Ketoconazole/calix[n]arenes-based compounds improve the antifungal activity against azole-resistant Candida isolates.

Ketoconazole (KTZ) is an antifungal agent; however, its bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy are reduced by the low aqueous solubility of the drug. Aiming at providing to improve the biopharmaceutical properties of KTZ, we studied the water-soluble different calix[n]arenes as carrier systems for KTZ. All calix[n]arene-KTZ tested showed in vitro antifungal activity superior or similar to free KTZ against Candida spp.

Calix[n]arene-Catalyzed Three-Component Povarov Reaction: Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Julolidines and Mechanistic Insights.

A new one-pot cascade reaction-based application of Povarov reactions with a p-sulfonic acid calix[4]arene catalyst for the synthesis of a series of 34 julolidine derivatives with substituents at C8 or C9 in good to excellent yields is reported. These microwave-assisted reactions proceeded efficiently, had short reaction times, were metal-free, were low cost, and used an inexpensive, easily available and nontoxic catalyst. These advantages, along with a simple workup procedure, make this protocol a very efficient and green alternative to the traditional methods for constructing these types of N-heterocyclic skeletons.