Study of two combined series of triketones with HPPD inhibitory activity by molecular modelling.

Triketones are suitable compounds for 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibition and are important compounds for eliminating agricultural weeds. We report herein quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) modelling and docking studies for a series of triketone-quinoline hybrids and 2-(aryloxyacetyl)cyclohexane-1,3-diones with the aim of proposing new chemical candidates that exhibit improved performance as herbicides. The QSAR models obtained were reliable and predictive (average r2, q2, and r2pred of 0.72, 0.51, and 0.71, respectively). Guided by multivariate image analysis of the PLS regression coefficients and variable importance in projection scores, the substituent effects could be analysed, and a promising derivative with R1 = H, R2 = CN, and R3 = 5,7,8-triCl at the triketone-quinoline scaffold (P18) was proposed. Docking studies demonstrated that π-π stacking interactions and specific interactions between the substituents and amino acid residues in the binding site of the Arabidopsis thaliana HPPD (AtHPPD) enzyme support the desired bioactivity. In addition, compared to a benchmark commercial triketone (mesotrione), the proposed compounds are more lipophilic and less mobile in soil rich in organic matter and are less prone to contaminate groundwater.

Double focus in the modelling of anti-influenza properties of 2-iminobenzimidazolines: pharmacology and toxicology.

Influenza affects millions of people globally and the appearance of drug-resistant strains is an ongoing problem. Therefore, this work reports the development of quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models to predict some biological properties of new 2-iminobenzimidazoline candidates for the treatment of the flu. A series of 2-iminobenzimidazoline derivatives with experimentally available values for cytotoxicity (pCC50) and anti-influenza activity (pIC50) was used for multivariate image analysis applied to QSAR (MIA-QSAR). The models were vigorously validated according to the best practices in QSAR and the chemical features responsible for the response variables were analysed based on MIA-plots, which assess the PLS regression coefficients and variable importance in projection scores. MIA descriptors encoding atomic properties (van der Waals radius and electronegativity) were capable of properly modelling the pCC50 and pIC50 data. The internally and externally validated models were used to predict the selectivity indexes (SI = pCC50/pIC50) of unprecedented analogues, which were designed upon analysis of the MIA-plots that show the substituent groups most affecting the biological data and by the combination of substructures of selected molecules. At least three promising anti-influenza candidates could be proposed from the predictive MIA-QSAR models.

Craniofacial features affecting mandibular asymmetries in skeletal Class II patients.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics affecting different intensities of mandibular asymmetry in skeletal Class II adults using three-dimensional images. This study is clinically relevant since it allows professionals to evaluate the morphological components related to these deformities and more carefully obtain correct diagnosis and treatment plan for such patients. METHODS: Cone-beam computed tomography data of 120 Class II patients (40 with relative symmetry, 40 with moderate asymmetry, and 40 with severe asymmetry) were imported to SimPlant Ortho Pro® 2.0 software (Dental Materialise, Leuven, Belgium). Three reference planes were established and linear measurements were performed from specific landmarks to these planes, comparing the deviated side and the contralateral side in each group, as well as the differences between groups. The correlation between midline mandibular asymmetry and other variables was also evaluated. Statistical analyses considered a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: Comparing the values obtained on the deviated side and on the contralateral side, there were significant differences for patients with moderate asymmetry and severe asymmetry. However, differences were seen more often in severe mandibular asymmetries. In those patients, there was a significant correlation of the gnathion deviation with lower dental midline deviation, difference in the lateral gonion positions, difference in the mandibular rami heights, and difference in the jugale vertical displacements. CONCLUSIONS: For skeletal Class II patients with mandibular asymmetry, some craniofacial features are related to chin deviation and require proper evaluation, including the bilateral differences in the ramus height, mandibular body length, transverse and vertical positioning of the gonion and jugale points.

Computational modelling of the antischistosomal activity for neolignan derivatives based on the MIA-SAR approach.

Theoretical models for exploring the antischistosomal activity of a dataset of 18 synthetic neolignans are built using the multivariate image analysis applied to structure-activity relationships (MIA-SAR) approach. The obtained models were validated using the accuracy (Acc) in leave-one-out cross-validation, external validation and Y-randomization procedures, yielding correct classification superior to 80%, 70% and 60%, respectively. Additionally, a comparison was made of the models obtained from binary (black and white) and coloured images; the colours (pixel values) were selected to correspond to chemical properties. It was observed that the models obtained from coloured images with pixel values corresponding to electronegativity (known as the aug-MIA-SAR(colour) approach) generally yielded superior statistical parameters compared with those obtained from binary images (MIA-SAR) and randomly coloured images (atoms are coloured according to their type) with atomic sizes corresponding to Van der Waals radius (aug-MIA-SAR), respectively. Mechanistic interpretation of the influence of different substituents on the antischistosomal activity revealed that methoxy substituents in the R1 (or R2) and R5 positions of the neolignan scaffold are indispensable for the antischistosomal activity. The obtained results provide knowledge of the possible structural modifications to yield novel neolignan compounds with antischistosomal activity.

The seeming lack of CF···HO intramolecular hydrogen bonds in linear aliphatic fluoroalcohols in solution.

