1-Hydroxy-2(1H)-pyridinone-Based Chelators with Potential Catechol O-Methyl Transferase Inhibition and Neurorescue Dual Action against Parkinson's Disease.

Two analogues of tolcapone where the nitrocatechol group has been replaced by a 1-hydroxy-2(1H)-pyridinone have been designed and synthesised. These compounds are expected to have a dual mode of action both beneficial against Parkinson's disease: they are designed to be inhibitors of catechol O-methyl transferase, which contribute to the reduction of dopamine in the brain, and to protect neurons against oxidative damage. To assess whether these compounds are worthy of biological assessment to demonstrate these effects, measurement of their pKa and stability constants for Fe(III), in silico modelling of their potential to inhibit COMT and blood-brain barrier scoring were performed. These results demonstrate that the compounds may indeed have the desired properties, indicating they are indeed promising candidates for further evaluation.

Novel 1-hydroxypyridin-2-one metal chelators prevent and rescue ubiquitin proteasomal-related neuronal injury in an in vitro model of Parkinson's disease.

Ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) impairment, excessive cellular oxidative stress, and iron dyshomeostasis are key to substantia nigra dopaminergic neuronal degeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD); however, a link between these features remains unconfirmed. Using the proteasome inhibitor lactacystin we confirm that nigral injury via UPS impairment disrupts iron homeostasis, in turn increasing oxidative stress and promoting protein aggregation. We demonstrate the neuroprotective potential of two novel 1-hydroxy-2(1H)-pyridinone (1,2-HOPO) iron chelators, compounds C6 and C9, against lactacystin-induced cell death. We demonstrate that this cellular preservation relates to the compounds' iron chelating capabilities and subsequent reduced capacity of iron to form reactive oxygen species (ROS), where we also show that the ligands act as antioxidant agents. Our results also demonstrate the ability of C6 and C9 to reduce intracellular lactacystin-induced α-synuclein burden. Stability constant measurements confirmed a high affinity of C6 and C9 for Fe3+ and display a 3:1 HOPO:Fe3+ complex formation at physiological pH. Reducing iron reactivity could prevent the demise of nigral dopaminergic neurons. We provide evidence that the lactacystin model presents with several neuropathological hallmarks of PD related to iron dyshomeostasis and that the novel chelating compounds C6 and C9 can protect against lactacystin-related neurotoxicity.

Design and evaluation of bi-functional iron chelators for protection of dopaminergic neurons from toxicants.

While the etiology of non-familial Parkinson's disease (PD) remains unclear, there is evidence that increased levels of tissue iron may be a contributing factor. Moreover, exposure to some environmental toxicants is considered an additional risk factor. Therefore, brain-targeted iron chelators are of interest as antidotes for poisoning with dopaminergic toxicants, and as potential treatment of PD. We, therefore, designed a series of small molecules with high affinity for ferric iron and containing structural elements to allow their transport to the brain via the neutral amino acid transporter, LAT1 (SLC7A5). Five candidate molecules were synthesized and initially characterized for protection from ferroptosis in human neurons. The promising hydroxypyridinone SK4 was characterized further. Selective iron chelation within the physiological range of pH values and uptake by LAT1 were confirmed. Concentrations of 10-20 µM blocked neurite loss and cell demise triggered by the parkinsonian neurotoxicants, methyl-phenyl-pyridinium (MPP+) and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in human dopaminergic neuronal cultures (LUHMES cells). Rescue was also observed when chelators were given after the toxicant. SK4 derivatives that either lacked LAT1 affinity or had reduced iron chelation potency showed altered activity in our assay panel, as expected. Thus, an iron chelator was developed that revealed neuroprotective properties, as assessed in several models. The data strongly support the role of iron in dopaminergic neurotoxicity and suggests further exploration of the proposed design strategy for improving brain iron chelation.

Kinetically Inert Bispidol-Based Cu(II) Chelate for Potential Application to (64/67)Cu Nuclear Medicine and Diagnosis.

