Synthesis, molecular structure analyses and DFT studies on new asymmetrical azines based Schiff bases

Schiff bases and their metal complexes to target and overcome (multidrug) resistance in cancer

Overcoming multidrug resistance (MDR) is one of the major challenges in cancer therapy. In this respect, Schiff base-related compounds (bearing a R1R2CNR3 bond) gained high interest during the past decades. Schiff bases are considered privileged ligands for various reasons, including the easiness of their preparation and the possibility to form complexes with almost all transition metal ions. Schiff bases and their metal complexes exhibit many types of biological activities and are used for the treatment and diagnosis of various diseases. Until now, 13 Schiff bases have been investigated in clinical trials for cancer treatment and hypoxia imaging. This review represents the first collection of Schiff bases and their complexes which demonstrated MDR-reversal activity. The areas of drug resistance covered in this article involve: 1) Modulation of ABC transporter function, 2) Targeting lysosomal ABCB1 overexpression, 3) Circumvention of ABC transporter-mediated drug efflux by alternative routes of drug uptake, 4) Selective activity against MDR cancer models (collateral sensitivity), 5) Targeting GSH-detoxifying systems, 6) Overcoming apoptosis resistance by inducing necrosis and paraptosis, 7) Reactivation of mutated p53, 8) Restoration of sensitivity to DNA-damaging anticancer therapy, and 9) Overcoming drug resistance through modulation of the immune system. Through this approach, we would like to draw attention to Schiff bases and their metal complexes representing highly interesting anticancer drug candidates with the ability to overcome MDR.

Development of new benzil-hydrazone derivatives as anticholinesterase inhibitors: synthesis, X-ray analysis, DFT study and in vitro/in silico evaluation

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder affecting the central nervous system. Current drugs for AD have limited effectiveness and often come with side effects. Consequently, there is a pressing need to develop new, safe, and more effective treatments for Alzheimer's disease. In this work, two novel benzil-hydrazone compounds, abbreviated 2-ClMHB and 2-ClBHB, were synthesized for the first time by refluxing the benzil with 2-Chloro phenyl hydrazine and they have been tested for their in vitro anti-cholinesterase activities and in silico acetyl and butyryl enzymes inhibition. The resulting products were characterized using UV-Vis and IR spectroscopy, while the single-crystal X-ray diffraction investigation was successful in establishing the structures of these compounds. DFT calculations have been successfully made to correlate the experimental data. According to biological studies, the synthesized hydrazones significantly inhibited both butyrylcholinesterase (2-ClMHB: 20.95 ± 1.29 µM and 2-ClBHB: 31.21 ± 1.50 µM) and acetylcholinesterase (2-ClMHB: 21.80 ± 1.10 µM and 2-ClBHB: 10.38 ± 1.27 µM). Moreover, molecular docking was also employed to locate the molecule with the optimum interaction and stability as well as to explain the experimental findings. The compound's dynamic nature, binding interaction, and protein-ligand stability were investigated using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Analyzing parameters such as RMSD and RMSF indicated that the compound remained stable throughout the 100 ns MD simulation. Finally, the drugs displayed high oral bioavailability, as per projected ADME and pharmacokinetic parameters.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Fabrication and property evaluation of calcium-oxide-loaded microcapsules during supplemental heat-based exploitation of natural gas hydrates

The exploitation of natural gas hydrates (NGHs) by traditional methods is far lower than the commercial target. Calcium oxide (CaO)-based in situ supplemental heat combined with depressurization is a novel method for effectively exploiting NGHs. In this study, we propose an in situ supplemental heat method with the sustained-release CaO-loaded microcapsules coated with polysaccharide film. The modified CaO-loaded microcapsules were coated with polysaccharide films using covalent layer-by-layer self-assembly and wet modification process, with (3-aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane as the coupling agent and modified cellulose and chitosan as the shell materials. Microstructural characterization and elemental analysis of the microcapsules verified the change in the surface composition during the fabrication process. We found that the overall particle size distribution was within the range of 1-100 μm, corresponding to the particle size distribution in the reservoir. Furthermore, the sustained-release microcapsules exhibit controllable exothermic behavior. The decomposition rates of the NGHs under the effect of CaO and CaO-loaded microcapsules coated with one and three layers of polysaccharide films were 36.2, 17.7, and 11.1 mmol h^-1, respectively, while the exothermic time values were 0.16, 1.18, and 6.68 h, respectively. Finally, we propose an application method based on sustained-release CaO-loaded microcapsules used for the supplemental heat-based exploitation of NGHs.

