Antifungal Activity of Amphiphilic Perylene Bisimides.

Perylene-based compounds, either naturally occurring or synthetic, have shown interesting biological activities. In this study, we report on the broad-spectrum antifungal properties of two lead amphiphilic perylene bisimides, compounds 4 and 5, which were synthesized from perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride by condensation with spermine and an ammonium salt formation. The antifungal activity was evaluated using a collection of fungal strains and clinical isolates from patients with onychomycosis or sporotrichosis. Both molecules displayed an interesting antifungal profile with MIC values in the range of 2-25 µM, being as active as several reference drugs, even more potent in some particular strains. The ammonium trifluoroacetate salt 5 showed the highest activity with a MIC value of 2.1 µM for all tested Candida spp., two Cryptococcus spp., two Fusarium spp., and one Neoscytalidium spp. strain. Therefore, these amphiphilic molecules with the perylene moiety and cationic ammonium side chains represent important structural features for the development of novel antifungals.

About the relevance of anion-π interactions in water.

Anion-π interactions are emerging as exotic features with potential applications in chemistry. In the last years, their relevance in living systems has been outlined, and so far there is no concluding significant evidence recognized about the participation of anion-π interactions in water because anion-π sensors contain large aromatic hydrophobic surfaces with limited solubility. By transforming a neutral heterocycle (for example quinoline) into its corresponding salt (quinolinium), we have been able to overcome these solubility issues, and new cationic water-soluble fluorophores have been prepared. Herein, we used N-alkylated heterocycles as π-acidic surfaces to shed light on the nature of anion-π in water by the direct measurement of the fluorescence and UV/Vis spectra in combination with DFT and X-ray analyses.

Biological Profiling of Semisynthetic C19-Functionalized Ferruginol and Sugiol Analogues.

The abietane-type diterpenoids are significant bioactive compounds exhibiting a varied range of pharmacological properties. In this study, the first synthesis and biological investigation of the new abietane-diterpenoid (+)-4-epi-liquiditerpenoid acid (8a) together with several of its analogs are reported. The compounds were generated from the readily available methyl callitrisate (7), which was obtained from callitrisic acid present in Moroccan Sandarac resin. A biological evaluation was conducted to determine the effects of the different functional groups present in these molecules, providing basic structure-activity relationship (SAR) elements. In particular, the ferruginol and sugiol analogs compounds 10-16 were characterized by the presence of a phenol moiety, higher oxidization states at C-7 (ketone), and the hydroxyl, methyl ester or free carboxylic acid at C19. The biological profiling of these compounds was investigated against a panel of six human solid tumor cell lines (HBL-100, A549, HeLa, T-47D, SW1573 and WiDr), four parasitic Leishmania species (L. donovani, L. infantum, L. guyanensis and L. amazonensis) and two malaria strains (3D7 and K1). Furthermore, the capacity of the compounds to modulate gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors (α1ß2γ2s) is also described. A comparison of the biological results with those previously reported of the corresponding C18-functionalized analogs was conducted.

Acceptorless dehydrogenative condensation: synthesis of indoles and quinolines from diols and anilines.

The use of diols and anilines as reagents for the preparation of indoles represents a challenge in organic synthesis. By means of acceptorless dehydrogenative condensation, heterocycles, such as indoles, can be obtained. Herein we present an experimental and theoretical study for this purpose employing heterogeneous catalysts Pt/Al2O3 and ZnO in combination with an acid catalyst (p-TSA) and NMP as solvent. Under our optimized conditions, the diol excess has been reduced down to 2 equivalents. This represents a major advance, and allows the use of other diols. 2,3-Butanediol or 1,2-cyclohexanediol has been employed affording 2,3-dimethyl indoles and tetrahydrocarbazoles. In addition, 1,3-propanediol has been employed to prepare quinolines or natural and synthetic julolidines.

Synthesis of bodinieric acids A and B, both C-18 and C-19-functionalized abietane diterpenoids: DFT study of the key aldol reaction.

The first synthesis of C-18- and C-19-bifunctionalized abietane diterpenoids, bodinieric (or callicapoic) acids, via an aldol reaction has been developed. This key aldol reaction was very sensitive to steric hindrance. This fact has been studied by deuterium exchange experiments and DFT methods. Optimization of this reaction led to the synthesis of anti-inflammatory bodinieric acids A and B, starting from abietic acid.

A theoretical study on NHC-catalysed enantioselective cycloaddition of ketenes and 3-aroylcoumarins: mechanism and enantioselectivity.

