Isomerization Mechanism in Hydrazone-Based Rotary Switches: Lateral Shift, Rotation, or Tautomerization?

Two intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded arylhydrazone (aryl = phenyl or naphthyl) molecular switches have been synthesized, and their full and reversible switching between the E and Z configurations have been demonstrated. These chemically controlled configurational rotary switches exist primarily as the E isomer at equilibrium and can be switched to the protonated Z configuration (Z-H^+) by the addition of trifluoroacetic acid. The protonation of the pyridine moiety in the switch induces a rotation around the hydrazone C═N double bond, leading to isomerization. Treating Z-H^+ with base (K_(2)CO_3) yields a mixture of E and “metastable” Z isomers. The latter thermally equilibrates to reinstate the initial isomer ratio. The rate of the Z → E isomerization process showed small changes as a function of solvent polarity, indicating that the isomerization might be going through the inversion mechanism (nonpolar transition state). However, the plot of the logarithm of the rate constant k vs the Dimroth parameter (E_T) gave a linear fit, demonstrating the involvement of a polar transition state (rotation mechanism). These two seemingly contradicting kinetic data were not enough to determine whether the isomerization mechanism goes through the rotation or inversion pathways. The highly negative entropy values obtained for both the forward (E → Z-H^+) and backward (Z → E) processes strongly suggest that the isomerization involves a polarized transition state that is highly organized (possibly involving a high degree of solvent organization), and hence it proceeds via a rotation mechanism as opposed to inversion. Computations of the Z ↔ E isomerization using density functional theory (DFT) at the M06/cc-pVTZ level and natural bond orbital (NBO) wave function analyses have shown that the favorable isomerization mechanism in these hydrogen-bonded systems is hydrazone–azo tautomerization followed by rotation around a C–N single bond, as opposed to the more common rotation mechanism around the C═N double bond

Redox Polypharmacology as an Emerging Strategy to Combat Malarial Parasites

© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.3-Benzylmenadiones are potent antimalarial agents that are thought to act through their 3-benzoylmenadione metabolites as redox cyclers of two essential targets: the NADPH-dependent glutathione reductases (GRs) of Plasmodium-parasitized erythrocytes and methemoglobin. Their physicochemical properties were characterized in a coupled assay using both targets and modeled with QSPR predictive tools built in house. The substitution pattern of the west/east aromatic parts that controls the oxidant character of the electrophore was highlighted and accurately predicted by QSPR models. The effects centered on the benz(o)yl chain, induced by drug bioactivation, markedly influenced the oxidant character of the reduced species through a large anodic shift of the redox potentials that correlated with the redox cycling of both targets in the coupled assay. Our approach demonstrates that the antimalarial activity of 3-benz(o)ylmenadiones results from a subtle interplay between bioactivation, fine-tuned redox properties, and interactions with crucial targets of P.falciparum. Plasmodione and its analogues give emphasis to redox polypharmacology, which constitutes an innovative approach to antimalarial therapy

Redox Polypharmacology as an Emerging Strategy to Combat Malarial Parasites

© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim3-Benzylmenadiones are potent antimalarial agents that are thought to act through their 3-benzoylmenadione metabolites as redox cyclers of two essential targets: the NADPH-dependent glutathione reductases (GRs) of Plasmodium-parasitized erythrocytes and methemoglobin. Their physicochemical properties were characterized in a coupled assay using both targets and modeled with QSPR predictive tools built in house. The substitution pattern of the west/east aromatic parts that controls the oxidant character of the electrophore was highlighted and accurately predicted by QSPR models. The effects centered on the benz(o)yl chain, induced by drug bioactivation, markedly influenced the oxidant character of the reduced species through a large anodic shift of the redox potentials that correlated with the redox cycling of both targets in the coupled assay. Our approach demonstrates that the antimalarial activity of 3-benz(o)ylmenadiones results from a subtle interplay between bioactivation, fine-tuned redox properties, and interactions with crucial targets of P. falciparum. Plasmodione and its analogues give emphasis to redox polypharmacology, which constitutes an innovative approach to antimalarial therapy

Electrochemical Properties of Substituted 2-Methyl-1,4-Naphthoquinones: Redox Behavior Predictions

© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim. In the context of the investigation of drug-induced oxidative stress in parasitic cells, electrochemical properties of a focused library of polysubstituted menadione derivatives were studied by cyclic voltammetry. These values were used, together with compatible measurements from literature (quinones and related compounds), to build and evaluate a predictive structure-redox potential model (quantitative structure-property relationship, QSPR). Able to provide an online evaluation (through Web interface) of the oxidant character of quinones, the model is aimed to help chemists targeting their synthetic efforts towards analogues of desired redox properties

Electrochemical properties of substituted 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinones: Redox behavior predictions

© 2015 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA Weinheim. In the context of the investigation of drug-induced oxidative stress in parasitic cells, electrochemical properties of a focused library of polysubstituted menadione derivatives were studied by cyclic voltammetry. These values were used, together with compatible measurements from literature (quinones and related compounds), to build and evaluate a predictive structure-redox potential model (quantitative structure-property relationship, QSPR). Able to provide an online evaluation (through Web interface) of the oxidant character of quinones, the model is aimed to help chemists targeting their synthetic efforts towards analogues of desired redox propertie

Author correction: Arylmethylamino steroids as antiparasitic agents

International audienc