New hybrids based on benzimidazole and diazepine moieties: design, synthesis, characterization, molecular docking studies and their in vitro interactions with benzodiazepine receptors.

Benzodiazepines are one of the most widely prescribed pharmacologic agents in the world. They are employed for numerous indications, including anxiety, insomnia, muscle relaxation, relief from spasticity caused by central nervous system pathology and epilepsy. In this work, we have synthesized some new hybrids based on benzimidazole and diazepine scaffolds from the reaction of suitable benzimidazole derivatives with glycine. NMR spectra, IR and mass as well as elemental analyses approved the structure of the title compounds. In vitro interactions of the title compounds were also examined on recombinant benzodiazepine receptors (αxß2/3γ2, x = 1-3, 5) expressed in HEK293 cells. The results indicated that the title compounds exhibited suitable affinity for α1ß2 γ2 subtype (Ki = 16-29 nM). To achieve deeper insight into their interactions with benzodiazepine receptors, molecular dynamics simulation was employed. According to the results obtained from the molecular dynamics simulation, Pro85, Leu103, Pro101, Gln102, Ile79, Ser80, Pro17, Leu82 and Val84 interact with the most potent ligand by hydrophobic interactions and Asp86 and Leu87 interact with the ligand by hydrogen bond interactions.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Synthesis, Spectroscopic Characterization and DFT/TD-DFT Calculations of new Fluorescent Derivatives of Imidazo[4',5':3,4]Benzo[c]Isoxazole.

An increasingly wide variety of fluorescent compounds is used in biotechnology, genomics, immunoassays, array technologies, imaging, and drug discovery. Therefore, synthesis of fluorophores with novel structural features can be interesting and useful in various fields. In this paper, four new fluorescent heterocyclic compounds with high quantum yields are introduced. These new fluorophores are synthesized in moderate to high yields via regioselective nitration of 3-alkyl-8-(4-chlorophenyl)-3 H-imidazo[4',5':3,4]benzo[c]isoxazoles. The latter compounds are obtained from the reaction of 1-alkyl-5-nitro-1 H-benzoimidazoles with (4-chlorophenyl)acetonitrile in basic MeOH solution. Physical spectral (UV-vis, IR, (1)HNMR, (13)C NMR, NOESY and fluorescence) and analytical data have established the structures of synthesized compounds. The fluorescence properties of new fluorescent heterocyclic compounds are studied. The fluorescence of all compounds is very intense and fluorescence quantum yields are high (> 0.52). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are performed to provide the optimized geometries, relevant frontier orbitals and the prediction of (1)H NMR chemical shifts for confirming the exact structure of fluorescent compounds. Calculated electronic absorption spectra were also obtained by time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) method.

Synthesis, Spectral Studies and Quantum-Chemical Investigations on the Powerful Fluorophores: Imidazo[4,5-a]acridines.

The new 3H-imidazo[4,5-a]acridine-11-carbonitriles were prepared from the reaction of 1-alkyl-5-nitro-1H-benzoimidazoles with 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)acetonitrile and benzyl cyanide by nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen in high yields. Physical spectral and analytical data have confirmed the structures of the synthesized dyes. The optical and solvatochromic properties of these compounds were investigated and the results showed that they show very interesting photophysical properties. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of fluorescent dyes were performed to provide the optimized geometries and relevant frontier orbitals. Furthermore, intra- and intermolecular interactions in fluorescent imidazo[4,5-a]acridines were evaluated by AIM (Atoms in Molecules) analysis.

Pyrazolo[4,3-a]quinindoline as a new highly fluorescent heterocyclic system: Design, synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and DFT calculations.

After obtaining the desired precursors in several reactions, new N-alkyl-substituted heterocyclic system pyrazolo[4,3-a]quinindolines (pyrazolo[4,3-f]-indolo[2,3-b]quinolines) were synthesized by one-pot reaction of 1-alkyl-5-nitro-1H-indazole with 2-(1-alkyl-1H-3-indolyl)acetonitrile in MeOH/KOH solution via the nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen in excellent yields. Spectral (UV-Vis, FT-IR, NMR and fluorescence) and analytical data allowed the structures of the synthesized compounds to be established. The values of absorption and fluorescence maxima, extinction coefficients and fluorescence quantum yield of these new heterocyclic fluorophores were obtained and they show highlighting interesting photophysical properties. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of one structure by using the B3LYP hybrid functional and the 6-311+G(d,p) basis set were performed to provide the optimized geometry, relevant frontier orbitals and the prediction of (1)H NMR chemical shifts. Calculated electronic absorption spectrum of one structure was also obtained by time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) method. Solvatochromic properties of these dyes have been discussed and the results showed that the absorption and emission bands in polar solvents undergo a modest red shift.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel isoxazolo[4,3-e]indoles as antibacterial agents.

The synthesis of a new series of 8-bromo-6-alkyl-1-aryl-6H-isoxazolo[4,3-e]indole derivatives is described. All the newly synthesized compounds were screened for their antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli HB101, Staphylococcuse aureus pathogens (methicillin resistant S. aureus and methicillin susceptible S. aureus), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus subtilis; also MIC values of these compounds were determined.

Molecular iodine promoted synthesis of new pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives as potential antibacterial agents.

Iodocyclization of 5-amino-1-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-1H-4-pyrazolcarboxamides with aromatic aldehydes gave a new series of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives in a single step and their antibacterial activity comparable to Streptomycin as reference drug was evaluated.

Design and synthesis of 4-methoxyphenylacetic acid esters as 15-lipoxygenase inhibitors and SAR comparative studies of them.

A group of 4-methoxyphenylacetic acid esters were designed, synthesized and evaluated as potential inhibitors of soybean 15-lipoxygenase (SLO) on the basis of eugenol and esteragol structures. Compounds 7d-e showed the best IC(50) in SLO inhibition (IC(50)=3.8 and 1.9 microM, respectively). All compounds were docked in SLO active site and showed that carbonyl group of compounds is oriented toward the Fe(III)-OH moiety in the active site of enzyme and fixed by hydrogen bonding with hydroxyl group. It is assumed that lipophilic interaction of ligand-enzyme would be in charge of inhibiting the enzyme activity. The selectivity of the synthetic esters in inhibiting of 15-HLOb was also compared with 15-HLOa by molecular modeling and multiple alignment techniques.