NHC-catalysed enantioselective cycloaddition of ketenes to 3-aroylcoumarins to yield dihydrocoumarin-fused dihydropyranones has been investigated using DFT methods at the B3LYP/6-31G* and MPWB1K/6-311G** computational levels. Two plausible mechanisms have been studied: the "ketene-first" mechanism A and the "coumarin-first" mechanism B. An analysis of the activation Gibbs free energies involved in the two competitive pathways makes it possible to rule out the pathway associated with the "coumarin-first" mechanism B. The first step of the "ketene-first" mechanism A is the formation of zwitterionic intermediate IN1-Zvia a nucleophilic attack of NHC 1 on ketene 2. A [4 + 2] cycloaddition through the nucleophilic attack of enolate IN1-Z on the conjugated double bond of the benzoyl group of coumarin 3, viaTS3-SS-a2 or TS3-RR-a2, yields IN3. Finally, the extrusion of the catalyst through TS5 leads to the final products, either 4-SS or 4-RR. Enantioselectivity observed in the experimental results is determined in the transition states TS3-SS-a2/TS3-RR-a2. In this pathway, the intramolecular hydrogen-bonding between the hydroxyl group of the IN1-Z adduct and the carbonyl oxygen of the original ketene group directs the final stereochemistry throughout the entire process.

A new mechanism for internal nucleophilic substitution reactions.

A new mechanism for the classic internal nucleophilic substitution reactions SNi by means of computational studies in the gas-phase, DCM and acetonitrile is reported. Despite the importance of the SNi mechanism, since the mid-1990s this mechanism has remained unexplored. This study focused mainly on the comparison between the mechanisms postulated to date for the SNi reactions and a new mechanism suggested by us that fits better the experimental observations. This comparative study has been applied to the conversion of ethyl, neopentyl, isopropyl and tert-butyl chlorosulfites into the corresponding alkyl chlorides. This new mechanism occurs through two transition structures. For primary and secondary substrates, the first transition structure is a 6-center syn-rearrangement of the alkanesulfonyl chloride that produces the corresponding olefin by simultaneous expulsion of HCl and SO2. The olefin, HCl and SO2 form a molecular complex. The final syn-addition of HCl to the olefin leads to alkyl chloride with the retention of configuration. For tertiary substrates, a variation of the previous mechanism is postulated with the intervention of contact ion pairs. It is of great importance to emphasize that this new mechanism is able to explain some experimental observations such as the presence of olefins in these types of reactions and the low reactivity of some systems such as neopentyl chlorosulfite. Our results pave the way to a new mechanistic perspective in similar reactions which will need further studies and validation.

Synthesis, Optical Properties, and DNA Interaction of New Diquats Based on Triazolopyridines and Triazoloquinolines.

New diquat derivatives based on [1,2,3]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridine and [1,2,3]triazolo[1,5-a]quinoline have been synthesized in excellent yields. To evaluate the effect of the alkyl bridge length, ethane and propane dibromo alkane substrates were used for their synthesis. Theoretical calculations predicted a very small energetic barrier between the two possible enantiomers P (Ra ) and M (Sa ), which makes them very difficult to resolve. Thermal denaturation studies, UV/Visible spectroscopy, and fluorescence titrations with ct-DNA evidenced the intercalation of the quinoline derivatives in DNA.

A DFT study of the mechanism of NHC catalysed annulation reactions involving α,ß-unsaturated acyl azoliums and ß-naphthol.

The mechanism of NHC catalysed annulation reactions involving an α,ß-unsaturated acyl azolium and ß-naphthol has been studied using DFT methods at the MPWB1K/6-311G(d,p) level in toluene. For the C-C bond formation step, which corresponds to the rate- and stereo-determining step of this NHC catalysed reaction, the two competitive addition modes, i.e. the 1,2- and the 1,4-additions, have been studied. In toluene, acyl azolium forms an ion pair (IP) with the counterion chloride anion. Interestingly, ß-naphthol forms a hydrogen bond with the chloride anion of IP, increasing the nucleophilic character of ß-naphthol and the electrophilic character of the acyl azolium moiety. For the first time, the transition state (TS) associated with the 1,2-addition is found and characterised. An analysis of the activation Gibbs free energies involved in the two competitive pathways makes it possible to rule out the pathway associated with the 1,2-addition. The relative Gibbs free energy of stereoisomeric TSs present in the 1,4-additions, accounts for the experimentally observed stereoselectivity. Finally, a comparative study of the pathways associated with the 1,2- and the 1,4-addition of ß-naphthalenethiol to the acyl azolium moiety of IP accounts for the low reactivity of ß-naphthalenethiol in these NHC catalysed annulation reactions involving α,ß-unsaturated acyl azoliums.

Semisynthesis of the antiviral abietane diterpenoid jiadifenoic acid C from callitrisic acid (4-epidehydroabietic acid) isolated from sandarac resin.

