Development of benzaldehyde-pyrazoline hybrids for functionalization of polymers with fluorescent pendant moieties.

Compounds with a pyrazoline scaffold are useful as sensors for fluorescence detection of different types of analytes. Recovery of a pyrazoline-based sensor with a view to use it recurrently would be more facile when the sensing molecule is attached to a solid support. A reaction sequence has been designed to synthesize two benzaldehyde-pyrazoline hybrids as examples of a hitherto unknown type of compounds to be employed for the potential derivatization of polymers containing primary amino groups through azomethine formation. All intermediates, including the fairly unstable N1 -unsubstituted pyrazolines, along with the target compounds have been structurally characterized, with an emphasis on their particular NMR features. Examination of the photophysical properties of these benzaldehyde-pyrazoline hybrids showed that, despite the shortening of the extended N1-N2-C3 conjugated system common to 1,3,5-triarylpyrazolines through the replacement of the aryl at N1 by an aryloxyacetyl moiety, the novel compounds exhibit emission maxima at approximately 350 nm. Moreover, the introduction of a moderately electron-withdrawing substituent such as chlorine in the phenyl at C3 of pyrazoline leads to an amplification of fluorescence intensity.

Cobalt Ferrite Particles Produced by Sol-Gel Autocombustion and Embedded in Polysilane: An Innovative Route to Magnetically-Induced Fluorescence Composites.

Fluorescence detection is currently one of the commonly used techniques worldwide. Through this work, the preparation and optical properties of an interesting composite material are discussed. It is shown that encapsulating cobalt spinel ferrite (CoFe2O4), obtained by the sol-gel autocombustion method, into poly[diphenyl-co-methyl(H)]silane matrix leads to fluoromagnetic particles (PSCo) with intriguing optical properties. Transmission electron microscopy, combined with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, showed 500 nm large spherical structures containing a core (around 400 nm in diameter) composed of magnetic ferrite particles, surrounded by a thin layer of semiconductive fluorescent polymer. The as-obtained material exhibited ferrimagnetic properties. The FTIR spectrum confirmed that the Si-H functionality of the polysilane was preserved. UV spectroscopy combined with molecular modeling studies indicated that the magnetic core had a strong influence on the intramolecular electron transitions characteristic of the σ-conjugated polysilane. Further analysis by steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that the internal magnetic field strongly enhances the polysilane emission. This property will be further investigated in the future in order to develop new detection devices.

Anticancer Activity of Mannich Bases: A Review of Recent Literature.

This report summarizes the latest published data on the antiproliferative action and cytotoxic activity of Mannich bases, a structurally heterogeneous category of chemical entities that includes compounds which are synthesized via the grafting of an aminomethyl function onto diverse substrates by means of the Mannich reaction. The present overview of the topic is an update to the information assembled in a previously published review that covered the literature up to 2014.

Thiophene-containing compounds with antimicrobial activity.

Thiophene, as a member of the group of five-membered heterocycles containing one heteroatom, is one of the simplest heterocyclic systems. Many synthetic strategies allow the accurate positioning of various functionalities onto the thiophene ring. This review provides a comprehensive, systematic and detailed account of the developments in the field of antimicrobial compounds featuring at least one thiophene ring in their structure, over the last decade.

Antibacterial activity of Mannich bases derived from 2-naphthols, aromatic aldehydes and secondary aliphatic amines.

A small library of 1-aminoalkyl 2-naphthols has been synthesized through the direct Mannich reaction of 2-naphthols with (hetero)aromatic aldehydes and secondary amines. All of the Mannich bases having a thiophen-2-yl ring in their structure had good activity against Gram-positive bacteria, irrespective of the nature of the amino moiety.

Mannich bases in medicinal chemistry and drug design.

The biological activity of Mannich bases, a structurally heterogeneous class of chemical compounds that are generated from various substrates through the introduction of an aminomethyl function by means of the Mannich reaction, is surveyed, with emphasis on the relationship between structure and biological activity. The review covers extensively the literature reports that have disclosed Mannich bases as anticancer and cytotoxic agents, or compounds with potential antibacterial and antifungal activity in the last decade. The most relevant studies on the activity of Mannich bases as antimycobacterial agents, antimalarials, or antiviral candidates have been included as well. The review contains also a thorough coverage of anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antioxidant activities of Mannich bases. In addition, several minor biological activities of Mannich bases, such as their ability to regulate blood pressure or inhibit platelet aggregation, their antiparasitic and anti-ulcer effects, as well as their use as agents for the treatment of mental disorders have been presented. The review gives in the end a brief overview of the potential of Mannich bases as inhibitors of various enzymes or ligands for several receptors.

