Nitro-Containing Self-Immolative Systems for Biological Applications.

Since its introduction in 1981, the chemistry of self-immolative systems has received increasing attention in different application areas, such as analytical chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and materials science. This strategy is based on a stimulation that triggers a cascade of disassembling reactions leading to the release of smaller molecules. The particular reactivity of the nitro group, due to its powerful electron-withdrawing nature, has been exploited in the field of self-immolative chemistry.

Addition of Benzyl Halides to Aldehydes and Imines Using Photoactivated TDAE: Access to 3,4-Dihydroisocoumarins, 1,2-Diarylethanols, and 1,2-Diarylcarbamates under Metal-Free Conditions.

We describe herein the intermolecular addition reaction of benzyl halides to aldehydes and imines using photoactivated tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene (TDAE) as superphotoreductant. 3,4-Dihydroisocoumarins, 1,2-diarylethanols, and 1,2-diarylcarbamates were obtained with good functional group tolerance using simple, mild, and metal-free conditions.

A Survey of Synthetic Routes and Antitumor Activities for Benzo[]quinoxaline-5,10-diones.

Anthracycline antibiotics play an important role in cancer chemotherapy. The need to improve their therapeutic index has stimulated an ongoing search for anthracycline analogs with enhanced properties. This review aims to summarize the common synthetic approaches to benzo[]quinoxaline-5,10-diones and their uses in heterocyclic chemistry.

Metal-Free Addition of Benzyl Halides to Aldehydes Using Super Electron Donors: Access to 3,4-Dihydroisocoumarins and 1,2-Diarylethanols.

We report here the intermolecular metal-free addition reaction of functionalized benzyl halides to aldehydes using a super electron donor (SED). The metal-free and mild conditions allowed the formation of 3,4-dihydroisocoumarins and 1,2-diarylethanols with unprecedented functional group tolerance.

Antitumoral activity of quinoxaline derivatives: A systematic review.

Cancer is a leading cause of death and a major health problem worldwide. While many effective anticancer agents are available, the majority of drugs currently on the market are not specific, raising issues like the common side effects of chemotherapy. However, recent research hold promise for the development of more efficient and safer anticancer drugs.

Structure-Based Drug Design of Potent Pyrazole Derivatives against Rhinovirus Replication.

Rhinoviruses (RVs) have been linked to exacerbations of many pulmonary diseases, thus increasing morbidity and/or mortality in subjects at risk. Unfortunately, the wide variety of RV genotypes constitutes a major hindrance for the development of Rhinovirus replication inhibitors. In the current investigation, we have developed a novel series of pyrazole derivatives that potently inhibit the Rhinovirus replication.

Heterocyclic pharmacochemistry of new rhinovirus antiviral agents: A combined computational and experimental study.

Rhinovirus (RV), member of the Enterovirus genus, is known to be involved in more than half of the common colds. Through advances in molecular biology, rhinoviruses have also been associated with exacerbations of chronic pulmonary diseases (e.g.

Metal-Free Regiodivergent Addition of Carbon Nucleophiles to α,β-Unsaturated Electrophiles.

A mild and metal-free regiodivergent addition of carbon nucleophiles to α,β-unsaturated electrophiles was developed. Total 1,2-regioselectivity was observed in the addition of nitrobenzyl chloride derivative to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes in the presence of TDAE. Moreover, the reaction between -nitrobenzyl chloride and α,β-unsaturated iminium salts led to the formation of the 1,4-adduct with total regioselectivity.

Practical and Metal-Free Synthesis of Novel Enantiopure Amides Containing the Potentially Bioactive 5-Nitroimidazole Moiety.

We report here a practical and metal-free synthesis of novel enantiopure amides containing the drug-like 5-nitroimidazole scaffold. The first step was a metal-free diastereoselective addition of 4-(4-(chloromethyl)phenyl)-1,2-dimethyl-5-nitro-1-imidazole to enantiomerically pure --butanesulfinimine. Then, the --butanesulfinyl-protected amine was easily deprotected under acidic conditions.

