Vibrational and optical characterization of s-triazine derivatives

Targeted inhibition of MASTL kinase activity induces apoptosis in breast cancer

Microtubule-associated serine/threonine kinase-like (MASTL) (or Greatwall kinase (GWL)) is an important cell cycle regulating kinase that regulates the G2-M transition. Uncontrolled MASTL activity is implicated in breast cancer progression. To date, very few inhibitors have been reported against this protein. Here, structure-based computational modeling indicates that the natural product flavopiridol (FLV) binds strongly to MASTL and these results are validated using molecular dynamics simulation studies. An in vitro kinase assay reveals an EC50 (effective concentration) value of FLV to be 82.1 nM and a better IC50 compared to the positive reference compound, staurosporine. FLV is found to inhibit MASTL kinase activity, arresting the cell growth in the G1 phase and inducing apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Consistent with these results differential gene expression obtained using RNA sequencing studies, and validated by RT PCR and immunoblot analysis, indicate that MASTL inhibition induces cell cycle arrest and apoptotic-related genes. Furthermore, metastasis- and inflammation-related genes are downregulated. Thus, the deregulation of MASTL signaling pathways on targeted inhibition of its kinase activity is revealed. This study lays a strong foundation for investigating FLV as a lead compound in breast cancer therapeutics.

Optical properties of nanostructured antiviral and anticancer drugs

We present a computational study on the optical absorption properties of some systems of interest in the field of drug delivery. In particular we considered as drug molecules favipiravir (T705, an antiviral molecule) and 5-fluorouracil (5FU, an anticancer molecule) and, on the other hand, pure fullerenes (C24, B12N12, Ga12N12) and doped fullerenes (C23B, CB11N12) are considered as nanocarriers. Some combined configurations between the drug molecules and the carrier nanostructures have been then studied. The optical absorption properties of the above mentioned drug molecules and their carrier nanostructures in the free and bound states are obtained by a TD-DFT method, in gas phase and in aqueous solution. We perform a detailed analysis of the modifications arising in the absorption spectra that take place in some linked configurations between the drug molecules and the carrier nanostructures. These changes could be of importance as an optical fingerprint of the realized drug/carrier link.

Rational Design, Stabilities and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Non-Conventional Transition Metalides; New Entry into Nonlinear Optical Materials

Electronic and nonlinear optical properties of endohedral metallofullerenes are presented. The endohedral metallofullerenes contain transition metal encapsulated in inorganic fullerenes X₁₂Y₁₂ (X = B, Al & Y = N, P). The endohedral metallofullerenes (endo-TM@X₁₂Y₁₂) possess quite interesting geometric and electronic properties, which are the function of the nature of the atom and the size of fullerene. NBO charge and frontier molecular orbital analyses reveal that the transition metal encapsulated Al₁₂N₁₂ fullerenes (endo-TM@Al₁₂N₁₂) are true metalides when the transition metals are Ni, Cu and Zn. Endo-Cr@Al₁₂N₁₂ and endo-Co@Al₁₂N₁₂ are at the borderline between metalides and electrides with predominantly electride characteristics. The other members of the series are excess electron systems, which offer interesting electronic and nonlinear optical properties. The diversity of nature possessed by endo-TM@Al₁₂N₁₂ is not prevalent for other fullerenes. Endo-TM@Al₁₂P₁₂ are true metalides when the transition metals are (Cr-Zn). HOMO-LUMO gaps (E_H-L) are reduced significantly for these endohedral metallofullerenes, with a maximum percent decrease in E_H-L of up to 70%. Many complexes show odd-even oscillating behavior for E_H-L and dipole moments. Odd electron species contain large dipole moments and small E_H-L, whereas even electron systems have the opposite behavior. Despite the decrease in E_H-L, these systems show high kinetic and thermodynamic stabilities. The encapsulation of transition metals is a highly exergonic process. These endo-TM@X₁₂Y₁₂ possess remarkable nonlinear optical response in which the first hyperpolarizability reaches up to 2.79 × 10⁵ au for endo-V@Al₁₂N₁₂. This study helps in the comparative analysis of the potential nonlinear optical responses of electrides, metalides and other excess electron systems. In general, the potential nonlinear optical response of electrides is higher than metalides but lower than those of simple excess electron compounds. The higher non-linear optical response and interesting electronic characteristics of endo-TM@Al₁₂N₁₂ complexes may be promising contenders for potential NLO applications.

A combined molecular dynamics simulation and DFT study on mercapto-benzamide inhibitors for the HIV NCp7 protein

Molecular dynamics and quantum simulations are performed to elucidate some aspects of the action mechanism of mercapto-benzamides, a proposed class of antivirals against HIV-1. These molecules act as prodrugs that, after modifications in the biological environment, are able to denature the HIV nucleocapsid protein 7, a metal binder protein, with two zinc finger motifs, vital for RNA maturation and viral replication. Despite their attractive features, these molecules and their biological target are not well understood. Simulations were performed to support a proposed action mechanism, based on the activation of mercapto-benzamides by acetylation, targeting a relatively rare protein hydrolyzed state, followed by trans-molecular acetylation from the molecule to the protein and finally the direct interaction of the molecular sulphur atom of mercapto-benzamides with the zinc atom coordinated by the protein. Our simulation results are in agreement with the NMR data about the zinc finger binding protein equilibrium configurations.