Gestational lung adenocarcinoma: case report.

Gestational cancer is a dramatic situation, with a deep impact on the patient and family, with an overall incidence of 1 per 100 pregnancies. Lung cancers are extremely rare during pregnancy but have become more frequent in past years, as the mean age of pregnancy has increased. The purpose of this case report is to present a gestational lung adenocarcinoma, with metastasis in the liver and ovaries, diagnosed in the third trimester, with a fatal outcome in days after birth through cesarean section.

Synthesis and anti-Plasmodium activity of benzimidazole analogues structurally related to astemizole.

A series of compounds structurally related to astemizole were designed and synthesized with the goal of determining their anti-Plasmodium activity. Several modifications of the astemizole structure, namely the removal of the 4-fluorobenzyl and/or 4-methoxyphenethyl moieties, substitution of the benzene ring of the benzimidazole scaffold, replacement of the fluorine atom in the 4-fluorobenzyl group, and variation of the 4-aminopiperidine moiety, were explored. In vitro evaluation of the anti-Plasmodium activity of these compounds using the ItG strain showed that astemizole and some of its structurally similar derivatives have IC50 values in the nanomolar range and exhibit toxicity towards the parasite over Chinese ovarian hamster (CHO) cells with a selectivity as high as 200. The presence of a secondary cyclic amine at position 2 and substitution with chlorine at positions 4 and 5 in the benzimidazole moiety are two modifications that resulted in potent and selective antimalarials based on astemizole.

Generation of a structurally diverse library through alkylation and ring closure reactions using 3-dimethylamino-1-(thiophen-2-yl)propan-1-one hydrochloride.

3-Dimethylamino-1-(thiophen-2-yl)propan-1-one hydrochloride (2), a ketonic Mannich base derived from 2-acetylthiophene, was used as a starting material in different types of alkylation and ring closure reactions with a view to generate a structurally diverse library of compounds. Compound 2 reacts with S-alkylated dithiocarbamic acid salts and aryl mercaptans to produce dithiocarbamates and thioethers, respectively. The dimethylamino moiety in compound 2 was exchanged with various aliphatic secondary and aromatic primary and secondary amines, whereas monocyclic NH-azoles such as pyrazole, imidazole, 1,2,4-triazole, and tetrazole were N-alkylated by compound 2. Ketones, pyrrole and indoles have been the substrates subjected to C-alkylation reactions by compound 2. Ring closure reactions of compound 2 with a suitable bifunctional nucleophile yielded pyrazolines, pyridines, 2,3-dihydro-1,5-1H-benzodiazepines, 2,3-dihydro-1,5-1H-benzothiazepine, pyrimido[1,2-a]benzimidazole and 4-hydroxypiperidine derivatives.

A novel antifungal agent with broad spectrum: 1-(4-biphenylyl)-3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-1-propanone.

A series of (1-substituted aryl)-3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-1-propanones was synthesized through the N-alkylation of imidazole with 3-dimethylamino-1-(substituted aryl)-1-propanone hydrochlorides (ketonic Mannich bases). A second series of N(1) -substituted imidazoles was obtained by the reduction of the carbonyl function of the imidazole-ketones in the previous series by means of NaBH(4) . All of the compounds were evaluated for antifungal activity against 16 strains of Candida, and 3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-1-(4-biphenylyl)-1-propanone emerged as a broad-spectrum antifungal agent. Several 3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-1-(2'-(substituted benzyl)oxyphenyl)-1-propanones were also active towards Candida kefyr.

Heme oxygenase inhibition by α-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-ω-phenylalkanes: effect of introduction of heteroatoms in the alkyl linker.

