Synthesis, characterization and cytotoxicity studies of Co(III)-flavonolato complexes.

Hypoxia activated Co(III) complexes as prodrugs may provide with a selective delivery of cytotoxic or antibacterial compounds. Whithin this field sixteen novel Co(III) ternary complexes with the general formula [Co(4N)(flav)](ClO4)2, where 4N = tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (tren) or tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (tpa) and flav = deprotonated form of differently substituted flavonols have been synthesized, characterized, and their cytotoxicity assayed under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Molecular structures of two free flavonols and seven complexes are also reported. In all the complexes the bioligands exhibited the expected (O,O) coordination mode and the complexes showed a slightly distorted octahedral geometry. Cyclic voltammetric studies revealed that both the substituents of the flavonoles and the type of 4N donor ligands had an impact on the reduction potential of the complex. The ones containing tren demonstrated significantly higher stability than the tpa analogues, making these former compounds promising candidates for the development of hypoxia-activated prodrug complexes. Tpa complexes showed higher activity against both selected human cancer cell lines (A549, A431) than their free ligand flavonols, indicating that the anticancer activity of the bioligand can be enhanced upon complexation. However, slight hypoxia-selectivity was found only for a tren complex (11) with moderate cytotoxicity.

Optimization of the Synthesis of Flavone-Amino Acid and Flavone-Dipeptide Hybrids via Buchwald-Hartwig Reaction.

The article describes the development of Buchwald-Hartwig amination of different bromoflavones with amino acid and peptide derivatives as nitrogen source giving unique structures. The previously observed racemization, which occurred during the synthesis of flavone-amino acid hybrids, was successfully prevented in most cases. The biological assays of these novel structures showed cytotoxic effects on different cancer cell lines.

Cytoprotective dibenzoylmethane derivatives protect cells from oxidative stress-induced necrotic cell death.

Screening of a small in-house library of 1863 compounds identified 29 compounds that protected Jurkat cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity. From the cytoprotective compounds eleven proved to possess antioxidant activity (ABTS radical scavenger effect) and two were found to inhibit poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation), a cytotoxic pathway operating in severely injured cells. Four cytoprotective dibenzoylmethane (DBM) derivatives were investigated in more detail as they did not scavenge hydrogen peroxide nor did they inhibit PARylation. These compounds protected cells from necrotic cell death while caspase activation, a parameter of apoptotic cell death was not affected. Hydrogen peroxide activated extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and p38 MAP kinases but not c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). The cytoprotective DBMs suppressed the activation of Erk1/2 but not that of p38. Cytoprotection was confirmed in another cell type (A549 lung epithelial cells), indicating that the cytoprotective effect is not cell type specific. In conclusion we identified DBM analogs as a novel class of cytoprotective compounds inhibiting ERK1/2 kinase and protecting from necrotic cell death by a mechanism independent of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibition.

α-Azido ketones. Part 7: synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted triazoles by the "click" reaction of various terminal acetylenes with phenacyl azides or α-azidobenzo(hetera)cyclanones.

Copper(I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide 1,3-cycloaddition reaction (CuAAC, Sharpless-Meldal reaction) of various α-azido ketones such as substituted 2-azidoacetophenones, 2-azidobenzosuberone and 3-azido(thio)chromanones with terminal alkynes was studied. The reaction resulted in the formation of the expected 1,2,3-triazoles in moderate to good yields although the reactivity was somewhat lower than in the case of simple azides. Reaction of ethynylchromones as alkynes gave interesting dichromonoid systems bridged by a triazole unit.

Synthesis of variously coupled conjugates of D-glucose, 1,3,4-oxadiazole, and 1,2,3-triazole for inhibition of glycogen phosphorylase.