4-Nitrophenol Efficient Photoreduction from Exfoliated and Protonated Phenyl-Doped Graphitic Carbon Nitride Nanosheets

The photoreduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol by means of protonated and exfoliated phenyl-doped carbon nitride is reported. Although carbon nitride-based materials have been recognized as efficient photocatalysts, the photoreduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol is not allowed because of the high recombination rate of the photogenerated electron–hole pairs. In this paper, we show the morphology effects on the photoactivity in phenyl-doped carbon nitride. Structural (TEM, XRD, Raman) and optical characterization (absorption, photoluminescence) of the protonated and exfoliated phenyl-doped carbon nitride (hereafter pePhCN) is reported. The increased photocatalytic efficiency, with respect to the bulk material, is underlined by the calculation of the kinetic constant of the photoreduction process (2.78 × 10⁻¹ min⁻¹ and 3.54 × 10⁻³ min⁻¹) for pePhCN and bulk PhCN, respectively. Finally, the detailed mechanism of the photoreduction process of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol by modified phenyl carbon nitride is proposed.

Polymerization-Driven Photoluminescence in Alkanolamine-Based C-Dots

Carbonized polymer dots (CPDs), a peculiar type of carbon dots, show extremely high quantum yields, making them very attractive nanostructures for application in optics and biophotonics. The origin of the strong photoluminescence of CPDs resides in a complicated interplay of several radiative mechanisms. To understand the correlation between CPD processing and properties, the early stage formation of carbonized polymer dots has been studied. In the synthesis, citric acid monohydrate and 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)propane-1,3-diol have been thermally degraded at 180 °C. The use of an oil bath instead of a more traditional hydrothermal reactor has allowed the CPD properties to be monitored at different reactions times. Transmission electron microscopy, time-resolved photoluminescence, nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared, and Raman spectroscopy have revealed the formation of polymeric species with amide and ester bonds. Quantum chemistry calculations have been employed to investigate the origin of CPD electronic transitions. At short reaction times, amorphous C-dots with 80 % quantum yield, have been obtained.

Anomalous Optical Properties of Citrazinic Acid under Extreme pH Conditions

Citrazinic acid (CZA) is a weakly fluorescent molecular compound whose optical properties are dependent on aggregation states and chemical environment. This molecule and its derivatives have been recently identified as the source of the intense blue emission of carbon dots obtained from citric acid with a nitrogen source, such as ammonia or urea. Citrazinic acid has a strong tendency to aggregate and form tautomers whose optical properties are largely unexplored. At extreme acidic and basic pH values, we have observed an "anomalous" optical response of citrazinic acid, attributed to the formation of aggregates from the tautomers. We have characterized the molecule, both at pH = 1 and 14, using UV-vis, NMR, steady-state, and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. At extremely low pH values, the protonation causes luminescence quenching and the appearance of new emissions. On the contrary, high pH values are responsible for deprotonation and splitting of the excitation spectra.

Synthesis, Characterization of sym-2,4,6-trisubstituted-s-Triazine Derivatives and Their Effects on Flame Retardancy of Polypropylene Composites

Polypropylene (PP) is flammable material, which brings latent danger to the environment and human society. Therefore, developing new environmentally friendly and effective flame-retardant is one of the most important ways to improve the flame retardancy of PP and improve safety during its lifetime. Herein, we describe the synthesis of five sym-2,4,6-trisubstituted-s-triazine derivatives, namely, N2,N4,N6-triphenyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine (TAT), N2,N4,N6-tris(4-bromophenyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine (TBAT), N2,N4,N6-tris(4-chlorophenyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine (TCAT), 4,4′,4″-((1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl) tris(azanediyl)) triphenol (THAT), and N2,N4,N6-tris(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine (TMAT), from the reaction of cyanuric chloride and p-substituted aniline employing conventional heating or microwave irradiation. The prepared compounds characterized by different techniques, such as Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), Ultra-Violet and Visible (UV-Vis), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR and 13C-NMR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The effect of substituent on the aniline moiety has great impact on its thermal stability, as observed from the TGA and DSC data. Based on the TGA and DSC results, three triazine derivatives TAT, TBAT, and TMAT were used as charring agents in the presence of different proportions of ammonium polyphosphate (APP) to form an intumescent flame-retardant (IFR) system, to improve the flame retardancy of PP. The flammability property of PP was investigated by a vertical burning test (UL94). The results of UL94 revealed that the TXAT/APP (IFR) system influence the PP and could improve the flame retardancy of PP. Best results were obtained with the mass ratio of APP and TXAT 2:1. When the IFR loading was 25 wt%, it displayed great influence and passed V-0 with TMAT, and V-1 with both TAT and TBAT in the UL94 test.

The crystal structure of 2-chloro-4-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)-6-phenyl-1,3,5-triazine, C12H8ClN3O

C12H8ClN3O, monoclinic, C2/c (no. 15), a = 19.2743(18) Å, b = 7.3515(7) Å, c = 17.8170(16) Å, β = 112.593(2)°, V = 2330.8(4) Å3, Z = 8, R gt(F) = 0.0333, wR ref(F 2) = 0.0906, T = 153(2) K.