Original Synthesis of Fluorenyl Alcohol Derivatives by Reductive Dehalogenation Initiated by TDAE.

We report here a novel and easy-to-handle reductive dehalogenation of 9-bromofluorene in the presence of arylaldehydes and dicarbonyl derivatives to give the corresponding fluorenyl alcohol derivatives and Darzens epoxides as by-products in tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene (TDAE) reaction conditions. The reaction is believed to proceed via two successive single electron transfers to generate the fluorenyl anion which was able to react with different electrophiles. A mechanistic study was conducted to understand the formation of the epoxide derivatives.

Synthesis and evaluation of in vitro antiproliferative activity of new ethyl 3-(arylethynyl)quinoxaline-2-carboxylate and pyrido[4,3-b]quinoxalin-1(2H)-one derivatives.

We report a novel series of quinoxaline derivatives from which agents with antiproliferative activity have been identified. Two ethyl 3-(arylethynyl)quinoxaline-2-carboxylates demonstrated substantial antiproliferative activity against both human non-small cell lung carcinoma (A549) and glioblastoma (U87-MG) cell lines. Pyrido[4,3-b]quinoxalin-1(2H)-ones demonstrated poor activity against A549 and U87-MG cell lines.

Polymerization Initiated by Organic Electron Donors.

Polymerization reactions with organic electron donors (OED) as initiators are presented herein. The metal-free polymerization of various activated alkene and cyclic ester monomers was performed in short reaction times, under mild conditions, with small amounts of organic reducing agents, and without the need for co-initiators or activation by photochemical, electrochemical, or other methods. Hence, OED initiators enabled the development of an efficient, rapid, room-temperature process that meets the technical standards expected for industrial processes, such as energy savings, cost-effectiveness and safety.

VP1 crystal structure-guided exploration and optimization of 4,5-dimethoxybenzene-based inhibitors of rhinovirus 14 infection.

Human rhinoviruses (HRV) are the predominant cause of common colds and flu-like illnesses, but are also responsible for virus-induced exacerbations of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, to date, no drug has been approved yet for clinical use. In this study, we present the results of the structure-based lead optimization of a class of new small-molecule inhibitors that we previously reported to bind into the pocket beneath the canyon of the VP1 protein.

Studies toward the oxidative and reductive activation of C-S bonds in 2'--aryl-2'-thiouridine derivatives.

Studies directed toward the oxidative and reductive desulfurization of readily available 2'--aryl-2'-thiouridine derivatives were investigated with the prospect to functionalize the C2'-position of nucleosides. The oxidative desulfurization-difluorination strategy was successful on 2-(arylthio)alkanoate surrogates, while extension of the combination of oxidants and fluoride sources was not an efficient fluorination protocol when applied to 2'--aryl-2'-thiouridine derivatives, resulting mainly in C5-halogenation of the pyrimidine ring and C2'-monofluorination without desulfurization. Cyclic voltammetry of 2'-arylsulfonyl-2'-deoxyuridines and their 2'-fluorinated analogues showed that cleavage of the arylsulfone moiety could occur, although at relatively high cathodic potentials.

Synthesis and Anti-Platelet Activity of Thiosulfonate Derivatives Containing a Quinone Moiety.

Thiosulfonate derivatives based on quinones were synthesized for studying "structure-activity relationship" compounds with an acylated and a free amino-group. Anti-platelet activity of the synthesized compounds was determined and the influence of substituents on the activity of the derivatives was assessed.

SERS investigations on orientation of 2-bromo-3-methyl-1,4-dimethoxy-9,10-anthraquinone on silver nanoparticles.

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were prepared by solution combustion method with urea as fuel. Silver nanoparticles were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of 2-bromo-3-methyl-1,4-dimethoxy-9,10-anthraquinone (BMDMAQ) adsorbed on silver nanoparticles was investigated.

TDAE strategy in the benzoxazolone series: synthesis and reactivity of a new benzoxazolinonic anion.

