Design and synthesis of regioisomerically pure unsymmetrical xanthene derivatives for staining live cells and their photochemical properties

Iron-catalyzed arene C-H hydroxylation

[Figure: see text].

A new benzophenone, and the antiplasmodial activities of the constituents of Securidaca longipedunculata fresen (Polygalaceae)

Extracts from Securidaca longipedunculata showed antiplasmodial activities against reference clones and clinical isolates using SYBR Green I method. A new benzophenone, 2,3,4,5-tetramethoxybenzophenone (1) was isolated and characterized along with seven known compounds: 4-hydroxy-2,3-dimethoxybenzophenone (2); 3-hydroxy-5-methoxybiphenyl (3), methyl-2-hydroxy-6-methoxybenzoate (4), benzyl-2-hydroxy-6-methoxybenzoate (5), 2-hydroxy-6-methoxybenzoic acid (6), 2,4,5-trimethoxybenzophenone (7) and 2-methoxy-3,4-methylenedioxybenzophenone (8). Compounds 1 and 2 showed ex vivo antiplasmodial activities (IC₅₀ 28.8 μM and 18.6 μM, respectively); while 5 and 8 showed in vivo activities (IC₅₀ 19.7 μM and 14.5 μM, respectively) against D6 strain. In a cytotoxicity assay, all the extracts (with an exception of the MeOH extract of the leaves) and pure compounds were not toxic to the normal LO2 and BEAS cell-lines, while the methanol roots extract (IC₅₀ 66.4 µg/mL against A549, and 77.4 µg/mL against HepG2), compounds 6 (IC₅₀ 22.2 µM against A549) and 7 (IC₅₀ 45.2 µM against HepG2) were weakly active against cancerous cell-lines.

Rhodols - synthesis, photophysical properties and applications as fluorescent probes

The formal replacement of one dialkylamino group in rhodamines with a hydroxyl group transforms them into rhodols. This apparently minor difference is not as small as one may think; rhodamines belong to the cyanine family whereas rhodols belong to merocyanines. Discovered in the late 19th century, rhodols have only very recently begun to gain momentum in the field of advanced fluorescence imaging. This is in part due to the increased understanding of their photophysical properties, and new methods of synthesis. Rationalization of how the nature and arrangement of polar substituents around the core affect the photophysical properties of rhodols is now possible. The emergence of so-called π-expanded and heteroatom-modified rhodols has also allowed their fluorescence to be bathochromically shifted into regions applicable for biological imaging. This review serves to outline applicable synthetic strategies for the synthesis of rhodols, and to highlight important structure-property relationships. In the first part of this Review, various synthetic methods leading to rhodols are presented, followed by structural considerations and an overview of photophysical properties. The second part of this review is entirely devoted to the applications of rhodols as fluorescent reporters in biological imaging.

Rhodol-based thallium sensors for cellular imaging of potassium channel activity

Thallium (Tl+) flux assays enable imaging of potassium (K+) channel activity in cells and tissues by exploiting the permeability of K+ channels to Tl+ coupled with a fluorescent Tl+ sensitive dye. Common Tl+ sensing dyes utilize fluorescein as the fluorophore though fluorescein exhibits certain undesirable properties in these assays including short excitation wavelengths and pH sensitivity. To overcome these drawbacks, the replacement of fluorescein with rhodols was investigated. A library of 13 rhodol-based Tl+ sensors was synthesized and their properties and performance in Tl+ flux assays evaluated. The dimethyl rhodol Tl+ sensor emerged as the best of the series and performed comparably to fluorescein-based sensors while demonstrating greater pH tolerance in the physiological range and excitation and emission spectra 30 nm red-shifted from fluorescein.

Syntheses of benzophenone-xanthone hybrid polyketides and their antibacterial activities

Muchimangins are benzophenone-xanthone hybrid polyketides produced by Securidaca longepedunculata. However, their biological activities have not been fully investigated, since they are minor constituents in this plant. To evaluate the possibility of muchimangins as antibacterial agent candidates, five muchimangin analogs were synthesized from 2,4,5-trimethoxydiphenyl methanol and the corresponding xanthones, by utilizing p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate for the Brønsted acid-catalysis. The antibacterial assays against Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, and Gram-negative bacteria, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli, revealed that the muchimangin analogs (±)-1,3,6,8-tetrahydroxy-4-(phenyl-(2',4',5'-trimethoxyphenyl)methyl)-xanthone (1), (±)-1,3,6-trihydroxy-4-(phenyl-(2',4',5'-trimethoxyphenyl)methyl)-xanthone (2), and (±)-1,3-dihydroxy-4-(phenyl-(2',4',5'-trimethoxyphenyl)methyl)-xanthone (3) showed significant activities against S. aureus, with MIC values of 10.0, 10.0, and 25.0μM, respectively. Analogs (±)-1 and (±)-2 also exhibited antibacterial activities against B. subtilis, with MIC values of 50.0 and 12.5μM, respectively. Furthermore, (+)-3 enhanced the antibacterial activity against S. aureus, with a MIC value of 10μM.