A family of 2,4-pyridyl-disubstituted bispidol derivatives bearing methylene carboxylic acid ethyl esters (L1-L3), methylene carboxylic acids (L4 and L5), or methylenethiophene (L6) groups were synthesized. In water, all ligands form rigid 1:1 complexes in the presence of Zn(II) in which the bicycle adopts a chair-chair conformation (cis isomer), as observed by (1)H NMR and, in the case of ligand L1, by an X-ray diffraction crystal structure. Interestingly, addition of Zn(II) ions on ligand L1 induces a metal-mediated selective hydrolysis of the ethyl esters. This selective hydrolysis was not observed upon addition of other cations such as Na(+), Mg(+), and Ca(2+). Reduction of the central ketone was achieved to prevent ring opening via retro Diels-Alder reactions and to afford highly stable and water-soluble ligands (L4, L5, L6). The complexation properties of L4 and L6 were studied in solution, with a particular interest for ligand L4. Fast complexation occurs in strongly acidic media (pH = 1), with a high affinity toward Cu(II) (log KCuL4 = 19.2(3), pCu = 17.0 at pH 7.4, pCu = -log[Cufree], [Cu] = 1 × 10(-6) M, [L] = 1 × 10(-5) M) and high selectivity versus Co(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II), as shown by the values of the binding constants obtained from potentiometric and spectrophotometric titrations. Reversible redox potential with E1/2 = -430 mV (vs normal hydrogen electrode) was measured. The complex was found to be fairly inert from acid-assisted dissociation experiments in 5 M HClO4 (t1/2 = 110 d at 25 °C).

Bidentate urea derivatives of p-tert-butyldihomooxacalix[4]arene: neutral receptors for anion complexation.

Three new bidentate ureidodihomooxacalix[4]arene derivatives (phenyl 5a, n-propyl 5b, and tert-butyl 5c) were synthesized in four steps from the parent compound p-tert-butyldihomooxacalix[4]arene and obtained in the cone conformation, as shown by NMR studies. The binding ability of these neutral receptors toward spherical, linear, trigonal planar, and tetrahedrical anions was assessed by (1)H NMR and UV-vis titrations. The structures and complexation energies of some complexes were also studied by DFT methods. The data showed that the association constants are strongly dependent on the nature of the substituent (aryl/alkyl) at the urea moiety. In general, for all the receptors, the association constants decrease with decrease of anion basicity. Ph-urea 5a is the best anion receptor, showing the strongest complexation for F(-) (log K(assoc) = 3.10 in CDCl3) and also high binding affinity for the carboxylates AcO(-) and BzO(-). Similar results were obtained by UV-vis studies and were also corroborated by DFT calculations.

Competitive adsorption mechanisms of Cd(II), Cu(II) and Pb(II) on bioinspired mesoporous silica revealed by complementary adsorption/isothermal titration calorimetry studies.

This study presents the adsorption properties of a bioinspired grafted mesoporous silica material and the competitive effects between Cd(II) or Cu(II) and Pb(II) during the adsorption process. Glutathione, a natural antioxidant known for its metal binding properties, has been successfully grafted to SBA-15 mesoporous silica and the optimum adsorption parameters were determined. This original and multidisciplinary approach combines classical adsorption studies with thermodynamic investigations to understand the adsorption behavior of Cd(II), Cu(II) and Pb(II) on this material. To this end, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) has been used to elucidate the mechanisms of single-metal and two-metal adsorption. The results showed affinity in the order Pb(II) > Cu(II) > Cd(II) in single metal systems. Cd(II) adsorption relied mainly on physical contributions while Cu(II) and Pb(II) adsorption was shown to be chemically driven. Two-metal systems highlighted that Cd(II) and Pb(II) are adsorbed on the same coordination sites, whereas Cu(II) and Pb(II) are adsorbed on different sites. The material showed good selectivity and encouraging results were obtained on real effluents.

BTBPs versus BTPhens: some reasons for their differences in properties concerning the partitioning of minor actinides and the advantages of BTPhens.

