Synthesis, isomerization and biological activity of novel 2-selenohydantoin derivatives.

A set of novel selenohydantoins were synthesized via a convenient and versatile approach involving the reaction of isoselenocyanates with various amines. We also revealed an unexpected Z→E isomerization of pyridin-2-yl-substituted selenohydantoins in the presence of Cu(2+) cations. The detailed mechanism of this transformation was suggested on the basis of quantum-chemical calculations, and the key role of Cu(2+) was elucidated. The obtained compounds were subsequently evaluated against a panel of different cancer cell lines. As a result, several molecules were identified as promising micromolar hits with good selectivity index. Instead of analogous thiohydantoins, which have been synthesized previously, selenohydantoins demonstrated a relatively high antioxidant activity comparable (or greater) to the reference molecule, Ebselen, a clinically approved drug candidate. The most active compounds have been selected for further biological trials.

Mass spectrometric studies of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium and 1-propyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethyl)-sulfonylimides.

RATIONALE: Ionic liquids ([Cat(+)][An(-)]) were believed to decompose before reaching vaporization temperatures, but recently some of them have been shown to vaporize congruently. Low-temperature vaporization of ionic substances is an intriguing phenomenon, so the vapor-phase composition and reactions of ionic liquids deserve more extensive study. METHODS: Evaporation of two ionic liquids, [C2MIM(+)][Tf2 N(-)] and [C3MMIM(+)][Tf2N(-)], was studied by means of Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry. These liquids were also characterized using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry, UV/Vis, IR, NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. RESULTS: The vaporization enthalpies of (118 ± 3) and (124 ± 2) kJ·mol(-1) were determined for [C2MIM(+)][Tf2N(-)] and [C3MMIM(+)][Tf2N(-)], respectively. The corresponding equations for their saturated vapor pressures are: ln(p{[C2MIM(+)][Tf2N(-)]}/Pa) = -(14213 ± 325)/(T/K) + (26.57 ± 1.04), ln(p{[C2MMIM(+)][Tf2N(-)]}/Pa) = -(14868 ± 221)/(T/K) + (27.19 ± 0.60). The MALDI studies (positive and negative ion modes) enabled detection of monomeric [Cat(+)] and [An(-)] ions, the cluster ions {[Cat(+)]2 [An(-)]}(+) and {[Cat(+)][An(-)]2}(-), and some complex anions {2[An(-)] + Na(+)}(-), {2[An(-)] + K(+)}(-), {2[An(-)] + Cu(+)}(-) and {3[An(-)] + Ca(2+)}(-). CONCLUSIONS: Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry proved to be a valuable method to study the thermodynamics of ionic liquids. The saturated vapor pressure and vaporization enthalpy of [C3MMIM(+)][Tf2N(-)] were accurately determined for the first time. MALDI is also capable of providing indirect information on hydrogen bonding.