Shedding light on the photostability of two intermolecular charge-transfer complexes between highly fluorescent bis-1,8-naphthalimide dyes and some π-acceptors: a spectroscopic study in solution and solid states

Charge-transfer chemistry of two corticosteroids used adjunctively to treat COVID-19. Part II: The CT reaction of hydrocortisone and dexamethasone donors with TCNQ and fluoranil acceptors in five organic solvents

Hydrocortisone (termed as D1) and dexamethasone (termed as D2) are corticosteroids currently used to treat COVID-19. COVID-19 is a disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Exploring additional chemical properties of drugs used in the treatment protocols for COVID-19 could help scientists alike improve these treatment protocols and potentially even the vaccines (i.e., Janssen, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech). In this work, the charge-transfer (CT) properties of these two corticosteroids (D1 and D2) with two universal acceptors: 7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (termed as TCNQ) and fluoranil (termed as TFQ) in five different solvents were investigated. The examined solvents were MeOH, EtOH, MeCN, CH₂Cl₂, and CHCl₃. The CT interactions formed stable corticosteroid CT complexes in all examined solvents. Several spectroscopic parameters were derived, and the oscillator strength (f) and transition dipole moment (μ_e.g.) values revealed that the interaction between the investigated corticosteroids with TCNQ acceptor is much stronger than their interaction with TFQ acceptor. The CT interactions were proposed to process via n → π* transition.

Charge-transfer chemistry of two corticosteroids used adjunctively to treat COVID-19. Part I: Complexation of hydrocortisone and dexamethasone donors with DDQ acceptor in five organic solvents

COVID-19 is the disease caused by a novel coronavirus (CoV) named the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (termed SARS coronavirus 2 or SARS-CoV-2). Since the first case reported in December 2019, infections caused by this novel virus have led to a continuous global pandemic that has placed an unprecedented burden on health, economic, and social systems worldwide. In response, multiple therapeutic options have been developed to stop this pandemic. One of these options is based on traditional corticosteroids, however, chemical modifications to enhance their efficacy remain largely unexplored. Obtaining additional insight into the chemical and physical properties of pharmacologically effective drugs used to combat COVID-19 will help physicians and researchers alike to improve current treatments and vaccines (i.e., Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Janssen). Herein, we examined the charge-transfer properties of two corticosteroids used as adjunctive therapies in the treatment of COVID-19, hydrocortisone and dexamethasone, as donors with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone as an acceptor in various solvents. We found that the examined donors reacted strongly with the acceptor in CH₂Cl₂ and CHCl₃ solvents to create stable compounds with novel clinical potential.

Charge-transfer chemistry of azithromycin, the antibiotic used worldwide to treat the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Part II: Complexation with several π-acceptors (PA, CLA, CHL)

Finding a vaccine or cure for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) responsible for the worldwide pandemic and its economic, medical, and psychological burdens is one of the most pressing issues presently facing the global community. One of the current treatment protocols involves the antibiotic azithromycin (AZM) alone or in combination with other compounds. Obtaining additional insight into the charge-transfer (CT) chemistry of this antibiotic could help researchers and clinicians to improve such treatment protocols. Toward this aim, we investigated the CT interactions between AZM and three π-acceptors: picric acid (PA), chloranilic acid (CLA), and chloranil (CHL) in MeOH solvent. AZM formed colored products at a 1:1 stoichiometry with the acceptors through intermolecular hydrogen bonding. An n → π* interaction was also proposed for the AZM-CHL CT product. The synthesized CT products had markedly different morphologies from the free reactants, exhibiting a semi-crystalline structure composed of spherical particles with diameters ranging from 50 to 90 nm.

Synthesis, structure-fluorescence relationships and density functional theory studies of novel naphthalimide-piperazine-pyridine-based polystyrene sensors for Hg(ii) detection

Two novel naphthalimide–piperazine–pyridine-based polystyrene solid-phase fluorescent sensors PS-NA and PS-ND with different lengths of the linker were synthesized and shown to be able to detect Hg(ii) ions. Their structures were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Fluorescence properties, including response time, pH effects, fluorescence titration, metal ion selectivity and regeneration, were investigated and compared. Sensor PS-NA displayed a higher fluorescence response to Hg(ii) than PS-ND, with a lower detection limit of 1.01 μM. The detection mechanism involving the Hg(ii) chelation-induced photo-induced electron transfer (PET) was proposed with the aid of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Sensors PS-NA and PS-ND with seven other similar sensors from our previous studies were collected together for thorough structure–fluorescence relationship (SFR) studies. Sensor PS-NA being recyclable and environmentally friendly was successfully employed in the fluorescence detection of Hg(ii) in real water samples, indicating its good potential in practical application.

Naphthalimide-appended polystyrene fluorescent sensors.