Studies towards the synthesis of Pd(ii)-containing [2] and [3]catenanes in aqueous media.

Here is reported the investigation of a synthetic route for the preparation of Pd(ii)-containing catenanes in aqueous media. A pseudorotaxane intermediate was prepared, which can potentially be converted into a series of catenanes. From the pseudorotaxane, using a Pd(ii)-driven clipping step a dinuclear [3]catenane was obtained in the solid state.

Self-assembled Pt2L2 boxes strongly bind G-quadruplex DNA and influence gene expression in cancer cells.

Supramolecular Pt(ii) quadrangular boxes bind native and G-quadruplex DNA motifs in a size-dependent fashion. Three Pt molecular squares of distinct size show biological activity against cancer cells and heavily influence the expression of genes known to form G-quadruplexes in their promoter regions. The smallest Pt-box displays less activity but more selectivity for a quadruplex formed in the c-Kit gene.

In vitro efficacy of new antiprotozoals against Philasterides dicentrarchi (Ciliophora, Scuticociliatida).

Philasterides dicentrarchi is a histiophagous ciliate that causes severe losses in turbot and sea bass farming. This study investigated the in vitro efficacy against P. dicentrarchi of 85 newly synthesized compounds and 12 commercial compounds, of which 2 are fluoroquinolones (norfloxacine and lomefloxacine) with known antibacterial activity. Seventeen of the newly synthesized compounds (2 naphthyridines, 2 pyridothienodiazines and 13 pyridothienotriazines) and the fluoroquinolone norfloxacin showed good activity. The most promising compound was the pyridothienotriazine 12k, with activity similar to that of the salicylanilides niclosamide and oxiclozanide (MLC 0.8 mg l(-1) in PBS, 1.5 mg l(-1) in seawater; MLC = minimum 24 h lethal concentration).

Pyrazolopyrimidines: synthesis, effect on histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells and cytotoxic activity.

A series of 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines (3--6) substituted at positions 1 (R(1)=Ph, H, tert-butyl and ribosetribenzoate), 4 (R(2)=chlorine, nitrogen and oxygen nucleophiles), and 6 (dimethylamino) have been synthesized and their effect on the release of histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells measured. After chemical stimulation, (polymer 48/80), several compounds (i.e. 3b, 4a, 4b, 4d, 4g, 5a), produce inhibition two to three times higher (40--60%) than DSCG but this action is lower after preincubation. 4b (R(1)=Ph, R(2)=NHCH(2)Ph; 50--70% inhibition) and 5a (R(1)=H, R(2)=OMe; 50--55% inhibition) are the most active ones in both experiments. With ovoalbumin as stimulus, several pyrazolopyrimidines show inhibition similar to DSCG, the most active compounds being 6a--d (IC(50)=12--16 microM; R(1)=ribosetribenzoate, R(2)=methoxy and amino). Compounds 4e (R(1)=t-butyl, R(2)=OMe) and 4g (R(1)=t-butyl, R(2)=piperidino) are inducers of the release of histamine (60 and 150% increase). Compounds 4b and 4c showed cytotoxic activity (IC(50)=1 microg/mL) to HT-29 human colon cancer cells.

Expanding cavitand chemistry: the preparation and characterization of [n]cavitands with n>=4.

The preparation of cavitands composed of 4, 5, 6, and 7 aromatic subunits ([n]cavitands, n=4-7) is described. The simple, two-step synthetic procedure utilized readily available starting materials (2-methylresorcinol and diethoxymethane). The two cavitand products having 4 and 5 aromatic subunits exhibited highly symmetric cone conformations, while the larger cavitands (n = 6 and 7) adopt conformations of lower symmetry. 1H NMR spectroscopic studies of [6]cavitand and [7]cavitand revealed that these hosts undergo exchange between equivalent conformations at room temperature. The departure of these two cavitands from cone conformations is related to steric crowding on their Ar-O-CH2-OAr bridges and is predicted by simple molecular mechanics calculations (MM2 force field). X-ray diffraction studies on single crystals of the [4]cavitand, [5]cavitand, and [6]cavitand hosts afforded additional experimental support for these conclusions.

An anti-inflammatory ditriazine inhibiting leukocyte functions and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclo-oxygenase-2.

