Sulfur X-ray Absorption and Emission Spectroscopy of Organic Sulfones

The sulfones are a widespread group of organo-sulfur compounds, which contain the sulfonyl SO₂ group attached to two carbons and have a formal sulfur oxidation state of +2. We have examined the sulfur K near-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) of a range of different sulfones and find substantial spectroscopic variability depending upon the nature of the coordination to the sulfonyl group. We have also examined the sulfur Kβ X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) of selected representative sulfones. Density functional theory simulations show satisfactory reproduction of both absorption and emission spectra while enabling assignment of the various transitions comprising the spectra. The correspondence between observed and simulated spectra shows promise for ab initio prediction of sulfur X-ray absorption and emission spectra of sulfones of any substituent. The absorption spectra and, to a lesser extent, the emission spectra are sensitive to the nature of the organic groups bound to the sulfonyl (SO₂) moiety, clearly showing the potential of X-ray spectroscopy as an in situ probe of sulfone chemistry.

Therapeutic potential of indole derivatives as anti-HIV agents: A mini-review

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is one of the leading causes of human deaths. The advent of different anti-HIV drugs over different disease progress has made AIDS/HIV from a deadly infection to chronic and manageable disease. However, the development of multidrug-resistant viruses, together with the severe side effects of anti-HIV agents, compromised their efficacy and limited the treatment options. Indoles, the most common frameworks in the bioactive molecules, represent attractive scaffolds for the design and development of novel drugs. Indole derivatives are potential inhibitors of HIV enzymes such as reverse transcriptase, integrase and protease, and some indole-based agents like Delavirdine have already been applied in clinics or under clinical evaluations for the treatment of AIDS/HIV, revealing that indole moiety is a useful template for the development of anti-HIV agents. This review focuses on the recent advancement of indole derivatives including indole alkaloids, hybrids, and dimers with anti-HIV potential, covering articles published between 2010 and 2020. The chemical structures, structure-activity relationship and mechanisms of action are also discussed.

tert-Amino Effect-Promoted Rearrangement of Aryl Isothiocyanate: A Versatile Approach to Benzimidazothiazepines and Benzimidazothioethers

A general and practical approach to benzimidazothiazepine and benzimidazothioether derivatives via an intramolecular nucleophilic addition/ring expansion rearrangement of aryl isothiocyanates promoted by the tert-amino effect has been developed. This reaction is catalyzed by low-cost camphorsulfonic acid and tolerates a broad substrate scope with complete atom economy. Structurally intriguing benzimidazothiazepine and benzimidazothioether products could be easily obtained by a simple operation in good to excellent yield (up to 98%).

Electrochemical study of 4-chloroaniline in a water/acetonitrile mixture. A new method for the synthesis of 4-chloro-2-(phenylsulfonyl)aniline and N-(4-chlorophenyl)benzenesulfonamide

The electrochemical oxidation of 4-chloroaniline as a model compound in a water/acetonitrile mixture was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. It was established that one-electron oxidation of 4-chloroaniline followed by disproportionation reaction affords unstable (4-iminocyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-ylidene)chloronium. In water/acetonitrile mixtures and in the absence of nucleophiles, the most likely reaction on produced chloronium is hydrolysis and p-quinoneimine formation. The electrochemical oxidation of 4-chloroaniline in the presence of arylsulfinic acids was also investigated in a water/acetonitrile mixture at a glassy carbon electrode. It was established that under these conditions, the anodically generated chloronium reacts with benzenesulfinic acid to produce the corresponding diaryl sulfone and N-phenylbenzenesulfonamide derivatives. In addition, Gaussian 09W was applied for prediction of the possible product by the calculation of natural charge, LUMO orbital energies and thermodynamic stability of intermediates and products.

Electrochemical oxidation pathway of p-chloroaniline (PCA) in the presence of benzenesulfinic acid (BSA).

Novel Thiazolidin-4-ones as Potential Non-nucleoside Inhibitors of HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase

BACKGROUND

HIV is the causative agent of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), an infectious disease with increasing incidence worldwide. Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) play an important role in the treatment of AIDS. Although, many compounds are already being used as anti-HIV drugs, research for the development of new inhibitors continues as the virus develops resistant strains.

