Dual action spirobicycloimidazolidine-2,4-diones: Antidiabetic agents and inhibitors of aldose reductase-an enzyme involved in diabetic complications

Reactions of 1,3-Diphenyl Cyclopentadiene with α-Aryldiazo Ketones to Enable C-H Insertions versus [4 + 2]-Cycloadditions via Au Catalyst and P(C6F5)3 Additive, Respectively

Two distinct reaction chemoselectivities were reported for the reactions of α-aryldiazo ketone with 1,3-diphenylcyclopentadiene using gold catalyst and phosphine additives, respectively. In the presence of gold catalyst, α-aryldiazo ketone forms gold carbenes initially that are trapped with this 1,3-disubstituted cyclopentadiene to afford C-H insertion products. In the presence of P(C6F5)3 additive, α-aryldiazo ketone forms diarylketenes initially at elevated temperature, which are further stabilized by P(C6F5)3 to secure their entity before proceeding to unprecedented [4C + 2C] cycloadditions.

Kaguacidine A: a novel spirohydantoin-containing cucurbitane glycoside from vines of Momordica charantia L

The spirohydantoin-containing cucurbitane-type triterpenoid, kaguacidine A (1), was isolated and purified from 95% ethanol extract of vines of Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae). Its unprecedented chemical structure, a spirohydantoin substituent at C-23 of cucurbitane, was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses, including HRESIMS, IR, optical rotation, 1 D- and 2 D-NMR spectra. The possible biosynthetic pathway is deduced and may be attributed to the metabolic activity of microbial symbionts in M. charantia L. Compound 1 was evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity against LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells and anti-proliferative activity against four cancer cell lines, including HEp-2, MCF-7, Hep-G2, and WiDr. Compound 1 showed moderate anti-inflammatory activity with an IC50 value of 18.5 ± 0.4 μg/mL and weak anti-proliferative activity against MCF-7, HEp-2, Hep-G2, and WiDr with IC50 values of >40, 33.8 ± 0.6, 31.0 ± 0.7, and 27.0 ± 0.7 μM, respectively.

Novel Hydroxychalcone-Based Dual Inhibitors of Aldose Reductase and α-Glucosidase as Potential Therapeutic Agents against Diabetes Mellitus and Its Complications

We designed a novel series of bifunctional inhibitors of α-glucosidase and aldose reductase (ALR2) based on the structure of hydroxychalcone. The two enzymes relate to blood glucose level and anomalously elevated polyol pathway of glucose metabolism under hyperglycemia, respectively. Most compounds in the series exhibited a potent inhibitory activity for both enzymes, and a significant antioxidant property was shown. Further in vivo studies of 11j and 14d using streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats as a model found that 11j achieved not only good antihyperglycemic and glucose tolerance effect in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.01) but also showed effective inhibition of polyol pathway. 14d significantly suppressed the maltose-induced postprandial glucose elevation. Additionally, they effectively improved lipid metabolisms and restored an antioxidant ability. Therefore, the two compounds may be promising agents for the prevention and treatment of diabetic complications.

1-Methyl-8-phenyl-1,3-diazaspiro[4.5]decane-2,4-dione

A simple, fast and cost-effective three-step synthesis of 1-methyl-8-phenyl-1,3-diazaspiro[4.5]decane-2,4-dione has been developed. The reactions described herein proceed readily, with high yields and no further purification. Therefore, the proposed method, with an overall yield of 60%, offers a facile pathway to the synthesis of N-1 monosubstituted spiro carbocyclic imidazolidine-2,4-diones (hydantoins), which constitute a privileged class of heterocyclic scaffolds with pharmacological interest.

Multifunctional agents based on benzoxazolone as promising therapeutic drugs for diabetic nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is resulted from activations of polyol pathway and oxidative stress by abnormal metabolism of glucose, and no specific medication is available. We designed a novel class of benzoxazolone derivatives, and a number of individuals were found to have significant antioxidant activity and inhibition of aldose reductase of the key enzyme in the polyol pathway. The outstanding compound (E)-2-(7-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxystyryl)-2-oxobenzo[d]oxazol-3(2H)-yl)acetic acid was identified to reduce urinary proteins in diabetic mice suggesting an alleviation in the diabetic nephropathy, and this was confirmed by kidney hematoxylin-eosin staining. Further investigations showed blood glucose normalization, declined in the polyol pathway and lipid peroxides, and raised glutathione and superoxide dismutase activity. Thus, we suggest a therapeutic function of the compound for DN which could be attributed to the combination of hypoglycemic, aldose reductase inhibition and antioxidant.

Connective synthesis of 5,5-disubstituted hydantoins by tandem α-amination and α-arylation of silyl ketene acetals

Amination of a silylated ester generates an intermediate urea that transfers an aryl ring to the aminated centre and cyclises to a hydantoin.

5,5-Disubstituted hydantoins, formally the cyclisation products of quaternary amino acids, were formed connectively from simple ester-derived starting materials by a one-pot tandem method. Amination of the silyl ketene acetal derivative of a methyl ester takes place by silver-catalysed addition to the N Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019 ]]> N bond of an azocarboxamide, generating a N-amino-N′-aryl urea derivative of a substituted aminoester. Treatment with a base forms an ester enolate which undergoes arylation by intramolecular migration of an aryl ring to the α-position of the ester. The product undergoes ring closure to a hydantoin, which may itself be deprotected and functionalised. Aryl migration is successful with rings of various electronic character and with esters bearing functionalised and unfunctionalised chains, and the products have features in common with several bioactive compounds.