A ditriazine derivative (4,10-dichloropyrido[5,6:4,5]thieno[3,2-d':3, 2-d]-1,2,3-ditriazine (DTD)) inhibited neutrophil functions, including degranulation, superoxide generation, and leukotriene B(4) production, without any effect on 5-lipoxygenase activity. This compound reduced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E(2) production in mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide, whereas no influence on the activity of inducible NO synthase, cyclo-oxygenase-2 or cyclo-oxygenase-1 was observed. DTD significantly reduced mouse paw oedema induced by carrageenan and also markedly reduced NO and prostaglandin E(2) levels in exudates from 24-h zymosan-stimulated mouse air pouch. Western blot analysis showed that DTD reduced the expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclo-oxygenase-2. Our results indicate that DTD exerts anti-inflammatory effects related to the inhibition of neutrophil functions and of NO and prostaglandin E(2) production, which could be due to a decreased expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclo-oxygenase-2.

Effects of some isoxazolpyrimidine derivatives on nitric oxide and eicosanoid biosynthesis.

The inhibitory effect of some isoxazolpyrimidine derivatives on iNOS and COX-2 endotoxin induction in mouse peritoneal macrophages has been studied. Three of these compounds inhibited nitrite and PGE2 accumulation in a concentration dependent-manner at microM range. None of these active compounds affected iNOS, COX-2, COX-1 or PLA2 activities, although some reduced iNOS or COX-2 expression. Besides, no effect was observed on human neutrophil inflammatory responses (LTB4 biosynthesis and superoxide or elastase release). Active compounds were assayed by oral administration in the mouse air pouch model, where they inhibited nitrite accumulation without affecting PGE2 levels or leukocyte migration.

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of some 8-cyanopyrido[3', 2':4,5]thieno[3,2-d]triazine derivatives as inhibitors of nitric oxide and eicosanoid biosynthesis.

A series of 8-cyanopyrido[3',2':4,5]thieno[3,2-d]-1,2,3-triazines, substituted at C-4 and C-7, were synthesized and evaluated as nitric oxide and prostaglandin E(2) inhibitors in murine peritoneal macrophages stimulated with bacterial endotoxin. Several compounds exhibited considerable activity, compounds 10 and 13 being the most interesting ones with IC(50) values of 11.2 and 3.4 microM on nitrites and 0.9 and 0.6 microM on prostaglandin E(2) production, respectively. None of the examples of pyridothienotriazines that were active at 10 microM showed any effect on inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and cyclooxygenase-1 enzymes, suggesting that they act by modifiying the level of expression of these inducible enzymes.

Synthesis and antiallergic activity of pyridothienopyrimidines.

The synthesis of a series of pyridothienopyrimidines and their evaluation as inhibitors or inducers of the release of histamine from rat mast cells is reported. The activity was measured after immunological stimulation with ovoalbumin and chemical stimulation with polymer 48/80 and the drugs adryamicin and vinorelbine. The experiments were carried out with and without preincubation of the stimulus with the cells before addition of the drug. Several pyridothienopyrimidines show inhibitory IC50 values in the range 2-25 microM, indicating they are up to 100 times more potent than cromoglycate (DSCG) and 10 times greater than Ketotifen. Compound 9l is a potent inhibitor in all the conditions tested and shows IC50 = 9-25 microM. Pyridothienopyrimidines 4l and 9e are very strong inducers of histamine release in the immunological (4l, 170-230%) and chemical (9e, 100-150%) assays, respectively. Compounds 4l and 9i are cytotoxic in vitro (IC50 = 0.1-0.2 microgram/mL) against P-388, A-549, HT-29, and MEL-28 tumor cell lines.

Synthesis and antihistaminic activity of 2-guanadino-3-cyanopyridines and pyrido[2,3-d]-pyrimidines.

2-Guanadino-3-cyanopyridines 8-33 and pyrido[2,3-d]-pyrimidines 35-52 were synthesized by nucleophilic displacement and cyclization of the chloroamidines 6a-d easily obtained by reaction of 2-aminocyanopyridines 5a-d with phosgene iminium chloride and their action on the release of histamine by mast cells examined under immunological and chemical stimulus, with and without pre-incubation. Several 2-guanadino-3-cyanopyridines and pyrido[2,3-d]-pyrimidines are shown to be inhibitors of the release of histamine when stimulated with ovoalbumin as antigen or with polymer 48/80 as chemical stimulus. Guanadino-3-cyanopyridine 30 and pyrido[2,3-d]-pyrimidine 49 are the more active of all, inhibiting the release of histamine in all the conditions tested (30-60% inhibition). Guanadinocyanopyridines 15, 17, and 19 are very potent stimulators of the release of histamine (150-300%) while pyrido[2,3-d]-pyrimidines are mostly inactive. Compounds 28 and 14 present moderate in vitro cytotoxic activity against P-388, A-549, HT-29, and MEL-28 cell lines.