Phenothiazine-Embedded Hexaphyrins

Phenothiazine Embedded Dithiasmaragdyrins

Two different types of novel phenothiazine-embedded dithiasmaragdyrins containing one phenothiazine ring, two thiophene rings and two pyrrole rings connected via three meso carbons and two direct bonds in the macrocyclic framework were synthesized over the sequence of synthetic steps starting with phenothiazine. Three examples of phenothiazine-embedded dithiasmaragdyrins were synthesized by condensing appropriate phenothiazine-based pentapyrrane with pentafluorobenzaldehyde and two examples of phenothiazine sulfone embedded dithiasmaragdyrins were synthesized by condensing phenothiazine-based diol with appropriate meso-aryl dipyrromethane under mild acid-catalysed conditions. 1D&2D NMR studies revealed that the thiophene rings adopted inverted orientation in phenothiazine sulfone embedded dithiasmaragdyrins whereas in phenothiazine-embedded dithiasmaragdyrins, the thiophene rings were in normal orientation. Both types of macrocycles exhibit nonaromatic absorption features and showed panchochromic absorption features in its neutral and protonated forms. The electrochemical studies indicated that the phenothiazine-embedded dithiasmaragdyrins were more electron-rich compared to phenothiazine sulfone embedded dithiasmaragdyrins. DFT studies revealed that both types of dithiasmaragdyrins exhibit significantly distorted structures and TD-DFT studies support the experimental observations.

Synthesis of Phenothiazine Embedded Heteroporphyrins

A series of phenothiazine embedded heteroporphyrins containing one phenothiazine unit, two pyrrole rings and one heterocycle such as furan, thiophene, selenophene and tellurophene connected via four meso carbons were synthesized. The macrocycles were synthesized by condensing the phenothiazine based tripyrrane with corresponding 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)heterocycle under BF3  ⋅ OEt2 catalyzed conditions and compared the structural, spectral, and electrochemical properties with the reported phenothiazinophyrins. The studies showed that the phenothiazine embedded heteroporphyrins were nonaromatic and electronic properties were significantly altered by replacing the pyrrole ring from phenothiazinophyrin with different heterocycles. The X-ray structure of phenothiazine embedded thiaporphyrin revealed that the macrocycle was distorted with an inverted thiophene ring. Both mono-protonated and diprotonated derivatives of macrocycles were generated by the controlled addition of trifluoroacetic acid to the macrocycles. The macrocyclic protons experienced upfield/downfield shifts in protonated derivatives compared to their corresponding neutral phenothiazine embedded heteroporphyrins. However, the heterocyclic ring in both mono- and diprotonated derivatives retained its inverted conformation. The macrocycles in their neutral and protonated form exhibit nonaromatic absorption features. The studies indicated the electron rich nature of macrocycles and DFT/TD-DFT studies were carried out to justify the experimental observations.

Design of phenothiazine-based cationic amphiphilic derivatives incorporating arginine residues: Potential membrane-active broad-spectrum antimicrobials combating pathogenic bacteria in vitro and in vivo

Multidrug-resistant bacteria infections pose an increasingly serious threat to human health, and the development of antimicrobials is far from meeting the clinical demand. It is urgent to discover and develop novel antibiotics to combat bacterial resistance. Currently, the development of membrane active antimicrobial agents is an attractive strategy to cope with antimicrobial resistance issues. In this study, the synthesis and biological evaluation of cationic amphiphilic phenothiazine-based derivatives were reported. Among them, the most promising compound 30 bearing a n-heptyl group and two arginine residues displayed potent bactericidal activity against both Gram-positive (MICs = 1.56 μg/mL) and Gram-negative bacteria (MICs = 3.125-6.25 μg/mL). Compound 30 showed low hemolysis activity (HC50 = 281.4 ± 1.6 μg/mL) and low cytotoxicity (CC50 ＞ 50 μg/mL) toward mammalian cells, as well as excellent salt resistance. Compound 30 rapidly killed bacteria by acting on the bacterial cell membrane and appeared less prone to resistance. Importantly, compound 30 showed potent in vivo efficacy in a murine model of bacterial keratitis. Hence, the results suggested compound 30 has a promising prospect as a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent for the treatment of drug-resistant bacterial infections.

Synthesis of stable nonaromatic phenothiazinophyrins

Stable and nonaromatic phenothiazinophyrins which resulted from the replacement of one of the pyrrole rings of porphyrin with a phenothiazine unit were synthesized by condensing phenothiazine based tripyrrane with aryl aldehyde and pyrrole under acid catalysed conditions. NMR studies revealed that the pyrrole ring that is across the phenothiazine unit is inverted and DFT studies also supported that the pyrrole ring inverted phenothiazinophyrins were more stable. Phenothiazinophyrins and their protonated derivatives showed panchromatic absorption features and absorbed in the visible to NIR region.

Phenothiazine and phenothiazine-5,5-dioxide based push-pull Derivatives: Synthesis, photophysical, electrochemical and computational Studies

A set of phenothiazine (PTZ) and phenothiazine-5,5-dioxide based π-conjugated push–pull chromophores PTZ 1–6 were designed and synthesized by the Pd-catalyzed Sonogashira cross-coupling and [2+2] cycloaddition retroelectrocyclic ring opening reaction in...