Turn-off detection of Cr(III) with chelation enhanced fluorescence quenching effect by a naphthyl hydrazone Shiff base chemosensor

A thiophene substituted naphthyl hydrazone derivative NHT was synthesized using a one-step route for the detection of trivalent chromium (Cr³⁺). UV-visible absorption and emission spectra, density functional theory calculations as well as ¹H NMR titration confirmed that the probe underwent a turn-off response via the chelation enhanced fluorescence quenching effect upon exposure to Cr³⁺ and the NHT-Cr³⁺ complex was formed at a 1:1 binding stoichiometry. NHT exhibited a fast response rate of 2.3 min in buffer solution and a relatively low limit of detection of 41 nM. In addition, the Schiff base chemosensor exhibited excellent selectivity with high affinity towards Cr³⁺ in the presence of other competing cations. Bioimaging of the probe in PC3 cells further demonstrated the potential real life application of the probe in detecting Cr³⁺.

New bis hydrazone: Synthesis, X-ray crystal structure, DFT computations, conformational study and in silico study of the inhibition activity of SARS-CoV-2

The aim of this work was to synthesize new bis hydrazone derived from benzil in good yield, namely: (1Z,2Z)-1,2-bis (3-Chlorophenyl Hydrazino) Benzil, encoded by 3-Cl BHB. The benzil (or 1,2-diphenyl ethanedione) reacts with 3-Cl phenyl hydrazine by reflux method using ethanol as solvent to obtain the target compound. The obtained product is depicted by UV-Vis, IR spectroscopy and XRD-crystals analysis. All various contacts intra and intermolecular found in 3-Cl BHB were determined by the X-ray diffraction technique performed on single crystals. On the other hand, the optimized geometric structure of 3-Cl BHB was computed by the DFT/B3LYP method with 6-31 G (d, p) level. So, the bond lengths and angles, frontier molecular orbitals (FMO), surface electrostatic potential of the molecule (MEP), global reactivity descriptors, Mulliken atomic charges, computed vibrational analysis and electronic absorption spectrum were determined to get a good understanding of the electronic properties and the active sites of 3-Cl BHB, then to compare them with experimental data. Additionally, a conformational study was carried out using the same method (DFT). The structure-activity relationships established through molecular docking studies showed that 3-Cl BHB structure strongly binds to the receptors Mpro (-8.90 Kcal/mol) and RdRp (-8.60 Kcal/mol) which confirm its inhibition activity against COVID-19.

Palladium(0) Catalyzed Synthesis of (E)-4-Bromo-N-((3-bromothiophen-2-yl)methylene)-2-methylaniline Derivatives via Suzuki Cross-Coupling Reaction: An Exploration of Their Non-Linear Optical Properties, Reactivity and Structural Features

A series of (E)-4-bromo-N-((3-bromothiophen-2-yl)methylene)-2-methylaniline analogs synthesized in considerable yields through Suzuki cross-coupling reactions. Various electron donating and withdrawing functional moieties were successfully incorporated under the employed reaction conditions. Reaction of 4-bromo-2-methylaniline (1) with 3-bromothiophene-2-carbaldehyde (2b) in the existence of glacial acetic acid, provided (E)-4-bromo-N-((3-bromothiophen-2-yl)methylene)-2-methylaniline (3b) in excellent yield (94%). Suzuki coupling of 3b with different boronic acids in the presence of Pd(PPh₃)₄/K₃PO₄ at 90 °C led to the synthesis of the monosubstituted and bisubstituted products 5a-5d and 6a-6d in moderate yields (33-40% and 31-46%, respectively). Density functional theory (DFT) investigations were performed on different synthesized analogues 5a-5d, 6a-6d to determine their structural characteristics. The calculations provide insight into the frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs) of the imine-based analogues and their molecular electrostatic potential (MESP). Reactivity descriptors like ionization energy (I), electron affinity (A), chemical hardness (ƞ) and index of nucleophilicity have been calculated for the first time for the synthesized molecules.

Crystal structure and mol-ecular docking study of (E)-2-{[(E)-2-hy-droxy-5-methyl-benzyl-idene]hydrazinyl-idene}-1,2-di-phenyl-ethan-1-one

The title compound, C22H18N2O2, is a Schiff base that exists in the phenol-imine tautomeric form and adopts an E configuration with respect to the C=N bond. The mol-ecular structure is stabilized by an O-H⋯N hydrogen bond, forming an S(6) ring motif. In the crystal, pairs of C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules to form inversion dimers. Weak π-π stacking inter-actions along the a-axis direction provide additional stabilization of the crystal structure. The mol-ecule is non-planar, the aromatic ring of the benzaldehyde residue being nearly perpendicular to the phenyl and 4-methyl-phenol rings with dihedral angles of 88.78 (13) and 82.26 (14)°, respectively. A mol-ecular docking study between the title mol-ecule and the COVID-19 main protease (PDB ID: 6LU7) was performed, showing that it is a potential agent because of its affinity and ability to adhere to the active sites of the protein.