The semisynthesis of the antiviral abietane diterpenoid (+)-jiadifenoic acid C starting from the available methyl ester of callitrisic acid (4-epidehydroabietic acid) isolated from sandarac resin is reported. A protocol for the isolation of methyl callitrisate (methyl 4-epidehydroabietate) in gram quantities from sandarac resin is also described. Allylic C-17 oxygenation was introduced by regioselective dehydrogenation of the isopropyl group of methyl callitrisate with DDQ followed by selenium-catalyzed allylic oxidation. Ester hydrolysis afforded (+)-jiadifenoic acid C in 22% overall yield from methyl callitrisate. This semisynthetic route provides a convenient source of this anti-Coxsackie virus B natural product for further biological studies.

Evaluation of Superparamagnetic Silica Nanoparticles for Extraction of Triazines in Magnetic in-Tube Solid Phase Microextraction Coupled to Capillary Liquid Chromatography.

The use of magnetic nanomaterials for analytical applications has increased in the recent years. In particular, magnetic nanomaterials have shown great potential as adsorbent phase in several extraction procedures due to the significant advantages over the conventional methods. In the present work, the influence of magnetic forces over the extraction efficiency of triazines using superparamagnetic silica nanoparticles (NPs) in magnetic in tube solid phase microextraction (Magnetic-IT-SPME) coupled to CapLC has been evaluated. Atrazine, terbutylazine and simazine has been selected as target analytes. The superparamagnetic silica nanomaterial (SiO2-Fe3O4) deposited onto the surface of a capillary column gave rise to a magnetic extraction phase for IT-SPME that provided a enhancemment of the extraction efficiency for triazines. This improvement is based on two phenomena, the superparamegnetic behavior of Fe3O4 NPs and the diamagnetic repulsions that take place in a microfluidic device such a capillary column. A systematic study of analytes adsorption and desorption was conducted as function of the magnetic field and the relationship with triazines magnetic susceptibility. The positive influence of magnetism on the extraction procedure was demonstrated. The analytical characteristics of the optimized procedure were established and the method was applied to the determination of the target analytes in water samples with satisfactory results. When coupling Magnetic-IT-SPME with CapLC, improved adsorption efficiencies (60%-63%) were achieved compared with conventional adsorption materials (0.8%-3%).

Unzipping nucleoside channels by means of alcohol disassembly.

Gold nanoparticles capped with simple adenosine derivatives can form colloidal aggregates in nonpolar solvents. Theoretical calculations indicate the formation of organic channels by the supramolecular assembly of the nanoparticles by means of hydrogen bonds between the adenine moieties. The aggregates were only negligibly sensitive to nPrOH, iPrOH, and tBuOH, whereas some showed a similar response to MeOH and EtOH, and others showed high selectivity toward MeOH. DNA nucleoside derivatives (1-(2-deoxy-ß-D-ribofuranosyl)-5-methyluracil and 2',3'-O-isopropylideneadenosine) as well as thymine and other aromatic compounds such as pyrene derivatives (pyrene, 1-chloropyrene, 1-hydroxypyrene, (1-pyrenyl)methanol, and 2-hydroxynapthalene) did not induce disassembly of the nanoparticle aggregates. Data suggest that the nucleoside channels allow access to alcohols according to their size, and an efficient interaction between the alcohol and the adenine units destabilizes the hydrogen bonds, which eventually leads to nanoparticle disassembly.

Understanding the mechanism of the intramolecular stetter reaction. A DFT study.

The mechanism of the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed intramolecular Stetter reaction of salicylaldehyde 1 to yield chromanone 3 has been theoretically studied at the B3LYP/6-31G** level. This NHC-catalyzed reaction takes place through six elementary steps, which involve: (i) formation of the Breslow intermediate IN2; (ii) an intramolecular Michael-Type addition in IN2 to form the new C-C s bond; and (iii) extrusion of the NHC catalyst from the Michael adduct to yield chromanone 3. Analysis of the relative free energies in toluene indicates that while formation of Breslow intermediate IN2 involves the rate-determining step of the catalytic process, the intramolecular Michael-type addition is the stereoselectivity determining step responsible for the configuration of the stereogenic carbon a to the carbonyl of chromanone 3. An ELF analysis at TSs and intermediates involved in the Michael-type addition allows for the characterization of the electronic changes along the C-C bond-formation.

Understanding the cooperative NHC/LA catalysis for stereoselective annulation reactions with homoenolates. A DFT study.

