Bioactive Heteroleptic Bismuth(V) Complexes: Synthesis, Structural Analysis and Binding Pattern Validation

A Second Wind for Inorganic APIs: Leishmanicidal and Antileukemic Activity of Hydrated Bismuth Oxide Nanoparticles

American cutaneous leishmaniasis is a disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania. Currently, meglumine antimoniate is the first-choice treatment for the disease. The limited efficacy and high toxicity of the drug results in the necessity to search for new active principles. Nanotechnology is gaining importance in the field, since it can provide better efficacy and lower toxicity of the drugs. The present study aimed to synthesize, characterize, and evaluate the in vitro leishmanicidal and antileukemic activity of bismuth nanoparticles (BiNPs). Promastigotes and amastigotes of L. (V.) guyanensis and L. (L.) amazonensis were exposed to BiNPs. The efficacy of the nanoparticles was determined by measurement of the parasite viability and the percentage of infected cells, while the cytotoxicity was characterized by the colorimetry. BiNPs did not induce cytotoxicity in murine peritoneal macrophages and showed better efficacy in inhibiting promastigotes (IC50 < 0.46 nM) and amastigotes of L. (L.) amazonensis. This is the first report on the leishmanicidal activity of Bi-based materials against L. (V.) guayanensis. BiNPs demonstrated significant cytotoxic activity against K562 and HL60 cells at all evaluated concentrations. While the nanoparticles also showed some cytotoxicity towards non-cancerous Vero cells, the effect was much lower compared to that on cancer cells. Treatment with BiNPs also had a significant effect on inhibiting and reducing colony formation in HL60 cells. These results indicate that bismuth nanoparticles have the potential for an inhibitory effect on the clonal expansion of cancer cells.

One-pot synthesis of 2-arylated and 2-alkylated benzoxazoles and benzimidazoles based on triphenylbismuth dichloride-promoted desulfurization of thioamides

The development of novel and efficient synthesis methods for 2-substituted benzazole derivatives is of interest as they are biologically active substances. Herein, a simple method for the synthesis of 2-aryl- and 2-alkyl-substituted benzazoles is described. The reaction of 2-aminophenols with thioamides at 60 °C in the presence of triphenylbismuth dichloride in 1,2-dichloroethane as a promoter afforded various 2-aryl- and 2-alkylbenzoxazoles in moderate to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions. This method could also be applied to the synthesis of benzimidazoles and benzothiazoles. This study presents the first use of triphenylbismuth dichloride to produce benzimidoyl chloride from thioamides by desulfurization and chlorination, as well as its application to the synthesis of 2-substituted benzazoles.