Two members of the tetradentate N-donor ligand families 6,6'-bis(1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-2,2'-bipyridine (BTBP) and 2,9-bis(1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline (BTPhen) currently being developed for separating actinides from lanthanides have been studied. It has been confirmed that CyMe4-BTPhen 2 has faster complexation kinetics than CyMe4-BTBP 1. The values for the HOMO-LUMO gap of 2 are comparable with those of CyMe4-BTBP 1 for which the HOMO-LUMO gap was previously calculated to be 2.13 eV. The displacement of BTBP from its bis-lanthanum(III) complex by BTPhen was observed by NMR, and constitutes the only direct evidence for the greater thermodynamic stability of the complexes of BTPhen. NMR competition experiments suggest the following order of bis-complex stability: 1:2 bis-BTPhen complex ≥ heteroleptic BTBP/BTPhen 1:2 bis-complex > 1:2 bis-BTBP complex. Kinetics studies on some bis-triazine N-donor ligands using the stopped-flow technique showed a clear relationship between the rates of metal ion complexation and the degree to which the ligand is preorganized for metal binding. The BTBPs must overcome a significant (ca. 12 kcal mol(-1)) energy barrier to rotation about the central biaryl C-C axis in order to achieve the cis-cis conformation that is required to form a complex, whereas the cis-cis conformation is fixed in the BTPhens. Complexation thermodynamics and kinetics studies in acetonitrile show subtle differences between the thermodynamic stabilities of the complexes formed, with similar stability constants being found for both ligands. The first crystal structure of a 1:1 complex of CyMe4-BTPhen 2 with Y(NO3)3 is also reported. The metal ion is 10-coordinate being bonded to the tetradentate ligand 2 and three bidentate nitrate ions. The tetradentate ligand is nearly planar with angles between consecutive rings of 16.4(2)°, 6.4(2)°, 9.7(2)°, respectively.

Synthesis, physicochemical characterization and neuroprotective evaluation of novel 1-hydroxypyrazin-2(1H)-one iron chelators in an in vitro cell model of Parkinson's disease.

Iron dysregulation, dopamine depletion, cellular oxidative stress and α-synuclein protein mis-folding are key neuronal pathological features seen in the progression of Parkinson's disease. Iron chelators endowed with one or more therapeutic modes of action have long been suggested as disease modifying therapies for its treatment. In this study, novel 1-hydroxypyrazin-2(1H)-one iron chelators were synthesized and their physicochemical properties, iron chelation abilities, antioxidant capacities and neuroprotective effects in a cell culture model of Parkinson's disease were evaluated. Physicochemical properties (log ß, log D7.4, pL0.5) suggest that these ligands have a poorer ability to penetrate cell membranes and form weaker iron complexes than the closely related 1-hydroxypyridin-2(1H)-ones. Despite this, we show that levels of neuroprotection provided by these ligands against the catecholaminergic neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine in vitro were comparable to those seen previously with the 1-hydroxypyridin-2(1H)-ones and the clinically used iron chelator Deferiprone, with two of the ligands restoring cell viability to ≥89% compared to controls. Two of the ligands were endowed with additional phenol moieties in an attempt to derive multifunctional chelators with dual iron chelation/antioxidant activity. However, levels of neuroprotection with these ligands were no greater than ligands lacking this moiety, suggesting the neuroprotective properties of these ligands are due primarily to chelation and passivation of intracellular labile iron, preventing the generation of free radicals and reactive oxygen species that otherwise lead to the neuronal cell death seen in Parkinson's disease.

Recognition of some lanthanides, actinides, and transition- and heavy-metal cations by N-donor ligands: thermodynamic and kinetic aspects.