Kinetic Resolution of Alkylidene Norcamphors via a Ligand-Controlled Umpolung-Type 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition

Development of a general catalytic and highly efficient method utilizing readily available precursors for the regio- and stereoselective construction of bioactive natural-product-inspired spiro architectures remains a formidable challenge in chemical research. Transition metal-catalyzed asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides produces numerous N-heterocycles, but reaction control with the regioselectivity opposite to the conventional fashion has rarely been demonstrated. Herein, we report a unique ligand-controlled Cu(I)-catalyzed umpolung-type 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylide to realize efficient kinetic resolution of racemic alkylidene norcamphors with the concomitant construction of previously inaccessible spiro N-heterocycles with high levels of regio- and stereoselectivity. The success of this methodology relies on the strategy of kinetic resolution, and the serendipitous discovery of a unique ligand-enabled regiospecific cycloaddition, which not only provides evidence for the existence of the minor zwitterionic resonance form in metallated azomethine ylide but also diversifies the existing chemistry of azomethine ylide-involved 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions with rare polarity inversion.

•

Kinetic resolution of racemic alkylidene norcamphors

•

Spiro architectures incorporating norbornane and pyrrolidine scaffolds

•

Unique ligand-enabled umpolung-type 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition

Effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus on flavonoid pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution after oral administration of Radix Scutellaria extract in rats

Radix Scutellaria is widely applied to the treatment of diabetes mellitus in China. Its main bioactive constituents contain baicalin, wogonoside, oroxyloside, and their aglycones. To investigate the effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus on both pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of these flavonoid compounds, the six flavonoids in plasma and tissues from the normal and type 2 diabetic rats after oral administration of Radix Scutellaria extract were simultaneously measured by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method. The results showed that baicalin, wogonoside, and oroxyloside had higher C_max and AUC values (P < 0.05) in type 2 diabetic rats than that in normal rats and the tissue-distribution behaviors of the six flavonoid compounds in hearts, livers, spleens, lungs, kidneys, brains, pancreas, fat and muscle of the type 2 diabetic rats showed obviously differences from the normal rats (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the differences in the pharmacokinetics of oroxyloside and tissue distribution of the six flavanoids in Radix Scutellaria extract between diabetic and normal rats were found for the first time. The results from the present study provided a crucial basis for a better understanding of in vivo anti-diabetic mechanism of action of the six flavonoids from Radix Scutellaria.

Step economy strategy for the synthesis of amphoteric aminoaldehydes, key intermediates for reduced hydantoins

Despite of the orthogonal reactivity of the N–H aziridines aldehyde, these compounds exist as an equilibrium of three different forms – whereas the dimeric one is mostly observed in a variety of solvents. In this work, we have developed an alternative protocol for the aminoaldehyde dimers synthesis in two steps starting with an organocatalyzed aziridination between α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and a protected amine to afford known isolable and stable N-protected aziridine aldehydes. After Boc-deprotection, dimeric species were immediately formed from monomeric N–H aziridine aldehydes. From this building-block new reduced hydantoins were prepared via [3+2]-annulation with isocyanates.

Bio-activated intramolecular anti-aza-Michael addition: stereoselective synthesis of hydantoin derivatives

The unprecedented green, stereoselective, and enzymatic synthesis of biologically remarkable hydantoin derivatives through an intramolecular anti-aza-Michael addition.

Identification of novel pyrazole–rhodanine hybrid scaffolds as potent inhibitors of aldose reductase: design, synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular docking analysis

A series of novel pyrazole–rhodanine derivatives was designed, synthesized, and biologically evaluated for their potential inhibitory effect on both aldehyde reductase (ALR1) and aldose reductase (ALR2).

Conjugates of degraded and oxidized hydroxyethyl starch and sulfonylureas: synthesis, characterization, and in vivo antidiabetic activity

Orally administered drugs usually face the problem of low water solubility, low permeability, and less retention in bloodstream leading to unsatisfactory pharmacokinetic profile of drugs. Polymer conjugation has attracted increasing interest in the pharmaceutical industry for delivering such low molecular weight (Mw) drugs as well as some complex compounds. In the present work, degraded and oxidized hydroxyethyl starch (HES), a highly biocompatible semisynthetic biopolymer, was used as a drug carrier to overcome the solubility and permeability problems. The HES was coupled with synthesized N-arylsulfonylbenzimidazolones, a class of sulfonylurea derivatives, by creating an amide linkage between the two species. The coupled products were characterized using GPC, FT-IR, (1)H NMR, and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. The experiments established the viability of covalent coupling between the biopolymer and N-arylsulfonylbenzimidazolones. The coupled products were screened for their in vivo antidiabetic potential on male albino rats. The coupling of sulfonylurea derivatives with HES resulted in a marked increase of the hypoglycemic activity of all the compounds. 2,3-Dihydro-3-(4-nitrobenzensulfonyl)-2-oxo-1H-benzimidazole coupled to HES10100 was found most potent with a 67% reduction in blood glucose level of the rats as compared to 41% reduction produced by tolbutamide and 38% by metformin.