Remote Stereoelectronic Effects in Pyrrolidone- and Caprolactam-Substituted Phenols: Discrepancies in Antioxidant Properties Evaluated by Electrochemical Oxidation and H-Atom Transfer Reactivity.

New antioxidants are commonly evaluated via two main approaches, i.e., the ability to donate an electron and the ability to intercept free radicals. We compared these approaches by evaluating the properties of 11 compounds containing both antioxidant moieties (mono- and polyphenols) and auxiliary pharmacophores (pyrrolidone and caprolactam). Several common antioxidants, such as butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), 2,3,5-trimethylphenol (TMP), quercetin, and dihydroquercetin, were added for comparison. The antioxidant properties of these compounds were determined by their rates of reaction with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and their oxidation potentials from cyclic voltammetry. Although these methods test different chemical properties, their results correlate reasonably well. However, several exceptions exist where the two methods give opposite predictions! One of them is the different behavior of mono- and polyphenols: polyphenols can react with DPPH more than an order of magnitude faster than monophenols of a similar oxidation potential. The second exception stems from the size of a "bystander" lactam ring at the benzylic position. Although the phenols with a seven-membered lactam ring are harder to oxidize, the sterically nonhindered compounds react with DPPH about 2× faster than the analogous five-membered lactams. The limitations of computational methods, especially those based on a single parameter, are also evaluated and discussed.

Catalyst-Solvent System for PASE Approach to Hydroxyquinolinone-Substituted Chromeno[2,3-b]pyridines Its Quantum Chemical Study and Investigation of Reaction Mechanism.

The Pot, Atom, and Step Economy (PASE) approach is based on the Pot economy principle and unites it with the Atom and Step Economy strategies; it ensures high efficiency, simplicity and low waste formation. The PASE approach is widely used in multicomponent chemistry. This approach was adopted for the synthesis of previously unknown hydroxyquinolinone substituted chromeno[2,3-b]pyridines via reaction of salicylaldehydes, malononitrile dimer and hydroxyquinolinone. It was shown that an ethanol-pyridine combination is more beneficial than other inorganic or organic catalysts. Quantum chemical studies showed that chromeno[2,3-b]pyridines has potential for corrosion inhibition. Real time 1H NMR monitoring was used for the investigation of reaction mechanism and 2-((2H-chromen-3-yl)methylene)malononitrile was defined as a key intermediate in the reaction.

Synthesis, Redox Properties and Antibacterial Activity of Hindered Phenols Linked to Heterocycles.

A series of benzotriazole, cyclic amides and pyrimidine derivatives, containing 2,6-di-tert-butyl-phenol fragments, were synthesized. The redox properties of obtained compounds were studied using the cyclic voltammetry on a platinum electrode in acetonitrile. The oxidation potentials of all substances were comparable to those of BHT. The obtained compounds were tested for their antibacterial activity, and N-(2-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxoethyl)isatin (32 µg/mL) exerted good activity against Staphylococcus aureus.