The remarkable actinide(III) selectivity of the polyaromatic N-donors bis-triazine-pyridines (BTPs), hemi-bis-triazine-pyridines (hemi-BTPs) and bis-triazine-bipyridines (BTBPs) make these ligands the most promising candidates in partitioning and transmutation processes developed so far to better manage nuclear waste. The interactions of n-Pr-BTP, C(5)-hemi-BTP, and the two most extensively investigated BTBPs (C(5)-BTBP and CyMe(4)-BTBP) have been studied with some representative lanthanide(III), uranyl, thorium, and transition- and other heavy-metal cations in methanol. The formation of complexes of different stoichiometries, the stability of which depended on both the ligands and the cations, was shown using UV absorption spectrophotometry. Study of the complexation reactions of La(3+), Eu(3+) and Yb(3+) with these four ligands by stopped-flow spectrophotometry allowed determination of the rate constants and postulation of possible complexation mechanisms.

Macrocyclic hexaureas: synthesis, conformation, and anion binding.

Five macrocylic compounds XXXXXX, XXDXXD, XDXDXD, XDDXDD, and DDDDDD with 48-membered rings, in which six xanthene and/or diphenyl ether fragments are linked through six urea (-NH-C(O)-NH-) groups, have been synthesized. In the cyclization step, a linear diamine was allowed to react with the appropriate diisocyanate by using a [5+1] (i.e., "XDXDX+D" for XDXDXD), [4+2] (DDDDDD), or [3+3] (XDDXDD) procedure. Compounds XXXXXX and XXDXXD were prepared from two molecules of the dimeric amine XX and two molecules of the respective monomeric diisocyanate (X or D) in a [2+1+2+1] (or 2x[2+1]) reaction. The (nonoptimized) yields in the cyclization step ranged from 45 to 80%. The linear precursor diamines or diisocyanates were obtained by analogous condensation reactions by using partial protection with a tert-butoxycarbonyl group. All the macrocyclic compounds and synthetic intermediates were characterized by (1)H NMR and mass spectra. Three different crystal structures were obtained for XDDXDD, which show the molecule in a more or less strongly folded conformation determined by intramolecular hydrogen bonding. The interaction of the hexaureas with selected anions was studied by (1)H NMR spectroscopy and UV absorption spectrophotometry.

A hydrosoluble triphenylene that preferentially binds acetylcholine, epibatidine, and nicotine.

Synthesis and binding properties of a new hydrosoluble triphenylene 1b are reported. Selective recognition of acetylcholine (ACh) against other aliphatic ammoniums is achieved by this flat receptor, which also forms complexes with epibatidine and nicotine. Ionic pairing and hydrophobic effects between host 1b and ACh are studied by infrared spectroscopy.

Cyclic tetraureas with variable flexibility--synthesis, crystal structures and properties.

Macrocyclic molecules containing several amide or urea functions may serve as anion receptors. We describe the synthesis of 32-membered macrocycles, in which four rigid xanthene units (X) and/or diphenyl ether units (D) as flexible analogues are linked via urea groups. All six possible combinations of these units (XXXX, XXXD, XXDD, XDXD, XDDD and DDDD) were synthesized and two examples were characterised by single-crystal X-ray analyses (DDDD and two structures for XXXD). Both macrocycles showed distinct differences in their overall conformation and consequently in their hydrogen-bonding pattern. Hydrogen-bonded solvent molecules are found for both compounds and intramolecular hydrogen bonds for the two structures of XXXD, but surprisingly no direct intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the macrocyclic tetraurea molecules. The interaction with various anions was studied by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. Stability constants for all tetramers were determined by UV spectroscopy for complexes with chloride, bromide, acetate and dihydrogenphosphate in acetonitrile-THF (3:1). The strongest binding was found for XXXD and acetate (log beta = 7.4 +/- 0.2), the weakest for XXXX and acetate (log beta = 5.1 +/- 0.5). MD simulations in chloroform and acetonitrile boxes show that all molecules except DDDD adopt very similar conformations characterized by an up-down-up-down arrangement of the spacer groups. Clustered solvation shells of acetonitrile molecules around XXXX and DDDD suggest their preorganization for spherical/planar and tetrahedral/bidentate anions, respectively, which in turn was corroborated by simulation of the corresponding complexes with chloride and dihydrogenphosphate.

Tetraphosphonated thiophene ligand: mixing the soft and the hard.