Several α-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-ω-phenylalkanes were synthesized and evaluated as novel inhibitors of heme oxygenase (HO). These compounds were found to be potent and selective for the stress-induced isozyme HO-1, showing mostly weak activity toward the constitutive isozyme HO-2. The introduction of an oxygen atom in the alkyl linker produced analogues with decreased potency toward HO-1, whereas the presence of a sulfur atom in the linker gave rise to analogues with greater potency toward HO-1 than the carbon-containing analogues. The most potent compounds studied contained a five-atom linker between the imidazolyl and phenyl moieties, whereas the most HO-1-selective compounds contained a four-atom linker between these groups. The compounds with a five-atom linker containing a heteroatom (O or S) were found to be the most potent inhibitors of HO-2; 1-(N-benzylamino)-3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propane dihydrochloride, with a nitrogen atom in the linker, was found to be inactive.

The anti-malarial activity of bivalent imidazolium salts.

A series of compounds containing bivalent imidazolium rings and one triazolium analog were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to inhibit the replication of Plasmodium falciparum cultures. The activity and selectivity of the compounds for P. falciparum cultures were found to depend on the presence of electron-deficient rings that were spaced an appropriate distance apart. The activity of the compounds was not critically dependent on the nature of the linker between the electron-deficient rings, an observation that suggests that the rings were responsible for the primary interaction with the molecular target of the compounds in the parasite. The bivalent imidazolium and triazolium compounds disrupted the process whereby merozoites gain entry into erythrocytes, however, they did not appear to prevent merozoites from forming. The compounds were also found to be active in a murine Plasmodium berghei infection, a result consistent with the compounds specifically interacting with a parasite component that is required for replication and is conserved between two Plasmodium species.

Rapid, convenient method for screening imidazole-containing compounds for heme oxygenase inhibition.

INTRODUCTION: Sensitive assays for measuring heme oxygenase activity have been based on the gas-chromatographic detection of carbon monoxide using elaborate, expensive equipment. The present study describes a rapid and convenient method for screening imidazole-containing candidates for inhibitory activity against heme oxygenase using a plate reader, based on the spectroscopic evaluation of heme degradation. METHODS: A PowerWave XS plate reader was used to monitor the absorbance (as a function of time) of heme bound to purified truncated human heme oxygenase-1 (hHO-1) in the individual wells of a standard 96-well plate (with or without the addition of a test compound). The degradation of heme by heme oxygenase-1 was initiated using l-ascorbic acid, and the collected relevant absorbance data were analyzed by three different methods to calculate the percent control activity occurring in wells containing test compounds relative to that occurring in control wells with no test compound present. RESULTS: In the cases of wells containing inhibitory compounds, significant shifts in λ(max) from 404 to near 412 nm were observed as well as a decrease in the rate of heme degradation relative to that of the control. Each of the three methods of data processing (overall percent drop in absorbance over 1.5h, initial rate of reaction determined over the first 5 min, and estimated pseudo first-order reaction rate constant determined over 1.5h) gave similar and reproducible results for percent control activity. The fastest and easiest method of data analysis was determined to be that using initial rates, involving data acquisition for only 5 min once reactions have been initiated using l-ascorbic acid. DISCUSSION: The results of the study demonstrate that this simple assay based on the spectroscopic detection of heme represents a rapid, convenient method to determine the relative inhibitory activity of candidate compounds, and is useful in quickly screening a series or library of compounds for heme oxygenase inhibition.

Heme oxygenase inhibition by 1-aryl-2-(1h-imidazol-1-yl/1h-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)ethanones and their derivatives.

Previous studies by our research group have been concerned with the design of selective inhibitors of heme oxygenases (HO-1 and HO-2). The majority of these were based on a four-carbon linkage of an azole, usually an imidazole, and an aromatic moiety. In the present study, we designed and synthesized a series of inhibition candidates containing a shorter linkage between these groups, specifically, a series of 1-aryl-2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl/1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)ethanones and their derivatives. As regards HO-1 inhibition, the aromatic moieties yielding best results were found to be halogen-substituted residues such as 3-bromophenyl, 4-bromophenyl, and 3,4-dichlorophenyl, or hydrocarbon residues such as 2-naphthyl, 4-biphenyl, 4-benzylphenyl, and 4-(2-phenethyl)phenyl. Among the imidazole-ketones, five (36-39, and 44) were found to be very potent (IC(50)<5 muM) toward both isozymes. Relative to the imidazole-ketones, the series of corresponding triazole-ketones showed four compounds (54, 55, 61, and 62) having a selectivity index >50 in favor of HO-1. In the case of the azole-dioxolanes, two of them (80 and 85), each possessing a 2-naphthyl moiety, were found to be particularly potent and selective HO-1 inhibitors. Three non-carbonyl analogues (87, 89, and 91) of 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethanone were found to be good inhibitors of HO-1. For the first time in our studies, two azole-based inhibitors (37 and 39) were found to exhibit a modest selectivity index in favor of HO-2. The present study has revealed additional candidates based on inhibition of heme oxygenases for potentially useful pharmacological and therapeutic applications.