We describe an original pathway to produce new 5-substituted 3-methyl-6-nitro-benzoxazolones by the reaction of aromatic carbonyl and α-carbonyl ester derivatives with a benzoxazolinonic anion formed exclusively via the TDAE strategy.

Adsorption of N-(1-(2-bromophenyl)-2-(2-nitrophenyl)ethyl)-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide on silver nanoparticles: SERS investigation.

SERS provides essential data regarding the interaction of molecules in drugs with DNA. In the present study silver nanoparticles were synthesized using a solution combustion method with urea as fuel. The prepared silver nanoparticles are rod like structure.

Surface enhanced Raman spectral studies of 2-bromo-1,4-naphthoquinone.

Silver nanoparticles have been synthesized by a simple and inexpensive solution combustion method with urea as fuel. The structural and morphology of the silver nanoparticles were investigated through X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Energy Dispersion Spectra (EDS) techniques. Structural and morphological results confirmed the nanocrystalline nature of the silver nanoparticles.

Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopic investigations of 2-bromo-3-methylamino-1,4-naphthoquinone on silver nanoparticles.

Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopic technique has been employed to investigate the orientation of 2-bromo-3-methylamino-1,4-naphthoquinone (BMANQ) on silver nanoparticles. Silver nanoparticles have been prepared by solution combustion method with citric acid as fuel. Silver nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).

New series of monoamidoxime derivatives displaying versatile antiparasitic activity.

Following the promising antileishmanial results previously obtained in monoamidoxime series, a new series of derivatives was synthesized using manganese(III) acetate, Wittig reactions and Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling reactions. Pharmacomodulation in R(1), R(2) or R(3) substituents on the amidoxime structure is shown to influence antiprotozoan activity in vitro: a monosubstituted phenyl group in R1 (32-35) led to an activity against Leishmania donovani promastigotes (32, IC50 = 9.16 μM), whereas a polysubstituted group (36-37) led to an activity against Plasmodium falciparum (36, IC50 = 2.

Synthesis of new quinoxalines containing an oxirane ring by the TDAE strategy and in vitro evaluation in neuroblastoma cell lines.

Neuroblastoma is an aggressive pediatric malignancy with significant chemotherapeutic resistance. In order to obtain new compounds active on neuroblastoma cell lines, we investigated the reactivity of carbanion formed via TDAE in quinoxaline series. The new synthesized compounds were tested for their anti-proliferative activity on two neuroblastoma cell lines, and seven oxirane derivatives obtained interesting activities.

Spectroscopic studies of 1,4-dimethoxy-2,3-dimethylanthracene-9,10-dione on plasmonic silver nanoparticles.

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) of different sizes from 7nm to 22nm have been prepared by simple Dirk and Charles chemical method and characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Fluorescence quenching of 1,4-dimethoxy-2,3-dimethylanthracene-9,10-dione (DMDMAD) by silver nanoparticles has been investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy to understand the role of quenching mechanism. Furthermore, the intensity of DMDMAD fluorescence emission peak decreases with decrease in the size of the Ag NPs.

A novel benzonitrile analogue inhibits rhinovirus replication.

Objectives: To study the characteristics and the mode of action of the anti-rhinovirus compound 4-[1-hydroxy-2-(4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrophenyl)ethyl]benzonitrile (LPCRW_0005).

Methods: The antiviral activity of LPCRW_0005 was evaluated in a cytopathic effect reduction assay against a panel of human rhinovirus (HRV) strains. To unravel its precise molecular mechanism of action, a time-of-drug-addition study, resistance selection and thermostability assays were performed.

Orientation of N-(1-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(2-nitrophenyl)ethyl)-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide on silver nanoparticles: SERS studies.

In the present study, the silver nanoparticles were synthesized using a solution combustion method with urea as fuel. The prepared silver nanoparticles show an FCC crystalline structure with particle size of 59nm. FESEM image shows the prepared silver is a rod like structure.