Molecular Conformations of Shape Anisometrically Variant Mesogens in Liquid Crystalline Phase Studied by 13 C NMR Spectroscopy

Mesogens that vary in shape anisometry have been investigated by 13 C solid-state NMR in the liquid crystalline phase to inspect the conformations. The molecules examined comprise of (i) rod-like mesogen with three-phenyl ring core and terminal hexyloxy chains, (ii) three-ring core linked to the fourth phenyl ring via a spacer, and (iii) trimesic acid connected to three side arms core units through a spacer. The order parameter (Szz ) values for the phenyl rings of the rod-like mesogen are 0.65-0.68, while the mesogen with a three-ring core linked to a phenyl ring via spacer showed dissimilarity. Consequently, for the core unit phenyl rings, Szz is ~0.70, and the terminal phenyl ring showed a low value of 0.12. For the trimesic acid based mesogen, the Szz value for the side arm phenyl rings is ~0.53, and for the central phenyl ring, a very low value of 0.11 is witnessed. By considering the ordering of the rod-like mesogen as a yardstick and employing the ratios of Szz values of the phenyl rings, the average conformations of other mesogens are arrived. Accordingly, for the trimesic acid based mesogen, a tripod-like conformation instead of λ shape is proposed in the liquid crystalline phase.

Subnanomolar Affinity and Selective Antagonism at α7 Nicotinic Receptor by Combined Modifications of 2-Triethylammonium Ethyl Ether of 4-Stilbenol (MG624)

Modifications of the cationic head and the ethylene linker of 2-(triethylammonium)ethyl ether of 4-stilbenol (MG624) have been proved to produce selective α9*-nAChR antagonism devoid of any effect on the α7-subtype. Here, single structural changes at the styryl portion of MG624 lead to prevailing α7-nAChR antagonism without abolishing α9*-nAChR antagonism. Nevertheless, rigidification of the styryl into an aromatic bicycle, better if including a H-bond donor NH, such as 5-indolyl (31), resulted in higher and more selective α7-nAChR affinity. Hybridization of this modification with the constraint of the 2-triethylammoniumethyloxy portion into (R)-N,N-dimethyl-3-pyrrolidiniumoxy substructure, previously reported as the best modification for the α7-nAChR affinity of MG624 (2), was a winning strategy. The resulting hybrid 33 had a subnanomolar α7-nAChR affinity and was a potent and selective α7-nAChR antagonist, producing at the α7-, but not at the α9*-nAChR, a profound loss of subsequent ACh function.

Synthesis, solid state self-assembly driven by antiparallel π⋯π stacking and {⋯H-C-C-F}2 dimer synthons, and in vitro acetyl cholinesterase inhibition activity of phenoxy pendant isatins

A series of novel phenoxy pendant isatins PI1-12 have been synthesized in excellent yields by a simple nucleophilic substitution reaction involving isatins and 1-(2-bromoethoxy)-4-substituted benzenes, and characterized by their FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and GC-MS data, and in the case of PI4 by its single crystal X-ray analysis. The solid-state structure of PI4 showed an intriguing and unique 1D-supramolecular chain-based self-assembled structure, the driving force of which is mainly the strong antiparallel π⋯π stacking and {⋯H-C-C-F}₂ dimer synthons. This compound not only highlights the potential of the isatin moiety in forming strong antiparallel π⋯π stacking interactions but also provides a platform to have considerable insight into the nature, strength and directionality of much debated π-π and C-H⋯F-C interactions. The in vitro biological studies revealed that three phenoxy pendant isatins PI1, PI2 and PI4 are highly potent inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase enzyme with IC₅₀ values of 0.52 ± 0.073 μg ml^-1, 0.72 ± 0.012 μg ml^-1 and 0.68 ± 0.011 μg ml^-1, respectively, showing comparable activity to the standard drug, donepezil (IC₅₀ = 0.73 ± 0.015 μg ml^-1). A simple and efficient synthesis of phenoxy pendant isatins PI1-12 from inexpensive and commercially available starting materials, and their high potential of acetyl cholinesterase inhibition provide an attractive opportunity to find more effective medication for Alzheimer's disease (AD).