The synthesis of ligand L(T)H8, based on a thiophene framework containing two bis(aminomethyldiphosphonate) functions in the ortho position to the central sulfur atom, is described, together with the characterization of the intermediate compounds. The physico-chemical properties of the ligand were first studied by means of potentiometry and UV-Vis absorption spectrophotometric titrations to determine its pK values. Six successive equilibrium constants were determined in aqueous solutions. The same means were then used to quantify the interactions of the ligand with Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II). Following the conventional Irving-Williams trend, L(T) was shown to have the highest affinity towards Cu(II) (log K(CuL(T)) = 16.11(3)), while Zn(II) and Ni(II) showed similar values (log K(ML(T)) = 10.81(8) and 10.9(1), respectively), revealing a large selectivity of L(T) toward Cu(II). Based on a combination of UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and EPR measurements as a function of pH, along with DFT calculations, the coordination behavior of the hard phosphonate, medium amino and soft thiophene entities are questioned regarding their coordination to the Cu atom.

Complexation of lanthanides, actinides and transition metal cations with a 6-(1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine ligand: implications for actinide(III)/lanthanide(III) partitioning.

The quadridentate N-heterocyclic ligand 6-(5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1,2,4-benzotriazin-3-yl)-2,2' : 6',2''-terpyridine (CyMe(4)-hemi-BTBP) has been synthesized and its interactions with Am(III), U(VI), Ln(III) and some transition metal cations have been evaluated by X-ray crystallographic analysis, Am(III)/Eu(III) solvent extraction experiments, UV absorption spectrophotometry, NMR studies and ESI-MS. Structures of 1:1 complexes with Eu(III), Ce(III) and the linear uranyl (UO(2)(2+)) ion were obtained by X-ray crystallographic analysis, and they showed similar coordination behavior to related BTBP complexes. In methanol, the stability constants of the Ln(III) complexes are slightly lower than those of the analogous quadridentate bis-triazine BTBP ligands, while the stability constant for the Yb(III) complex is higher. (1)H NMR titrations and ESI-MS with lanthanide nitrates showed that the ligand forms only 1:1 complexes with Eu(III), Ce(III) and Yb(III), while both 1:1 and 1:2 complexes were formed with La(III) and Y(III) in acetonitrile. A mixture of isomeric chiral 2:2 helical complexes was formed with Cu(I), with a slight preference (1.4:1) for a single directional isomer. In contrast, a 1:1 complex was observed with the larger Ag(I) ion. The ligand was unable to extract Am(III) or Eu(III) from nitric acid solutions into 1-octanol, except in the presence of a synergist at low acidity. The results show that the presence of two outer 1,2,4-triazine rings is required for the efficient extraction and separation of An(III) from Ln(III) by quadridentate N-donor ligands.

Cyclic triureas--synthesis, crystal structures and properties.

The synthesis of 24-membered macrocycles is described, in which rigid xanthene units (X) and/or diphenyl ether units (D) as flexible analogues are linked via urea groups. All four possible combinations (XXX, XXD, XDD, DDD) have been obtained with yields of 40-72% for the cyclisation step. In two cases, the respective cyclic hexamers (XXDXXD, XXXXXX) were also isolated. Two compounds have been characterised by a single crystal X-ray analysis of the free triurea (XXD, XDD) and one example (DDD) by its complex with tetrabutylammonium chloride. It shows the chloride anion in the centre of the macrocycle, held by six NH...Cl- hydrogen bonds. The interaction with various other anions has been studied by 1H NMR. Complexation constants for chloride, bromide and acetate have been measured for all trimers by UV spectrophotometry. Molecular dynamics simulations have been carried out to determine the conformation of the free receptors in chloroform and acetonitrile. They show that in chloroform, intramolecular hydrogen bonding occasionally facilitated by trans-->cis isomerisation of an amide bond dominates the conformation of the macrocycles while in acetonitrile (the solvent used for complexation measurements), the ligating urea NH protons are properly arranged for the complexation of anions, however, their strong solvation is counteractive to the complexation.