Synthesis of Substituted of Benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines through (3 + 2+1) Cyclization of 2-Aminobenzimidazole, Acetophenone, and N,N-Dimethylformamide as One-Carbon Synthon.

An efficient method for the construction of benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines using N,N-dimethylformamide as a one-carbon source and 2-aminobenzimidazoles and acetophenone as substrates through a one-pot, three-component cascade reaction is described. Spectra investigations indicated the fluorescent properties of selected products, exhibiting quantum yields 0.07-0.16 with maxima absorption at 266-294 nm and emission at 472-546 nm.

A rapid construction of new boron heterocycles and evaluation of photophysical properties of iminoboronates.

A green and efficient method for the synthesis of oxadiazaborole, dioxazaborinine, and oxadiazaborinine from the reactions of phenylboronic acid with amidoxime, α-hydroxyl oxime and α-hydroxyl hydrazone, respectively, is described. The reactions were performed under catalyst-free and mild conditions. All products can be rapidly purified by filtration and washing. In addition, a set of iminoboronates were prepared following a one-pot multicomponent reaction procedure using α-hydroxyl hydrazone, salicylaldehyde and boronic acid derivatives as starting materials and their photophysical properties were assessed. Then, cross-coupling reactions can be carried out smoothly on some target compounds, which may help develop new boron masking strategies.

GCDB: a glaucomatous chemogenomics database for in silico drug discovery.

Glaucoma is a group of neurodegenerative diseases that can cause irreversible blindness. The current medications, which mainly reduce intraocular pressure to slow the progression of disease, may have local and systemic side effects. Recently, medications with possible neuroprotective effects have attracted much attention. To assist in the identification of new glaucoma drugs, we created a glaucomatous chemogenomics database (GCDB; http://cadd.pharmacy.nankai.edu.cn/gcdb/home) in which various glaucoma-related chemogenomics data records are assembled, including 275 genes, 105 proteins, 83 approved or clinical trial drugs, 90 206 chemicals associated with 213 093 records of reported bioactivities from 22 324 corresponding bioassays and 5630 references. Moreover, an improved chemical similarity ensemble approach computational algorithm was incorporated in the GCDB to identify new targets and design new drugs. Further, we demonstrated the application of GCDB in a case study screening two chemical libraries, Maybridge and Specs, to identify interactions between small molecules and glaucoma-related proteins. Finally, six and four compounds were selected from the final hits for in vitro human glucocorticoid receptor (hGR) and adenosine A3 receptor (A3AR) inhibitory assays, respectively. Of these compounds, six were shown to have inhibitory activities against hGR, with IC50 values ranging from 2.92-28.43 µM, whereas one compoundshowed inhibitory activity against A3AR, with an IC50 of 6.15 µM. Overall, GCDB will be helpful in target identification and glaucoma chemogenomics data exchange and sharing, and facilitate drug discovery for glaucoma treatment.

Synthesis of a series of new glycoclusters and the evaluation of their anti-adhesion activities.

According to our early researches, some glycoclusters having glucose, mannose, cellose and lactose residues showed good anti-adhesion activity of leukocytes to endothelial cells and exerted anti-inflammatory effects. Based on these results and combination principles of drugs, a series of new glycoclusters modifying with potentially anti-oxidant activity pharmacophores have been synthesized, and their anti-adhesion activities were assessed by static state cell-based adhesion assay. The results showed that some modified glycoclusters displayed better activities than their leading compound.