Synthesis and1H NMR spectra of some 1-aryl-2,5-pyrrolidinediones

A new naphthalene derivative with anti-amyloidogenic activity as potential therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's disease

The aggregation of β-amyloid peptides is associated to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Consequently, the inhibition of both oligomerization and fibrillation of β-amyloid peptides is considered a plausible therapeutic approach for AD. Herein, the synthesis of new naphthalene derivatives and their evaluation as anti-β-amyloidogenic agents are presented. Molecular dynamic simulations predicted the formation of thermodynamically stable complexes between the compounds, the Aβ_1-42 peptide and fibrils. In human microglia cells, these compounds inhibited the aggregation of Aβ_1-42 peptide. The lead compound 8 showed a high affinity to amyloid plaques in mice brain ex vivo assays and an adequate log P_oct/PBS value. Compound 8 also improved the cognitive function and decreased hippocampal β-amyloid burden in the brain of 3xTg-AD female mice. Altogether, our results suggest that 8 could be a novel therapeutic agent for AD.

1-(Anthracen-1-yl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione

In the mol­ecular structure of title compound, C₁₈H₁₃NO₂, the succinimide ring is orientated away from the plane of the anthracene moiety by 71.94 (4)°. The crystal structure features three different types of inter­molecular inter­actions, viz. C—H⋯O, C—H⋯π and π–π bonds. Mol­ecules along the b axis stack on each other as a result of π–π inter­actions which have a centroid–centroid distance of 3.6780 (15) Å, while C—H⋯π inter­actions are present between neigbouring stacks. Also, acting between the stacks are the C—H⋯O inter­actions between the aromatic H atoms of the anthracene and the O atoms of the succinimide.

The Synthesis and Testing of α-(Hydroxymethyl)pyrroles as DNA Binding Agents

The α-(hydroxymethyl)pyrroles 16a and 16b were prepared and shown to be cytotoxic against the P388 cancer cell line. Ethyl 5-hydroxymethyl-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylate 18 was inactive, demonstrating that an α-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrole group alone is not sufficient for activity. Compound 16b has been shown to bind to DNA with reasonable affinity.