Synthesis and conformational study of a new class of highly bioactive compounds

Synthesis and In Vitro Anti Leishmania amazonensis Biological Screening of Morita-Baylis-Hillman Adducts Prepared from Eugenol, Thymol and Carvacrol

Leishmaniasis represents a series of severe neglected tropical diseases caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania and is widely distributed around the world. Here, we present the syntheses of Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts (MBHAs) prepared from eugenol, thymol and carvacrol, and their bioevaluation against promastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis. The new MBHAs are prepared in two steps from essential oils in moderate to good yields and present IC₅₀ values in the range of 22.30–4.71 μM. Moreover, the selectivity index to the most potent compound is very high (SIrb > 84.92), far better than that of Glucantime^® (SIrb 1.39) and amphotericin B (SIrb = 22.34). Conformational analysis were carried out at the M062X//6-31+G(d,p) level of theory to corroborate a hypothesis about the nitroaromatic bioreduction mechanism.

The structures of heterocyclic complexes ruled by hydrogen bonds and halogen interactions: interaction strength and IR modes

In this work, the existence of multiple interactions in heterocyclic complexes of C2H4O⋯nHCCl3 and C2H4S⋯nHCCl3 with n=2 and 3 was unveiled at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory. The forward analyses of the vibrational spectra revealed the appearing of red-shifts in the H-C bond. In agreement with this and through the optimized geometries of these systems, an increase in the H-C bond length was also observed. Besides O⋯H and S⋯H, other hydrogen bonds formed between chlorine⋯hydrogen and mainly the halogen interactions formed by chlorine⋯chlorine were identified. Thereby, the vibration spectra of the heterocyclic complexes were reanalyzed with the purpose to locate new red-shifts, although only those characterized in H-C have been detected up to then. In addition to the correlation between the frequencies shifted to downward values followed by increases in the bond lengths, the interpretation of the red-shifts was conducted by means of the Bent rule of the hybridization theory. The interaction strength was examined in several viewpoints, and one of them was the relationship between the H-bond energies and the intermolecular electronic density computed by means of the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM). Moreover, the prediction of the interaction strength was also made through the combination between vibration modes (red-shifts) and variation of topological parameters, such as the electronic density and Laplacian of the proton donor bond (C-H).

Synthesis, vibrational and quantum chemical investigations of hydrogen bonded complex betaine dihydrogen selenite

The molecular complex of betaine with selenious acid namely, betaine dihydrogen selenite (C(5)H(13)NO(5)Se, BDHSe) was synthesised by the reaction of betaine and SeO(2) in a 1:1:1 solution of isopropanol, methanol and water. Crystals were grown from this solution by cooling to 253 K for few days. The complex was formed without accompanying proton transfer from selenious acid molecule to betaine. The complete vibrational assignments and analysis of BDHSe have been performed by FTIR, FT-Raman and far-infrared spectral studies. More support on the experimental findings was added from the quantum chemical studies performed with DFT (B3LYP) method using 6-311++G(**), 6-31G(**), cc-pVDZ and 3-21G basis sets. The structural parameters, energies, thermodynamic parameters and the NBO charges of BDHSe were determined by the DFT method. The (1)H and (13)C isotropic chemical shifts (δ ppm) of BDHSe with respect to TMS were also calculated using the gauge independent atomic orbital (GIAO) method and compared with the experimental data. SHG experiment was carried out using Kurtz-Perry powder technique. The efficiency of second harmonic generation for BDHSe was estimated relatively to KDP: d(eff)=0.97 d(eff) (KDP).

Bonding topology, hydrogen bond strength, and vibrational chemical shifts on hetero-ring hydrogen-bonded complexes — Theoretical insights revisited

This work presents a theoretical study about the interaction strength of the hydrogen-bonded complexes C2H4O···HF, C3H6O···HF, C2H4O···HCF3, and C3H6O···HCF3 at the B3LYP/6–311++G(d,p) level. The structures, hydrogen bond energies, charge transfers, and dipole moments of these complexes were analyzed in accordance with routine spectroscopy events, such as the red- and blue-shifts on the stretch frequencies of the proton donors (HF and HCF3). The ChelpG atomic charges were used to quantify the charge-transfer fluxes from electron donor (O) towards to acceptors (HF or HCF3). Moreover, the topological calculations on the basis of the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) approach were also used to unveil the hydrogen bond strength (O···H), mainly in the determination of their electronic densities and Laplacian shapes.

Theoretical aspects of binary and ternary complexes of aziridine···ammonia ruled by hydrogen bond strength

B3LYP calculations, ChelpG atomic charges, and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) integrations were used to investigate the binary (1:1) and ternary (1:2) hydrogen-bonded complexes formed by aziridine (1) and ammonia (2). In a series of analysis, geometry data, electronic parameters, vibrational oscillators, and topological descriptors were used to evaluate hydrogen bond strength, and additionally to determine the more prominent molecular deformations upon the formation of C(2)H(5)N···NH(3) (1:1) and C(2)H(5)N···2NH(3) (1:2) systems. Taking a spectroscopic viewpoint, results obtained from analysis of the harmonic infrared spectrum were examined. From these, new vibrational modes and red- and blue-shifts related to the stretch frequencies of either donors or acceptors of protons were identified. Furthermore, the molecular topology of the electronic density modeled in accord with QTAIM was absolutely critical in defining bond critical points (BCP) and ring critical points (RCP) on the heterocyclic structures. Taking all the results together allowed us to identify and characterize all the N···H hydrogen bonds, as well as the strain ring of the aziridine and its stability.

A theoretical study of red-shifting and blue-shifting hydrogen bonds occurring between imidazolidine derivatives and PEG/PVP polymers

A theoretical study is presented with the aim to investigate the molecular properties of intermolecular complexes formed by the monomeric units of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) or polyethyleneglycol (PEG) polymers and a set of four imidazolidine (hydantoine) derivatives. The substitution of the carbonyl groups for thiocarbonyl in the hydantoin scaffold was taken into account when analyzing the effect of the hydrogen bonds on imidazolidine derivatives. B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) calculations and topological integrations derived from the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) were applied with the purpose of examining the N-H···O hydrogen bond strengths formed between the amide group of the hydantoine ring and the oxygen atoms of PVP and PEG polymers. The effects caused by the N-H···O interaction fit the typical evidence for hydrogen bonds, which includes a variation in the stretch frequencies of the N-H bonds. These frequencies were identified as being vibrational red-shifts because their values decreased. Although the values of such calculated interaction energies are between 12 and 33 kJ mol(-1), secondary intermolecular interactions were also identified. One of these secondary interactions is formed through the interaction of the benzyl hydrogen atoms with the oxygen atoms of the PVP and PEG structures. As such, we have analyzed the stretch frequencies on the C-H bonds of the benzyl groups, and blue-shifts were identified on these bonds. In this sense, the intermolecular systems formed by hydantoine derivatives and PVP/PEG monomers were characterized as a mix of red-shifting and blue-shifting hydrogen-bonded complexes.