Iridium- and rhodium-catalyzed C–H activation and formyl arylation of benzaldehydes under chelation-assistance

Mild and efficient synthesis of benzophenones via Ir(iii)- and Rh(iii)-catalyzed, directing group-assisted formyl C–H arylation of benzaldehydes has been achieved using diaryliodonium salts, in which Rh(iii) and Ir(iii) catalysts exhibited a complementary substrate scope.

Molecular design and synthesis of a pH independent and cell permeant fluorescent dye and its applications

A novel xanthene fluorescent dye with a combination of the desirable characters for fluorescent chemosensors and biomarkers including low molecular weight, water solubility, cell permeability, good biocompatibility, and strong tolerance to pH has been designed and synthesized.

Metabolism of UV-filter benzophenone-3 by rat and human liver microsomes and its effect on endocrine-disrupting activity

Benzophenone-3 (2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone; BP-3) is widely used as sunscreen for protection of human skin and hair from damage by ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In this study, we examined the metabolism of BP-3 by rat and human liver microsomes, and the estrogenic and anti-androgenic activities of the metabolites. When BP-3 was incubated with rat liver microsomes in the presence of NADPH, 2,4,5-trihydroxybenzophenone (2,4,5-triOH BP) and 3-hydroxylated BP-3 (3-OH BP-3) were newly identified as metabolites, together with previously detected metabolites 5-hydroxylated BP-3 (5-OH BP-3), a 4-desmethylated metabolite (2,4-diOH BP) and 2,3,4-trihydroxybenzophenone (2,3,4-triOH BP). In studies with recombinant rat cytochrome P450, 3-OH BP-3 and 2,4,5-triOH BP were mainly formed by CYP1A1. BP-3 was also metabolized by human liver microsomes and CYP isoforms. In estrogen reporter (ER) assays using estrogen-responsive CHO cells, 2,4-diOH BP exhibited stronger estrogenic activity, 2,3,4-triOH BP exhibited similar activity, and 5-OH BP-3, 2,4,5-triOH BP and 3-OH BP-3 showed lower activity as compared to BP-3. Structural requirements for activity were investigated in a series of 14 BP-3 derivatives. When BP-3 was incubated with liver microsomes from untreated rats or phenobarbital-, 3-methylcholanthrene-, or acetone-treated rats in the presence of NADPH, estrogenic activity was increased. However, liver microsomes from dexamethasone-treated rats showed decreased estrogenic activity due to formation of inactive 5-OH BP-3 and reduced formation of active 2,4-diOH BP. Anti-androgenic activity of BP-3 was decreased after incubation with liver microsomes.

β-Galactosidase fluorescence probe with improved cellular accumulation based on a spirocyclized rhodol scaffold

We identified a rhodol bearing a hydroxymethyl group (HMDER) as a suitable scaffold for designing fluorescence probes for various hydrolases. HMDER shows strong fluorescence at physiological pH, but phenolic O-alkylation of HMDER results in a strong preference for the spirocyclic form, which has weak fluorescence. As a proof of concept, we utilized this finding to develop a new fluorescence probe for β-galactosidase. This probe has favorable characteristics for imaging in biological samples: it has good cellular permeability, and its hydrolysis product is well-retained intracellularly. It could rapidly and clearly visualize β-galactosidase activity in cultured cells and in Drosophila melanogaster tissue, which has rarely been achieved with previously reported fluorescence probes.

Ratiometric and intensity-based zinc sensors built on rhodol and rhodamine platforms

A xanthene-forming condensation reaction yields rhodol and rhodamine dyes carrying a zinc-binding ligand that includes the aniline-type nitrogen donor of the fluorophores. Upon zinc coordination in neutral aqueous solution, rhodol RF3 behaves as a ratiometric sensor, and rhodamine RA1 acts as a turn-off intensity-based indicator. Both fluorescent compounds bind the divalent zinc cation with micromolar affinity.