Catalyst-free alkylation of aminopyrazole by isatin in water

A Fluorescence-Based Assay for N5 -Carboxyaminoimidazole Ribonucleotide Mutase

The enzyme N5 -carboxylaminoinidazole ribonucleotide (N5 -CAIR) mutase is found in microbial de novo purine biosynthesis but is absent in humans making it an attractive antimicrobial target. N5 -CAIR mutase catalyzes the synthesis of carboxyaminoimidazole ribonucleotide (CAIR) from N5 -CAIR which is itself prepared from aminoimidazole ribonucleotide (AIR) by the enzyme N5 -CAIR synthetase. During our research on identifying inhibitors of N5 -CAIR mutase, we developed an innovative, fluorescence-based assay to measure the activity of this enzyme. This assay relies upon our recent serendipitous observation that AIR reversibly reacts with the compound isatin. Reaction of a fluorescently-tagged isatin with AIR resulted in a large increase in fluorescence intensity allowing a measurement of the concentration of AIR in solution. From this observation, we developed a reproducible, non-continuous assay that can replicate the known kinetic parameters of the enzyme and can readily detect a recognized inhibitor of the enzyme. This assay should find utility in screening for inhibitors targeting N5 -CAIR mutase.

Synthesis of New Oxindoles and Determination of Their Antibacterial Properties

A versatile method for the synthesis of new oxindoles was developed by the reaction between substituted isatins and 5-aminopyrazoles. The reaction was carried out at room temperature in ethanol using p-toluenesulfonic acid as the catalyst. The products were obtained with acceptable to excellent yields (44–96%). Structures of the new compounds were unambiguously established by spectroscopic and analytical techniques. The antibacterial activity was determined by microdilution assays. Compounds 3b, 3e, and 3g showed antistaphylococcal activity, particularly compound 3e displayed a potent activity against the vancomycin intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA). Compounds 3i, 3j, and 3o inhibited Neisseria gonorrhoeae growth.