 19 also reduced MDA-MB-231 cells proliferation as measured by Ki-67 staining. Furthermore, compounds were also tested for the ability to inhibit cell migration in the highly aggressive human MDA-MB-435s cell line. Six compounds of this series (8, 15, 18, 22, 23, 24) inhibited cell migration by 41-50% while four compounds (20, 25, 27, 30) inhibited the migration by 53-62% in wound-healing experiments. Interestingly, compound 20 presented both antiproliferative and anti-migration activities and might be a promising anti-metastatic agent for cancer treatment.

Polymorphism of benzylthiouracil, an active pharmaceutical ingredient against hyperthyroidism.

The crystal structures of dimorphic benzylthiouracil, a drug against hyperthyroidism, have been redetermined and the atom coordinates of the two independent molecules of form I have been obtained for the first time. The dimorphism convincingly demonstrates the conformational versatility of the benzylthiouracil molecule. It has been established through calorimetric studies that the low-temperature form II transforms endothermically (ΔII→IH = 5.6(1.5) J g-1) into form I at 405.4(1.0) K. The high-temperature form I melts at 496.8(1.0) K (ΔI→LH = 152.6(4.0) J g-1). Crystallographic and thermal expansion studies show that form II is denser than form I, leading to the conclusion that the slope of the II-I equilibrium curve in the pressure-temperature phase diagram is positive. It follows that this dimorphism corresponds to a case of overall enantiotropic behaviour, which implies that both solid phases possess their own stable phase region irrespective of the pressure. Moreover, form II is clearly the stable polymorph under ambient conditions.

Access and modulation of substituted 1-methyl-1,6-dihydropyrazolo[3,4-c]pyrazoles.

Despite the pharmacological potential of the pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyrazoles, only a few methods of preparation and direct functionalization of this moiety have been described. We report herein a convenient design of new pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyrazoles with a high therapeutic impact. The effective chosen strategy consists of hydrazine condensations and C-N Ullmann-type cross-coupling reactions with microwave activation. Moreover, chemoselective bromination of the newly formed bipyrazoles followed by Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions allowed the synthesis of a variety of modulated heterobicycles.

Crystalline tetrazepam as a case study on the volume change on melting of molecular organic compounds.

The volume change on melting is a rarely studied quantity and it is not well understood even if it must reflect the changes in interaction between the solid and the liquid state. It is part of the solid-state information for materials and pharmaceuticals and it is important for the reliability of polymorph stability study results. Using the crystal structure of monoclinic tetrazepam at 150 K and at room temperature, in addition to powder X-ray diffraction as a function of the temperature, the specific volume of tetrazepam has been determined over a large temperature domain. In combination with a pressure-temperature curve for the melting of tetrazepam, its volume change on melting could be determined. With this information and previous data from the literature, the assumption that the volume of the solid increases on average with 11% on melting has been investigated. It can be concluded that this value is not constant; however so far, no simple relationship has been found to relate the solid state to its volume change on melting and using 11% remains best practice. A comparison of the tetrazepam crystal structure with diazepam and nordiazepam has been provided too.

Unusual rearrangement of imidazo[1,5-a]imidazoles and imidazo[1,2-b]pyrazoles into imidazo[1,5-a]pyrimidines and pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines.

A multicomponent reaction giving easy and cheap access to a variety of bicyclic 5,5-fused hetero-rings has been developed. Then, an usual rearrangement of imidazo[1,5-a]imidazoles or imidazo[1,2-b]pyrazoles leading to bi-heterocyclic imidazo- and pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines in the presence of a specific amount of I2 in THF at room temperature has been achieved. This new method enables the hitherto unreported synthesis of functionalized imidazo- and pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines.

Discovery of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-based anthelmintic targeting cholinergic receptors of Haemonchus contortus.

We report the synthesis of a series of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-based molecules as anthelmintic against the livestock parasite Haemonchus contortus. The molecules were tested by using Larval Paralysis Test (LPT), in order to target ionic channels, as most of the prominent marketed anthelminthics present such mechanism of action. The most active compound (5e) displayed paralysis on H. contortus stage 3 larvae until 31.25 µM. Effect of 5e on H. contortus cholinergic receptors (L-AChR1 and 2) was characterized via electrophysiological measurement and a rare antagonist mode of action was unveiled.

Synthetic water soluble di-/tritopic molecular receptors exhibiting Ca2+/Mg2+ exchange.

Structural integration of two synthetic water soluble receptors for Ca2+ and Mg2+, namely 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA) and o-aminophenol-N,N,O-triacetic acid (APTRA), respectively, gave novel di- and tritopic ionophores (1 and 2). As Mg2+ and Ca2+ cannot be simultaneously complexed by the receptors, allosteric control of complexation results. Potentiometric measurements established stepwise protonation constants and showed high affinity for Ca2+ (log K = 6.08 and 8.70 for 1 and 2, respectively) and an excellent selectivity over Mg2+ (log K = 3.70 and 5.60 for 1 and 2, respectively), which is compatible with magnesium-calcium ion exchange. While ion-exchange of a single Mg2+ for a single Ca2+ is possible in both 1 and 2, the simultaneous binding of two Mg2+ by 2 appears prohibitive for replacement of these two ions by a single Ca2+. Ion-binding and exchange was further rationalized by DFT calculations.