METHODS

The best features of available NNRTIs were taken into account for the design of novel inhibitors. PASS (Prediction of activity spectra for substances) prediction program and molecular docking studies for the selection of designed compounds were used for the synthesis. Compounds were synthesized using conventional and microwave irradiation methods and HIV RT inhibitory action was evaluated by colorimetric photometric immunoassay.

RESULTS

The evaluation of HIV-1 RT inhibitory activity revealed that seven compounds have significantly lower ΙC50 values than nevirapine (0.3 μΜ). It was observed that the activity of compounds depends not only on the nature of substituent and it position in benzothiazole ring but also on the nature and position of substituents in benzene ring.

CONCLUSION

Twenty four of the tested compounds exhibited inhibitory action lower than 4 μΜ. Seven of them showed better activity than nevirapine, while three of the compounds exhibited IC50 values lower than 5 nM. Two compounds 9 and 10 exhibited very good inhibitory activity with IC50 1 nM.

α-Amino Acids as Synthons in the Ugi-5-Centers-4-Components Reaction: Chemistry and Applications

Since the first reports, the Ugi four-component reaction (U-4CR) has been recognized as a keystone transformation enabling the synthesis of peptide mimetics in a single step and with high atom economy. In recent decades, the U-4CR has been a source of inspiration for many chemists fascinated by the possibility of identifying new efficient organic reactions by simply changing one of the components or by coupling in tandem the multicomponent process with a huge variety of organic transformations. Herein we review the synthetic potentialities, the boundaries, and the applications of the U-4CR involving α-amino acids, where the presence of two functional groups—the amino and the carboxylic acids—allowed a 5-center 4-component Ugi-like reaction, a powerful tool to gain access to drug-like multi-functionalized scaffolds.

Selective remote C–H sulfonylation of aminoquinolines with arylsulfonyl chlorides via copper catalysis

Copper-catalysed remote C−H bond sulfonylation of aminoquinolines using commercially available and inexpensive arylsulfonyl chlorides as the sulfonylation reagents is described.

Synthesis and SARs of indole-based α-amino acids as potent HIV-1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors

A series of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors derived from indole-based α-amino acids were designed and synthesized. Their inhibitory activities were detected by a TZM-bl cell assay on HIV virus type HIV-1IIIB. The comprehensive understanding of the SAR was obtained by utilizing the variation of the substituents of the indole-based α-amino acids. From the screened compounds, the novel inhibitors 19 and 29 were identified to be highly potent candidates with EC50 values of 0.060 μM and 0.045 μM respectively (CC50 values of 109.545 μM and 49.295 μM and SI values of 1825.8 and 1095.4). In most cases, the variation of substituents at different positions had a significant effect on the potency of activities. The results also indicate that the indole-based α-amino acids as efficient NNRTIs displayed comparable anti-HIV-1 activities to the reference drug NVP. We hope the identification of these indole-based amino acids as efficient NNRTIs of RT could stimulate researchers to develop more diversified anti-HIV drugs.

New indolylarylsulfones as highly potent and broad spectrum HIV-1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors

New indolylarylsulfone HIV-1 NNRTIs were synthesized to evaluate unexplored substitutions of the benzyl/phenylethyl group linked at the indole-2-carboxamide. Against the NL4-3 HIV-1 WT strain, 17 out 20 compounds were superior to NVP and EFV. Several compounds inhibited the K103N HIV-1 mutant strain at nanomolar concentration and were superior to EFV. Some derivatives were superior to EFV against the Y181C and L100I HIV-1 mutant strains. Against the NL4-3 HIV-1 strain, the enantiomers 24 and 25 showed small differences of activity. In contrast, 24 turned out significantly more potent than 25 against the whole panel of mutant HIV-1 strains. The docking studies suggested that the difference in the observed inhibitory activities of 24 and 25 against the K03N mutation could be due to a kinetic rather than affinity differences.