Potent Nonclassical Nucleoside Antiviral Drugs Based on the N,N-Diarylformamidine Concept

Copper(II)-N-hydroxy-N,N'-diarylformamidine complexes: Synthesis, crystal structures, antibacterial and molecular docking studies

A series of Cu(II) complexes were synthesized by using N-hydroxy-N,N'-diarylformamidine ligands: N-hydroxy-N,N'-(phenyl)formamidine (L1), N-hydroxy-N'-(4-methylphenyl)formamidine (L2), N-hydroxy-N,N'-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)formamidine (L3), N-hydroxy-N,N'-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)formamidine (L4). Reaction of ligands L1-L4 with hydrated copper acetate furnished mononuclear Cu(II) complexes 1-4 with general formula [Cu-(L)₂]. The molecular structures of complexes 3 and 4, as determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction, showed both to have square planar geometry with a near C₂ symmetry. The antimicrobial potency of all four complexes was evaluated against three gram-(-) bacteria (S. typhimurium, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli) and two gram-(+) bacteria (Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and S. aureus), with ciprofloxacin as the reference drug. All tested complexes were inactive against gram-(+) bacteria strains except for complex 1, which displayed excellent activity when compared to the reference. Molecular docking studies showed that hydrogen bonding, pi-sigma and van der Waals interactions are prominent complex-protein connections, with complex 2 displaying good binding affinities with the studied biological targets.

Ultrasonication-enhanced gelation properties of a versatile amphiphilic formamidine-based gelator exhibiting both organogelation and hydrogelation abilities

We describe the preparation of a novel amphiphilic gelator built from a formamidine core, which is able to form a variety of physical organogels and hydrogels at concentrations ranging from 15 to 150 mg mL^-1. Interestingly, ultrasound treatment of isotropic solutions (i.e., gel-precursor) resulted in a remarkable enhancement of the gelation kinetics as well as the gelation scope and characteristic gel properties (e.g., critical gelation concentration, gel-to-sol transition temperature, viscoelastic moduli) in comparison to the heating-cooling protocol typically used to obtain supramolecular gels. Thermoreversibility, thixotropy, injectability and multistimuli responsiveness are some of the most relevant functionalities of these gels. Electron microscopy imaging revealed the formation of entangled networks made of fibers of nanometer diameters and micrometer lengths, with different morphological features depending on the solvent. Insights into the driving forces for molecular aggregations were obtained from FTIR, NMR, PXRD and computational studies. The results suggest a major stabilization of the fibers through additive N-HO hydrogen bonds, in combination with hydrophobic interactions, over π-π stacking interactions.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of pentanedioic acid derivatives as farnesyltransferase inhibitors

The present study reports a series of novel potent farnesyltransferase inhibitors from chemical modifications of the lead compounds, such as compound 13n with an IC₅₀ value of 0.0029 μM.

5'-phosphonate derivatives of 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine as new anti-HIV prodrugs

Two new phosphonate 3TC prodrugs were synthesized and studied in MT-4 cells as inhibitors of HIV replication. Their pharmacokinetic parameters were evaluated following intragastric administration in rabbits and oral administration in dogs. Both compounds were much less toxic than parent 3TC in cell cultures and could generate the active nucleoside in laboratory animals.

Synthesis, Structural, DFT, and Cytotoxicity Studies of CuII and NiII Complexes with 3-Aminopyrazole Derivatives

Template synthesis of N,N′-bis(4-acetyl-5-methylpyrazole-3-yl)formamidine (ampf) was performed starting from 4-acetyl-3-amino-5-methylpyrazole (aamp) and CH(OC2H5)3 in methanol in the presence of CuCl2, Cu(NO3)2, or Ni(NO3)2. The ligand was isolated in coordinated form as [Cu(ampf)Cl2], [Cu(ampf)(MeOH)(NO3)2]MeOH, and [Ni(ampf)(MeOH)2(NO3)]NO3 correspondingly. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier-transform IR and electronic spectroscopy, thermal analysis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and quantum chemical (density functional theory) calculations. The density functional theory calculations provided information on the metal–ligand interactions in the complexes and assisted the assignment of the FT-IR spectra. The antiproliferative activity of the complexes and the ligand precursor, aamp, was tested against human myelogenous leukaemia K562, colon adenocarcinoma HT29, and cervix carcinoma HeLa.

Pd/C(en) catalyzed chemoselective hydrogenation in the presence of aryl nitriles

Aromatic nitriles are not only important components of natural products, pharmaceuticals, herbicides and agrochemicals but also a synthetic equivalent of various functionalities. The development of synthetic methods of aromatic nitriles have been increasing in terms of its usefulness. Since aromatic nitriles are susceptible to the hydrogenation, it has been desired for the development of chemoselective hydrogenation method with retention of nitrile groups. Pd/C is one of the most popular catalysts for hydrogenation and many of reducible functional groups such as multiple bonds, benzyl ethers, N-Cbzs, nitro groups and so on could be easily reduced under the conditions. Therefore, it is very difficult to achieve the chemoselective hydrogenation of substrates containing two or more reducible functional groups. We have found that a Pd/C catalyst formed an isolable complex with ethylenediamine (en) employed as catalytic poison, and the complex [Pd/C(en)] catalyzed chemoselective hydrogenation of a variety of reducible functionalities distinguishing O-benzyl, N-Cbz and O-TBDMS protective groups, benzyl alcohols and epoxides. In the course of these investigations, we found the aryl nitriles could survive under the Pd/C(en)-catalyzed hydrogenation conditions in THF whose choice is important for the effective suppression. This methodology could be applied to the selective hydrogenation of alkene and alkyne functionalities in the presence of aromatic nitrile.

Theoretical Studies on the Hydrolysis Mechanism of N-(2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyrimidinyl) Formamide

Density functional theory (B3LYP) and ab initio (MP2) methods with the 6-31G(d,p) basis set are used to study the mechanisms for the hydrolysis of N-(2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyrimidinyl) formamide (PFA) in the gas phase. The direct and the water-assisted hydrolysis processes are considered, involving one and two water molecules, respectively. Three different pathways are explored in each case. In the first pathway, the O atom of water first attacks at the C atom of amide while one H atom of water transfers toward the oxygen of amide, leading to an intermediate of tetrahedral coordinated carbon with two OH groups. In the subsequent step, the hydroxyl H atom transfers to the N atom of pyrimidine ring and the C-N covalent bond of amide dissociates simultaneously. In the second path, the O and one H of water attack at the C of amide and the N of pyrimidine ring, respectively, while the C-N bond of amide dissociates. In the third path, three processes occur simultaneously: the O of water attacks at the C of amide, one H atom attacks at the N of amide, and the C-N bond of amide is broken. It is shown that the second pathway is favored for the direct hydrolysis while the first pathway is favored for the water-assisted hydrolysis. It is also shown that the water-assisted hydrolysis is slightly more favorable than the direct hydrolysis. Moreover, solvent effects on five pathways are evaluated with Monte Carlo simulation (MC) and free energy perturbation methods. It is shown that the solvent water slightly reduces the energy barrier in each pathway. The first pathway in the water-assisted hydrolysis remains the most favorable when the solvent effects of bulk water are taken into account.

Modular synthesis of formamidines and their formation of stable organogels

An improvement in the practical aspects of formamidine synthesis has resulted in the discovery of a class of compounds which produce organogels in protic solvents, presumably through intermolecular hydrogen bonding and pi-pi stacking interactions.