5-(O-Perbenzoylated-ß-D-glucopyranosyl)tetrazole was obtained from O-perbenzoylated-ß-D-glucopyranosyl cyanide by Bu(3)SnN(3) or Me(3)SiN(3)-Bu(2)SnO. This tetrazole was transformed into 5-ethynyl- as well as 5-chloromethyl-2-(O-perbenzoylated-ß-D-glucopyranosyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazoles by acylation with propiolic acid-DCC or chloroacetyl chloride, respectively. The chloromethyl oxadiazole gave the corresponding azidomethyl derivative on treatment with NaN(3). These compounds were reacted with several alkynes and azides under Cu(I) catalysed cycloaddition conditions to give, after removal of the protecting groups by the Zemplén protocol, ß-D-glucopyranosyl-1,3,4-oxadiazolyl-1,2,3-triazole, ß-D-glucopyranosyl-1,2,3-triazolyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole, and ß-D-glucopyranosyl-1,3,4-oxadiazolylmethyl-1,2,3-triazole type compounds. 5-Phenyltetrazole was also transformed under the above conditions into a series of aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazolyl-1,2,3-triazoles, aryl-1,2,3-triazolyl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles, and aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazolylmethyl-1,2,3-triazoles. The new compounds were assayed against rabbit muscle glycogen phosphorylase b and the best inhibitors had inhibition constants in the upper micromolar range (2-phenyl-5-[1-(ß-D-glucopyranosyl)-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl]-1,3,4-oxadiazole 36: K(i)=854µM, 2-(ß-D-glucopyranosyl)-5-[1-(naphthalen-2-yl)-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl]-1,3,4-oxadiazole 47: K(i)=745µM).

Syntheses and transformations of α-azido ketones and related derivatives.

Organic azides are known and utilized in the synthetic organic chemistry as amine precursors, potential sources of nitrenes, dipoles useful in 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions and starting materials of phosphoranes for a long time, and their literature has been overviewed by several authors. On the other hand, there are some special subclasses within the azides which possess peculiar and interesting properties differing from those of the majority and offering extra synthetic possibilities. In this critical review we wish to give an exhaustive overview on the synthesis and synthetic potential of α-azido ketones and related systems, an underestimated group of compounds. The enhanced acidity of the α-hydrogen offers various new synthetic applications including the creation of a new C-C bond, while the joint presence of the carbonyl and vinyl functions of α-azido-α,ß-unsaturated ketones results in a special reactivity, too. Chemo- and stereoselectivity issues also represent important points which are discussed in detail. Finally, the usefulness of the titled derivatives in the synthesis of various heterocycles is reviewed (273 references).

Amino acid ligand chirality for enantioselective syntheses.

Amino acids are attractive sources of chirality in stoichiometric or catalytic transition metal/organic chemistry. In spite of easy availability and other advantages, the application of these ligands is hindered by several problems. Now, at the dawn of emerging D-amino acid biochemistry, efforts in this direction are becoming increasingly important. The results of research on application of amino acid ligands for transition-metal reagents in organic syntheses are reviewed in the present work.

Enantioselective reduction of C=N double bond by chromium(II) complexes of natural amino acids.

Asymmetric reduction of oximes was performed by chromium(II) complexes of natural amino acids in aqueous phase or in H(2)O/DMF (1:1) solvent. Medium-to-quantitative chemoselectivity (54% to >95%) and low-to-medium enantioselectivity (5-50% ee) were found.

Asymmetric Weitz-Scheffer epoxidation of isoflavones with hydroperoxides mediated by optically active phase-transfer catalysts.

The asymmetric Weitz-Scheffer epoxidation of the isoflavones 3, mediated by the cinchonine- and cinchonidine-derived phase-transfer catalysts (PTCs) 1, affords the enantiomerically enriched isoflavone epoxides 4 with ee values of up to 98% in nearly quantitative yields. With the appropriately configured PTC 1, both enantiomers of the isoflavone epoxides may be obtained by using the commercially available cumyl hydroperoxide 2b as oxidant. Methylation of the hydroxy functionality in the most effective PTC (1b) reduces significantly the enantioselectivity of the isoflavone epoxidation as illustrated for the substrate 3c. This fact indicates the pivotal role of the hydroxy group for enantioselective control, which is rationalized in terms of a hydrogen-bonded aggregate between the ether-oxygen atom of isoflavone 3 and the phase-transfer catalyst 1. The present attractive and convenient method should be useful for the preparation of optically active epoxides of the biologically relevant isoflavone structure.