The role of Ti(Oi-Pr)(4) Lewis acid (LA) in the cooperative N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)/LA catalyzed addition of enals to enones to yield cis-cyclopentenes has been investigated using DFT methods at the B3LYP/6-31G** computational level. Ti(IV) effectively catalyzes the reaction by formation of a complex with cinnamaldehyde 1, which favors the nucleophilic attack of NHC 5 on 1, and the subsequent proton abstraction to yield the extended Ti(IV)-Breslow intermediate 21. The nature of the metal involved in the LA catalyst plays a relevant role due to the more basic character of NHCs than aldehydes. Thus, strong LAs, such as Zn(OTf)(2), prevent the catalytic behavior of NHCs to form a very stable complex. The subsequent formation of a complex between chalcone 2 and the extended Ti(IV)-Breslow intermediate 21 favors the cis stereoselective C-C bond-formation. Analysis of the structures of Ti(IV)-complex precursors for the cis and trans C-C bond-formation steps allows for an explanation of the unexpected cis stereoselectivity.

Translocation versus cyclisation in radicals derived from N-3-alkenyl trichloroacetamides.

Under radical reaction conditions, two different and competitive reaction pathways were observed for N-(α-methylbenzyl)trichloroacetamides with a N-3-cyclohexenyl substituent: 1,4-hydrogen translocation and radical addition to a double bond. However, for radicals with an acyclic alkenyl side chain, the direct cyclisation process was exclusively observed. The dichotomy between translocation and direct radical cyclisation in these substrates has been theoretically studied using density functional theory (DFT) methods at the B3LYP/6-31G** computational level.

Understanding the mechanism of stereoselective synthesis of cyclopentenes via N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed reactions of enals with enones.

The N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed addition of enals to enones to yield trans-cyclopentenes has been investigated using DFT methods at B3LYP/6-31G** computational level. This NHC catalyzed reaction comprises several steps. The first one is the formation of a Breslow intermediate, which nucleophilically attacks to the conjugated position of the enone to yield an enol-enolate. This second step is responsible for the trans relationship at the final cyclopentene. An intramolecular aldolic condensation allows for the formation of the alkoxy cyclopentane intermediate, that by intramolecular nucleophilic attack on the carbonyl group yields a bicyclic ether. The extrusion of the NHC catalyst affords a bicyclic lactone, yielding by CO(2) elimination, the final trans-cyclopentene.

Understanding the participation of quadricyclane as nucleophile in polar [2sigma + 2sigma + 2pi] cycloadditions toward electrophilic pi molecules.

The formal [2sigma + 2sigma + 2pi] cycloaddition of quadricyclane, 1, with dimethyl azodicarboxylate, 2, in water has been studied using DFT methods at the B3LYP/6-31G** and MPWB1K/6-31G** levels. In the gas phase, the reaction of 1 with 2 has a two-stage mechanism with a large polar character and an activation barrier of 23.2 kcal/mol. Inclusion of water through a combined discrete-continuum model changes the mechanism to a two-step model where the first nucleophilic attack of 1 to 2 is the rate-limiting step with an activation barrier of 14.7 kcal/mol. Analysis of the electronic structure of the transition state structures points out the large zwitterionic character of these species. A DFT analysis of the global electrophilicity and nucleophilicity of the reagents provides a sound explanation about the participation of 1 as a nucleophile in these cycloadditions. This behavior is reinforced by a further study of the reaction of 1 with 1,1-dicyanoethylene.

1H and 13C NMR signal assignment of synthetic (-)-methyl thyrsiflorin B acetate, (-)-thyrsiflorin C and several scopadulane derivatives.

The (1)H and (13)C NMR signal assignment of the data of 13 scopadulane-type diterpenes is reported. It was based on one- and two- dimensional NMR techniques which included (1)H, (13)C, DEPT, HMQC and 1D NOE difference spectroscopy.

Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of novel C7-functionalized spongiane diterpenes.

Based on two lead cytotoxic spongiane diterpenes, a new series of C7-oxygenated derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their antitumor activity in vitro against the cancer cell lines HeLa and HEp-2. In general, introduction of either hydroxyl or acetoxy groups at C-7 did not improve the resultant cytotoxicity, while the presence of a butyrate ester led to more active compounds (CC(50)=4.0-9.5 microM).

Studies on the biosynthesis of paraherquamide A and VM99955. A theoretical study of intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition.

Intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions of 2-azadiene models have been studied quantum chemically at the B3LYP/6-31G level in order to elucidate the stereochemical features of the cyclization step involved in the biosynthesis of paraherquamide A and VM99955. These cycloadditions take place through concerted transition states associated with [4 + 2] processes. Analysis of the energies along the competitive paths reveals that while the cycloadditions of the oxindoles present a large anti selectivity, the indoles show a low syn selectivity for the formation of the C20 stereogenic center that is larger for the reduced tertiary amide form. The presence of the C14 methyl of the beta-methylproline ring produces a low hindrance along the reaction coordinate for the syn approach of the isoprene framework, in agreement with the low facial selectivity found experimentally. An analysis of the electrophilicity and activation parameters for experimental models of the inter- and intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions reveals several significant factors controlling these biosynthetic cyclizations. The results are in reasonable agreement with the available experimental data.