Synthetic Modification of 9α- and 9ß-Hydroxyparthenolide by Heck or Acylation Reactions and Evaluation of Cytotoxic Activities.

Motivated by the widely reported anticancer activity of parthenolides and their derivatives, a series of new substituted parthenolides was efficiently synthesized. Structural modifications were performed at the C-9 and C-13 positions of 9α- and 9ß-hydroxyparthenolide, which were isolated from the aerial parts of Anvillea radiata. Twenty-one derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity against HS-683, SK-MEL-28, A549, and MCF-7 human cancer cell lines using the MTT colorimetric assay. Among the derivatives, seven exhibited excellent activity compared to 5-fluorouracil and etoposide against the four cell lines tested, with IC50 values ranging from 1.1 to 9.4 µM.

Antibacterial Polyketide Heterodimers from Pyrenacantha kaurabassana Tubers.

Two heterodimers comprising anthraquinone and methylbenzoisocoumarin moieties (1 and 2) were isolated, together with emodin and physcion from the tubers of Pyrenacantha kaurabassana. The structures of 1 and 2 were established by NMR spectroscopy, including the analysis of a 2D INADEQUATE spectrum. On the basis of the data obtained, the structures that were previously proposed in the literature for these compounds were revised. Compounds 1 and 2 showed antibacterial activity against three different strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Compound 2 also showed bactericidal activity against Helicobacter pylori.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 9α- and 9ß-hydroxyamino-parthenolides as novel anticancer agents.

A series of 9α-hydroxyamino-parthenolides 3-10, 9ß-hydroxyamino-parthenolides 11-13 and 9α-hydroxy-1ß,10α-epoxyamino-parthenolides 15-19 were efficiently synthesized starting from 9α-hydroxyparthenolide 1 and 9ß-hydroxyparthenolide 2, which were isolated from Anvillea radiata. Compounds 1-13 and 15-19 were evaluated for their in vitro anticancer activity by the MTT colorimetric assay against one murine and six human cancer cell lines. This work provides new details about the structural requisites for anticancer activity.

Dramatic solid-state humidity-induced modification of the magnetic coupling in a dimeric fluorous copper(II)-carboxylate complex.

The very fast and efficient water vapor absorption of the dimeric fluorous copper(II)-carboxylate complex [Cu(2)(C(8)F(17)CO(2))(4)(acetone)(2)] (1) leads, in the solid state, to a dramatic decrease of the exchange magnetic coupling between the copper(II) ions and to a drastic change of its powder EPR spectrum.

Striking correlation between the unusual trigonal crystal packing and the ability to self-assemble into nanofibers of 2,3-di-n-alkyloxyanthracenes.

The space group of the crystals of derivatives of 2,3-dialkoxyanthracenes is monoclinic P2(1)/a (herringbone structure) with the linear ethyl or propyl chains but abruptly changes to the trigonal P3 or R3 space group for butyl to heptyl chains. Strikingly, this switch is correlated with the capacity of these compounds to self-assemble into nanofibers and organogels. Besides, compounds with a chain length exceeding seven carbon atoms could not be crystallized in accordance with the analysis of the projected crystal structure but are nevertheless excellent organogelators. The study of this series of compounds suggests a tight link between the molecular structure of the crystals and that of the organogels.

2,3-Diethoxy-9,10-anthraquinone.

Anthraquinone derivatives form an important class of dyes and are also known for their medicinal properties. Recently, 2,3-disubstituted anthraquinones have been shown unexpectedly to jellify various organic solvents. No information on the packing mode of these derivatives was known. Here, the first X-ray structure of a 2,3-disubstituted anthraquinone is reported, namely 2,3-diethoxy-9,10-anthraquinone, C(18)H(16)O(4). The merit of this study lies in the observation of significant differences between the packing in 9,10-anthraquinone, which displays a herring-bone arrangement, and that in the title 2,3-diethoxy derivative, in which the molecules lie on parallel crystallographic morror planes separated by a distance of 3.4081 (1) A, reminiscent of the graphite layer architecture.

Influence of 6- or 8-substitution on the antiviral activity of 3-arylalkylthiomethylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine against human cytomegalovirus (CMV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV): part II.

The synthesis of original imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines bearing a thioether side chain at the 3 position and diversely substituted on the 6 or 8 position, and their antiviral activities are reported. From the synthesized compounds, the imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines bearing a 5 membered heterocycle (thiophene, furane or pyrrole) in the 6 position or a phenylthio group in the 6 or 8 position were the most potent against human cytomegalovirus (CMV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV), whereas several other congeners, while less potent, were more selective in their inhibitory activity against VZV and CMV. These compounds showed similar activity against thymidine kinase competent (TK+) and deficient (TK-) VZV strains, demonstrating a mechanism of action independent of the viral thymidine kinase.

Sn(3) and Sn(10) sulfonate-oxide-hydroxide clusters with two different sulfonate binding modes.

A tin sulfonate-oxide-hydroxide tetracation with two different sulfonate bindings, an electrostatic and a monohapto covalent one, and a tin sulfonate-oxide-hydroxide monocation with two other kinds of sulfonate bindings, an electrostatic and a dihapto bridging one are described here.