Recombinant truncated and microsomal heme oxygenase-1 and -2: differential sensitivity to inhibitors.

Recombinant truncated forms of heme oxygenase-1 and -2 (HO-1 and HO-2) were compared with their crude microsomal counterparts from brain and spleen tissue of adult male rats with respect to their inhibition by azole-based, nonporphyrin HO inhibitors. The drugs tested were an imidazole-alcohol, an imidazole-dioxolane, and a triazole-ketone. Both the recombinant and crude forms of HO-2 were similarly inhibited by the 3 drugs. The crude microsomal spleen form of HO-1 was more susceptible to inhibition than was the truncated recombinant form. This difference is attributed to the extra amino acids in the full-length enzyme. These observations may be relevant in the design of drugs as inhibitors of HO and other membrane proteins.

The effects of azole-based heme oxygenase inhibitors on rat cytochromes P450 2E1 and 3A1/2 and human cytochromes P450 3A4 and 2D6.

Heme oxygenases (HOs) catalyze the degradation of heme to biliverdin, carbon monoxide (CO), and free iron. The two major isoforms, HO-1 (inducible) and HO-2 (constitutive), are involved in a variety of physiological functions, including inflammation, apoptosis, neuromodulation, and vascular regulation. Major tools used in exploring these actions have been metalloporphyrin analogs of heme that inhibit the HOs. However, these tools are limited by their lack of selectivity; they affect other heme-dependent enzymes, such as cytochromes P450 (P450s), soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), and nitric-oxide synthase (NOS). Our laboratory has successfully synthesized a number of nonporphyrin azole-based HO inhibitors (QC-xx) that had little or no effect on sGC and NOS activity. However, their effects on various P450 isoforms have yet to be fully elucidated. To determine the effects of the QC-xx inhibitors on P450 enzyme activity, microsomal preparations of two rat P450 isoforms (2E1 and 3A1/3A2) and two human P450 supersome isoforms (3A4 and 2D6) were incubated with varying concentrations of HO inhibitor, and the activity was determined by spectrophotometric or fluorometric analysis. Results indicated that some QC compounds demonstrated little to no inhibition of the P450s, whereas others did inhibit these P450 isoforms. Four structural regions of QC-xx were analyzed, leading to the identification of structures that confer a decreased effect on both rat and human P450 isoforms studied while maintaining an inhibitory effect on the HOs.

Structural characterization of human heme oxygenase-1 in complex with azole-based inhibitors.

The development of inhibitors specific for heme oxygenases (HO) aims to provide powerful tools in understanding the HO system. Based on the lead structure (2S, 4S)-2-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-2-[(1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl]-4-[((4-aminophenyl)thio)methyl]-1,3-dioxolane (azalanstat, QC-1) we have synthesized structural modifications to develop novel and selective HO inhibitors. The structural study of human HO-1 (hHO-1) in complex with a select group of the inhibitors was initiated using X-ray crystallographic techniques. Comparison of the structures of four such compounds each in complex with hHO-1 revealed a common binding mode, despite having different structural fragments. The compounds bind to the distal side of heme through an azole "anchor" which coordinates with the heme iron. An expansion of the distal pocket, mainly due to distal helix flexibility, allows accommodation of the compounds without displacing heme or the critical Asp140 residue. Rather, binding displaces a catalytically critical water molecule and disrupts an ordered hydrogen-bond network involving Asp140. The presence of a triazole "anchor" may provide further stability via a hydrogen bond with the protein. A hydrophobic pocket acts to stabilize the region occupied by the phenyl or adamantanyl moieties of these compounds. Further, a secondary hydrophobic pocket is formed via "induced fit" to accommodate bulky substituents at the 4-position of the dioxolane ring.