No CF···HO intramolecular hydrogen bonds (IHBs) in 2-fluoroethanol, 3-fluoropropanol and 4-fluorobutanol can be detected experimentally in solution by NMR and infrared spectroscopies. According to ab initio (MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ) and DFT calculations (B3LYP), a CF···HO IHB has no influence on the conformational behavior of 2-fluoroethanol, while it stabilises the global minima of 3-fluoropropanol and 4-fluorobutanol for the isolated molecules. Entropy and bulk solvation effects, even in nonpolar media, such as CCl4, cyclohexane and dichloromethane, are indicated to diminish the population of these global minima, apparently below the detection limit.

Multidisciplinary approach in the rehabilitation of missing lateral incisors: a new trend in daily practice.

This article reports the case of a patient with bilateral hypodontia of the maxillary lateral incisors who was dissatisfied with the outcome of initial orthodontic treatment, highlighting the importance of a multidisciplinary interaction among Restorative Dentistry, Orthodontics, and Implantology to achieve satisfactory esthetics and functional results.

Theoretical and infrared spectroscopy study of the conformational preferences for some 3-monosubstituted-2-methylpropenes.

The infrared spectra of 3-X-2-methylpropenes (X = Cl, Br, I, NMe(2), NEt(2), OH, OMe, OEt, SH, SMe and SEt) have been recorded at room temperature in CCl(4) solution. The C=C stretching mode was analyzed and compared to theoretically calculated data to give insight about the conformational isomerism of these compounds. A combination band systematically appears in all spectra (except for amines); the remaining ν(C=C) band and the corresponding intensities were used to obtain the conformer populations. For second-period atoms bonded to C-3, two or more conformers are observed in CCl(4) solution, but when substitution by heavier atoms takes place, only one conformer is observed under the tested conditions, i.e., the gauche form with respect to the C=C-C-X dihedral angle. Therefore, steric hindrance between X and =CH(2) in the s-cis form is strongly dependent on the heteroatom size, while the effect of the alkyl chain bonded to the heteroatom seems to be of secondary importance.

Multinuclear magnetic resonance and theoretical calculations in the study of structure and tautomerism of some 2-amino-N'-(aryl)-benzamidines.

1H, 13C and 15N NMR spectra of eight 2-amino-N'-(aryl)-benzamidines and of the parent compound were recorded, and unequivocal chemical shift assignments through the use of COSY, 1H-J resolved, HETCOR and COLOC sequences were performed. 1H and 13C chemical shifts for the nuclei of the benzamidine aromatic ring were not affected by the substituents present at N'-phenyl group, while the substituent effects in the chemical shifts of the same nuclei of N'-phenyl ring were very similar to the ones reported for the corresponding monosubstituted benzenes, indicating that there is no interaction between the two aromatic rings. 15N NMR spectra (DEPT sequence) show just two hydrogenated nitrogen atoms, which confirm that the amino form is the most stable tautomer, but the observation of a sharp signal and two broad signals (15N decoupled spectra), and the corresponding broad signal for the =C-NH(2) protons (in the 1H spectra), indicates the occurrence of tautomerism between the amino and imino forms, observable for some of the studied benzamidines. Theoretical calculations lead to the conclusion that these compounds occur mostly as the amino tautomer with Z configuration, which is stabilized by hydrogen bonding.

The utility of infrared spectroscopy for quantitative conformational analysis at a single temperature.

The carbonyl stretching vibration of 2-bromocyclohexanone (1) has been measured in a variety of solvents. It is shown that its component intensities are not only dependent on the populations of the axial and equatorial conformers, but are also dependent on the molar absorptivities (epsilon ) which are specific for each conformer in each solvent. In CCl(4), the axial and equatorial conformers have epsilon values of 417 and 818 l mol(-1) x cm(-1), respectively, while in CH(3)CN solution, the values were 664 and 293 l mol(-1) x cm(-1). These results are supported by results of theoretical calculations of frequencies, which gave an intensity of 223.8 kM mol(-1) x(1782 cm(-1)) for the axial and 174.4 kM mol(-1) x (1802 cm(-1)) for the equatorial conformer, indicating that the axial conformer presents a larger molar absorptivity than the equatorial one in the vapor phase. Moreover, the results presented here clearly demonstrate that although infrared spectroscopy at a single temperature can be an important auxiliary technique for conformational analysis, it must not be used to quantify conformational preferences of a molecule if the absorption molar coefficients for each conformer are not known or not amenable to experimental determination.

Infrared spectroscopy and theoretical calculations as tools for the conformational analysis of 2-methoxycyclohexanone.

The conformational equilibrium of 2-methoxycyclohexanone has been analyzed through infrared spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. These calculations indicate that six conformations may be present in the vapor phase, due to the rotation of the methoxy group around the O-C(2) bond, leading to axial (g(+), g(-) and anti) and equatorial (g(+), g(-) and anti) conformers. However, the infrared spectrum in CCl(4) solution shows just three carbonyl stretching bands, corresponding to the conformers of lower energies. An additional band is observed for the CH(3)CN solution, attributed to a fourth conformer stabilized by a dipole-dipole interaction between this conformer, having a high dipole moment, and the very polar solvent. An interpretation of the governing factors of 2-methoxycyclohexanone equilibria is also given.