Achiral Mannich-Base Curcumin Analogs Induce Unfolded Protein Response and Mitochondrial Membrane Depolarization in PANC-1 Cells.

Achiral Mannich-type curcumin analogs have been synthetized and assayed for their cytotoxic activity. The anti-proliferative and cytotoxic activity of curcuminoids has been tested on human non-small-cell lung carcinoma (A549), hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) and pancreatic cancer cell line (PANC-1). Based on the highest anti-proliferative activity nine drug candidates were further tested and proved to cause phosphatidylserine exposure as an early sign of apoptosis.

Pyrrolidinyl peptide nucleic acid homologues: effect of ring size on hybridization properties.

The effect of ring size of four- to six-membered cyclic β-amino acid on the hybridization properties of pyrrolidinyl peptide nucleic acid with an alternating α/β peptide backbone is reported. The cyclobutane derivatives (acbcPNA) show the highest T(m) and excellent specificity with cDNA and RNA.

Solvent-enhanced diastereo- and regioselectivity in the Pd(II)-catalyzed synthesis of six- and eight-membered heterocycles via cis-aminopalladation.

The Pd(II)-catalyzed intramolecular oxidative cyclization of tosyl-protected cis- and trans-N-allyl-2-aminocyclohexanecarboxamides was examined, and efficient syntheses of cyclohexane-fused pyrimidin-4-ones and 1,5-diazocin-6-ones were developed. In the course of the research, a marked solvent effect was observed on both the regio- and diastereoselectivity. Additionally, a novel Pd(II)-mediated domino oxidation, oxidative amination reaction was discovered.