Heme oxygenase inhibition by 2-oxy-substituted 1-azolyl-4-phenylbutanes: effect of variation of the azole moiety. X-ray crystal structure of human heme oxygenase-1 in complex with 4-phenyl-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-2-butanone.

A series of 1-azolyl-4-phenyl-2-butanones was designed and synthesized for the inhibition of heme oxygenases (heme oxygenase-1 and heme oxygenase-2). The replacement of imidazole by other azoles led to the discovery of novel 1H-1,2,4-triazole- and 1H-tetrazole-based inhibitors equipotent to a lead imidazole-based inhibitor. The inhibitors featuring 2H-tetrazole or 1H-1,2,3-triazole as the pharmacophore were less potent. Monosubstitution at position 2 or 4(5), or identical disubstitution at positions 4 and 5 of imidazole by a variety of electron-withdrawing or electron-donating, small or bulky groups, as well as the replacement of the traditional imidazole pharmacophore by an array of 3- or 5-substituted triazoles, identically 3,5-disubstituted triazoles, 5-substituted-1H- and 5-substituted-2H-tetrazoles proved to be detrimental to the inhibition of HO, with a few exceptions. The azole-dioxolanes and the azole-alcohols derived from the active azole-ketones were synthesized also, but these inhibitors were less active than the corresponding imidazole-based analogs. The first reported X-ray crystal structure of human heme oxygenase-1 in complex with a 1,2,4-triazole-based inhibitor, namely 4-phenyl-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-2-butanone, was also determined. The inhibitor binds to the human heme oxygenase-1 distal pocket through the coordination of heme iron by the N4 in the triazole moiety, whereas the phenyl group is stabilized by hydrophobic interactions from residues within the binding pocket.

A novel experimental heme oxygenase-1-targeted therapy for hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a member of the heat shock protein family, plays a key role as a sensor and regulator of oxidative stress. Herein, we identify HO-1 as a biomarker and potential therapeutic target for advanced prostate cancer (PCA). Immunohistochemical analysis of prostate tissue using a progression tissue microarray from patients with localized PCA and across several stages of disease progression revealed a significant elevation of HO-1 expression in cancer epithelial cells, but not in surrounding stromal cells, from hormone-refractory PCA (HRPCA) compared with hormone-responsive PCA and benign tissue. Silencing the ho-1 gene in HRPCA cells decreased the HO-1 activity, oxidative stress, and activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase-extracellular signal-regulated kinase/p38 kinase. This coincided with reduced cell proliferation, cell survival, and cell invasion in vitro, as well as inhibition of prostate tumor growth and lymph node and lung metastases in vivo. The effect of ho-1 silencing on these oncogenic features was mimicked by exposure of cells to a novel selective small-molecule HO-1 inhibitor referred to as OB-24. OB-24 selectively inhibited HO-1 activity in PCA cells, which correlated with a reduction of protein carbonylation and reactive oxygen species formation. Moreover, OB-24 significantly inhibited cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth and lymph node/lung metastases in vivo. A potent synergistic activity was observed when OB-24 was combined with Taxol. Together, these results establish HO-1 as a potential therapeutic target for advanced PCA.

Heme oxygenase inhibition by 2-oxy-substituted 1-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-4-phenylbutanes: effect of halogen substitution in the phenyl ring.

A series of 2-oxy-substituted 1-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-4-phenylbutanes comprising imidazole-ketones, imidazole-dioxolanes, and imidazole-alcohols substituted with halogens in the phenyl ring were synthesized and evaluated as novel inhibitors of heme oxygenase which are structurally distinct from metalloporphyrins. The entire library of compounds was found to be highly active, with the bromine- and iodine-substituted derivatives being the most potent. The imidazole-dioxolanes were all selective for the HO-1 isozyme (inducible) and exhibited substantially lower activity toward the HO-2 isozyme (constitutive). The corresponding imidazole-ketones and imidazole-alcohols showed selectivity toward HO-1 to a lesser degree than the similarly substituted imidazole-dioxolanes.